Barnett, Mac. Extra Yarn. (xz) Find it in our catalog
K - Grade 3. Clever story about a girl named Annabelle, who knits and shares sweaters for everyone with a magic box of yarn that never runs out. Klassen's illustrations are a charming and perfect match for the text. MJB
Evans, Shane W. We March. (xz) Find it in our catalog
PreK – Grade 2. Evans’s previous book “Underground” won the Coretta Scott King Award. This offering, which follows a family’s journey to attend the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, is just as stirring and powerful. Wonderful on its own or paired with “I Have a Dream.” JKF
Frost, Helen and Rick Lieder. Step Gently Out. (xz) Find it in our catalog
PreK & up. Each poetic line is set against stunning double-page close-up photographs that make insects look gorgeous. Great for preschool storytime, class visits, poetry/writing classes. JKF
Howe, James. Otter and Odder: A Love Story. Illustrated by Chris Raschka. (xz) Find it in our catalog
K – Grade 5. Otter wasn't planning to fall in love that day, especially with his food source (a fish he thinks might be named Myrtle. Or Gurgle). But he did, and the teasing begins. So he and Myrtle break up, only to be reunited after an illuminating chat with Beaver. Illustrated by Chris Raschka. Moving and laugh-out-loud funny. MJA
Keats, Ezra Jack. The Snowy Day. (xz Ed.h) Find it in our catalog
PreK – Grade 2. 50th Anniversary edition, including 8 pages of bonus material: the history of book; original sketches and manuscript pages; a letter of congratulations from Langston Hughes; and much more. A lovely celebration of an important book. MJA
Kelly, Mark. Mousetronaut. Illustrated by C.F. Payne. (xz) Find it in our catalog
K - Grade 2. Authored by Mark E. Kelly, the last commander of LA's own space shuttle Endeavor. Besides that, it's actually a good astronaut and/or mouse themed read-aloud, about a little mouse on board a shuttle mission who shows he has the "right stuff." Includes a long author's note, recommended reading and Internet resources. MJA
Reynolds, Aaron. Creepy Carrots! Illustrated by Peter Brown. (xz) Find it in our catalog
PreK - Grade 2. Jasper, a greedy rabbit rips carrots from the garden with reckless abandon. Until one day…when he starts seeing things (carrots creeping up on him from behind). A parody of old-fashioned thriller flicks. Brown’s illustrations are hilarious and fitting. MJB
Schwartz, Corey Rosen. The Three Ninja Pigs. Illustrated by Dan Santat. (xz) Find it in our catalog
Grades 1-3. Told in clever, well-metered rhyme, this spin on The Three Little Pigs features siblings who, fed up with the wolf's bullying, attend various martial arts classes. The first two brothers only go so far in their lessons, but the sister is more dedicated and becomes the ultimate vanquisher. Santat’s illustrations add greatly to the fun. LI
Shaskan, Stephen. A Dog is a Dog. (xz) Find it in our catalog
K – Grade 1. This charming picture book debut features a rhyming text and a series of surprises as the dog turns out to be a cat in a zip-up dog costume, who subsequently is actually a squid in a zip-up cat costume, who unzipped again becomes a moose, and at last returns to being a dog again! The heavily outlined animals have loads of personality reminiscent of Kevin Sherry’s creatures, but with a slightly retro woodcut style. An imaginative delight! LI
Willems, Mo. Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. (xz) Find it in our catalog
K - Grade 3. Unlike the bears of the original tale, these dinosaurs are actively plotting to get a visit from young Goldilocks (using clever signage and chocolate pudding). Hysterically funny, from start to finish! MJA
Winter, Jonah. Jazz Age Josephine. (xz) Find it in our catalog
Grades 1-4. Along with vibrant illustrations by Marjorie Priceman, Winter uses playful, rhythmic language to tell of Josephine Baker's journey from a St. Louis childhood of poverty to superstar level fame in Paris by the time she was nineteen. Her whole story can't be told in a children's picture book, but this is a wonderful introduction to the jazz age, and a historically important entertainer. Possible Caldecott winner? LI
Cody, Matthew. The Dead Gentleman. (x) Find it in our catalog
Grades 5 & up. This is a wild ride between parallel New York City time streams—1901 and today. Featuring a kid hero, eleven-year-old Tommy Learner is a street orphan and an unlikely protégé to the Explorers, a secret group dedicated to exploring the hidden doorways to other worlds. DOP
Cottrell Boyce, Frank. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Rides Again. (x) Find it in our catalog
Grades 4 & up. A new family continues the legend that is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with wild adventures, improbable coincidences, and no small amount of humor. First in a trilogy. MJA
Horvath, Polly. Mr. And Mrs. Bunny - Detectives Extraordinaire! (x) Find it in our catalog
Grades 3-6. Witty and irreverent, Horvath spins a fast-paced whodunit revolving around two kidnapped human hippie parents, their young and intelligent daughter Madeline, some very sly foxes and the bunnies who fancy themselves savvy sleuths. A wacky, laugh-out-loud romp. MJB
Palacio, RJ. Wonder. (x) Find it in our catalog
Grades 4 & up. A satisfying read for everyone (seriously, everyone should read this), particularly those looking for stories about family relationships, overcoming obstacles, middle school social dynamics, looking past differences, or dealing with bullies. JKF
Stead, Rebecca. Liar and Spy. (x) Find it in our catalog
Grades 5 & up. Life gets a little better for Georges when he joins a mysterious Spy Club after moving from his childhood home into a small new apartment. However, his new (and only) friend Safer, who runs the club, ultimately demands too much of him. Suspenseful and thoughtful, smart and funny, Stead (Newbery medal for When You Reach Me) has another winner with this one. MJB
Stephens, John. The Fire Chronicle. (x) Find it in our catalog
