Bookworm for Kids

These new books are highly recommended for home and school libraries.

New Books for Younger Kids

Most Loved in All the World
by Tonya Hegamin, Cozbi A. Cabrera
Ages 4–8
When our heroine is sent north on the Underground Railroad, her mother stays behind to help others make the journey. She sends a beautiful quilt with her daughter to help her find her way, and to remind her that she is the most loved in all the world. This beautiful book uses a child’voice to talk about difficult concepts of slavery, courage, and sacrifice.

Bring Me Some Apples and I'll Make You a Pie
by Robbin Gourley
Ages 4–8
This book follows Edna Lewis during her childhood in a Virginia farming community. From early spring until first snow, Edna appreciates each crop as it ripens and is ready to be incorporated into a delicious dish. Folk rhymes and sayings are sprinkled throughout the text. A short biography of this famous African-American chef and five kid-friendly recipes are included.

My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life
by Kate Feiffer, Diane Goode
Ages 4–8
Our young narrator’s mother seems perfect to others, but she insists on embarrassing her daughter in public by kissing her and telling loud jokes. The watercolor illustrations perfectly complement the text.

Let It Begin Here!
April 19, 1775: The Day the American Revolution Began
by Don Brown
Ages 6–10
This book begins as King George III wins the Seven Years’ War and realizes his country needs money. The taxes imposed on the American colonies eventually lead to the Revolutionary War. Told in a clear and interesting style, young readers will enjoy reading about this time in history.

All Stations! Distress!
April 15, 1912: The Day the Titanic Sank
by Don Brown
Ages 6–10
This gripping account captures the grandeur of the Titanic, the terror of the disaster, and the rescue the survivors. The watercolor and pencil illustrations capture telling details of of actions and facial expressions. The causes of the disaster are clearly explained and gripping first-hand accounts are included.

Erika-san
by Allen Say
Ages 6–10
Erika always loved her Grandmother’s print of a small Japanese teahouse with lighted windows, and dreamed of traveling to Japan one day. After college she travels to Japan to teach and finally finds exactly the right spot. The beautiful watercolors are the perfect match for the tranquil text.

The Negro Speaks of Rivers
by Langston Hughes, E.B. Lewis
Ages 4–8
Poetry
Luminous watercolors by E.B. Hughes of rivers all over the world accompany the poem by Langston Hughes. Together they portray the experiences of black people throughout history.

My People
by Langston Hughes, Charles R. Smith Jr.
Ages 4–8
Poetry
Smith’s sepia-toned photographs of African-Americans illustrate Langston Hughes’s eloquent tribute to his people. This beautiful book will be enjoyed over and over.

When Royals Wore Ruffles:
A Funny and Fashionable Alphabet!
by Pamela Jaber, Chesley Mclaren
Ages 5–9
This A–Z of fashion history uses witty text and charming illustrations to demonstrate that the desire to look fabulous can push humans to often hilarious extremes.

Tillie Lays An Egg
by Terry Golson, Ben Fink
Ages 4–8
The other hens are content to use the henhouse, but Tillie searches for perfect places in the house and Massachusetts farm. Fink’s charming photographs with funny close ups of chicken faces beautifully complement the text.

The Cardboard Piano
by Lynne Rae Perkins
Ages 4–8
Debbie and Tina share everything, except piano lessons since Tina doesn’t have a piano. Debbie constructs a beautiful cardboard piano for her friend, but Tina soon loses interest. The dialog and watercolor illustrations subtly explore what is most important in friendship.

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed
by Mo Willems
Ages 3–8
Unlike the rest of his family of naked mole rats, Wilbur likes to wear clothes. When the other mole rats report them to their leader Grand-pah, Wilbur is worried. Wonderful illustrations and funny prose are a perfect match in this tale of tolerance and the importance of being yourself.

The Moon Over Star
by Dianna Hutts Aston
Ages 6–8
It's July 1969 and eight-year-old May and her community spend the day watching and thinking about the historic moon landing. Beautiful watercolor illustrations capture the wonder and awe of this inspiring event.

The Donut Chef
by Bob Staake
Ages 3–5
Rival donut chefs compete by creating ever more bizarre donuts until a small girl asks for a simple glazed donut. The rhyming couplets and delicious illustrations make this book a treat for both ear and eye.

Jack and the Box
by Art Spiegelman
Ages 4–8
Jack the bunny receives a talking jack-in-the-box that is both funny and scary. Beginning readers will love this clever Toon Book with plenty of repeated vocabulary and age-appropriate humor.

