A KITTEN IN GOOSEBERRY PARK by Cynthia Rylant. The loveable pets from Gooseberry Park are back with another gentle adventure full of humor and compassion. They’ve rescued a baby bobcat and need to figure out how to return him to his mother. Gr 3-5, and strong early readers; also an enjoyable read aloud.
DRAGON STORM series by Alastair Chisholm. For fans of the Dragon Master series, the saga of a dragonseer’s academy, where students must bond with, master and trust their charges. Gr 2-5.
MR. LEMONCELLO’S VERY FIRST GAME by Chris Grabenstein. Before Luigi Lemoncello invented games, he played them. He gets his first chance working for a famous barker at a summer carnival where a mysterious puzzle leads him and his friends on a treasure hunt. Gr 3-7.
SINGING WITH ELEPHANTS by Margarita Engle. A lyrical novel in verse about the intertwining relationship between a young Cuban American who feels ostracized for her difficulty with English, and the famous Latin American poetess (Gabriela Mistral), along with various animals being cared for at the family clinic. Gr 3+.
JUST RIGHT JILLIAN by Nicole D. Collier. In this heartwarming story, 5th grader Jillian must learn to speak up and break free of her shy shell to enter her school's academic competition and keep her promise to her grandmother. Gr 3-7.
RISE OF THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL by Soman Chainani. Prequel to the popular series where fairy tale characters come alive, both the virtuous and the wicked. Gr 3+.
COOKIES & MILK by Shawn Amos. Yes, the Famous Amos cookie family! Eleven-year-old Ellis discovers family secrets, makes new friends, and adjusts to his parents' recent divorce during a hijinks-filled summer helping his father open the world's first chocolate chip cookie store in 1976 Hollywood. Loosely based on the author’s childhood. Gr 3-7.
THE WINTERHOUSE MYSTERIES by Ben Guterson. The award nominated trilogy about a mysterious hotel and its nefarious occupants finishes with heroine Elizabeth discovering new powers and new threats from old enemies. Be sure to notice the chapter titles. Gr 4-6.
THE FORT by Gordon Korman. While exploring damage a hurricane has done to their town and environs, a gang of friends discover an uncovered old bomb shelter – intact. Could there be a cooler clubhouse? Turns out each of the boys needs a place to feel secure from outside problems and learn the value of trust and friendship. Keeping the fort a secret is not as easy as it seems. Gr 5+.
THE PROBLEM WITH PROPHECIES by Scott Reintgen. Celia is a Seer. Unfortunately, her first vision is of the death of a classmate. She launches a quest to change that boy’s fate, unintentionally becoming more involved with him than she intended. Gr 5+.
THE SUMMER OF JUNE by Jamie Sumner. Eleven-year-old June is determined to beat her anxiety and become the lion she knows she is, instead of the mouse everyone sees, and with the help of Homer Juarez, the poetry-reciting soccer star, she starts a secret library garden and hatches a plan to make her dreams come true. Gr 5-8.
CHARLIE THORNE AND THE CURSE OF CLEOPATRA by Stuart Gibbs. New series by Spy School and Space Case author. In this 3rd entry, Charlie tracks down Cleopatra’s greatest treasure in Egypt. Globetrotting, time-traveling action against evil organizations and villains. Similar to the Ruby Redfort series by Lauren Child and the City Spies series by James Ponti. Gr 4-6.
MOLLY AND THE MACHINE by Eik Slangerup. In the summer of 1983, kids of Far Flung Falls are being kidnapped by a huge robot, including Molly's brother, so aided by a crew of friends and pets, Molly sets off to find her brother and discover who the mastermind is behind the abductions. Gr 3-7.
STAR WARS STORIES OF JEDI AND SITH. Anthology of short stories about the valiant Jedi and the evil Sith. Star Wars fans Gr 4+.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
BANANA FOX AND THE GUMMY MONSTER MESS by James Kochalka. 3rd installment in the very silly adventures of a banana-colored detective in this graphic novel series for early readers.
THE FIRST CAT IN SPACE ATE PIZZA by Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris. Oh no, the moon is being eaten by giant rats! Could it have something to do with cheese? Space cats to the rescue! Absurdly humorous fun based on the live cartoon. The loosely drawn, textured, full-color panels fit in nicely with the madcap nonsense. Gr 2-5.
RED SCARE by Liam Francis Walsh. In the aftermath of the Korean War, Peggy's small hometown is rife with anti-Communist hysteria. But Peggy has bigger problems: s0he's struggling to recover from polio. She stumbles across a mysterious object that gives her the power to fly. Unscrupulous operatives from the American and Soviet governments seek the object and Peggy finds herself smack in the middle of the Cold War arms race. Gr 6+.