Grades 4-7. Starred reviews: Kirkus, SLJ, PW. The sequel toThe Emerald Atlas is a roller coaster ride of a story, which includes old friends and new, a visit to Antarctica, the rescue of an Elf Princess (who is sometimes a dragon), a touch of doomed romance, a generous leavening of humor, life, death, betrayal, and (just a warning) a nasty little cliffhanger of an ending. The Emerald Atlas was good. This one is even better. MJA
King, Martin Luther Jr. I Have a Dream. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. (x 323.1 K53 2012) Find it in our catalog
All ages. Beautiful and uplifting illustrations match the powerful words of this historic and emotionally moving speech. Includes a CD of the official recording from the March on Washington. JKF
DeCristofano, Carolyn Cinami. A Black Hole is Not a Hole. (x 523 D298-1) Find it in our catalog
Grades 3 & up. The strange and mysterious world of black holes explained simply and with humor. Covers the life cycles of stars, the formation of black holes and weird optical and physical effects associated with them. Captivating illustrations, stunning photographs, and explanatory diagrams will appeal to all ages. MJB
Hoose, Phillip. Moonbird: A Year on the Wind with the Great Survivor B95. (x 598.03 H789) Find it in our catalog
Grades 5 & up. A riveting account of one small bird’s amazing migratory life - over 325,000 miles flown - the distance to the moon and halfway back! Describes the decline of his species, the threat to his habitat, and the work that scientists, environmentalists, and ordinary citizens are doing to save them. MJB
Bishop, Nic. Snakes. (x 598.16 B622) Find it in our catalog
Grades 3-5. Sibert Medal-winning photographer Nic Bishop accompanies breathtaking full-page photographs with factual information about each specimen, as well as observations about the snakes' physical characteristics and behavior. DOP
Verstraete, Larry. Surviving the Hindenburg. (x 629.13) Find it in our catalog
Grades 2-5. True history in a picture book format allows readers to live through the inferno of the Hindenburg disaster with one of the few survivors, a 14-year-old cabin steward. It’s a stunningly illustrated, compelling story. An appended Author’s Note includes additional facts. LI
Cousins, Lucy. Create with Maisy: A Maisy First Arts-and-Crafts Book. (x 747 C867) Find it in our catalog
PreK - Grade 1. Everyone's favorite rodent shares some of her favorite crafts in this well laid out, lavishly photographed craft book. Includes 17 simple projects, mostly using glue sticks, paint, simple craft supplies, and items from the recycling bin. Parents and preschool teachers will LOVE this one. MJA
Vaughan, Carolyn. Invitation to Ballet: A Celebration of Dance and Degas. Illustrated by Rachel Isadora. (x 793.3 V365) Find it in our catalog
Grades 2-5. An introduction to the history, stories, positions, costumes, and everything else that makes up ballet, made extraordinary by both the painting of Degas and the charming multicultural illustrations of Rachel Isadora. Includes factoids about the paintings. Really nice. MJA
Nobleman, Marc Tyler. Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman. Illustrated by Ty Templeton. (x 92 F497No) Find it in our catalog
Grades 3-6. Picture book bio (presented in comic book style) about Milton (Bill) Finger, who helped create and wrote most of the classic Batman comics between 1939 and 1965, uncredited until near the end of his career. Batman fans will especially enjoy. MJA
Montgomery, Sy. Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World. (x 92 G753Mo) Find it in our catalog
Grades 4 & up. An inspiring and engaging photo-biography about a girl who, despite the odds, conquered her autism and eventually became a scientist and professor. With a love and compassion for animals, a fierce determination and a mind unlike anyone else’s, she created a more humane cattle industry. MJB
Kalman, Maira. Looking at Lincoln. (x 92 L736Kal) Find it in our catalog
PreK - Grade 3. A lovely picture book introduction to our 16th president; an excellent read-aloud, filled with quirky details, Kalman's trademark illustrations, and a true sense of appreciation and admiration toward a man who was deserving of both. MJA
Rosenstock, Barb. The Camping Trip That Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Parks. Illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein. (x 92 R781Ro) Find it in our catalog
Grades 1-4. A president and a conservationist escape the media and go camping in the Yosemite backcountry, setting the stage for broad national wilderness and forest protection. Several books have told this story, but this one stands out for its accessible picture book format and for the beautiful and charming illustrations by award-winning Mordicai Gerstein. MJB
Chin, Jason. Island: a Story of the Galapagos. (x 986 C539) Find it in our catalog
Grades 3 & up. Simple yet stunning, Chin illustrates and explains the 6 million-year evolution of the unique islands that would become known as the Galapagos. Includes brief information on Charles Darwin’s exploration and the unique species of plants and animals that live there. MJB
Gownley, Jim. Amelia Rules #8, Her Permanent Record. (x GN) Find it in our catalog
Grades 3-5. Amelia McBride has always managed to survive the trials of growing up, especially with the help of her Aunt Tanner. So when Tanner withdraws from the rest of the world, Amelia decides that is up to her (with the help of her loyal friends) to remind Tanner how much she is needed and loved. JKF
Martínez, Andrés Vera and Na Liu. Little White Duck. (x GN) Find it in our catalog
Grades 3-5. Based on the author’s own life, these eight stories show what it was like to grow up in China during the 1970s, a time of great social change. JKF
Macaulay, David. Castle: How It Works. (x 728 M117-1) Find it in our catalog
Grades 1-3. Macaulay's new My Reader imprint offers his unique blend of detailed illustrations and fun text especially formatted for newly independent readers. This one shows the parts of the castle, talks about how it was built and why, the people who live in it, and other interesting facts. MJA