First Fiction: Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One

Beloved children's author Judy Blume has written another winner. Abigail and Jake are siblings who have a typical love-hate relationship. He calls her "The Great One" because she thinks she's *so* great: She calls him "The Pain" because he's...well, a first grade pain.

Together these two loveable characters conquer doggy breath, learning to ride a bike, and a terrible fear of haircuts. Kids will love to laugh with Jake and Abby.

First Fiction
Grades 1-4
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Nonfiction: Care and Feeding of Sprites (Spiderwick Chronicles)

This "nonfiction" addition to the bestselling Spiderwick Chronicles tells kids how to become an expert Spritekeeper. Sprites make excellent pets (if you can catch one), and this book covers essential topics like "illnesses of sprites", "proper nutrition for your growing sprites", and "housing your sprite".

Kids who are interested in sprites and fairies will want to check out this slim volume. Watch out for the Spiderwick movie coming this winter!

Nonfiction (mostly)

Grades 2-5

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Fiction: Schooled

Homeschooled on an isolated "alternate farm commune" that has dwindled since the 1960s to 2 members, 13-year-old Cap has always lived with his grandmother, Rain. When she is hospitalized, Cap is taken in by a social worker and sent—like a lamb to slaughter—to middle school. Smart and capable, innocent and inexperienced (he learned to drive on the farm, but he has never watched television), long-haired Cap soon becomes the butt of pranks. He reacts in unexpected ways and, in the end, elevates those around him to higher ground. From chapter to chapter, the first-person narrative shifts among certain characters: Cap, a social worker (who takes him into her home), her daughter (who resents his presence there), an A-list bully, a Z-list victim, a popular girl, the school principal, and a football player (who unintentionally decks Cap twice in one day). Korman capably manages the shifting points of view of characters who begin by scorning or resenting Cap and end up on his side. From the eye-catching jacket art to the scene in which Cap says good-bye to his 1,100 fellow students, individually and by name, this rewarding novel features an engaging main character and some memorable moments of comedy, tenderness, and reflection.

Fiction
Grades 4-8
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Fiction: The White Giraffe

Losing parents in a tragic fire and restarting life with an unwelcoming grandmother would be overwhelming for most 11-year-olds, and Martine is no exception. What's worse, Martine has never met her grandmother, who presides over a large game preserve in faraway South Africa.

Even so, from the moment Martine steps off the plane, she senses that her new home holds a special destiny, one that begins to unfold when she learns about a legendary white giraffe. The beautiful creature appears one day, and Martine, who is just becoming aware of her own mystical gifts, begins a heroic journey that leads her to expose and prevent the destructive work of poachers.

Magic realism, adventure, and a well-realized setting combine in this appealing tale, which will resonate particularly with conservation-minded children.

Fiction

Grades 4-7

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Fiction: Faraway Tree Collection

When I was a child, the Faraway Tree books, by Enid Blyton, were my favourites. Three stories are included in this thick volume, and each has lovely original black and white illustrations.

Kids who enjoy imaginative stories and fairy tales will be enchanted by the tales about three siblings who move to the English country in the 1930's. The children quickly discover that there is a magical tree in their forest, filled with wonderful and fantastic inhabitants. They befriend some of the folk of the faraway tree, and some amazing things begin to happen! The top of the tree ends in a ladder that goes up to a series of fantasy worlds, such as Candyland, The Land of Treats, and so on.

Children in grades two through four will love this book for its classic language, friendly characters, and wonderful creativity.

Fiction

Grades 2-4

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Fiction: Nathan of Yesteryear, Michael of Today

This short book might seem like a picturebook at first, but it's actually a fascinating comparison between two young boys living a hundred years apart. Nathan is a typical kid in 1880, and he lives in the same town as his great-grandson Michael. Each spread shows one of the boys as they go about their daily activities, and the simple text talks about the differences in their lives, and the changes that have occurred in their towns. This book would definitely provoke discussion about how kids entertained themselves with no TV, videos or computers, and topics as diverse as commerce and religion are discussed. A fascinating and accessible read for kids in grades 1-4.

Fiction

Grades 1-4

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Graphic Novel: Manga Claus: The Blade of Kringle

Think Santa Claus is just a funny old guy in a red suit? You'll reconsider when you read this hilarious comic book! When a disgruntled elf uses black magic to bring a toy ninja to life, Santa has to put down the sack and take up...the Blade of Kringle! Read on as Santa slices and dices his way through this manga-style spoof, dispatching the last ninja teddy ear just in time to save Christmas...of course.

