Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo

Harry Potter lovers, meet Charlie Bone!

Charlie Bone is an ordinary boy who enjoys hanging out with his best friend, Benjamin Brown. One day when Charlie's mother returns with a photograph that he needs to create a birthday present for Benjamin, Charlie's whole world changes! Charlie opens the envelope expecting to find a picture of Runner Bean, Benjamin's dog, instead he finds a photo of a man holding a baby. After staring at the photo for a few moments Charlie begins to hear voices, coming from the photograph! The man is talking to someone, probably the photographer, and the baby is fusing. Charlie can hear it all! What is happening?

Charlie's Grandmother Yewbeam notices something is happening to Charlie and she calls a meeting with her three sisters. They are all pleased to see that Charlie is a true Yewbeam....a descendant of the Red King! The Red King had extraordinary powers and those powers - good and bad - have been passed on to his descendants. Charlie's mother is not pleased about this new finding since she is convinced that her husband, Charlie's father, was killed because of his special powers. The Yewbeam sisters set things in motion for Charlie to attend a special school for the Red King's descendants and Charlie's adventure begins.

Charlie meets loads of new people. Some turn into good friends, while others turn into enemies. One of Charlie's truest friends is his Uncle Patron Yewbeam, who does not share his sisters' enthusiasm for Charlie's new found talent. Uncle Patron helps Charlie understand what is happening to him and shares his own special talent! No one really knows which descendants of the Red King will use their talents for good or evil. Join Charlie in his first adventure at Bloor Academy. This is book one of six current books. The author, Jenny Nimmo, has written one book a year since 2002. Is there a new Charlie Bone book coming out soon? Published by Scholastic.

Clever Beatrice : An Upper Peninsula Conte by Margaret Willey

Poor Beatrice. She and her mother have eaten their last bowl of porridge and they have no money for more. Beatrice is such a little girl that she cannot work as a lumberjack to get money but she is a clever girl! She knew there was a rich giant who liked to bet his gold to prove his strength to anyone. He was so sure he would win each bet he made with Beatrice but he didn’t know just how smart she was. You’ll be surprised how Beatrice outwits the giant to earn gold coins. Oh, how it pays to be clever!

This is a tall tale set in our very own Upper Peninsula and written by a Michigan author. You’ll recognize the watercolor map of Michigan that appears on the book's end papers.

True Stories : Girls’ Inspiring Stories of Courage and Heart from American Girl

Calling all girls and boys ages 8 to 15! I know, the title says that this book is about girls with courage but boys would also like to read about these amazing girls. After all, they could be your sister, neighbor, cousin, or school friend. Whoever they are, they’ve shared their amazing true stories inside. Each 2 or 3 page story includes photos and is written by the girl herself. Some have shown courage in dangerous situations like Tanya who had a moose charge at her while building a snow fort with her friends in Alaska. Megan collected videos and donated them to hospitals in her state. Jennifer, a sixth grader who was tired of seeing students being bullied, started an anti-bullying program with her friends and it has really worked! If you have a true story of courage to tell, you may write one too. Everything you need to know to mail in your story is included. Pick up a copy of True Stories : Girls’ Inspiring Stories of Courage and Heart at the library soon!

Sniffles, Sneezes, Hiccups, and Coughs by Penny Durant

Are you beginning to read on your own? Do you like to learn fun facts? Have you ever had a bad cold? Have you wondered why we sneeze and cough? Sniffles, Sneezes, Hiccups, and Coughs is the perfect book for you if you answered 'yes' to those questions. Inside this book you'll learn what causes us to sneeze, how we breathe, and even why we yawn. This 32 page book also has many diagrams and photographs to help you understand sniffles, sneezes, hiccups, and coughs. Drink lots of water, wash your hands often, and read this book. Maybe this year you'll stay healthy and not have to miss school with coughs and sniffles. Ah, ah... choo! I better get some rest.

Miss Daisy is Crazy! by Dan Gutman

Miss Daisy looked like a normal teacher, but her second graders soon discovered that she was not quite your typical teacher. “Miss Daisy is crazy”, said Ryan. “She’s the weirdest teacher I ever had,” said Emily. “She can’t read, she can’t write, and she can’t even do arithmetic. What kind of teacher is that?” “A bad one”, I said.

