Lenox Library Association Your town library

Youth

Book Lists from our Youth Department:

Going Green Booklist

LC (Picture Books)

LC Beatrice’s goat / by Page McBrier

A young girl’s dream of attending school in her small Ugandan village is fulfilled after her family is given an income-producing goat. Based on a true story about the work of Project Heifer.

LC The curious garden / Peter Brown

Liam discovers a hidden garden and with careful tending spreads color throughout the gray city.

LC Curious George plants a tree / written by Monica Perez

The mischievous monkey learns about protecting the environment by planting trees and recycling paper. Includes tips on conserving energy and resources.

LC Here Comes the Garbage Barge!./ by Jonah Winter

When a little town on Long Island is inundated with garbage, its citizens become more environmentally aware, while a garbage barge travels the North American coast in search of a dumping location.

LC If America were a village: a book about the people of the United States / written by David J. Smith

If the entire country were compressed into a village of 100, who would your neighbors be? Where would they have come from? Where would the work and at what jobs? What customs and religions would they follow? A book that helps you look at America on a small scale.

LC If you made a million / by David M. Schwartz

Describes the various forms which money can take, including coins, paper money, and personal checks, and how it can be used to make purchases, pay off loans, or build interest in the bank.

LC Just a dream / Chris Van Allsburg

When he has a dream about a future Earth devastated by pollution, Walter begins to understand the importance of taking care of the environment.

LC Listen to the wind : the story of Dr. Greg and Three cups of tea / by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth

The story, of Greg Mortensen’s follow-though on a promise to build a school in a remote village after the people there helped him recover after a failed mountain climb in the area, is inspiring. A scrapbook with actual photographs of the villagers and the school at the end of the book shows children the story is true.

LC The Lorax / Dr. Seuss

The Once-ler, a mysterious creature, describes the results of the local pollution problem.

LC The Magic School Bus and the climate challenge / by Joanna Cole

Ms. Frizzle takes her kids on a whirlwind tour, from the Arctic to the equator so they can see telltale signs of climate change.

LC Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel

Michael Recycle, the green-caped crusader, visits the town of Abberdoo-Rimey and proves to the residents that recycling can actually be fun.

LC One hen: how one small loan made a big difference / written by Katie Smith Milway

This book talks about a young boy who saves money to help his mother out. He works hard selling eggs and eventually has enough money to go to school.

LC What planet are you from, Clarice Bean? / Lauren Child

When Clarice has to do a school project on the environment, she and her family become eco-warriors in an attempt to save a tree on their street.

Youth Fiction

Y Flush / Carl Hiaasen

With their father jailed for sinking a river boat, Noah Underwood and his younger sister, Abbey, must gather evidence that the owner of this floating casino is emptying his bilge tanks into the protected waters around their Florida Keys home.

Y Hoot / Carl Hiaasen

Roy, who is new to his small Florida community, becomes involved in another boy’s attempt to save a colony of burrowing owls from a proposed construction site.

Y Judy Moody saves the world! / Megan McDonald

When Judy Moody gets serious about protecting the environment, her little brother Stink thinks she is overdoing it, but she manages to inspire her third grade class to undertake an award-winning, environment-saving project.

Y Lawn boy / Gary Paulsen

Things get out of hand for a twelve-year-old boy when a neighbor convinces him to expand his summer lawn mowing business.

Y The lemonade war / by Jacqueline Davies

Evan and his younger sister, Jesse, react very differently to the news that they will be in the same class for fourth grade and as the end of summer approaches, they battle it out through lemonade stands, each trying to be the first to earn 100 dollars.

Y Lunch money / Andrew Clements

Twelve-year-old Greg, who has always been good at moneymaking projects, is surprised to find himself teaming up with his lifelong rival, Maura, to create a series of comic books to sell at school.

Y Scat / Carl Hiaasen

Nick and his friend Marta decide to investigate when a mysterious fire starts near a Florida wildlife preserve and an unpopular teacher goes missing.

Y Browse Your Backyard is Wild by Jeff Corwin

As the son of a biologist and an ecologist, nine-year-old Benjamin looks forward to seeing man-made wonders while visiting his cousin in New York City, but also hopes to observe and record some of the wildlife there.

Youth Non-fiction

Y363.738 Our choice : how we can solve the climate crisis by Albert Gore

In this follow-up to his groundbreaking An Inconvenient Truth, former Vice President Al Gore explores the causes of the current climate crisis and what we can do to help solve it. In full color, with photographs, graphics and illustrations throughout.

Y 551.46 Tracking trash : flotsam, jetsam, and the science of ocean motion / Loree Griffin Burns

Describes the work of a man who tracks trash as it travels great distances by way of ocean currents.

Y 553.7 One well : the story of water on Earth / written by Rochelle Strauss

Water is a necessity of life on earth. Learn ways to protect it while learning water’s story.

