Booktalk - Columbus Metropolitan Library · 2018-10-02 · nesting bird stays quiet and still while sitting on her eggs. The Hueys in None the Number . by Oliver Jeffers, 2014

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Booktalk 2014

President Taft is Stuck in the Bath by Mac Barnett, 2014. Picture Book BarnettPresident William Howard Taft, a man of great stature - well, he got stuck in a bathtub. Now how did he get unstuck? Mac Barnett and illustrator Chris Van Dusen imagine a parade of clueless cabinet members advising the exasperated president, leading up to a hugely satisfying, hilarious finale.

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett, 2014. Picture Book BarnettSam and Dave are on a mission to find something spectacular. So they dig a hole. And they keep digging...

Quest by Aaron Becker, 2014. Picture Book BeckerThe creator of the Caldecott Honor Book “Journey” presents the next chapter in his stunning wordless fantasy

Miss Brooks’ Story Nook: Where Tales Are Told and Ogres Are Welcome by Barbara Bottner, 2014. Picture Book BottnerA hilarious tribute to the power of storytelling, inventiveness and ingenuity.

Flashlight by Lizi Boyd, 2014. Picture Book BoydBoth lyrical and humorous, this visual poem – like the flashlight beam itself – reveals that there is magic in the darkness. We just have to look for it.

Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella by Jan Brett, 2013. Picture Book BrettCinders, the most picked upon hen in the flock, becomes the most loved by Prince Cockerel when she arrives at his ball looking so beautiful that even her bossy sisters do not recognize her.

My Teacher is a Monster by Peter Brown, 2014. Picture Book BrownA young boy who runs into his “monstrous” teacher outside of school and realizes she might be nicer than he thought.

Sunday Shopping by Sally Derby, 2014. Picture Book DerbyEvery Sunday night a young girl and her grandmother go on an imaginary shopping trip using play money and the advertisements in the newspaper as a guide for their purchases.

If Kids Ran The World by Leo Dillon, 2014. Picture Book DillonTwo-time Caldecott Medal-winning husband-and-wife team capture the wondrous joy of all people, and the unique beauty within each that shines forth.

Best New Picture Books

Books at Columbus Metropolitan Library

Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi, 2014. Picture Book DiTerlizziFrom butterflies and moths to crickets and cicadas, a rhyming exploration of backyard-bug behavior.

Abuelo by Arthur Dorros, 2014. Picture Book DorrosA boy’s family moves to the city from the country, away from Abuelo, and it is the boy’s memories that help him adjust to his new life.

Have You Heard the Nesting Bird? by Rita Gray, 2014. Picture Book GrayIn this nonfiction picture book for young readers, we learn just why the mother nesting bird stays quiet and still while sitting on her eggs.

The Hueys in None the Number by Oliver Jeffers, 2014. Picture Book JeffersOne of the lovable Hueys tries to explain the concept of “none” to another by finding different numbers of items, one through 10, then taking them all away.

Weeds Find a Wayby Cynthia Jenson-Elliott, 2014. Picture Book Jenson-ElliottWeeds live and grow in the most hostile environments, such as a tangle of tree roots or a crack in the cellar of an old house, where other plants cannot thrive.

Winter is Comingby Tony Johnston, 2014. Picture Book JohnstonWitness the changing of a season through a watchful child’s eyes in this story of nature and discovery.

You Are (Not) Smallby Anna Kang, 2014. Picture Book KangSize? It all depends on who’s standing next to you. Simple text, bold illustrations, and a surprise ending make this a fun read.

Here I Amby Patti Kim, 2014. Picture Book KimNewly arrived from their faraway homeland, a boy and his family enter into the lights, noise, and traffic of a busy American city.

I Pledge Allegianceby Pat Mora, 2014. Picture Book MoraLibby and her great-aunt, Lobo, both learn the Pledge of Allegiance--Libby for school, and Lobo for her U.S. citizenship ceremony.

Please, Louise by Toni Morrison, 2014. Picture Book MorrisonOn a gray, rainy day, everything seems frightening to Louise until she enters a library and finds books that help her to know and imagine the beauty and wonder that have been there all along.

The Tortoise & the Hare by Jerry Pinkney, 2014. Picture Book PinkneyThis companion to the Caldecott Medal-winning “The Lion & the Mouse” is Pinkney’s most stunning masterpiece yet.

The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade by Justin Roberts, 2014. Picture Book RobertsSally McCabe is a very little girl, and nobody notices her, although she notices everything that goes on around her. But when she speaks out about the unkindness she sees, people start to pay attention.

Lost for Words by Natalie Russell, 2014. Picture Book RussellTapir has a new notebook and pencils but, unlike his friends, can think of nothing to write and is ready to give up when he finds a better way to communicate--through drawing.

I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison, 2014. Picture Book Schofield-MorrisonOn a trip to the park with her mother, a young girl hears a rhythm coming from the world around her.

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires, 2014. Picture Book SpiresA little girl and her canine assistant set out to make the most magnificent thing. But after much hard work, the end result is not what the girl had in mind.

My Pet Book by Bob Staake, 2014. Picture Book StaakeA boy’s search for the perfect pet leads him to the bookstore, where he finds a bright red book that becomes his best friend.

Help! We Need a Title! by Herve Tullet, 2014. Picture Book TulletIn this clever new picture book from the creator of Press Here, readers are encouraged to interact with a book that is still in the process of being invented.

Stella’s Starliner by Rosemary Wells, 2014. Picture Book WellsStella’s unnerved by a bullying group of weasels who say mean things about her humble home.

Little Roja Riding Hood by Susan Middleton Elya, 2014. j398 G86Lr E52L This sassy retelling of Little Red Riding Hood features accessible Spanish rhymes and fresh illustrations, with hip cultural details throughout.

Gravity by Jason Chin, 2014. j531.14 C539gWhat keeps objects from floating out of your hand? What if your feet drifted away from the ground? What stops everything from floating into space? Gravity. Jason Chin has taken a complex subject and made it brilliantly accessible to young readers in this unusual, innovative, and very beautiful book.

Plant a Pocket of Prairie by Phyllis Root, 2014. j577.44 R783pThe creators of “Big Belching Bog” take young readers on a trip to another of Minnesota’s important ecosystems: the prairie. Here they explain how changes in one part of the system affect every other part: when prairie plants are destroyed, the animals that eat those plants and live on or around them are harmed as well.

Plants Feed Me by Lizzy Rockwell, 2013. j581.63 R684pA highly regarded author-illustrator of nonfiction for young children has created a science book about the parts of plants that humans find yummy.

Is This Panama?: A Migration Story by Jan Thornhill, 2013. j591.568 T512iWhen Sammy, a young Wilson’s warbler, wakes up one frosty August morning near the Arctic Circle, he instinctively knows that it’s time to make his first migratory journey south to Panama. But there’s one problem--where’s Panama? All the other warblers having left without him, Sammy sets off on his journey by himself, stopping to ask the same question of each of the different animals that he meets along the way: “Is this Panama?”

Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey by Loree Griffin Burns, 2014. j595.789 B967hSome farms grow vegetables or grains, and some raise cows, sheep, chickens, or pigs. But have you ever heard of a butterfly farm? How do you raise a butterfly?

Galapagos George by Jean Craighead George, 2014. j597.9246 G348gThis is the story of the famous Lonesome George, a giant tortoise who was the last of his species, lived to be one hundred years old, and became known as the rarest creature in the world. His story gives us a glimpse of the amazing creatures inhabiting the ever-fascinating Galapagos Islands.

Best New Nonfiction Books for K-2


Cold, Crunchy, Colorful: Using Our Senses by Jane Brockett, 2014. j612.8 B864cSeeing brightly colored flowers, hearing nuts go “crunch,” and feeling cold ice cream on your tongue – we use our senses to explore the world. How many ways to use your senses can you find in this book?

A Trip Into Space: An Adventure to the International Space Station by Lori Haskins Houran, 2014. j629.442 H841tA lively, rhythmical story and detailed illustrations take readers on a trip to the International Space Station, where astronauts work, sleep and walk in space.

The Scraps Book: Notes from a Colorful Life by Lois Ehlert, 2014. j741.64 E33sThe Caldecott Honoree and illustrator of Chicka Chicka Boom provides an inside look at her colorful picture book career.

On The Wing by David Elliott, 2014. j811 E46oReaders can explore a glorious array of all things avian, from the tiny, restless hummingbird to the inscrutable horned owl to the majestic bald eagle. Elliott’s witty verse takes flight with gorgeous illustrations in an enchanting look at 15 avian species.

Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons by Jon J. Muth, 2014. j811 M992hWith a featherlight touch and disarming charm, Jon J Muth – and his delightful little panda bear, Koo – challenge readers to stretch their minds and imaginations with twenty-six haikus about the four seasons.

Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems by Paul B. Janeczko, 2014. j811.8 F523A selection of short American poems dealing with the four seasons and the different weather events and animal patterns that can occur within each.

Hot Dog! Eleanor Roosevelt Throws a Picnic by Leslie Kimmelman, 2014. j973.917 K49hIn June of 1939, British monarchs King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visit America, the first visit ever by reigning British royalty. As part of the festivities, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt hosts an all-American picnic that includes hot dogs, a menu item that shocks some people.

Dare the Wind: The Record-Breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud by Tracey E Fern & Emily Arnold McCully, 2014. jB C913 F362dEllen Prentiss’s papa said she was born with saltwater in her veins, so he gave her sailing lessons and taught her how to navigate. In a time when few women even accompanied their husbands onboard, Ellen Prentiss navigated their ship to set the world record for speed along that route.

Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis, 2014. jB F394 D262mScience, history, and engineering combine in this uplifting nonfiction picture book about the invention of the world’s most iconic amusement park ride, the Ferris Wheel, which George Ferris introduced at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.

Grandfather Gandhi by Arun Gandhi, 2014. jB G19 G195gMahatma Gandhi’s grandson tells the story of how his grandfather taught him to turn darkness into light in this uniquely personal and vibrantly illustrated tale that carries a message of peace.

Henri’s Scissors by Jeanette Winter, 2013. jB M433 W785hIn a small weaving town in France, a young boy named Henri-Emile Matisse drew pictures everywhere, and when he grew up, he moved to Paris and became a famous artist. This moving picture book biography includes a note from the author, dynamic quotes from Matisse himself, and an illuminating look at a little-known part of a great artist’s creative process.

Florence Nightingale by Demi, 2014. jB N68 D378fFlorence Nightingale revolutionized the world of medicine by emphasizing cleanliness, food that was hot and nutritious, and organization in hospitals. What began as an attempt to make army hospitals safer and more effective became a lifelong mission, and remains relevant today. This picture book biography of Florence Nightingale, from celebrated author and artist Demi, beautifully portrays the story of Florence’s life and explores the long-lasting effects of her career.

I Am Rosa Parks by Brad Meltzer, 2014. jB P252 M528iIn 1955 Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks dared to stand up for herself and other African-Americans by refusing to give up her seat on a public bus to a white man. As a result she helped launch the country’s Civil Rights Movement.

Blast Off! by Nate Ball, 2014. Fiction BallA spaceship lands in Zack’s bedroom and the alien inside wants to take him prisoner, the first step in the domination of Earth. Fortunately, the alien is tiny…and cute. Now Zack will help him in his attempts to return to space and stop the invasion. Includes science facts and experiments.

Kate the Great, Except When She’s Not by Suzy Becker, 2014. Fiction BeckerFifth-grader Kate has to deal with embarrassing adults, an art teacher that stifles creativity, an oh-so-perfect big sister, and other troubles at home and school. But her biggest problem is Nora, an unfriendly classmate that Kate’s mother insists she become close to.

Lantern Sam and the Blue Streak Bandits by Michael D. Beil, 2014. Fiction BeilIt’s 1938 and Henry is traveling from New York to Chicago on the Lake Erie Shoreliner train. During the trip he’ll make a new friend, a young heiress named Ellie. When Ellie is kidnapped by someone aboard, it’s up to Henry and the great railroad detective cat Lantern Sam to solve the crime.

The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill by Megan Frazer Blakemore, 2014. Fiction BlakemoreIt’s 1953, the McCarthy era is in full swing, and Hazel believes that her town has been infiltrated by Russian spies. She watches and investigates her neighbors with the help of her new friend Samuel. It turns out everyone, including Samuel, is keeping secrets, but not the ones Hazel thinks.

The Year of the Fortune Cookie by Andrea Cheng, 2014. Fiction Cheng Anna is invited on a trip to China to help her former teacher adopt a baby. The trip is an opportunity for Anna to experience China, learn about her cultural heritage, make a new friend, and visit the orphanage that her own baby sister was adopted from.

The Map Trap by Andrew Clements, 2014. Fiction ClementsAlton has always loved maps. The ones he makes are a bit unusual, such as: which boys and girls like each other, what cafeteria foods make kids race to the restroom, and the regions of his teacher’s brain. When his map folder is stolen, Alton is suddenly in a world of trouble!

The Vanishing Coin by Kate Egan with Magician Mike Lane, 2014. Fiction EganMike’s not a bad kid, but he’s always getting in trouble because he can’t sit still or concentrate. When a mysterious new magic shop opens in town, Mike finally discovers his talent. Performing magic tricks increases his confidence, and even defeats a school bully. Magic tricks included.

Best New Fiction Grades 3-5


Dog Days by Karen English, 2013. Fiction EnglishThird-grader Gavin knows better than to sneak into his big sister’s room and steal her candy, but he and his new friend Richard do anyway. When their horseplay results in a smashed snow globe, Gavin ends up with a terrible punishment – taking care of his grumpy Great Aunt’s pesky little dog.

