Blooming Spring Reads for K-YA

Spring is a wonderful time for a new book exploration!

Shirley Barber

ISBN: 780760723814

Publisher's Synopsis:

This is absolutely one of my kids' favorite books. The stories are creative and fun, but it's the excellent artwork that really sets this book above others. The pictures are richly colorful and highly detailed with plenty to look at and entertain even the most fidgety child while you read the text. The artwork in this book is simply stunning. Each picture is rich in detail and has a border that has elements of the picture reflected in it. As you read the stories, the pictures make you feel as if you are looking into Martha B. Rabbit's world. The first story is called Martha B. Rabbit and the unexpected Guests. It is about Martha and her friend Tabitha the cat preparing for a long, cold winter The second story is called Martha B. Rabbit and Daphne the Forgetful Duck The third story is called Martha B. Rabbit and Those Wicked Rats Again. The stories are creative and fun, but it's the excellent artwork that really sets this book above others. The pictures are richly colorful and highly detailed with plenty to look at and entertain even the most fidgety child while you read the text. Martha B Rabbit Tabitha Cat Daphne Forgetful Duck Rats.

What is Springtime Goodness?

MrsK's Review: Read-Aloud

A visit with Martha B Rabbit is the perfect spring Storytime! 

"Small brown birds sing,

Nestlings on wing,

Gone is winter frost and snow,

Skies are deep blue,

And all day through,

Forest dwellers come and go..."

Martha and Tabitha are discussing the fall colors outside of their apple-tree house. It is time to gather berries and nuts for those who will need food during the cold months. Not only will deer come to drink from the water hole, but many will stop by to get warm and cozy, as well as hear a story by the fire.

One sunny morning, Martha, Tabitha, and William Elf began preparing their streamside garden. Greetings were shared with Daphne and her six fluffy ducklings. Of course, six little ducklings can be a bit mischievous when at the local market.

Summer adventures lead into the fall and winter. The fairies' party is being planned until... the three wicked rats decide to steal the party food.

Gather around for this tale is to be told... How Martha and Tabby became so well known,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Shirley Barber grew up in the Channel Islands, where she gained her lifelong love of nature and painting. A third-generation artist, she always dreamed of writing and illustrating children's books. But this dream did not come true until she had moved to Australia and her children had grown up.

Her first picture book Martha B. Rabbit - The Fairies' Cook was published by The Five Mile Press in 1988 and became an instant success. The following year it won first prize in the prestigious Critica Erba awards at the Bologna Children's Fair - an extraordinary achievement for a first book.

To date, Shirely Barber books have sold in excess of 10 million copies. They have been published in over 70 international editions in North America, Europe and Asia. Shirley's best-selling fairy title in Australia is The Tooth Fairy closely followed by The Enchanted Woods and Rainbow Magic. Shirley lives quietly in rural Victoria and continues to write and illustrate delightful storybooks enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Karen Wane

ISBN: 9781858543178

Publisher's Synopsis:

Designed to help improve numeracy, the book mirrors primary teaching methods to help ensure continuity and build confidence.

MrsK's Review: Pre-2nd

Who is the ten family? What are jumping numbers? What's the difference between fish, a starfish, and an octopus? Why do sports teams double? How would you compare a giraffe with a porcupine?

Each of these questions can be found within a math puzzle. Will you know how to solve these problems?

This is a perfect 5 minute warm up before introducing mathematical functions... so much to ponder, learn, and remember,

MrsK

Sam Garton

ISBN: 9780062845092

Publisher's Synopsis:

This My First I Can Read book is carefully crafted using basic language, word repetition, sight words, and sweet illustrations—which means it's perfect for shared reading with emergent readers. The active, engaging My First I Can Read stories have appealing plots and lovable characters, encouraging children to continue their reading journey.

Read about more of Otter’s adventures in I Am Otter, Otter in Space, Otter Goes to School, Otter Loves Halloween! Otter Loves Easter! Oh No, Bath Time! The Best Job Ever! Hello, Sea Friends! and Let’s Go Swimming!

MrsK's Review: Beginning Readers

Otter wants to go on a fun trip. What reader doesn't? After all books take us around the world, we can become our own "pirates" of adventure. Not only does otter have an endearing personality, Otter's love for the library and all of its grand discoveries, it is Otter's voice that brings great conversations with any beginning reader. Igniting a desire to become a life-long learner is an everlasting exploration.

This is one of the sweetest stories, perfect for inspiring beginning readers!

MrsK

Meet the Author:

I’m Sam, I’m 33 and I live in Wokingham! I have a degree in illustration, and I spend most of my time drawing Otters whilst generally making a mess and thinking about why I still haven’t bought a kitten. I like putting inappropriate sweets in the freezer (Jelly tots) and my favorite film is Homeward bound. I wish I looked cool wearing headbands, but I don’t. Oh, and I’m rubbish at looking after house plants.

Oliver Jeffers

ISBN: 9781536235500

Publisher's Synopsis:

Dictionary wishes she could tell a story like other books. So, one day, she decides to bring her words to life. How exciting it is to finally have an adventure on her very own pages! But what will she do when her characters collide and everything gets all in a jumble, causing the most enormous tantrum to explode? This isn’t what she wanted at all! Luckily her friend Alphabet knows exactly what to do and sings a song that brings calm and order to Dictionary’s pages once again.

"One day, Dictionary decided to...

... bring her words to life."

MrsK's Review: 3rd+ Gr. Resource/Read & Discuss

Have you ever pondered that a Dictionary has all the words ever said? There within the dictionary's pages an alligator, a very hungry alligator appeared! Dictionary quickly learned that a "story was finally happening" within her pages!

This delightful tale is a perfect introduction to an often lonely, shelved book. Every reader will enjoy spending a moment or two with Dictionary and her chaotic tale. Yet, once Dictionary's tale is completed and the cover is closed... what type of discoveries could bring further adventures and tales to life?

As an educator, I wish I had this book for my classroom, once a month my learners would have had a creative writing day in which they would all "un-shelf" the dictionaries and create a tale for the day.