Y 640 Recycle this book : 100 top children’s book authors tell you how to go green / edited by Dan Gutman

Essays from Caroline B. Cooney, Bruce Coville, and other children’s book authors are compiled in this guide to understanding the environment, the benefits of recycling, and the importance of “going green.”

Y 745.5 What can you do with an old red shoe? : a green activity book about re-use / Anna Alter

Featuring simple step-by-step instructions, this timely resource teaches children the importance of recycling through creative and exciting projects and challenges them to come up with clever recycling ideas of their own.

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New Picture Books Spring 2010

LC Alexander, Cecil Frances All things bright and beautiful/ ill. by Ashley Bryan

An inspirational look at the many gifts given by the Lord features a vibrant presentation of people from around the world donning the traditional garb of their native lands.

LC Baker, Keith LMNO Peas

Busy little peas introduce their favorite occupations, from astronaut to zoologist.

LC Barton, Chris Shark vs. Train

If you think Superman vs. Batman would be an exciting match-up, wait until you see Shark vs. Train. Shark and Train egg each other on competing in burping, bowling, Ping Pong, piano playing, pie eating, and more. Who do YOU think will win, Shark or Train?

Board Book Global Babies

Presents photographs of babies from all over the world in their native costume, describing how all babies are special.

LC De Seve, Randall The Duchess of Whimsy: An absolutely delicious fairy tale

The Duchess of Whimsy has absolutely no interest in the Earl of Norm until he makes a sandwich that causes her to look at him in an entirely different way.

LC Dewdney, Anna Roly Poly pangolin

Roly Poly, a pangolin, is shy and afraid of new things until he discovers that some new experiences are not bad at all.

LC Gilani-Williams, Fawzia Nabeel’s New Pants: An Eid Tale

A fine choice for read-aloud fun, the story is a simple introduction to Muslim culture that will evoke empathetic chuckles when the mishap is discovered as Nabeel dons his knee-length pants on the morning of Eid.

LC Hall, Michael My heart is like a zoo

Depicts in rhyming text how love can be many different things, such as eager as a beaver, steady as a yak, or silly as a seal.

LC Khan, Rukhsana Big red lollipop

An astute and moving story, ostensibly dealing with sibling rivalry, but actually about hard-won lessons emerging from clashes of identity and assimilation.

LC Laden, Nina When Pigasso met Mootisse Ages 5 – 7

Pigasso, a talented pig, and Mootisse, an artistic bull, live across the road from one another, but when conflicts arise they build fences that ultimately become modern art masterpieces. Includes biographies of the real-life artists, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso.

LC Reynolds, Peter Rose’s garden

Rose finds a neglected patch of earth in the middle of a bustling city, where she can plant the flower seeds collected from her travels in her magical teapot.

LC Salley, Colleen Epossumondas plays possum

Forgetting his mother’s warnings, Epossumondas goes into the swamp alone then must pretend to be dead time and again as he hears frightening sounds and fears they are being made by the dreaded loup garou.

LC Weeks, Sarah Sophie Peterman tells the truth!

A disgruntled big sister reveals unpleasant facts about babies.

LC Willems, Mo City Dog, Country Frog

Through the seasons, whenever City Dog visits the country he runs straight for Country Frog’s rock to play games with him, but during the winter things change for them both, and come spring, their friendship blooms a little differently.

LC Yolen, Jane Come to the fairies’ ball

All the fairies are excited to be invited to the King’s ball, except for one young fairy whose only party dress is in tatters.

LC Yolen, Jane My father knows the names of things

Taking a walk with her father, a child learns fascinating facts about the things they see, from the fuzziest moss and the buzziest insects to the tallest flowers and the smallest beetles. By the Caldecott-winning author of Owl Moon.

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New Fiction Spring 2010

SERIES

Y Series American Girls Laney by Jane Kurtz Gr 2-5

Introducing the “Girl of the Year 2010,” Lanie loves science and nature, but she has a problem: she’s an “outside” girl who longs to get out and go camping, but her “inside” family just wants to stay home. When her favorite aunt comes to visit, Lanie discovers that the wonders of nature are everywhere–even in her own backyard.

Y Series Buddy The Buddy files : the case of the lost boy by Butler, Dori H. Gr 2-3

With twists and turns, humor, and a likable canine character, this first title in a beginning reader series should find a wide fan base.

Y Series Flat Stanley #4 Pennypacker, Sara The intrepid Canadian expedition

While acting as a snowboard, Stanley Lambchop gets carried away by a strong wind, sending him and his new friend Nick on a cross-country Canadian adventure. (Grades 2-4)

Y Series Nancy Drew and the clue crew #26 Camp Creepy Ages 6 – 9

Eight-year-old Nancy Drew solves cases with her friends in a new Clue Crew adventure!

Y Series Thirty Nine Clues Storm Warning by Linda Park Sue Gr 4 – 7

Amy and Dan learn the truth about the Madrigals and Grace Cahill’s alternate will, discoveries that lead to the revelation of a secret about their family and a showdown with the Man in Black. By the Newbery Award-winning author of A Single Shard.

