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Welcome to Our Children's Page! Be the best doggone reader! Join our Summer Reading Club for kids entering grades 1 to 6. It's easy. It's fun. No pre-registration required. Prizes will be awarded at our End of summer Party. For more info, please call us at 610-696-1661 ext. 28.   Picture Books Mama Says: A Book of Love for Mothers and Sons Rob D. Walker (Blue Sky Press, 9780439932080, $16.99) In this elegant expression of wisdom and love, mothers around the world share life's simplest yet important lessons with their sons. With paintings by the Leo and Diane Dillon, these moments of sharing are profound, engrossing, and a tender display of hope and trust, strength and support. Blueberry Girl Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Charles Vess (Harper Collins, 9780060838089, $17.99) This is a prayer for a blueberry girl . . . A much-loved baby grows into a young woman: brave, adventurous, and lucky. Exploring, traveling, bathed in sunshine, surrounded by the wonders of the world. What every new parent or parent-to-be dreams of for her child, what every girl dreams of for herself. Let me go places that we've never been, trust and delight in her youth. Nationally bestselling author Neil Gaiman wrote Blueberry Girl for a friend who was about to become the mother of a little girl. Here, he and beloved illustrator Charles Vess turn this deeply personal wish for a new daughter into a book that celebrates the glory of growing up: a perfect gift for girls embarking on all the journeys of life, for their parents, and for everyone who loves them. Give her all these and a little bit more, gifts for a blueberry girl. The Composer is Dead Lemony Snicket and illustrated by Carson Ellis (Harper Collins Childrens, 9780061236273, $17.99) There's dreadful news from the symphony hall – the composer is dead! If you have ever heard an orchestra play, then you know that musicians are most certainly guilty of something. Where exactly were the violins on the night in question? Did anyone see the harp? Is the trumpet protesting a bit too boisterously? In this perplexing murder mystery, everyone seems to have a motive, everyone has an alibi, and nearly everyone is a musical instrument. But the composer is still dead. Perhaps you can solve the crime yourself. Join the Inspector as he interrogates all the unusual suspects. Then listen to the accompanying audio recording featuring Lemony Snicket and the music of Nathaniel Stookey performed by the San Francisco Symphony. Hear for yourself exactly what took place on that fateful, well-orchestrated evening. Funny Farm Mark Teague (Orchard Books, 9780439914994, $16.99) Award-winning author/illustrator Mark Teague creates a farm with a sense of humor. Readers will laugh out loud when Cousin Edward arrives from the city to help out on the farm. The cows, pigs, and sheep have been waiting for Cousin Edward to visit Hawthorne Farm. The fun is never ending as Edward tries his best to milk the cows, tend the sheep, feed the pigs, plant the garden, and much more. It is truly a day that Edward will never forget! Scaredy Squirrel at Night Melanie Watts (Kids Can Press, 9781554532889, $16.95) Scaredy never sleeps — sleep might mean bad dreams about dragons, ghosts, vampire bats and polka-dot monsters. Our wide-eyed hero has a plan: stay awake all night, every night. Between counting stars, playing cymbals and making scrapbooks, he does a good job of avoiding dreamland. With exhaustion taking its toll, Scaredy comes face-to-face with an alarming horoscope prediction: All his dreams are about to come true! He must prepare for the worst and his Bad Dream Action Plan includes a fire extinguisher to snuff out dragons and a fan to blast away ghosts. But when disaster strikes, will Scaredy survive this ordeal? Will he thank his lucky stars? Will he find sweet dreams? Scaredy Squirrel at Night tackles a fear everyone — and especially the young — can relate to. It’s a bedtime story to make light of kids’ fear of the dark and a fable for our sleep-deprived society. Birds Kevin Henkes and illustrated by Laura Dronzek (Greenwillow, 9780061363047, $17.99) Fascinated by the colors, shapes, sounds, and movements of the many different birds she sees through her window, a little girl is happy to discover that she and they have something in common. Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy David Soman and Jacky Davis (Dial Books for Young Readers, 9780803733398, $16.99) At the playground, Lulu asks her friend Sam if he wants to play with her. Sam likes Diggers, while Lulu thinks Monkeys is the best game. Sam suggests playing under the castle, but Lulu knows that the top is the most fun. They just can’t agree! And then Lulu asks, “Have you ever played Ladybug Girl?” As Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy, Lulu and Sam save the playground from hairy monsters and big mean robots, and have their very own parade on the bouncy dinosaurs. They figure out that when they work together, they can create fun games that they both like to play. Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms Julia Rawlingon and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke (Greenwillow, 9780061688553, $17.99) Fletcher loves everything about spring: listening to the birds sing, smelling just-opened flowers, and playing chase with butterflies. But then Fletcher sees something he never expected to see in spring: snow. Oh, no! But it turns out that spring has another surprise in store for Fletcher – a warm and wondrous one. Jump into spring with Fletcher and friends! Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed Mo Willems (Hyperion, 9781423114376, $16.99) Wilbur is different from the other Naked Mole Rats in his Colony, because he wears clothes (and he likes it!). But what will happen when Grandpah, the oldest, wisest, and most naked Naked Mole Rat ever discovers Wilbur’s secret? Funnyman and three-time Caldecott Honoree Mo Willems exposes the naked truth about being yourself and wearing it well. Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth (Dial Books for Young Readers, 9780803730588, $16.99) Greg Mortenson stumbled, lost and delirious, into a remote Himalayan village after a failed climb up K2. The villagers saved his life, and he vowed to return and build them a school. The remarkable story of his promise kept is now perfect for reading aloud. Told in the voice of Korphe’s children, this story illuminates the humanity and culture of a relevant and distant part of the world in gorgeous collage, while sharing a riveting example of how one person can change thousands of lives. The House in the Night Susan Marie Swanson  (Houghton Mifflin, 9780618862443, $17.00) A spare, patterned text and glowing pictures explore the origins of light that make a house a home in this bedtime book for young children. Naming nighttime things that are both comforting and intriguing to preschoolers – a key, a bed, the moon – this timeless book illuminates a reassuring order to the universe. Middle Grade Titles The Graveyard Book Neil Gaiman (Harper Collins, 9780060530921, $17.99) Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy-an ancient Indigo Man beneath the hill, a gateway to a desert leading to an abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible menace of the Sleer. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack – who has already killed Bod's family. . . . Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his modern classic Coraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, the graveyard book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages. Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head Nancy Viau (Amulet Books, 9780810972995, $15.95) Ten-year-old Samantha Hansen is a mad scientist. But not the crazy kind – she doesn’t blow stuff up or mix potions or dissect bugs. She just loves science –especially rocks – and figuring out how the world around her works. But there are some things there just isn’t a scientific answer for. Like, why can’t her bossy big sister keep her hands off Sam’s rock collection? And why can’t Sam control her temper? There are some bigger questions, too, like why did her father have to die? And why won’t her mom talk about him anymore? When Sam’s mom announces a family trip to the Grand Canyon, it’s a dream come true. But it’s also a challenge: If Sam can’t learn to calm down and ignore her irritating sister, she’s going to miss her chance to see one of the world’s biggest rocks and maybe find the answers to some of her questions. Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head is a hilarious and touching debut that introduces an exuberant new character who studies the world around her as she discovers what is in her own heart. Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior Chris Bradford (Disney Hyperion Books, 9781423118718, $16.99) After his father and the entire crew are killed by ninja pirates and he is washed up on the shore of a mysterious land, 12-year-old Jack Fletcher is rescued by one of Japan's greatest samurai, yet unable to speak the language, he must rely on the samurai's niece for lessons and attend a samurai school in order to fit into his new world. Scat Carl Hiaasen (Knopf, 9780375834868, $16.99) Mrs. Bunny Starch, the most feared biology teacher ever, was last seen during a field trip to Black Vine Swamp. The school’s headmaster and the police seem to have accepted the sketchy, unsigned note explaining that her absence is due to a “family emergency.” There’s no real evidence of foul play. But still, Nick and Marta don’t buy it. Something weird is definitely going on. Baseball Great Tim Green (Harper Collins, 9780061626869, $16.99) Josh feels like he's starting to make it big! Jaden, the school reporter, says he's going to take the baseball team to number one. Then his dad pulls