BLACK, Holly. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. Little, Brown. 2013. ISBN 9780316213103. JLG Level: CTH : Current Trends High (Gr 9 & Up).

Tana’s complex life changes abruptly after a sundown party where a window is opened. Someone should have known better. Coldtown has kept vampires and the infected inside their walls, so attacks occur far less often. This time it is different. Everyone is dead except for Tana, and her escape from the vampires may have infected her. Her ex-boyfriend is seriously infected, but the teen’s past experience drives her to try to save him. A chained vampire comes along for the ride. Can she get to Coldtown before it’s too late? She doesn’t want to be a vampire, but will she have any choice? Black writes with just enough humor to keep a dark and oft-told tale fresh and entertaining.

CRUTCHER, Chris. Period.8. Greenwillow. 2013. ISBN 9780061914812. JLG Level: HI : High-Interest High School (Gr 10 & up).

Lots of kids have study halls―classes where you can do homework, eat lunch, or take a nap. Mr. Logs runs Period 8 like Las Vegas. Kids can talk about whatever they like― what happens there, stays there. When Paulie tells Hannah he had sex with another girl, it becomes class discussion. In her anger, Hannah refuses to listen to his explanation. Then a classmate goes missing. The connection between the two events becomes clearer when Paulie realizes that not everyone in Period 8 is telling the truth. Someone is lying. Kids are in trouble, and they are all in danger. In classic Crutcher-style, realistic teen issues drive a gripping plot with a staggering conclusion.

FARMER, Nancy. The Lord of Opium. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. ISBN 9781442482548. JLG Level: FH : Fantasy/Science Fiction High (Gr 9-12)

Matt never expected to live forever; he was cloned for spare parts for El Patron. With the death of his master, he inherits all possessions and becomes the drug lord of the Land of Opium at age fourteen. With power comes responsibility. Matt sees the opportunity to use his authority to investigate genetic experiments and perhaps end the inhumane treatment of microchipped slaves. His country also has a biosphere with animals long extinct, and scientists who could potentially save the world. However, the Dope Confederacy that surrounds his country is hungry for his resources, while the United Nations has its own agenda. Can he avoid an invasion from enemies outside Opium while struggling with adversaries within?  What must he sacrifice towards the goal of saving them all? Farmer’s sequel to The House of the Scorpion (S & S, 2002) delves further into ethical issues of scientific research and moral treatment of those in servitude.

SHUSTERMAN, Neal. Ship Out of Luck. Dutton. 2013. ISBN 9780525422266. JLG Level: Y : Young Adults (Gr 9 & up).

Antsy is back (Antsy Does Time, 2008) and more entertaining than ever. The Bonano family joins Old Man Crawley for a Caribbean cruise to celebrate his eightieth birthday―”a suitable gift is expected.” Before the ship even leaves the dock, Antsy finds himself in a dilemma―help a cute girl named Tilde who is involved in criminal activities or take a chance that she might blow the whistle on his own less-than-ethical deeds. In his quandary, Antsy leaves the details to Tilde, who takes him into Hello-Hello, which according to his cabbie means “Hell of Hells. It’s the place you drop through de bottom of all de other places.” It is a destination where you pay for both ways before you drive anywhere. Spending time with a stowaway who has a political agenda may not be what Antsy expected for his all-expenses-paid vacation. What transpires will be life-changing, and not just for him. A hilarious romp that will have readers laughing out loud.

For audio/video versions of these booktalks, please visit JLG’s Shelf Life Blog.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

CHOLDENKO, Gennifer. Al Capone Does My Homework. Dial. 2013. ISBN 9780803734722. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Moose Flanagan’s dad has been promoted to associate warden at Alcatraz, but inmates and colleagues have their own ideas about how to handle the new boss. A prisoner earns five points for spitting on a warden and 5,000 points for killing him. To make it worse, Guard Darby Trixle is angry about being overlooked for the promotion. Piper, whose father is the head warden, tells Moose to watch his dad’s back. However, his hands are already full keeping an eye on his autistic older sister, Natalie. When their apartment catches on fire, Natalie is blamed. It’s up to Moose and his friends to solve the mystery of the blaze, but the investigation puts them close to prisoners who want Warden Flanagan dead. When a butcher knife goes missing from the kitchen, not even Capone can control what follows. Choldenko’s conclusion to the trilogy will make readers laugh and hold their breath.

FFORDE, Jasper. The Song of the Quarkbeast. Houghton Harcourt. Sept. 2013. ISBN 9780547738482. JLG Level: FM : Fantasy/Science Fiction Middle (Grades 5–8).

As acting manager of Kazam, foundling Jennifer Strange must accept (and win) King Snodd IV’s challenge―a contest of wizards. Losing would endanger Zambini Towers and its inhabitants and compromise the use of magic throughout the kingdom. Enchanting a new bridge is no small task, and their best sorceress has just turned herself into stone. The power-hungry king (who would control all magic if his Court Mystician wins) puts competing wizards in prison, leaving Jennifer with few resources. As time runs out, the remaining few must work together to save the kingdom from evil plans far beyond the obvious. Full of surprises and intrigue, Fforde’s sequel to The Last Dragonslayer (Houghton Harcourt, 2012) keeps readers on the edge of their seats in the race to conquer evil.

HADDIX, Margaret Peterson. Risked. S & S. Sept. 2013. ISBN 9781416989844. JLG Level: C+ : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Once again, Jonah, Chip, and Katherine travel to the past―though this time against their will. A rogue missing child joins forces with their money-scheming enemies and takes them to Russia in 1918―the day before the royal family is assassinated. Two of the children were missing for years; however, recent discoveries prove that Alexis and Anastasia were killed with their siblings. If that is the case, can Jonah and his friends save them from being killed again? How will saving the entire family affect history? In the sixth book of the Missing series, Haddix explores one of the most fascinating mysteries of our past.

WHITE, Ruth. The Treasure of Way Down Deep. Farrar/Margaret Ferguson. 2013. ISBN 9780374380670. JLG Level: B+ : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Life in Way Down Deep has always been a community affair―everyone attends all events (no formal invitations needed) and secrets are rare. When an evil wind blows into town in the fall of 1954, hardship hits local businesses and mine workers in the West Virginia town are laid off. Who would have thought that the death of a pet goat and a sleepwalking old lady would help reveal the one secret that everyone wants to know―the location of the treasure of Way Down Deep. It’s up to Ruby to save the town, while proving the town’s founder myth to be true. White’s sequel to Way Down Deep (Farrar, 2011) brings the return of the charming residents of the small country town, and a character one can’t help but love.

For audio/video versions of these booktalks, please visit JLG’s Shelf Life Blog.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

ALMOND, David. The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas. illus. by Oliver Jeffers. Candlewick. 2013. ISBN 9780763661694. JLG Level: A : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

Stanley’s uncle Ernie becomes obsessed with canning fish. After a shocking demise to twelve of his pet goldfish, Stanley takes the last surviving one and goes for a walk that leads him to run away with the fair. His new family comes with an encouraging father-figure and an angry young girl. Putting his good heart to use, the orphan finds a way to protect the fish at his Hook-a-Duck booth, quiet the heart of his companion, and accept his dangerous destiny. Not every child could be a boy who swims with piranhas. Add a prejudiced policeman, a madcap group of “DAFT envistigators,” with a loving couple who miss their precious nephew and you have a charming novel about a boy who blossoms while changing everyone around him.

FLEMING, David. The Saturday Boy. Viking. 2013. ISBN 9780670785513. JLG Level: B+ : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Life without your dad is difficult for Derek, a fifth grade boy, whose father is stationed in Afghanistan. He has letters and comic books for support, but those things don’t prevent him from getting in trouble at school. His former friend Budgie bullies him, and he’s frequently caught when his anger gets the best of him. Getting a part in a school play gives Derek a creative outlet. Being the “bigger person,” as his mom advises, is so hard. When his mom withdraws into grief, he doesn’t understand why, and his cool aunt moves in to help out. Derek accidentally learns the source of his mother’s depression. Sending letters to his dad won’t help him this time. Fleming’s first novel keeps readers tense with anticipation, while drawing them close to a boy who just can’t seem to get a break.

VAWTER, Vince. Paperboy. Delacorte. 2013. ISBN9780375990588. JLG Level:  C+ : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

In the late 1950s, a stuttering eleven-year-old boy has life-changing experiences while substituting on a paper route for his best friend. Mam, his nanny, warns him to stay away from Ara T, the neighborhood junkman, but he gives him his knife to sharpen anyway. He’ll need it to cut the string on the paper bundle. Collecting subscription money will also be a problem when Little Man will have to say words that he finds difficult to say, even if he uses his therapist’s speaking tricks. Miss Worthington’s beauty makes him want to try. The Boy Who Sits in Front of the TV just makes him angry. Mr. Spiro is one of two adults who speak to him like a grown-up. Little Man could learn a great deal from him and his books. A month of delivering papers gives him an opportunity to think beyond his problems and try to find ways to help these new people, even if it’s outside of his comfort zone. Vawter’s unforgettable first novel is more memoir than fiction, illustrating that though you may not be able to cure a stutter, you can certainly overcome it.

For audio/video versions of these booktalks, please visit JLG’s Shelf Life Blog.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

BARTOLETTI, Susan Campbell. Down the Rabbit Hole. Scholastic. 2013. ISBN 9780545297011. JLG Level: B+ : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

A Dear America adventure set in 1871 Chicago, Bartoletti’s orphan tale features the diary of Pringle Rose―a strong female character who takes care of her younger brother who has Down syndrome. When their hopes of shelter end on the steps of a Chicago mansion, the siblings turn to a family they’ve met on the train from Pennsylvania. Pringle becomes the governess and amidst the constant fires of a city built of wood, learns to cook, clean, and manage a household. While she learns about the life of the worker, she begins to struggle with her upper class beliefs. Was her father wrong? Are the workers underpaid and overworked?  Whether readers recognize the date of the Great Fire or not, the foreboding sense of tragedy looms over the city, creating suspense in the center of Pringle’s conflicting emotions.

