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The Staff Recommends for Kids
Page history last edited by Maya Spector 11 mos ago
Digory is terrified of the sea. He comes from a family of sailors, but his grandfather drowned and now the news has arrived that his father's ship has gone down. Digory and his brother have been living with his aunt. She tells Digory to walk to Plymouth to discover his father's fate, but not to return if the news is bad as she will not be able to afford to keep him. Sure enough, the news is not good. By a stroke of good luck, Digory and his brother get taken in by an inventor and artist. Life is full and promising - until Digory has to face his worst fear.
This is a fine adventure story, partially based on the life of the real gadgeteer, Henry Winstanley.
~Maya Spector, Youth Services Manager
Griffin and his friend Ben find an old baseball card, but the unscrupulous dealer they take it to tells them it isn't worth much and only pays them a small amount for it. When they find out how valuable the card really is, the boys decide to steal it back from the swindler. All they need is the perfect plan. Well, Griffin is always the Man with a Plan, but this time he outdoes himself. He has good reason, too, besides the principle of it. His parents are strapped for money and they've put their house up for sale.
This book is funny. fast-paced and a real page-turner. Korman's written lots of good novels for older kids. This certainly adds a fine one to his list.
~Maya Spector, Youth Services Manager
Ember fans, you'll definitely want to read this one. It continues the story of Lina and Doon, now residents of Sparks. People in the town are suffering from winter's toll - the cold, not enough food and illness. After finding a fragment of an ancient book that seems as though it was meant for the people of Ember, the two kids decide to go back to Ember to see if they can find the mysterious object the book refers to in hopes of helping their community survive. What they find is a whole lot of trouble.
Have Lina and Doon bitten off more than they can chew this time? You'll have to read the book to find out!
~ Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
Floss' mom decides to move to Australia with her new husband and infant son. Floss is invited to go but doesn't want to join her "new family" because she would leave her friends, home, and most importantly, her Dad behind. Floss’ decision proves to be life-changing as she makes new friends, meets new people, and rides the roller coaster of life. A well written story about growing up in a complicated world. For grades 4 and up.
~Cheryl Lee, Librarian
For Grades 4-6
Thirteen year old Michael is initially grief-stricken about the death of his beloved grandfather and just as he begins to heal, things in his life start going south in a big way. His father is so busy working on his PhD that Michael’s struggles are lost on him. He has a horrible fight with his best friend at school and suddenly finds himself very alone. Through a new friendship with an older man who is also his art teacher, Michael starts to muddle through the pain until he learns that Charlie, his new friend, is dying of cancer.
This story speaks volumes about the multi-layered grief process and would be a great book discussion book.
~Jill Ehrhorn, Senior Librarian
For Grades 3-6
I spent my summer catching up on some reading of books that I had always wanted to read but didn’t! One of my favorites was Everything on a Waffle. This is a story about Primrose Squarp, a spunky 11 year old whose parents have been lost at sea. She is the only one in her small Canadian town of Coal Harbour who believes they will be coming back, so, in the meantime, she hangs out at a restaurant called The Girl on a Red Swing where everything, and that means everything, is served on a waffle. The owner, Kate Bowzer, takes Primrose under her wing because she needs a little extra attention.
This book is filled with wonderful, hilarious, quirky anecdotes about the adventures of all of the townspeople through the eyes of Primrose. Pick up this selection and find out what happens to this little “fireball” and how she copes with being parentless.
~Jill Ehrhorn, Senior Librarian
This is a wonderful book! Those children and teens who relish creepy books will love it. But it isn't just a horror story - it's charming, clever, and touching at the same time. It tells the story of Bod (short for Nobody) Owens, a boy who is taken in by the inhabitants of the local cemetery after the murder of his family, The man Jack should have killed him, too, but Bod managed to toddle away from his bed and up the street to the graveyard. Raised by ghosts and werewolves and given the Freedom of the Graveyard, Bod learns the ways of his new supernatural family. They caution him never to leave the safety of his new home. But he must eventually learn the ways of the living and figure out how to face those who still want him dead.
This is Gaiman's second book for younger readers, after Coraline. He's outdone himself with this one.
