THE AUTUMN VISITORS
written/illus. by Karel Hayes, (Down East Books, 2015), 32p, Ages 3-7

One fall New Hampshire weekend, a family drives to their cottage in the mountains where they ride bikes to the county fair, play boardwalk games, pet barnyard animals, ride the Ferris wheel, and enjoy cotton candy. Unbeknownst to them, a bear family follows and sneaks into the closed midway at night to enjoy hot dogs, free pumpkins, and ride the Ferris wheel. “It’s only a weekend and too soon time to leave, but the cottage by the water will not be empty for long.” The bears move in with their pumpkins, make costumes, and enjoy trick-or-treating. At Thanksgiving they catch turkeys and cook dinner for everyone to enjoy (turkeys included). Kids will love the humorous illustrations of two families enjoying a special New England autumn.
        Themes: Adventure, Families, Holidays, Humor, Series
Others in the Series: Christmas Visitors | Winter Visitors | Spring Visitors | Summer Visitors

DINOSAUR RESCUE!
written/illus. by Penny Dale, (Noisy Crow, 2013), 32p, Ages 3-6

When a pickup truck, loaded with dinosaurs, crashes through a railroad crossing with a train approaching, the Dinosaur Rescue squad speeds to the accident. “Rescue dinosaurs rushing. / Rushing to get there in time. / To get there in time, / before it’s too late!” An assortment of dinosaur rescue vehicles (police car, fire engine, ambulance, tow truck, and helicopter) race to the emergency, and work together to ensure the safety of every dinosaur. With the emergency over and first aid administered, they head back to base in time to rest, play, and bed down, until the next emergency. Dinosaurs and vehicles by name are featured on endpapers. For youngsters, who love dinosaurs, adventure, and emergency vehicles, this is a perfect treat.
        Themes: Adventure, Dinosaurs, Heroes, Vehicles, Series
Others in the Series: Dinosaur Dig! | Dinosaur Zoom! | Dinosaur Farm

A BOY, A DOG, AND A FROG
written & illus by Mercer Mayer, (Dial Books for Young Readers, 1967/2003, ), 32p, Ages 2-6

Spying a frog on a lily pad in a pond, a young boy and his dog race down a hill with a net to capture it, trip over a log, and end up in the pond. Once again the boy tries but misses and nets the dog instead. Giving up, the wet boy and dog trudge home for a bath, but the lonely frog follows and joins in the playful bathtub fun. This charming story, by the master of the wordless picture book genre, continues to delight children of every generation, along with several more stories about the adventurous boy, dog, and their friend frog.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Classics, Friendship, Humor, Wordless, Series
Others in the Series: A Boy, a Dog, a Frog, and a Friend | Frog Goes to Dinner | Frog on His Own | Frog Where Are You? | One Frog Too Many

BATS AT THE BALLGAME
written/illus. by Brian Lies, (Houghton Mifflin Books, 2010), 32p, Ages 4-8

The bats from Bats at the Beach (2006) and Bats at the Library (2008) are back and ready for night baseball including mothdogs, cricket Jack, beenuts, and upside down spectators. As the sun sets, bats, carrying their young, fly into a closed amusement park to watch their favorite team play ball under a circus tent. “We show our tickets, find our places, / watch the grounds crew lay the bases. / They roll the foul lines, rake the mound, / shape the field, and smooth the ground.” As the game begins, players swoop, glide, streak around the field, strike out, miss catches, and slide into home to score. When the sun rises, they speed away to discuss the great game and dream of other wonderful baseball bat nights. The illustrations are stunning, and kids will love this bat-filled nocturnal sports world.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Humor, Sports, Rhythm & Rhyme, Series
Others in the Series: Bats at the Beach | Bats at the Library | Bats in the Band

THE POUT-POUT FISH IN THE BIG-BIG DARK
written by Deborah Diesen, illus. by Dan Hanna, (Farrar, Straus Giroux, 2010), 32p, Ages 4-7