Have a word-playing time,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

  Oliver Jeffers' work takes many forms. His distinctive paintings have been exhibited in galleries worldwide, and HarperCollins UK and Penguin USA publish his award-winning picture books, now translated into over 30 languages.
In 2007, Jeffers was the official illustrator for World Book Day, and in 2008 Lost and Found became Oliver's first book to made into animation by London-based Studio AKA.

Jeffers won a NY Emmy in 2010 for his collaborative work with the artist and director Mac Premo, and in 2013 Jeffers co-directed the video for U2's Ordinary Love with Premo. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Jeffers now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

Richard Ayoade

ISBN: 9781536222173

Publisher's Synopsis:

What if you could send fan mail to your fairy tale idols? And what if they wrote back? “Happily, ever after” takes on a new meaning in this book from actor-comedian-author Richard Ayoade and best-selling illustrator David Roberts.

It’s once upon a time . . . as only the irreverently witty Richard Ayoade can tell it. In this series of letters organized by C. C. Cecily, Senior Secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club, the fairest of them all (and a few bitter foes) correspond with curious—and opinionated—fans. So, if you’ve ever wondered how a less-than-genius (and less-than-clothed) emperor fell for a certain con, how the Big Bad Wolf is handling meatless Mondays, or whether Rapunzel recommends going for the big chop, no need to look far, far away. Multihyphenate Richard Ayoade, author of The Book That No One Wanted to Read, hilariously imagines what questions modern children would have for characters such as Sleeping Beauty, Prince Charming, and Little Red Riding Hood—and what they might have to say in return. Complete with clever, spoof-gothic illustrations from David Roberts, this wry storybook may have even the Brothers Grimm cackling in their graves.

When is it "unwise to be what we are not?"

MrsK's Review: 3+Gr. Fairy Tale Resource

C. C. Cecily is the Senior Secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club. What a delightful job that would be, the possibilities of engagement with readers and their questions would be endless. I can only imagine what a classroom writing assignment would produce.

So... let's begin this humorous tale. What would you like to know from Little Red Riding Hood? Would you be asking how a wolf can swallow someone whole like Ira does?  What would you ask Rapunzel, or the Little Mermaid? 

Cinderella, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, and Hansel/Gretel responses are encouraging, yet full of characteristics that a reader of their tales rarely enjoys. Of course, the Big Bad Wolf and Rumpelstiltskin are a bit more poignant in their responses. Then there's Jack, he points out the disadvantages of having magic beanstalk beans. Humpty-Dumpty's truth attempts to point out that not every tale is completely retold. 

Whether it is a frog activist or a princess/prince, or even C. C. Cecily... these letters and fairy land responses are sure to engage readers to write for clarifications or additional fairy tale truths...

May your reading be happily ever after,

MrsK

Meet the Author:  

Richard Ellef Ayoade is a British comedian, film director, screenwriter, television presenter, actor, and author best known for his role as the socially awkward IT technician Maurice Moss in Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd, for which he won the 2014 BAFTA for Best Male Comedy Performance.

Anne Nesbet

ISBN: 9781536234725

Publisher's Synopsis:

In an exciting wilderness adventure, 

three cousins are cut off from their parents by a huge earthquake—and must hike long and treacherous mountain trails back to safety, with only each other to rely on.

During a hiking trip with their parents in the mountains of California, cousins Owen, Vivian, and Amy are finally allowed to camp for one night at a little lake all on their own. But when a massive earthquake blocks their return path, there’s only one way the long way around, through a wilderness filled with fierce animals, raging rivers, unstable weather, and high passes. The hardest challenges the cousins face, however, are the troubles they’ve brought with bold Vivian’s fear of starting middle school and of changes she can’t control, Owen’s lingering emotional scars from a car accident, and Amy’s desire to live in stories rather than in boring regular life. Drawing on courage and humor, the cousins weather storms, make the most of dwindling rations, and face their deepest fears in order to bring each other safely home. This gripping contemporary novel from celebrated author Anne Nesbet is bursting with excitement, rich natural settings, and characters who will have readers rooting for them all the way.

"Before they could even think...

an even louder roar, a terrible shaking roar...

WHOOOMPF!"

MrsK's Review: Gr.3-5 Reality Fiction/Adventure

How does your family outing stories... begin? For this cousin wilderness adventure, it begins with excited anticipation. While camping, they will have one day alone at a lake. Parents don't worry...

the adults will be staying at a lake close by.

Meet Vivian, she is preparing for middle school, and this grand adventure will be her chance to gain the confidence to face her fears.

Meet Amy, she is only eight and although she would rather stay close to the adults, she doesn't want to be considered "little" any longer.

Meet Owen, he is the girl's cousin. Even though his dad and aunt were raised having family trips to various parks, he isn't really a camper. Especially since the life-changing event that has caused such emotionally charged struggles. Yet, he has been delegated as the cousin chef. Why not try staying a night at a lake alone with his cousins.

Imagine being cozy within your tent after a day of being on a wilderness trek, you are finally snuggled into your sleeping bag and suddenly, there are "noises that shouldn't be happening, crashing and splashing noises." From the moment the cousins are awakened, nothing will be easy or the same. Will their individual strengths match their survival skills? Or could their food supply run out before they can be reunited with their parents? 

Every family adventure creates more than memories... skills are being modeled... books provide further discoveries and insights. Did you know that during the summer there is more water in a river in the afternoon because the snow way up high has been melting all day?

Enjoy this adventurous journey together, you never know when a camping skill might become a lifesaving reality, 

MrsK

"All the cousins were very fond of maps...

Vivian liked them because they were a tool...

Amy, because some of the best books about magical journeys had maps...

Owen liked them because of the contour lines..."

Meet the Author:

Anne Nesbet’s novels for young readers are filled with adventure, friendship, and richly imagined worlds, both magical and historical. Her Cloud and Wallfish (Candlewick 2016), about children navigating the borders of East Berlin in 1989, won the California Book Award and was named an ALA Notable book, and her other novels have earned their share of honors and critical acclaim, too. Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen (Candlewick 2020) received four starred reviews! When not writing novels for kids, Anne teaches film history, plays violin and viola, and goes on long hikes in the mountains. She reads while walking, by the way, which means she relies on echolocation (or chance) to avoid injury. She lives with her entertaining family and demanding dog in California.