Her Mother’s Face
by Roddy Doyle, Freya Blackwood
Ages 4–8
When Siobhán was three her mother died. Now 10 years old, she cannot remember her mother’s face. Then a strange woman in the park tells her to search her own reflection in the mirror. As time passes, Siobhán realizes the woman was her mother. Blackwood’s illustrations mirror Doyle’s optimism that time heals grief.

Snow Party
by Harriet Ziefert, Mark Jones
Ages 4–8
When the first snow of the year falls on the winter solstice, the snow people have a party. Mark Jones’s breathtaking pastel illustrations make this book stand out.

Color Magic Sticker Play Book
by Metropolitan Museum of Art
Ages 4–8
More than 2000 red, blue, and yellow translucent stickers in various geometric shapes encourage children to experiment with color and the shapes that make up the world around us. The reusable stickers easily peel away from the laminated pages, making it simple to create new masterpieces.

Peter Pan:
A Classic Collectible Pop-Up
by Robert Sabuda
Ages 4–10
Amazing pop-up illustrations bring characters from J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan to 3-D life.

Wanda Gág: The Girl Who Lived to Draw
by Deborah Kogan Ray
Ages 6–9
Best known for her classic picture book Millions of Cats, Wanda Gág loved to draw. This well-researched biography incorporates entries from Wanda’s childhood diaries into a compelling picture book format.

There are Cats in this Book
by Viviane Schwarz
Ages 3–8
Three playful cats romp through this interactive book that encourages the reader to join in the fun.

Swing!
by Rufus Butler Seder
Ages 4–8
Seder’s amazing Scanimation technology animates various activities: hitting a baseball, riding a bike, spinning on the ice. Rhyming text captures in words the energy of the moving images.

Katie Loves the Kittens
by John Himmelman
Ages 3–8
Katie the dog loves the new kittens but they are frightened by her barking and leaping. Katie eventually learns that sometimes it is best to let others take the initiative in this heart-warming book.

Sourpuss And Sweetie Pie
by Norton Juster
Ages 4–8
Our multiracial heroine admits that she has conflicting personalities, sometimes she is Sourpuss, sometimes Sweetie Pie. Her grandparents accept her dual natures, reflected in the different color palettes illustrating her happy moments and her tantrums.

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
by Mem Fox, Helen Oxenbury
Ages 3–5
The rhythmic rhyming text in this picture book for very young children is addictive. Adorable multicultural babies are added with each new stanza.

Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken
by Kate Dicamillo, Harry Bliss
Ages 4–8
Louise is an adventurous chicken who longs for excitement, so she leaves the farm and meets pirates on the high seas and lions under the big top. The comic narration makes for a perfect read-aloud.

The Pet Dragon:
A Story about Adventure, Friendship, and Chinese Characters
by Christoph Niemann
Ages 4–8
As the spunky Lin searches for her runaway pet dragon, young readers are introduced to 33 Chinese characters. The bold black characters are ingeniously integrated into Niemann’s vivid computer graphics.

Dinosaur vs. Bedtime
by Bob Shea
Ages 2–6
The little red dinosaur is fearless and invincible in his bouts against everyday obstacles like a bowl or spaghetti or talking grown-ups until he meets his nemesis—bedtime.

Last Night
by Hyewon Yum
Ages 3–8
A little girl sent to bed early for not finishing her supper dreams of a night in the forest with her teddy bear. In the morning the mother and child make peace in this spell-binding exploration of coping with anger from a child’s point of view. Stunning linoleum block prints present the dreamy atmosphere.

Jibberwillies At Night
by Rachel Vail
Ages 4–8
Katie Honors is sometimes afraid at night when the Jibberwillies fly through her room. Luckily Katie’s mother knows just what to do, and together they catch the Jibberwillies in a bucket and throw them out the window. This fun book is sure to empower any child who has ever had nighttime fears.

Hank Finds Inspiration
by Craig Frazier
Ages 4–8
Stanley and his snake friend Hank head off to the city in search of inspiration. As Hank travels from one destination to another, he is sent on somewhere new in this beautifully illustrated tale of discovery. Echoes of Stanley’s previous adventures appear in the text and illustrations.

Enigma
by Graeme Base
Ages 5–10
Bertie Badger arrives at his grandfather’s house expecting a magic show, but the magic props have all disappeared. Readers are encouraged to crack codes and find hidden pictures to solve the mystery, told in rhyming quatrains. A set of bonus challenges will keep kids, and their relatives, glued to the pages for weeks.

Spuds
by Karen Hesse
Ages 4–8
When their mother leaves to work the night shift, the three fatherless children sneak out in the middle of the night to glean potatoes from a neighbor’s field. Evocative language and subtle illustrations transform the poverty of the children into an exciting adventure.

