Amy– Youth Services Librarian

Ziefert, Harriet. Naughty and Nice.  Blue Apple Books, 2010. E ZIE

If you are looking for a fun concept book for young children, look no further than Naughty and Nice by Harriet Ziefert.  Emily and Alex may be twins, but boy are they different!  When Alex is quiet, Emily is noisy.  When Alex is sad, Emily is glad.  They are opposite in every way.  Young children will love repeating the concepts expressed by characters Emily and Alex, and the illustrations are a delight in ink and smudgy color.  Pair this title with Plain and Fancy, the other title in the "Emily and Alex" series, or the books Yummy, Yucky or Quiet, Loud by Leslie Patricelli for a laugh-out-loud romp through basic concepts.  For children ages 1 - 3.

Susan – Librarian Assistant

De Lint, Charles.  The Dreaming Place.  Firebird, 2002. J DEL

De Lint writes compelling fantasies that combine elements of Native American and Celtic mythologies to create an amazing Otherworld open to all who have the ability to enter and travel it.  Ash and Nina are teenage cousins who share a room after Ash's mother dies.  Ash is angry; Nina is "perfect." But Nina is in Otherworldly trouble--a hungry Manitou spirit is sending her into different animal bodies, preparing to devour her!  Only Ash, using her abilities in the Dreaming Place (the spirit world), can save Nina now.  But will she let go of her anger and learn to care enough to brave the dangers of the Otherworld and the Manitou for Nina's sake?

Kathi - Librarian Assistant

Ryan, Carrie. The Forest of Hands and Feet.  Delcorte Press, 2009. Y SF RYAI

This book really has it all: mystery, horror, romance, beauty and edge of your seat tension.  It tells the story of Mary, who when we meet her has to deal with the horrifying death of her mother.  She must find her place in this postapocalyptic world.  Mary longs for the world outside of her village. Controlled by the Sisterhood and trapped between two brothers, she struggles to follow her own path.  Added to this suspense is the fact that the village where she lives is surrounded by flesh-eating zombies called the "Unconsecrated." This is a very quick paced story that was so thrilling I found it hard to put down.

Lois - Librarian Assistant

Oelschlager, Vanita. Bonyo Bonyo: The True Story of a Brave Boy from Kenya.  Vanita Books, LLC, 2010.  J B 0288

Bonyo Bonyo is an inspirational picture book biography of a poor boy in rural Kenya who dreamed of becoming a doctor and building a hospital in his village.  The boy's early life was full of hardship and heartache.  His sister died when she was 6 months old because the village didn't always have clean water to drink and there were no doctors or nurses in the village to provide medical care.  The boy knew that he needed an education to realize his dream and struggled against overwhelming odds to get the necessary education.  He walked barefoot for two days and crossed two rivers to attend boarding school.  His high school years were spent at a Catholic boarding school.  He was then accepted at a Texas college on a scholarship at age 17.  The story ends with Bonyo returning home and opening the Mama Pilista Bonyo Memorial Health Centre in 2006. This is a beautifully illustrated story of determination, commitment and courage.

Lillian - Librarian Assistant

Askani, Tanja.  A Friend Like You. Scholastic, 2009.  E ASK

The author Tanja Askani has always been a friend to animals.  As a child, she nursed injured animals back to health and then found homes for them or set them free.  Now at her home she keeps wolf pups, raccoons, owls, rabbits, fawns and others.  Under her care, unexpected friendships form.  This book is a collection of her beautiful photographs of the animals and words of friendship.  At the end of the book children learn more about the author and get some background on each of the creatures depicted. Some of my favorites are the white squirrel and the little owl, the piglet and the puppy, and the old dachshund and the young fox.  These photographs are sure to make you say "aww" every time you turn the page.

Amanda - Youth Services Librarian

Gutman, Dan.  The Homework Machine.   Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2006.  J GUT

The four fifth-grade students in this book don't have much in common.  Brenton is a geek.  Kelsey is a slacker.  Snick is a class clown.  Judy is a teacher's pet.  Needless to say, when their teacher puts them at the same square of desks, none of them are excited.

That is until one day, when Brenton lets out a secret to his desk mates.  He has made a machine that will do their homework for them and give them all the right answers.  Suddenly, even Snick  the class clown and Kelsey the slacker are getting straight A's on all their homework assignments.  Before long their teacher becomes suspicious and makes them take pop quizzes.  Will she find out about the homework machine?  Find out what happens to Brenton, Kelsey, Snick and Judy in The Homework Machine. 

Max - Youth Services Mascot

Davis, Rebecca Fjelland.  Woof and Wag:  Bringing Home a Dog. Picture Window Books, 2009.  J 636.7 DAV

If you are planning on adding a dog to your family or just got a new puppy, this is the book for you.  You'll learn how to pick the right dog for you and how to take care of your new friend to keep it healthy and happy.  The book is also filed with tips and interesting facts, as well as great illustrations.  This is just one of the many good books in the "Get a Pet" series.

For even more great book choices, check out our Bibliographies page, found under the Parent-Teacher tab!