MAX AND MARLA ARE FLYING TOGETHER
written/illus. by Alexandra Boiger, (Philomel Books, $17.99, Oct. 2019, ISBN 978-0-525-51566-1), 32p, Ages 3-5

Max and Marla’s adventures continue as Max patiently encourages his friend Marla to fly, but the little barn owl isn’t so enthusiastic. “Flying is not her favorite thing, and besides, it’s rather cozy inside.” When the windy Autumn weather arrives, Max builds a kite to help Marla fly beside it. Marla is still having none of it. The next day as Max rakes up leaves, Marla hides beside the kite, unaware that she is soon to be swept up with the kite into the air. Kids will love this latest adventure of facing fears with a best friend at your side.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Friendship, Families, Series

AN ALPHABET OF HUGS
written/illus. by Emily Snape, (Feiwel and Friends, $9.99, March 2020, ISBN 978-1-250-24000-2), 32p, Ages 2+

Who knew that there were so many kinds of clever hugs in the world? Fun animal characters will delight children with their inventive hugs from A to Z, featuring hugs at bath time, bedtime, sad times, happy times, celebrations, mornings, tickle hugs, and many more. From bunnies After-the-bath hugs and mice Everything will be okay hugs to owls “Just-one-more? hugs and penguins Up-in-the-air hugs, kids will especially love the sloths ZZZZ sleepy hugs and a pig happily hugging his birthday cake with, “I love you” hugs. Kids may enjoy making up their own alphabet of hugs.
        Themes: Animals, Concept, Families, Humor

A FLOCK OF FUN
written by Raven Howell, illus. by David Barrow, (Doodle and Peck Publishing, $19.99, Feb 2020, ISBN 978-1-73371708-3), 34p, Ages 3+

A small boy, ready for bed with his blanket and stuffed animal, notices a curious moon peeking in his window and it shines so brightly that he is unable to sleep. He decides to count sheep but doesn’t realize these mischievous cuties are far from ordinary. They are noisy, climb through his window, crawl under his sheet, tickle his feet, invade his toy chest, steal snacks, dive into his laundry, try on his underwear, and generally wreak havoc. “They read my books out loud for fun— / ‘Sheep in a Jeep,’ their favorite one.” Tired, they all nod off to sleep, with the young boy thinking that snails might have been a better choice.

The next evening the snails drop by, leaving glistening trails across the bedroom as well as snore. “Then I knew I’d rather keep / my noisy laundry-diving sheep!” With plenty of giggles, kids will love the bedroom wallpaper depicting snails and whales, the wide-eyed moon, and might wonder about counting snails.
        Themes: Animals, Bedtime, Humor, Rhythm & Rhyme

THE BOX TURTLE
written/illus. by Vanessa Roeder, (Dial Books, $17.99, Feb. 2020, ISBN 978-0-7352-3050-7), 40p, Ages 4-7

When a new baby turtle is born without a shell, his parents provide him a name, Terrance, and a cardboard box for a shell. It’s perfect as a shelter from the rain, a place to hide, and even room enough for a friend, until one day when other turtles criticize his shell, Terrance abandons it and searches for a substitute.

His friend, a hermit crab, supports him as he tries on a mailbox, a hat box, a jack-in-the-box, a boombox, a flower box, a pirate’s chest, and a kitty litter box. All are rejected for obvious reasons, until his trusty friend offers his own tiny shell. This act of generosity inspires Terrance to search for his old beloved cardboard box, which is greatly in need of repair. However, with a little tape, paint, and nails, Terrance discovers that it was perfect all along. With messages of friendship, working together, and being different, kids will love this little turtle’s courage and perseverance.
Themes: Animals, Friendship, Humor, Values

WHEN THE BABIES CAME TO STAY
written by Christine McDonnell, illus. by Jeanette Bradley, (Viking Children’s Books, $16.99, March 2020, ISBN 978-1-9848-3545-1), 36p, Ages 4-7

Four babies mysteriously arrive on an island, one via a mail bag, two on a ferry boat, and one is found on the pier asleep on the fishing nets. The notes pinned to their blankets ask that someone keep them safe, raise them well, and provide them with shelter. After reading the notes, the librarian, who lives above the library, brings them home with her, names them alphabetically, and gives them the last name of Book.