Yellow Square:
A Pop-up Book for Children of All Ages
by David A. Carter
Ages 3–up
A yellow square hides in plain sight, or within the paper engineering on each page, encouraging readers of all ages to explore the modern art inspired pages.

ABC3D
by Marion Bataille
Ages 4–up
In this amazing pop-up book, the 26 letters of the alphabet not only pop up, they also move and transform. This clever French book will enchant readers and art lovers of all ages.

The Whistle on the Train
by Margaret Mcnamara, Richard Egielski
Ages 2–6
In this colorful pop-up book, the song “Wheels on a Bus” is adapted for a train journey. The lyrics are easy to learn, so young children can “read” this book over to themselves as they enjoy the sturdy pop-up features.

The Hinky-Pink
by Megan McDonald, Brian Floca
Ages 4–8
In this retelling of a story from 1940, the humble seamstress Anabel is about to realize her dream of sewing a ball gown for a princess when a Hinky-Pink appears to rob her of sleep so that she is too tired to sew. Floca’s active and detailed watercolors bring long-ago Florence to life.

Wangari's Trees of Peace:
A True Story from Africa
by Jeanette Winter
Ages 4–8
When Wangari Maathai was a child, Kenya was full of trees. When she returns after six years of study in the United States, Wangari is horrified to find whole forests have been cut down. Beginning with nine seedlings in her backyard, Wangari inspires the Green Belt Movement, which has planted 30 million trees in Kenya. This simple biography of the 2004 Nobel Prize winner is a wonderful example of how one person can bring about change.

Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears
by Emily Gravett
Ages 4–8
Little Mouse uses a scrapbook diary to confront her fears, and she is afraid of just about everything. Expansive collages with interactive elements illustrate all sorts of esoteric fears, like sciaphobia: the fear of shadows.

Pete & Pickles
by Berkeley Breathed
Ages 4–8
Pete the sensible pig leads a predictable life until Pickles, a runaway circus elephant enthusiastically turns it upside down. Breathed’s evocative digital illustrations bring this funny and exciting story to life.

I Wanna Be Your Shoebox
by Cristina Garcia
Ages 8–12
Yumi Ruíz-Hirsch, an 8th grader in Southern California, comes from a mixed Cuban, Jewish, Japanese family. Three events force her to face the loss of something she loves: her school plans to cut the orchestra, her mother wants to marry and move, and her grandfather is diagnosed with cancer. Each character in this moving novel has a powerful voice in helping Yumi cope with change.

A Perfect Season for Dreaming
Una temporada perfecta para soñar
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Esau Andrade Valencia
Ages 7–12
In this bilingual book 92-year old Octavio Rivera shares his beautiful and fantastic dreams with his young granddaughter. The combination of Sáenz’s lyrical prose and Valencia’s incredible illustrations is mesmerizing.

Monsters on Machines
by Deb Lund, Robert Neubecker
Ages 4–8
In this rhyming story a crew of monsters builds a custom (Pre haunted) house and then clean up. Muck and mud, screams and shouts, monsters and machines—what more could you want?

Lazy Little Loafers
by Susan Orlean, G. Brian Karas
Ages 5–8
In this witty new-baby book, our heroine trudges off to school with her enormous backpack to take tests while her little brother lounges around nearly naked in the park.

South
by Patrick McDonnell
Ages 3–7
In this nearly wordless book, Mooch the cat helps a small bird whose flock has flown south without him. This humorous and moving story explores crossing boundaries and saying goodbye.

Frankenstein Takes the Cake
by Adam Rex
Ages 5–10
Frankenstein and his bride are planning the wedding, but his best man, Dracula, is worried about the garlic bread, and other B-movie monsters have similar woes in this hilarious book of poems.

Adèle & Simon in America
by Barbara McClintock
Ages 4–8
Visiting from Paris, Adèle and Simon take a train journey across early 20th century United States with their Aunt Cécile. The forgetful Simon loses one of his belongings at each stop prompting a visual hide-and-seek through the illustrations, which include historical figures. Sepia endpapers trace their route on an old railway map.

Bats at the Library
by Brian Lies
Ages 4–8
Thanks to an open window, the bats have a wonderful time exploring the books and the library after dark.

Thump, Quack, Moo
by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin
Ages 4–8
Farmer Brown is trying to build a fabulous Statue of Liberty corn maze, but the subversive duck has other ideas in this hilarious read-aloud winner.

Splat the Cat
by Rob Scotton
Ages 4–8
Splat the Cat has a severe case of first-day-of-school anxiety, so he secretly brings his pet mouse for comfort. Splat is astounded when he learns that cats are supposed to chase mice in a hilarious chase sequence.