him off the field and signs him up with Coach Rocky Valentine's youth championship team, the Titans. He says Josh has what it takes to be a baseball great – and the Titans will help him get there. Now Josh is gulping down Rocky's "Super Stax" milkshakes to build muscle and trying to fit in with his new teammates – older, tougher kids who can suddenly become violent. All Josh really wants to do is play ball, but as he gets in deeper with the Titans, there are questions he's just got to ask. As Josh and his new friend Jaden investigate their suspicions, they find themselves in a dangerous struggle with a desperate man who doesn't want them to expose the nasty secrets they uncover. Pulsing with action, baseball great offers a baseball story attuned to today's headlines, a totally involving, character-driven, sports-centered thriller. The Year the Swallows Came Early Kathryn Fitzmaurice (Harper Collins, 9780061624971, $16.99) Eleanor "Groovy" Robinson loves cooking and plans to go to culinary school just as soon as she's old enough. But even Groovy's thoughtfully-planned menus won't fix the things that start to go wrong the year she turns eleven – suddenly, her father is in jail, her best friend's long-absent mother reappears, and the swallows that make their annual migration to her hometown arrive surprisingly early. As Groovy begins to expect the unexpected, she learns about the importance of forgiveness, understands the complex stories of the people around her, and realizes that even an earthquake can't get in the way of a family that needs to come together. Kathryn Fitzmaurice's lovely debut novel is distinctively Californian in its flavor. Her rich characters and strong sense of place feel both familiar and fresh at first meeting – and worth revisiting, again and again. The Last Leopard Lauren St. John (Dial Books for Young Readers, 9780803733428, $16.99) Martine can’t wait to spend the school vacation riding her white giraffe around the Sawubona wildlife reserve with her friend Ben. But when her grandmother gets a distressed call from an old friend, Martine’s hopes are dashed. They must all travel to Zimbabwe, where Martine will face her greatest challenge yet. Local legend says that the last resting place of the king of leopards is the hiding place of the king’s treasure. Martine and Ben must find and protect Khan, the last leopard in the Matobo Hills, from the poachers and treasure hunters who will stop at nothing to discover if the legend is true. This heart-pounding companion to The White Giraffe and Dolphin Song brings Martine even closer to her own destiny as the child who has power over all the animals. The Switch Anthony Horowitz (Philomel, 9780399250620, $16.99) For Tad Spencer, only son of a fabulously wealthy businessman, every day is like Christmas. He lives in a mansion, has a maid, servants, every toy imaginable. He has it all – until the day he wishes he was someone else. Suddenly, Tad wakes up as Bob Snarby, trapped in a filthy and corrupt carnival world inhabited by hostile ingrates, hopeless criminals, and mysterious fortune tellers. But Tad discovers he’s there for a reason when he begins to untangle a secret that could reveal an enemy no one could have imagined . . . In this sardonic swap from New York Times bestselling author Anthony Horowitz, readers will not only be entertained, but reminded to be careful what they wish for – and happy for what they have. Chains Laurie Halse Anderson (Simon & Schuster, 9781416905851, $16.99) If an entire nation could seek its freedom, why not a girl? As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight...for freedom. Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become the property of a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for invasion. She is reluctant at first, but when the unthinkable happens to Ruth, Isabel realizes her loyalty is available to the bidder who can provide her with freedom. From acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson comes this compelling, impeccably researched novel that shows the lengths we can go to cast off our chains, both physical and spiritual. Savvy Ingrid Law (Dial Books for Young Readers, 9780803733060, $16.99) For generations, the Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a “savvy” – a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn thirteen. Grandpa Bomba moves mountains, her older brothers create hurricanes and spark electricity . . . and now it’s the eve of Mibs’s big day. As if waiting weren’t hard enough, the family gets scary news two days before Mibs’s birthday: Poppa has been in a terrible accident. Mibs develops the singular mission to get to the hospital and prove that her new power can save her dad. So she sneaks onto a salesman’s bus . . . only to find the bus heading in the opposite direction. Suddenly Mibs finds herself on an unforgettable odyssey that will force her to make sense of growing up – and of other people, who