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee, 2014. Fiction FoxleeAfter her mother dies, Ophelia’s father takes a job at a strange museum in a city where it always snows. Wandering the corridors, Ophelia discovers a mysterious boy who has been locked in a hidden room for many years. To rescue him, Ophelia will have to defeat the evil Snow Queen.

Operation Bunny by Sally Gardner, 2014. Fiction GardnerWhen her nasty adoptive parents have triplets of their own, Emily Vole’s life become unbearable. Then she meets the magical old lady and giant talking cat that live next door. Soon Emily is helping run a fairy detective agency and battling a witch who turns people into pink rabbits.

Winter Sky by Patricia Reilly Giff, 2014. Fiction GiffWhen Siria hears sirens in the night, she sneaks out of her apartment to secretly follow the fire trucks. It’s her way of trying to keep her father, a firefighter, safe. Then Siria discovers that someone is intentionally setting small fires around her neighborhood. Can she find the culprit?

Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff, 2014. Fiction GraffAlbie is never the best, the most talented, or an A-student, no matter how hard he tries or how much pressure his parents put on him. Then a new nanny helps him see his strengths and discover his self-worth. Kids struggling with reading – or anything else – will embrace Albie’s story.

Alien Encounter by Charise Mericle Harper, 2014. Fiction HarperAn incident involving underpants leads to Morgan and Lewis meeting each other, becoming friends…and seeing an alien. When they report what they saw things just get weirder, as the boys encounter a mysterious neighbor with a lot to hide, paranormal investigators, and a Sasquatch.

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm, 2014. Fiction HolmOne day Ellie’s mother comes home with a grumpy thirteen-year-old boy who acts like an old man. It turns out he is an old man – Ellie’s grandfather, a brilliant scientist, has used a rare jellyfish to reverse the aging process. Is there anything wrong with refusing to grow old?

Ruby Goldberg’s Bright Idea by Anna Humphrey, 2014. Fiction HumphreyScience-loving Ruby desperately wants to win the school science fair and beat her class rival. She comes up with an idea for an invention she’s sure will win, and help cheer up her grandfather, whose beloved dog has died. But as she builds her machine, she loses sight of what’s really important.

Dash by Kirby Larson, 2014. Fiction LarsonAfter the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese-American Mitsi faces discrimination and cruel treatment from some classmates and neighbors. Then her family is forced into an internment camp. Life in the camp is difficult, but the worst part for Mitsi is having to leave Dash, her beloved dog, behind.

The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy, 2014. Fiction LevyThe family Fletcher has two dads and four adopted boys with different backgrounds, but the problems they deal with during one eventful and entertaining school year – from changing friendships to grumpy neighbors – are the same as any family might face.

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd, 2014. Fiction LloydFelicity sees words wherever she looks, but freezes up when she tries to talk. Her family has never stayed in one place for long, but now they’ve moved to her mother’s hometown. Midnight Gulch used to be full of real magic. Can Felicity discover a way to help her family and return the magic?

Alvin Ho: Allergic to the Great Wall, the Forbidden Palace, and Other Tourist Attractions by Lenore Look, 2014. Fiction LookAlvin has a hard enough time dealing with his anxieties at home. Now he’s traveling all the way to China, where everything is unfamiliar and strange. Alvin ends up causing lots of difficulties for his unfortunate family, but in the end does something to demonstrate his heart is in the right place.

Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord, 2014. Fiction LordLucy starts taking photos in order to enter a contest and prove herself to her father, a famous wildlife photographer. But her photography also leads to a love for her new home and a lasting friendship in this beautiful story that celebrates friends, family, nature and art.

The Only Thing Worse Than Witches by Lauren Magaziner, 2014. Fiction MagazinerIn an effort to escape an evil teacher and learn more about the witches that inhabit his town, Rupert answers an ad to become a witch’s apprentice. The witch is not what he expects, but a girl his own age who can’t get a spell to go right. Hilarity and danger ensue as Rupert helps her study.

Manhunt by Kate Messner, 2014. Fiction MessnerHenry, Anna, and José are in Paris on the trail of stolen artwork when the Mona Lisa goes missing as well. Then the kids discover there is a double agent in their midst, and their parents are kidnapped. It’s up to Henry to find and defeat the villains and recover the painting.

Annika Riz, Math Whiz by Claudia Mills, 2014. Fiction MillsAnnika loves math and is looking forward to winning a community Sudoku contest. Meanwhile, her two best friends hate math and Annika “helps” them answer their teacher’s questions. At the school carnival, Annika finally proves to her friends how important math can be.

Nuts to You by Lynne Rae Perkins, 2014. Fiction PerkinsWhen Jed the squirrel is snatched by a hawk, he thinks it’s all over. Instead, it’s just the beginning of an adventure that includes daring escapes, brave friends new and old, many dangers, and the chance to save Jed’s squirrel friends and neighbors when humans come to destroy their home.

Quinny & Hopper by Adriana Brad Schanen, 2014. Fiction SchanenEven though they are complete opposites of each other, new neighbors Quinny and Hopper become best friends over the summer. But when school starts there are suddenly new rules about boys and girls being friends. Will Quinny and Hopper turn against each other or stay loyal?

The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky by Holly Schindler, 2014. Fiction SchindlerAuggie has never felt anything but pride for her Grandpa Gus, a trash hauler, and their home in the poor part of town. Then the House Beautification Committee forms and decides the homes of A uggie and her neighbors are “in violation.” Can Auggie prove that even trash can be beautiful?

Little Green Men at the Mercury Inn by Greg Leitich Smith, 2014. Fiction SmithAidan lives and works at his parents’ motel on the Space Coast in Florida. Two years ago he was a in a terrible car accident with his best friend Louis, and since then Louis has been obsessed with UFO’s. When a spaceship suddenly appears above the hotel, many secrets will be revealed.

Another Day as Emily by Eileen Spinelli, 2014. Fiction SpinelliSuzy is feeling left out. Her heroic little brother is receiving lots of attention and her best friend has new interests. Suzy decides to emulate the subject of her class project, Emily Dickinson, and become a recluse who stays in her room and dresses in white. Will anything change her mind?

Ava and Pip by Carol Weston, 2014. Fiction WestonAva and her sister Pip are very different. Pip suffers from extreme shyness, and Ava feels left out of their parents’ attentions. When Ava tries to defend Pip with a mean story about a classmate, the gesture backfires. But it leads to a new friend for the sisters, someone who will help Pip blossom.

Beth’s Story, 1914 by Adele Whitby, 2014. Fiction WhitbyYoung Lady Beth is excited about her upcoming birthday celebration where she will receive a family heirloom necklace. When another necklace disappears, Beth’s maid and friend Shannon is blamed. Beth investigates, discovering secrets about her family’s mansion and forgotten history.

The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods, 2014. Fiction WoodsViolet is biracial. She would like to know more about her African-American heritage, but that’s difficult because her black father died before she was born and his side of the family is not in touch. When Violet reaches out to her grandmother, she learns a lot about her family and herself.