GOLDBLATT, Mark. Twerp. Random. 2013. ISBN 9780375971433. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7) .

“I’ve done worse, much worse, and never written a word about it.” After a week of suspension, Justin chooses to write about what happened instead of completing his Shakespeare assignment. He has no trouble retelling the mischief he and his neighborhood buddies get into. “His entire head was surrounded by smoke. It was like something you’d see in a comic book…but only for a split second. Not enough time to realize what was going on, or to think about the consequences―like maybe Quentin was going to be dead once the smoke cleared.” (It took six weeks for his eyebrows to grow back.) Justin finds that writing an account of his sixth-grade year is harder than he thought. From tales of love letters gone awry to heartfelt narratives about an argument between friends, Goldblatt’s first novel for younger readers will have them laughing out loud and reflecting on their own choices as Justin learns about the effects of bullying.

KADOHATA, Cynthia. The Thing About Luck. illus. by Julia Kuo. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. ISBN 9781416918820. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Summer’s life has always revolved around the harvesting of wheat. When her parents are called to Japan, she helps take the harvest season on the road as her grandmother’s assistant in the kitchen. She’ll also take care of her younger brother, Jaz, and their dog, Thunder. Timing is everything in this business, so when her grandfather becomes ill and her grandmother’s back causes great pain, the family’s job becomes jeopardized. Can they beat the deadline before the rains come and ruin the profit? Can she save the harvest? Kadohata’s novel combines the power of family responsibility with the story of a young girl determined to triumph over luck.

MILLS, Claudia. Zero Tolerance. Farrar. 2013. ISBN 9780374333126. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Turning in the knife in her mother’s lunch bag (which she mistakenly took) seemed to be the right thing to do. Sierra never thought it would lead to in-school suspension and an expulsion hearing. Though she is an honor student, the zero tolerance policy at her middle school required immediate action. Her passionate attorney father is determined to gain publicity that will force the principal to back down―even if it means sullying his reputation. Sierra has some hard decisions to make. Should she go to another school? Should she admit to writing the letter from the school secretary? And what about Luke, who is always in trouble, but seems to really like her? Middle grade readers will have much to discuss about the issue of zero tolerance.

WILLIAMS-GARCIA, Rita. P.S. Be Eleven. HarperCollins/Amistad/. 2013. ISBN 9780061938634. JLG Level:  B+ : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Delphine and her sisters have come home inspired by their mother and the Black Panthers, but Big Ma has other ideas. Order, tradition, and rules must be upheld. Uncle Darnell returns from Vietnam, but seems sick all the time. He’s also lost his laughter. When Pa brings home his new girlfriend, it seems that Delphine can’t control anything. She feels responsible for everyone, especially her sisters. In a series of letters from her mother, Cecile, she gets advice to let things go. Sister Vonetta can be in charge of the savings for the Jackson concert. Baby sister Fern can be excited for a new stepmother. Maybe it’s time for Delphine to enjoy her family, her childhood, and to just be eleven.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

BURLEIGH, Robert. Look Up!: Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer. illus. by Raúl Colón. S & S/Paula Wiseman. 2013. ISBN 9781416958192. JLG Level: SCE : Science Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2–6).

When Henrietta was a young woman, male students outnumbered the females in her college astronomy classes. Once she graduated, the young astronomer was paid thirty cents an hour to record information that male scientists in the observatory researched. Hour after hour she poured over the photographs. Eventually she began to see differences in the dots that represented the stars. Some stars dimmed while others brightened. Determined to unlock the mystery, Henrietta kept a chart and slowly a pattern began to emerge. What had she found? What impact would it make on astronomy? Burleigh’s text is beautifully illustrated by the acclaimed Colón, and supplemented with back matter for use in further research about this little-known pioneering woman astronomer.

CATE, Annette LeBlanc. Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard. Candlewick. 2013. ISBN 9780763645618. JLG Level: SCE : Science Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2–6).

“More exciting than slugs! More varieties than squirrels! Less dangerous than grizzly bears!” Perhaps best of all: bird-watching can be done in the safety of your own backyard. With a sketchbook and a pencil, even kids can learn about a bird’s characteristics. Observing its color, shape, actions, and interactions, the careful young scientist can learn to study nature. From “Be a Birdbrain” suggestions to “Wing Tips” that provide facts for novices, this new picture book is loaded with prodding questions. For example, observers can notice how a bird spends its time. Is it a loner? Does it stay in groups? Silly cartoons and speech bubbles punctuate the text, encouraging readers to linger over the detailed drawings to extract a plethora of facts. No matter where kids live, by looking up, beginning hobbyists can observe the world around them. Now they know what to look for.

STEWART, Melissa and Allen Young. No Monkeys, No Chocolate. illus. by Nicole Wong. Charlesbridge. 2013. ISBN 9781580892872. JLG Level: SCE : Science Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2–6).

What does it take to make chocolate? Milk? Sugar? Beans? Coffin flies? Lizards? Monkeys? Learning about the life cycle of a cocoa tree becomes fun and informative as readers discover how plants and animals work together to produce the bean that becomes chocolate. Cocoa pods don’t form without flowers and the midges that pollinate them. Flowers won’t bloom without the maggots that eat the ants’ brains which prevent the leaf-cutter ants from killing the leaves that feed the flowers. Fungi in the soil break down dead plants and animals, providing nutrients for the roots of the cocoa tree. A supporting cast of bookworms adds humor to the text. “I thought this book was about monkeys,” he says. “Well, we aren’t done yet. They must be coming,” she replies. To find out how monkeys help in the production of cocoa beans, kids will have to read it for themselves.

WEITEKAMP, Margaret A. with David DeVorkin. Pluto’s Secret: An Icy World’s Tale of Discovery. illus. by Diane Kidd.  Abrams. 2013. ISBN 9781419704239. JLG Level: SCE : Science Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Remember when Pluto’s status as a planet was revoked? Since 1930, when the small planet was discovered, idiosyncrasies kept scientists from being completely satisfied with its inclusion in the list of nine planets. Finally in 2006, scientists created the definition of a planet, and Pluto was outvoted. Weitekamp’s new informational picture book takes the reader back through time as Pluto is discovered, studied, and named by an eleven-year-old girl. Index, glossary, and a Who’s Who guide support common text nonfiction needs. Humorous illustrations and Pluto’s witty comments ensure that this new title will be a hit in a science classroom or in a storytime.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

CROWDER, Melanie. Parched. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. ISBN 9780547976518. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Sarel is a girl who learned from her mother the secrets of plants―which can heal, nourish, or hold water. Nandi is the dog that saves Sarel from being seen when her family is murdered for the location of their secret well. She can also sense that the boy who has the power to save them all is near. Musa can sense the flow of underground water sources. His gift causes him to be kidnapped by a gang and forced to search for water after being beaten, starved, and handcuffed. These three survivors must find a way to locate water in a brutal desert before they run out of time. In her debut novel, Crowder tells the powerful story of the courage of two kids who use what they do well to work together and survive in a harsh world.

LARSON, Kirby. Hattie Ever After. Delacorte. 2013. ISBN 9780385906685. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

After Hattie pays off her IOU for Uncle Chester’s debt, she finds herself wondering if life in Montana and marriage to Charlie is what she really wants. When a traveling theatre troupe offers her a job which will take her to San Francisco, she jumps at the chance. This could be her opportunity to make a real career choice―journalism! The problem is that in 1919, women clean offices; they don’t work in them. Hattie must use her courage and desire to write to conquer stereotypes and win a spot on the front page. The sequel to Hattie Big Sky (Delacorte, 2006) allows Hattie to take her dabbling with a hometown newspaper column to a professional level in the fast and furious big-city life at the cusp of the Roaring Twenties.

MELOY, Maile. The Apprentices. Putnam. 2013. ISBN 9780399162459. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Math and science have always been easy for Janie. When she is falsely accused of cheating on a math test, the young researcher is expelled. Without access to her experiment, Janie won’t be able to finish extracting salt from her saline solution. She hoped to find a way to produce drinkable water from the ocean. Unfortunately, her equipment is stolen. In the meantime, her friends are scattered around the world. Benjamin and his father are in the jungle, trying to survive a war. Pip is on hiatus from making his television show. Jin Lo has returned to her childhood home to face the ghosts of her murdered family. As these teens struggle with their own problems, they unite for the common cause, as apprentices to the great Apothecary. Meloy’s sequel to The Apothecary (Putnam, 2001) smoothly takes four storylines and blends them into one high-powered race to save the team and fight their enemies.

PATTERSON, Valerie O. Operation Oleander. Clarion. 2013. ISBN 9780547244372. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Jess is not an orphan, but as the child of a soldier, her sense of duty and responsibility draws her to create a way to support her father and the orphans in Afghanistan. Though her friends Meriwether and Sam help with Operation Oleander, not every person feels that the Army should be involved in war in Kabul. When a bomb targets the jeep that is taking their supplies to the orphanage, Jess’s dad is severely wounded. Meriwether’s mother is killed. After an investigation ensues, Jess worries that it’s their fault. Sam’s dad is the Commander in Chief of the base; he must decide the future of their project. Conflict strains relationships to unbearable limits. Patterson’s heartfelt novel explores how even good intentions can have unexpected consequences.