Wild Boars Cook
by Meg Rosoff, Sophie Blackall
Ages 4–8
The bossy, selfish, stinky, and hilarious boars are back to create the messiest, stickiest, gooiest pudding in the world. This sequel to Meet Wild Boars is sure to delight every child.

The Day Leo Said I Hate You!
by Robie Harris, Molly Bang
Ages 3–8
Leo is sulking after misbehaving and his mother’s disciplining sparks words that Leo wishes he could take back as soon as they leave his mouth. Leo worries he has endangered his mother’s love, but she manages to heal the breach in a reassuring and sensible manner.

One Boy
by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Ages 2–6
This clever peek-a-boo book counts from one to ten and also reveals words within words. Young children will enjoy discovering the hidden words—when the boy is alone, the word one is revealed within alone.

Old Bear
by Kevin Henkes
Ages 3–8
A hibernating bear dreams of a spring when he was a cub, followed by dreams of summer, fall, and winter in this beautifully illustrated book about the annual cycle of seasons.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things
by Lenore Look, Leuyen Pham
Ages 6–10
Alvin Ho, a Chinese-American 2nd grader, is afraid of just about everything: elevators, tunnels, girls, wasabi, and speaking out in school most of all. The comic exaggeration of a small boy’s emotions will appeal to young readers facing many of the same fears.

Bees, Snails, & Peacock Tails: Patterns & Shapes… Naturally
by Betsy Franco, Steve Jenkins
Ages 4–8
This inviting book explores geometry in the natural world. The layout of the rhymes often echoes the shapes pictured in the stunning cut-paper collages.

Chester’s Back!
by Mélanie Watt
Ages 4–8
Mélanie hopes that making her egocentric cat Chester the star of his own fairy tale will keep him satisfied, but Chester can’t resist using his red marker to make himself even more important. (sequel to Chester)

Madam President
by Lane Smith
Ages 4–8
Katy is an small girl determined to be president. In fact, she behaves as if she has been elected already, fulfilling presidential duties at home and at school—attending a pet frog’s “state funeral” and giving a press conference instead of an oral report.

The Pencil
by Allan Ahlberg, Bruce Ingman
Ages 4–8
This clever book tells the story of a pencil whose creations come to life. Young readers will love watching the pencil draw his way out of one predicament and straight into another.

Potato Joe
by Keith Baker
Ages 4–8
If it can rhyme with potato, Potato Joe and his nine potato friends have thought of it. The simple illustrations complement the rhymes in this counting book, and kids will be eager to turn the page to see what the silly spuds are up to next.

Julian Rodriguez #1: Trash Crisis on Earth
by Alexander Stadler
Ages 7–10
Julian complains to the Mothership that he has endured eight years of mistreatment in an Earthling home in this hilarious hybrid of fiction and graphic novel.

New Books for Older Kids

Peace, Locomotion
by Jacqueline Woodson
Ages 9–12
Now 12, Lonnie Collins Motion, called Locomotion, writes letters to maintain a bond with his younger sister Lili who was adopted after the death of their parents. Miss Edna, Lonnie’s foster mother, has a son who returns home from the Iraq war, disabled and traumatized. Though his letters, the kind and sensitive Lonnie struggles to make sense of his life and to achieve a sense of peace. (sequel to Locomotion)

North of Beautiful
by Justina Chen Headley
Ages 12–up
Terra has a birthmark on her face and a father who tells her she is ugly and not artistically talented. Then she meets Jacob, an Asian-born adoptee who introduces her to geocaching, a treasure hunt using GPS technology. When the two travel to China with their mothers, Terra redefines her definition of art and beauty.

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
by Rodman Philbrick
Ages 9–12
When Uncle Squinton sells off Homer P. Figg’s older brother Harold to take the place of a rich man’s son in the Union army, Homer sets off to rescue him. Told in the form of a rip-roaring yarn, Homer’s adventures are exciting and funny, but the horror of war and injustice of slavery aren’t ignored.

The Spectacular Now
by Tim Tharp
Ages 14–up
Sutter Keely is a popular and egocentric high school senior who lives totally in the now, with no though of past or future. Then he meets the socially awkward Aimee who would like to plan a future with him. The stream of consciousness narration from Sutter’s point of view never wavers, and is both charming and infuriating.

The Way He Lived
by Emily Wing Smith
Ages 14–up
The six teen-aged narrators of this novel don’t have much in common except a connection with Joel Espen, who died of dehydration after giving away his water bottle during a badly planned Boy Scout outing. As the six teens from Haven, Utah, try to make sense of Joel’s death and his effect on their lives, their views of themselves and their community are transformed.