FICTION

Y Angleberger, Tom The strange case of Oragami Yoda Gr 3 – 6

In this funny, uncannily wise portrait of the dynamics of a sixth-grade class and of the greatness that sometimes comes in unlikely packages, Dwight, a loser, talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren’t strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient.

Y Barry, Dave Peter and the sword of mercy Gr 5 – 8 (#4 in series)

When shadow creatures search for a secret cache of starstuff that fell to London many centuries ago, Wendy Darling employs the help of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys to protect the Sword of Mercy–the key that unlocks the vault where the starstuff is hidden.

Y Bearn, Emily Tumtum & Nutmeg : adventures beyond Nutmouse Hall Gr 2-4

Wealthy, married mice Tumtum and Nutmeg find adventure when they secretly try to help two human siblings, who live in a tumbledown cottage with their absent-minded inventor father.

Y Bell, Ted The time pirate : a Nick McIver time adventure Gr 5 – 8

Nick McIver travels to both 1940s England, where Nazis have invaded his homeland, and to America during the Revolution, where Nick must face Captain Billy Blood, who has kidnapped his sister in exchange for Nick’s time machine.

Y Benedictus, David Return to the Hundred Acre Wood : in which Winnie-the-Pooh enjoys further adventures with Christopher Robin and his friends Gr 1 – 4

Collection of the further stories of Christopher Robin and his imaginary animal friends in the Hundred Acre Wood, where the animals anticipate Christopher Robin’s return, meet a new friend, and solve the mystery of missing bees.

Y Clements, Andrew We the children Gr 3 – 6 Gr

Irked by plans to tear down his historic school to make room for an entertainment park, history-loving sixth-grader Ben discovers a parchment scroll written by three students in 1791, who secretly dubbed themselves the Keepers of the School. First in a series.

Y Cushman, Karen Alchemy and Meggie Swann Gr 5 – 8

Fans of Karen Cushman’s witty, satisfying novels will welcome Meggy Swann, newly come to London in 1573 with her only friend, a goose named Louise. There she meets her father, an impoverished alchemist, and eventually discovers that although her legs are bent and weak, she has many other strengths.

Y Daneshvari, Gitty School of Fear Gr 4 – 6

Twelve-year-olds Madeleine, Theo, and Lulu, and thirteen-year-old Garrison, are sent to a remote Massachusetts school to overcome their phobias, but tragedy strikes and the quartet must work together–with no adult assistance–to face their fears.

Y D’Lacey, Chris Dark Fire (Last dragon chronicles, bk 5) Gr 5 – 8

Rescued from the Arctic by his daughter, David Rain returns to Wayward Crescent only to discover that dragons have returned to the world and that an evil force is working to unbalance all life.

Y Dowell, Frances O’Roark Falling In Gr 3 – 6

Middle-schooler Isabelle Bean follows a mouse’s squeak into a closet and falls into a parallel universe where the children believe she is the witch they have feared for years, finally come to devour them.

Y Draper, Sharon Out of my mind Gr 4 – 6

Possessing a photographic memory in spite of an inability to walk or speak, Melody is mistaken as mentally challenged by those who cannot see beyond her cerebral palsy, impelling her to discover a way to communicate.

Y Gifford, Peggy Moxy Maxwell does not love practicing the piano Gr 3 – 5

In this quick, quirky story, Moxy is preparing to play “Heart and Soul” with her sister in a piano recital. She’s excited to dress up and go onstage in front of a large, adoring audience, but one small detail stands in her way: she can’t seem to find the time to practice, so she’s really not prepared. Fun series!

Y Harrison, Michelle 13 Treasures Gr 5 – 8

Bedeviled by evil fairies that only she can see, thirteen-year-old Tanya is sent to stay with her cold and distant grandmother at Elvesden Manor, where she and the caretaker’s son solve a disturbing mystery that leads them to the discovery that Tanya’s life is in danger.

Y Hunter, Erin Fading Echoes (Warriors, Omen of the stars, bk 2) Gr 4-6

As Dovepaw, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze strive to understand and fulfill the prophecy that promises them great power, the cats of the Dark Forest begin to teach battle skills and techniques to different Clan cats through dreams.

Y Ignatow, Amy The popularity papers: research for the social improvement and general betterment of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang

A whimsical tale told in scrapbook style follows the haphazard efforts of a pair of best friends who resolve to conquer middle school, an endeavor that tests the limits of their friendship.

Y Jacques, Brian The Sable Quean Gr 4 & up

The courageous Redwall creatures band together as Vilaya, the evil Sable Quean, and her horde of vermin attempt to make off with the young animals of the Abbey.

Y Kessler, Liz Emily Windsnap and the Siren’s Secret (#4 in series) Gr 4 – 6

Follow the siren call to Emily’s magical new adventure! Can the spunky half-mer girl pass Neptune’s test—and help humans and merpeople get along?