Graphic Novel

Grades 2-7

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Nonfiction: Battle Stations! Fortifications Through the Ages

Any kid who is interested in military history or architecture will want to take a look at this informative book. Densely packed with information, this 32 page volume covers defenses through the ages. Find out how the Romans defended their hilltop cities, and how the Great Wall of China was built. More modern defenses include continental defense systems (like Star Wars) and oceanfaring fortresses (battleships). This book is a great pick for grade 4-8's who have a keen interest in war and weapons.

Nonfiction

Grades 4-8

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Nonfiction: Let's Eat!

This large-format nonfiction book is full of colourful pictures and firsthand information about food around the world. The story follows five children from various continents as they eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in their homes and schools. Each child is pictured attending a special event, such as a wedding or a holiday celebration, and the recipes for some favourite foods are included at the end of the book. The biography format makes the information about food relevant and accessible, and curious kids of all ages will enjoy finding out about what other cultures eat.

Nonfiction

Grades 3-6

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Graphic Novel: Adventures in Oz

The Oz books are classic fantasy novels from the early twentieth century, and it's great to see them republished in a different format. This book tells the story of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and others in comic book form. The crisp art is reminiscent of North American comics (like Batman, X-Men, etc) rather than Manga, and several different stories are contained within this volume.

Kids in grades 4-6 who like fantasy tales of adventure will love the whimsical plots; many more will enjoy the lovely art. Parents might enjoy the trip back in time to their own childhood!

Graphic Novel

Grades 4-6

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Fiction: Stoneheart

One of the most gripping and exciting fantasies I've read this year, Stoneheart tells the story of George, a schoolboy in London England. When George accidentally breaks off a carved stone dragon's head at the museum, he is propelled into an alternate London, where statues come to life in the streets. George quickly finds that statues in human form are called spits; they can be friendly, if prone to trickery. But taints, statues with animal or monster forms, are always evil, and seek to kill George or use him for their own ends.
George must survive the night, and return the dragon head to the heart of London if he is to return to his former life. He has only the Gunner, and old World War I spit, and Edie, a strange girl who attracts trouble, to help him. And at the end, George must decide whether to abandon his friends in return for safe passage, or to join the war that is raging between the spits and the taints.

Watch for the sequel, Ironhand, in the library now!

Fantasy
Grades 5-10
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Fiction: Red River Girl

For kids who like historical fiction, Red River Girl is the story of Metis Josette Dupre. Josette is the daughter of a French voyageur and an Ojibwe woman, and she dreams of travelling east for a higher education. But when her mother dies, her restless father decides that the family will head south, to the newly founded town of St. Paul, Minnesota. There, Josette finds that she can make a place for her deams after all. Josette's journey is told in diary format, and kids will get an excellent idea about how frontier folk lived; the characters are bright and friendly, and the historical details are well researched.

Fiction

Grades 5-8

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Fiction: The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn

Fourteen year old Seikei would like to be a brave and loyal samurai, but he was born the son of a tea merchant, so that is what he must become. His destiny takes an unexpected turn, however, when Seikei sees a ghostly thief steal a priceless ruby intended for the shogun! Can this son of a merchant prove his courage and worth to the shogun himself?

Part mystery, part adventure, this book is sure to appeal to kids who like their fiction with a dose of historical fact.

Fiction

Grades 5-8

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Fiction: The Ogre Downstairs

Diana Wynne Jones is one of my favourite fantasy authors. Her books keep you laughing until the last page, and there's always a twist at the end. In this book, Caspar Johnny and Gwinny hate their ogre of a stepfather and his two sons with their whole hearts. Jack (the ogre) gives each set of kids their own chemistry set as a present, and some truly hilarious magic results as the kids find that their potions and concoctions have unexpected power! The kids discover they can fly, switch bodies, and even disappear! Now if only they could figure out how to undo all of this...

Fiction
Grades 4-8
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Fiction: Kensuke's Kingdom

Kensuke's Kingdom is a modern day Robinson Crusoe, written by one of Canada's best children's authors.
11 year old Michael is washed up on the shore of a remote pacific island after a freak storm sweeps him off his parents' small sailboat. With no food or water to be found, Michael has resigned himself to a lonely death. Amazingly, when he wakes a mysterious person has left food and water for him! He soon comes face-to-face with Kensuke, an old Japanese soldier who cautiously protects Michael in spite of the boy's dogged determination to build a bonfire that will signal potential rescuers, defying Kensuke's wish that the outside world never learn of his existence on the island. For nearly a year, the man and boy help each other, moving from an uneasy d‚tente to a deep friendship. What might have been just a gritty tale of survival evolves into a gentle parable about trust, compassion, love, and hope.