Dan Gemeinhart

ISBN: 9781250292773

Publisher's Synopsis:

It's been almost a year since Coyote and her dad left the road behind and settled down in a small Oregon town. . . time spent grieving the loss of her mom and sisters and trying to fit in at school. But just as life is becoming a new version of normal, Coyote discovers a box containing her mom’s ashes. And she thinks she might finally be ready to say goodbye.

So Coyote and her dad gear up for an epic cross-country road trip to scatter the ashes at her mom’s chosen resting place. The only problem? Coyote has no idea where that resting place is—and the secret’s hidden in a book that Coyote mistakenly sold last year, somewhere in the country. Now, it’s up to Coyote to track down the treasured book . . . without her dad ever finding out that it’s lost.

It’s time to fire up their trusty bus, Yager, pick up some old friends, discover some new ones, and hit the road on another unforgettable adventure.

"Sometimes stories start with a bang,

and sometimes stories start with a whisper,

and sometimes stories start with..."

MrsK's Review: 5-MS Reality Fiction

Since the Coyote and her father has "settled down from their road trip and into a house. "Coyote has been adjusting to a life in school, bullies, a school library refuge, and loneliness away from her "Yager" lifetime. 

Just when she was getting a comfortable routine with the one girl from the school, the librarian, and the library lunch retreats, Coyote discovers her mother's remains. Her life will once again need to "hit the road." She must locate a poetry book that her mother had written down where she wanted her ashes to be scattered. Of course, Covid 19's shut down is a welcome surprise. Not only will they be on a "Yager" road trip, but they can also pick up Coyote's best friend as they head off into an unknown destination.

The quest will be to locate where Coyote had traded used books from their last trip. Which bookstores has her mother's poetry book? How far will she go before her dad finds out the book is missing? To what level of desperation will Coyote be driven?

It is a delight to be on the road again in Yager, with Coyote, Rodeo, Salvador, and few new sojourners. Personalities are brilliantly lively, the quest is worthy and frustrating. The treasure chase for a lost book is enticing. Most importantly, will the consequences of deceptions be worth the journey?

MrsK

"The funny thing about sadness, though, is that you can't

really run away from it. Not ever!"

Coyote's first Journey

Meet the Author:

Dan Gemeinhart lives in a small-town smack dab in the middle of Washington state with his wife and three young daughters. He was lucky and grateful to be a teacher-librarian in an elementary school for thirteen years, where he got to share awesome books with awesome kids. He loves camping, cooking and traveling. He also plays guitar (badly) and reads (constantly). His house is always a mess. He is really pretty darn happy.

Meg Shaffer

ISBN: 9780593598856

Publisher's Synopsis:

Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.

But be careful what you wish for. . . .

Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy.

For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.

. . . You might just get it!

"Where are you going?

Five O'clock.

When will you be back?

By the lighthouse.

MrsK's Review: YA+ Playful Fantasy Fiction

According to the unique clock on Clock Island, not everything is as it appears. Jack Masterson is an author who owns an island. His children's book series has inspired many readers. Some have wished to be on Clock Island... some have even run away to the island. Yet, it's been years since Jack has published his 66th book.

When the publisher's decided to update the Clock series, they hired Hugo as the new series illustrator. The one condition, Hugo had to live on the island. Since Jack kept his rights to oversee the new illustrations, years went by without Jack writing a new story. Will Hugo leave Clock Island?

Lucy was one of the few "run-aways" to Clock Island. At twenty-six, she is currently working as a teachers-aide. One student suffered a nightmare at his home and needed a quick foster home. Lucy offered to look after Christopher. Her plans would be to adopt Christopher, but the authorities said she didn't have the funding to raise him in a steady home life. Is it by chance that the author of her favorite book series is offering a "Make a Wish" contest? Could she and Christopher finally be a forever family?

The contest was announced, a riddle had to be solved in order to gain an invitation to Clock Island and the contest.

"Why is a raven like a writing desk?"

Only four contestants were chosen, of course all four had been "run-aways."  Noone knew the contest rules, yet all were sent the invitations, and the media circuit was going crazy over the prize, which of course would be the unpublished sixty-seventh book. "The game is a foot..."

Delightfully crafted. Characters aren't always what they seem. Riddles are frustrating. Facing ones' fears is a finale option,

MrsK

"The only wishes ever granted..."

Meet the Author:

Meg Shaffer is the USA Today bestselling author of The Lost Story and The Wishing Game, which was a Book of the Month finalist for Book of the Year, a Reader’s Digest and Washington Post Best Book of the Year and has been translated into 21 languages. Meg holds an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College. She lives in Kentucky.

Wintery Reading Reviews for K-YA Readers

 

Grab a cup of cocoa... a quilt... and curl up for

moments of 

explorations...

Grades 2-3:

Kate DiCamillo

ISBN: 9781536223316

Publisher's Synopsis:

At the Hotel Balzaar, Marta’s mother rises before the sun, puts on her uniform, and instructs Marta to roam as she will but quietly, invisibly—like a little mouse. While her mother cleans rooms, Marta slips down the back staircase to the grand lobby to chat with the bellman, study the painting of an angel’s wing over the fireplace, and watch a cat chase a mouse around the face of the grandfather clock, all the while dreaming of the return of her soldier father, who has gone missing. One day, a mysterious countess with a parrot check-in, promising a story—in fact, seven stories in all, each to be told in its proper order. As the stories unfold, Marta begins to wonder: could the secret to her father’s disappearance lie in the countess’s tales? Book two in a trio of novellas bound by place and mood—with elegant line art by Júlia Sardà—The Hotel Balzaar masterfully juggles yearning and belief, shining light into every dark corner.

"... my little ray of light."