Y Lowry, Lois Birthday Ball Gr 6-8

When a bored Princess Patricia Priscilla makes her chambermaid switch identities with her so she can attend the village school, her attitude changes and she plans a new way to celebrate her sixteenth birthday.

Y Mass, Wendy Finally (Ages 8-12)

After her twelfth birthday, Rory checks off a list of things she is finally allowed to do, but unexpected consequences interfere with her involvement in the movie being shot at her school, while a weird prediction starts to make sense.

Y McCaughrean, Geralding Death-Defying Pepper Roux Gr 6 – 9

Approaching his 14th birthday, a day on which he is scheduled to die, Pepper Roux embarks on a rollicking journey to escape his fate and meets a series of outrageous new friends and enemies.

Y Mull, Brandon Keys to the demon prison (Fablehaven, bk 5) Ages 11-13

In an effort to stop the Sphinx from opening the demon prison Zzyxx, Kendra, Seth, and the Knights of the Dawn race to find the exotic artifacts and keep them out of the Sphinx’s control.

Y Nix, Garth Lord Sunday (Final title in Keys to the Kingdom series) Gr 5-8

As Arthur Penhaligon seeks to complete his quest to save the Kingdom to which he is heir, and learn his true identity, he discovers that he has a greater purpose than he could have imagined.

Y Resau, Laura Star in the forest Gr 4 – 6

After Zitlally’s father is deported to Mexico, she takes refuge in her trailer park’s forest of rusted car parts, and finds a stray dog that she nurses back to health and believes she must keep safe so that her father will return.

Y Ryan, Pam Munoz Dreamer Gr 4 – 9

A fictionalized biography of the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who grew up a painfully shy child ridiculed by his overbearing father, but who became one of the most widely-read poets in the world.

Y Williams- Garcia, Rita One Crazy Summer Gr 4 – 7

After travelling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, Delphine and her two sisters discover that their mother, a dedicated poet, wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.

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Young Adult New Fiction 2010

YA Armstrong, Kelley The Reckoning (#3 in Darkest Powers series) Gr 7 & up

Fifteen-year-old Chloe, a necromancer, struggles to understand her feelings for werewolf Derek and his sorcerer brother, Simon, while seeking a way to enter the headquarters of the sinister Edison Group and rescue her aunt Lauren and friend Rachelle.

YA Carter, Alley Heist Society Gr 6 – 10

A group of teenagers uses their combined talents to re-steal several priceless paintings and save fifteen-year-old Kat Bishop’s father, himself an international art thief, from a vengeful collector.

YA Collins, Suzanne Catching Fire (Hunger Games #2 – #3 due out in August) Gr 7 & up

By winning the Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families, but because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion.

YA Dessen, Sarah Lock and Key Gr 7 & up

When she is abandoned by her alcoholic mother, high school senior Ruby winds up living with sister Cora and learns what makes a family, how to allow people to help her when she needs it, and that she too has something to offer others.

YA Fisher, Catherine Incarceron Gr 7 & up

Believing he comes from the world outside his vast prison where inmates survive in dilapidated cities and metal forests, 17-year-old Finn dreams of escaping when he finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl who believes she can help him.

YA Gordon, Roderick Freefall (Final title in Tunnels series) Gr 5 – 9

As fourteen-year-old archaeologist Will and his friends plummet down a subterranean pore, they face deadly creatures and discover a strange fungal shelf, which not only reveals artifacts from ancient civilizations but clues to a lost land at the end of the Earth.

YA (High School) Green, John Will Grayson Will Grayson

Two award-winning authors present the tale of a pair of teens who meet by chance on a Chicago street corner and discover that they share a name and intertwining destinies involving an epic production of a high school musical.

YA Henderson, Jason Vampire Rising (Alex Van Helsing series, bk 1) Gr 6-10

At a boarding school in Switzerland, fourteen-year-old Alex Van Helsing learns that vampires are real, that he has a natural ability to sense them, and that an agency called the Polidorium has been helping his family fight them since 1821.

YA Kate, Lauren Fallen (First in series) Gr 8 & up

Suspected in the death of her boyfriend, seventeen-year-old Luce is sent to a Savannah, Georgia, reform school where she meets two intriguing boys and learns the truth about the strange shadows that have always haunted her.

YA Landy, Derek The Faceless Ones (Skulduggery Pleasant #3) Gr 5-8

Fourteen-year-old Valkyrie and the skeleton mage, Skulduggery Pleasant, try to foil a plot set in motion fifty years before to find and open the gate that will allow the Faceless Ones to return to this reality.

YA Lupica, Mike The Batboy Gr 5-10

Fourteen-year-old Brian becomes a bat boy for the Detroit Tigers, who have just drafted his favorite player back onto the team. Though this novel will undoubtedly appeal to those who equate summer with baseball, it should also win over readers who appreciate finely crafted storytelling and engaging characters.

YA Marchetta, Melina Finnikin of the rock (Grades 8 & up)

Surviving a usurper’s attack that killed the Lumatere royal family, young Finnikin witnesses the effects of a devastating curse that is trapping and killing subjects which compels him to team up with an outspoken novice who believes a royal survivor will save the land. An epic fantasy of ancient magic, exile, feudal intrigue, and romance that rivets from the first page.

