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STAFF PICKS

NAOMI POOLEY'S PICKS:

The Keepers Book One: A Wizard Named Nell
by Jackie French Koller
(Aladdin/Fantasy $4.99) Ages 8 and up
This is the first book in a series about a princess named Nell who goes on a quest to become a wizard, even though “wizards are supposed to be boys.” She learns a lot about her world and the people in it, both magical and non-magical. Along with her pet minidragon Minna, she goes forth to battle Evil, rescue damsels in distress and “deals with dragons.”

Warriors - Forests of Secrets
by Erin W. Hunter
(Harper Collins $15.99) Ages 9 and up.
This third book about the warrior cat. Clans of the Forests centers on the ThunderClan warrior, Fireheart who must not only battle other clans but also in his own adopted clan.

Fireheart was born and raised as a kitten in a human household and must now prove that he is as brave as the

other warriors that have been born free in the forests.He must solve a mystery about the death of a brave leader and help his best friend who has fallen with love with someone from an enemy clan. A vivid portrayal of Clan life in the forests!

The Lair of Bones
by David Farland
(TOR Books $27.95) For Young Adults and up.
The Lair of Bones is the final book in the Runelords series by David Farland. An epic tale with wizards, monsters, princesses and kings. It is the final battle with the reavers, giant insect-like creatures that live underground in giant cities and ruled by the One True Master. Will humans become extinct? Find out in this saga!

Debbie Mitchell recommends:

What Are You So Grumpy About?
by Tom Lichtenheld
(Little Brown $15.95) Ages 4-7
A superb picture book that describes many hilarious reasons why kids get grumpy. Like, “Did your dad take you to the most boring museum in the universe?” The laughter this book provokes will make the grumpiest child (or adult) forget why they’re grumpy!

Ballet Shoes
by Noel Streatfield
(Random House $4.99) Ages 10 and up
A classic novel about three orphaned sisters who study for the ballet and stage in London of the 1920’s. The story of their backstage lives is fascinating and very real feeling. Great for stagestruck girls. Theater Shoes and Dancing Shoes by the same author are also excellent. Nice for readers who like slightly more old fashioned (unironic!) stories.

Iris Yipp recommends:

Donuthead
by Sue Stauffacher
Knopf $15.95 Ages 8-12
Franklin Delano Donuthead, yes that’s really his name, is on a first name basis with the chief statistictian of the National Safety Dept. in Washington. Of course the major threat to his well-being is a bully named Marvin Howerton. Then Franklin meets Sarah Kervick. As funny as this book is with scenes of Sarah delivering her special ground-floor punch to Franklin’s description of his room, “My room is my sanctuary.

No one is allowed in here. Certainly not my mother, whose boots have been in unseemly places and probably carry boatloads of bacteria on each sole,” there’s also a strong message of helping others. Sarah is tough as nails but she can’t read. First Franklin’s mom helps motherless Sarah with the things she lacks such as a shampoo and comb-out. Then Franklin starts to stop worrying so much about himself and start to understand how he can help Sarah who really needs his help. He begins to participate in life by helping someone else.

Inkheart
by Cornelia Funke
Chicken House (Scholastic) $19.95 Ages 11 and up
This is a sophisticated fantasy/adventure novel infused with the author’s intense love of books, reading and writing. It’s the story of a father and daughter who read aloud so beautifully that they release characters from books into the real world. Good for kids who liked Funke’s Thief Lord. Great for kids who want to be writers.

Leon and the Spitting Image
by Allen Kurzweil
Greenwillow $15.99 Ages 8-12
The book starts off with Leon discovering at home a confidential teachers’ reports about his school performance--let’s say Leon has not been considered a star pupil. The motto at the Classical School is “Nimble fingers make for nimble minds,” and his fourth grade teacher, Miss Hagmeyer believes this more than anyone.

Destined to be a classic evil character such as the Wicked Witch, Miss Hagmeyer sets the children to making “animiles” which as stuffed animals. Leon is facing another difficult year but he discovers a special magic involving spit. With this magic he can actually control Miss Hagmeyer. Leon and his mom live in a hotel across from the Convention Center (his mom works at the hotel). Leon’s friends Lily Matisse and P.W., Maria at the hotel and his mom are a wonderfully supportive cast in this very funny novel involving spit, Miss Hagmeyer’s panty hose, eyeballs and...well read and laugh yourself silly.

Half Magic
by Edgar Eager
(Harcourt Childrens' $17.00/$6.00) Ages 8-12
This classic novel tells the tale of the children who discover a magical coin that grants one half of any wish. Hungry for adventure, the children wish themselves back in time. They meet Merlin and knights and find that wishing to fulfill their fantasies can cause problems in history like embarrassing King Lancelot.