When Mrs. Clam yawns and loses her pearl, Pout-Pout offers to retrieve it. Thus begins his brave adventure down the ocean trench to help a friend as well as conquer his fear of the deep. As he travels deeper where the light grows darker, he nervously admits, “I’m FAST as a sailfish, / I’m STRONG as a shark, / I’m SMART as a dolphin. . . , /But I’m scared of the dark.” Journeying deeper, he discovers that assistance sometimes comes from unlikely friends. With the aid of Miss Shimmer and Mr. Lantern, brave Pout-Pout finds inner courage to locate and return the missing pearl. “The ocean is wide,/And the ocean is deep,/But friends help friends—/That’s a promise we keep.” The illustrations, along with an entertaining story of friendship and conquering fears, will be a definite hit anytime, especially at story time.
        Themes: Adventure, Friendship, Oceans Lakes Rivers & Ponds, Rhythm & Rhyme, Series
Others in the Series: The Pout-Pout Fish | The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School | The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark | The Pout-Pout Fish Cleans Up the Ocean | The Pout-Pout Fish Far Far from Home

JOURNEY #1
written/illus. by Aaron Becker, (Candlewick Press, 2013), 40p, Ages 4-8

A world of imagination, adventure, bravery, and enchantment await all who open this charming wordless picture book. A lonely little girl discovers a red marker in her bedroom. Drawing a door, she escapes into a lush green forest, filled with lights, lanterns, and a small stream. Drawing a boat, she climbs in and floats away to a magnificent kingdom of castles, turrets, and towers, all linked by waterways. Encountering a fleet of strange air warships, she watches as soldiers capture an exotic purple bird. Sketching a hot air balloon, she frees the bird from its golden cage, but finds herself captured. Elaborate illustrations of unknown lands, flying ships, and daring rescues make for a fun and memorable “Journey.” Leave the busyness of life, pull up a chair, relax, and enjoy the power of wordless storytelling at its best.
        Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Wordless
Others in the Series: Quest #2 | Return #3

ARMSTRONG: The Adventurous Journey of a Mouse to the Moon #1
written/illus. by Torben Kuhlmann, (NorthSouth Books, 2016), 128p, Ages 8-11

In the mid 1950’s, a young mouse resolves to explore space. After receiving an invitation to visit a hidden wing of the Smithsonian, where flying machines built by mice aviators of the past reside, the little mouse resolves to prove his theory that the moon is made of stone, not cheese. Plagued by setbacks, including a fire that started from his skate rocket, he perseveres and constructs a multi-stage rocket that launches him into space, narrowly escaping agents that were pursing him on charges of arson.

Landing on the moon, he collects souvenir rocks, and plants a tiny flag. His successful mission is only known to mice, until astronauts land years later and discover a tiny flag. Kuhlmann’s artwork is incredible from hand-sown space suits, space catapults, fierce police dogs and Floppy Hats (detectives) to diagrams of experimental vehicles and marvelous space scenes. Endpapers feature A Short History of Space Travel, as well as a synopsis of Neil Armstrong and Apollo 11.
         Themes: Adventure, Animals, Heroes, Inventions, Series
Others in the Series: Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse | Edison: The Mystery of the Missing Mouse Treasure | Moletown

THE PENDERWICKS: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy #1
written by Jeanne Birdsall, (Alfred A. Knopf Books, 2005), 272p, Ages 8-12

When the summer vacation plans of the Penderwick family change, a widowed father and his four spirited daughters rent a cottage in the Berkshire Mountains. Located on the grounds of a large estate in Massachusetts, the cottage is owned by the snobbish and rude Mrs. Tilton. 12-year-old Rosalind, 11-year-old Skye, 10-year old Jane, and 4-year-old Batty are delighted with their quaint cottage and are eager to explore the grounds.

There, they meet Jeffery, the lonely 11-year-old son of Mrs. Tifton, Cagney, the teenage gardener, Churchie, the housekeeper, and Harry, the tomato man. After Skye nearly knocks Jeffrey unconscious, they become good friends and share adventures, mishaps, and accidents. From the innocent fun of catching fireflies on a summer night and baking scrumptious brownies to rescuing Jeffrey from a dreaded military school, this delightful and memorable tale of a charming, close-knit, eccentric family will have readers begging for more adventures.
         Themes: Adventure, Families, Friendship, Series
Others in the Series: The Penderwicks on Gardam Street #2 | The Penderwicks at Point Mouette #3 | The Penderwicks in Spring #4 | The Penderwicks at Last #5

MISSING ON SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN #1
written by Elise Broach, illus. by Antonio Javier Caparo, (Henry Holt, 2011), 272p, Ages 8-12

Recently arrived from Chicago, three brothers, 11-year-old Simon, 10-year-old Henry (narrator), and 6-year-old Jack envision a boring summer in Arizona, until the day their cat runs away to the forbidden Superstition Mountain.

