Bunny & Tree

Bunny & Rabbit by Balint Zsako is a stunning wordless picture book. As soon as Bunny and Tree meet they are destined to become family. 

This is gorgeous. Put it at the top of your list for gifts for children, artists or gardeners in your life. 

Amazing!

Zsako, Balint. (2023). Bunny & Rabbit. New York: Enchanted Lion Books.

Chinese Menu: The History, Myths and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods

Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods by Grace Lin is a feast for your eyes and will have you craving Chinese food as you read.

Tea, Eggrolls, Rice, General Tso's Chicken, Peking Duck, Chopsticks and more, all have a story of how they were developed or refined. With folk tales and family stories, Grace Lin walks us through centuries of Chinese history in this beautiful book. 

This books should be part of each library collection, to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. 

Lin, Grace. (2023). Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Bomb

Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin is a book of science, espionage and war.

In 1938 a German chemist discovered it was possible to split an atom - by putting uranium next to radioactive material - a thing previously thought of as impossible. Because this phenomenal advancement in physics happened while Nazi Germany was attempting to take over Europe, scientists thought about how to harness the energy created during the fission.

Sheinkin looks at the Manhattan Project. The best physicists and chemists collected by the government to work on a secret weapon in the American Southwest. He describes the British and Norwegian plan to sabotage the German effort to create a weapon - including kidnapping prominent German scientists. And third, an exploration of Soviet attempt to steal the bomb's plans from the Americans.

Sheinkin is a masterful researcher and storyteller. His narrative nonfiction flows in a way that few others writing for children have achieved (others include Susan Campbell Bartoletti and Jim Murphy). This fascinating time in history comes alive in this book.

Sheinkin, Steve. (2012). Bomb. New York: Roaring Book Press.

Gracefully Grayson

Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky is the story of a  girl who is trapped in the body of a boy. I believe it is the first middle grade novel to deal with a transgender protagonist.

Grayson Sender lives with his aunt, uncle and two cousins in Chicago. He is in sixth grade and does well in school - at least as far as grades go. He does not have any friends. He has isolated himself from others because he has a secret.

Each morning after Grayson gets dressed he imagines himself wearing other clothes. His pants become a shirt or a dress. It used to be that the image lasted longer, but now it fades by mid-morning and he is wearing boy clothes again.

Grayson is sure that if his classmates knew how he feels they would make fun of him. But his true self is trying to break through. When a notice goes up to audition for the school play, Grayson signs up - and tries for the lead of Persephone.

Polonsky has written a beautiful book exploring what makes a person one gender or the other.  Grayson is a wonderful character readers will love. Read this book today.

Polonsky, Ami. (2014). Gracefully Grayson. New York: Hyperion.

The Power (Magnificent 12 #4)

The Power by Michael Grant is the fourth and final book in his Magnificent 12 series about twelve 12-year-olds who have to save the world from an evil force about to be released after being imprisoned by twelve 12-year-olds thousands of years ago. If only the original twelve would have use and opened ended spell...

Mack and the seven others he has found of the Magnificent twelve - each gifted with enlightened puissance - must find the other four to have a chance to defeat the Pale Queen. But they are running out of time. The clues send them from Paris to the Punjab before they head to San Fransisco for the final battle.

In the mean time, the Pale Queen is sending assassins and minions to try to kill the twelve before they can gather all of their power. And her daughter, Risky, has plans of her own.

The culmination of this fun and magical series is as great a read as the first. Grant created this series filled with everything a reader could want in a fantasy adventure.

Grant, Michael. (2013). The Power. New York: Katherine Tegen Books.

The Floating Island (Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme #1)

The Floating Island by Elizabeth Haydon is the first book in the Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme - which tell of the adventures of Charles Magnus Polypheme, known as Ven.

Ven is the youngest son of a Nain shipbuilder. The Nain are a human-like race that usually lives underground, and they are known for their fear of water. But unlike his siblings, Ven has waited for years to be old enough to go out on one of the ships his family builds. But when it is finally his turn to sail the bay and sign off on the inspection, things do not go as planned.

Ven's ship is attacked by Fire Pirates, who never leave anyone alive. Through some quick thinking and high explosives, Ven finds himself floating in the wreckage. What follows includes sea monsters, mermaids, a floating magical island, and once on land, a haunted inn.

The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme are adventure at their best. Haydon has reassembled the journals and filled in the blanks to create a wonderful series that will appeal to all ages.

Haydon, Elizabeth. (2006). The Floating Island. New York: Tom Doherty Associates Books.

Almost Home

Almost Home by Joan Bauer is the story of finding family.

Sugar Mae Cole uses the wisdom she learned from her grandfather to get through any difficult situations in her life. And she needs the advice from the autobiography he wrote when they lose their house and her mother decides to move them to Chicago for a job interview. When things don't work out, her mother gives up and is taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Sugar and her dog Shush enter the foster care system. She knows no one and doesn't know what to do. Luckily, after a false start, Sugar is placed with a wonderful couple to help to remind her of the hope there is in life.

