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Welcome to Our Children's Page! Come join our Storytime every Wednesday at 10:30 am for children ages 3 to 6. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No advanced registration is necessary. Please call for more info.   Picture Books The Arrival Shaun Tan (Arthur A. Levine Books, 9780439895293, $19.99) In a heartbreaking parting, a man gives his wife and daughter a last kiss and boards a steamship to cross the ocean. He's embarking on the most painful yet important journey of his life - he's leaving home to build a better future for his family. Shaun Tan evokes universal aspects of an immigrant's experience through a singular work of the imagination. He does so using brilliantly clear and mesmerizing images. Because the main character can't communicate in words, the book forgoes them too. But while the reader experiences the main character's isolation, he also shares his ultimate joy. Chester Mélanie Watt (Kids Can Press, 9781554531400, $16.95) Chester is more than a picture book. It is a story told, and retold, by dueling author-illustrators. Mélanie Watt starts out with the story of a mouse in a house. Then Mélanie's cat, Chester, sends the mouse packing and proceeds to cover the pages with rewrites from his red marker, and the gloves are off. Mélanie and her mouse won't take Chester's antics lying down. And Chester is obviously a creative powerhouse with confidence to spare. Where will this war of the picture-book makers lead? Is it a one-way ticket to Chesterville, or will Mélanie get her mouse production off the ground? The Snow Leopard Jackie Morris (Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 9781845076009, $16.95) From the beginning of time, high above the hidden valley, Snow Leopard has sung the stars to life, the sun to rise and the moon to wax and wane. He has woven words of protection to keep the hidden valley safe from the world and as he sings, a child lies dreaming the song down in the valley beneath. But time is passing, and Snow Leopard needs to find a singer who will follow him. But while he is searching, soldiers come looking for gold and slaves… Jackie Morris's poetic text weaves the spirit of nature into a universal myth for our time, drawing threads of transformation into a children's story glistening with wonder. Set against the stunning landscapes of the Himalayas, her superlative illustrations of the nearly-extinct Snow Leopard offer a message of hope at a time when many of the world's wildest places are being worn away by human beings. The Lemonade Club Patricia Polacco (Philomel Books, 9780399245404, $16.99) Everyone loves Miss Wichelman’s fifth-grade class – especially best friends Traci and Marilyn. That’s where they learn that when life hands you lemons, make lemonade! They are having a great year until Traci begins to notice some changes in Marilyn. She’s losing weight, and seems tired all the time. She has leukemia – and a tough road of chemotherapy ahead. It is not only Traci and Miss Wichelman who stand up for her, but in a surprising and unexpected turn, the whole fifth-grade class, who figures out a way to say we’re with you. In true Polacco fashion, this book turns lemons into lemonade and celebrates amazing life itself. Skinny Brown Dog Kimberly Willis Holt and Donald Saaf (Illustrator) (Henry Holt, 9780805075878, $16.95) Benny the baker leads a simple life. He makes delicious cakes, cookies, and muffins, and keeps his customers well fed and happy. When a skinny brown dog shows up on Benny’s doorstep, nothing Benny says can convince him to go away. While Benny insists that the dog isn’t his, customers soon grow as fond of the skinny brown dog as they are of Benny’s yummy treats. The children even name him Brownie – the perfect name for a baker’s dog. Benny starts to wonder what it might be like to have a dog of his own. But it’s not until Brownie comes to the rescue that Benny realizes a dog can make for a very good friend! Library Mouse Damiel Kirk (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 9780810993464, $15.95) A small creature offers his big voice for aspiring authors everywhere! Every child can be a writer – and Library Mouse shows them how! Beloved children’s books author and illustrator Daniel Kirk wonderfully brings to life the story of Sam, a library mouse. Sam’s home was in a little hole in the wall in the children’s reference books section, and he thought that life was very good indeed. For Sam loved to read. He read picture books and chapter books, biographies and poetry, and ghost stories and mysteries. Sam read so much that finally one day he decided to write books himself! Sam shared his books with other library visitors by placing them on a bookshelf at night. Until there came the time that people wanted to meet this talented author. Whatever was Sam to do? The joy of reading, writing, and sharing is brought to life in this warmhearted tale. Pssst! Adam Rex (Harcourt, 9780152058173, $16.00) A child, a visit to the zoo, animals – sounds like good, simple all-American fun. But there’s something different about this zoo. These animals want things. Unusual things. What will they do with them? Laughs, jokes, and surprises abound in this graphic picture book about a