Baby/Toddler:
La Princesa and The Pea by Susan Middleton Elya
(Putnam Books For Young Readers, September 2017)
Here’s an utterly delightful twist on the fairy tale of the Princess and the Pea. The author cleverly incorporates Spanish vocabulary into the tale.
The Little Cat Who Ran Away And Learned His ABC’s The Hard Way
by Patrick McDonnell
(Little Brown Books For Young Readers, September 2017)
In this nearly wordless picture book, a little red cat runs away from an alligator, a bear, a chicken, and more. Parents will note the delightful illustrations are from the creator of Mutts.
Emerging Readers:
Sarabella’s Thinking Cap by Judy Schachner
(Dial Books, September 2017)
Sarabella loves to dream and draw and think. Her teacher understands, and he provides a wonderful project that enables Sarabella to show her classmates who she really is. Gorgeous writing and illustrations combine to create a picture book celebrating imagination and creativity.
Wedgie & Gizmo by Suzanne Selfors
(Katherine Tegan Books, August 2017)
Wedgie, a Corgi, and Gizmo, a guinea pig, are the pets of a newly blended family. Wedgie is delighted with everything in his life. Gizmo, however, is disgusted since his EcoHabitat broke, leaving him to live in a Barbie Dream House. Wedgie and Gizmo’s observations offer a hilarious behind-the-scenes look at this family.
Tweens:
The Van Gogh Deception by Deron R. Hicks
(Houghton Mifflin Books, August 2017)
Jason Bourne meets The DaVinci Code in this fast-paced thriller for kids. The National Gallery of Art is about to spend $183 million for a long-lost Van Gogh painting. Days before the planned purchase, a boy named Art is found in the museum. He can remember nothing about himself but he knows an awful lot about art. Art and Camille, the daughter of his emergency guardian, quickly find themselves in a race to foil kidnappers, recover Art’s memory, and thwart the greatest art fraud to date. Integrated QR codes allow readers to see the museum artwork mentioned throughout.
Ban This Book by Alan Gratz
(Starscape Books, August 2017)
When voracious reader Amy Anne Ollinger discovers that a parent has unilaterally removed her favorite book of all time, From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, from her school library on the grounds it is inappropriate for young readers, she organizes a banned book lending library out of her locker. The BBLL becomes a hit but causes trouble as well. A respectful introduction to censorship for third-graders and up and an homage to the written word sure to strike home with book lovers of all ages.
Teens:
Nothing by Annie Barrows
(Greenwillow Books, September 2017)
Charlotte and Frankie are best friends and high school sophomores. They are also certain that they are the most boring teens on the planet. When Charlotte begins writing a book that chronicles the minutiae of their lives, she finds that they’re actually more interesting than they expected. A charming look at teenage lives best for grades 9 and up.
Moxie by Jen Mathieu
(Roaring Brook Press, September 2017)
Viv Carter’s goal is to keep her head down, stay unnoticed and graduate from her small-town, Texas, high school and go to college. But she’s fed up. Fed up with the football team being treated like gods, fed up with ridiculous dress codes, fed up with guys making gross comments in class. So, taking a page from her mom’s punk rock teenage years, Viv anonymously creates MOXIE, a feminist ‘zine that strikes a chord with girls at school regardless of clique or popularity level. A novel that perfectly captures small town Texas and girl empowerment. Get yourself some MOXIE! Jen is visiting us on September 20th.