Bauer has the skill to write children's books with difficult subjects without overwhelming young readers. Her stories are realistic, difficult, and ultimately hopeful and are an important addition to the cannon of young readers.

Bauer, Joan. (2012). Almost Home. NY: Viking.

The Little Prince

The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery is still a masterpiece. The latest English translation is by Richard Howard and contains the original drawings.

In one of the most wonderful stories of all time, The Little Prince tells the story of a pilot who crashed into the desert. As he is trying to fix his airplane before he runs out of food or water, the pilot is interupted by a small prince who asks him to draw him a picture of a sheep.

What follows is a fable about what is important in life - something that kids have naturally and most people lose by the time they become adults. It is good to be reminded to use our imaginations.

De Saint-Exupery, Antoine. (1943). The Little Prince. New York: Harcourt.

The Key (Magnificent 12 #3)

The Key by Michael Grant is the third book in his Magnificent 12 series about twelve twelve year-olds who will have to save the world from an ancient evil that is about to resurface.

Mack MacAvoy has been traveling the world over to find the other eleven kids who are required to save the world. There are now five of them together and they are on their way to Scotland to find a key that will help them with the ancient magical language of Vargran.

If Mack and friends can get the Key they will travel to France to find more of the Magnificent 12. However, they will have to fight Risky, the evil's daughter, and her henchmen along the way.

Grant has created an adventure series with laugh-out-loud humor that will appeal to a wide audience. People of all ages should read this series.

Grant, Michael. (2012). The Key. New York: Tegan Books.

Shiver Me Timbers!

Shiver Me Timbers! Pirate Poems and Paintings is the latest book of poetry by Douglas Florian, illustrated by Robert Neubecker.

This is a fun and hilarious collection of poems about pirates and the scurvy, rotten ways of pirates. It is definately worth a read.

Florian, Douglas. (2012). Shiver Me Timbers! NY: Simon and Schuster.

Remarkable

Remarkable by Lizzie K. Foley is the story of a remarkable town full of remarkable people. Everyone in town is remarkable in some way...except Jane.

Jane is the daughter of Angelina Mona Linda Doe, the famous architect, and Anderson Brigby Bright Doe III, the famous novelist. Her parents had a grand name picked out for her but when she was born she was ordinary and they named her Jane. Jane is the only student who goes to public school in Remarkable. The other kids all have some remarkable skill or talent that got them into the School for Remarkable Children.

Jane's school year will be anything but ordinary. The Grimlet twins are plotting to get kicked out of Remarkable school so that they can join her in public school. A famous pirate captain, Captain Rojo Herring, has just come to town and appears to be hiding from the three filthy pirates who are looking for him. And having so many pirates in town leads Jane's teacher to throw out the regular curriculum for fifth grade and teach her three students to be good pirates.

Foley has written a humorous story of a quirky town filled with quite an array of characters. This is a must read for anyone looking for a light book - or fifth graders who need to do a book report.

Foley, Lizzie K. (2012). Remarkable. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Rapunzel and the Seven Dwarfs

Rapunzel and the Seven Dwarfs by Willy Claflin, illustrated by James Stimson, is a mixed up fairy tale as told to Maynard Moose.

After Rapunzel was locked in the tower and then escaped, her hair became a problem. It got caught on everything as she tried to make her way through the forest. Luckily, the dwarfs (Clumsy, Snoozy Cheerful, Fearful, Hyper, Hungry, Grizelda, Ambidextrous, and sometimes Bewildered) helped her and hid her in their cabin.

But when the witch asked her mirror to find Rapunzel and sent her rhinoceros to give her a poisoned watermelon to put her into a deep sleep. Rapunzel slept for so long that the dwarfs set up an amusement park around her and charged admission to see her.Luckily, the Moose finally freed her from her slumber.

Since the story is told by Maynard Moose, using must of the old Moose language, the story varies a bit from the more traditional human telling. Claflin has created a fun way to revisit many loved fairy tales in one fell swoop.

Claflin, Willy. (2011). Rapunzel and the Seven Dwarfs. Atlanta: August House Books.

Wink: The Ninja Who Wanted to Be Noticed

Wink: The Ninja Who Wanted to Be Noticed by J.C. Phillipps is a book about finding your place.

Wink was happy when he was accepted to the Summer Moon School for Young Ninjas. But Wink had a problem being stealthy. First he could not be quite. Then he could not become invisible. He was sent home often.

Finally he was so stealthy that no one noticed him... so he made them notice to show how stealthy he was before.

On his way home, he passed a boy trying to balance. Wink helped him out and in the process found his place.

Phillips, J.C. (2009). Wink: The Ninja Who Wanted to Be Noticed. New York: Viking.

Blackout

Blackout by John Rocco is a great picture book about the New York City blackout of 2003.

The young girl in the story is bored. She wants someone to pay attention to her but her family is busy - her sister is on the phone, her mother is on the computer, and her father is cooking dinner. She gives up and goes to her room to play video games.

But then the lights go out. This story is told in a simple but beautiful illustrations which is highlighted on the page that shows the New York skyline as it usually is then as it fades to black.