Is Miss Daisy really crazy or is she just fooling her students into learning things in her class? How does a principal dressed like a gorilla and students playing video games all night, fit into the story? Read the first book in this silly series and find out for yourself. The series is My Weird School, a beginning chapter book series for our young readers. As of this writing there are 28 books in the series!

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems

Trixie is back in the second installment of Knuffle Bunny by the fantastic Mo Willems. This time we see Trixie, who has now learned to talk, heading off to school with her very favorite Knuffle Bunny. She cannot wait to show all her friends. That is, until she realizes that another girl in her class has the same (almost identical) Knuffle Bunny. The girls are upset that their bunny isn't unique and end up getting in trouble by the teacher and having them taken away. By accident each girl is given the wrong Knuffle Bunny back at the end of the day, but it isn't discovered until the middle of the night. You'll have to read the story to find out what happens when Trixie realizes she has the wrong Knuffle Bunny.
Willems, once again stuns, with hand drawn characters set against black and white photography. This is a must read for Willems fans!

the OK book By Amy Krouse Rosenthal; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

Did you know if you take OK and turn it sideways it is a stick figure? Try it! We did, and then we (Hilton and Spencer 1st graders) made our own OK books! The author and illustrator of this book show us that it is OK to just be "OK" at doing things. They show us it is "OK" to be an OK kite flyer - with the kite stuck in the tree; an OK marshmallow toaster - with burnt marshmallows; an OK pancake flipper - with the pancake flopped on top of his head and much more. The illustrations are great and the students loved making their own OK Book, after listening to this story. Pick up a copy today, and remember it is OK to just be "OK" - you do not have to be perfect at everything! ENJOY...we sure did.

Rainstorm by Barbara Lehman

A week after I wrote this blog, I realized that it had already been reviewed. Like a good friend, every good book deserves extra attention. When two of us like the same book, maybe that means it could be up for an award. Perhaps the Caldecott medal winner this year. :-)

Here's another treasure from one of my new favorite author illustrators, Barbara Lehman. If you are already familiar with The Red Book written by Lehman, you will recognize her artistic style in her newest, Rainstorm. This is another wordless picture book - there are no words to tell the story. If you pay close attention to each illustration, you will soon know the story. In Rainstorm, we follow a young boy living in a mansion - alone and bored. He wanders around the mansion looking for something to do when he discovers a key. He tries the key in several locks and he has a smile on his face when the key unlocks a large treasure chest. It's a treasure chest not full of gold and jewels but a single ladder that leads to his adventure. Now, should I tell you what happens or should I leave it to you to open the book and find out? I'll give you a hint - his days are no longer boring and there is a hint of what is to come when you take a close look at the title page.

Eggs by Jerry Spinelli

Nine year old David misses his mom so much that he lashes out at his grandmother who now takes care of David while his father works out of state. He is determined not to make friends in his new town. David follows every rule ever written - except when it comes from his grandmother. David’s mother slipped on a wet floor and fell down some stairs. Sadly her freak accident lead to her death. David has convinced himself that if he follows the rules his mother will come back to him. Then David meets thirteen year old Primrose. Primrose lives in an abandoned mini van across the street from her home. Her mother is a fortune teller, who Primrose thinks is a fake. Primrose is embarrassed to live in the same house as her mother. David and Primrose bicker and argue like siblings, however they find comfort in their odd friendship. Primrose’s neighbor, Refrigerator John, helps the kids and gives them a safe place to hang out. Join David and Primrose on their adventures which include following the railroad tracks to the big city, trash picking at night - or “shopping” as Primrose calls it - to find things to sell at the flee market and hunting for night crawlers.

A Seed is Sleepy by Diana Hutts Aston

Following up An Egg is Quiet, author Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrator Sylvia Long bring us another brilliant book, this one about seeds. The author has provided us with beautiful information about a seed's journey, its secrets, and its abilities and the illustrator has created beautiful and vibrant artwork. If you have ever been interested in learning about seeds from their beginning to their end, then this is the perfect book for you!

Big Chickens by Leslie Helakoski

Oh my! These chickens really are chicken chickens! While running away from a wolf, who really is scary, they run right into other frightening things. First a ditch, then some cows, a lake, and then the scariest of them all - a cave! Inside that cave they hear ggrrrowling and are certain it will be a big, hairy, chicken-chomping animal. When they come out of that cave, they are so proud of themselves and boast about all the chicken power, brains, and guts that they have. You'll need to read Big Chickens by Leslie Helakoski to learn what happened in the cave.