MrsK's Review:

Meet Marta, a young girl who lives in an attic room of the Hotel Balzaar. Her father has gone missing in the war and her mother is working at the famous Balzaar hotel, in which Marta cannot be in the lobby or talking to the staff. Not only is Marta very lonely, but she is also longing for her father to come and worried that he might not know where they have moved. There isn't much to do at a hotel, quietly looking at a painting or watching an extraordinary clock does pass the time when the days seem long.

On a cloudy and gray day, an old woman enters the lobby. Meet the Countess who uses a cane, can demand the hotel to provide their best room, and has a parrot named Blitzkoff. Can you imagine a parrot on your shoulder? The countess sees Marta hiding behind a lobby plant and invites her to come to room 314. What might the countess teach Marta? Will she let her talk with her parrot? Marta has been told never to be seen or talk with anyone at the hotel, and yet, the countess has invited Marta to stop by her room.

As the tale unfolds, Marta discovers that the countess has seven stories to share with Marta. Stories that are intriguing, stories that must be told in order, stories that Marta will think about until the next day. 

Within the weaving of these seven Norendy tales, many wonders become enchanting. Layers of imagination... fascinating intrigue... and possible truths unfolding,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

    Kate DiCamillo, the newly named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 2014–2015, says about stories, “When we read together, we connect. Together, we see the world. Together, we see one another.” Born in Philadelphia, the author lives in Minneapolis, where she faithfully writes two pages a day, five days a week.

Kate DiCamillo's own journey is something of a dream come true. After moving to Minnesota from Florida in her twenties, homesickness and a bitter winter helped inspire Because of Winn-Dixie - her first published novel, which, remarkably, became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. "After the Newbery committee called me, I spent the whole day walking into walls," she says. "I was stunned. And very, very happy."

Grades 3-5:

Kekla Magoon

ISBN: 9781536230888

Publisher's Synopsis:

Since Grandpa died, Dally’s days are dull and restricted. She’s eleven and a half years old, and her exacting single mother is already grooming her to take over the family business. Starved for adventure and release, Dally rescues a mysterious envelope from her mother’s clutches, an envelope Grandpa had earmarked for her. The map she finds inside leads straight to an ancient vault, a library of secrets where each book is a portal to a precise moment in time. As Dally “checks out” adventure after adventure—including an exhilarating outing with pirates—she begins to dive deep into her family’s hidden history. Soon she’s visiting every day to escape the demands of the present. But the library has secrets of its own, intentions that would shape her life as surely as her mother’s meticulous plans. What will Dally choose? Equal parts mystery and adventure—with a biracial child puzzling out her identity alongside the legacy of the past—this masterful middle-grade fantasy rivets with crackling prose, playful plot twists, and timeless themes. A satisfying choice for fans of Kindred and When You Reach Me.

"My dearest Dally-bird... I know your eager heart... the map

is for you and you alone... it is our final shared secret..."

MrsK's Review:

Meet Dally, a young girl who is determined to discover her Grandpa's secrets. Her family's heritage business is currently managed by her mother. Her mother is determined that Dally will be the next CEO, which means that Dally hasn't experienced any grand adventures since her Grandpa's death. It was her grandpa who recognized Dally's loneliness, as well as encouraged her spirited imagination with daily outings beyond her schooling and business classes. What does Dally need now that her days are regimented? With a mysterious envelope, a map that leads to a secret library, Dally's future will be forever changed.

Through the halls of Peteharrington, Dally bravely picks the lock and enters her Grandpa's study. To Dally these were "extenuating circumstances," in which she needed to locate the letter that Grandpa wanted her to have when she turned twenty-one. Being eleven and a half was only a minor challenge. Granpa knew all the stumbling blocks that Dally experienced, as well as how she didn't fit into this world, he would have been her much needed adventure guide... if he were still alive.

Grandpa's map would lead her the "X marks the spot," the TSL! Dally knew the days of dullness and predictability were over. Patience wasn't a virtue she had, yet, with Grandpa's map a new adventure was about to begin.

 "Everyone who finds the library...

is meant to be here."

Meet Jennacake, she is the librarian of secrets. She will be the guardian who will help Dally navigate the books of secrets. The books will provide travels to the moment that a secret was revealed, shared, or occurred. Once someone enters the pages... the adventures begins. Reader's must be mindful of the white fog for it will be a boundary within the journey. Only one secret can be read per visit, and the reading must be within one of the many reading rooms.

Dally's adventures began with little secrets that had something to do with her daily life, school, and the current past of her mother and father. But... then a chosen secret would mean she had to dress for a time in the past. 1850 is a vastly different life, especially if you've just arrived aboard a two-masted ship!

Meet Jack, he has been aboard the ship with Captain Eli and the first mate Pete since their last sail. Pirate life isn't necessarily what Dally had previously read about. There is so much more to being on a ship in the 1800's in comparison to when she was in the sailboat with Grandpa. There would be life-threatening storms, treasure under the sea, maps to be coded, the possibility of a hang-man's noose, and of course resilience to continue reading the various books of secrets.

With many twists and turns in the plot, this story is woven with adventurous threads of past lives, self-discoveries, and life changers. Characters are decisively crafted. Social acceptance is intricately woven into surprising realizations. Don't expect an ending in which a reader might "foresee" a prediction...

MrsK

Meet the Author:

   Kekla Magoon writes novels and nonfiction books for children and teens, often on themes of identity, community, empowerment and social justice. Acclaimed titles include The Season of Styx Malone, The Rock and the River, How It Went Down, and Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People.

Kekla received the 2021 Margaret A. Edwards Award, a body of work recognition for her significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. She is also a recipient of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, a Michael L. Printz Honor, four Coretta Scott King Honors, two Walter Award Honors, and an NAACP Image Award, in addition to being a finalist for the National Book Award.  

Grades 4+:

Juneau Black

ISBN: 9780593315712

Publisher's Synopsis:

Reporter Vera Vixen is a relative newcomer to Shady Hollow. The fox has a nose for news, so when she catches wind that the death might be a murder, she resolves to get to the bottom of the case, no matter where it leads. As she stirs up still waters, the fox exposes more than one mystery and discovers that additional lives are in jeopardy.

Vera finds more to this town than she ever suspected. It seems someone in the Hollow will do anything to keep her from solving the murder, and soon it will take all of Vera's cunning and quickness to crack the case.