YA McCormick, Patricia Purple Heart Gr 7 & up

While recuperating in a Baghdad hospital from a traumatic brain injury sustained during the Iraq War, eighteen-year-old soldier Matt Duffy struggles to recall what happened to him and how it relates to his ten-year-old friend, Ali

YA Myracle, Lauren Peace, love, & baby ducks Gr 8 – 10

Fifteen-year-old Carly’s summer volunteer experience makes her feel more real than her life of privilege in Atlanta ever did, but her younger sister starts high school pretending to be what she is not, and both find their relationships suffering.

YA Patterson, James Fang: a Maximum Ride novel (#6 in series) Gr 7 & up

When Max and the Flock discover an unscrupulous scientist who is experimenting on humans in an effort to “improve” the human race, they decide that they must try to stop him in spite of Angel’s prediction about Fang dying.

YA Perkins, Lynne Rae As easy as falling off the face of the earth Ages 12 & up

Journeying by train to summer camp only to find that the camp program has been cancelled, Ry finds himself stranded without resources in the wilderness and invents a new definition of summer vacation. By the Newbery-winning author of Criss Cross.

YA Reeve, Philip Fever Crumb Gr 5 – 7

In a future London, England, foundling Fever Crumb has been raised as an engineer, but at age fourteen she leaves her sheltered world and begins to learn startling truths about her past while facing danger in the present.

YA Smith, Roland Tentacles Gr 5 – 8

After the mysterious disappearance of their parents, Marty and Grace go to live with their scientist uncle and accompany him on an increasingly dangerous expedition to New Zealand to track a giant squid.

YA Tan, Shaun Tales from Outer Suburbia Gr 5 & up

Award winning author’s (The Arrival) collection of fifteen illustrated short stories, some humorous and some haunting, set in the Australian suburbs.

YA Turner, Megan Whaler A Conspiracy of Kings (Thief Series, #4) Gr 7 & up

Kidnapped and sold into slavery, Sophos, an unwilling prince, tries to save his country from being destroyed by rebellion and exploited by the conniving Mede empire.

YA Williams-Garcia, Rita Jumped Gr 8 – 10

The lives of Leticia, Dominique, and Trina are irrevocably intertwined through the course of one day in an urban high school after Leticia overhears Dominique’s plans to beat up Trina and must decide whether or not to get involved.

YA Cabot, Meg Being Nikki Gr 9 Up

Studious, socially conscious Emerson Watts learns startling news about the family of Nikki Howard, the teen supermodel into whose body Emerson’s brain was transplanted by the nefarious Stark corporation.

YA Chima, Cinda W The Demon King : a seven realms novel Gr 7 Up

Relates the intertwining fates of former street gang leader Han Alister and headstrong Princess Raisa, as Han takes possession of an amulet that once belonged to an evil wizard and Raisa uncovers a conspiracy in the Grey Wolf Court.

YA Flanagan, John Erak’s ransom

On a mission to pay the ransom of a new ally, apprentice Will and his friends find themselves in a desert wasteland awash with enemies.

YA Fantaskey, Beth Jessica’s guide to dating on the dark side Gr 7 Up

When a new exchange student at school reveals to Jessica that she is actually a Romanian vampire princess by birth who is also his long-lost fiancé, she must research an old book to find truth in his words, but when another girl goes after her prince, Jessica has no intention of letting him go without a fight!

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New Graphic Novels Spring 2010

Y Graphic Sakai, Yohei Dinosaur King, vol. 1 Gr 2 – 4

When a stone tablet transports him back to the time of the dinosaurs, Max Taylor befriends a dinosaur named King and sets out to try and stop the evil Dr. Z and his Alpha Gang from using the dinosaurs to take over the world.

Y Graphic Davis, Eleanor Secret science alliance and the copycat crook Gr 3 – 7

Eleven-year-old Julian Calendar thought changing schools would mean leaving his “nerdy” persona behind. Instead, he forms an alliance with fellow inventors Greta and Ben and works with them to prevent an adult from using one of their gadgets for nefarious purposes.

Y Graphic Hale, Shannon Calamity Jack Gr 4 – 9

The latest graphic adventure by the creators of Rapunzel’s Revenge finds would-be criminal Jack teaming up with Rapunzel to stop the Ant-People and fleeing his beloved home city, when he inadvertently triggers the growth of a building-destroying beanstalk.

Y Graphic Luciani, Brigitte Mr. Badger & Mrs. Fox Gr 1 – 3

This beautifully painted and sweetly told tale—the first in the Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox series—tells how two different families meet, overcome suspicion of each other, and work to combine resources.

Y Graphic (RL 1.5) Meister, Cari Clues in the attic K-Gr 2

Ben lost something that belongs to his sister, and he has to find it. He is scared, but it doesn’t matter. Ben has to be brave. He has to go into the attic. Includes a “How to Read a Graphic Novel” section, a glossary, discussion questions, and writing prompts.