Gaiman is coming to Palo Alto, brought to you by the Library, Kepler's and PAUSD. Come see him on Sat. Oct. 4th at 7:30 pm at Spangenberg Theatre at Gunn High School.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
No wonder all the kids LOVE Diary of a Wimpy Kid! It is hilarious, fast read. Greg Heffley keeps all of his personal thoughts and secrets in his diary. But as we all know, secrets have a way of coming out. His older teenage brother, Rodrick, steals his diary and threatens to reveal his deep dark secret. The great thing about this series is you don't have to read them in order. The drawings and captions are so funny! One of my top 10 books for 2008.
~Cheryl Lee, Librarian
Alex Rider fans will enjoy this thriller about Steel Trapp, a 14-year-old science whiz with a photographic memory. On a train trip to Washington D.C. for the National Science Challenge, Steel notices a woman leaving the train without her briefcase. By doing a good deed and attempting to return it to her, Steel gets involved in a criminal plot by kidnappers and possible terrorists. Although not every element of the plot hols together, the book is fast-paced and exciting.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
Mella has a rare talent - she's a dragon keeper. But her dragons are partially domesticated; wild dragons only appear in legends these days. One day, Mella accidentally finds a real dragon egg, and when its dragon is slain she promises to deliver the precious egg to its hatching ground far away in the mountains. Accompanied by a new friend, a squire named Roger, Mella sets off to keep her promise.
This is a good fantasy adventure with likeable characters. And dragons. Bound to be a hit.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
Clementine is back! One of the most memorable characters in children's literature in recent years has returned for the third time, and it is our good fortune. This time Clementine is dismayed to find out that her beloved teacher may win a trip to Egypt to do research - for the whole year. Mr. D'Matz is the first teacher who understands her, and now he might be leaving. And what's worse is that the new substitute is strict and has all different rules that Clementine doesn't understand. Clementine's 3rd grade class has a chance to write letters about their teacher that could affect the outcome of the Great Adventures for Teachers program. Should she spoil it all for Mr. D'Matz?
I know this doesn't sound funny, and it certainly isn't as far as Clementine is concerned, but Sara Pennypacker writes with such warmth, humor and compassion that the reader can't help but smile. Clementine is one-of-a-kind. You'll love her.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
The Penderwicks are back! Good news for fans of the first book (and you can definitely count me one of those). There's more good news, too - this book is also great! The four Penderwick sisters and their widowed father are surprised when their aunt shows up with a letter written by their mother just before she died. Not wanting her husband to be alone, she wrote to encourage him to begin dating several years after her death. Neither the girls nor their father are wild about this idea. In fact, the girls hatch a plot to find dates with women their dad will NOT like.
In the meantime, each of the girls has a lot going on her own life. The characters are so well-drawn and so sympathetic that the reader can't help but love them. Although the ending is pretty predictable, it doesn't really matter. All we want is the best for these wonderful people.
A great read for grades 4 - 7.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
I have a golden ticket! Reminiscent of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Gil Goodson wants to move out of Orchard Heights to escape his family's dark past. So he decides to enter the Gollywhopper Games in hopes of winning the grand prize-- a one-way ticket out of Orchard Heights. This is a fun, fast-paced story with lots of games, puzzles, and riddles. This is my favorite books of 2008. Two thumbs way UP!
~Cheryl Lee, Librarian
A mystery with a great girl detective - who happens to be Sherlock Holmes' little sister. How can you go wrong?
Enola Homes is back for a second adventure. She has run away from the staid bording school where her older brothers enrolled her (to turn her into a "proper young woman") and has set herself up to do detective work on her own. While Sherlock is searching for her, Enola is trying to figure out what happened to the missing daughter of a baronet. Was she kidnapped? Did she run away to elope? The police aren't having much success finding the girl, so Enola tries to solve the mystery.
~ Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
This book is reminiscent of Ramona series but set in Ancient Greece. Medusa Jones, a Gorgon, tries to fit in with the popular kids, but her hairstyle and friends makes it difficult for her to “blend in.” She goes on a class trip and that turns out to be quite an adventure. This is a good book if you want to mild introduction to Greek Mythology. Great illustrations make it easy to love Medusa. For Grades 2-4.