Big Chickens was chosen as the 2007 Michigan Reads! book for children. Michigan Reads! is a statewide program highlighting early childhood literacy and promoting reading to young children by focusing on a children's book by a Michigan author.

The Fantastic Flying Bicycle by Johnathan Rand

Calling all fans of the Michigan Chillers and American Chillers books! Johnathan Rand has another series of books for you. The Fantastic Flying Bicycle is the first book in Mr. Rand's latest series, Freddie Fernortner Fearless First Grader. Freddie and his friends, Darla and Chip, along with his cat, Mr. Chewy, build a flying bicycle! Now, you may know when you read this that it would be hard to fly a bike just the way Freddie built it, but they do get it to actually fly and their trouble soon begins. This book is full of suspense on each page as you read about one danger after another. With each near tragedy you wonder if they will ever get safely home. If you're beginning to read chapter books on your own and are ready for a suspenseful story, you should start reading the Freddie Fernortner books soon.

The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley

I hope you are all having a great summer vacation. Are you looking for a good summer read? I found some, the new mystery series by Michael Buckley: The Sisters Grimm.

Two sisters, Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, are shuffled between foster care homes after their parents disappear. One day, they are sent to live with a relative who turns out to be their Grandma, Relda Grimm. This is very odd for the girls since they thought she was dead – at least that is what their parents told them. As the story unfolds the sisters discover that they are actually descendants of the original fairy tale writers, the Brothers Grimm – or as their Granny tells them, “they were history writers”. The little town that their Granny lives in, is full of “Everafters”, all the fairy tale characters that we all know and love. The girls are quite confused by everything that is going on around them – including Jack (the giant killer), Snow White (school teacher), the Three Pigs (police officers), Mayor Charming (aka-Prince Charming, who isn't so Charming anymore); add to the mix the Granny that the girls are not even sure is their Granny. How can this town exist? The girls learn that if the Grimms die, the “Everafters” will be allowed to leave the little town of Ferryport. The mystery of Book One begins when the girls discover their Granny Relda has disappeared and they have to kill a giant (from Jack and the Beanstalk) to get their Granny back – enter Jack-the giant killer. Book Two proves to be just as intriguing when the girls try to solve the mysterious murder of one of their teachers. Read and enjoy all four books in this series, there will be eight when the series is completed. Look for Book five-The Sisters Grimm-Magic and Other Misdemeanors due out December 15, 2007.
The Sisters Grimm. Book one, Fairy-tale Detectives
The Sisters Grimm. Book two, The Unusual Suspects
The Sisters Grimm. Book three, The Problem Child
The Sisters Grimm, Book four, Once Upon a Crime
Can't get enough of the Sisters Grimm? Check out their website- http://www.sistersgrimm.com/newsite/index.html

Harry Houdini by Vicki Cobb

You may already know the name Houdini as a master escape artist. Read this book and learn about Houdini's childhood and international stardom. The author, Vicki Cobb, has written this book to read as a story which makes it a book you won't easily put down. Harry Houdini was born Ehrich Weiss in Hungary. His poor parents moved the family to the United States and as a teenager Ehrich worked in a tie factory. It was there that he began to practice tricks with coins that he learned by reading books about magic. Ehrich was one who always worked hard and practiced often to become the best. He knew that quickness was the secret to successful magic. As you read this book you'll be mesmerized by the many authentic photographs included. There are pictures of Houdini doing his escapes, the many handcuffs he used, and posters announcing his shows around the world. Unlike some magic books that don't reveal how the tricks are done, Harry Houdini by Vicki Cobb does let you in on some of Houdini's secrets. To find more books like this, search our library catalog for the series title DK Biography. You'll find biographies of other notable and interesting people.