Encyclopedia of the End:
Mysterious Death in Fact, Fancy, Folklore, and More
by Deborah Noyes
Ages 12–up
This engrossing A–Z of death and dying touches upon the spiritual, historical, and biological aspects of death throughout history. Paintings, photographs, and engravings add fascinating details and visual appeal.

3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows
by Ann Brashares
Ages 12–up
Ama, Polly, and Jo live in the same town as the famed Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. They decide to share a scarf, but worry that their rituals are lame in comparison. This start of a new series follows the three girls in the summer before they begin high school as each faces unexpected challenges.

The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
Ages 12–up
In this future world the United States is gone and North America has become Panem, a TV-dominated dictatorship. Every year 24 teenagers are chosen by lottery to fight in the Hunger Games, a reality TV show where the only rule is that you cannot eat the dead contestants. Katniss takes the place of her younger sister and is soon being groomed for maximum camera appeal. As Katniss struggles to win both the Games and audience approval, the reader is forced to confront the question: What happens if we choose entertainment over humanity? (1st in a projected trilogy)

Headlong
by Kathe Koja
Ages 14–up
Lily is a privileged boarder at the exclusive Vaughan School. She knows all the rules and everyone knows all about her. Then in sophomore year Hazel arrives, a scholarship student with an unconventional family. This intelligent novel explores class, identity, and friendship.

Tales From Outer Suburbia
by Shaun Tan
Ages 12–up
The fifteen very short stories in this book are whimsical, strange, and bizarre. The illustrations are also beautiful and yet disturbing. The combination makes the reader wonder what will happen next in each situation.

The Lost Island of Tamarind
by Nadia Aguiar
Ages 10–14
When a sudden storm hits the Nelson’s research boat, the parents are swept overboard. Maya (13) sails the boat to Tamarind, the island setting for her father’s fantastic tales. Stranded on the island, Maya, her brother Peter, and baby sister Penny, find themselves surrounded by pirates and involved in one exciting adventure after another in this high-energy fantasy.

The Way We Work
by David Macaulay
Ages 10–up
This comprehensive and entertaining illustrated guide to the workings of the human body is the result of years of research. Seven sections move from the structure of a cell through the systems of the body. The full color drawings present information in a friendly way, but the language is often highly technical. Motivated teens will love this book.

Spyology:
The Complete Book of Spycraft
by Dugald A. Steer
Ages 8–12
It's 1958 and Agent K, a British spy, reveals his secret techniques in a manual for new recruits. As he pursues the evil Operation Codex, Agent K sets challenges and reveals clues. Included are a magnifying glass, a code-breaker, and a secret compartment in the spine.

Mao and Me
by Chen Jiang Hong
Ages 8–12
Chen’s direct and honest picture book memoir of growing up during the Cultural Revolution is an excellent representation of political upheaval seen through the eyes of a child. Ink and wash paintings document both beautiful moments and unpleasant events.

Voss:
How I Came to America and Am Hero, Mostly
by David Ives
Ages 12–up
In a series of hilarious letters, Vospop Vsklzwczdztwczky (Voss for short) tells how he smuggles himself to America from Slobovia in a crate of cheese puffs with his gloomy father Bogdown and his nutty uncle Shpoont. Voss chases the American dream while a Slobovian black marketeer chases him in this funny book that manages to deliver pointed social commentary without damaging Voss’s idealistic optimism.

My So-Called Family
by Courtney Sheinmel
Ages 9–12
When Leah Hoffman-Ross’s family moves to New York shortly before the start of the 8th grade year, she decides to try and pass as normal, instead of the child of Donor 730 from a Maryland sperm back. Her mother thinks her new stepfather and little brother should be all the family she needs, but Leah finds the database of the sperm registry and discovers she has a half-sister her own age. This thought-provoking book encourages readers to think about what really makes a family.

Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception
by Maggie Stiefvater
Ages 12–up
Sixteen-year-old gifted harpist Deirdre Monaghan is painfully shy and a bit bored with her dull suburban life. When a mysterious boy enters her life, Deirdre discovers that she is a cloverhand, one who can see faeries. Soon she is in the midst of a magical faerie war that brings a bit more excitement than she wished for. Fantasy fans will love this dark tale.

Vibes
by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Ages 12–up
Kristi is pretty sure she can read minds, and absolutely sure that her peers think she is gross and disgusting. She is still mad at her father, who left the family two years ago, and hostile to her mother. Then events conspire to make her wonder if she can read people at all. This witty, funny, and poignant novel is sure to appeal to teens.