As they grow, the whole town pitches in to help raise them. “The fisherman taught them to cast from the pier. The ferryman showed them charts of the sea. The harbormaster taught them to recognize birds. The librarian taught them to read, of course.” When they begin to question their origins, the librarian gently explains that families don’t always look alike, and that where they are going is more important than where they’ve been. Readers and listeners will enjoy this non-traditional family, the unconditional love and acceptance they are shown, and the names for the babies taken from famous people (Agatha Christie, Bram Stoker, Charles Dickens, and Dorothy L. Sayers).
        Themes: Families, Concept, Friendship, Heroes

IMAGINE THAT: A Hoot and Olive Story
written/illus. by Jonathan D. Voss, (Henry Holt & Co., $17.99, July 2019, ISBN 978-1-250-31455-0), 40p, Ages 4-7

“Olive had a great big imagination, which was only just a smidge smaller than her huge heart. Her best friend Hoot had a heart that was equally big. His imagination, however, … Well, one rainy day, Hoot discovered something unexpected.”

It was a day just made for adventure, but Hoot, her stuffed animal owl, finds that he has lost his imagination. No matter what Olive suggests, nothing works, until she realizes the secret ingredient to imagination is Hoot’s heart. From then on, they sailed to faraway places, built castles, tamed dragon, were heroes and kings, and friends forever. Kids will love the colorful illustrations depicting giants, fairies, flowers, ships, and knights in shining armor, as they join Olive and Hoot in their second book filled with wonderful imagination and fun.
        Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Friendship, Toys, Series
Other Book in the Series: Brave Enough for Two

MR. SCRUFF
written/illus. by Simon James, (Candlewick Press, $16.99, Sept. 2019, ISBN 978-1-5362-0935-8), 32p, Ages 4-8

In this heart-warming tale of dogs and their owners, most of the dogs featured have names that rhyme with their owners. Polly belongs to Molly, Eric belongs to Derek, Minnie lives with Vinnie, Mick rides with Rick, and Lawrence resides with Florence. But Mr. Scruff, a large unkept dog that lives at the rescue shelter, has no one, until little Jim decides to take him home.
Enter Mr. Gruff, who comes to the shelter and finds a perfect little dog and gives the puppy the perfect name— Tim. It really doesn’t matter if the names don’t rhyme, if one is old and the other young, it’s more important that they have found each other and are now a happy family. Kids will enjoy this entertaining tale of family, friendships, diversity, and finding home.
        Themes: Families, Friendship, Humor, Pets

CLARA THE RHINO
written by Katrin Hirt, illus. by Laura Fuchs, (NorthSouth Books, $18.95, March 2020, ISBN 978-0-7358-4395-0), 48p, Ages 7+

Based on a true story of a special bond between an orphaned rhino and a sea captain, this historical picture book tells of a gentle giant, who won the hearts of everyone from India to Europe in the mid-18th century.

Orphaned as a baby, Clara is taken to a merchant’s home, where she is treated as a family member. As she grows, the family realizes her size presents a problem, and she is given to a gentle sea captain from Holland, Douwe van der Meer, who takes her home with him to Holland. As their friendship grows, they travel to many countries where everyone from villagers to royalty clamor to see Clara. Now famous, her portrait decorates posters, coins, and even statues.

Exhausted from travelling, Douwe decides to take Clara home with him permanently, where she lives out her days in quiet and peace. “He built a fine stable for Clara and bought a large pasture for her to graze in. It had a little stream and a lovely mud hole. Clara bathed in the mud hole, ate the grass in the field, and was happy.” Endpapers contain maps of Clara’s travels around Europe. True stories are always fascinating to most children as well as adults, and this gentle story is no exception.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Countries & Cultures, Friendship, Pets

FILIGREE’S MIDNIGHT RIDE
written by Pam Berkman/Dorothy Hearst, illus. by Claire Powell, (Margaret K. McElderry Books, $17.99, August 2019, ISBN 978-1-5344-3333-5), 192p, Ages 6-9

A small five-pound Pomeranian stows away in Paul Revere’s saddlebag on his famous midnight ride to Lexington in 1775 to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of their imminent arrest by the British.