Y Graphic Sakai, Yohei Dinosaur King, vol. 1 Gr 2 – 4

When a stone tablet transports him back to the time of the dinosaurs, Max Taylor befriends a dinosaur named King and sets out to try and stop the evil Dr. Z and his Alpha Gang from using the dinosaurs to take over the world.

Y Graphic Trickster : Native American tales : a graphic collection edited by Matt Dembicki

More than 40 storytellers and cartoonists have contributed to this original and provocative compendium of traditional folklore presented in authentic, colorful, and engaging sequential art. The stories are drawn from a variety of Native peoples across North America. A dandy read for those interested in history, folklore, adventure, humor, or the arts, and a unique contribution to the form.

Y Graphic Wight, Eric Frank Pickle & the Pine Run 3000 (Grades 2-4)

Fourth-grader Frankie Piccolini’s vivid imagination does not help him advance in rank with the rest of his Possum Scout troop, but winning the Pine Run 3000 model car race would give him the points he needs.

Young Adult Graphic Novels

YA Graphic Fairfield, Lesley Tyranny Gr 6 & up

Pressured by media, friends, and fashion trends, Anna develops an eating disorder that controls every aspect of her life until she finally decides to get help.

YA Graphic Larson, Hope Mercury Gr 8 & up

Josey’s decision to hunt for treasure in the woods of Nova Scotia in the 1850s has haunting ramifications for her twenty-first century descendant, Tara, who is trying to adjust to high school after being home schooled.

YA Graphic Telgemeier, Raina Smile Gr 5 & up

From sixth grade through tenth, Raina copes with a variety of dental problems that affect her appearance and how she feels about herself.

YA Graphic Yolen, Jane Foiled Gr 8 & up

Outcast Aliera Carstairs may not fit in at school, but she’s always a star in her fencing class, so when Avery Castle walks into her first period biology class, she must find a way to be noticed by the possible Prince Charming.

Y 741.5 Slate, Barbara You can do a graphic novel

A practical book for those who aspire to create their own graphic novels. The instructions and illustrations are easy to follow, and the format is colorful and eye-catching. Slate’s examples of completed panels are excellent, but the chapter of teens’ work will be even more enticing to a young audience.

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New Non-Fiction Spring 2010

Y292 Karas, G. Brian Young Zeus Gr 3 – 6

How young Zeus, with a little help from six monsters, five gods, an enchanted she-goat, and his mother, became god of gods, master of lightning and thunder, and ruler over all.

Y302.3 Burstein, John Why are you picking on me?: dealing with bullies Gr 1-5

Slim Goodbody helps young students learn to recognize the different kinds of bullying and presents strategies for dealing with even the toughest situations.

Y327.12 Gilbert, Adrian Spy School Gr 3 – 6

Discusses the skills and training needed to become a spy, spying techniques and different types of surveillance. Includes profiles of famous spies and double agents.

Y507.8 Young, Karen Romano Crime scene science : 20 projects and experiments about clues, crimes, criminals, and other mysterious things Gr 4 – 8

Looks at the world of crime solving–with suggestions for science fair presentations–by investigating rates of human decomposition, what makes fingerprints unique, handwriting traits, the secrets of paper fiber analysis, and more.

Y551.552 Gibbons, Gail Hurricanes! Gr K – 3

Young readers can learn how hurricanes are formed, how they are named and classified, and what to do if a dangerous storm is coming their way.

Y567.9 Lambert, David Dinosaur

Text and photographs explore the world of the dinosaurs, focusing on such aspects as their teeth, feet, eggs, and fossils.

Y591.785 Jenkins, Steve How to clean a hippopotamus: a look at unusual animal partnerships K-3

A award winning husband-and-wife team presents another creative, wholly engaging introduction to science in this picture book that explores unexpected animal partnerships. Many of the spotlighted relationships illustrate mutualism, a type of symbiosis that benefits all the animals involved.

Y 595.78 Bishop, Nic Butterflies and Moths Gr 2 – 5

Simple, engaging text presents both basic information and fun, quirky facts about the insects’ appearance, habits, and life cycle. Fantastic photography!

Y 636.7 Dennis, Brian Nubs: the true story of a mutt, a Marine & a miracle Gr 2-5

The story of a wild dog who befriended Marine Major Brian Dennis in Iraq, and upon separation, trekked seventy miles through the desert winter to rejoin his friend.

Y741.5 Slate, Barbara You can do a graphic novel

A practical book for those who aspire to create their own graphic novels. The instructions and illustrations are easy to follow, and the format is colorful and eye-catching. Slate’s examples of completed panels are excellent, but the chapter of teens’ work will be even more enticing to a young audience.

Y741.5 Sturm, James Adventures in cartooning Gr 2–6

A princess finds herself in danger, but with the help of a magical cartooning elf, she learned to draw well enough to escape from a dragon, save herself from drowning, and have her very own adventure, in a text in graphic novel format.