"Shady Hollow is a tale of woodland creatures... welcome...

Up in the far north, lies a small village..."

MrsK's Review:

Meet Otto (as a reader I find him to be much more than an average toad), to be sure he is cranky and cantankerous. He lives in a mud hut at the pond. Why might you wonder is a toad important... well he is the mystery.

Of course, within the village, you will become a type of visitor at all of the quaint businesses. You'll meet the owner of the Von Beaverpelt Sawmill and some of its workers (beavers, muskrats, woodchucks, mice, rabbits, sparrows, and minks). You'll stop at Joe's Mug where you can get your morning cup of Joe and learn a thing or two. There's always news being discussed around town thanks to the Shady Hollow Herald. At the Goody Crow's Restful Home for the Aged Creatures, you will meet Ruby who just isn't getting enough sleep. If you are a reader, like most of us, your first destination should be Nevermore Books where Lenore will deliver the perfect read for anyone seeking a new journey. For a tasty vegetarian dish, stop by the Bamboo Patch, Panda Sun Li will be thrilled to meet you.

On a late August morning, Gladys Honeysuckle was flying to work at the Herald. Unfortunately, this morning would prove to be the worst of her flights. There he was, floating in the middle of the mill pond. When she arrives at the Herald, Vera Vixen is already at work. Vera did not expect to start her day with the task of quieting a "weeping and hysterical hummingbird!" Once Vera visits the pond to verity the scene, she heads to the station to report what Gladys saw (or rather snoop to scoop her byline).  Chief Meade is not at work and Deputy Orville Braun will investigate with Vera close behind.

I will not spill the beans; this is a mystery with more than one murder, suspects galore, and the most delightful "red-herrings" to intrigue every arm-chair detective, enjoy for there are more mysteries to unravel in this series,

MrsK

Meet the Authors:

 Juneau Black is the pen name of authors Jocelyn Cole and Sharon Nagel. They share a love of excellent bookshops, fine cheeses, and a good murder (in fictional form only). Though they are two separate people, if you ask either of them a question about their childhood, you are likely to get the same answer. This is a little unnerving for any number of reasons. Sharon lives in Wisconsin 🧀, where she works as a librarian. Jocelyn lives in the city-state of Philadelphia 🥨, where she also writes romance as Elizabeth Cole.

Seasoned Readers YA:

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

ISBN: 9780316481014

Publisher's Synopsis:

Welcome to the Grandest Game, an annual competition run by billionaire Avery Grambs and the four infamous Hawthorne brothers, whose family fortune she inherited. Designed to give anyone a shot at fame and fortune, this year’s game requires one of seven golden tickets to enter. With millions on the line, those seven players will do whatever it takes to win.

Some of the players are in it for the money. Some for power. Some for reasons all their own. Every single one of them has secrets. Amidst it all is Grayson Hawthorne, tasked with a vital role in this year’s game. But as tensions rise and the mind-bending challenges push the players to their limits—physically, mentally, and emotionally—it soon becomes clear that not everyone is playing by the rules.

MrsK's Review:

Avery inherited a vast estate, including the heirs known as the Hawthorne brothers. At first her required quest for a surprise inheritance lead into her own game of wits, twists and turns, reliance's and conspirators. Now she has created the second annual competition in which seven will arrive at a secluded Hawthorne Island for the grandest game of their life.

What is known is that the winner will win fame and fortune. What is needed is strength, endurance, talents for "brain-bending" puzzles, and the courage to remain centered during extreme conditions. This year's players have been invited. They have an experienced connection with either Avery or the Hawthorne brothers in one way or another. They will all be expected to win or leave the game!

Are you ready for the grandest game? Have you been following Avery, her inheritance and her Hawthorne co-inheritors? Have you the desire to invest in a game that requires more than courage? Are you a reader who enjoys unraveling puzzling plots?

There are not enough ways for a book reviewer to express the enjoyment of a book worth experiencing. What I can express is that Jennifer Lynn Barnes has not disappointed her readers with this series. She has crafted five characters in which any reader will "hunger" for more adventures. The woven threads of plot twists, puzzling quests, and magnificent settings are tantalizing bits of exquisite word play.

 

Enjoy this masterly crafted journey, pages will be turned swiftly, and characters will become "booked" friends forever...

MrsK

Meet the Author:

 

Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She's been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a "practice book" and which none of you will ever see) when she was still in high school, and then wrote Golden the summer after her freshman year in college, when she was nineteen. Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006.

IL's New Year Book Discoveries

 New Year book picks...

Hours inside leads to great discoveries...

Explore these titles...

Grab a quilt and a cup of hot cocoa!

 Family Story Time:

Steven Kellogg

Publisher's Synopsis:

Pinkerton's natural canine urge to chew on things while teething coincides with a chaotic visit to the museum's collection of dinosaur bones.

MrsK's Review:

There is no better author/illustrator than Steven Kellogg! Pinkerton is one of the classic "chaotic" pups of enjoyment. In this sweetness of fun, Pinkerton is teething, and as a great Dane bones are essential. While Emily is preparing for her class trip to the Natural Museum of History, she reads to Pinkerton about dinosaurs. Her teacher has invited the class to dress-up in dinosaur costumes for their "Dinosaur Day" of exploration. Thinking that she could take Pinkerton with her, she hides his identity in a dinosaur costume. What, oh what, would a teething pup do in a museum of dinosaur bones?

With delightful word choice, chaos revealing illustrations, and humorous giggles... Pinkerton will take your heart and fill it with joy!

You can not go wrong with a Steven Kellogg read aloud!

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Steven Kellogg is an author and illustrator who has contributed over 90 books for children. He is best known for writing books about animals, for which he credits his grandmother.

Grades 2-3

Poppy Green

Publisher's Synopsis:

Winter has finally arrived in Silverlake Forest and Sophie and her friends are having some snowy fun! While playing one day, they accidentally wake a hedgehog named Pippa who has been hibernating all winter. Though Pippa is a little foggy at first, Sophie, Hattie, and Owen show her all the fun things to do in wintertime. There’s ice skating on the pond, sledding down snowy hills, snow-animals to build, and so much more! The only problem is now that Pippa’s awake, will she ever be able to get back to sleep?

