DUCKS AWAY
written by Mem Fox, illus. by Judy Horacek, (Scholastic Press, $16.99, Feb. 2018, ISBN 978-1-338-18566-9), 32p, Ages 2-5

As a mother duck begins to cross a bridge, four of her ducklings follow, but when the fifth duckling rushes to catch up, it is blown into the river by a gust of wind. Mother Duck quacks, ‘What should I do? / Where should I go, / with four on the bridge / and one below?” As the remaining ducklings plop into the water one by one, Mother Duck urgently counts down the remaining number on the bridge and adds to the ones in the water. “Then the first little duck said, ‘Mom! / Go with the flow! / Five, four, three … / two, one, GO!’ ” Eventually she realizes that there is no point in remaining on the bridge and she flies down to join them. Children will love the colorful illustrations and a fun introduction to counting.
        Themes: Animals, Concept, Families, Humor

GOOD NIGHT, BUNNY
written by Lauren Thompson, illus. by Stephanie Yue, (Orchard Books, $16.99, Jan. 2018, ISBN 978-0-545-60335-5), 32p, Ages 3-5

In the spirit of Goodnight, Moon (HarperCollins 1947), an adorable little rabbit winds down his day by saying goodnight to everything and everyone in his world. In rhyming text he includes swallows, pansies, spiders, dragonflies, ducklings, mice, cattails, minnows, breezes, stars, and his family. “Good night, brothers big and little. / Good night, sister snug in the middle. / Good night, ears and whiskery nose. / Good night, wiggly tickly toes.” Tucking in his stuffed bunny with kisses, hugs, and cuddling, it’s off to dreamland. This sweet and comforting bedtime book, with its gorgeous illustrations that pay homage to the beauty of the natural world, makes for a great storytime read aloud for little ones.
        Themes: Animals, Bedtime, Rhythm & Rhyme

HUSH LITTLE BUNNY
written/illus. by David Ezra Stein, (Balzer + Bray, $17.99, Jan. 2019, ISBN 978-0-06-284522-1), 40p, Ages 3+

To the classic lullaby of “Hush Little Baby”, a papa bunny teaches his little bunny about life as they explore their meadow together. Papa finds them a safe place to hide from a circling hawk, protects them from the rain, and intervenes with a bullying bunny. Underneath all the adventures Papa shows his little one that he will always be there. “Come, little bunny, come what may / I’ll watch you grow from day to day. / And when the spring has come and gone, / I’m still gonna love you all year long.” Readers and listeners will be charmed by this new lullaby and enjoy the delightful illustrations of love between father and child.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Bedtime, Families, Rhythm & Rhyme

BEAR’S SCARE
written/illus. by Jacob Grant, (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, $16.99. June 2018, ISBN 978-1-68119-720-3), 40p, Ages 3-5

Bear likes a tidy home, and cleans daily with his stuffed friend, Ursa. “Each day Bear and Ursa cleaned the house high and low. They cleaned inside and out. It was on such a day that Bear found something odd.” Sticky spider webs! In his effort to find the pesky house guest, Bear topples furniture and Ursa suffers an injury. When he returns with a first aid kit, he discovers that Ursa’s arm has been reattached with spider webs. The little spider in his jaunty beret becomes Bear’s friend, spider webs and all. Kids will love the friendly-looking spider knitting an afghan, painting a picture, reading a book, and especially the final image of the three reading together. Adults will appreciate the theme of unlikely friendships that come in all shapes and sizes.
        Themes: Animals, Friendship, Insects, Series

A PIGLET NAMED MERCY
written by Kate DiCamillo, illus. by Chris Van Dusen, (Candlewick Press, $18.99, April 2019, ISBN 978-0-7636-7753-4), 32p, Ages 3-7

From the early chapter book series “Mercy Watson,” comes the prequel of how a little piglet named Mercy brings love, chaos, and buttered toast into Mr. and Mrs. Watson’s family. Ordinary and staid people, the Watsons are mostly content, until one day they yearn for something different. When a small piglet is bumped off the Molson’s Pig Transport truck and lands in the Watson’s front yard on Deckawoo Drive, little do they realize that their life is about to change. Wrapped in a blanket, given a baby bottle full of warm milk, burped, and still hungry, Mercy spies the buttered toast just out of the toaster and runs for it. Mercy charms everyone, except the crabby neighbor Eugenia, who thinks the whole episode is “absurd.” Loved and cherished, this sweet little porker will continue to wreak havoc and commotion in her sweet, lovable way, always with the best of intentions.
        Themes: Animals, Families, Humor