~Cheryl Lee, Librarian
I love Beatrice. She is spunky, eccentric, likes being called Bee and does not like the idea of having to share her dad with his new girlfriend. Her mother died a few years before and even though her dad seems happy, she can’t make herself like Jazzi. There are all the ups and downs of bringing somebody new into an existing family but the coming together is touching without being sappy. Bee speaks her mind more than once and the reader can really feel her pain. The author is English so there is some language that is unfamiliar but not impossible to figure out and it doesn’t interrupt the flow of the story. Bee’s emotions are strong and it’s great fun to see how such a young girl figures it all out. For Grades 2-4.
~Jill Ehrhorn, Senior Librarian
Reminiscent of Judy Moody books, this will definitely attract lots of fans. Randall has just moved to a new town, after his parents' divorce, and is not looking forward to summer. He is sure that it will be boring so decides to liven things up by starting a chess club. Although this doesn’t sound very exciting, the club is a giant success and leads to some positive lessons, such as being kind to older people, no matter how grumpy, and how to win over the town bully. The book has a sprinkling of black and white drawings which makes it perfect for early readers and there is plenty going on to keep a middle reader interested. The author happily mentions a summer reading program at the local library, that the boys sign up for, which will warm the hearts of all librarians! The end includes Randall’s Guide to Chess, several pages of drawings that illustrate various chess moves. For Grades 2-4.
~Jill Ehrhorn, Senior Librarian
This book may have a rather strange-looking cover, but inside is one of the finest books I have read this year. It tells the story of Kek, a refugee from the Sudan. His father and brother were killed, and he lost his mother during an attack on the refugee camp where they were staying. Now he has arrived in Minnesota in the winter - a strange place that is colder than anything he could have imagined. Fortunately, Kek has an aunt and cousin to live with, understanding teachers and social worker, and a new friend named Hannah.
The story is told by Kek himself. His words are simple, but his thoughts are deep. He holds on to the hope of reuniting with his mother when no one else seems to believe she is alive. It is a painful, difficult time, but Kek is resourceful, bright and a real charmer.
Applegate does a fine job of conveying Kek's voice by using a free--verse form.
Recommended for kids in grades 5 and up. This would make a great classroom read-aloud.
~MayaSpector, School Liaison Librarian
Maybelle may well be a cockroach but she is a very likable, plump little gal! She lives with a very tidy family, Mr. and Mrs. Peabody, under their refrigerator. Like most cockroaches, Maybelle loves food but is very tired of the scraps and crumbs she finds on the ground and yearns for a real meal. She ignores the advice of her pal, Henry the Flea, who lived and dined on the cat, to stay under wraps and out of the way of the Peabodys or they would call the Bug Man. And that’s when the trouble starts!
This is a great introduction to early chapter books, loaded with spot illustrations that nicely break up the text. My favorites are the ones of Maybelle with a big bow in her hair. The book is sure to bring lots of chuckles and hopes for more stories about Maybelle.
~Jill Ehrhorn, Senior Librarian
Four humorous fantasy adventures for younger readers than Nix's usual audience. A boy joins a rat navy in order to defeat a crew of video pirates. A bored princess looks for - and finds - adventure. An orphaned inventor finds the perfect parents, and a girl genius confronts a sea serpent. Wild and wacky, these stories are accompanied by equally goofy cartoon illustrations. A fun read for 3rd to 5th graders.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
Eleven-year-old Tom is upset and angry when his widowed mother tells him she is considering marrying again. Unable to sleep, he goes down to the creek below his house and climbs onto a slab of foam packing material. Before long, he is caught in rough water and eventually ends up in an underground cavern with no apparent way out. When his mother discovers that Tom is missing, she refuses to believe that he is dead. She reluctantly accepts help offered by some treasure hunters, even though they seem to be unsavory characters, because no one else has offered assistance.
This exciting adventure/survival story is a real page-turner and full of interesting characters. A good read.
~ Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
Georgina Hayes desperately needs money. Georgina, her mom, and brother are homeless and live in their car. Georgina sees a poster for a missing dog and gets the idea to steal a dog to collect the reward money.
I'd highly recommend reading this book especially if you are a dog-lover. Georgina, the "underdog" struggles to help her family while trying to do the "right thing." This book is recommended for grades 3 and up.