"Is that what I think it is?"

MrsK's Review:

One morning when Sophie wakes up... her excitement brings her to the window. Snow! A snow day for Silverlake Elementary, is there anything better than that? Nope!

Sophie and her forest friends will have many delightful moments in their "glistening winter wonderland." Why not build a snow wall for a snow fight? Or maybe learning to skate backwards on the pond for the first time is a grand act of balance. Going sledding can lead to new friends, especially if they are ones who hibernate. There's always room for a mystery... especially when it's locating something special that is lost during all of the fun.

Sometimes you discover a delightful story, one in which the illustrations are too adorable not to browse. This is a fun-filled childhood story line with an adorably "spunky" main character. This is a series that brings to life characters that will not be forgotten.

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Poppy Green can talk to animals! Unfortunately, they never talk back to her. So she started writing in order to imagine what they might say and do when humans aren’t watching. Poppy lives on the edge of the woods in Connecticut, where her backyard is often a playground for all kinds of wildlife: birds, rabbits, squirrels, voles, skunks, deer, and the occasional wild turkey.

Tracey West

Publisher's Synopsis:

In the ninth book, a Dragon Master named Mina arrives at the castle. She tells Drake and his friends that her kingdom in the Far North Lands was attacked by a magical Ice Giant. Everything there was frozen -- but Mina escaped! Only a fire dragon can unfreeze her land and defeat the terrible Ice Giant. But Rori and Vulcan are no longer at the castle! Can the Dragon Masters find them in time to help their new friend?

MrsK's Review:

Danger... quests... and dragons! Adventure has once again arrived at the Kingdom of Bracken. When Mina, a dragon master, arrives from the Far North Lands... you learn about the fabled Ice Giant. Mina's quest is to find the one dragon that will keep her kingdom from being frozen forever!

Fantasies have an amazing way of unlocking or fears of "inabilities," and bringing forth our inner strengths. This series is a must for every beginner reader who enjoys a quest into a fantastical kingdom!

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Tracey West is the bestselling author of more than 200 children's books. She is currently working on the Dragon Masters series, which is part of the Scholastic Branches line. Her past series include Pixie Tricks, Scream Shop, and Hiro's Quest.
She currently lives in New York's Hudson Valley with her husband, Bill, and their three dogs, one cat, and five chickens. She is a proud stepmom to Will, Shannon, and Zane.

Grades 4-6

Jason Pamment

Publisher's Synopsis:

Iris knows this because she’s read them all. However, as a thirteen-year-old stuck in the tiny town of Bugden, real adventure seems like a distant dream. But when Iris and her best friend, Sam, stumble upon an unusually dry river on the outskirts of town, they’re led to a discovery beyond anything Iris has ever read about: a hidden city and a forgotten tale of friendship.

MrsK's Review: GN

Iris is an avid reader of adventure stories. With an adventurous spirit of curiosity, and a suddenly exposed "tiny" town for exploration, Iris and Sam begin their journey into the "un-inhabited" tiny town. Where is everyone? How long has this "tiny" town been in existence? How long will they have to investigate this grand adventure?

Just when they think they have all the time they could dream of... ominous clouds begin rolling in. Iris does not want to give up her discovering. Sam is getting more concerned about the storm. When they discover the truth about this "tiny" town... will it be too late for them to escape the rising waters?

Graphic novels are a delight for readers of every age, this novel is so well crafted. There are dangers portrayed in the illustrations. The storyline moves with "cliff-hanging" choices. The characters are so realistically portrayed... you forget you are the reader and not in the story!

Enjoy this grand, yet "tiny" adventure,

MrsK  

Meet the Author:

  For the past decade or so he’s been designing award winning animated short films, commercials, music videos, TV shows and video games. His strengths are in conceptualizing the look and feel of a production, designing environments and illustrating background artwork. He strives to make artwork that is broadly appealing and immersive, featuring bold colors, fun shapes and evocative lighting.

Trudi Truett

Publisher's Synopsis:

Cruz leaves his tranquil home in Hawaii to join 23 talented kids from around the globe to train at the Explorer Academy with the world's leading scientists to become the next generation of great explorers. But for Cruz, there's more at stake. No sooner has he arrived at the Academy than he discovers that his family has a mysterious past with the organization that could jeopardize his future. In the midst of codebreaking and cool classes, new friends and augmented reality expeditions, Cruz must tackle the biggest question of all: Who is out to get him, and why?

"To Discover. To Innovate. To Protect."

MrsK's Review:

Cruz has been chosen to train at the world's prestigious Explorer Academy. Hawaii's surf is much more safe than the expectations of those who believe he has what it takes to become the next generation of famous explorers. What would he do if he failed everyone's expectations?

Lani is his best friend, she will never let him down. Yet, now he will be 4,882 miles away from her friendship and insights. Even though she should have been chosen, Cruz believes that Lani would have been the better choice.

Aunt Marisol continues to teach anthropology at the academy, Cruz's mom had been a neuroscientist until a horrible lab accident took her life. Was he accepted because of the "ties" to the academy? After his mother's death, his dad moved back to Hawaii and opened a surf shop. Their life was ordered. The waves were safe. His friends were on the island. He surfed, hiked, and rock climbed... what will his life be like at an academy?

Cruz will learn that coincidences are not without reason. It will take a character of potential, the ability to perform tasks without endangering life, and an attitude of endurance. Living and competing with international students can be a strengthening experience... then again... it could lead to expulsion!

"Come visit me in Mexico where giant crystals grace.

Trek to frigid Iceland where I roam from place to place.

Look for me in France where old art is on display.

Seek me in New Zealand; let the insects light your way." 

National Geographic has a winner in this Explorer Academy series. Trudi's crafting of a story with scientific wonder will inspire new readers to want to know more. Having this book in your home library will be an outstanding source for research. Just as home encyclopedia's provided hours of discovery for my generation... this series will encourage the same sense of exploration!

