Picture Books

Du Iz Tak? - Carson Ellis
Readers are invited to imagine the dramatic possibilities to be found in the natural world, even the humblest back garden! With exquisitely-detailed illustration that will appeal to children and art-lovers alike, and a wonderfully playful invented language, we soon find ourselves speaking "Bug" ... Du iz tak? What is that?


Armstrong: The Adventurous Journey of a Mouse to the Moon - Torben Kuhlmann
The Tale of a Flying Mouse comes Armstrong: A Mouse on the Moon--where dreams are determined only by the size of your imagination and the biggest innovators are the smallest of all. The book ends with a brief non-fiction history of human space travel--from Galileo's observations concerning the nature of the universe to man's first steps on the moon.

Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse - Torben Kuhlmann
In a country far away, a new invention--the mechanical mousetrap--has caused all the mice but one to flee to America. Now stranded in a dangerous country, the last mouse decides to build a plane and fly to the land of freedom.

The Ninjabread Man - C.J. Leigh
In this adaptation of the traditional Gingerbread man, Ninjabread Man escapes the Sensei, and defeats Ninja Bear, Ninja Snake and Ninja Mouse, only to be eaten by the clever Ninja Fox.


Baby Wren and the Great Gift - Sally Lloyd-Jones
As she takes in the beauty of her canyon home, the tiny wren discovers what was waiting inside her all along--her own beautiful gift.

If You Give a Mouse a Brownie - Laura Numeroff
If you give a mouse a brownie, he's going to ask for some ice cream to go with it. When you give him the ice cream, he'll probably ask you for a spoon. He'll start drumming on the table. Drumming will get him so excited he ll want to start a band..


Duck on a Tractor - David Shannon
Pleased with his success in riding a bike, Duck decides to drive the farm tractor, and invites all the other farm animals along for the ride--all the way to town.

New Novels

Grades 3-6

The Poet's Dog - Patricia MacLachlan
Teddy is a gifted dog. Raised in a cabin by a poet named Sylvan, he grew up listening to sonnets read aloud and the comforting clicking of a keyboard. Although Teddy understands words, Sylvan always told him there are only two kinds of people in the world who can hear Teddy speak: poets and children. Then one day Teddy learns that Sylvan was right. When Teddy finds Nickel and Flora trapped in a snowstorm, he tells them that he will bring them home -- and they understand him. The children are afraid of the howling wind, but not of Teddy's words. They follow him to a cabin in the woods, where the dog used to live with Sylvan... only now his owner is gone. As they hole up in the cabin for shelter, Teddy is flooded with memories of Sylvan. What will Teddy do when his new friends go home? Can they help one another find what they have lost?

Ghosts - Raina Telgemeier
Catrina and her family have moved to the coast of Northern California for the sake of her little sister, Maya, who has cystic fibrosis. Cat is even less happy about the move when she is told that her new town is inhabited by ghosts, but Maya sets her heart on meeting one.


Grade 5-8

Ashes - Laurie Halse Anderson
As the Revolutionary War rages on, Isabel and Curzon are reported as runaways, and the awful Bellingham is determined to track them down. With purpose and faith, Isabel and Curzon march on, fiercely determined to find Isabel's little sister Ruth, who is enslaved in a Southern state.

The Hidden Oracle - Rick Riordan
After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. He must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus's favor. 

Nonfiction for Elementary Grades

Giant Squid - Candace Fleming
A nonfiction picture book exploring the mysterious life of the elusive giant squid.

Writing with Rosie: You Can Write a Story Too - Patricia Reilly Giff
In a humorous and entertaining guide, two-time Newbery Honor-winning author Patricia Reilly Giff breaks down the process of writing fiction into steps, all while trying to cope with the constant distractions from her exuberant seventy-pound golden retriever puppy, Rosie. Citing examples from her award-winning novels she explains how to proceed with each step in chapter sections titled Can You See What I Did? Young writers can find the inspiration and tips they need to try their hand in sections called Your Turn. Anecdotes from her writing life and hilarious adventures with her high-energy pet provide entertainment and encouragement.

What Milly Did: The Remarkable Pioneer of Plastics Recycling - Elise Moser
Milly Zantow wanted to solve the problem of her towns full landfill and ended up creating a global recycling standard the system of numbers you see inside the little triangle on plastics. This is the inspiring story of how she mobilized her community, creating sweeping change to help the environment.

Around America to Win the Vote: Two Suffragists, a Kitten, and 10,000 Miles - Mara Rockliff
In April 1916, Nell Richardson and Alice Burke set out from New York City in a little yellow car, embarking on a bumpy, muddy, unmapped journey ten thousand miles long. They took with them a teeny typewriter, a tiny sewing machine, a wee black kitten, and a message for Americans all across the country: Votes for Women! The women's suffrage movement was in full swing, and Nell and Alice would not let anything keep them from spreading the word about equal voting rights for women. Braving blizzards, deserts, and naysayers--not to mention a whole lot of tires stuck in the mud--the two courageous friends made their way through the cities and towns of America to further their cause. One hundred years after Nell and Alice set off on their trip, Mara Rockliff revives their spirit in a lively and whimsical picture book, with exuberant illustrations by Hadley Hooper bringing their inspiring historical trek to life.

Who Eats What? series - Rebecca Pettiford
Vibrant photographs and carefully leveled text introduce early fluent readers to each biome and the many food chains it hosts. Each title includes an activity, glossary, and index.



Arctic Food Chains

Desert Food Chains

Ocean Food Chains

Prairie Food Chains

Rain Forest Food Chains

New Picture Books

Lion Lessons - John Agee
Learning to be a lion takes some serious lessons, but luckily, this kid has a teacher who is a real pro.

Coyote Moon - Maria Geanferrari
A nonfiction picture book about coyotes hunting in suburban 
neighborhoods at night.

We Found a Hat - Jon Klassen
Two turtles find a hat that looks good on both of them, but, with fairness in mind, they decide to leave it be, until night falls and one of the turtles changes its mind.

Pond - Jim LaMarche
A group of friends discovers a neglected pond in the woods and decides to fix it up together.

Playtime? - Jeff Mack
Using illustrations and only two words, shows the trouble a young boy has trying to get his very playful pet gorilla to go to bed.

Creation - Cynthia Rylant
The King James Bible creation story illustrated in a folk-art style.