We the Children
Children's Literature – Shirley Nelson This first book in the "Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School" series introduces the reader to middle-schoolers Ben and Jill. In just a few weeks, their school will be destroyed and replaced by a historical amusement park. As Ben hurries to homeroom one day, he sees the school […]
The Shadows
Children's Literature – Shirley Nelson Eleven-year-old Olive Dunwoody is often left to her own devices as her math professor parents spend time on their equations. She spends her time exploring their new home which this time is an old house full of antiques instead of the usual bland apartment. Olive realizes something strange is going […]
Masters of Disaster
Children's Literature – Jean Boreen: Henry worries that he and his friends Riley and Reed "may be the most boring twelve-year-olds on the planet." So Henry talks his friends into joining him on a number of wacky adventures that often put all three friends, but Reed in particular, into some sticky and stinky situations. Henry […]
Ghost Dog Secrets
VOYA – Ursula Adams In Ghost Dog Secrets, award-winning author Peg Kehret takes on the issue of animal abuse and neglect in a story that will appeal to animal lovers. Kehret has written numerous books about the neglect of animals, and Ghost Dog Secrets is another wonderful addition to this category. The main character, Rusty, […]
The Treasure of Dead Man's Lane and Other Case Files
School Library Journal Gr 4–6—With three new cases, Saxby proves to be the go-to kid for solving mysteries. The boy relies heavily on the power of observation and drawing logical conclusions to find a missing comic worth $100,000 and a treasure in an old house that's about to be demolished and discover who has broken […]
Rebecca's Rashness
Rebecca’s the tough one, always chastising the other Eights for not bucking up when trouble arises. But how will she fare when it’s her turn to face her power? What kids are saying about the Sisters Eight: “The Sisters 8 is really suspenseful and funny. I can’t wait for the next one!†—Indrani, age 10 […]
The Pirate's Blood and Other Case Files
In this third volume of the Saxby Smart: Private Detective series, Saxby solves three more daunting cases: The Pirate's Blood, The Mystery of Mary Rogers, and The Lunchbox of Notre Dame. With the help of his Thinking Chair (located in his headquarters/parents' tool shed), his sharp mind, and his two best friends, Saxby proves once […]
After the Kill
School Library Journal: Gr 2 4—This accessible and compelling slice-of-life on the Serengeti Plain is aptly titled and remarkably dynamic as it describes what happens after a zebra is taken down by a lioness. A variety of predators and scavengers vies for the meat, including male and female lions, hyenas, jackals, and several species of […]
First Garden : the White House Garden and How It Grew
School Library Journal K-Gr 4—The author and illustrator of Bring Me Some Apples and I'll Make You a Pie (Clarion, 2009) returns with another book that celebrates the joys of gardening and sharing healthy foods with others. Beginning with an introduction to the White House and its grounds, Gourley then describes some of the children […]
Far From Shore : Chronicles of an Open Ocean Voyag
In extremely deep waters (two miles deep), the vast sea appears empty. But as naturalist and artist Sophie Webb shows us, it is full of fascinating—yet difficult to study—life. Together with her shipmates, Sophie counts and collects samples of life in the deep ocean, from seabirds to dolphins, from winged fish to whales. Only their […]