~Cheryl Lee, Librarian
What the heck is Smekday? Well, I'll tell you. It's actually Christmas, renamed Smeday by the aliens who took over the earth. The Boov named it after their glorious Captain Smek. We know all of this because a girl named Gratuity (nicknamed Tip) wrote an essay on the true meaning of Smekday. In it we learn how the Boov kidnapped her mother and demanded that all Americans resettle in the state of Florida. Tip refuses to go in the Boov's ships and heads off on her own. On the way, she links up with a renegade Boov named J.Lo and they set out to find her mother. They soon discover that the Boov's enemies, the Gorg, are on the way to take over the earth, and they are even worse than the Boov.
There's no way to capture in a short review the wacky and hilarious story that follows. The book is illustrated with "photos," drawings and comic strips. The whole thing is a hoot. Highly recommended for kids in grades 4 and up.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
Like a touch of magic mixed with a good mystery? Throw in some hilarious adventure and you’ve got The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen. Katie, Lily and Jasper are hoping for a quiet vacation at a mountain inn, but find themselves in the midst of a gathering of characters from famous kids’ book series. Who has brought them together and where are the priceless Mandrake jewels? And who’s that guy in the black cape screaming in the hallway? These are some of the mysteries to be solved in this captivating and fun book.
~Melinda Wing, Supervising Librarian for Children's Library
If there were an award for the best book cover of the year this would get my vote. I love the title, too. Moxy is nine and going into 4th grade. She's had all summer to read Stuart Little. Now it's the day before school's starting and she hasn't even begun to read it. It's not that she doesn't love reading - she just doesn't like being told what to read.
This book is funny and has short chapters and lots of photos, theoretically taken by Moxy's twin brother. A great book for kids jumping into chapter books.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
Here is the new Newbery Award winner - a great choice! I had reviewed this book on the Kids' Blog for one of our Poetry Friday posts. Here's that review:
This is a different sort of book for our Poetry Friday this week. Laura Amy Schlitz is a school librarian who created this series of monologues and dialogues, most written in verse, for her students to perform. In the voices of people living in the Middle Ages, these little plays bring history alive. Many of the characters know each other as they live around the same manor in England in 1255. Some are wealthy, some are paupers, and all are fascinating. Here is a sample, taken from the monologue of Simon, the knight's son.
Ever since I was four or five years old
I knew I'd be a knight. I could see myself,
a brawny stallion between my knees,
riding into battle.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
Curtis is a great author, no doubt about it. If you haven't read any of his books, go straight to the catalog and reserve them. Right now. Go, shoo! If you have read his other books, you'll definitely want to read this one. It's every bit as good as the rest.
Elijah was the first free black child born in Buxton, a community in Canada of former and runaway slaves. He's special in other ways, too. His mama calls him "fragile," which means he's pretty emotional for an eleven-year-old boy. Elijah makes some interesting (and not always wise) choices, but he's a fascinating character that readers will root for all the way. There's humor, excitement, and just plain good storytelling here.
I never knew about Buxton (a real place) before reading this novel, but I'm glad I know now .
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
Since their parents died in an accident, Jennet and Ben have been sent to a series of foster homes. They are always asked to leave because Ben frightens people. He can't help it - he sees things other people don't - like ghosts. But when a kind old woman in the small seaside village of Whitby takes them in, the children start to think they may have found a home. They soon discover that Whitby has a strange history; unusual (and evil) events are beginning to happen there again. And Ben is not the only one who sees things. The first of a new trilogy, and an exciting one.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
Paul Fisher, a legally blind soccer goalie, moves to Tangerine, Florida. His brother, Erik, is the all-star football kicker, who is adored by his father. Paul struggles to gain acceptance from his family (his Dad) and friends. He discovers that there are hidden secrets regarding him and his family. This is my favorite book to recommend to 5th graders who love suspenseful endings.
~Cheryl Lee, Librarian
When Kip's mom goes on her honeymoon to Hawaii, he is forced to spend a month with his grandmother and five girl cousins. Because the house is about to be torn down, the kids are able to write on the walls and demolish anything not structurally necessary. Kip is not used to being around a spirited group of girls, and so he spends a lot of time in his attic bedroom where he discovers a notebook his dead father had kept as a teen. There are a number of ways Kip feels he is the "odd man out," but this summer will change that and his life forever.
I loved this book!