TIMBERLAKE, Amy. One Came Home. Knopf. 2013. ISBN 9780375969256. JLG Level:  C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Georgie refuses to believe that her sister is dead. Anyone could have taken that dress. Full of courage and anger, the thirteen-year-old girl talks her neighbor Billy into providing her with a horse to find Agatha. She never expects him to trick her into riding on a mule and taking him with her. Together they follow clues that lead them to believe that Georgie’s gut feeling was not unfounded. Unfortunately they stumble into a dangerous ring of counterfeiters in the process. Can they solve Agatha’s mystery without causing another death? With turns of the tale at every bend in the road, Timberlake weaves secrets into a plot that makes you laugh and breaks your heart.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

CLEMENTS, Andrew. In Harm’s Way: Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School. illus. by Adam Stower. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. ISBN 9781416938897. JLG Level: A+ : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

The Keepers of the School thought that their work was done after the discovery of a secret hideaway for the Underground Railroad in the Captain Duncan Oakes School, ―no bulldozer could destroy the historical building. What Benjamin, Jill, and Robert learn is that their detective work only saved a portion of the structure. Determined to keep their enemy ―janitor Justin Lyman―at bay, their investigation is complicated by the hiring of some muscle and another pair of eyes to spy on the trio. The Keepers continue to unravel the puzzle of clues left by Captain Oakes. They must think like the mariner, “After three hooks pass, one will be brass.” Ben isn’t sure what skills he brings to the team, so in an effort to prove his worth, he tries to solve it on his own. Can he unlock the puzzle and save the school? Whether new to the series or not, readers will race through the chapters as solving the mystery leads the characters into harm’s way.

GIBBS, Stuart. Double Cross: The Last Musketeer. HarperCollins. 2013. ISBN 9780062048448. JLG Level: ME : Mystery/Adventure Elementary (Grades 2–6).

“All for one, and one for all.” The fourth musketeer, D’Artagnan, is also known as Greg, a time traveler whose future is in jeopardy if Michel Dinicoeur and Cardinal Richelieu have their way. King Louis XIII is also in danger if the Musketeers can’t break out of prison before they are hanged. With Milady de Winter in league with the Prince of Condé, and all three groups after the Devil’s Stone, time is of the essence. The Musketeers must save the King, and find the Stone first in order to stop events that can change the present and the future. Full of sword fights and daring escapes, this Musketeer adventure leaves readers as exhilarated as the characters themselves.

HEALY, Christopher. The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle. HarperCollins/Walden Pond. 2013. ISBN 9780062118455. JLG Level: ME : Mystery/Adventure Elementary (Grades 2–6).

In Book Two of The Hero’s Guide, our fearless princes have a new task―rescue Prince Liam from Briar Rose who is using him to acquire more power. The League reforms and a weak, but hilarious, plan throws them right into the castle of Raubar, the Bandit King―a ten-year-old self-made sovereign who enjoys being the bad guy. Rundark, who is a true villain, accepts the boy’s invitation to his castle because he can’t understand why a ruler with so little credibility as a criminal, can have the admiration of his men and the fear of the people. Once he unravels the mystery, Raubar is as good as dead, but the League of Princes bring their bungling, unheroic efforts to save the kingdom from Briar Rose’s misguided scheme, and cause chaos and laughter in their wake. Witty dialogue and eccentric characters take this fractured fairy tale to places less than happily-ever-after in this fun adventure.

MESSNER, Kate. Hide and Seek. Scholastic. 2013. ISBN 9780545419758. JLG Level: ME : Mystery/Adventure Elementary (Grades 2–6).

The Silver Jaguar Society has been protecting some of the world’s most important historical artifacts for centuries. With junior members José, Anna, and Henry on the case, the missing Jaguar Cup is sure to be found. On a trip to Costa Rica, the trio finds itself in the middle of a mystery―who sent the counterfeit cup to the exhibit and where is the real relic? A guest at the jungle lodge claims to have seen a species that doesn’t live in the area. A Society member secretly takes a great deal of money from one tourist. Suspects are everywhere. When José’s lack of self-confidence causes him to put his own life in danger, he begins to reconsider the value of teamwork, but is it too late for him to learn that lesson? Narrow escapes and short, cliff-hanger chapters create an adventure that seems like an afternoon at the movies.

SUTHERLAND, Tui T. and Kari Sutherland. The Menagerie. HarperCollins. 2013. ISBN 9780060780647. JLG Level: ME : Mystery/Adventure Elementary (Grades 2–6).

“Logan Wilde noticed the feathers as soon as he woke up.” He would later discover that they belong to a baby griffin. The move to Wyoming has been less than exciting and learning to live without his mom is difficult. His dad says that living in a new place will help him adjust, but Logan continues to have trouble making friends. Classmate Zoe and her family are responsible for the health and well-being of a mythical creatures menagerie. SuperNatural Animal Protection Agency (SNAPA) will arrive soon to inspect the facility, looking for infractions that could close them down. Though normally Zoe’s family would erase a stranger’s memory, Logan quickly becomes part of the group, as he has a knack for tracking the animals. Can they find the runaway cubs before the SNAPA agents arrive? Fantastical creatures in a dangerous, time-ticking situation builds tension in this adventure novel that keeps readers surprised at every turn.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

GUIBERSON, Brenda Z. Frog Song. illus. by Gennady Spirin. Holt. 2013. ISBN 9780805092547. JLG Level: NEK : Nonfiction Early Elementary (Grades K–2).

“Slurp!” The Darwin’s frog in Chile scoops up the tadpoles and keeps them in his vocal sacs for seven weeks. Then the froglets jump out of his mouth. A wood frog in Canada sings a “brackbrack!” song when she calls her mate. The female Surinam toad carries 100 eggs in the skin on her back. In four months, tadpoles will swim through her skin and away from their mother. Children will learn how frogs and toads sing all over the world as they incubate and hatch their babies. Gorgeous tempera, watercolor, and pencil illustrations provide young students with eye-opening visuals.

KRULL, Kathleen and Paul Brewer. The Beatles Were Fab (and They Were Funny). illus. by Stacy Innerst. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. ISBN 9780547509914. JLG Level: E+ : Easy Reading (Grades 1–3).

Lots of kids learn to play guitar or drums, but not every musical kid makes history. The Fab Four, otherwise known as the Beatles, zoomed to stardom from Liverpool, England to San Francisco―and everywhere in between. After seventeen straight times of singing it, they recorded their first song―”Love Me Do.” Their next song, “Please Please Me,” hit number one on England’s music charts. The band that laughingly considered calling themselves the Rainbows, created Beatlemania. They played for the Queen Mother―and even joked with her while onstage. When interviewed, they answered questions, but their sense of humor got in the way of a serious response. When George was asked what he called his hairstyle, he replied, “Arthur.” Ringo answered “How did you find America?” with “We went to Greenland and made a left.” After all, don’t silly questions deserve silly answers? The husband and wife team of Krull and Brewer guide the reader from the start of the Beatles’s career until their final album, Abbey Road―though you may have to be a fan to see the importance of the album cover tribute illustration. Adults sharing the story with kids will have a soundtrack playing in the back of their minds while they read. The listeners will want to hear it too.

MARKLE, Sandra. Bats: Biggest! Littlest! Boyds Mills. 2013. ISBN 9781590789520. JLG Level: NEK : Nonfiction Early Elementary (Grades K–2).

The Great Fruit-Eating Bat carries and eats figs while he flies. The Tube-Lipped Nectar Bat has a tongue so long that it’s attached to its ribcage. When not in use, the tongue curls up next to its heart. The Gray-Headed Flying Fox carries her baby with her, while Free-Tailed Bats cluster together on their own as their mother forages for food. Bats are as small as six inches and have a wingspan as big as three feet. Markle amazes readers with fascinating fats about bats―big and little, in this new addition to an animal series that includes large photographs and fonts.

ROSENTHAL, Amy Krouse and Tom Lichtenheld. Exclamation Mark. Scholastic. 2013. ISBN  9780545436793. JLG Level: NEK : Nonfiction Early Elementary (Grades K–2).

Whoever said that reading about punctuation would be boring? Exclamation Mark is a laugh-out-loud adventure that appeals to everyone’s insecurities. “It seemed like the only time he [the exclamation mark] didn’t stand out was when he was asleep.” He was different, no matter how hard he tried to fit in. When an inquisitive question mark asks him more questions than he can handle, he finds his voice, shouting, “STOP!” It feels good to shout, so he tries something else―accepting himself.  Finding his place in the world could have endless possibilities. Simply told and illustrated, Rosenthal and Lichtenheld have created a classic that goes far beyond a language arts lesson.

STONE, Tanya Lee. Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell. Holt. 2013. ISBN 9780805090482. JLG Level: NEK : Nonfiction Early Elementary (Grades K–2).

Elizabeth Blackwell never walked away from a challenge. Whether it was sleeping on the floor to toughen herself up or carrying her brother over her head until she got her way, the little girl was determined to succeed. As a woman in the 1840s, she ran into a road block. She had decided to become a doctor even though everyone always said  that women can’t be doctors. Twenty-eight medical colleges refused to admit her, but Elizabeth wouldn’t give up. “No” was an answer she could not accept. Stone includes a two-page author’s note with more facts about the life of America’s first female doctor. Her narrative biographical account is perfect for reading aloud.

For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

MILLS, Claudia. Kelsey Green, Reading Queen. illus. by Rob Shepperson. Farrar. 2013. ISBN 9780374374853. JLG Level: I : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

Kelsey Green loves to read―even during math class. Her principal announces a schoolwide reading contest. The best reader will get his or her name on a plaque in the school library. Kelsey is determined to lead her third grade class to victory. Her strongest competition is Simon who is good at everything. He quickly passes Kelsey and leads by four books. Maybe he’s not reading them all, she thinks. Maybe he’s cheating. The two of them can’t beat the sixth grade class by themselves, so Kelsey encourages everyone to participate. Her best friends would rather run and do math than read, so they aren’t much help. Classmate Cody never reads anything. He already reads below grade level. Maybe she could focus on him, but reading with Cody will take precious time from her own efforts. Family outings take away even more. How can Kelsey make progress towards being the best reader with all these distractions?

