Toddler
Is Mommy? by Victoria Chang
(Beach Lane Books, November 2015)
Tall or short, pretty or ugly, nice or mean, fun or boring, young or old, neat or messy…at any given moment, toddlers have thought their moms are all those things. But one thing’s for sure: ask those same toddlers if they love their mommies, and the answer is a resounding “YES!”
Be A Friend by Salina Yoon
(Bloomsbury Books, January 2016)
A budding young mime has few friends at his school. No one understands him. But when a new girl throws back his “mimed” ball, a friendship is formed. Little ones can understand how hard it is sometimes to make friends and find solace in learning that there are many forms of friendship. Salina will be at the Bookworm Festival on February 6.
Independent Readers
Sleeping Beauty Theater by Su Blackwell
(Thames and Hudson, December 2015)
Every budding dramatist will swoon over this delectable edition of Sleeping Beauty. Read the story and then act out the play in this interactive theater with lovely paper-cut illustrations of the famous story.
Sophie Mouse Series by Poppy Green
(January 2015)
If you have yet to be introduced to this sweet series, please try it with your reader. This gentle read is a throwback to a gentler time. Sophie lives with her family in the big woods. The whole family has great adventures that will be much appreciated by any young animal lover.
I Hear A Pickle: And See, Smell, and Taste It Too! by Rachel Isadora
(Nancy Paulsen Books, January 2016)
Perfect as a read aloud and equally fresh for an emerging reader, this book is an ode to our five senses. Bright illustrations and fun text explain how we use all of our senses throughout the day.
Tweens
Roll Of Thunder by Mildred Taylor
(Dial Books, January 2016)
In honor of the 40th anniversary of this Newbery-winning novel, still relevant today, about the resilience of a black farming family during the Depression, this illustrated edition, masterfully done by Kadir Nelson, earns a place on bookshelves as an enduring masterpiece and deserves to be read again.
Riddle In Ruby by Kent Davis
(Greenwillow Books, Sept 2015)
A thief and lock-pick, Ruby is still learning her pirate father’s tricks of the trade. Sometimes they have to take paying passengers on board their ship to help make ends meet. It just so happens that young Lord Athen, their latest passenger, is the person Ruby attempted to rob in Boston. When Ruby is recognized and the Royal Navy alerted, she and Lord Athen hide in a secret compartment while the ship is towed to Philadelphia. She and her young companions must make their way through colonial Philadelphia to safety and find out why the Crown wants Ruby so badly. Alternative historical fiction for budding steampunk and alchemy enthusiasts!
What In The World? Look Again by Rebecca Baines
(National Geographic Society September 2015)
Fans of “I SPY” treasure hunt books will devour these pages of visual puzzles that ask readers to search for objects within a larger image, discern the differences between two seemingly identical photographs, determine whether photographs are real or fake, spot wild animals camouflaged in their native habitats, investigate optical illusions, and more. For curious kids of all ages.
Teens
Zero Day by Jan Gangsei
(Disney-Hyperion Books, January 2016)
Addie Webster was eight years old when she was kidnapped from her home, the Governor’s mansion in Virginia. Eight years later, she returns, and her father is now the President of the United States. To some, her return seems to be a miracle. To others, it’s a little too convenient and awfully suspicious. Is Addie who she seems to be? And who really kidnapped her all that time ago? Make sure you have plenty of time when you pick up this book, because you will not be able to put it down!
Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words
by Randall Munroe (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, November 2015)
Munroe is known for his quirky science blog xkcd. Now, using the ten hundred most common English words, he describes complex objects (elevators, cameras, the periodic table, etc.) in a very clever way. It’s sure to be read front to back with lots of conversation for the whole family.
Lois Lane: Fall Out by Gwenda Bond
(Capstone Books, May 2015)
Lois Lane has a knack for getting into trouble for doing the right thing. At her new school, she doesn’t even make it to her first period class before she sees another student being bullied. When the principal does nothing, Lois decides to take matters into her own hands. Her nose for a story attracts the attention of the editor of the Daily Planet, who adds her to his team of high school student reporters. They discover that the bullying is only a side-effect of a much more sinister plot, and they all get detention. Can Lois stay ungrounded long enough to uncover and publish the truth and save a new friend?