The Last Invisible Boy
by Evan Kuhlman
Ages 10–14
In his notebook, Finn Garrett (12) explains that after his father died unexpectedly a few months ago, an eraser fell from the sky and has gradually been erasing him day by day. This painful yet funny novel explores coping with loss in a way middle schoolers can empathize with.

Here Lies Arthur
by Philip Reeve
Ages 12–up
Gwynna escapes down the river when her village is burned by the warlord Arthur and is rescued by Myrddin who offers to protect her in exchange for her service. Myrddin disguises Gwynna as various people in order to transform the warlord into the hero King Arthur. Reeve’s cynical take on Arthurian legends will enchant teens.

Dear Julia
by Amy Bronwen Zemser
Ages 12–up
Two very different high school misfits become friends in this funny and touching book. Shy Elaine Hamilton prepares gourmet French meals for her family and writes secret letters to Julia Child, while Lucida Sans (who renamed herself after the typeface) seeks attention in any form.

Raucous Royals:
Test your Royal Wits: Crack Codes, Solve Mysteries, and Deduce Which Royal Rumors are True
by Carlyn Beccia
Ages 9–12
This fascinating mix of costumed caricatures, interactive text, and quizzes encourages the reader to participate in history rather than just read about it. The combination picture book/graphic novel is sure to appeal to middle grade kids.

What I Saw And How I Lied
by Judy Blundell
Ages 12–up
This noir mystery is set in 1947. Evie (15) and her mother set off for Florida with her stepfather Joe. Evie falls in love with Peter, an army buddy of Joe’s. A suspicious boating accident forces Evie to re-examine her relationships with Peter, her mother, and her stepfather. This stylish novel has the atmosphere of a glamorous old movie.

The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman
Ages 10–up
When a murderer kills the rest of his family, the toddler escapes to the graveyard next door where the ghosts take him in and raise him as their own. The boy, called Bod (short for Nobody) grows up fairly normal despite his ghoulish guardians and the fact that the killer is still stalking him. This gothic fantasy is downright terrifying at times.

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn
by Alison Goodman
Ages 12–up
In a world where women are forbidden to study Dragon magic, Eona (16) disguises herself as a 12-year-old boy (Eon) to enter a competition to become an apprentice Dragoneye. Against all odds, the crippled Eon is selected and is soon fighting against the corrupt Lord Ido in this compelling fantasy.

Burn
by Suzanne Phillips
Ages 12–up
This thought-provoking book tells the story of Cameron Grady, a badly bullied freshman who escapes by playing with fire. When fatal results occur, the reader is challenged to examine some hard questions about who is a victim and who is a criminal, and how far a victim is allowed to go in the struggle to stand up for himself.

Ghost Medicine
by Andrew Smith
Ages 12–up
The summer after his mother dies, Troy (16) and two friends work wrangling horses and coming of age. After each brush with danger (rattlesnakes, mountain lions) they pay homage to a mysterious force they call “ghost medicine” with tattoos and rituals.

The Other Side of the Island
by Allegra Goodman
Ages 12–up
Honor (10) and her parents are brought to Island 365 by the Corporation led by Earth Mother. Using memory-altering substances and misinformation, the Corporation lulls its citizens into believing that the rest of the world is uninhabitable. Honor’s parents rebel and are captured and Honor and a friend must rescue them.

The 39 Clues: A Maze of Bones
by Rick Riordan
Ages 9–14
In this first of 10 books, orphans Amy and Dan Cahill take on the challenge of winning a fortune by collecting all 39 clues. They also hope to find their parents along the way. Unfortunately they are competing against the rest of the Cahill clan, many of whom are less than honorable. Riordan created the story arc for the series; authors will write also for the series. This fast-paced book has plenty of suspense, danger, and puzzles. Readers between the age of 6–14 can also create online accounts to play the online game and compete for $100,000 in prizes.

Ways To Live Forever
by Sally Nicholls
Ages 9–12
Eleven-year old Sam is in the final stages of leukemia. In his journal he keeps facts, questions, and lists. As the book progresses, Sam’s friend Felix dies and Sam begins to decline. Sam and his family face death with humor and grace in this moving novel.

Boys Are Dogs
by Leslie Margolis
Ages 8–12
When sixth-grader Annabelle returns from summer camp she finds her mother and boyfriend have set up house together. The surprise bribe gift of a puppy helps, but her new school is awful. It’s Annabelle’s first experience with coed education and the boys drive her crazy until she decides to try her puppy training manual on them.

The Big Splash
by Jack D. Ferraiolo
Ages 10–14
Seventh grader Matt Stevens walks the mean hallways of Franklin Middle School in this clever and funny middle school noir. Tough guy Vinny Biggio and his gang of trigger girls and boys armed with squirt guns rule the campus until Matt decides to figure out who took down Nikki Fingers in this exciting mystery.