Against their parents warning, the three chase after Josie up the mountain, only to discover three human sculls neatly lined up on an unstable ledge. Rescued from an accidental fall, Jack and his brothers return home to research the mountain’s history and prepare for another trip, this time with a new acquaintance and neighbor, 10-year-old Delilah. The local library provides information on a Lost Dutchman’s Mine, a fortune in gold, strange disappearances, and unexplained murders on the mountain.

The return trip reveals hidden canyons, saddlebags of old coins, a strange map, and a shooting. Adventure, mystery, secrets, and intrigue prepare readers for the next installment of this page-turner trilogy.
         Themes: Adventure, Families, Friendship, Mysteries, Series
Others in the Series: Lindbergh: Treasure on Superstition Mountain #2 | Revenge on Superstition Mountain #3

CHILDREN OF THE LAMP: The Akhenaten Adventure #1
written by P. B. Kerr, (Orchard Books, 2004), 368p, Ages 10+

Twelve-year-old twins John and Philippa Gaunt live an uneventful life in New York City, until they have their wisdom teeth out, and discover a love smoke and heat and an ability to grant wishes. When they visit their eccentric uncle Nimrod in London, he informs them that they are descended from Djinn.

As Nimrod begins their training, they travel to Egypt in search of the pharaoh, Akhenaten and his 70 lost Djinn. Legend states that whoever finds the tomb will have the ability to command them. With the help of an Irish speaking Djinn, a human butler, and an Egyptian chauffeur, the children manage to save the world from evil.
        Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Folk Literature, Series
Others in the Series: The Blue Djinn of Babylon #2 | The Cobra King of Kathmandu #3 | Day of the Djinn Warriors #4 | The Eye of the Forest #5 | The Five Fakirs of Faizabad #6 | The Grave Robbers of Genghis Khan #7

FRAMED!: A T.O.A.S.T. Novel #1
written by James Ponti, (Aladdin, 2016), 304p, Ages 10+

Having recently moved to Washington D.C. with his parents, seventh-grader Florian Bates uses his observation skills of T.O.A.S.T (Theory of All Small Things) to help recover three masterpieces that were stolen from the National Gallery of Art, where his mother works. When the FBI asks for further help, Florian discovers a fourth theft at the Gallery, which leads to a European Crime Syndicate. When a new friend, Margaret, asks him to investigate the mysterious circumstances of her adoption, they create their own FBI—Florian Bates Investigation.

This tightly woven, well crafted mystery surrounding a smart, funny, and unusual 12-year-old will have readers considering their own observation skills and looking forward to a sequel.
        Themes: Adventure, Friendship, Mysteries, Series
Others in the Series: Vanished: A Framed Novel #2 | Trapped: A Framed Novel #3

THE LAND OF STORIES: The Wishing Spell #1
written by Chris Colfer, (Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012), 464p, Ages 10+

On their 12th birthday, twins Alex and Conner are given an unusual book by their grandmother. The Land of Stories contains famous fairy tales that their late father told them over the years. When pulled into the book, they discover that the only way home is The Wishing Spell. A friendly frog explains that the spell requires the collection of eight items to complete one wish.

During the rigorous quest, they encounter famous fairy tale characters, scale castle walls, dive with mermaids, flee from the hungry Big Bad Wolf Pack, and swim an icy moat. Captured by trolls, kidnapped by Snow White’s evil stepmother, and rescued by a frog prince, they learn of their relationship to the famous Fairy Godmother.

Hope, forgiveness, moral choices, overcoming hardships, and sadness come together in a clever ending that promises more tales about Alex, Conner, and The Land of Stories.
        Themes: Adventure, Folk Literature, Families, Series
Others in the Series: The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns #2 | The Land of Stories: A Grimm Warning #3 | The Land of Stories: Beyond the Kingdoms #4 | The Land of Stories: An Author’s Odyssey #5 | The Land of Stories: Worlds Collide #6

THREE TIMES LUCKY #1
written by Sheila Turnage, (Kathy Dawson Books, 2012), 256p, Ages 11-14

“Trouble cruised into Tupelo Landing at exactly seven minutes past noon on Wednesday, the third of June, flashing a gold badge and driving a Chevy Impala the color of dirt.” Feisty, charming, and wise, Mo LoBeau is a natural born detective and partner with her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, in the Desperado Detective Agency.