Thrown out by a British family for causing problems, Filigree is found by Paul Revere and given to his daughter, Frances. She gives Filigree his new name, but the neighborhood dogs, the Patriot Pack, see him as a Redcoat, until Filigree helps Paul Revere avoid the British patrols by using his strong sense of smell. This first book in the series, “At the Heels of History” is a great way for kids to experience history. The Author’s Note explains the real story behind Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, and the role of slavery in the Revolution.
         Themes: Adventure, Animals, Heroes, Historical Fiction Pets

TWO DOGS IN A TRENCH COAT GO ON A CLASS TRIP
written by Julie Falatko, illus. by Colin Jack, (Scholastic, $9.99, May 2019, ISBN 978-1-338-18955-1), 192p, Ages 7-12

Waldo and Sassy, the two adorable and hilarious pets from Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School (2018), return in a hilarious field trip to the History Museum with their class. They are excited about the lunches, dinosaur bones, and ice cream party (if everyone is well-behaved). What could go wrong?

They have trouble following the rules, they ruin the space rocket books, the dinosaur bones are delicious, and they decide to start their own tour. The museum guards are angry and determined to find the troublemakers but realize that they might not be dealing with humans. Kids will love this latest fun installment in the series and root for Waldo and Sassy all the way through.
         Themes: Adventure, Animals, Friendship, Humor, Pets
Other Books in the Series: Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School | Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Start a Club by Accident | Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Enter Stage Left

YOUNG CAPTAIN NEMO
written by Jason Henderson, (Feiwel and Friends, Macmillan Publishing, $16.99, March 2019, ISBN 978-1-250-17322-5), 288p, Ages 10+

Seventh grader Gabriel Nemo, descendant of the infamous Captain Nemo, loves the ocean and resolves to create a safer place for its inhabitants. Aided by two friends, Peter and Misty and using technology from his parents’ underwater research lab, they attempt to rescue sinking ships, face mutant sea creatures, thwart the Navy, and elude Peter and Misty’s parents.

When Gabriel’s infamous sister, Nerissa, asks for help in saving a newly discovered ocean creature from being destroyed by the US Navy, little do Gabriel and his crew realize that these creatures have strange and deadly abilities, inhabit old sunken World War II planes and ships, feed on plastic pellets from the Great Garbage Patch, and do not appreciate any help.

Readers will enjoy Gabriel’s Nemotech submarine, daring rescues, undersea battles, fantastic inventions, and unusual technology in this first middle-grade series.
        Themes: Adventure, Families, Friendship, Machines, Science Fiction, Series

THE ADDISON COOKE AND THE TOMB OF THE KHAN #2
written by Jonathan W. Stokes, illus. by David Elliot, (Philomel Books, 2019), 384p, Ages 11+

Publisher’s Synopsis: “Fresh off a victorious treasure hunt and rescue mission in South America, Addison Cooke just can’t seem to steer clear of rogue bandits, deadly booby traps, and hidden treasures. It sure beats sitting around in school all day.

When Addison’s aunt and uncle become pawns in a dangerous gang’s plan to raid the tomb of the notorious Mongolian leader Genghis Khan, Addison and his friends once again find themselves caught in the middle of a multi-million-dollar international heist. Armed with nothing but their wits and thirst for adventure, they travel across Asia in an attempt to rescue Addison’s family and prevent the treasure from falling into the wrong hands.

Brimming with round the clock action and tons of laughter, Addison Cooke and the Tomb of the Khan is perfect for fans of Indiana Jones, ancient history, and James Patterson’s Treasure Hunter series.”
        Themes: Adventure, Countries & Cultures, Friendship, Heroes, Historical Fiction, Humor, Mysteries, Series
Others in the Series: Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas #1 | Addison Cooke and the Ring of Destiny #3

THE GOOD THIEVES
written by Katherine Rundell, (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $17.99, 2019, ISBN 978-1-4814-1948-2), 272p, Ages 11-13

In 1920’s New York City, a young girl, Vita Marlow, discovers that her grandfather has been swindled out of his home and possessions by a shady real estate tycoon, and she devises a plan to take it back. Two young circus performers, Arkady, an animal tamer, Samuel, a trapeze artist, and Silk, an orphan pickpocket, join the seemingly impossible quest— to break into the ramshackle Hudson River castle, steal a valuable emerald to pay for an attorney, and reclaim her grandfather’s castle from the evil Sorrotore.

Despite Vita’s handicap from a bout with polio, there are many obstacles to overcome, including Sorrotore’s henchmen, disapproving families, and the weather. “The night city was swept by a premature winter. An ice snap froze the water in the pipes. Sleet washed down the city, swept the detritus of the mud and the old newspaper and the furious cats out from the murky alleyways into the main roads.”