Dr. Frankenstein’s Human Body Book
by Richard Walker
Ages 10–up
Dr. Frankenstein invites readers to join him as he creates a human being. From atoms and the skeleton to tissues and muscles, this anatomy book is as fascinating as science fiction. Gothic fonts and illustrations blend with state of the art images from gamma scans and other advanced technology.

Pretty Monsters: Stories
by Kelly Link
Ages 12–up
In this short story collection nothing is what it seems, and everything deserves a second look. The stories are funny, quirky, full of unexpected insights and skewed perspectives on the world.

Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out
by National Children’s Book and Literary Alliance
Ages 10–up
An all-star roster of 108 children’s authors and illustrators plus scholars and former White House employees and residents combine to make up this multifaceted view of the White House from the inside as well as the outside, a personal and ongoing history from 1792 to the present.

What the World Eats
by Peter Menzel, Faith D’Aluisio
All Ages
Twenty-five families in 21 countries around the world are photographed surrounded by a week’s worth of food. The multi-generational portraits provide an avenue for exploring each family’s hopes and struggles while gently raising issues about global food supplies. Family recipes, maps, and county information reveal provocative statistics. (adapted from Hungry Planet)

Brooklyn Bridge
by Karen Hesse, Chris Sheban
Ages 10–14
It’s 1903 in Brooklyn and all 14-year-old Joseph Michtom wants to do is go to the brand-new amusement park at Coney Island. But his Russian immigrant parents have just invented the stuffed teddy bear, and Joseph is too busy working to have fun. Meanwhile the street children living under the Brooklyn Bridge are haunted by a ghost they call the Radiant Boy.

The Ghost’s Child
by Sonya Hartnett
Ages 12–up
One day 75-year-old Maddy comes home to find a peculiar young boy waiting for her. The boy is eager for stories so she tells him of her past, her imaginary best friend, and her lost love—a feral man of the sea. Beautiful prose supports this tale of magical realism.

Suicide Notes
by Michael Thomas Ford
Ages 14–up
Jeff, the 15-year-old narrator, is in a psychiatric ward after a suicide attempt. At first convinced he is the only sane one surrounded by crazy kids, Jeff slowly begins to form relationships and to understand his own problems and confusions. This darkly humorous novel presents issues of identity in a compelling and witty manner.

Chains
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Ages 10–up
As the Revolutionary War begins, 13-year-old Isabel and her 5-year-old sister Ruth are about to be freed from slavery by the will of their Rhode Island mistress. However, the unscrupulous heir prevents the reading of the will and the girls are soon the property of an abusive Loyalist couple in New York. Isabel agrees to spy for the Patriots in exchange for passage back to Rhode Island for herself and her sister. This well researched exploration of the treatment of slaves is contained in a gripping story.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves
by M.T. Anderson
Ages 14–up
Octavian heads to Virginia where Lord Dunmore, the colony’s governor, is emancipating slaves in exchange for military service. Octavian soon realizes that his liberation is not a moral decision, but a political expediency. As the Revolutionary War, explodes around him, Octavian struggles with ideals of liberty and his own personal growth in this fascinating perspective on our national origins. (sequel to The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume 1: The Pox Party)

Masterpiece
by Elise Broach, Kelly Murphy
Ages 8–12
Two very different families share a Manhattan apartment. Marvin the beetle follows his family’s rules about staying hidden from the humans, though he worries that the human family does not appreciate their 11-year-old son James. Tempted by the pen and ink set James receives for his birthday, Martin draws an intricate picture for James and then reveals himself as the artist. Before James can hide the drawing, his parents have discovered it and proclaim him a talented artist. Soon a museum curator is asking James to forge a Dürer miniature to catch a thief. The fast moving story and wonderfully detailed drawings will captivate young readers.

My One Hundred Adventures
by Polly Horvath
Ages 8–12
Restless with her family’s comfortable routine, 12-year-old Jane longs for adventures. Over the course of the summer, Jane finds plenty of adventures thanks to the other residents of her small Massachusetts beach town, eventually realizing that it’s not what you do that matters, but rather what you learn about yourself.

The Runaway Dolls
Doll People #3
by Ann M. Martin, Laura Godwin, Brian Selznick
Ages 8–12
Annabelle Doll and Tiffany Funcraft are convinced that the new doll that arrives in a mysterious package is Annabelle’s long lost baby sister. When the package containing Tilly May is at risk of being returned, the dolls run away and have all sorts of exciting adventures solidly from the doll point of view. (3rd in the series following The Doll People and The Meanest Doll in the World)

I Know It’s Over
by C.K. Kelly Martin
Ages 14–up
Still coping with his parents’ divorce, 16-year-old Nick is stunned when his ex-girlfriend Sasha tells him she is pregnant. Nick struggles to do the right thing by Sasha. His pain and uncertainty are portrayed with frankness in this emotionally complex coming-of-age story.