Washed ashore in Tupelo Landing, N.C. during a hurricane 11 years ago and rescued by the Colonel, a stranger with memory loss, both are cared for by Miss Lana, who runs the Tupelo Café. Always searching for her “upstream mother,” Mo helps at the café, stands up to bullies, investigates a murder, and tries to save the only family she has ever known.

Metaphors and similes abound. “Rumors swirl around the Colonel like ink around an octopus.” Mystery, secret identities, stock-car racing, family dynamics, and Southern humor make this honor book a great read, but parents should be cautious of some violence.
        Themes: Adventure, Families, Friendship, Mysteries, Series

Others in the Series
        The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing #2 | The Odds of Getting Even #3 | The Law of Finders Keepers #4

THE LIGHTNING THIEF#1
(Percy Jackson and the Olympians)
written by Rick Riordan (Hyperion Books, 2005), 384p, Ages 12+

In this first of five books surrounding the struggles and victories of the half-blood children of Greek gods, 12-year-old Percy Jackson, struggling with dyslexia and ADHD, discovers that he is the son of Poseidon, god of the sea.

Sent to Camp Half-Blood for training, Percy meets Annabelle, daughter of Athena. Along with Grover, a satyr and Percy’s protector, they begin a quest to locate and return Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt, in order to prevent a war between brothers Hades, Zeus, and Poseidon. Journeying from coast to coast, they encounter evil gods, who seek to thwart their efforts and bring about their demise.

With amazing powers, clever weapons, and a determination to correct wrong doings, the three heroes develop courage, loyalty, and persistence on their journey through Greek mythology. Humor, magic, action, and mystery make this page-turner a great read for all.
        Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Folk Literature, Heroes, Series

Others in the Series
        The Sea of Monsters #2 | The Titan’s Curse #3 | The Battle of the Labyrinth #4 | The Last Olympian #5

KNIGHTLEY & SON #1
written by Gavin Rohan, (Bloomsbury, 2014), 272p, Ages 12-15

Alan Knightley, a brilliant, dedicated, but obsessive detective suddenly awakens from a four-year coma ready to take on the Combination, an ancient criminal organization responsible for his coma and all unexplained crime in the world. Escaping the hospital, Alan seeks out his 13-year-old son, Darkus, who holds the key to his stolen records. With the help of Darkus’ deductive and observation skills, they unravel the mystery behind a self-help mystical book, THE CODE, tied to spontaneous criminal activity.

When Alan is kidnapped, Darkus continues the investigation, narrowly avoiding death at the hands of his stepfather, who has been hypnotized by THE CODE to kill him. Conspiracy theories, high speed car chases, irrational criminal behavior, secret WW II underground railway stations, and blended family dynamics, make this Sherlock Holmes-like read a great page-turner for the start of a new father-son detective series.
        Themes: Adventure, Mystery, Suspense, Series

Others in the Series
        Knightley & Son: K-9 | Knightley & Son: 3 of a Kind

FALLOUT #1 (Lois Lane series)
written by Gwenda Bond, (Switch Press, 2015), 304p, Ages 14-18+

16-year-old Army brat, Lois Lane, has lived many places, but now that her family is setting down roots in Metropolis, she is determined to keep a low profile in a new high school. Due to her brash personality and highly ethical nature, trouble is no stranger to Lois.

On her first day, Lois meets the weird Warheads, and bristles at their bulling of another girl. Using her new position as junior reporter for the Daily Planet, Lois convinces the other three teen reporters to join in her investigation of high-tech immersive video games that the Warheads are using to manipulate students’ minds. Trouble follows, when Lois discovers that an unscrupulous research laboratory and the principal are behind the mind-controlling experiments called Hydra. Readers will enjoy piecing together the identity of Lois’ online mysterious friend, “Smallville Guy.”

Friendships are tested, loyalties are questioned, teamwork is solidified, and one headstrong, capable, and persistent teen finds purpose and direction as an investigative reporter. Readers are in for a treat in a great investigative series featuring a DC Comics’ fantastic lady.
        Themes: Fantasy, Friendship, Mysteries, Suspense, Series

Others in the Series
        Double Down #2 | Triple Threat #3

THE CLOAK OF THE LIGHT #1 (Wars of the Realm)
written by Chuck Black, (Multnomah Books, 2014), 320p, Ages 16+

At the age of twelve, Drew Carter’s father, a member of a Special Forces unit, dies in action. Since then, tragedy and heartache seem to follow Drew from one school to another. Over the years his father’s best friend and fellow soldier, Jake Blanchard, helps Drew through his grief, takes him on camping trips, and eventually teaches him combat training.