Fiction
Grades 4-8
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First Fiction: The Cowgirl Aunt of Harriet Bean

When Harriet’s detective (and mind-reading) aunts Thessalonika and Japonica invite her to accompany them on a trip to America, Harriet can’t resist – especially when she learns that there’s yet another long-lost aunt waiting to be found there. And, as if meeting her Aunt Formica weren’t exciting enough, there’s a mystery to solve, too: who has been rustling Aunt Formica’s cattle? This is the third title in Alexander McCall Smith's early chapter book series, and they just keep getting funnier!

First Fiction
Grades 2-4
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Nonfiction with DVD: Holocaust

This 190 page information book is filled with detailed information about judaism, the story of the holocaust, and personal anecdotes from survivors. As well as providing excellent report material, many kids will be fascinated by the historical facts and photographs. The accompanying DVD has video footage of survivors as they share their testimonies from the past.

Nonfiction

Grades 4-7

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Fiction: Half Moon Investigations

Eoin Colfer has created another spunky, brainy protagonist in 12 year old Fletcher Moon. Just like Artemis Fowl, Fletcher is smart...and proud of it. Ever since he passed his interenet Private Detective course, Fletcher has been solving schoolyard crimes and flashing his genuine Private Detective badge at anyone who will look.

But when super all-in-pink girly-girl April Devereux hires him to find a lock of a pop star's hair that she claims was stolen by one of the Sharkeys-a family of well-known criminals-everything starts going wrong for Fletcher. His precious badge is taken, he finds a single huge footprint at every crime scene, and he's picked up by the local police for arson when the Devereux playhouse burns down. When Fletcher goes on the run, who becomes his number-one ally? Young Red Sharkey.

This very funny book is a fast paced and hard boiled mystery that will keep Artemis Fowl fans laughing and guessing all the way to the end.

Fiction

Grades 5-9

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Fiction: The Tale of Despereaux

This wonderful novel tells the story of a small mouse, a young princess, and a bitter rat named Roscuro. Despereaux is a mouse who is born so small, and with such huge ears, that his parents think he will never live. However, he becomes the hero of this book when he falls in love with the Princess Pea, and sets off to rescue her when she is taken prisoner in the deepest, darkest corner of the dungeon.

For all readers who have are secret dreamers, who love tales of heroes and knights, and who wish in their hearts for happy endings, this sweet and fantastic tale will beg to be read over and over again.

Fiction

Grades 4-9

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Nonfiction: Uncle John's Wild and Wooly Bathroom Reader

For any kid who loves the Guinness Book of World Records, this collection of silly stories, fabulous facts and unbelievable exploits will keep you turning pages long into the night. This version of the famous Uncle John's Bathroom Readers is all about wild and wooly animals. You can find out why the Hippopotamus sweats blood, how keen a dog's sense of smell can be, and what you should call a group of giraffes (a tower). This book is amazing!

Nonfiction
Grades 3-7
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Fiction: The Lightning Thief

In this fast paced novel, 12 year old Percy just can't seem to get along with his stepdad. When they butt heads once too often, Percy gets sent to a camp for "problem" kids; Camp Halfblood. But pretty soon, Percy finds out that his troubles aren't just bad luck; they're his destiny! Percy's real name is Perseus, and he is the half blood son of a human woman, and Posiedon, the Greek god of the Ocean! Now, it's great to have power over earthquakes, and to never have to worry about drowning, but Percy's dad is in real trouble. Someone has framed Posiedon!

Zeus, the chief god of Olympus, is convinced that Posiedon has stolen his lightning bolt, the source of his power. Only Percy and his half blood friends can slip into Hades, and find out who's really behind this dastardly deed!

Half mystery, half fantasy, and all fun, this book packs a whole lot of adventure (and Greek mythology) into an exciting book. Watch for the sequel, The Sea of Monsters!

Fiction
Grades 5 and up
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Graphic Novel: Babymouse: Our Hero

Babymouse is a charming young mouse who is girly, spunky and brave: except when it comes to dodgeball. In this graphic novel, Babymouse must confront her terrible fear of this most dreaded of gym games. Wilson Weasel, her best friend, coaches Babymouse patiently...But you will have to read this fantastic comic to find out whether Babymouse can outwit the sneaky Felicia Furrpaws on the court!

Babymouse is probably the coolest mouse ever, as well as the nicest; don't miss your chance to read some of her many books.

Graphic Novel
Grades 3-6
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