With determination, courage, hope, and a just cause, they are four kids to be reckoned with and cheered on throughout the entire adventure. Fighting for justice is always a dream worth pursuing. Great stories always contain heart, heroes, humor, hope, and helping others.
        Themes: Adventure, Families, Friendship, Heroes, Humor

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE #4
Illustrated Edition
written by J. K. Rowling, illus. by Jim Kay, (Arthur A. Levine Books, $47.99, Oct. 2019, ISBN 978-0-545-79142-7), 464p, Ages 11+

Harry is now fourteen and interested in a mysterious competition, the Triwizard Tournament, that will take place at Hogwarts involving two other rival schools of magic. Apparently, it was cancelled in the past due to too many deaths. One representative, at least age 17, is chosen from each school by the Goblet of Fire. What a surprise when Harry’s name is drawn as the fourth candidate. Facing death-defying tasks, dragons, and dark wizards, Harry faces his most challenging adventure so far. Readers will enjoy the Quidditch World Cup tournament, the Hogwarts House Elves, the Yule Ball, and the pranks, schemes, intrigue, danger, and triumph in this fourth illustrated volume. As always, Jim Kay’s artwork is marvelous.
        Themes: Adventure, Fantasy Friendship, Heroes, Mystery, Series

CITY SPIES #1
written by James Ponti, (Aladdin, $17.99, March 2020, ISBN 978-1-5344-1491-4), 384p, Ages 12+

Five kids from around the world are recruited by England’s MI6 Secret Intelligence Service to form a spy team for missions where adults would prove to be conspicuous. 12-year-old Sara Martinez, the latest recruit, is rescued from the New York Juvenile Court System after hacking into the foster care computers to report her foster parents, who are committing abuse fraud. Sara is saved from spending years in jail by Mother, a mysterious man, who offers Sara a second chance at life and a new home with the MI6 agency.

Arriving at the F.A.R.M (The Foundation for Atmospheric Research and Monitoring), a covert facility in Scotland, Sara meets the four other members of the team: 15-year-old Paris from Rwanda, 14-year-old Sydney from Australia,13-year-old Kat from Nepal, and 12-year-old Rio from Brazil Their unique personalities, backgrounds, and skills—sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives——will enable them to invade the world of espionage where adults cannot go.

Mother’s current mission is to infiltrate a youth environmental summit in Paris and stop an attack from a global criminal organization. Little do they realize that the threat is in the form of a deadly virus, and it will take all of the team’s combined talents and dynamics to stop the imminent threat. Kids will love the humorous Motherisms, little sayings of Mother’s to help the kids remember key principles of spying. “Bad guys never wait, so good guys can’t be late.” More adventures to come.
        Themes: Adventure, Families, Friendship, Heroes, Humor, Mysteries, Series, Suspense

THE HUMMINGBIRD DAGGER
written by Cindy Anstey, (Macmillan, Swoon Reads, $17.99, April 2019, ISBN 978-1-250-17489-5), 343p, Ages 16+

In 1833 England, a young woman is involved in a carriage accident due to a reckless prank of a teenage boy. Suffering from amnesia, she is taken to Hardwick Manor by the boy’s brother, Lord James Ellerby. With the help of his sister, Caroline, they seek to solve the mystery of the young woman’s identity and the events that brought her to them.

Taking the name of Beth, she realizes that the only clue to her circumstances is the reoccurring nightmare of a dagger in the shape of a hummingbird, dripping blood from its beak. When targeted for murder, her maid killed, and hunted by a mysterious foe, Beth and the Ellerby clan fight to recover the mysteries of her past and regain her memory. From the dangerous cliffs of Dorset to the treacherous streets of London, danger awaits from the least expected places. Readers will enjoy this clean, action-packed tale of mystery, memory loss, and mistaken identity.
        Themes: Adventure, Heroes, Mystery, Suspense & Intrigue

POSY
written by Linda Newbery, illus. by Catherine Rayner, (Atheneum Books, 2009), 32p, Ages 2-5

Little Posy is a “whiskers wiper / crayon swiper, / Playful wrangler, / kitting tangler.” As Posy romps across the pages, she catches spiders, scratches sofas, guzzles ice cream, collects leaves, and inspects socks. After a busy day, this delightful little fur ball is more than ready to cuddle with mama. The charming illustrations are sure to catch the fancy of budding artists.
        Themes: Animals, Humor, Pets

THE DIGGER AND THE FLOWER
written/illus. by Joseph Kuefler, (Balzer + Bray, 2018), 48p, Ages 3-7

It’s a great day for Crane, Dozer, and Digger as they begin to clear space for buildings, bridges, and roads on a construction project in the city.