might also have a few secrets hidden just beneath the skin. RECOMMENDED BY STAFF MEMBER JOANNE FRITZ Young Reader Titles Coach Hyatt Is a Riot! (My Weird School Daze #4) Dan Gutman (Harper Collins, 9780061554063, $3.99) The weirdness never stops! It's Pee Wee Football season, and A.J.'s new coach is crazy. She wants the boys to do push-ups in the mud. She wants them to pick up a car. And worst of all, she wants to put girls on the team! You'll never believe in a million hundred years what happens in the big game. President Barack Obama Jennifer L. Marks (Capstone Press, 9781429637305, $15.99) Introduce your youngest readers to our historic 44th President of the United States. The text is simple, complemented with Large, vibrant photos sure to captivate beginning readers. A time Line integrated at the bottom of each spread captures important events, culminating in a complete summary on the final page. Mr. Granite Is from Another Planet! (My Weird School Daze #3) Dan Gutman (Harper Collins, 9780061346118, $3.99) It's the start of a new school year, and A.J.'s third-grade teacher, Mr. Granite, is out of this world! He's a super-genius who talks weird, acts weird, and looks weird. He knows EVERYTHING. Is he a computer posing as a person, or does he come from another planet? Emmaline and the Hannigan Katherine Hannigan (Greenwillow, 9780061626548, $14.99) Emmaline lives in a very tidy town, but Emmaline is not tidy. Emmaline likes to hop, hop, hop and holler, “Hoopalala!” And, more than anything, Emmaline wants a bunny. Orson Oliphant is mayor of the town. He is very tidy. Orson Oliphant does not like hopping and hollering. And, more than anything, Orson Oliphant does not like animals. He has banished them all, including bunnies. But there is still one special, secret place in town where animals can hop and fly and be free – a place where there is a bunny. Is there a way for Emmaline to have a bunny of her own? Written and illustrated in full color by Katherine Hannigan – the best-selling author of Ida B – Emmaline and the Bunny is a celebration of ingenuity . . . and untidiness. Soupy Saturdays with the Pain & the Great One Judy BLume (Yearling, 9780440420927, $5.99) MEET THE PAIN: My sister's name is Abigail. I call her The Great One because she thinks she's so great. Who cares if she's in third grade and I'm just in first? MEET THE GREAT ONE: My brother's name is Jacob Edward, but everyone calls him Jake. Everyone but me. I call him The Pain because that's what he is. He's a first-grade pain. I'll always know exactly what he's thinking. That's just the way it is. These seven warm-hearted stories will give readers a peek at how a brother and sister relate to each other. Calvin Coconut: Trouble Magnet Graham Salisbury (Wendy Lamb Books, 9780385737012, $12.99) Fourth-grader Calvin lives near the beach in Oahu with his mom and little sister. Mom says: “You’re the man of the house.” But Calvin’s not great at being the man of the house, or taking care of his responsibilities. He’s too busy having fun with his pals, and avoiding Tito, the bully. Trouble Magnet is the first book in a new series for younger readers full of all the fun of growing up in Hawaii. It introduces a wonderful multicultural cast of characters, including Mr. Purdy, who calls his fourth-grade class Boot Camp; Uncle Scoop, who runs the lunch wagon at the beach; Ledward, Mom’s 6'7" boyfriend; and gorgeous, intimidating, 15-year-old Stella-from-Texas, who arrives to be the live-in babysitter – and to step all over Calvin’s turf. The Race Across America (Geronimo Stilton #37) Geronimo Stilton (Scholastic, 9780545021371, $6.99) I, Geronimo Stilton, am not a big fan of races. I like to take my time and smell the cheese! But when my friend Bruce Hyena invited me to race across America on my bicycle, I just couldn't resist. And holey cheese, what a fabumouse adventure we had! Are You Ready to Play Outside? Mo Willems (Hyperion, 9781423113478, $8.99) Winning unanimous rave reviews, Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie series continues to charm readers. Featuring two lovable and funny characters, an optimistic (and sometimes reckless) pig and a cautious, pessimistic elephant, these books make reading irresistible to the beginning readers. Children who sat on their parents' laps to have Pigeon read to them will eagerly take the plunge with these books to start reading on their own. Each book has been vetted by an early learning specialist (and many adorable early learners). In Are You Ready to Play Outside?, Piggie can't wait to go play in the sunshine. But will a rainy day ruin all the fun? Yes We Can! A Salute to Children from President Obama's Victory Speech  (Scholastic, 9780545163668, $4.99) Beautiful photographs of children throughout the country accompany pictures of President Obama's monumental campaign and acceptance speech. Young Adult Titles The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks E. Lockhart (Hyperion, 9780786838189, $16.99) Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14: Debate Club. Her father's "bunny rabbit." A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school. Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15: A knockout figure. A sharp tongue. A chip on her shoulder. And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston. Frankie Landau-Banks. No longer the kind of girl to take "no" for an answer. Especially when "no" means she's excluded from her boyfriend's all-male secret society. Not when her ex-boyfriend shows up in the strangest of places. Not when she knows she's smarter than any of them. When she knows Matthew's lying to her. And when there are so many, many pranks to be done. Frankie Landau-Banks, at age 16: Possibly a criminal mastermind. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks was a 2008 National Book Award Finalist in the Young People's Literature Category. The Forest of Hands and Teeth Carrie Ryan (Delacorte Press, 9780385736817, $16.99) In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future – between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death? 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows Ann Brashares (Delacorte Press, 9780385736763, $18.99) Summer is a time to grow. Seeds Polly has an idea that she can't stop thinking about, one that involves changing a few things about herself. She's setting her sights on a more glamorous life, but it's going to take all of her focus. At least that way she won't have to watch her friends moving so far ahead. Roots Jo is spending the summer at her family's beach house, working as a busgirl and bonding with the older, cooler girls she'll see at high school come September. She didn't count on a brief fling with a cute boy changing her entire summer. Or feeling embarrassed by her middle school friends. And she didn't count on her family at all. . . Leaves Ama is not an outdoorsy girl. She wanted to be at an academic camp, doing research in an air-conditioned library, earning A's. Instead her summer scholarship lands her on a wilderness trip full of flirting teenagers, blisters, impossible hiking trails, and a sad lack of hair products. It is a new summer. And a new sisterhood. Come grow with them. Jellicoe Road Melina Marchetta (Harper Teen, 9780061431838, $17.99) "What do you want from me?" he asks. What I want from every person in my life, I want to tell him. More. Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen, is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn't a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs is back in town, moody stares and all. In this absorbing story by Melina Marchetta, nothing is as it seems and every clue leads to more questions as Taylor tries to work out the connection between her mother dumping her, Hannah finding her then and her sudden departure now, a mysterious stranger who once whispered something in her ear, a boy in her dreams, five kids who lived on Jellicoe Road eighteen years ago, and the maddening and magnetic Jonah Griggs, who knows her better than she thinks he does. If Taylor can put together the pieces of her past, she might just be able to change her future. Nation Terry Pratchett (Harper Teen, 9780061433016, $16.99) The sea has taken everything. Mau is the only one left after a giant wave sweeps his island village away. But when much is taken, something is returned, and somewhere in the jungle Daphne – a girl from the other side of the globe – is the sole survivor of a ship destroyed by the same wave. Together the two confront the aftermath of catastrophe. Drawn by the smoke of Mau and Daphne's sheltering fire, other refugees slowly arrive: children without parents, mothers without babies, husbands without wives – all of them hungry and all of them frightened. As Mau and Daphne struggle to keep the small band safe and fed, they defy ancestral spirits, challenge death himself, and uncover a long-hidden secret that literally turns the world upside down. . . . Internationally revered storyteller Terry Pratchett presents a breathtaking adventure of survival and discovery, and of the courage required to forge new beliefs. The Smile Donna Jo Napoli (Dutton, 9780525479994, $17.99) Hers is the most famous portrait in the world. Here, in prose as rich as the high Renaissance, is Mona Lisa’s tale –a story of passion, intrigue, loss, and, most of all, love. Elisabetta longs for romance, though she thinks she is too plain. Then, on a fateful visit to glittering Florence, she catches the eye of the great Leonardo da Vinci, and falls for a boy named Giuliano de’ Medici. It is a dangerous time to be – or be involved with – a Medici. As tragedy and chaos threaten their happiness, Elisabetta faces the bittersweet truth of love. The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins (Scholastic, 9780439023481, $17.99) Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.