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Ever since writing her first play in the fourth grade, Trudi fell in love with storytelling. As a TV reporter, she got to tell other people's stories. Now, she tells her own!

Trudi writes the EXPLORER ACADEMY series, National Geographic's first fiction series for kids. Her other fiction titles include MY TOP SECRET DARES & DON'TS, THE SISTER SOLUTION, STEALING POPULAR, and THE SECRETS OF A LAB RAT series (all from Aladdin). She's also the author of more than 90 nonfiction children's books.

Trudi's married to her college sweetheart, Bill, and lives to serve her cats, Pippin, Woody, and Emmylou. When she isn't reading, she's wrestling yarn from the kitty gallery to crochet or baking bread. And yes, Trudi Trueit IS her real name.

2021 Middle School Picks

 

Jennifer Muro

ISBN: 9781401296575

Publisher's Synopsis:

Ashley's latest set of presumably short-term foster parents are Kitch and Yuka Nolan. Like Ashley, Kitch happens to be an artist. Yuka, on the other hand, is a geneticist working for a very high-level tech company, one that's contracted out to work for the government and the military. And it's Yuka's latest top secret project that has her very concerned. Developed for the military, it's a set of body paints that, when applied to the wearer, grant them a wide range of special powers. Fearful that this invention will be misused, Yuka sneaks the set of paints home, substituting a dummy suitcase with an ordinary set of paints in their place.

From here, signals get crossed. Ashley comes home from school one day with her new friend Luke and, thinking that the Nolans have purchased a surprise gift for her upcoming birthday, finds the set of paints. Being an artist, Ashley naturally assumes these are for her. It isn't long before she realizes that she's stumbled upon something much bigger and a lot more dangerous. Although she uses her newly discovered powers for good, it's not long before the military becomes wise to what happened to their secret weapon. And this spells big trouble not only for Ashley, but for her newfound family and friends as well.

MrsK's Review:

Meet Ashley... she is "unafraid." With her father in prison, Ashley is once again placed into a new foster home. Thinking that this foster home will be just like all the others, she realizes that these foster parents have a talent for meeting her "wit" and "equalizing" her sass. She quickly discovers that there is a shared talent in this home, a talent that could provide a positive avenue beyond a temporary life.

Ashley's quick "wit" and sassy attitude has provided a bit of a "secret" identity. Yet, these foster parents are equipped to help Ashley challenge what she does with her artistic ability. Unfortunately, at what price will her choices lead her... astray or home.

What is great about this graphic novel is the weaving of Ashley's story as it is portrayed with the perfected art work of Gretel Lusky. Once you meet Ashley... your creative side is "uncapped."

Mrs.K

  

A creative designed graphic novel that entertains the artist within.

Meet the Author:

As one of the industry’s top female writers, Jennifer Muro has quickly made a name for herself through the storylines she has crafted for TV projects over the last decade. Through her writing, Muro is on a mission to make women of all ages feel strong and empowered through the characters she creates, whether for drama, action or comedy.

Rob Harrell

ISBN: 9781338772814

Publisher's Synopsis:

Twelve-year-old Ross Maloy just wants to be normal. Not to have a rare eye cancer, not to lose his hair, not to have to wear a weird hat or have a goopy eye full of ointment. Just normal. But with a sudden and horrifying diagnosis, Ross can't help standing out. His new life is medical treatments that feel straight out of a video game, vision loss in one eye, disappearing friends who don't know what to say to "the cancer kid," cruel bullying, and ultimately, friendships new and old that rise above everything.

Just when Ross starts to feel like he's losing his footing, he discovers how music, art, and true friends can change everything. Filled with Rob Harrell's comic panels (Batpig for the win!) and spot art, this novel brings effortless humor and hope to an unforgettable, uplifting story of survival.

MrsK's Review:

Meet Wink, he is a spirited 7th grader who meets his rare-eye cancer... head on! Most of us remember those crazy days of middle school. Those that soared... those that bullied... and those who remained affected by the "roller coasting" trauma of trying to fit in. Can you imagine what your life might be like when your one eye is always in a wink "oozing goo" at all times?

Wink is by no means willing to "give in" or "give up." With great "grit" he discovers that his inner hope and strength will bring a unity to many of those who walk the halls of his school. Abby is that first grade friend, you know that type of relationship that stands next to you without faltering. Isaac is a gamer, his view on life is in a different dimension. Frank is the tech who treats Wink with an open and honest acceptance, his goal is to bring updated music into Wink's life as a diversion while Wink is getting treatment. Neither of them anticipates how music transforms the horrible days of cancer into a journey beyond expectations. Jimmy, well he is that school "Vader" that torments you into a determination to meet him "eye-eye" and not back down!

This is a remarkable journey of strength, humorous cartoons, outrageous characters... and hope! An autobiography that you won't forget,

MrsK

 Courageous strength!

When facing the unknown... how do you remain hopeful?

Meet the Author:

  Rob Harrell wrote and drew the syndicated daily comic strip Big Top through 2007 and currently creates the long-running strip Adam@Home.

Harrell wrote and illustrated the graphic novel Monster on the Hill, published by Top Shelf. The story of a town with a down-on-his-luck monster, Monster was the inspiration for the animated movie Rumble (2021) from Paramount Pictures.

Next, Harrell wrote the Life of Zarf trilogy of hybrid novels. Published by Dial Books for Young Readers, they tell the story of Zarf Belford, a troll attending middle school in a fairy tale world.

Harrell’s next book is Wink, the funny but heartfelt story of Ross Maloy, a seventh-grader dealing with a horrible diagnosis and cancer treatments – all while trying to just blend in and survive middle school.

As an illustrator, Harrell has worked with clients including Mad, Simon and Schuster, American Greetings, Time, Inc. and Volkswagen. His figurative paintings have been shown in solo shows in San Francisco, Austin and Indianapolis.

Jason Reynolds

ISBN: 9781481450164

Publisher's Synopsis:

Running. That's all that Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has ever known. But never for a track team. Nope, his game has always been ball. But when Ghost impulsively challenges an elite sprinter to a race -- and wins -- the Olympic medalist track coach sees he has something: crazy natural talent. Thing is, Ghost has something else: a lot of anger, and a past that he is trying to outrun. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed and meld with the team, or will his past finally catch up to him?