MYRACLE, Lauren. The Life of Ty: Penguin Problems. illus. by Jed Henry. Dutton. 2013. ISBN 9780525422648. JLG Level: I+ : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

Life is getting complicated for seven-year-old Ty. His new baby sister is taking up most of his mom’s time. He’s afraid of the cat under his bed. His best friend is in the hospital for leukemia treatment. In the meantime, he plays with Lexie, but she is bound to get them into trouble. Roughhousing with his classmate Taylor (who would put him in a headlock if he refused) gives Ty a loose tooth. Then there is preschooler Price, who is his reading buddy and needs a big brother to look after him. The real problem begins when Ty wanders away from his class during a field trip and finds the penguins. Kids have problems just like adults. Being able to handle them is what Ty has to learn.

STERNBERG, Julie. Like Bug Juice on a Burger. illus. Matthew Cordell. Abrams/ Amulet. 2013. ISBN 9781419701900. JLG Level: I+ : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

“I hate camp. I just hate it. I wish I didn’t. But I do. Being here is worse than bug juice on a burger. Or homework on Thanksgiving. Or water seeping into my shoes.” Grandma Sadie is sure that Eleanor will love summer camp―just like her mother did. Eleanor just wants to go home. She misses the city with its sidewalks full of people. At home her bed is beautiful. It’s not a lumpy bunk bed that’s so tall she could fall off of it. She doesn’t like the food. There’s a no candy rule. How can she survive eating only salad? Campers are sorted into ability groups for swimming. Everyone in her cabin is an upper group swimmer, but Eleanor has to wear a life preserver. Writing a letter to her mom seems the best way to escape this disaster. But life has a way of teaching us hard lessons; summer camp could be the place where Eleanor learns them.

WARNER, Sally. EllRay Jakes the Dragon Slayer! illus. by Brian Biggs. Viking. 2013. ISBN 9780670784974. JLG Level: I : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

Eight-year-old EllRay Jakes may be small for his age, but he’s still Alfie’s big brother. Her best friend at preschool seems more like her enemy than her friend. While watching the school rabbit in its hutch, Suzette leads a pack of girls to ignore Alfie and pretend she’s invisible. Just as EllRay walks up, they call her “Rabbit poop girl,” and say her new pink jacket is stupid. “How can four-year-olds be so mean? These are her friends? He knows bullying is wrong―no matter what your age. Something must be done. And, EllRay has his own bullying problems. The two situations collide and readers will identify with him as he resolves these conflict. For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

KLISE, Kate. Hollywood, Dead Ahead,. Bk. 5. illus. by M. Sarah Klise. (43 Old Cemetery Road Series) Houghton Harcourt. 2013. JLG Level: A+ : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

The fifth entry in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series takes the reader on a field trip to Hollywood. When Moe Block Busters buys the production rights for the threesome’s story, the reality of the unread contract hits Olive first. There’s no flight or hotel room for her. Her ghostly character is replaced by an elderly living legend, Ivana Oscar. To make matters worse, Ignatius gets an endless Hollywood makeover, and Seymour’s celebrity status goes to his head. The fine print calls for Ivana to die during production―even if the director has to kill her himself. Klise’s use of letter writing, journals, and newspapers keeps the story at a brisk pace, causing readers to race towards the dramatic conclusion.

NAYLOR, Phyllis Reynolds. Emily and Jackson Hiding Out. Delacorte. 2012. ISBN 9780375989780. JLG Level: A : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

Emily couldn’t be happier to be adopted by Aunt Hilda. She and Jackson were also delighted to get away from Uncle Victor, who only wanted her fortune. Life settles into carrying out ordinary chores and always having plenty to do and eat. Jackson, however, is never far from mischief, and being a runaway orphan, he must hide from the child catcher who wants to send him to work out west. Aunt Hilda has gone to town when a mysterious widow appears at their door. The two become suspicious of all her questions. Who is this meddling woman? Why won’t she show her face? Have they escaped danger after all? In this sequel to Emily’s Fortune, the melodrama returns, complete with cliff-hanger questions at each chapter’s end―”Now what in steamin’ stompers would they do?”

PASTIS, Stephan. Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made. illus. by author. Candlewick. 2013. ISBN 9780763660505. JLG Level: HE : Humor Elementary (Grades 2–6).

“It’s harder to drive a polar bear into somebody’s living room than you’d think.” So begins the prologue in the story of Timmy Failure and his detective agency―Total Failure, Inc. Named for his polar bear partner, Total, the young sleuth obliviously sifts through clues while the reader laughs out loud. He loses his Failuremobile and can’t seem to solve the mystery. It’s bad for business if a detective can’t solve his own problems. Punctuated with Wimpy Kid-type illustrations, one chuckle rolls right into the next. Add his buddy, Rollo Tookus who wants to get into “Stanfurd,” Molly with a huge crush on Timmy, and the Beast (also known as Corrina Corrina (who smells like tangerines), or the One Whose Name Shall Not Be Uttered, and you have an hysterical tongue-in-cheek first novel that will have you in tears of laughter by the end of chapter one.

PEIRCE, Lincoln. Big Nate Flips Out. HarperCollins. illus. by author. 2013. ISBN 9780061996641. JLG Level: A : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

When Big Nate and his friends decide to join the yearbook staff, they never expected that “Pushy McBossaround” Gina would be the editor. Francis becomes co-editor to bring balance and prevent the major mistakes from last year’s edition. Big Nate’s messiness gets out of control when he loses the school camera. His friends decide that hypnotism could be the answer to his problems; instead, the experiment results in a new Nate they no longer recognize. Who is this neat guy who draws comics in straight lines? Will the camera be found? Will Nate be neat forever? Has he really flipped out? Sprinkled with comic drawings and quick-witted dialogue, Pierce delivers another knockout.

VERNON, Ursula. Dragonbreath: Nightmare of the Iguana. illus. by author. Dial. 2013. ISBN 9780803738461. JLG Level: A+ : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

Wendell’s nightmares are larger than life. Monsters chase him, things attack him, and he isn’t wearing any clothes. Usually he falls off a cliff. By the time he wakes up, he’s exhausted. He needs help, so he calls his friend Danny who agrees to watch him sleep. He is supposed to look for Night Mare tracks and the sounds of the Dream Wasp. Between glowing hoof prints and an angry buzz, it’s clear that it’s not just Wendell’s imagination. Great-Grandfather Dragonbreath would know what to do. And he does. Danny must enter Wendell’s dreams with a baku (a dream-eater) to prevent the Dream Wasp from laying eggs in his brain. Green highlighted cartoons guide the reader through the land of nightmares where secrets, wishes, and fears are revealed to the iguana’s closest friends. Can they stop the Wasp? Can they save themselves? Fans of the “Dragonbreath” series will be happy for the return, and new readers will want to check out the first seven books.

For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

COFER, Judith Ortiz. The Poet Upstairs. illus. by Oscar Ortiz. Arte Público Pr./Piñata Bks. 2012. ISBN 9781558857049. JLG Level: CE: City Elementary (Grades 2–6).

On Juliana’s first day of school, she is too sick to go. Upstairs, a typewriter click-clacks, and the poet stops her pacing to record the flow of words. While the soft sounds lull Juliana to sleep, she dreams of an island. On waking, the little girl decides to draw her vision and slides her picture under the neighbor’s door. The next day Juliana finds a drawing from the poet under her own door, which seems to be in invitation for a visit. A bond between writer and child/illustrator forms as the pair works as a team. As the poem develops, the city disappears, transporting them to a tropical river. But even dreams must end, and as the poet pulls the paper from the typewriter, she says “You can take her [your mother] and anyone else you choose back to the great river, and that river will always take you somewhere new.”

Ortiz’s gorgeous illustrations convey magical images, leading readers to truly “believe that words can change the world.”

DAVIES, Jacqueline. The Candy Smash. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. ISBN 9780544022089. JLG Level: A+ : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

Evan would never admit it, but hearing the Poem of the Day in his fourth grade circle time is his second favorite part of the day. The “poems that Mrs. Overton read were different. They were like music, and they made something deep inside of him go zing.” His sister Jessie is the complete opposite; she’d rather work on her classroom newspaper. As Valentine’s Day approaches, Evan finds himself in a quandary―does he have a crush on Megan? What love poem should he turn in for his assignment? Jessie’s problem is the lack of a lead story for her paper. When she decides to survey her class about their love interests, the two dilemmas collide, creating more conflicts than anyone could have predicted.

Fans of the “Lemonade Wars” series will be glad to see the return of beloved characters, though the title stands well alone. Teachers may also want to use the novel as a read aloud in conjunction with a poetry unit.

SINGER, Marilyn. Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems. illus. by Josée Masse. Dial. 2013. ISBN 9780803737693. JLG Level: I+ : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

In a collection of reverso poems, Follow Follow , a companion book to Mirror Mirror (Dutton, 2010), offers opposing viewpoints of classic fairy tales. Readers have an opportunity to hear two sides to every story. Aladdin wants “wealth without measure/it is true freedom,” but the genie says, “This is what I demand: true freedom? It is wealth beyond measure.” With the act of reversing the lines and a few changes in punctuation and capitalization, the real meaning of wealth is revealed for the two characters. Not an easy form to create, Masse’s acrylic illustrations mirror the two halves of each poem, providing readers with visual clues to unlock character perspectives.

An author’s note describes the writing process. A summary of the tales upon which the poems are based is also included in the back matter, providing background to readers who are unfamiliar with the original stories.

