THE UNWANTEDS by Lisa McMann (Aladdin, 2011) The day of the Purge has finally arrived and Alex knows he’ll have to say goodbye to his family once and for all. It’s the way things are in Quill when a child reaches the age of thirteen. Alex’s twin brother, Aaron, is one of the “Wanteds.” Bright… Read more »
January 2012
Chinese New Year!
On January 23, 2012, millions of people around the globe will be celebrating the arrival of the first new moon of the year, a celebration known as Lunar New Year or more commonly, Chinese New Year. It is a time where families and friends gather to enjoy feasts and festivals with fireworks, dragons, and lanterns…. Read more »
The Other Felix by Keir Graff
Graff’s intriguing The Other Felix is a metaphorical menagerie exploring the fine line that divides the dream world and its counterpart. The story unfolds as Felix, a isolated, somewhat lonely school boy, experiences nightmares so authentic that he’s unsure where reality ends and fantasy begins. In the dream world, Felix not only encounters fearsome gnashing and snarling monsters, he also… Read more »
Peck’s Picks
Two children’s librarians and one children’s writer must choose their favorite Richard Peck books for young readers. JEANETTE LARSON picks: GHOSTS I HAVE BEEN. Published in 1977, this is one of Richard Peck’s earliest books and it followed the first book about Blossom Culp, The Ghost Belonged to Me, and his highly successful books for… Read more »
Flights of Adventure
Tales of fantasy and adventure ignite the imagination. The following books take us from Denmark to India and then on to Russia. We re-see stories through several sets of eyes: illustrations vary but the love of adventure remains universal. THE FLIGHT OF THE MERMAID with art by Bhajju Shyam text by Gita Wolf and Sirish Rao…. Read more »
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
ReaderKidZ is pleased to celebrate Dr. King through several of the wonderful books that capture the boy, the man, and the pastor who inspired us to stand up and lead with words, not fists. MARTIN’S BIG WORDS: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Bryan Collier (Hyperion Books for… Read more »
Snow Dogs: Racers of the North by Ian Whitelaw
Winning, much less surviving, sled racing in Alaska’s icy cold solely depends on the integrity of the team of snow dogs. This special breed of canine is bred for endurance, dependability, and fortitude unlike no other. Ian Whitelaw’s Snow Dogs: Racers of the North invites the reader into the fascinating world of dog sledding and celebrates… Read more »
