1
Aug
Summer Book Hook: Get a clue!
The past couple of Summer Books Hook posts have been recommendations for popular middle grade series. Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, and Greg Hessey the Wimpy Kid have all made appearances, but now it’s time to get a clue on read-alikes for readers who enjoyed reading the extremely popular The Mysterious Benedict Society! With the release […]
27
Jul
See You at Harry’s
See You at Harry’s by Jo Knowles Published: Candlewick Press, May 2012 Recommended Age: 10 & up In a Nutshell: Twelve-year-old Fern is feeling anything but the love. Her three-year-old nuisance of a brother Charlie will not leaver her alone. Older brother, Holden, a freshman in high school, is having a hard time at school […]
26
Jul
Throwback Thursday: The Snow Spider
The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo Published: Dutton Books, 1986, Orchard Books (Imprint of Scholastic), 2006 Recommended Age: 9 & up In a Nutshell: On Gwyn’s 5th birthday, his older sister, Bethan, tragically disappeared. Four years later, still ridden with guilt over her disappearance, his slightly cooky grandmother gives him five unusual presents. Presents she […]
25
Jul
Looking for your next magical adventure?
Wizards, Greek mythology, and tales of princesses long ago… The most popular fantasy requests for middle grade readers this summer. Harry Potter and Percy Jackson rule and Ella Enchanted is still holding her own. Continuing the Summer Book Hook marathon, these are a tried and true read-a-likes that will keep kids coming back for more! […]
24
Jul
Summer Book Hook: Season’s Readings
For the latest edition of the Summer Book Hook, I’m going to direct you to the Summer 2012 issue of Lawrence Kids Magazine featuring picks from Lawrence Public Library’s youth librarians. You can see this summer reading feature and the magazine in it’s entirety HERE! (Psst… Also check out the Sturdy for Common Things feature […]
19
Jul
Mr. & Mrs. Bunny–Detectives Extraodinaire!
Mr. and Mrs Bunny–Detectives Extraordinare! by Polly Horvath, illustrated by Sophie Blackall Published: Schwartz & Wade (Imprint of Random House), February 2012 Recommended Age: 8 & up In a Nutshell: Dear Wes Anderson (Moonrise Kingdom, The Royal Tanenbaums), Please, please, PLEASE pick up this book, do your magic, and make it a movie. What you […]
17
Jul
Summer Survival Guide for the Wimpy Kid Fan
Haven’t been able to get the Summer Book Hook posts out the past couple weeks, so this week there will be TWO Summer Book Hook editions. Whaahooo! Additionally, the next few Summer Book Hook editions will be devoted to Middle Grade Books (i.e. 3rd – 7th grade reading level), specifically current favorite series. Double Whaahoo! […]
13
Jul
The Year of the Book
The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Abigail Halpin Published: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), 2012 Recommended Age: 7 & up In a Nutshell: 4th grader Anna Wang prefers the comfort of a book to that of other people… or anything else really. As an ABC (American Born Chinese), […]
10
Jul
A Tale Dark and Grimm
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz Published: Dutton Juvenile (Penguin Group for Young Readers), 2010 Recommended Age: 10 & up In a Nutshell: Ooooohh this book is too good! “Once upon a time, fairy tales were AWESOME!” This quote from the opening sequence had me thinking this would be another fun fractured novel […]
21
Jun
One for the Murphys
One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt Published: Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin Group for Young Readers), 2012 Recommended Age: 10 & up In a Nutshell: Carly Conners finds herself in the hospital after surviving a violent attack from her stepfather. While her careless mother, who was also attacked, remains in critical condition at the […]