The History of Money: From Bartering to Banking by Martin Jenkins, 2014. j332.49 J52hA fascinating tour of the history of money told with clarity and humor. Encourages the reader to think critically about money and the importance of it.

Plastic, Ahoy!: Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patchby Patricia Newman, 2014. j363.738 N554pA team of scientists explore the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, where millions of pieces of plastic have drifted from all over the world.

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregationby Duncan Tonatiuh, 2014. j379.263 T663sA little-known story of the fight to end school discrimination against Mexican-American children is told with lively text and expressive art.

The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurusby Jennifer Bryant, 2014. j423.1 R732 B915rFor shy young Peter Mark Roget, books were the best companions and it wasn’t long before Roget began writing his own book. But he didn’t write stories - he wrote lists.

Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Natureby Sarah Campbell, 2014. j516.15 C191mAn introduction to amazing and naturally repeating patterns. Fractals explain much about how things grow and readers will be fascinated to learn how many things in the natural world are fractals.

Secrets of the Seasons: Orbiting the Sun in Our Backyardby Kathleen Zoehfeld, 2014. j525.5 Z85sOver the course of a year, a family learns about the role of the sun in the changing seasons. Told as a narrative tale and interspersed with science facts, diagrams, and charts.

Eye to Eyeby Steve Jenkins, 2014. j573.88 J52eFor most animals, eyes are the most important source of information about the world. Includes fascinating animal facts, a bibliography, and glossary, with stunning illustrations from Caldecott Honor-winner Steven Jenkins.

Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbesby Nicola Davies, 2014. j579 D256tExplains how the tiniest organisms in the world carry out some of the biggest jobs. Concise and simply written, a great introduction to microbes.

Best New Nonfiction Grades 3-5


Feathers: Not Just for Flyingby Melissa Stewart, 2014. j598.147 S851fYoung naturalists meet sixteen birds in this elegant introduction to the many uses of feathers.

Parrots over Puerto Ricoby Susan Roth, 2013. j598.71 R845pReaders witness the amazing recovery efforts that have enabled Puerto Rican parrots to come back from near extinction.

Information Graphics: Human Bodyby Simon Rogers, 2014. j612 R729hComplex facts about the human body are reinterpreted as stylish infographics that astonish, amuse, and inform.

Underworld: Exploring the Secret World Beneath Your Feetby Jane Price, 2014. j624.19 P945uThis humorous guide examines the geology and biodiversity that lies beneath the Earth’s surface. A treasure trove of information in an easy to browse format.

Stone Giant: Michelangelo’s David and How He Came to Beby Jane Sutcliffe, 2014. j730.945 B94d S965sExplores the years that Michelangelo took to carve his famous sculpture, creating great art from a block of marble that had long sat unused in Florence. Includes beautiful illustrations that have a Renaissance feel, along with an image of Michelangelo’s sketch of the statue and a poem he wrote about it.

Jubilee!: One Man’s Big, Bold, and Very, Very Loud Celebration of Peaceby Alicia Potter, 2014. j780.974461 P866jAfter experiencing the horrors of the Civil War firsthand, one man was determined to celebrate the beauty of life through music.

If It Rains Pancakes: Haiku and Lantern Poemsby Brian Cleary, 2014. j811 C623iExplains and demonstrates how to write two forms of Japanese poetry: haiku and lanterns. Includes fun cartoon illustrations and instructions on how to write haiku and lanterns.

Everything is a Poemby J. Patrick Lewis, 2014. j811 L674eThe work of local author and former U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate Is celebrated in this collection of his best poems – some silly, some serious.

Harlem Hellfightersby J. Patrick Lewis, 2014. j940.41273 L674hA remarkable nonfiction rendering of WWI history using free-verse poetry and captivating art to tell the story of hellish combat, racist times, rare courage, and inspired music.

In New Yorkby Marc Brown, 2014. j974.71 B879iAuthor/illustrator Marc Brown shares his love for his hometown and all that the city has to offer. Part memoir, part travel guide, with some history sprinkled in, complete with gorgeous illustrations throughout.

Edward Hopper Paints His Worldby Robert Burleigh, 2014. jB H7985 B961eA striking picture book biography of a truly special American painter. An inspiring narrative accompanies Wendell Minor’s beautiful full-page paintings and pencil sketches.

The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Artby Barb Rosenstock, 2014. jB K163 R815nThe story of one of the first abstract painters, who experienced colors as sounds, and sounds as colors. The text and illustrations work well together, creating the sense of what Kandinsky experienced through art.

The Cosmobiography of Sun Ra: The Sound of Joy Is Enlighteningby Chris Raschka, 2014. jB S9582 R223cCaldecott Medalist Chris Raschka shares his love of jazz great Sun Ra, just in time for the centennial of the musician’s birth.

I Kill the Mockingbird by Paul Acampora, 2014. jFiction AcamporaLucy is pleased to see her favorite book, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” on her summer reading list. Concerned that the rest of the class isn’t as excited about the book, she and her two best friends concoct a scheme to create an artificial shortage of the classic.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander, 2014. jFiction AlexanderThis novel in verse tells the story of Josh, nicknamed “Filthy McNasty” for his moves on the basketball court. Josh is a prodigy, but so is his twin brother Jordan, and so was his father, a pro in his day. Josh faces the challenge of balancing basketball, family, and school.

Minion by John David Anderson, 2014. jFiction AndersonMichael is a boy with a unique talent that allows him to fund his father’s mad-scientist tinkerings via the occasional bank robbery. One fateful day, their comfortable life in New Liberty is turned upside down by the appearance of a master criminal and, for the first time in years, a Super.

The Qwikpick Papers: Poop Fountain by Tom Angleberger, 2014. jFiction AnglebergerWritten in the form of a found manuscript, this is the chronicle of Lyle and his two friends and fellow trailer park denizens, Dave and Marilla, in their quest to visit a soon-to-be-renovated waste treatment facility with an irresistible feature: a “sludge fountain” that is marked for removal. Things get stinky.

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier, 2014. jFiction AuxierIrish siblings Molly and Kip arrive as new servants to the Windsor family in their manor located in a remote part of the English countryside, a part feared by locals and known as “the sour forest.” The two soon realize that there is a curse surrounding the family, the house, and the sinister tree that grows next to it and is tended each night by a mysterious gardener.

Caminar by Skila Brown, 2014. jFiction BrownOne fateful day in 1981, as Carlos hides in the jungle, the rest of his Guatemalan village is wiped out by soldiers for allegedly supporting the rebels. Terrified, he sets out for his grandmother’s village up the mountain, and soon falls in with and befriends a band of guerilla fighters.

Seeing Red by Kathryn Erskine, 2013. jFiction ErskineIn the wake of his father’s death, Red Porter is desperate to stay in Stony Gap, Virginia, despite his mother’s plans to sell the house and auto shop and move the family to Ohio. His determination to stay leads him to explore the town’s, and his own family’s, dark past.