feisty, all-too-helpful little girl and her role in aiding and abetting zoo-animal shenanigans. Adam Rex once again reveals the hilarious hidden life of creatures we thought we knew well. The Incredible Book Eating Boy Oliver Jeffers (Philonel Books, 9780399247491, $16.99) Like many children, Henry loves books. But Henry doesn’t like to read books, he likes to eat them. Big books, picture books, reference books . . . if it has pages, Henry chews them up and swallows (but red ones are his favorite). And the more he eats, the smarter he gets – he’s on his way to being the smartest boy in the world! But one day he feels sick to his stomach. And the information is so jumbled up inside, he can’t digest it! Can Henry find a way to enjoy books without using his teeth? With a stunning new artistic style and a die-cut surprise, Oliver Jeffers celebrates the joys of reading in this charming and quirky picture book. It’s almost good enough to eat. Library Lion Michelle Knudsen and Kevin Hawkes (Illustrator) (Candlewick Press, 9780763622626, $16.99) Miss Merriweather the head librarian, is very particular about rules in the library. No running allowed. And you must be quiet. But when a lion comes to the library one day, no one is sure what to do. There aren't any rules about lions in the library. And, as it turns out, this lion seems very well suited to library visiting. His big feet are quiet on the library floor. He makes a comfy backrest for the children at story hour. And he never roars in the library, at least not anymore. But when something terrible happens, the lion quickly comes to the rescue in the only way he knows how. Michelle Knudsen's disarming story, illustrated by the matchless Kevin Hawkes in an expressive timeless style, will win over even the most ardent of rule keepers. How Many? Ron Van Der Meer (Robin Corey Books, 9780375842269, $24.99) This is a book that truly has to be seen to be appreciated. Each spread features a different shape (square, circle, star, triangle, rectangle) that has been cleverly paper-engineered to form spectacular sculptures. Readers are invited to find and count as many items as they can per spread – shapes within shapes, shapes of different colors, and so on. Whether readers search and count or not, the beautiful paper sculptures will be admired by all who see them. This is a book like no other and belongs on everyone's home bookshelf. The Toy Farmer Andres T. Pelletier and Scott Nash (Illustrator) (Dutton Children's Books, 9780525476498, $16.99) In the attic, Jed finds an old toy tractor with a miniature farmer in the driver’s seat. It seems just like any other toy but then amazing things happen. First, Jed’s bedroom carpet begins to sprout tiny green shoots. Then a pumpkin appears on a vine. It grows and GROWS, until it is big enough to win first prize at the county fair. When Jed returns home with his ribbon, the mysterious farmer is a toy once again . . . or is it? Scott Nash’s inventive art, complete with vintage toys, adds a nostalgic feel to the magic. When Dinosaurs Came with Everything Elise Broach and David Small (Illustrator) (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 9780689869228, $16.99) Just when a little boy thinks he's going to die of boredom from running errands with his mom, the most remarkable, the most stupendous thing happens. He discovers that on this day, and this day only, stores everywhere are giving away a very special treat with any purchase. No, not the usual lollipop or sticker. Something bigger. Much, MUCH bigger. It's a dream come true, except...what exactly do you do with these Jurassic treats? And how do you convince Mom to let you keep them? Middle Grade Titles Two-Minute Drill (Mike Lupica's Comeback Kids) Mike Lupica (Philomel Books, 9780399247156, $9.99) Chris Conlan is the coolest kid in sixth grade – the golden-armed quarterback of the football team, and the boy all the others look up to. Scott Parry is the new kid, the boy with the huge brain, but with feet that trip over themselves daily. These two boys may seem like an odd couple, but each has a secret that draws them together as friends, and proves that the will to succeed is even more important than raw talent. New York Times bestselling author Mike Lupica scores from downtown with this new series for young middle-grade readers. The Black Book of Secrets F.E. Higgins (Feiwel and Friends, 9780312368449, $14.95) Imagine David Copperfield in the world of Artemis Fowl . . . that's what we thought when we first read this next gripping novel, brought to us by our friends at Macmillan UK. And indeed, Eoin Colfer found something very much to like in this first novel when he said, "the story grabs at the reader with hooked talons. Anyone looking for the next big thing has come to the right place." A boy arrives at a remote village in the dead of night. His name is Ludlow Fitch – and he is running from a most terrible past. What he is about to learn is that in this village is the life he has dreamed of – a safe place to live and a job, as the assistant to the mysterious pawnbroker who trades people's deepest, darkest secrets for cash. Ludlow's job is to neatly transcribe the confessions in an ancient, leather-bound tome: The Black Book of Secrets. Ludlow yearns to trust his mentor, who