STERLING, THE BEST DOG EVER
written/illus. by Aidan Cassie, (Farrar Straus Giroux, $17.99, July 2018, ISBN 978-0-374-30614-4), 40p, Ages 4-7

Sterling is a lonely, small dachshund in search of a forever family. When he spies the Butlery Cutlery Company sign advertising free “Shipping to All the Best Homes,” he hides in one of their boxes and waits to be delivered to his perfect home. Imagine the surprise of the Gilberts when they find Sterling in their fork box. Fearing that his new family will turn him out, he determines to become whatever they need—a fork, stick, chandelier, whisk, or lamp. Fortunately, his new family patiently loves and accepts him, as he finally figures out what he needs to be—“the huggable, snuggable, perfectly lovable dog.” Kids will love all of Sterling’s shenanigans as he tries to fit in.
        Themes: Animals, Pets, Families, Humor

NOBODY HUGS A CACTUS
written/illus. by Carter Goodrich, (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $17.99, April 2019, ISBN 978-1-5344-0090-0), 48p, Ages 4-7

“Hank lived in a pot. The pot sat in a window. The window looked out at the empty desert. It was hot, dry, peaceful, and quiet. Just the way Hank liked it.” Or did he? Crabby, rude, and downright unfriendly, Hank rejects all attempts at friendliness, whether from Rosie the tumbleweed, a tortoise, a rabbit, a coyote, a lizard, or an owl. When a passing cowboy makes a comment that, “somebody needs a hug. Too bad nobody hugs a cactus,” Hank realizes that he just might be lonely and need others. After a cup blows by and sticks to him, Rosie helps knock it away, Hank reciprocates by growing a flower, and gives it to Rosie. Overwhelmed by Hank’s thoughtfulness, she hugs him and they become stuck together. “But they didn’t care. After all, it’s better to be stuck in a hug than stuck all alone.” Isn’t it amazing how one act of kindness may change even a prickly cactus?
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Friendship, Just Because

THE DONKEY EGG
written by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel, illus. by Janet Stevens, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $17.99, Feb. 2019, ISBN 978-0-547-32767-9), 48p, Ages 4-8

The colorful characters from Tops and Bottoms (Harcourt 1995) return in a hilarious trickster tale involving a cranky bear, a wily fox, a helping friend, an egg, a watermelon, and a donkey. “Up on the hill lived a grumpy old Bear. / His farm was a wreck and it needed repair.” When Fox tricks Bear into buying a huge, green, donkey egg for $20, he promises that it will hatch into a donkey to help turn his farm into shape. Bear sits on the egg, keeps it warm, rocks it, and tells it stories, until one day disaster strikes and the egg rolls away and smashes. Realizing it was a watermelon all along, Bear and his friend, Hare, hoodwink Fox by planting the seeds, selling the resulting melons, buying a young donkey, and convincing Fox that the egg did indeed produce a donkey. Kids will enjoy the amusing sidebars that present fun facts. (“Did You Know? A mama hummingbird takes about a week to build her tiny nest, which is the size of a Ping-Pong ball.”) As always, Janet Stevens’ artwork is wonderful.
        Themes: Folk Literature, Humor, Rhythm & Rhyme, Series

TITANOSAUR: Discovering the World’s Largest Dinosaur
written by Dr. José Luis Carballido / Dr. Diego Pol, illus. by Florencia Gigena, (Orchard Books, $18.99, Feb. 2019, ISBN 978-1-338-20739-2), 40p, Ages 7-10

One summer morning in Patagonia, Argentina, while searching for a lost sheep, a local gaucho and his sheepdog discover a mysterious mound in the dirt, which turns out to be the largest dinosaur discovery to date. Two paleontologists, Dr. José Luis Carballido and Dr. Diego Rol, and their team excavate and uncover more than 180 bones. Carefully they preserve, transport to a museum, replicate, and build an exact replica of a new species, Patagotitan mayorum. The story is filled with information on how scientists estimate body mass, the Titanosaur’s eating habits, tools used to excavate the delicate bones, assembling of the bones, and photographs from the dig. Dinosaur lovers will also enjoy the wonderful artwork of Florencia Gigena, especially a jacket poster of the massive Titanosaur.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Dinosaurs, Nonfiction