Best New Fiction Grades 6-8


Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald, 2014. jFiction FitzgeraldWith his dying words, Theodora’s beloved grandfather exhorts her to find a treasure “under the egg.” This cryptic clue sends her on a quest ultimately involving looted Nazi art.

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee, 2014. jFiction FoxleeEleven-year-old Ophelia, recently bereaved of her mother, discovers a boy locked in a secret room in a mysterious, labyrinthine museum. The boy is an ageless 303 years old, and is prisoner of the cruel Snow Queen, who is biding her time until she is able to end the boy’s life and bring the world under a permanent winter.

By the Grace of Todd by Louise Galveston, 2014. jFiction GalvestonFinally compelled to give his room a long-overdue cleaning, Todd is astonished to discover that his fermenting sweat socks have engendered a new race of beings, the Toddlians, and that they worship him as their creator. When the school bully finds out, he is determined to exploit the tiny beings in a bid to avoid flunking science and being sent to military school.

Ice Whaleby Jean Craighead George, 2014. jFiction GeorgeWhen young Toozak commits a betrayal that endangers the local arctic bowhead whale population, the village shaman declares that he, his children, and his children’s children are responsible for the well-being of the whale Siku, until such time as the Toozaks have made recompense.

Death by Toilet Paper by Donna Gephart, 2014. jFiction GephartBenjamin, his mother, and his grandfather have fallen on hard times: as his mother frantically studies for her CPA exams, they face eviction from their apartment. Benjamin, a seasoned participant in sweepstakes and other contests, pins the family’s hopes on winning the grand prize for crafting the perfect slogan for Royal-T toilet paper.

Poached by Stuart Gibbs, 2014. jFiction GibbsWhen FunJungle’s main attraction, a koala on loan from the Australian government, is kidnapped, Teddy Fitzroy, whose parents both work at the zoo/theme park, becomes the prime suspect. With the help of the park owner’s daughter, Teddy must avoid park security, in the person of Large Marge, and find the real culprit.

Winter Sky by Patricia Reilly Giff, 2014. jFiction GiffSiria, the proud and anxious daughter of a firefighter, is in the habit of going out at night to shadow the fire trucks when they go out on a call. Her greatest fear is that her Pop will be hurt or killed battling the work of that most fearsome of all monsters, the arsonist.

New Kid by Tim Green, 2014. jFiction GreenBrock Nickerson’s name is not really Brock Nickerson. That’s just the latest identity he’s had to assume for the sake of his father, whose dark and mysterious work leads them from town to town. Settled, for now, in Liverpool, New York, Brock longs to live a normal life with normal friends and activities, and to work with Coach to hone his natural gifts as a baseball pitcher.

The Children of the King by Sonya Hartnett, 2014. jFiction HartnettTo escape the bombing of London by the Nazis, Cecily, her older brother Jeremy, and her friend May have been sent to the country estate of their Uncle Peregrine. While exploring the surrounding forest, they discover mysterious castle ruins, seemingly inhabited by two equally mysterious boys.

The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer, 2014. jFiction HolczerGrace and her mother never stayed in one place very long. When her mother drowns, Grace is torn from the closest thing to friends and home she has ever known and sent to live with her estranged grandmother.

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm, 2014. jFiction HolmThe teenage boy on Ellie’s lawn is strangely cranky, remarking on crabgrass, the value of a good education, and the virtues of pantsuits. The boy is revealed to be none other than Ellie’s grandfather, a brilliant scientist who has found the mechanism for “reversing senescence ”—in other words, he’s discovered the fountain of youth.

The Life and Times of Benny Alvarez by Peter Johnson, 2014. jFiction JohnsonWith his beloved grandfather recovering from a stroke, his attention-starved brother Crash is acting up, and his mother constantly remarking on his “negativity,” Benny Alvarez has plenty on his mind besides school and friends. Benny loves words, so he naturally jumps at the chance to represent the boys of the school against Claudine, his neighbor and nemesis, in a poetry contest.

Frenzy by Robert Lettrick, 2014. jFiction LettrickA perfect summer at Camp Harmony is shattered when all non-human mammals become crazed with a mutant form of rabies. Heath Lambert and a ragtag band of survivors, including the brilliant and cryptic chess-master Will, must avoid attack as they follow the river to civilization and safety.

Jungle of Bones by Ben Mikaelsen, 2014. jFiction MikaelsenAngry, maladjusted Dylan is sent by his desperate mother to live with tough and super-strict Uncle Todd in Oregon. Together, they travel to the jungles of Papua New Guinea to search for the bomber in which Dylan’s grandfather was shot down during WWII.

The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel, 2014. jFiction OppelWill Everett is expecting the trip along the trans-Canadian railway on the massive steam train Boundless to be an adventure, but he didn’t count on encountering a ruthless gang after a fortune in gold. He’ll need the help of a traveling circus, with their mysterious ringmaster and a beguiling girl escape-artist, to safeguard the treasure and save his father’s life.

Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick, 2014. jFiction PhilbrickOne summer, Zane Dupree is sent from his home in New Hampshire to New Orleans to spend a week with his grandmother, the mother of Zane’s father who died in an accident before Zane was born. Zane and Grammy are getting on famously, when nature intervenes in the form of Hurricane Katrina.

The Eighth Day by Dianne K. Salieri, 2014. jFiction SalieriOn a Thursday morning, shortly after his 13th birthday, Jax wakes up to a deserted world. The following day, everything is back to normal, and Jax soon finds out that he is a “transitioner” who has experienced his first “Grunsday,” an extra day that exists outside of time.

Game Over, Pete Watson by Joe Schreiber, 2014. jFiction SchreiberDesperate for cash to buy Brawl-a-Thon 3000 XL on the day of its release, Pete resorts to selling his dad’s long-forgotten ‘80s game console at an impromptu garage sale, only to find that his father is a secret agent, and the CommandRoid 85 contains information vital to national security.

The One Safe Place by Tania Unsworth, 2014. jFiction UnsworthIn the not-so-distant future, the death of his grandfather forces Devin to leave their farm and travel to a chaotic and dangerous city. There he befriends Kit, and the two are soon spirited to a place where orphan children are fed, clothed, and given whatever they want. It seems too good to be true, and, of course, it is.

The Real Boy by Anne Ursu, 2013. jFiction UrsuOscar, lowly hand to Caleb, the Barrow’s most powerful magician, knows he is not like other boys. Constantly ridiculed by the apprentice Wolf, he takes comfort in sorting and grinding herbs in the cellar amid the cats. When Wolf is murdered and city children start to fall ill, Oscar and his only friend, the healer’s apprentice, must solve the riddle of the Barrow’s disappearing magic.

Loot by Jude Watson, 2014. jFiction WatsonTwins March and Jules McQuin, separated since birth, team up to find the Moonstones of Merlin, seven incredibly valuable (and reputedly cursed) gems that led to the deaths of their parents, both international jewel thieves.

The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler, 2014. jFiction WexlerAlice is sent to live with her sinister Uncle Geryon after her father is lost at sea. She quickly discovers that she possesses latent magical abilities, and that she must acquire more by entering books in her uncle’s secret library if she is to defeat a supernatural enemy.