WISSINGER, Tamera Will. Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse. illus. by Matthew Cordell. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. ISBN 9780547820118. JLG Level: A+ : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

“For fishing tomorrow it’s just us two. Not Mom, not Grandpa, not Lucy.” On the night before a father and son fishing trip, Sam readies his supplies and dreams of the fish they will catch. Sister Lucy, however, has big ideas to join them. Sam wants no part of that―“but Dad. It was just you and me.” Lucy will be loud; she’ll scare the fish. When she promises “I won’t dance. I won’t squirm. I’ll be quiet as a worm,” Dad agrees to the threesome. The excited youngster is not quiet or still, yet she catches fish after fish. Will Sam catch even one fish before Lucy uses all the bait? Maybe fishing is just not his sport. Wait―is that a bite?

The story of a family fishing trip and sibling rivalry is told in verse, using many poetic devices―ballads to quatrains and dramatic poems for two (or three). Like a tackle box, she also provides a box of tools for budding writers in the extensive back matter. Wissinger’s debut novel, humorously illustrated by Cordell, is a gem of a poetry collection.

WORTH, Valerie. Pug: And Other Animal Poems. illus. by Steve Jenkins. Farrar. 2013. ISBN 9780374350246. JLG Level: I : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

Jenkins illustrates another amazing posthumous collection (Animal Poems, Farrar, 2007), of Worth’s animal poems with his trademark collages. “The Bengal tiger/Batters his cage:/His rage is thunder.” A snarling tiger growls at an unseen enemy. In Toads, a toad rests comfortably amongst the fallen leaves, marbles, and a lost tennis ball. For Mouse, the mouse that’s the “gift on the step” lies stiff with his feet in the air―a prize brought by the cat. Jenkins’ artwork will delight animal-loving readers of all ages.

For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

BLAKEMORE, Megan Frazer. The Water Castle. Walker. 2013. ISBN 9780802728395. JLG Level: FM : Fantasy/Science Fiction Middle (Grades 5–8).

Reminiscent of Tuck Everlasting (Farrar, 1975), the Appledore-Smiths move into the family castle known for its mythical, curative waters. Ephraim yearns to find the Fountain of Youth, hoping it will reverse the effects of his father’s stroke. Complicating the search is an ancient feud among the Smith, Wylie, and Darlings families. Against all expectations, grudge-holding ancestors unite to solve the mysteries of the mansion―interior rooms don’t fit the exterior floor plan. If the lake was the source of the magical water, why are there so many secret tunnels that lead away from the lake? A hidden lab reveals scientific research that points to amazing conclusions. Journal entries during the time of the Peary-Henson expedition disclose evidence to readers that all magic may not be mystical. Science may indeed be the missing ingredient.

Themes of being an outsider and friendships that overcome long-standing quarrels, strengthen Blakemore’s fantastical quest, urging readers to consider their own decisions, whether or not they are faced with a choice of living forever.

FEDERLE, Tim. Better Nate than Ever. S & S. 2013. ISBN 9781442446892. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Nate has never been the center of attention―unless he’s being bullied. Plotting an overnight trip to New York City, Nate and best friend Libby prepare for the worst-case scenario at his Broadway show audition. Unfortunately, the unexpected happens and the stagestruck teenager finds himself at callbacks with no money, a dead phone, and seriously big trouble if he doesn’t get on the bus to return home before his parents. Adding to his guilt is an estranged aunt, who gets caught in the middle of his deception.

Full of humor and irony, Nate struggles with self-worth and gay-bashing in a town where he finally seems to fit in―except for the fact that if he stays one second longer he could be grounded for life. Semi-autobiographical, the heartwarming story reminds readers that everyone deserves a second chance―no matter where you live.

GRAFF, Lisa. Tangle of Knots. Philomel. 2013. ISBN 9780399255175. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Lives often intertwine like a tangle of knots. Follow one line, and it crosses with the life of another. In a modern day world with a good dose of magic, almost everyone has a a special magical ability. Cady has an award-winning Talent for baking the perfect cake that is just right for someone. Others have Talents for spitting, walking on air, or knitting at an amazing speed. When a hot air balloon creates a hole in the Ashers’s apartment building, all of the characters, except Miss Malory who runs the Home for Lost Girls, move into the lost luggage emporium and the tangle of knots begins to unravel. Who would ever think that blue luggage, a woman who has lost her voice, and a Talent Thief could bind together such an unlikely group?

Told from the perspective of different characters, the chapters offer different points of view, and readers will be able to gather clues to a mystery that is revealed in the exciting conclusion.

URBAN, Linda. The Center of Everything. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. ISBN 9780547763484. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

There is nothing easy about turning twelve, especially for Ruby Pepperdine. Still grieving from the loss of her grandmother, her efforts to right a wrong alters her whole world. Ruby becomes friends with Nero who seems to know everything; perhaps he can help her craft the perfect birthday wish. She neglects her self-absorbed best friend Lucy, who is wrapped up in a starring role in a school production of Hansel and Gretel. In an effort to save one relationship, she loses two friendships. The honor to read her essay about Captain Bunning provides her with an opportunity to fix everything. Can she take things back? Can she change the past or save the future?

During the course of a single day, readers learn about the events leading up to Bunning Day and the effects of Ruby’s obsession with her wish and how it impacts everyone around her.

For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

MESHON, Aaron. Take Me Out to the Yakyu. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. ISBN 9781442441774. JLG Level: NEK : Nonfiction Early Elementary (Grades K–2).

A young boy hits a double header―one grandfather takes him to American baseball games and his other grandfather (ji ji) takes him to games in Japan. In America, he goes to a stadium. In Japan, he goes to the dome. Transportation to the game is different. In Japan, he rides a short red bus that turns into a train; in America his pop pop drives the station wagon. Snacks are different and so are the souvenirs. Both countries sing at the seventh inning stretch―but they sing different songs. No matter the differences, going to a baseball game is wonderful!

An interesting author’s note continues to compare the Japanese and American versions of the sport. Perfect for use with CCSS initiatives, educators won’t strike out with this picture book.

MOSS, Marissa. Barbed Wire Baseball. illus. by Yuko Shimizu. Abrams. 2013. ISBN 9781419705212. JLG Level: SE : Sports Elementary (Grades 2-6).

Kenichi Zenimura was small. He was barely five feet tall and weighed about one hundred pounds, but he wanted to play baseball. Born in Japan, his family moved to California where Zeni got the chance to play in the Fresno Leagues. He played with three other teammates in an exhibition game along with star members of the New York Yankees. He went to his homeland and played there. But life took a different direction when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. The American government rounded up Japanese Americans and sent them to internment camps. Zeni and his family tried to make a home for themselves in an Arizona camp. Though it was not a prison, having nothing to do made it feel like one. So, he decided to play baseball, but first he would need to build a field in the hot desert. He inspired others to join him and make the best of their difficult circumstances.

While researching internment camps Moss came upon a picture of Zenimura and the exhibition team. She looked at other pictures of the field that the Japanese Americans built. The characters’ determination in the face of adversity is a powerful example of how our choices can make a difference not just to ourselves, but to those around us.

TAVARES, Matt. Becoming Babe Ruth. Candlewick. 2013. ISBN 9780763656461. JLG Level: SE : Sports Elementary (Grades 2-6).

George Herman Ruth would never be called “well behaved.” When he was seven, his parents finally sent him to Saint Mary’s Industrial School for Boys. Though it wasn’t truly a prison, the 800 residents called themselves the “inmates.” Run by the Catholic Church, they learned to follow rules, work, and play baseball. Brother Matthias took a special interest in George, teaching him how to play every position on the field. When he turned sixteen, crowds of people came to watch him play―including a baseball scout for the minor league team Baltimore Orioles. After observing him pitch for 30 minutes, the scout offers Ruth a contract “right then and there.” The youngest kid on the team, he quickly becomes known as “the Babe.” By 1920, Babe Ruth is sold to the New York Yankees for $125,000―the largest amount ever paid for a player. Later that year a fire burned down Saint Mary’s, and the baseball giant did not forget the man who taught him what he knows. He wrote a letter to Brother Matthias, and what he did would be forever remembered by the school’s inmates.

Tavares’s tribute to Ruth and the school that gave him a second chance to direct his path is an inspiration to all those who struggle with life’s lessons.

For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

PETT, Mark. The Boy and the Airplane. S & S. 2013. ISBN 9781442451230. JLG Level: P+ : Primary (Grades K–1).

Letting his imagination soar, a little boy flies his new red airplane around his yard until it lands on the roof. Because he is unwilling to end the fun, he gets a ladder to retrieve the lost toy. Sadly, he’s not quite tall enough to reach it. Maybe he could use his cowboy lasso? If he were a fireman, his hose could knock it down. Nothing works, but he is determined to rescue his treasure. When a seed pod falls from a tree, he gets the beginnings of an idea. Will it work? Does he have the patience to wait for his plan to take root?

A timeless tale, Pett’s universal story is told in large and small panels of vintage-colored paper and watercolor. Careful readers will latch on to the circular narrative that begs to be reread.

RUNTON, Andy. Owly & Wormy: Bright Lights and Starry Nights. S & S/Atheneum. 2012. ISBN 9781416957751. JLG Level: P+ : Primary (Grades K–1).

Mostly wordless (with the exception of sound effects), Owly and Wormy have an adventure during a scary camping trip. Unable to see the stars in their telescope, they determine that a night away from city lights might just do the trick. When rain drives them into a dark cave, the sound of “clickity click click” and the beam of glowing eyes sends them running for safer cover. Finally ready to set up camp, they realize they lost the telescope. Wormy volunteers to stand guard while Owly searches for their tool. In the dark of the woods, he gets lost and the sounds of “clickity click click” frighten him . What is following him? What will he do? Will he find his way?

In comic book-style with dark illustrations and speech thought bubbles, Runton presents another adventure for his readers, with enough mystery and suspense to inspire their imaginations.

SULLIVAN, Mary. Ball. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. ISBN 9780547759364. JLG Level: P : Primary (Grades K–1).