Every wish needs to be carefully crafted in order to achieve the correct results. Their mom doesn’t realize that she has a magic coin on her when she wishes to be home and winds up on a road halfway home. Uh-oh. A very satisfying ending involving a bookseller (yea!). The coin is given to a needy wisher at he end without instructions. Everyone must figure out the magic themselves. Lots of adventures!

The Mayor of Central Park
by Avi
(Harper Collins $15.95) Ages 8-12
Newbery Medal Author Avi brings us a delightful tale of romance, baseball, and bullies told by the street-wise reporter for the Daily Mirror. It all starts in the “pearly month of May 1900.” Did I mention that the mayor of Central Park is a squirrel, Hiz Honor Oscar Westerwit? Everything is fine until Big Daddy Duds, the head honcho of a downtown rat gang decides to move into Central Park and take over with his thugs. Oscar decides to form an army and rid the park of these rats. That doesn’t work.

Finally, a challenge is made and baseball becomes the great equalizer. If the home team The Central Park Green Sox win, the rats move out and if the visiting team of rats win, they get to take over the park. Can the home team win without their star pitcher, the big cat Arty Bigelow who hasn’t been seen or heard from in some time?

Rosie Camargo recommends:

Books of Magic Series: Book #1 Invitation by Carla Jablonski (HarperCollins $5.99) 15 Years and up fantasy This is a great series for the “too mature for Harry Potter” crowd. It all starts when Tim Hunter is given the opportunity to become the world’s most powerful magician of his time! Four strangers are sent to show Tim the magic realms and time.
These men want him to do good, but there are others who want him to do evil. What will Tim do? Which side will he choose? This is based on the graphic novels of Neil Gaiman, author of Coraline. It’s fantastic and I really enjoyed it.

Astro Boy Series (Graphic novels)
Book 1
by Osamu Tezuka
(Diamond Comic Distributors $9.95)13 and up
In the Japanese animation tradition, these great graphic novels are packed with action! Astro Boy is the first A.I. robot and he uses his strength, speed and intelligence to help others. Osamu Tezuka’s classic tale is in its original format with extra drawings to explain the story plot. This is great for those reluctant junior high or high school readers.

The Spiderwick Chronicles Books 1-3 by Toni Diterlizzi and Holly Black, illustrated by Tony Diterlizzi. (Simon & Schuster $9.95) 7 and up When three siblings Jared, Simon, and Mallory move into their great-aunt Lucinda’s old and unkempt mansion, they discover a hidden floor with a library. In the drawer of a desk is a Field Guide to Creatures - of fairies and other nasty things.
Their adventures begin from there. Following, discovering and searching for the writer of the guide and the creatures in the book, they meet trolls, elves and more! This is a great series, if you like Limony Sniket you’ll enjoy the Spiderwick Chronicles.

Bronwyn Wright recommends:

The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty

It takes place in Australia and is about a pen-pal project between three girls at a posh private school and three boys at the grotty local public school. Told in letter form, not everyone here is what they seem to be. Funny and clever with a good ending. YA

Pirates! by Celia Rees A wonderful story set in the early 1800s about a british girl who finds herself heir to her father’s plantation in the south seas. When she arrives she is shocked to find herself a slave owner- and to realize how little control she has over her own life.
The only people she can trust seem to be a slave girl who own age and the girl’s mother. Violent circumstances force the two girls to flee to the high seas with a pair of cursed ruby earrings to pursue a life of piracy. This book contains excellent historical details and LOTS of pirate action as well as two strong heroines. A great read for a girl or a boy, matey!

Boy Meets Boy
by David Levithian
A quirky little coming of age high school story, set in a town where it is as acceptable to be gay as straight. Paul finally meets “THE BOY” and has to try to get to know him better while heading the school dance committee, helping a friend whose parents don’t approve and

dealing with an ex who seems to be interested in him again- proving that just falling for someone is not enough. The main character of this book is such a great guy, you just hope it all works out for him. Good supporting characters and very believable teens and parents dealing with issues and emotions in a lot of different ways. This book is a celebration of love, support and friendship in all its forms.

Fat Kid Rules the World
by Kelly Going
The self named Fat Kid is the fattest most self conscious kid in his NYC high school. Secretly he knows that everyone must be watching his incredible bulk, and it doesn’t help having lost his mother to cancer, as well as an ex-military father and younger brother who are both in great shape.

A change of attitude comes in the strange form of a young punk rocker living mostly on the streets who sees Fat Kid’s potential and asks him to be the drummer for his new band. Too scared to take it seriously at first, Fat Kid comes to realize that he has to make a commitment – not just to the band and his new friend, but also to himself. The father and brother in this book could have easily been cookie cutter throw-away support characters- but instead are brought to life as realistic people who can change and support and even help just when you- and Fat Kid- least expect it. A great, funny, and cool book for teens.