refuses to disclose any information on his past experiences or future intentions. What the pawnbroker does not know is, in a town brimming with secrets, the most troubling may be held by his new apprentice. The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous Suzanne Crowley (Greenwillow, 9780061231971, $16.99) Merilee leads a Very Ordered Existence. V.O.E., for short. Her schedule (which must not be altered) includes, among other entries: • School (horrendous) • Litter patrol (30 minutes daily) • Lunch (PB&J and a pickle) • Bottle return (Friday only at the Piggly Wiggly) • Fiona’s meditation show (Saturday only, 6:00 AM) The V.O.E. is all about precision. Merilee does not have time for Biswick O’Connor. Merilee does not have time for Miss Veraleen Holliday. He with his annoying factoids and runny nose. She with her shining white shoes as big as sailboats. Both of them strangers who, like the hot desert wind that brings only bad news, blow into town and change everything. Happy Birthday, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle Betty MacDonald and Anne MacDonald Canham (HarperCollins Children's Books, 9780060728120, $15.99) Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is back with a brand-new bundle of wonderfully magical cures for any bad habit – from watching too much TV to picky eating to fear of trying new things. With a little help from her pets, Wag the dog, Lightfoot the cat, and Lester the pig – and a trunk full of magnificent powders and potions – she can solve any problem, big or small. And while Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is working her magic, the children are working some of their own, planning a boisterous birthday bash for everyone's favorite problem solver! Just in time for the sixtieth anniversary of the original Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle comes a healthy dose of comedy and adventure to delight a whole new generation of readers. Igraine the Brave Cornelia Funke (Chicken House, 9780439903790, $16.99) Igraine dreams of becoming a famous knight just like her great grandfather, but the truth is, life at the family castle is rather boring. Until the nephew of the baroness-next-door shows up. He's got a dastardly plan to capture the castle and claim as his own the wonderful singing spell books that belong to Igraine's magician parents. To make matters worse, at the very moment of the siege, her mom and dad botch a spell, turning themselves into pigs! Aided by a Gentle Giant and a Sorrowful Knight, it's up to Igraine to be brave and save the day – and the books! Eggs Jerry Spinelli (Little, Brown, 9780316166461, $15.99) Nine-year-old David has recently lost his mother to a freak accident, his salesman father is constantly on the road, and he is letting his anger out on his grandmother. Sarcastic and bossy 13-year-old Primrose lives with her childlike, fortuneteller mother, and a framed picture is the only evidence of the father she never knew. Despite their differences, David and Primrose forge a tight yet tumultuous friendship, eventually helping each other deal with what is missing in their lives. This powerful, quirky novel about two very complicated, damaged children has much to say about friendship, loss, and recovery. The Invention of Hugo Cabret Brian Selznick (Scholastic Press, 0439813786, $22.99) ORPHAN, CLOCK KEEPER, AND THIEF, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery. Young Reader Titles Where I Live Eileen Spinelli and Matt Phelan (Illustrator) (Dial Books for Young Readers, 9780803731226, $16.99) Diana loves where she lives. She loves the astronomy charts on her walls and the fact that she can wave to her best friend, Rose, from her very own window. And best of all, a wren has recently made its home right by her front door! When her family is forced to move, Diana wonders if she will ever find that same grounded and happy feeling again. This gentle and ultimately redeeming story in poems is about those secure and fulfilling friendships that happen naturally and easily when you live right next door, and the struggles of losing the comfort of a familiar place. Matt Phelan's warm and expressive illustrations perfectly complement Eileen Spinelli's tenderhearted and unique tale that reminds us that sometimes a little uprooting and change is necessary for growth. Eoin Colfer's The Legend of the Worst Boy in the World Eoin Colfer (Hyperion, 9780786855032, $12.95) Growing up with four complainers for brothers, Will Woodman has a hard time getting an audience for his own troubles. He has to wait in line to gripe to his mom – and that leaves his dad. But since his dad is so busy, Will has to defer to his older (and faster) brother Marty. Will decides that what he really needs is his own grown-up to complain to. And he has the perfect guy for the job, someone who's a good listener and has a lot of free time: Grandad. But swapping sob stories with Grandad doesn't prove to be as satisfying as Will thought. Grandad has tons of pathetic stories to choose from, and one is worse than the next! But when Will hears the legend of the worst boy in the world, he knows he has finally hit the jackpot! Monday With a Mad Genius (Magic Tree House #38) Mary Pope Osborne (Random House Children's Books, 9780375837296, $11.99) Jack and Annie are on a mission to save Merlin from his sorrows! Charged with finding the second of four secrets of happiness, the brother-and-sister team travel back in the magic tree house to the period known as the Renaissance. This time, Jack and Annie will need more than a research book and a magic wand. They'll need help from one of the greatest minds of all time. What will they learn from Leonardo da Vinci? Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One Judy Blume and James Stevenson (Illustrator) (Delacorte Press, 9780385733052, $12.99) 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. The Curious Adventures of the Abandoned Toys Julian Fellowes and S. D. Schindler (Illustrator) (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 9780805075267, $17.95) When Doc the bear arrives at the dump from his former home in a children’s hospital, he’s not sure what kind of life awaits him. But the friends he finds there are determined to make his new home a welcoming one. In the gentle, classic style of The Velveteen Rabbit, the toys discover what it’s like to live on their own. Julian Fellowes’s witty text and S. D. Schindler’s lovely, intricate art combine to make a beautiful gift book, sure to strike a chord with any child – or adult – who has ever loved a stuffed toy. Today I Will Fly! Mo Willems (Hyperion, 9781423102953, $8.99) Best-selling picture book creator Mo Willems is making his debut in the early-reader arena with the Elephant & Piggie series. The books feature two lovable and funny characters: an optimistic (and sometimes reckless) pig, and a cautious, pessimistic elephant. Children who sat on their parents' laps to have Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! read to them will eagerly take the plunge with these books to start reading on their own. With each text reviewed by an early-learning specialist, these sweet and surprising stories are a breath of fresh air in the early-reader category. Today I Will Fly! is the funny introduction to these characters. Piggie is determined to fly, but Gerald the elephant knows that's impossible – right? Young Adult Titles The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World E.L. Konigsburg (Atheneum, 9781416949725, $16.99) Amedeo Kaplan seems just like any other new kid who has moved into the town of St. Malo, Florida, a navy town where new faces are the norm. But Amedeo has a secret, a dream: More than anything in the world, he wants to discover something – a place, a process, even a fossil – some treasure that no one realizes is there until he finds it. And he would also like to discover a true friend to share these things with. William Wilcox seems like an unlikely candidate for friendship: an aloof boy who is all edges and who owns silence the way other people own words. When Amedeo and William find themselves working together on a house sale for Amedeo's eccentric neighbor, Mrs. Zender, Amedeo has an inkling that both his wishes may come true. For Mrs. Zender's mansion is crammed with memorabilia of her long life, and there is a story to go with every piece. Soon the boys find themselves caught up in one particular story – a story that links a sketch, a young boy's life, an old man's reminiscence, and a painful secret dating back to the outrages of Nazi Germany. It's a story that will take them to the edge of what they know about heroism and the mystery of the human heart. Two-time Newbery winner E. L. Konigsburg spins a magnificent tale of art, discovery, friendship, history, and truth. Reincarnation Suzanne Weyn (Scholastic Press, 9780545013239, $17.99) From prehistory to the present, theirs was a love for the ages. It starts with a fight in a cave over an elusive green jewel . . . and then travels over time and lives to include Egyptian slaves, Greek temples, Massachusetts witch trials, Civil War battlefields, Paris on the eve of World War II, America in the 1960s . . . and a pair of modern-day teenagers. For readers who believe that love is stronger than time or death, this is an unforgettable novel from a wonderful storyteller. Eclipse Stephanie Meyer (Little, Brown, 9780316160209, $18.99) Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob – knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which? The Off Season Catherine Gilbert Murdock (Houghton Mifflin, 9780618686957, $16.00) Life is looking up for D.J. Schwenk. She’s in eleventh grade, finally. After a rocky summer, she’s reconnecting in a big way with her best friend, Amber. She’s got kind of a thing going with Brian Nelson, who’s cute and popular and smart but seems to like her anyway. And then there’s the fact she’s starting for the Red Bend High School football team – the first girl linebacker in northern Wisconsin, probably. Which just shows you can’t predict the future. As autumn progresses, D.J. struggles to understand Amber, Schwenk Farm, her relationship with Brian, and most of all her family. As a whole herd of trouble comes her way, she discovers she’s a lot stronger than she – or anyone – ever thought. This hilarious, heartbreaking and triumphant sequel to the critically acclaimed Dairy Queen takes D.J. and all the Schwenks from Labor Day to a Thanksgiving football game that you will never