Boys of Blur by N. D. Wilson, 2014. jFiction WilsonWhen his step-father replaces the deceased coach of the high school football team, Charlie Reynolds and his family move back to Taper, Florida. Something eerie and unnatural resides in the swamps and cane fields outside of town, and Charlie and his cousin Cotton suddenly find themselves in a life-or-death struggle to save themselves and the people of Taper.

Every Body’s Talking: What We Say Without Words by Donna M. Jackson, 2014. j153.69 J12eLearn what you’re actually saying without ever opening your mouth as you break down body language and nonverbal cues.

Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geekby Maya Van Wagenen, 2014. j155.537 W131pWhile every teen wants the secret to popularity, Maya Van Wagenen thought she found it in a 1950’s guide to being popular. Follow this actual teen’s journey through girdles and pearls as she spends her last year of middle school trying out this funny and sometimes painful social experiment.

The Freedom Summer Murdersby Don Mitchell, 2014. j323.1196073 M681f2014 is the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Summer where volunteers canvassed through Mississippi to help register African-Americans to vote. The area came under intense scrutiny when three civil rights activists helping with the movement were murdered by the KKK.

The Girl from the Tar Paper School: Barbara Rose Johns and the Advent of the Civil Rights Movementby Teri Kanefield, 2014. j323.092 K16gOne of the first protests in the civil rights movement, Barbara Rose Johns stood up for herself and fellow students when she declared that separate was not equal and staged a walkout from her school, where the walls were literally covered in tar paper. The legal case that ensued eventually became the landmark Brown v. Board of Education.

Stubby the War Dog: The True Story of World War I’s Bravest Dog by Ann Bausum, 2014. j355.424 B351sA quintessential dog story, Stubby was a loyal, brave canine who followed troops into World War I and lived on to become a celebrity.

Lives of the Scientists: Experiments, Explosions (and What the Neighbors Thought)by Kathleen Krull, 2014. j509.22 K94lAn irreverent look at some of the world’s most famous scientists. Learn the details, both normal and eccentric, of the big names in science.

Tracking Tyrannosaurs: Meet T. Rex’s Fascinating Family, from Tiny Terrors to Feathered Giantsby Christopher Sloan, 2013. j567.9129 S634tWith a family tree not quite like your own, meet the Tyrannosaur clan, an evolutionary brood of fierce predators. Details include research facilities and dinosaur profiles from older discoveries to one in 2012- covered in feathers!

Bugged!: How Insects Changed Historyby Sarah Albee, 2014. j595.7 A328bWhen you think of historical figures, your brain probably wouldn’t list any insects, but bugs have made many significant impacts on human history. Study the fascinating and often gross way bugs have changed our world.



Sea Turtle Scientistby Stephen Swinburne, 2014. j597.9289 S978sPart of the extraordinary Scientists in the Field series; get an up close look at “the Turtle Lady of St. Kitts” and her fascinating subjects: gorgeous sea turtles.

Pandemic Survival: It’s Why You’re Aliveby Ann Love, 2013. j614.49 L897pDeath, destruction, and panic are some of the side effects of pandemics and plagues, but one of the better side effects is the health benefits transmitted to future generations. Learn the nasty facts about these diseases and the science of how it benefits your life now.

Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eatby Gail Jarrow, 2014. j616.393 J37rFor two centuries, scientists and doctors were baffled by the mystery of pellagra, a disease that started off uncomfortable and degenerated into madness and death. As millions were affected in the American South, the Public Health Service sent doctors in to go to any lengths to solve this devastating problem.

This Star Won’t Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earlby Esther Grace Earl with Lori and Wayne Earl, 2014. j616.99444 E12tAn inspiring tear-jerker compiling the life and work of Esther Earl, a talented teen who died of thyroid cancer at 16 and was the subject of John Green’s dedication for his novel The Fault in Our Stars.

Fourth Down and Inches: Concussions and Football’s Make-or-Break Momentby Carla McClafferty, 2013. j617.1027 M126fEnter the rough and tumble world of football, from the early history where 10-20 deaths a year were due to injuries on the field to the modern day when science is learning how much devastating brain damage could be due to the sport’s injuries. Can football rally as it did before to remain one of the top American pastimes?

Fighting Fire!: Ten of the Deadliest Fires in American History and How We Fought Themby Michael Cooper, 2014. j628.925 C777fFire! Delve into dangerous and deadly fires throughout American history, and see how firefighters have been able to adapt their techniques and become more successful at putting out the blaze.

The World Series: Baseball’s Biggest Stageby Matt Doeden, 2014. j796.357646 D649wCelebrating a century of World Series showdowns, learn the history and analyze the modern match-ups.

How They Choked: Failure, Flops, and Flaws of the Awfully Famousby Georgia Bragg, 2014. j920 B813hAdding depth to some historical figures, this volume focuses on some epic fails of famous folks. Following in the footsteps of How They Croaked, this volume maintains the snarky attitude, illustrating that everyone makes mistakes while making history fun.

Hidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of Survivalby Marcel Prins, 2014. j940.53180922 P957hFeaturing true stories of World War II, this book gives first-hand accounts of children hiding from the Nazis during World War II.

Pure Grit: How American World War II Nurses Survived Battle and Prison Camp in the Pacificby Mary Cronk Farrell, 2014. j940.547573 F245pPeacetime army nurses serving in the Phillippines in the early 1940s were suddenly thrust into the action after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Surviving explosions, tending soldiers, and becoming prisoners of war, these 101 nurses got through the war on pure grit.

The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rightsby Steve Sheinkin, 2014. j940.5453 S543pA dramatic and insightful look at the discrimination and injustice faced by black troops during World War II with a tension-filled examination of dangerous conditions and a court-martial for mutiny.

Ick! Yuck! Eew!: Our Gross American Historyby Lois Miner Huey, 2014. j973 H888iThink American history is dull and boring? Take a disgusting trip into the ickiest facets of the American past.

The Great American Dust Bowlby Don Brown, 2013. j978.032 B877gA gorgeous, dramatic graphic novel depicting the Dust Bowl from the devastation to the causes to the effects on the land and people.

Angel Island: Gateway to Gold Mountainby Russell Freedman, 2013. j979.46 F853aA guide and history of the “Ellis Island of the West,” Freedman shows the diverse immigration patterns of the United States and the often harsh conditions immigrants faced.

Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Bakerby Patricia Powell, 2014. jB B1677 P885jA biography told through poetry, meet Josephine Baker, a sassy performer and civil rights advocate.

Byrd & Igloo: A Polar Adventureby Samantha Seiple, 2013. jB B995 S461bFollow the legendary explorer, Richard Byrd and his fellow explorer, Igloo, the only dog to investigate the North and South poles as they make history and great scientific research.