The Cabinet of Wonders:
The Kronos Chronicles: Book I
by Marie Rutkoski
Ages 10–up
In 16th century Bohemia Prince Rodolfo commissions Kronos, a gifted metalworker, to build a magical clock. When the clock is finished, the evil prince steals the metalworker’s eyes and wears them himself. When the blinded Kronos returns home, his 12-yearoild daughter Petra sneaks off to Prague to recover her father’s eyes with her pet tin spider Astrophil. An astonishing mix of history and enchantment will entrance readers.

Nation
by Terry Pratchett
Ages 12–up
Mau is the only one left when a giant wave destroys his island village. Daphne is the only survivor of a ship sunk in the storm. Together they re-establish Mau’s nation with the other survivors who gradually wash up on shore. The clever balance between serious issues and wildly funny events make this tale of discovery special.

White Sands, Red Menace
by Ellen Klages
Ages 10–14
It’s 1946, and Suze and Dewey are living near Los Alamos with Suze’s parents who helped build the atom bomb with Dewey’s late father. Suze’s father is working on rockets to maintain the US edge over the Soviets while her mother organizes scientists against the war. This excellent historical fiction helps middle graders grapple with moral dilemmas while creating strong characters with realistic emotional issues. (sequel to The Green Glass Sea)

March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed The World
by Christine King Farris, London Ladd
Ages 9–12
Christine King Farris, Martin Luther King, Junior’s older sister describes the 1963 March on Washington with an intimate down-to-earth perspective, presenting her brother as a man rather than as an icon.

The President’s Daughter
by Ellen Emerson White
Ages 12–up
Meg, the 15-year-old daughter of a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, likes her life just the way it is, but her mother has other plans. Meg wishes that her perfect and ambitious mother were more attentive to her family than her race to become President. When her mother is elected, Meg is kept busy learning White House protocol and keeping her younger brothers in line. (Originally published in the 1980s, this 1st book in the series has been updated to the 21st century.)

White House Autumn
by Ellen Emerson White
Ages 12–up
Now a junior at an elite DC private school, Meg is adjusting to life in the White House until a would-be assassin seriously wounds her mother. Shocked out of her complacency, Meg realizes that being in the public spotlight threatens not only her family’s privacy, but their safety as well. (Originally published in the 1980s, this 2nd book in the series has been updated to the 21st century.)

Long Live the Queen
by Ellen Emerson White
Ages 12–up
Meg is having a perfectly normal day in her senior year when a group of terrorists outwit her Secret Service guards and kidnap her. Beaten and left to die in an abandoned mine shaft, Meg endures hunger, pain, and terror. Unfortunately her ordeal does not end with her eventual rescue. Issues of post traumatic stress for the entire family are explored as Meg works through her emotional, psychological, and physical recovery. (Originally published in the 1980s, this 3rd book in the series has been updated to the 21st century.)

Long May She Reign
by Ellen Emerson White
Ages 12–up
As she enters her first year of college, Meg is still recovering from the trauma of her kidnapping. Still undergoing grueling physical therapy, Meg also has the challenge of leaving the safety of the White House for the uncertainly of the world at large. And looming large in the background is her inability to forgive her mother, the President, for sticking by her vow never to negotiate with terrorists, even when her own daughter’s life was at stake. (4th in the series)

Rapunzel’s Revenge
by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, Nathan Hale
Ages 9–up
In this graphic novel version of the fairy tale, Rapunzel lives in a fabulous walled garden Wild West. Defying orders, Rapunzel scales the walls to see the rest of the world and is shocked to find a wasteland of mines and factories. Banished to a forest tree house, Rapunzel uses her long braids to escape and fight against the villains.

Gully’s Travels
by Tor Seidler, Brock Cole
Ages 8–12
Gulliver the pampered Lhasa apso is banished from his ritzy Manhattan apartment to the doorman’s overcrowded apartment in Queens when his master proposes marriage to a woman allergic to dogs. Believing he has been kidnapped, Gulliver cleverly finds his way back to Manhattan and then to Paris as he comes to understand the true nature of loyalty.

Optical Illusion Play Pack
by Martin Gardner
Ages 10–up
Packaged with 40+ punch-out pieces, readers are challenged to re-create optical illusions, experiencing rather than simply observing these illusions aptly explained by puzzle master and mathematician Gardner.