When college offers Drew a chance to start over, a physics experiment explodes leaving him blind and his high school friend, Ben, missing. After his sight miraculously returns, Drew discovers he has skills and sight beyond the normal and can observe what he calls invaders influencing humans for good or evil. When Drew begins to question his sanity, he remembers his father’s advice: “It’s wrong to do nothing when you have the power to do something.”

Determined to thwart the invaders, Drew moves to the inner-city of Chicago, locates Ben, discovers a long lost love Sydney, and protects his neighborhood from a local gang, earning him the nickname of “The Guardian,” which brings him to the attention of the FBI. Teens will enjoy this first book in the Wars of the Realm series containing humor, heartache, suspense, action, a touch of romance, and an insight to the real spiritual battle between angels and demons.
        Themes: Adventure, Friendship, Heroes, Suspense, Intrigue, Series

Others in the Series
        Rise of the Fallen #2 | Light of the Last #3

THE MYSTERY OF THE CLOCKWORK SPARROW #1 (The Sinclair Mysteries)
written by Katherine Woodfine, illus. by Julia Sardà, (Kane Miller Books, 2016), 352p, Ages 14+

“NEW YORK TYCOON TO TAKE LONDON BY STORM! New York millionaire Mr. Edward Sinclair is set to throw open the doors of London’s largest department store this week. The new Piccadilly store, which has been a year in construction, stands an impressive eight storeys high, with six acres of floor space, nine state-of-the-art lifts, and over one hundred different departments.”

During the Edwardian era of England, fourteen-year-old Sophie Taylor, orphaned after her father’s death and considered too old for an orphanage and old enough to support herself, is hired by Sinclair’s as a shopgirl to work in the Millinery Dept. Sophie is impressed with Mr. Sinclair’s special exhibition of jewels, including the Clockwork Sparrow, a musical box in the shape of a bird from the Russian Imperial Court. The Sparrow is considered priceless as it contains valuable gems with a unique ability to play a different tune whenever wound.

When a burglary occurs and the Sparrow is taken, Sophie is fired due to accusations by the store manager. With the help of new friends, Billy Parker, an apprentice porter and mystery-lover, Lilian Rose, a friendly store model and aspiring actress, and Joe, a homeless boy, who was involved with the crime lord known as the Baron, they band together to solve the mystery. Readers will enjoy the intrepid heroes as they solve messages coded in ciphers, uncover police corruption, discover explosive devices, and devour iced buns, while attempting to bring the villainous Baron to justice.
        Themes: Adventure, Friendship, Heroes, Mysteries, Series

Others in the Series
        The Mystery of the Jeweled Moth #2 | The Mystery of the Painted Dragon #3 | The Mystery of the Midnight Peacock #4

THE SHADOW PRINCE
written by Bree Despain, (Egmont, 2014), 496p, Ages 14-18

This retelling of the Hades and Persephone mythological tale finds two teenagers wrestling with family issues, destinies, and a growing attraction to each other.

Haden, a disgraced prince of the Underworld, is chosen to travel to the human world to lure Daphne, a strong-willed musical prodigy, into returning with him in order to restore immortality to his dying kingdom. Their destinies are bound together, but their personalities often clash. Finding themselves working together to fight evil from the Underworld, they discover a mutual talent for music, realize common family issues, and experience a growing and changing relationship.

From car chases, family dynamics, near-death experiences, and lethal Underworld creatures, to war between the gods, and prophesies, Haden and Daphne struggle to rewrite their destinies and change the fate of two worlds. Readers, who enjoy heroes, quests, mythology, adventure, mystery, and cliff-hanging endings, will love this first book in a planned trilogy.
        Themes: Adventure, Folk Literature, Heroes, Mysteries

Others in the Series
        The Eternity Key #2 | The Immortal Throne #3

Over the years, we have researched thousands of children's books, and can recommend some of the best in outstanding children's literature for parents to read aloud and children to read.

Our recommendations must meet certain criteria: fun, creative and imaginative stories, delightful illustrations, and excellent for age appropriate listening and reading. We hope that you enjoyed our recommendations. If you desire further information some of the best in children's literature, please visit our website, www.tchliteracy.com.