March. Book Oneby John Lewis, 2013. jB L6745m V01First in a graphic novel trilogy, Book One depicts a first-hand account of John Lewis’ youth and work during the civil rights movement set against the backdrop of his role as a Congressman preparing for Obama’s first inauguration.

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson, 2014. Fiction AndersonHayley Kincaid and her father, after having served in the Iraq War, move back to their hometown to try a ‘normal’ life, but his PTSD and her feelings of abandonment make it a challenge.

Team Seven by Marcus Burke, 2014. Fiction BurkeA teen’s promising basketball career is threatened by the violence and drugs in his community. Will his talent win out over the bad influences in his neighborhood and even his own house?

When Mr. Dog Bites by Brian Conaghan, 2014. Fiction ConaghanAll 17-year-old Dylan wants is to keep his Tourette’s in check and live as a normal teen, but during a routine hospital visit he overhears that he is going to die, and in an attempt to claim the life he has always wanted he makes a bucket list and sets out to have some fun.

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira, 2014. Fiction DellairaFor a school assignment, Laurel has to write a letter to a dead person. As she begins to write more and more letters to dead celebrities, she starts to learn more about herself and her family, including her sister’s mysterious death.

Dangerous by Shannon Hale, 2014. Fiction HaleMaisie Danger Brown, a homeschooled science geek who was born without a right hand, wins a contest to go to astronaut camp. When she and the other space camp students get the opportunity to do something amazing in space, will she be the hero or just a “regular girl from Salt Lake City?”

Rumble by Ellen Hopkins, 2014. Fiction HopkinsEighteen-year-old Matt doesn’t have faith in anything, least of all God. His atheism is tested when, after a horrific accident that plunges him into a dark, quiet place, he hears a voice that calls everything he has ever disbelieved into question.

Minders by Michele Jaffe, 2014. Fiction JaffeSadie, a wealthy, success-oriented sixteen-year-old joins the prestigious Mind Corps Fellowship program as an observer in the head of Ford, a troubled, possibly murderous boy, with whom Sadie falls in love.

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Megan Spooner, 2013. Fiction KaufmanWhen catastrophe strikes on board the luxury spaceliner, the Icarus, two star-crossed lovers must fight for survival. As the only survivors on an uninhabited planet, will they ever be found? Do they even want to be found?

Best New Books Grades 9-12


Complicitby Stephanie Kuehn, 2014. Fiction KuehnJamie’s mother was murdered when he was six, about seven years later his sister Cate was incarcerated for burning down a neighbor’s barn, and now Jamie, fifteen, learns that Cate has been released and is coming back for him, blaming him for all the bad things that led to her arrest.

Like No Other by Una LaMarche, 2014. Fiction LaMarcheWhen a hurricane strikes, Devorah and Jax, two neighbors from very different backgrounds, finally cross paths and begin a relationship. Though their relationship is strictly forbidden, they arrange secret meetings and risk everything to be together.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, 2014. Fiction LockhartCadence and her family spend every summer on an island of Massachusetts. Her fifteenth summer, she suffers a mysterious accident and spends the next two years trying to piece together what happened and struggles to remember.

Proxyby Alex London, 2014. Fiction LondonSyd is a proxy who must pay for the crimes of his patron, Knox. When Knox accidentally kills someone, Syd escapes, only to be helped by Knox. The two of them must work together to try to overthrow the system.

Tease by Amanda Maciel, 2014. Fiction MacielSara Wharton is charged with bullying and harassment after a classmate commits suicide. Suddenly Sara finds herself the victim of bullying when everyone blames her for the death of their classmate, and Sara is forced to examine her role in the girl’s suicide.

Thirty Girls by Susan Minot, 2014. Fiction MinotForced to witness and commit unspeakable atrocities after being abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army, Ugan-dan teen Esther struggles to survive and escape before crossing paths with Jane, an American journalist who has traveled to Africa to advocate on behalf of children like Esther.

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy, 2014. Fiction MurphyWhen 17 year-old Alice gets diagnosed with leukemia, she decides to right some wrongs in her life, and ends up seeking revenge on those who have wronged her. When her cancer goes into remission, she realizes the effects of the things she has said and done.

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, 2014. Fiction NelsonJude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways.

Knockout Games by G. Neri, 2014. Fiction NeriAs a gang of urban teenagers known as the TKO Club makes random attacks on bystanders, Erica, who is dating the gang leader, wrestles with her dark side and “good kid” identity.

Amity by Micol Ostow, 2014. Fiction OstowConnor begins having horrible nightmares when his family moves into a secluded house in New England called Amity. Ten years later, Gwen’s family moves into Amity and she begins having lurid visions and begins to question her sanity. What is going on in this house of horrors?

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige, 2014. Fiction PaigeAmy Gumm, the other girl from Kansas, has been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked to stop Dorothy who has found a way to come back to Oz, seizing a power that has gone to her head--so now no one is safe!

Heart Beat by Elizabeth Scott, 2014. Fiction ScottEmma’s mother is being kept alive on life support because of the living baby growing inside of her. Estranged from her stepfather, the only person she can turn to is her best friend. Then bad-boy Caleb Harrison comes along and reminds her that there just might be life and love after death and grief.

Far From You by Tess Sharpe, 2014. Fiction SharpeSophie Winters nearly died. Twice. The first time, she’s fourteen, and escapes a near-fatal car accident with scars, a bum leg, and an addiction to Oxy that’ll take years to kick. The second time, she’s seventeen, and it’s no accident.

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith, 2014. Fiction SmithAustin Szerba and his best friend Robby accidentally unleash an army of giant, unstoppable bugs and uncover the secrets of a decades-old experiment gone terribly wrong.

The Scar Boys by Len Vlahos, 2014. Fiction VlahosEighteen-year-old Harry Jones writes a college admission essay that chronicles his life, from the incident at eight years old that left him permanently disfigured, to later meeting a friend and starting a band. Through playing mu-sic, Harry develops self-confidence and his life is changed.

Noggin by John Corey Whaley, 2014. Fiction WhaleyAfter dying at age sixteen, Travis Coates’ head was removed and frozen for five years before being attached to another body. Now he’s still 16 but everything around him has changed. Will the old Travis and the new Travis ever learn to coexist?

Silver by Chris Wooding, 2014. Fiction WoodingA mismatched group of students at Mortingham Boarding Academy find themselves fighting for their lives when an infestation of beetles spreads a mysterious virus through campus.

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin, 2014. 306.768 K96b Six transgender and gender neutral teens open up about their emotional and physical journeys.

Because They Marched: The People’s Campaign for Voting Rights That Changed America by Russell Freedman, 2014. j323.1196073 F853b Newbery award-winner Russell Freedman gives an account of the 1965 march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama that helped change the course of American history.

Hidden Girl: The True Story of a Modern-Day Child Slave by Shyima Hall, 2014. j362.77 H179hThe heartbreaking and triumphant story of a young woman’s journey into slavery at eight years old to freedom over five years later.