forget. The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3) Rick Riordan (Miramax Books, 9781423101451, $17.95) When Percy receives a distress call from his best friend, Grover, he prepares for battle. He knows he’ll need his powerful demigod allies, Annabeth and Thalia, at his side; his trusty bronze sword, Riptide, and . . . a ride from his mom. When they arrive, the demigods find more than just mythological monsters awaiting them. Grover has made an important discovery: two new half-bloods, Bianca and Nico, whose parentage is unknown. But before Percy and his friends can escort Bianca and Nico safely back to Camp Half-Blood, they are intercepted by the manticore, and an impulsive move by Percy causes Annabeth to go missing. And she’s not the only one: the goddess Artemis is believed to have been kidnapped. But who is powerful enough to kidnap a goddess? It’s up to Percy and his friends to find out. They must rescue Artemis before the winter solstice, when her influence on the Olympian Council could swing an important vote on the war with the Titans. But first, Percy will have to solve the mystery of a rare monster that Artemis was hunting when she disappeared – a monster rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus forever. Deadline Chris Crutcher (Greenwillow, 9780060850890, $16.99) Ben Wolf has big things planned for his senior year. HAD big things planned. Now what he has is some very bad news and only one year left to make his mark on the world. How can a pint-sized, smart-ass seventeen-year-old do anything significant in the nowheresville of Trout, Idaho? First, Ben makes sure that no one else knows what is going on – not his superstar quarterback brother, Cody, not his parents, not his coach, no one. Next, he decides to become the best 127-pound football player Trout High has ever seen; to give his close-minded civics teacher a daily migraine; and to help the local drunk clean up his act. And then there's Dallas Suzuki. Amazingly perfect, fascinating Dallas Suzuki, who may or may not give Ben the time of day. Really, she's first on the list. Living with a secret isn't easy, though, and Ben's resolve begins to crumble . . . especially when he realizes that he isn't the only person in Trout with secrets. Wicked Lovely Melissa Marr (Harper Teen, 9780061214653, $16.99) Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries. Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty – especially if they learn of her Sight – and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens. Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries. Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer. Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention. But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost – regardless of her plans or desires. Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; EVERYTHING. Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21st century faery tale. Love, Stargirl Jerry Spinelli (Knopf, 9780375813757, $16.99) Love, Stargirl picks up a year after Stargir ends and reveals the new life of the beloved character who moved away so suddenly at the end of Stargirl. The novel takes the form of "the world's longest letter," in diary form, going from date to date through a little more than a year's time. In her writing, Stargirl mixes memories of her bittersweet time in Mica, Arizona, with involvements with new people in her life. In Love, Stargirl we hear the voice of Stargirl herself as she reflects on time, life, Leo, and – of course – love. Taken Edward Bloor (Knopf, 9780375836367, $16.99) BY 2035 the rich have gotten richer, the poor have gotten poorer, and kidnapping has become a major growth industry in the United States. The children of privilege live in secure, gated communities and are escorted to and from school by armed guards. But the security around Charity Meyers has broken down. On New Year's morning, she wakes and finds herself alone, strapped to a stretcher, in an ambulance that's not moving. She is amazingly calm – kids in her neighborhood have been well trained in kidnapping protocol. If this were a normal kidnapping, Charity would be fine. But as the hours of her imprisonment tick by, Charity realizes there is nothing normal about what's going on here. No training could prepare her for what her kidnappers really want . . . and worse, for who they turn out to be. Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale Donna Jo Napoli (Atheneum, 9780689861765, $16.99) Melkorka is a princess, the first daughter of a magnificent kingdom in mediæval Ireland – but all of this is lost the day she is kidnapped and taken aboard a marauding slave ship. Thrown into a world that she has never known, alongside people that her former country's laws regarded as less than human, Melkorka is forced to learn quickly how to survive. Taking a vow of silence, however, she finds herself an object of fascination to her captors and masters, and soon realizes that any power, no matter how little, can make a difference. Based on an ancient Icelandic saga, award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli has crafted a heartbreaking story of a young girl who must learn to forget all that she knows and carve out a place for herself in a new world – all without speaking a word.