Y 920 Charis, Cotter Born to write: the remarkable lives of six famous authors Gr 5 & up

The life stories of C.S. Lewis, Christopher Paul Curtis, E. B. White, Madeleine L’Engle, Philip Pullman and Lucy M. Montgomery are told, giving readers insight into the childhood experiences that shaped their work. Cotter shows how the individuals’ achievements, losses, tragic situations, and experiences led to the creation of many well-loved novels.

Y936.2 Aronson, Marc If stones could speak Gr 5 – 8

The expert text, stunning photography, and explanatory maps and illustrations will all help young readers see this ancient monument in totally new ways, and inspire future generations of archaeological explorers.

YB Cousteau Manfish: the story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne Gr 2-5

Poetic text and full color paintings combine to create a portrait of the internationally known oceanographer as a curious little boy whose love of the ocean inspired him to grow up to become a champion of the seas.

YB (Lincoln) Lincoln tells a joke: how laughter saved the president (and the country) by Kathleen Krull Gr 1-4

A biography of one of America’s greatest presidents, focusing on his use of wit and humor, and his love of language.

YB Truth Sojourner Truth’s step-stomp stride/by Andrea Davis & Jerry Pinkney Gr K-3

A portrayal of Sojourner Truth’s childhood as a slave, the purchase of her freedom by a Quaker couple, and her subsequent work as an advocate and lecturer for the abolitionist movement.

YB Wagner All Star!: Honus Wagner and the most famous baseball card ever Gr 2-5

Discusses the life and career of the Pittsburgh Pirates legend who was one of the greatest hitters and fielders in baseball history.

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SERIES

Y  Series American Girls   Laney by Jane Kurtz  Gr 2-5

Introducing the “Girl of the Year 2010,” Lanie loves science and nature, but she has a problem: she’s an “outside” girl who longs to get out and go camping, but her “inside” family just wants to stay home. When her favorite aunt comes to visit, Lanie discovers that the wonders of nature are everywhere–even in her own backyard.

Y Series Buddy    The Buddy files : the case of the lost boy by Butler, Dori H.   Gr 2-3

With twists and turns, humor, and a likable canine character, this first title in a beginning reader series should find a wide fan base.

Y         Series Flat Stanley #4    Pennypacker, Sara The intrepid Canadian expedition

While acting as a snowboard, Stanley Lambchop gets carried away by a strong wind, sending him and his new friend Nick on a cross-country Canadian adventure. (Grades 2-4)

Y  Series Nancy Drew and the clue crew #26 Camp Creepy    Ages 6 – 9

Eight-year-old Nancy Drew solves cases with her friends in a new Clue Crew adventure!

Y  Series   Thirty Nine Clues    Storm Warning by Linda Park Sue  Gr 4 – 7

Amy and Dan learn the truth about the Madrigals and Grace Cahill’s alternate will, discoveries that lead to the revelation of a secret about their family and a showdown with the Man in Black. By the Newbery Award-winning author of A Single Shard.

FICTION

Y  Angleberger, Tom The strange case of Oragami Yoda Gr 3 – 6

In this funny, uncannily wise portrait of the dynamics of a sixth-grade class and of the greatness that sometimes comes in unlikely packages, Dwight, a loser, talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren’t strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient.

Y Barry, Dave  Peter and the sword of mercy Gr 5 – 8  (#4 in series)

When shadow creatures search for a secret cache of starstuff that fell to London many centuries ago, Wendy Darling employs the help of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys to protect the Sword of Mercy–the key that unlocks the vault where the starstuff is hidden.

Y  Bearn, Emily   Tumtum & Nutmeg : adventures beyond Nutmouse Hall   Gr 2-4

Wealthy, married mice Tumtum and Nutmeg find adventure when they secretly try to help two human siblings, who live in a tumbledown cottage with their absent-minded inventor father.

Y  Bell, Ted  The time pirate : a Nick McIver time adventure    Gr 5 – 8

Nick McIver travels to both 1940s England, where Nazis have invaded his homeland, and to America during the Revolution, where Nick must face Captain Billy Blood, who has kidnapped his sister in exchange for Nick’s time machine.

Y  Benedictus, David   Return to the Hundred Acre Wood : in which Winnie-the-Pooh enjoys further adventures with Christopher Robin and his friends  Gr 1 – 4

Collection of the further stories of Christopher Robin and his imaginary animal friends in the Hundred Acre Wood, where the animals anticipate Christopher Robin’s return, meet a new friend, and solve the mystery of missing bees.

Y  Clements, Andrew We the children Gr 3 – 6 Gr

Irked by plans to tear down his historic school to make room for an entertainment park, history-loving sixth-grader Ben discovers a parchment scroll written by three students in 1791, who secretly dubbed themselves the Keepers of the School. First in a series.