When Digger spies a tiny blue flower in the rubble, he decides to abandon his mission and care for it. “Every day, while the other big trucks built, Digger visited the flower. He watered it when its leaves looked dry. And just before he switched off for the night, Digger sang the flower a bedtime song.”

Deciding that their digging was more important than the flower, Dozer cuts it down. Find out how Digger discovers a way for the flower to flourish in this simple and charming story of compassion, heroism, and rebirth.
        Themes: Heroes, Nature, Machines

THE DINOSAUR TOOTH FAIRY
written by Martha Brockenbrough, illus. by Israel Sanchez, (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2013), 32p, Ages 4-7

Theoretically, dinosaurs are extinct; however, one remains in a museum. As its resident tooth fairy, she polishes her collection of huge fangs and reminisces about the good old days. When a little girl loses a tooth in the museum, the dino tooth fairy follows her home in hopes of collecting it. Battling doorknobs, slobbery dogs, and noisy parrots, she finds herself competing with a human counterpart for the tooth. Common ground and a new friendship provide both tooth fairies with a simple solution to their dilemma. Who knew that dinosaurs and loose teeth would make for a fun read aloud?
        Themes: Adventure, Bedtime, Dinosaurs

CHOO CHOO: The Story of a Little Engine Who Ran Away
written/illus. by Virginia Lee Burton, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1937, 2017), 48p, Ages 4-7

A black and shiny little locomotive pulls cars full of passengers, baggage, and fuel from the city to the country and back again. One day she said, “I am tired of pulling all these heavy coaches. I could go much faster and easier by myself, then all the people would stop and look at me, just me, and they would say, ‘What a smart little engine! What a fast, little engine! What a beautiful little engine! Just watch her go by herself!’”

When left alone on the tracks with her engineer, fireman, and conductor having coffee, she whizzes off on an exciting adventure racing through fields, past crossings, jumping draw bridges, and into the country where she becomes lost and alone on a track that has been unused for 40 years. Discover how one small engine realizes that running away is not as exciting a she thought in this wonderful classic in print for 80 years.
        Themes: Adventure, Classics, Machines

A MOUSE CALLED WOLF
written by Dick King-Smith, illus. by Jon Goodell, (Crown Publishers, 1997, ISBN 978-0-517-70974-0), 112p, ages 6-9

“Wolfgang Amadeus Mouse was the youngest of thirteen children. He was also the smallest.” When his mother decides he should have an important name, “to make up for his size,” she borrows the name from sheet music found on the piano of the owner’s home in which they reside. Wolf enjoys Mrs. Honeybee’s piano playing twice a day, and as he listens to the beautiful tunes, he begins to sing along, eventually working up courage to accompany her playing. As their friendship develops, Wolf begins to sing along to everything from children’s nursery rhymes to Chopin. One day Mrs. Honeybee breaks her ankle and it’s up to Wolf to find help. Kids will fall in love with this delightful small mouse and thoroughly enjoy the way Wolf defeats the household cat.
        Themes: Animals, Classics, Friendship, Heroes

THE SEVEN WONDERS OF SASSAFRAS SPRINGS
variouswritten by Betty G. Birney, illus. by Matt Phelan, (Antheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007, ISBN 978-1416934899), 224p, Ages 8-12

During the summer of 1923 in the small farming community of Sassafras Springs, Missouri, eleven-year-old Eben McAllister yearns for adventure as he reads about the Seven Wonders of the World (The Great Pyramids at Giza, Colossus of Rhodes, Statue of Zeus, Lighthouse at Alexandria, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Temple of Artemis, and The Hanging Gardens of Babylon).

Tired of Eben’s moping, his father challenges him to find seven wonders in Sassafras Springs in seven days. If he does, Pa will buy him a ticket to visit his cousins in Colorado to see its marvelous majestic mountains.