WED WABBIT
written by Lissa Evans, (Scholastic, Inc., David Fickling Books, $17.99, Feb 2018, ISBN 978-1-338-18527-0), 256p, Ages 8-12

Those who are young and young at heart will enjoy the delightful, humorous, and rhyming world of 3,000 colorful Wimbley Woos (think trash cans), Ella, a theatrical stuffed Elephant, Dr. Carrot, a plastic vegetable on wheels, and an angry, mistreated stuffed animal, Wed Wabbit, who is unable to pronounce his “r’s.” This is the kingdom in which ten-year-old Fidge and her obnoxious, sickly cousin, Graham, find themselves after being transported by an enormous thunder storm to the land of the Wimbley Woos, a land inspired by Fidge’s sister Minnie’s favorite book series. Desperate to return home, Fidge and Graham join forces with Ella, Dr. Carrot, and the good Wimbley Woos to outfox the evil Wed Wabbit, solve riddles, overcome obstacles, save Minnie’s favorite toy (Wed Wabbit), and return home before the kingdom fades away. “In Wimbley Land live Wimbley Woos / Who come in many different hues / And also here are helpful friends / With fine advice that never ends. / So all these talents make a team / And Wimbley Woos can build their dreams.” Kids who love toys that come to life will love the timid, silly, smart, strong, and wise Wimblies, who only speak in rhyme. Wed Wabbit with its lessons on patience, understanding, the value of teamwork, and overcoming fears is a classic in the making.
         Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Friendship, Heroes, Humor, Toys

THE WHIPPING BOY
written by Sid Fleischman, illus. by Peter Sis, (Troll Communications, 1987, ISBN 978-0-8167-1038-9), 90p, Ages 8-12

Based upon “The Prince and the Pauper” by Mark Twain, Sid Fleischman has re-imagined this classic tale into a humorous adventure full of heart and sympathy for two boys, who are in their own way deprived and lonely. Orphan Jemmy is taken from the streets to become whipping boy to the arrogant, spiteful Prince Brat, (“Not even black cats would cross his path.”) With nothing in common and less reason to like each other, life drastically changes for both boys, when the prince decides to run away, taking Jemmy with him. When captured by two criminals, Hold-Your-Nose Billy and Cutwater, Jemmy is mistaken for the prince, as Brat never learned to read and write. After escaping outlaws and soldiers, they meet several friends along the way (Petunia the dancing bear), climb through rat infested sewers, and finally decide to trust each other. Colorful characters, dangerous adventures, rollicking plots, and unlikely friendships make this Newbery Medal winner a keeper for all ages.
         Themes: Adventure, Classics, Folk Literature, Humor, Heroes

SIMONE LA FRAY AND THE CHOCOLATIERS’ BALL
written by S. P. O’Farell, (Brandylane Publishers, $14.95, May 2019, ISBN 978-1-947860-40-7), 148p, Ages 10-13

Like her mother, 12-year-old Simone LaFray leads a double life as a covert agent with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and helps her father, a chocolatier and owner of LaFray’s Patisserie in Paris. Living a double life, she is always observant and prefers living in the shadows. Simone summons all her sleuthing abilities as she investigates two mysteries, one involving her father’s Patisserie and the other finding a notorious art thief, who has returned to Paris seeking revenge against her mother. When her father’s famous recipes are stolen and strange ingredients are discovered in the chocolates, she and her father must participate in the exclusive Chocolatiers' Ball to redeem the Patisserie. With the store hanging in the balance and an art thief on the loose, Simone begins to question everything, including her concealed life as a songbird. Readers will enjoy the exciting and satisfying conclusion where mystery, art, and music collide, and perhaps await another Simone LaFray mystery?
        Themes: Adventure, Families, Heroes, Mysteries

STRAW INTO GOLD: Fairy Tales Re-spun
written by Hilary McKay, illus. by Sarah Gibb, (Margaret K. McElderry Books, $17.99, Feb. 2019, ISBN 978-1-5344-3284-0), 304p, Ages 11 & up