Y  Cushman, Karen  Alchemy and Meggie Swann Gr 5 – 8

Fans of Karen Cushman’s witty, satisfying novels will welcome Meggy Swann, newly come to London in 1573 with her only friend, a goose named Louise. There she meets her father, an impoverished alchemist, and eventually discovers that although her legs are bent and weak, she has many other strengths.

Y  Daneshvari, Gitty  School of Fear  Gr 4 – 6

Twelve-year-olds Madeleine, Theo, and Lulu, and thirteen-year-old Garrison, are sent to a remote Massachusetts school to overcome their phobias, but tragedy strikes and the quartet must work together–with no adult assistance–to face their fears.

Y  D’Lacey, Chris  Dark Fire (Last dragon chronicles, bk 5) Gr 5 – 8

Rescued from the Arctic by his daughter, David Rain returns to Wayward Crescent only to discover that dragons have returned to the world and that an evil force is working to unbalance all life.

Y  Dowell, Frances O’Roark Falling In Gr 3 – 6

Middle-schooler Isabelle Bean follows a mouse’s squeak into a closet and falls into a parallel universe where the children believe she is the witch they have feared for years, finally come to devour them.

Y  Draper, Sharon  Out of my mind  Gr 4 – 6

Possessing a photographic memory in spite of an inability to walk or speak, Melody is mistaken as mentally challenged by those who cannot see beyond her cerebral palsy, impelling her to discover a way to communicate.

Y  Gifford, Peggy  Moxy Maxwell does not love practicing the piano    Gr 3 – 5

In this quick, quirky story, Moxy is preparing to play “Heart and Soul” with her sister in a piano recital. She’s excited to dress up and go onstage in front of a large, adoring audience, but one small detail stands in her way: she can’t seem to find the time to practice, so she’s really not prepared. Fun series!

Y  Harrison, Michelle 13 Treasures  Gr 5 – 8

Bedeviled by evil fairies that only she can see, thirteen-year-old Tanya is sent to stay with her cold and distant grandmother at Elvesden Manor, where she and the caretaker’s son solve a disturbing mystery that leads them to the discovery that Tanya’s life is in danger.

Y Hunter, Erin Fading Echoes (Warriors, Omen of the stars, bk 2) Gr 4-6

As Dovepaw, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze strive to understand and fulfill the prophecy that promises them great power, the cats of the Dark Forest begin to teach battle skills and techniques to different Clan cats through dreams.

Y  Ignatow, Amy   The popularity papers: research for the social improvement and general betterment of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang

A whimsical tale told in scrapbook style follows the haphazard efforts of a pair of best friends who resolve to conquer middle school, an endeavor that tests the limits of their friendship.

Y  Jacques, Brian  The Sable Quean Gr 4 & up

The courageous Redwall creatures band together as Vilaya, the evil Sable Quean, and her horde of vermin attempt to make off with the young animals of the Abbey.

Y  Kessler, Liz Emily Windsnap and the Siren’s Secret (#4 in series)  Gr 4 – 6

Follow the siren call to Emily’s magical new adventure! Can the spunky half-mer girl pass Neptune’s test—and help humans and merpeople get along?

Y  Lowry, Lois   Birthday Ball  Gr 6-8

When a bored Princess Patricia Priscilla makes her chambermaid switch identities with her so she can attend the village school, her attitude changes and she plans a new way to celebrate her sixteenth birthday.

Y Mass, Wendy  Finally  (Ages 8-12)

After her twelfth birthday, Rory checks off a list of things she is finally allowed to do, but unexpected consequences interfere with her involvement in the movie being shot at her school, while a weird prediction starts to make sense.

Y  McCaughrean, Geralding Death-Defying Pepper Roux Gr 6 – 9

Approaching his 14th birthday, a day on which he is scheduled to die, Pepper Roux embarks on a rollicking journey to escape his fate and meets a series of outrageous new friends and enemies.

Y Mull, Brandon     Keys to the demon prison  (Fablehaven, bk 5)   Ages 11-13

In an effort to stop the Sphinx from opening the demon prison Zzyxx, Kendra, Seth, and the Knights of the Dawn race to find the exotic artifacts and keep them out of the Sphinx’s control.

Y  Nix, Garth  Lord Sunday (Final title in Keys to the Kingdom series)  Gr 5-8

As Arthur Penhaligon seeks to complete his quest to save the Kingdom to which he is heir, and learn his true identity, he discovers that he has a greater purpose than he could have imagined.

Y  Resau, Laura  Star in the forest  Gr 4 – 6

After Zitlally’s father is deported to Mexico, she takes refuge in her trailer park’s forest of rusted car parts, and finds a stray dog that she nurses back to health and believes she must keep safe so that her father will return.

Y  Ryan, Pam Munoz Dreamer Gr 4 – 9

A fictionalized biography of the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who grew up a painfully shy child ridiculed by his overbearing father, but who became one of the most widely-read poets in the world.

Y  Williams- Garcia, Rita  One Crazy Summer Gr 4 – 7

After travelling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, Delphine and her two sisters discover that their mother, a dedicated poet, wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.

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