Burning Down the House: The End of Juvenile Prison by Nell Bernstein, 2014. 365.420973 B531bAn award-winning investigative journalist exposes life inside juvenile detention facilities and tells the stories of youths who have ended up there.

ACT 36 in Just 7 Steps by Maria Filsinger and Shaan Patel, 2013. 378.1664 A111 F489aA student who earned a perfect score on the ACT tells how to do the same in just 7 steps.

Undecided: Navigating Life and Learning after High School by Genevieve Morgan, 2014. j378.198 M848uA comprehensive self-help guide for those who are about to graduate high school and aren’t sure what to do next.

A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra) by Barbara Oakley, 2014. 510.19 O11m An engineering professor shows us there is more than one way to solve a program, and that we all have what it takes to excel in math and science

Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss, 2013. 613.2 M913s A book that will open your eyes to the ways food companies manipulate consumers, making the U.S. the fattest country in the world.

Positive: Surviving My Bullies, Finding Hope, and Living to Change the World: A Memoir by Paige Rawl, 2014. 616.9792 R258p A true story of a woman born HIV-positive and how she survived an adolescence full of bullying to become a force for change.



The Green Teen Cookbook by Laurane Marchive , 2014. 641.5 G798 An easy to follow guide for “going green” in the kitchen that includes over 70 recipes created by teens, for teens.

Photos Framed: A Fresh Look at the World’s Most Memorable Photographs by Ruth Thomson and Various, 2014. j779 T484p A study of the world’s most iconic photos and what makes them extraordinary.

Any Given Number: Who Wore It Best, from 00 to 99 by Editors of Sports Illustrated, 2014. 796.02 S983a The editors of Sports Illustrated reveal little-known facts about a number’s history and try to answer the question: Who’s the greatest athlete across all sports who wore a number best, from 00 to 99?

The Hoops Whisperer: On the Court and Inside the Heads of Basketball’s Best Playersby Idan Ravin, 2014. 796.323 R256hAn attorney turned basketball trainer gives an inside look at his work with the biggest stars in the industry.

Thrice Told Tales: Three Mice Full of Writing Advice by Catherine Lewis, 2013. j803 L673t An entertaining and easy to understand overview of literary elements with humorous illustrations. Hone your writing skills, get writing advice, and learn the difference between bildungsroman, epigram, and epistolary.

A World of Her Own: 24 Amazing Women Explorers and Adventurers by Michael Elsohn Ross, 2014. j910.92 R825wInspirational stories of twenty four pioneers in science and exploration.

The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World’s Most Notorious Nazi by Neal Bascomb, 2013. j943.086092 B298nFifteen years after the end of WWII a team of Jewish men and women work together to capture and bring to justice a notorious Nazi war criminal.

The President Has Been Shot!: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy by James L. Swanson, 2013. j973.922092 S972pNew York Times best-selling author of Chasing Lincoln’s Killer recreates one of the most shocking crimes in U.S. history and its effect on the American people.

Andre the Giant: Life and Legend by Box Brown, 2014. B A555 B877aA biography of the professional wrestler and actor whose huge physique both made him famous and caused his early death.

Shooting Stars: My Unexpected Life Photographing Hollywood’s Most Famous by Jennifer Buhl, 2014. B B9312s A real life paparazza gives an insider’s look at those who make a living off photographing the rich and famous. A light-hearted and fun read with an equal mix of personal anecdotes and celebrity gossip.

Clemente: The True Legacy of an Undying Hero by the Clemente Family, 2013. B C6262 C6264A family opens up about the amazing athlete, humanitarian, and legend who broke racial barriers.

In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court by Brittney Griner and Sue Hovey, 2014. B G866iThe number one pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft talks about her personal journey on and off the court.

The Pregnancy Project: A Memoir by Gaby Rodriguez, 2012. B R6962p Gaby was a high school honor student, yet her family, friends and community still assumed she would end up a teen mother, like her sister and her own mother before her. For a class project, she decides to fake a pregnancy, challenging stereotypes and learning big life lessons in the process.

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai , 2013. B Y82iThe story of the girl who stood up for her right to an education and became an international symbol of peaceful protest.

Building a Better Teacher: How Teaching Works (and How to Teach it to Everyone) by Elizabeth Green, 2014. 370.711 G795bThrough educators’ stories, Green explores the dynamics of truly effective teaching.

Crash Course: The Life Lessons My Students Taught Me by Kim Bearden, 2014. 371.102 B368cThroughout the ups and downs of her professional and personal life, Kim found that her students were the light that illuminated her path; they were her sanctuary in the storm. Kim shares how children can teach each of us the importance of building relationships, abandoning fear, embracing one’s unique gifts, and living with passion.

The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession by Dana Goldstein, 2014. 371.102 G624tFrom a brilliant young scholar comes a comprehensive history of 175 years of teaching in America which shows teachers have always borne the brunt of shifting, often impossible expectations.

Lessons of Hope: How to Fix Our Schools by Joel Klein, 2014. 371.207 As chancellor of the NYC Dept. of Education from 2002 to 2011, Klein upset apple carts as he tried to steer a new course. His advice for improving U.S. public schools is imparted through an account of his experiences at the time. Available Nov, 2014.

Thinking Differently: An Inspiring Guide for Parents of Children with Learning Disabilitiesby David Flink, 2014. 371.9 F622tAn innovative guide to help parents understand and accept learning disabilities in their children, offering tips and strategies for successfully advocating on their behalf and helping them become their own best voice.

Getting Schooled: The Reeducation of an American Teacherby Garret Keizer, 2014. 373.1102 K28gKeizer returns to the rural Vermont high school where he had taught 14 years ago to reassess … finally arguing that public education need not fail and that treating educational reform as a panacea for America’s social ills is a big mistake.

Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Lifeby William Deresiewicz, 2014. 378.73 D431eDeresiewicz taught English at Yale until 2008 and served on the admissions committee. So trust him when he says that what’s wrong with higher education today is that students have spent their lives pushing for top grades and consequently don’t know how to think creatively or ask good questions.

Middle School Makeover: Improving the Way You and Your Child Experience the Middle School Years by Michelle Icard, 2014. 649.125 I15mIcard offers readers concrete and practical advice for guiding children through this chaotic developmental stage while also building their confidence.

Best New Books for Educators


Born Reading: Bringing Up Bookworms in a Digital Age – From Picture Books to eBooks and Everything in Between by Jason Boog, 2014. 649.58 B724b After interviewing childhood development experts, librarians, and children’s book authors and publishers, Boog offers an interactive approach focusing on children from birth to age five.

Blackboard: A Personal History by Lewis Buzzbee, 2014. B B992bBuzbee deftly weaves his own biography into this overview, approaching his subject as a student, a father, and a teacher. In so doing, he offers a moving personal testament to how he, “an average student” in danger of flunking out of high school, became the first in his family to graduate from college.

Documents

Booktalk - Columbus Metropolitan Library · 2018-10-02 · nesting bird stays quiet and still while sitting on her eggs. The Hueys in None the Number . by Oliver Jeffers, 2014