From the moment he wakes up, the dog can only think of one word: “ball.” His little girl is happy to comply and throws the ball over and over while she dresses for school. Panic grips his face when she leaves. What will he do now? How can he play with his ball? Mom is busy doing yoga. Baby just cries. A hissing kitty has no interest at all. Maybe a little nap with his toy will help pass the time? Will his dreams keep him busy with more adventures?

A small palette of digitally colored pencil drawings in comic book-style panels keeps the reader’s eye moving across the page. Even children without their own dogs will laugh at the antics of the over-zealous canine.

For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

Sometimes a short book just works better with an older audience. The humor is usually more sophisticated, and often, the story line is intended for a mature reader. Higher vocabulary levels and necessary prior knowledge are also factors. With the emphasis in Common Core on reading in the content area, librarians in search of titles to support the social studies curriculum will find what they seek in these new picture books for older readers.

BROWN, Don. Henry and the Cannons: An Extraordinary True Story of the American Revolution. Roaring Brook. 2013. ISBN 9781596432666. JLG Level: I : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

In the winter of 1775, the Patriots had lost control of the great city of Boston. With no cannons, General Washington couldn’t reclaim it from the British. After the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, there were more than 50 available cannons―but New York was 300 miles away. Henry Knox knew about artillery; he agreed to accept the challenge. In the bitter cold he rode horseback over 40 miles a day to reach his destination. He chose fifty-nine cannons and arranged (with the help of some men and three boats) their transport across Lake George. Wind-driven waves and dangerous rocks impeded the soldiers’ progress. Sleds pulled by oxen provided passage across the land, but warm temperatures melted the snow, and the sleds stuck in the mud. Cannons fell into ice-encrusted ponds, but Knox’s men fished them out. Finally, after a more than a month-long struggle, the Patriots reached Boston. “Not a single cannon had been lost.” The rest is history.

Brown’s Revolutionary tale of a tireless leader and his troop brings history to life. A bibliography is included.

Fleischman, Paul. The Matchbox Diary. illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline. Candlewick. 2013. ISBN 9780763646011. JLG Level: E : Easy Reading (Grades 1-3).

“Pick whatever you like most. Then I’ll tell you its story,” a great-grandfather tells his young great-granddaughter. She chooses a matchbox that holds an olive pit. He puts it in his palm and begins to tell the stories of how their family emigrated from Italy to America. Each matchbox contains a small treasure that symbolizes a memory of his past. The olive pit reminds him of when his mother redirected his hunger by giving him an olive pit to suck on. A worn photograph of his mustached father prompts the tale of how his father went to America first. The patriarch wrote letters that no one could read at their home in Italy. Being poor, they worked instead of learning to read and write. The schoolmaster’s son read their letters and recorded events in a diary. Wanting to keep his own diary, the young boy found matchboxes on the ship that took the family to join their father. So that he wouldn’t forget his grandmother, he began to keep small objects in the boxes. Life in America would be difficult for the Italian family. Rumors of buttonhooks in your eyes frightened them. Housing was expensive. Work was hard to find. His mother wanted him to learn to read and write. Could he teach his sisters what he learned? If he did, would it make a difference to the family?

Inspired by the matchbox diary of artist Gary Hamel, Fleischman’s immigration tale is complemented by Ibatoulline’s warm illustrations. The longer narrative makes it an excellent read aloud, and could inspire readers to begin a diary of their own.

HOPKINSON, Deborah. Knit Your Bit: A World War I Story. illus. by Steven Guarnaccia. Putnam. 2013. ISBN 9780399252419. JLG Level: E+ : Easy Reading (Grades 1–3).

“Knitting is for girls,” Mikey says to his sister when Ellie reads about firemen who are making scarves for the soldiers overseas. Even President Wilson keeps sheep for wool on the White House lawn. The protagonist changes his mind when he is challenged in a knitting fundraiser in Central Park—one that pits the boys against the girls. Mikey’s mom teaches his friends how to knit and purl, though some still need more practice. The day of the Knitting Bee arrives, and a sea of women and men―young and old―fills the park. Who will knit the fastest? The best? A soldier who has lost one leg congratulates the boys on their efforts just as Mikey is starting to feel that his work is in vain. Does it matter how small a boy’s attempts may seem? Will his imperfect socks be a comfort to soldiers in the winter?

An author’s note indicates that Knit Your Bit is based on real events. On July 30, 1918, the Navy League Comforts Committee sponsored a three-day Knit-In in Central Park. The NY Times reported that $4000 was raised with volunteers knitting 50 sweaters, 48 mufflers, and 224 pairs of socks. Prize winners included four blind women, two men, an 83-year-old woman, and four children younger than 11. With the current knitting craze, readers will be amazed to see that almost one hundred years ago, even boys knit.

JIANG, Ji-li. Red Kite, Blue Kite. illus. by Greg Ruth. Disney/Hyperion. 2013. ISBN 9781423127536. JLG Level: E+ : Easy Reading (Grades 1–3).

Based on a true story, this fictional tale explores the effects of China’s Cultural Revolution. When a father is sent to a labor camp for controversial ideas, he makes a plan with his son to communicate: “Every morning you can go to the hill to fly your red kite. I will see it from my camp. Every sunset I will fly my blue kite, so you can see it from here,” his father tells him. “A secret signal!,” shouts Tai Shan. He lives with Granny Wang while his father is away. She teaches him to braid a straw grasshopper, ride a water buffalo, and how to spin cotton on her wheel. Every morning, the boy walks up the hill and sends his kite into the air. At sunset he looks to the sky for the blue kite, but it never appears. After three days, Tai Shan begins to worry. Where is his father? Did something happen? What will happen to him now?

Between 1966 and 1976, Mao Zedong created “revolutionary standards” that would keep all citizens on the Communist path. Though Jiang’s reality-inspired story line spares young readers of the era’s violence, an author’s note fills in more details. Social studies teachers could easily use the title even in high school classes.

MACLACHLAN, Patricia. Nora’s Chicks. illus. by Kathryn Brown. Candlewick. 2013. ISBN 9780763647537. JLG Level: E : Easy Reading (Grades 1-3).

Moving to a strange town can be difficult, but moving from Russia to the desolate prairies of America brings tears to Nora’s eyes. No hills. No neighbors. Even her baby brother is too young to hold a conversation. When their nearest neighbor comes for a visit, a girl Nora’s age accompanies her mother. Shyness keeps the girls from having much to say to each other. The immigrant family adopts a stray dog, but it seems to love her brother best. Nora worries that she will never have a friend. One day, her father brings home some chicks and geese. Instead of being dinner, they become Nora’s pets, following her everywhere she goes―even into church. After the service, one of the chicks goes missing. Where could it be? Will Nora find it?

Readers will be happy to learn that during unfortunate circumstances, wonderful things can happen. MacLachlan’s immigration story explores modern-day themes of loneliness, friendship, and new beginnings.

For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

GALE, Eric Kahn. The Bully Book: A Novel. HarperCollins/Harper. 2013. ISBN 9780062125118. JLG Level: HIM : High Interest Middle School (Grades 5–8).

“The Grunt is a person. But it is also something you create. By the time you’re done, the Grunt will be the loser of all losers to everyone in your class. Your job is to make it happen.” Written in a handbook that has been passed down for years is the secret to being popular: choosing one person to be the bottom of the social order. In doing so, you become the leader of your grade. However, the handbook is secret until Eric becomes the Grunt. He finds a clue that makes him determined to change his course and maybe protect those “grunts” to come. Will he find the Bully book? Who wrote it and why? Can a kid really change his place in the social order? Can he stop the bullies?

Told in chapters alternating between the Bully Book and Eric’s journal, readers will cringe at the bullying tactics and cheer for those who stand up to their aggressors.

KLISE, Kate. Homesick. Feiwel and Friends. 2012. ISBN 9781250008428. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

In 1983 (before the internet) the idea of a computer network is ludicrous. Radio is popular and everyone knows your business. In a small Missouri town, Benny has his hands full. His dad is a collector whose findings begin to take over the house. When his mom walks out, Benny is torn between his love for his mother and his loyalty to his father. His dad finds out that his son is cleaning the house for a school service project and goes ballistic―even calling to shout at the teacher. The boy even gets in trouble for throwing away stacks of pizza boxes. Benny realizes his father is more than a collector: he has a serious problem, and he needs help. The radio, the town clean-up project, and a fake piano recital might just do the trick.

Known for her works for middle grade readers, Klise delivers a powerful story about divorce, truth-telling, and the every-day challenges of life. With an amazing cast of characters, Homesick celebrates the importance of building relationships.

KRUMWIEDE, Lana. Freakling. Candlewick. 2012. ISBN 9780763659370. JLG Level: FM : Fantasy/Science Fiction Middle (Grades 5–8).

Taemon has always known he had powers that should be kept secret. He can see into an object and know how to make it work. “Be it so!” Without saying a word―without using his hands, everyone in the dystopian land of Deliverance can make it be so. Those without powers (or psi) are cast out. Taemon chooses not to use his powers for evil, and gives them up. He uses his knack for tinkering to hide his psi-less condition. Older brother Yens has a thirst for power and will stop at nothing―not even threatening the life of his brother―to get it. He will be the True Son. What is Taemon’s destiny? Will he be a freakling and forced to use labor instead of his mind? Has he really lost all his psi? What does it mean when the Elder Naseph changes the prophecy of the True Son’s purpose? How can Taemon battle the oncoming evil with no psi-power to stop it?

Krumwiede’s debut novel will rivet readers and hold them captive until its thrilling conclusion.

PATTERSON, James and Chris Grabenstein. I Funny: A Middle School Story. illus. by Laura Park. Little, Brown. 2012. ISBN 9780316206938. JLG Level: HIM : High Interest Middle School (Grades 5–8).

