Toddlers:
Is That Wise, Pig? by Jan Thomas
(Beach Lane Books, September 2016)
Jan Thomas writes funny books for the youngest of readers. Pig doesn’t always use his best judgment when helping to add ingredients to moose’s soup, but his smart friends help him. Toddlers already know what the response is to these silly questions.
Swallow The Leader by Danna Smith
(Clarion Books, September 2016)
This is a fun new counting book for toddlers to learn numbers 1-10. But watch out for the shark! You can act out this book with a class or your family.
Alphaprints: Dinoshapes by Roger Priddy
(Priddy Books, September 2016)
We love this series of board books for the very young that feature thumbprint illustrations. This new one teaches shapes with lovable dino friends. Look for the rest of these fun books.
Emerging Reader:
Everyone Loves Cupcake by Kelly DiPucchio
(FSG, September 2016)
Following the popular Everyone Loves Bacon, DiPucchio chooses another favorite food–cupcakes–and plays with language and images to give Cupcake a chance to shine and finally get her comeuppance. This is a clever picture book that provides a lot of context clues to help the beginning reader succeed.
They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel
(Chronicle Books, September 2016)
Everyone sees the cat in this lushly illustrated picture book, but everyone sees it differently. While there is little text, the perceptions on each page beg for discussion. You will want to read this many times as your companion readers will find new things to discover on each page.
Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? by Kate diCamillo
(Candlewick Books, August 2016)
Baby Lincoln (Mercy Watson’s elderly neighbor) has had enough of her older sister Eugenia telling her what to do and when and how to do it. She has decided to go on a “necessary journey.” On her train trip to Fluxom, Baby meets a cast of characters who introduce her to the magic of comics, jelly beans, and storytelling. Along the way, Baby discovers a bit of independence, a few of her own talents, and the understanding that she and her sister do need and love each other. Kate DiCamillo’s colorful characters and delightful wordcraft, supported by Chris Van Dusen’s singular illustrations, make for a charming read for early readers.
Tweens:
Gertie’s Leap To Greatness by Kate Beasley
(FSG, September 2016)
Fans of Katherine Hannigan’s characters will enjoy reading about Gertie, who starts fifth grade trying to be the smartest kid in the grade. Her plans are thwarted by a new girl in town to whom perfection seems to come naturally. Gertie is adored by her oil rig working father and her grumpy Aunt Rae. Her plans don’t always work, but you will enjoy the ride!
Moo by Sharon Creech
(Harper Collins, August 2016)
When her parents both lose their newspaper jobs in the big city and the family decides to move to Maine, twelve-year-old Reena and her seven-year-old brother Luke don’t know what to expect. They sure don’t expect to be mucking out barns or befriending cantankerous old Mrs. Falala or her equally cantankerous cow, Zora. A delightful story from Sharon Creech about life’s serendipitous possibilities. For third grade and up.
The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill
(Algonquin Books, August 2016)
Truly magical, this reads like a fairy tale of old. There is magic in the forest that surrounds the Protectorate. An aging witch, an “enmagicked” girl, a noble father, a madwoman, and others converge in the forest to overcome a truly evil force who feeds on sorrow. Barnhill’s lyrical storytelling, perfect for reading aloud, is sure to cast a spell on readers. Highly recommended for grades 4 and above.
Teens:
Weight Of Zero by Karen Fortunati
(Delacorte Press, September 2016)
Catherine Pulaski is bi-polar. She’s a smart teenager who is learning to deal with what she calls “zero.” After the death of her beloved grandmother, the situation worsens. In this credible and realistic debut novel, you will root for Catherine as she struggles and ultimately overcomes the stigma of her disease and figures out her path to a life which we know she can have.
The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron
(Scholastic Press, September 2016)
Every twelve years the citizens of Canaan awaken having forgotten their pasts, their identities, their parents, and their children unless those memories have been written down. They are able to reconstruct their lives afterwards by reading the book they’ve kept tethered to their bodies. But Nadia doesn’t forget. She remembers the last Forgetting and she knows that not all that is written is truth. As Nadia uses her memories to protect her family, she makes discoveries that may save her loved ones and her homeland. And the next Forgetting is only weeks away. Is she indeed the only person who remembers?
Afterward by Jen Mathieu
(Roaring Brook Press, September 2016)
Ethan and Caroline are connected by a horrible event – the kidnapping of both Ethan and Dylan, Caroline’s autistic brother, by the same criminal. Ethan was held and abused for four years, while Dylan was held for a few days. Mathieu’s novel looks at what happens afterward, when both families struggle through recovery. Her realistic depictions of families from the same town but different backgrounds make this story ring heartbreakingly true.