With his journal and faithful dog, Eben records wonders that families in the community are eager to share. A Sunday school teacher whose applehead doll saved her life, a bookcase that ended a drought and saved a man’s life, an outhouse flying in a cyclone, a musical saw that fended off crop-eating locusts, a floating table, and a truth-telling loom. Find out if Eben McAllister finds his seventh wonder in this heartwarming, coming-of-age tall tale where wonders can be found in the most extraordinary places.
        Themes: Adventure, Classics, Families, Heroes, Humor, Tall Tales

THE BATBOY
writtenwritten by Mike Lupica, (Philomel Books, 2010), 276p, Ages 10+

Because of his passion for baseball and relationship to an ex-major league player, 14-year-old Brian Dudley wins a coveted place as summer batboy for the Detroit Tigers’ home games at Comerica Park. Brian realizes his greatest dream as he hustles with batboy responsibilities of keeping the equipment ready, stocking snacks, shining shoes, cleaning up after the team, and running errands for players. In addition, there are sleepovers at the ballpark and front row seating for home games. On days off, Brian plays for a summer travel team with best friend Kenny.

When his all-time idol, Hank Bishop, returns to baseball and joins the Tigers after a 50-game steroid suspension, both struggle with issues in their lives. Brian, who desperately needs a hero, wrestles with family and batting problems. Hank, who treats everyone with distain, especially Brian, needs someone to believe he can be a hero. Their friendship grows as each teaches the other about overcoming slumps, perseverance, respect, and a love of baseball. The behind-the-scenes major league action, engaging characters, and great storytelling will win over baseball fans as well as those who are unfamiliar with the sport.
        Themes: Families, Friendship, Sports

THE THIEF LORD
11-14 Mysteries, Adventure, Fantasy
written/illus. by Cornelia Funke, (Chicken House, 2010, ISBN 978-0-545-22770-4), 376p, Ages 11+

An abandoned movie theater, a magical carousel, a soft-hearted disguise-obsessed detective, two orphaned run-away brothers, evil relatives, a greedy shop owner, a kind photographer, and a cocky young thief combine to make this tale one of the most fascinating in print.

After their mother’s death, twelve-year-old Prosper and five-year-old Bo run away to Venice and try to avoid their aunt, uncle, and a detective, hired to locate them. In Venice, they join street children, who live in an old abandoned theatre under the protection of a youth called the Thief Lord. When offered a job by a nasty shop owner on behalf of his mysterious client, the Thief Lord and kids search for a missing carousel lion’s wing. According to legend, the wing belonged to a lion, one of four animals attached to a magical merry-go-round, which was donated to an orphanage by a wealthy Venice merchant 150 years earlier. “People said that a few turns on the merry-go-round of the Merciful Sisters made adults out of children and children out of adults.” The missing wing now belongs to a Venice photographer, who joins the children in hunting for the magical carousel.

Find out whose lives are altered by riding it, how the children find a permanent home, and if the young Thief Lord finds happiness. Endpapers contain interesting information and facts about the lovely city of Venice.
        Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Friendship, Mysteries

MUCH ADO ABOUT GRUBSTAKE
written by Jean Ferris, (Harcourt Children’s Books, 2006), 272p, 13+

The year is 1888, and according to sixteen-year-old Arley Pickett, nothing ever changes in Grubstake, a failed mining town in Colorado. Since her father’s death, Arley runs the only boardinghouse in town, where grumpy boarders sometimes forget to pay their rent. She becomes suspicious when a stranger offers to buy all the mines around Grubstake, including hers. The story comes alive with amusing and appealing characters—a tough and independent teenager, oddball miners, a mysterious black-clad stranger, and a city slicker with a mean streak. Elements of mystery, humor, and surprise make for a fun read.
        Themes: Adventure, Humor, Mysteries, Western Lore

MIRACLE ON 49TH STREET
written by Mike Lupica, (Philomel Books, 2006, $7.99, ISBN 978-0-1424-0942-8), 288p, Ages 15+

Josh Cameron, superstar point guard to the Boston Celtics, has fame and fortune. When confronted by an unknown 12-year-old daughter, Josh is reluctant to assume fatherhood, but upbeat Molly Parker wants a father badly. As their relationship grows, Josh realizes that maybe he needs a daughter after all.

Eventually they both come to understand that love and forgiveness can break down barriers of selfishness and doubt. A host of wonderful supporting characters—a plucky and warmhearted housekeeper, loyal friends, and a greedy agent—round out this beautifully written story of friendship, family, and unconditional love at Christmas. (Holiday books are fun to read anytime of the year.)
        Themes: Families, Holidays, Sports

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.