“No, I’m Jamie Grimm.” Delivering the punch line before the joke wasn’t his plan, but sometimes in the nerves of things, the unthinkable happens. Jamie also never planned to be an orphan in a wheelchair, but he makes the best of it. His humor keeps his spirits up, leaving echoes of laughter wherever he goes. He even stands up to the school bully, who happens to be his new adoptive brother. It seems that nothing can hold him back until he decides to enter the Funniest Kid Comic Contest. Can Jamie overcome his stage fright? What heavy burden is Jamie carrying?

Written in short chapters and full of jokes boys can use for their own material, Patterson and Grabenstein share a tale for kids who deal with disabilities, bullies, and other burdens far too heavy for kids their age.

PEACOCK, Shane. Becoming Holmes: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Final Case.  Tundra. 2012. ISBN  9781770492325. JLG Level: MM : Mystery/Adventure Middle & HS (Grades 7–11).

With the death of Charles Dickens, Sherlock Holmes sees immortality everywhere he looks. Now an orphan with a gravely ill sponsor, he sinks deeper into melancholy until he is literally kicked out of the lab. Stumbling upon yet another mystery, the young detective is determined to bring in his arch enemy, Malefactor, at last. Grimsby could not have gotten the job on his own merit. What secret is the Governor of the Bank of England hiding? Can he stop the infiltration of his nemesis before it is too late?

Peacock lays the groundwork for the most well-known detective. What motivated him to detach himself from his work? To efficiently analyze everyone he meets? To see details that no one else sees? Though the novel is the last of the series, it stands well as a story all on its own.

For ideas about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

BIRMINGHAM, Maria. Weird Zone: Sports. illus. by Jamie Bennett. Owlkids. 2013. ISBN 9781926973616. JLG Level: SE : Sports Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Looking for baseball or basketball? You won’t find it here. Subtitled “The strangest, funniest, and most daringest events form the world of athletics and beyond!,” this book includes sports like bossaball ,which is a combination of soccer, volleyball, and gymnastics. It’s played on an inflatable court with a net like volleyball. Basic instructions are given for all kinds of sports, both team and solo. Readers can learn how to juggle and run―at the same time. Some of them are extreme―like roller-skating on a roller coaster or skate-boarding on a ramp as tall as an eight story building.

The author includes factual tidbits about sports dating as far back as .the early 11^th century.  An Englishman attached wings to his hands and feet and jumped from tower. (He broke his legs.) Also, when there was a cheese shortage in England, Cheese Rolling continued. Organizers built a wheel with representative cheese within it. In sidebars called “Invention Dimension,” kids discover different inventions related sports. Rules, quizzes, and vocabulary round out the text. A fascinating read―for the sports fan or not.

Davies, Nicola. Deadly!: The Truth About the Most Dangerous Creatures on Earth. illus. by Neal Layton. Candlewick. 2013. ISBN 9780763662318. JLG Level: NE : Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Davies’ latest nonfiction work focuses on killing techniques and defense mechanisms of a variety of animals. Suicidal ants explode to save their colony. Crocodiles perform the “death roll,” spinning in the water to twist off the limb (or head) it has clamped in its jaws. In spite of sometimes being as small as a fingernail, the box jellyfish may be the most toxic creature on the planet, according to scientists. A pack of wild dogs sometimes eats their victim before it’s completely dead. Readers will also learn to prevent attacks by not carrying food in their backpack (which draws bears) or avoiding a swim in the murky ocean water (where a shark might look for nourishment).

Though the material is far from being bedtime reading, Layton’s comic panel illustrations lighten the grim reality of animal survival skills. The author also points out that these dangerous creatures are important to our world. The cycle of life brings balance among plants and animals. Scientists have even found uses for lethal poisons: scorpion toxin is used in the fight against cancer; cobra venom can help relieve the pain of arthritis.

Readers may also enjoy the pairs’ companion books, Poop, Extreme Animals, and What’s Eating You.

GRIFFITHS, Andy. What Body Part Is That?: A Wacky Guide to the Funniest, Weirdest, and Most Disgustingest Parts of Your Body. Feiwel & Friends. 2012. ISBN 9780312367909.  JLG Level: HE : Humor Elementary (grades 2–6).

“Ninety-nine percent fact free” reads the cover. What may sound like a book that belongs in 612 is actually fiction. A diagram of the human body and all its parts precedes the chapters. Readers are encouraged to read only the parts they find interesting. Diagrams contribute to the humor of these quick chapters and tickle the funny bone. The author and illustrator offer “A & T’s Fun Body Part Facts” in each chapter. Kids can also read about how scars are formed (which will leave them in awe). The book even covers “Private Parts.” “Private parts are private. That is not all there is to know about private parts but that is all I can tell you because they are private.”

Readers who enjoy Lemony Snicket or Dav Pilkey would enjoy the humor (and the drawings) in this light comedy about the body.

JENSON-ELLIOTT, Cindy. The Most Famous Pirates. Capstone. 2013. ISBN 9781429686099. JLG Level: H35 : Series Nonfiction: History 3–5 (Grades 3–5).

“Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me,” might echo in readers’ minds as they peruse this tome of most famous pirates. Part of Capstone’s “Blazer” series (high interest, low vocabulary), Jenson-Elliott gives a brief introduction from the 1500s to 1730s. Sidebars feature highlighted vocabulary and facts for each chapter. The Barbarossa brothers often sold the crew and passengers of captured ships into slavery. Sir Francis Drake may have been the first to sail around the world, but he was also an English privateer―he was paid by his country to steal other ships and goods. Black Bart liked to dress in fancy clothing. One of Ireland’s most known pirates was a woman―Grace O’Malley. She owned at least five castles and all the land around them. Cheng Shih took her husband’s place on the sea and commanded more than 1,500 ships and 80,000 pirates. Nonfiction support material concludes the text.

For ideas about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

BRANFORD, Anna. Violet Mackerel’s Remarkable Recovery. illus. by Elanna Allen. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. ISBN 9781442435889. JLG Level: I+ : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

Whether your readers know Violet or not, they will surely want to after reading the fourth book in this chapter book series. Violet has a charm all her own and is quick to share it with others. In this installment, she has an extremely sore throat. Dr. Singh confirms that her tonsils must come out, and warns that her voice could be different after surgery. Violet is quite excited to think that soon she will be an opera singer on the radio. Meeting an old lady in the waiting room, Violet learns that she is not the only one with rhinoceroses (instead of butterflies) in her stomach. The two promise that they will have tea after their remarkable recoveries. Not knowing how to contact her new friend, Violet begins to “Think Outside the Box About Finding Iris MacDonald.” Will she be able to locate Iris? Will Violet sing opera on the radio? Readers will rush to the end to find out.

MACLACHLAN, Patricia. White Fur Flying. S & S/McElderry. 2013. ISBN 9781442421714. JLG Level: A : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

Much-loved author MacLachlan introduces a new female character whose family is in the animal business. Mom rescues Great Pyrenees―dogs that can weigh up to 140 pounds. Dad is a veterinarian, and sisters, Zoe and Alice, love all creatures. Close to their home, Phillip is living with his aunt and uncle while his parents work out a problem. Alice, a budding writer, invents stories about why the new boy won’t talk and why the lady is so severe. She decides that the neighbor man is a spy. A mocking parrot keeps the story lively and breaks the tension. A vicious storm drives the aunt to the neighbors for help, bringing drama to both families. At the novel’s riveting conclusion, Zoe does what she does best: listens and observes before reacting, solving the central conflict. Readers will laugh, cry, and cheer for all the characters in a story that’s bound to be a classic.

PENNYPACKER, Sara. Clementine and the Spring Trip. illus. by Marla Frazee. Disney/Hyperion. 2013. ISBN 9781423123576. JLG Level: I : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

Spring delivers two things to Clementine―a new classmate and a school field trip. Clementine loses her usual spotlight when Olive becomes part of the third grade class. Classmates speak in the new girl’s invented language except for Clementine who can’t master the technique. Another growing concern is the silent eating rule made by the fourth graders who will join them on the field trip to Plymouth Rock. Add friend Margaret’s obsession with rules and cleaning and this sixth book in the series is sure to become a new favorite. Readers will laugh at Clementine’s voice and her attempts to change her world. Rather than face silent eaters or new partners, she boldly volunteers to stay behind to spy on the party for the principal. “What party?” asks Mrs. Rice. “The one the lunchroom ladies and the custodians are going to have. You know. With all the great food the lunchroom ladies hide from us.” The principal appreciates her generosity but knows Clementine’s teacher is counting on her to buddy-up with the new student. And besides, “there is no party.” Problems build as she confronts her challenges head on―including the mysterious “Cloud on Bus 7.”

Always a treat to read Clementine’s honest approach to life, Pennypacker’s latest offering is an enchanting gift to spring.

WELLS, Rosemary. Ivy Takes Care. illus. by Jim LaMarche. Candlewick. 2013. ISBN 9780763653521. JLG Level: A : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

When her best friend leaves for a wealthy summer camp, Ivy realizes the differences between their two lives. Her parents work at a dude ranch in 1949, with envelopes of money for various expenses. They could never afford to send her to any camp. Ivy decides to spend the summer making money by taking care of pets. Following the encouragement of the local veterinarian, she decides she wants to save her earnings for college. Told in three short stories, the author complicates Ivy’s summer with a male character who cannot stay out of trouble. The two develop a friendship of sorts, and work together to solve their problems. Told with the familiar gentle voice of beloved author Rosemary Wells, Ivy is a strong female protagonist who takes responsibility for her future and learns to accept her own value as a person. With an unforgettable boy/girl pair, it makes for a great classroom read aloud.

For ideas about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

HEST, Amy. Charley’s First Night. illus. by Helen Oxenbury. Candlewick. 2012. ISBN 9780763640552. JLG Level: K : Kindergarten (Grades PreK–K).

