Baby/Toddler:
MY COUSIN MOMO by Zachariah O’Hora
When cousin Momo comes to visit in the forest, he is not what his family expected. He is a flying squirrel, but he won’t fly for them. He’s not interested in their games. Everyone is disappointed until the parents’ sage advice is heard: “Give him time”. This is a great way to introduce new concepts such as new schools, new homes, new anything.
YOUR BABY’S FIRST WORD WILL BE DADA
by Jimmy Fallon
(Feiwel & Friends, June 2015)
Late night host/comedian Jimmy Fallon tried to ensure that his young daughter’s first word would be “Dada.” This perfect book for Father’s Day will have even the youngest of listeners laughing. We all learn that we cannot predict what and when it will happen.
EDIBLE NUMBERS by Jennifer Bass
(Roaring Brook Press, June 2015)
Learn numbers and colors as you eat your way through the farmer’s market. This beautifully illustrated book can be the jumping off point for introducing new food to the young reader/eater.
Emerging Reader:
I YAM A DONKEY by Cece Bell
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, June 2015)
A donkey with horrible grammar tells a yam “I yam a donkey!” The yam attempts to correct his grammar with comical results. It’s a version of the classic “Who’s on First” that will delight a new generation of readers.
BIKE ON, BEAR by Cynthea Liu
(Aladdin Paperbacks, June 2015)
Learning to ride a bike is one of the great milestones of childhood. Bear is afraid to take the training wheels off. He consults with books, friends, and more. A new reader will appreciate the process and cheer on the result!
WHAT JAMES SAID by Liz Rosenberg
(Roaring Brook Press, June 2015)
The young narrator of this friendship story learns that James has been talking behind her back. She is very upset with him. As they go through the school day, James works very hard to find out what is wrong. A case of misunderstanding highlights the real meaning of being true to your friends.
Tweens:
THE ISLAND OF DR. LIBRIS by Chris Grabenstein
(Random House Books for Young Readers, March 2015)
Billy Gillfoyle and his mother are staying at the lake cabin of the eccentric Dr. Libris for the entire summer. Although a giant satellite dish and security cameras are placed strategically about, there are no electronic diversions to be had. There are, however, plenty of books. As Billy reads pages from The Trials of Hercules and Robin Hood, he is sure he hears the voices of Hercules, Antaeus, Robin, and Maid Marian coming from the island in the middle of the lake. Perhaps Billy won’t be bored out of his mind this summer after all.
THE QUESTION OF MIRACLES by Elana K Arnold
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, February 2015)
In the last six months, Iris Abernathy has moved from sunny California to rainy, rainy Oregon and her best friend Sarah has died. Sure that she senses Sarah near her, Iris is desperate for a miracle that will let her contact her friend again. As Iris moves through the grieving process, she begins to notice the tiny miracles of life we often overlook. With sensitivity, Elana K. Arnold examines grief and the questions many of us ask ourselves when someone we love dies.
Teen:
KIDNEY HYPOTHETICAL by Lisa Yee
(Arthur A. Levine Books, March 2015)
Higgs Boson Bing (named after the God particle) has had the ideal high school career: great grades, participation in extracurricular activities, admission to Harvard and the perfect girlfriend. But when said girlfriend asks Higgs if he would hypothetically donate a kidney and he bungles the answer, his perfect world flies apart, revealing its flaws. This ultimately funny novel provides a very real glimpse into the lives of high school students and their families.
SAINT ANYTHING by Sarah Dessen
(Viking Books For Young Readers, May 2015)
Sydney is used to being the invisible one in the family. Her brother, Peyton, is charismatic and larger than life. But when Peyton is convicted in a drunk driving accident that leaves a boy paralyzed, Sydney’s family dynamics change dramatically. Now Peyton is imprisoned halfway across the state, Sydney has to switch schools and their mother throws herself info supporting Peyton without acknowledging his guilt. Sydney tries to find her place in the family and in school as Dessen skillfully tells the story of a girl coming into her own and being seen for the first time.
ROOK by Sharon Cameron
(Scholastic Books, April 2015)
Sophia Bellamy’s family is about to lose their estate in the Commonwealth, so she’s betrothed to wealthy Rene Hansard in hopes that his money can restore the Bellamy fortunes. But Sophia and Rene are not who they seem, and they take pains to hide their secret lives from each other. Set against the backdrop of a dystopian future that resembles the French Revolution, this is clever, fantastic storytelling.