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
Eben thinks life in Sassafra Springs is boring - nothing like the great places he's read about, such as the Seven Wonders of the World. When his father challenges him to find seven wonders in their small town, Eben decides to step up to the challenge. This California Young Reader medal nominee gets my vote. It's a little bit of good old-fashioned storytelling, and a little bit of magic. Gr. 3 - 5.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
Evangeline’s parents are primatologists, they study apes, chimpanzees and gorillas and have borrowed some parenting tips from these primates. They actually let Evangeline climb on the furniture and swing from the chandeliers. How lucky is she?
Life was perfectly abnormal for the whole family until one day Evangeline’s mom and dad were called to a faraway place called Ikkinasti Jungle (that’s icky nasty!!) to do some serious research. Days pass and she starts getting worried because it seems like forever that her parents have been gone. So, this spunky, wild haired little girl decides to take off on her own to find her parents. This book is filled with adventure and would appeal to little girls who enjoy funny stories. Gr 2-4
~Jill Ehrhorn, Children's Librarian
Jack Prelutsky is our very first U.S. Children's Poet Laureate. He has published many wonderful books of poetry, including the charming, new Me I Am!Illustrations by Christine Davenier are just the right match for the poem. This is a perfect picture book/ poem for young children. Here's how it starts:
I am the only ME I AM
who qualifies as me;
no ME I AM has ever been before,
and none will ever be.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
The fifth grade class is so wild and noisy they're known as the unshushables. But, after studying about Gandhi, Dave tries an experiment - keeping silent for a whole day, the way Gandhi did. He isn't successful because he can't keep himself from ridiculing the girls' conversations. Suddenly, it's the boys against the girls in a contest of no talking. Can the teachers deal with this new development? It turns out that they, too, learn something from this surprising experiment
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
Ginny, a second grader, is thrilled when the new student is assigned to her class. She wants a new friend very much and the new girl, Stephanie, holds promise, since she is Chinese, just like Ginny. What she doesn’t know yet is that Stephanie is the adopted daughter of American parents and not very interested in her heritage at all. In fact, she never eats Chinese food and doesn’t care much for her straight black hair. This is very different and conflicting for Ginny. Her parents are immigrants, so Ginny has experienced the juggling act between the two cultures. This is a story of friendship, of the common things that draw people together and the dilemmas that often lead to greater understanding of different cultures. Recommended for Grades 2-3. ~ Jill Ehrhorn, Children's Librarian
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davis
Evan has always been his little sister Jessie’s best friend and protector. But when he finds out that Jessie has skipped a grade and will be in his 4th grade class when the summer’s over, Evan is furious. Almost before they know how it happens, Evan and Jessie are at war – a competition to see who can make the most money selling lemonade. Jessie’s great at math and business, but Evan’s good with people. Who will win – and will the war end their troubles or make them worse? A fine read about siblings and their issues.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
 The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Read this book! Selznick not only tells a great story, but he also breaks new ground in bookmaking design. The visual concept is hard to describe, but it has aspects of both graphic novels and flip books, and is reminiscent of old movies. You just have to see it to really get the picture. The story tells of the life and mission of twelve-year-old Hugo, a boy who lives alone in the hidden recesses of a 1930's Paris train station after the disappearance of his guardian, an uncle who was the station's clock keeper. Hugo's father, a clockmaker, had died in museum fire, leaving Hugo a broken robot/automaton and his notebooks about its mechanisms. Hugo is determined to stay hidden from view and put the complicated automaton in working order. He winds up doing some work for a mysterious toymaker and reluctantly becomes friends with the toymaker's goddaughter. The plot is filled with suspense, secrets, dreams, and the world of early films and inventions.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
 Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars by Douglas Florian
Subtitled Space Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian, this book is a delight to look at as well as to read. The poems are short and clever, the pages full of wonderful cutouts, paintings and collages. Florian includes a good glossary full of information and a bibliography for further reading. Here's a sample from the poem on Pluto:
Pluto was a planet.
Pluto was admired.
Pluto was a planet.
Till one day it got fired.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
Pocket Poems by Bobbi Katz
I love this poetry book by Bobbi Katz. On page 20, they have a poem called "Raising Frogs for Profit." You'll appreciate this poem if you had a lemonade stand.