Suddenly, the family has time to spend together. They make shadow animals and are having a good time. When the August heat drives them outside they meet up with their neighbors - as everyone in the city with roof access was outside hoping for a breeze.

Rocco captured the feel of the city in a blackout - neighbors come together and have impromptu feasts to consume all of the perishable food, they wander around the city and glory in the silence, and they look at the stars (which are only visible in a blackout). This book is a must read for any New Yorker who was here for the 2003 blackout and really anyone who has spent a great family evening huddled together around a flashlight or candles entertaining each other.

Rocco, John. (2011). Blackout. New York: Hyperion.

The Trap (Magnificent 12 #2)

The Trap by Michael Grant continues the story of the Magnificent 12 - twelve children who must work together to save the world from a force that is about to be released.

In the first book, Mack MacAvoy was told that he was one of the twelve. He was given a credit card to fund his trip and told to go to Australia to find another of the twelve. He found Jarrah.

Now Mack and Jarrah, along with Mack's bully, are off to find others. They will travel to China based on a hard to decipher clue given to Mack.

But with only 34 days left to gather, they need to work faster. Of course the minions of the ancient evil about to rise is trying to stop them.

Grant is a humorous a writer as Jasper Fforde. He puts his characters through the impossible and reader run along for a wild ride.

Grant, Michael. (2011). The Trap. New York: Katherine Tegan Books.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling is a collection of the folk tales told to the children of wizards and witches.

Translated from the ancient runes by Hermione Granger, the book is comprised of five tales that each include commentary by Albus Dumbledor. Each tale has a message to be learned and wisdom to pass on to the next generation.

Stories include:
The Wizard and the Hopping Pot
The Fountain of Fair Fortune
The Warlock's Hairy Heart
Babbity Rabbity and her Cackling Stump
The Tale of the Three Brothers

Rowling has created these stories as a companion to the Harry Potter series. They are beautifully crafted and are fun to read.

Rowling, J.K. (2007). The Tales of Beedle the Bard. New York: Scholastic.

Rhyming Dust Bunnies

Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas is a great picture book.

Ed, Ned, Ted and Bob are the dust bunnies who rhyme all of the time.

This is a great read out loud book for kids who are learning rhyming words - but Bob never rhymes. He is the one trying to save the dust bunnies from the cleaning implements.

Thomas has created a fun story with beautiful, brightly colored illustrations.

Thomas, Jan. (2009). Rhyming Dust Bunnies. New York: Beach Lane Books.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in JK Rowling's Harry Potter series.

In his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry and his friends will have some changes. After decades, the Triwizard Tournament - a tournament between magical schools - will be held at Hogwarts.

Just before school starts, Harry joins Hermionie, Ron, and the Weasleys to go to the Quidditch World Cup. After the match there are signs that Lord Voldemort is gaining strength.

So continues the lives of Harry and other wizards as an evil force begins to regain power. Before the end of this volume, Harry will once again face He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Rowling is a great writer. So many things that slide by the reader the first time around - when the outcome of the series is still unknown - jump out on a second pass, showing just how brilliantly the series was crafted. Read it again!

Rowling JK. (2000). Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. New York: Scholastic.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling is the third book in the Harry Potter series.

Harry is about to begin his third year at Hogwarts, but for now he is still stuck with the Dursleys - his non-magical relatives. They do not want him to do anything related to magic - including his summer homework. When they lie to a visiting relative about Harry being in a school for criminal teens, he cannot take it anymore.

Harry runs away from the Dursleys. He catches a ride on the night bus and spends the rest of his summer in Diagon Alley. At the same time, all over the magical and muggle news is a story of a prison break. Sirius Black has escaped from prison and is so dangerous that the Ministry of Magic has placed guards around Hogwarts.

A re-reading of Rowling's series will point out clues along the way that finally lead to the outcome of the series - proving just how brilliantly the Harry Potter story was crafted. Read it again!

Rowling, J.K. (1999). Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. New York: Scholastic Press.

Wonderstruck

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick is his second book in the style of combining story with storyboards. His first book in this style, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, won both the Newbery Award and the Caldecot Medal - the highest honors in children's literature for both story and illustrations. However, don't let the fact that this book is marketed for children prevent you from reading it. It is amazing.

Wonderstruck is the story of two people. One, Rose, lives in New Jersey in 1927. Her story is told in the illustrations. She can see the New York skyline from her house and creates wonderful miniatures of the buildings she can see outside.

In the text part is the story of Ben. Ben lives in Gunflint, Minnesota in 1977. He is a boy whose mother has just died. He is living with this aunt, uncle and cousin. They live next door to the cabin he and his mom lived in.

The stories of Rose and Ben overlap in interesting ways. Without giving away any spoilers, they both run away from home at a young age and find themselves in New York City - at the Museum of Natural History.

Selznick has created a brilliant narrative and a story that will delight readers of all ages. Selznick has been known as a great illustrator for years. But now that he is writing and illustrating his own books, readers should watch for anything he publishes! Wonderstruck is my new favorite book!

Selznick, Brian. (2011). Wonderstruck. New York: Scholastic Press.