Toddler:
Little Penguins by Cynthia Rylant
(Schwartz & Wade Books, October 2016)
It may not snow here, but Houstonians will love this book nonetheless! Winter is coming and a family of young penguins excitedly watches the snow fall as they prepares to go outside. On go the scarves, socks and boots, and the family heads out into the snow. Soon they’re too cold and they come inside for snacks and bedtime. Lovely, simple prose and illustrations that beautifully echo Ezra Jack Keats create a bedtime story for all to enjoy.
That’s Me Loving You by Amy Krause Rosenthal
(Random House Books for Children, December 2016)
A mother’s reassuring love radiates from each page of this new classic. It’s a quiet book meant to be shared with a loved one on your lap. Enjoy a moment with a child and a book.
Peck Peck Peck by Lucy Cousins
(Candlewick Publishing, Board Edition August 2016)
We loved this book when it was first published in hard cover and we adore it as a board book. It’s a fun, interactive story for the very youngest child. Help the bird find his food. This book is in our new Baby’s First Year subscription box.
Emerging Readers:
Dog On Board by Dorothy Hinshaw
(Crown Books For Young Readers, October 2016)
Follow Eclipse, a half Labrador and half Mastiff mix, who has become Seattle’s most famous canine. In this photographic exposition, Eclipse, armed with her own bus pass, rides the bus around town and visits with other passengers, stops for a romp at the dog park, and checks out Mud Bay, Pike Place Market and other iconic Seattle sites.
A Hat For Mrs Goldman by Michelle Edwards
(Schwartz & Wade Books, October 2016)
Mrs. Goldman knits hats to keep warm the “keppies” of new babies, growing children, family and friends. She even taught her young neighbor Sophia how to knit last year, except Sophia only likes making pom-poms. When she notices that Mrs. Goldman’s own keppie is hatless, Sophia sets out to create the most special hat ever. A charming story of friendship, perseverance, and good deeds.
The Wish Tree by Keo Mcclear
(Chronicle Books, September 2016)
Young Charles and his toboggan set off early one winter morning into the snow-filled woods, determined to find a very special tree: a wish tree. Along the way, they help the forest animals, hauling hazelnuts to Squirrel’s tree, birch wood to Beaver’s lodge, and berries to Fox’s burrow. Late in the day, with no wish tree in sight, weary Charles falls asleep on his trusty Boggan. He wakes to find the animals have repaid his kindness by delivering him to the wish tree and preparing a forest feast to celebrate. A quiet tale of the magic of kindness.
Tweens:
Snow White (A Graphic Novel) by Matt Phelan
(Candlewick Publishing, September 2016)
Phelan sets the story of Snow White in 1928 New York City, when the glitz and glam are in full swing. Snow’s father, a widowed wealthy businessman, is enthralled with a Ziegfield Follies girl, who becomes Snow’s stepmother. The story plays out as we all know it will, and the fun is making the connections between this clever new version and the original fairy tale.
Full of Beans by Jennifer Holm
(Random House Books For Young Readers, September 2016)
Beans Curry, a delightful character from TURTLE IN PARADISE, returns in this brilliant, funny historical novel set in Key West during the Great Depression. Beans and his gang know how to get things done and how to make money when there isn’t any. But money is getting tighter to come by and Beans needs to find some way to help support his family. Memorable characters, both real and fictional, pop up in this story, which is as entertaining as it is informative. I want to move to Key West right now!
Be Light Like A Bird by Monika Schroeder
(Capstone Books, September 2016)
In the bird journal Wren’s father had given her, he had inscribed Be light like a bird, not like a feather, explaining that she shouldn’t just float around in life like a feather, but that she should determine her own direction, to fly and soar like a bird. Since her father’s death, her mother’s confusing behavior, and a series of fresh starts in new towns, twelve-year-old Wren hasn’t felt like she has been flying like the birds they used to watch, full of intention and self-direction, and insists she and her mother put down roots in Pyramid, Michigan. Thanks to friendships and a school project involving the wetlands she has come to love, Wren learns the power of forgiveness, communication, and compassion.
Teens:
Trouble Makes A Comeback by Stephanie Tromly
(Penguin Books For Young Readers, November 2016)
Since Digby got on the bus bound for Texas eight months ago, Zoe hasn’t heard a word from him. And she has a new boyfriend, so there! High school life goes on as normal until Digby shows up and creates chaos. Still trying to figure out what happened to his sister eight years ago, Digby figures he has some leads. As they keep investigating, Zoe, Digby, and the various friends who are sucked into their wake uncover more mysteries: who is supplying their football team with “juice”, who owns the homemade still, and a tantalizing clue which almost gets them killed, but leads them to the strangest meeting ever.
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
(Simon & Schuster Books, November 2016)
Neal Shusterman’s SCYTHE explores a near-perfect world where all hardships have been defeated. To control population sizes, Scythes are ordered to murder. Unwillingly chosen as apprentices, Citra and Rowan find themselves thrown into the Scythe’s world where they face the challenges of being Scythes and test the bonds of friendship while ultimately dealing with haunting questions of life and death. This intriguing novel is a must read for all fantasy lovers.
The Diabolic by SJ Kincaid
(Simon & Schuster Books, November 2016)
Nemesis was created to be a Diabolic, one who protects her master at any cost. She’s engineered to have no feelings for anyone but Donia, the daughter of a royal senator. When Donia is to be sent to the capital as a hostage, Nemesis is transformed into Donia’s mirror image and sent in her place, left to navigate the treacherous world of the royal court. Nemesis finds herself struggling to decide who is telling the truth as she discovers that she may have feelings for people other than Donia. As she did in her INSIGNIA series, S.J. Kincaid combines adventure and political intrigue into a story that’s hard to put down!