In this imaginative and clever retelling, Hillary McKay gives readers a fresh perspective and an unexpected journey into the fairy tale world. Narrated by grown up fairy tale characters, they share their stories, with a different slant, to a new generation. In “Chicken Pox and Crystal or Snow White and the Seven Dwarves,” a young princess learns the dangers of a sliver from the broken Magic Mirror. Discover what really was under ten mattresses in “The Prince and the Problem or The Princess and the Pea.” These humorous retellings, illustrated in beautiful silhouette, also include “Rapunzel,” “Rumplestiltskin,” “Cinderella,” “The Pied Piper of Hamelin,” “Red Riding Hood,” “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” “Hansel and Gretel,” and “The Swan Brothers.” As Hilary McKay notes in her introduction regarding fairy tales, “They live because they are so strong. They have withstood the years. Countries and rulers have come and gone, revolutions and wars have redrawn the old lines across Europe and beyond, forests have been felled, the wolves have all but vanished … and yet still their magic holds.”
        Themes: Anthologies, Fantasy, Folk Literature, Humor

NO PLACE LIKE HOLMES
written by Jason Lethcoe, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, $9.99, May 2011, ISBN 978-1-4003-1721-9), 224p, Ages 10+

Twelve-year-old Griffin Sharpe has the most incredible ability to notice everything around him, including the number of stairs he just climbed, the number of breaths he took during a recent conversation, and whether the man across the street brushed his teeth that morning. When Griffin is sent to London to visit his curmudgeonly uncle for the summer, he discovers that Rupert Snodgrass lives next door to the famous Sherlock Holmes. Unfortunately his uncle detests Holmes and views him as a hated competitor. After a woman asks for their help in finding her husband, who she claims was eaten by the Loch Ness Monster, Rupert jumps at the chance to solve the case and forms a temporary alliance with Griffin. When the case turns into an elaborate plot to destroy Sherlock Holmes, the Queen, and the destruction of London, Rupert’s fantastic inventions and Griffin’s acute observation and deduction skills help solve the crime. Readers will enjoy the gigantic Loch Ness Monster-looking submarine, lightning fast futuristic trains, and Rupert’s inventions, especially the mechanical butler, Watts.
        Themes: Adventure, Families, Mysteries, Series

THE FUTURE DOOR
written by Jason Lethcoe, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, $9.99, Dec. 2011, ISBN 978-1-4003-1730-1), 224p, Ages 10+

Jason Lethcoe’s series surrounding amateur detective 12-year-old Griffin Sharpe is to kids what Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is to adults. Book two in the No Place Like Holmes series finds Griffin and his Uncle Rupert Snodgrass returning to Boston to rescue his kidnapped parents, only to discover that his parents are alive and well. Sherlock’s nemesis, the diabolical Moriarty and his evil nephew Nigel, tricked them into leaving London in to steal Rupert’s time travel teapot invention, bring down Sherlock, and control the earth. As Sherlock would say, “The games afoot” in their race against the clock to change and bend time, rescue Rupert’s invention, and catch Moriarty. Kids will love the screwy inventions, including the Snodgrass All-Seeing Spectacles and the Snodgrass Time Steam Synchronizer. As is the first book, Lethcoe also includes two Griffin Sharpe mini-mysteries with the answers in the back, trivia questions about the book, and British-related recipes, “How to Brew the Perfect Pot of British Tea.” Kids who love detective stories will love this adventure, mystery, and historical tale.
        Themes: Adventure, Families, Mysteries, Series

LIGHT OF THE LAST #3 (Wars of the Realm)
written by Chuck Black, (Multnomah Books $11.99, Feb. 2016, ISBN 978-1-60142-506-5), 369p, Ages 16+

Following Chuck Black’s “Cloak of the Light” and “Rise of the Fallen,” this third installment in the Wars of the Realm series centers around intense battles of the supernatural realm, widespread government corruption, and Drew Carter, who goes from street vigilante to CIA Secret Agent, using his knowledge of what is happening in the spiritual realm to uncover a worldwide network of terrorists and ultimately save the USA. When his special abilities and talents are noticed the government, Drew is given an ultimatum — prison, or the CIA. They want to use him as a weapon to carry out missions and gather information. Still unsure of what he is seeing when he calls "Invaders," Drew is still trying to reconnect with Ben, whom he hasn't seen since the separated for safety, and he still can't forget Sydney Carlyle. From spy training to missions, to reconnecting with friends, to questioning reality, and facing down terrifying threats on a national scale, Drew and Validus, and their human and angelic teams are constantly on the move. Readers who like political thrillers and the spiritual realm, “Light of the Last” provides an unforgettable experience and a great conclusion to an electrifying series.
        Themes: Adventure, Friendship, Heroes, Suspense, Intrigue, Series

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