Stanford Wong Flunks Big-time by Lisa Yee

He's the best basketball player in the sixth grade and next year he will be playing on the A-Team. He's planning to attend a prestigious summer basketball camp BUT he's flunked English! His dad makes it clear that Stanford will NOT be going to basketball camp. Instead it's summer school for him. He can't let his friends know that he's off to summer school instead of camp. How can he possibly keep this change of plans a secret from his basketball friends? How can he put up with Millicent Min as his tutor? She's such a geek! He's sure the beautiful Emily Ebers will never like him because she'll know he's stupid when she learns that her friend Millicent is his tutor. If you read Stanford Wong Flunks Big-time you'll enjoy the laughs and identify with either Stanford, his basketball buddies, or Millicent and Emily. This is a story a girl or boy would find fun to read. The author, Lisa Yee, already has written other books starring these characters : Millicent Min, Girl Genius and her latest, So Totally Emily Ebers. Just be sure you find something to read this summer. Summertime is for playing and relaxing in the shade with a great story to read!

Hook, Line, & Seeker by Jim Arnosky

If you've ever read a nature book that taught you all about an animal, the seasons, nature or the outdoors and you loved the pictures and illustrations, chances are good that it was written by Jim Arnosky. He has been writing and illustrating nature books for children for many years. In Hook, Line, & Seeker: A Beginner's Guide to Fishing, Boating, and Watching Water Wildlife, you will find exactly what the title states. Jim has experienced fishing, small craft boating, and animal watching, photographing and drawing and in this book he shares his best tips with you, the reader. His photographs are crisp and colorful; his drawings help with understanding and some are taken directly from his journals. If you like being outdoors, you'll want to read this book. Take a copy with you as you travel Up North this summer. See you on the water!

Hockeytown Hero : The Steve Yzerman Story by Shelley Lazarus

If you are a Detroit Red Wings fan you are not too worried yet about their chances in the Stanley Cup playoffs. They are down 2 games to 1 to the San Jose Sharks, but it's not over yet! If you are like me, you are missing "our captain" Stevie Y. Pick up the recent biography about our very own Hockeytown Hero written just for you - the elementary student! You will be able to follow Stevie Y. from his early years (he started playing hockey at the age of 3) through the 2000 season. Last year Steve retired and became the Vice-President of the Detroit Red Wings.

Stevie Y. was the captain of our Wings when they won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 42 years in 1997! They won again the following year and again in 2002! Steve was named captain of the Red Wings when he was only 21 years old, he was the youngest captain in the NHL (National Hockey League), 20 years later he was the longest serving captain in the NHL! Pick up Hockeytown Hero : The Steve Yzerman Story today, you will love every story, interview, statistic and photo. I am just bummed that it is only 112 pages long!

The ABCs of Detroit Red Wings Hockey by Ann Jacobs-Mooney

As the Detroit Red Wings begin their second round in the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs tonight, I am happy to share a new book from Olympia Entertainment, about our favorite Hockeytown team. This ABC book covers the Wings from A to Z. Each letter of the alphabet has its own page. Colorful illustrations fill the entire book along with many hockey facts sprinkled into the mix, and plenty of Red Wings trivia. The book includes new Wings as well as old timers, like P is for Production Line, Ted Lindsay, Sid Abel and "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe. From A is for Assist all the way through to Z is for Zamboni this book will entertain any true (or new) Red Wings' fan. "Let's GO Red Wings!"

The Big Bad Wolf and Me by Delphine Perret

ROARRRRR! Watch out for the BIG BAD WOLF! He just might EAT YOU! But, wait a minute. This big bad wolf is neither big nor bad at all. He’s actually quite small, sad and can’t scare anyone. So sad. :-( Perhaps some milk and cookies would help to fatten him up. Maybe having a best friend to take care of him will give him the confidence to really be a BIG BAD WOLF! Wait until you see what happens when he shows up at school!

The Big Bad Wolf and Me was written and illustrated by a young French artist, Delphine Perret, shortly after graduating from art school. She was inspired to create books for young readers. This is her first to be published in the United States and there are more to come. Her drawings are done in simple pen and ink but the expressive details are perfect for this simple story. ROARRRRR! Here comes the BIG BAD WOLF! Better run!!!

Rainstorm by Barbara Lehman

Since the old saying says, "April showers bring May flowers," now is the perfect time to read Rainstorm. What can you do when you are all alone in a big house on a rainy day with only the quiet to keep you company? Maybe if you find a mysterious key you will be transported to marvelous places...

In this wordless story book, similar to Flotsam, the pictures follow a little boy on his quest to find what the mysterious key opens and the adventures that happen once he does. Ladders, tunnels, secret doors, winding staircases, lighthouses, and new friends await. First graders at Hawkins were mesmerized by the pictures in this book and you will be too!