Sometimes a character’s voice, is so strong it transcends the page and pulls at a reader’s heartstrings. Henry has that kind of voice. The little boy finds a stray puppy on a cold snowy day. “We were new together and I was very, very careful not to slip in the snow and I thought about his name. Charley. Charley Korn. My name is Henry. Henry Korn.” Later he brings the puppy home to his parents, and we hear that voice again, “I would be in charge of walking Charley, they said, and I couldn’t wait to walk Charley forever.” Henry wants his new friend to sleep in his room, but his folks have another idea―probably a good one, as the illustration shows the boy should have taken his pet for a quick walk. As the family makes a bed for their recent addition in the kitchen, Henry fits the nook with his own beloved bear and a tick-tock clock, which provides “another little heartbeat in the night.” Night falls and Charley howls when he wakes. Henry tries to follow his parent’s rules, but the puppy wants to sleep on the bed. When both friends get sleepy, the reader can predict the outcome. Oxenbury’s gorgeous illustrations are framed by a border, helping to pace the gentle tale that warms your heart, even in the cold of winter.

MARKLE, Sandra. Snow School. illus. by Alan Marks. Charlesbridge. 2013. ISBN 9781580894104. JLG Level: NEK : Nonfiction Early Elementary (Grades K–2).

Markle’s latest informational picture book focuses on weeks-old snow leopard siblings. Mother has left them unattended when the inquisitive male cub is nearly captured by a hawk. Lesson learned: “Outside the den, it’s a dangerous world.” The two cubs follow their mother over the course of a year as they witness survival lessons in their snow school. One day they will catch food for themselves, so they learn to be quick on their feet, guard their prey, and quiet while hunting. Told in simple narrative vignettes, Markles’s text is illustrated by watercolor scenes that vary from rough-housing between the cubs to the mother’s kill.

PRINGLE, Laurence. Ice!: The Amazing History of the Ice Business. Calkins Creek. 2012. ISBN 9781590788011. JLG Level: NE: Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Heavily sprinkled with primary sources, Pringle’s latest nonfiction work centers on the history of the ice business. Even in Caesar’s time, ice was brought from cold regions to cool a beverage. In 1805 Frederic Tudor decided he could profit from shipping ice to the West Indies. He hired Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth who invented a horse-drawn ice cutter, making ice easier to harvest and transport. Icehouses sprang up along Rockland Lake to store the product for shipping. In 1860, an inclined railroad was designed, allowing for faster and safer delivery to the water’s edge. The ice business soon became an integral part of everyday life. With the invention of the icebox and ice delivery wagons, ice became more affordable for everyone. As an unexpected result, the invention of refrigeration hearkened the end of the ice harvesting industry. It took time to get electrical service across the country, so even until the 1950s, the ice man came. Today, ice festivals celebrate the carving of ice, but the giant icehouses that began it all stand empty or in ruins.

Pringle’s fascinating narrative is as clear as the ice he writes about. Readers will be amazed at the effort it took to bring the frozen commodity to their homes. Photographs, painted postcards, and vintage ice card signs bring a century-old industry to life.

WRIGHT, Johanna. Bunnies on Ice. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. 2013. ISBN 9781596434042. JLG Level: K : Kindergarten (Grades PreK–K).

Time passes slowly when a champion ice-skater waits for winter to arrive. With a Christmas Eve-like feeling, an excited bunny runs with skates-in-hand to wake her parents for the first big circle around the ice. With scores of fans watching, bunny practices figure eights, leaps in the air, and pirouettes. Wright uses simple sentences to slow the pace of a beautifully illustrated family story. Heavily-textured oils on canvas flow across double-page spreads, allowing the reader time to examine the family’s activities. Humor is scattered throughout the story. The family “eats a balanced diet” while they roast marshmallows in the fire. Muscles are kept loose while playing in a bubble bath. A ballerina-skirted scarecrow looms over the family tending the garden. A perfect combination of art, humor, warmth, and text create a Caldecott-worthy read aloud.

For ideas about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

BARNETT, Mac. Chloe and the Lion. illus. by Adam Rex. Disney/Hyperion. 2012. ISBN 9781423113348. JLG Level: HE : Humor Elementary (Grades 2-6).

Mac, the author, and Adam, the illustrator, argue over which character is better for scaring poor little Chloe―a lion or a dragon. A war over the story line ensues. Which is more important―the art or the text? When Mac fires Adam for not following directions, “my-friend-Hank” is hired. The former artist is quickly eaten by Hank’s lion. Little Chloe saves the day by setting them all straight, telling the author, “You’re the writer. Adam is the illustrator. We all add something to the story.”

Barnett’s humorous tongue-in-cheek tale is charmingly illustrated with clay figures of the picture book’s creators, and cartoon-type characters for the remaining players. Using a stage as the story’s backdrop, and balloons for its text, sets the artwork apart from similar books this year. It’s a tale of friendship and teamwork in an unusual mixed-format effort that is a pleasure to read.

BARNETT, Mac. Extra Yarn. illus. by Jon Klassen. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. 2012. ISBN 9780061953385. JLG Level: K : Kindergarten (Grades PreK-K).

“In a cold little town, where everywhere you looked was either the white of snow or the black soot from chimneys, Annabelle found a box filled with yarn of every color.” So begins the tale of one little girl who made a difference. She knit a sweater for herself; she still had yarn left. She knit a sweater for her dog, and still had some left. Annabelle knit sweaters for everyone and everything she met, except for Mr. Crabtree. She made him a hat. “Things began to change in that little town.” When the archduke tried to buy the never-ending yarn from the little girl, she refused to sell. So he stole it.

Klassen’s artwork brings Annabelle’s black and white world to life. With pops of color punctuating the simple digital-and-ink shapes, the meaning of the magical yarn materializes. Use of darkness when the archduke steals the box shows the meanness of the act without being too scary for its intended audience. Though the story is moralistic, the charm of the illustrations and the happy ending produce a picture book that is sure to be a classic, regardless of whether it wins the gold.

BUZZEO, Toni. One Cool Friend. illus. by David Small. Dial. 2012. ISBN 9780803734135. JLG Level: P : Primary (Grades K-1).

“Elliot was a very proper young man,” so it’s no surprise that he liked penguins. “In their tidy black feather tuxedos with their proper posture, they reminded Elliot of himself.” During a visit to the zoo, he slips a live penguin into his backpack. (He asked permission, of course.) Unbeknownst to his preoccupied father, Elliot’s new pet skates on a pond in his room, eats anchovy pizza, and swims in the family bathtub.

From turtle-patterned pajamas and footstools, to boxes of caramel candy and diagrams in the father’s office, the illustrations complement the text while hinting at the surprising outcome. Small adds a smattering of color to his simply sketched ink drawings, which along with the use of bubble captions lighten the serious tone of the dialogue between father and child. s. A perfect blend of the visual and text make it an excellent choice for story time. Readers will laugh at the tuxedoed duo’s adventures and shout “read it again” at its conclusion.

COLE, Henry. Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad. Scholastic. 2012. ISBN 9780545399975. JLG Level: P : Primary (Grades K-1).

While doing her chores, a young girl discovers someone hiding in the family’s barn. Without saying a word, each person takes food to the uninvited guest. After a slave-hunting party arrives, the visitor disappears, leaving behind a cornhusk doll dressed in the napkin material as a sign of thanks.

Cole uses charcoal and pen line drawings to illustrate this wordless picture book. In a style reminiscent of Brian Selznick, character close-ups reveal the tension in the story. Readers will feel the family’s fear when the hunting party arrives. They will worry when the runaway peeks through a knot hole. Seeing the Big Dipper through the bedroom window will fill them with hope that the slave will find a safe place to rest. An author’s note shares family stories and background history about the details included in the illustrations.

FOGLIANO, Julie. And Then It’s Spring. illus. by Erin E. Stead. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. 2012. ISBN 9781596436244. JLG Level: K : Kindergarten (Grades PreK-K).

A dedicated young boy and the animals that live around him diligently wait for seeds to sprout. In well-planned phases, readers feel the slow-moving track of time as the season of brown lingers on. He plants his seeds. He waters them. A silent chorus of anxious planters stares at the dark earth waiting for green to break through. A rainy day brings a sunny one, and with it, green. “All around you have green.”

Stead’s woodblock printing techniques brilliantly tone down the anxious wait for spring. Kids will linger over the details. A turtle uses a magnifying glass to better see the emergence of a sprout. Rabbit watches for the carrot seeds to push through the soil. Even the dog waits for his buried bones to grow. Spring bursts into view on the last double page spread, just like the seeds that were sown. Another winner for Stead and a first-winning book for Fogliano.

STEAD, Philip C.. Bear Has a Story to Tell. illus. by Erin E. Stead. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. 2012. ISBN  9781596437456. JLG Level: K : Kindergarten (Grades PreK-K).

Winter is swiftly approaching, and bear is getting sleepy, but first he has a story he wants to tell. Mouse doesn’t have time for a story; he has seeds to gather. So Bear helps his friend instead. Duck has to get ready to fly south, so Bear checks the wind’s direction. Frog needs to find a warm place to sleep for the winter, so Bear digs a frog-sized hole. The first snowflake falls, but Bear still hasn’t told his tale. When spring arrives and his friends return, Bear is delighted to remember that now he has time to tell his story. Sadly, he can no longer recall what he wanted to say. In cyclical fashion, his friends prompt him, and the story ends as it began.

Gold medal team of Stead and Stead pair up again in this star-studded effort (2 stars and a Kirkus Editors’ Choice Award). The camaraderie of the characters is skillfully painted in their faces and mannerisms. The gentleness of the big bear is believable in his efforts to help his friends, while putting his needs last. The lesson of the story (shall we say, Golden Rule?) is gently woven between the text and illustrations, allowing the reader to absorb the message with little effort.

For ideas about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.