Raising Frogs for Profit
Raising Frogs for Profit
Is a very sorry joke.
How can you make money
When so many of them croak?
~Cheryl Lee, Librarian
Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow by Joyce Sidman
This is a wonderful new book of poetry riddles about the hidden world of the meadow. By award-winning author Joyce Sidman, this gorgeous book with scratchboard illustrations by Beth Krommes encourages readers and listeners to notice grasshoppers, rabbits, deer, spittlebugs, trees, hawks and other inhabitants of a meadow ecosystem. Here is a part of one of the riddle poems; can you guess what it is?
Our time will come again
say the patient ones.
Now is meadow
but not for long.
Say the patient ones:
sunlight dazzles,
but not for long.
seedlings grow amongst the grass.
Find out the answer by reserving this book here.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
 Diamond Life by Charles R. Smith, Jr.
Check out this poetic tribute to America's pastime by Charles R. Smith, Jr. This picture book is loaded with colorful bold photos of Little League players waiting for their one big moment! Enjoy 15 different baseball poems such as, "Listen, kid..." or "Stealing Second".
~Jill Ehrhorn, Senior Librarian
 Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Move over, Ramona – Clementine's arrived. This is one of the funniest, most enjoyable transitional chapter books to come along in quite a while. Clementine is eight years old, the daughter of an artist mother and building manager father, and having “not so good of a week.” She just can't seem to stay out of trouble. She's no stranger to the principal's office, where she gets sent for helping her friend Margaret cut off all her hair. And she is unfairly told to pay attention all the time, when, of course, she is paying better attention than anyone. Just not to what her teacher thinks she should be paying attention to. Wonderful line drawings by Marla Frazee perfectly complement the story.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
 Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean
Neverland is in trouble. Wendy and the Old Boys (formerly the Lost Boys) know something is wrong because, as Wendy says, “Dreams are leaking out of Neverland.” They all wake up from nightmares with evidence in their beds – a cutlass, a quiver of arrows, a pirate's hat, an alarm clock. And so they find a way to return to childhood and to Neverland, where, sure enough, trouble abounds.
McCaughrean won a contest enabling her to write this “authorized” sequel to J.M. Barrie's classic work. What I didn't know (and maybe you didn't either) is that Barrie gave all the rights to Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children. This generous gift has been incredibly valuable to the hospital, and it is this institution that held the competition. The timing is interesting, as several other Pan-inspired books have been published of late.
The challenge for the author was to keep the tone and feeling of the original work while making it work for a modern audience. She has caught the wild adventure, the spirit of Peter Pan, the dream-like quality of life in Neverland. The book is longer and a little more complex, and of course it doesn't sound like J. M Barrie. But Pan lovers will delight in the story and Scott M. Fischer's silhouette illustrations are in perfect keeping with the old Pan books.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
 Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
Bean is a seven-year-old girl who stomps in puddles, smashes rocks to find gold, climbs trees and only wears a dress when her mother insists. She is quite sure she would not want to be friends with her new neighbor, Ivy, who sits quietly, reads big books and wears dresses all the time. Bean thinks Ivy is boring, and she's sure she won't like her. But one day Bean gets into trouble with her big sister and Ivy offers to hide her. It doesn't take long for Bean to discover that Ivy isn't as boring as she'd thought.
Good, easy chapter books for children emerging from beginning readers are always a welcome find. This first in a new series is right on target for those 2nd and 3rd grade girls looking for something fun to read about kids their age.
~Maya Spector, School Liaison Librarian
 The Landry News by Andrew Clements
Fifth grader Cara Landry, the editor of "Landry News", the school newspaper, writes an editorial article on her lackluster teacher which threatens to end his teaching career. More problems arise when the school principal gets involved and wants to shut down "Landry News."
I'd highly recommend this book to 4th and 5th graders. This touches on complicated subjects like divorce and First Amendment Rights and makes them palatable for students. ~Cheryl Lee, Librarian
The Staff Recommends for Kids
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Candyfloss
Diary of a Wimpy Kid; Rodrick Rules
The Case of the Left-Handed Lady: An Enola Homes Mystery
How to Survive a Totally Boring Summer 
The True Meaning of Smekday
The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen
The Whitby Witches 
No Talking 
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