MrsK's Review:

Meet Ghost a sunflower-seed-spitter who is, by circumstances, a runner. At this point in his life, Ghost only has Mr. Charles the local "country store" sunflower seed provider as a daily support. He is the one man that believes Ghost will one day set a world's record. Since that one night, when the man with the gun cocked it and fired... it was like his  "brain was going to pop" in his head and it was "enough to make his heart hiccup!" That was the night... Ghost became a runner!

Coach is dedicated to his team of runners. During practice, this runner appears with a "raw talent" for speed. Could this "ghost" of a runner learn how to become a team member? Not everyone has the fortitude to guide a collection of "troubled" runners into Junior Olympians. Not every runner can learn the difference of "running from" to "running with a goal."

Finding your "grit," that is what this series is all about. Jason Reynolds has a gift for weaving the best of every day into the possibilities of tomorrow! These runners aren't "unknown," they are recognizable because of their stories... and their heart. Coaching isn't always a "real-life" experience, not everyone encounters a coach who comes into your life and is dedicated to seeing you through the enormities of your life... yet, when an author can weave the wisdom of a coach in a book series... well that wisdom can change a readers perspective...

MrsK 

The first in a series about finding the "grit" within.

Meet the Author:

After earning a BA in English from The University of Maryland, College Park, Jason Reynolds moved to Brooklyn, New York, where you can often find him walking the four blocks from the train to his apartment talking to himself. Well, not really talking to himself, but just repeating character names and plot lines he thought of on the train, over and over again, because he’s afraid he’ll forget it all before he gets home.

Dan Gemeinhart

ISBN: 9781338713589

Publisher's Synopsis:

Five years. That's how long Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have lived on the road in an old school bus, crisscrossing the nation. It's also how long ago Coyote lost her mom and two sisters in a car crash.

Coyote hasn’t been home in all that time, but when she learns the park in her old neighborhood is being demolished - the very same park where she, her mom, and her sisters buried a treasured memory box - she devises an elaborate plan to get her dad to drive 3,600 miles back to Washington state in four days...without him realizing it...

MrsK's Review:

Meet Coyote, she's been on the road for 5 years. You see her life had a restart with her dad (Rodeo), in an old school bus... on the road... and "Once upon a time"... Coyote is the best storyteller when it comes to "real-life" twists and turns. Sometimes in life, life happens. It's part of everyone's journey. It's about the "how" you travel the path before you, not what's been available.

Coyote's story begins unfolding with that moment in her life when she has to "love" her father into returning to the place they once called home. Along the way, their bus becomes a traveler's unique ride to destinations unknown. Coyote and her dad have one rule for their traveler's, you must be able to answer Rodeo's three questions: favorite book; favorite place on earth; and favorite sandwich. If you think these are odd questions, well there's a whole lot of information that's given about someone's life when you're riding a school bus back home.

If you have ever taken a leap of faith, left your home unsure of what or how to restart your life, and or ever wondered what living on the road might be like... this is a reader's delight! It's like a quilt of storylines, characters, and settings that are "stitched" together with the threads of hope. A quilt of comfort!

MrsK

 Truly a remarkable journey!

Coyote will remain an inspiration long after the last page.

Meet the Author:

Dan Gemeinhart lives in a small town smack dab in the middle of Washington state with his wife and three young daughters. He was lucky and grateful to be a teacher-librarian in an elementary school for thirteen years, where he got to share awesome books with awesome kids. He loves camping, cooking and traveling. He also plays guitar (badly) and reads (constantly). His house is always a mess. He is really pretty darn happy.

Gordon Korman

ISBN: 9781338053807

Publisher's Synopsis:

Chase's memory just went out the window.

Chase doesn't remember falling off the roof. He doesn't remember hitting his head. He doesn't, in fact, remember anything. He wakes up in a hospital room and suddenly has to learn his whole life all over again . . . starting with his own name.

He knows he's Chase. But who is Chase? When he gets back to school, he sees that different kids have very different reactions to his return. Some kids treat him like a hero. Some kids are clearly afraid of him. One girl in particular is so angry with him that she pours her frozen yogurt on his head the first chance she gets. Pretty soon, it's not only a question of who Chase is--it's a question of who he was . . . and who he's going to be.

MrsK's Review:

Meet Chase an generational football hero. Or so he thought! A select few in a "league all of their own." You probably know a group of middle schoolers who are living life in this "thoughtless" reality. That was Chase then. Chase now... well the only thing he remembers is falling and someone screaming.

Amnesia. How could he remember what that word means, yet not remember his name, who the lady and man standing at his hospital bed is? Can you imagine that type of scenario? As Chase recovers, his life only gets worse. Try to imagine what it would be like to return to school, only to see fellow students run from you. Imagine what it would be like to see fear in someone's eyes just because you said hello to them!

They say that Chase's amnesia won't last long. What type of  "grit" will Chase need as he follows his potential instead of what other's knew him to be before the fall? Let's just say, it will need a measure of determination and a lot of courage. With the help of those willing to trust his new personality, Chase learns how treating others matters. The hardest step will be learning to trust himself once he confronts who he was.

Why read this book? First it's written by Gordon Korman, a master author who knows all the methods in hooking his audience. Second, it's a writing perspective in which readers will begin re-thinking what their assumptions are about those they go to school with. Finally, it is just a great story about life and what works or doesn't work.

MrsK

Restarting your life?

Facing who you were and who you are!

Meet the Author:

 Gordon Korman wrote his first book, "This Can't be Happening at Macdonald Hall", when he was 12 years old, for a coach who suddenly found himself teaching 7th grade English. He later took that episode and created a book out of it, as well, in "The Sixth Grade Nickname Game", wherein Mr. Huge was based on that 7th grade teacher.
Korman moved to New York City, where he studied film and film writing. While in New York, he met his future wife; they now live in Long Island with their three children. He has published more than 50 books.