Cool New Books for January
2003 has arrived and that means lots of reading to look forward to in the coming months! Start the year off right by checking out these cool new books. Some are funny while others are quite sad --- but they are all great reading in their own special way.
 BARTLETT AND THE ICE VOYAGE
Odo Hirsch
illustrated by Andrew McLean
Bloomsbury
ISBN: 1582347972
Ages 9-12
175 pages
The Queen is a very busy woman. She rules over seven kingdoms, some of which she has never even seen. Each kingdom is filled with its own exotic delights and her loyal subjects constantly send her gifts from far and wide. But there is one fruit she craves: the melidrop. Until now, it has been out of her reach because it rots on the long journey from the far off country in which it grows. This is where Bartlett --- the intrepid, stubborn, inventive and irreverent explorer --- comes in.
 DADDY SAYS
Ntozake Shange
Simon & Schuster (Juv)
ISBN: 0689830815
Ages 9-12
192 pages
Annie Sharon and Lucie-Marie, daughters of two African-American rodeo stars, have been raised by their loving, but remote father, Tie-Down, since their mother was killed by an out-of-control horse. The girls miss her dearly and the pain is only worse now that that they are getting older. Tie-Down is so heartbroken about losing his wife that he chooses not to talk about her. He has now started dating a woman named Cassie and the girls resent her intrusion into their lives. But after a close call at the rodeo, it is Cassie who finally brings this family together.
 THE IMPOSSIBLE JOURNEY
Gloria Whelan
Harpercollins Juvenile Books
ISBN: 0066238110
Ages 9-12
256 pages
One Russian night in 1934, Marya and Georgi's parents disappear. Katya and Misha had spoken against the government, even though the risks were high. The children, alone and desperate, fear the worst. Will they ever see their parents again? But all it takes is one crumpled letter to give Marya and Georgi hope and send them on a dangerous mission to reunite their family. They must escape the city and find passage to the great Siberian wilderness. And even if they succeed in getting away, their journey will still be far from over.
 LAURA BUSH: America's First Lady
Beatrice Gormley
Aladdin
ISBN: 0689853661
Ages 9-12
128 pages
Laura Bush has loved reading ever since she was a child. As the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush, she brings her experienced viewpoints, her love of children and her interest in education to a much wider audience. In her speeches and public appearances, she expresses what many Americans believe: that every human being should be treated with dignity and that no child should be left behind in school or in life. This biography touches on all aspects of Mrs. Bush's life: her years as a teacher and librarian, her first meeting with her husband, the birth of their twins, and her important work as an advocate for women and children.
 LOCOMOTION
Jacqueline Woodson
Putnam Pub Group Juv
ISBN: 0399231153
Ages 9-12
128 pages
Lonnie's parents died in a fire when he was only seven years old. Now he's eleven and he still misses them terribly. He also misses his little sister, Lili, who had to be put into a separate foster home. But Lonnie hasn't given up. His foster mother, Miss Edna, is growing on him. She's already raised two sons and she seems to know what makes them tick. And his teacher, Ms. Marcus, is showing him ways to put his jumbled feelings on paper. Told entirely through Lonnie's poetry, we see his heartbreak over his lost family, his thoughtful perspective on the world around him and, most of all, his love for Lili and his determination to one day put at least half of their family back together.
 NO STRINGS ATTACHED
Nancy Drew Series, 170
Carolyn Keene and Patrick Whelan
Aladdin
ISBN: 0689855591
Ages 9-12
144 pages
In this latest Nancy Drew adventure, Nancy, George and Bess are going on a vacation to Paris. Nancy's father pulled a few strings to get the girls a tiny top-floor flat in a small three-story house on the Ile Saint Louis. The first floor of the building is a puppet theater, museum and shop owned by 27 year-old Mimi Loiseau, who lives on the second floor. Mimi's great-grandmother had always hinted at a unique family treasure. She died before she could tell Mimi what, or where, it was. Now someone is stealing puppets and vandalizing apartments. Could this someone be looking for the long-lost treasure? Nancy's on the scene just in time to help save Mimi's business --- and to make sure they all get home in one piece!
 THE SCHOOL SKELETON
A to Z Mysteries, 19
Ron Roy
illustrated by John Steven Gurney
Random House
ISBN: 0375813683
Ages 9-12
96 pages
Something bone-chilling is happening in the latest A to Z Mysteries book! Someone has stolen the skeleton from the nurse's office. The principal promises free aquarium tickets to the students who can track down poor Mr. Bones. Mysterious clues are soon showing up all over the school. It is up to Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose to follow the clues and put those old bones to rest.
 THE WHOLE YOU: Spirit
Jeannie Kim
Scholastic Paperbacks
ISBN: 0439404630
Ages 9-12
160 pages
THE WHOLE YOU is a unique book that helps young readers get in touch with their feelings and beliefs. This seemingly impossible task is accomplished through a series of fun and interesting activities, projects and quizzes. While other self-help books take the premise that kids are broken and need fixing, THE WHOLE YOU assumes that they are full of potential and are eager to use their potential to the absolute fullest.
 BEAR WANTS MORE
Karma Wilson
illustrated by Jane Chapman
Margaret McElderry
ISBN: 068984509X
Ages 4-8
40 pages
Bear finds some roots to eat, but that's not enough. He wants more! With his friends' help, he finds some berries, clover and fish to eat, but that's not enough either. Bear wants more! Bear's friends eventually help him satisfy his huge hunger in a way that will both surprise and enchant young readers.
 MILDRED AND SAM
(An I Can Read Book)
Sharleen Collicott
Laura Geringer Books
ISBN: 0060266813
Ages 4-8
48 pages
Mildred and Sam live in a tiny burrow underneath the daffodil roots. Sam is happy but Mildred is fidgety. No matter how hard Sam tries to fix up their house, Mildred insists that it is too small, especially if they ever have visitors. So Mildred dreams about the exciting adventures a new house could bring, but discovers the greatest surprise is about to arrive at her very own door.
 A PERFECT PICNIC
Sarah Albee
illustrated by Tom Brannon
Random House
ISBN: 0375814558
Ages 4-8
24 pages
It's a perfect day for a spring picnic and everyone on Sesame Street is invited. But things aren't going as smoothly as everyone would like--- the beautiful flowers make Bert sneeze, ants march off with some of the goodies, and a baseball lands in the dessert while some bicycle racers zoom through, making a mess. And to top it all off, it starts to rain. But that's not necessarily a bad thing because, as Bert points out, it just wouldn't be spring without rain.
 RAINING CATS AND DOGS
Irene Trimble
Random House
ISBN: 0375814272
Ages 4-8
24 pages
This exciting picture book features all your favorite Dragon Tales characters. Quetzal gives the dragons a challenging one-day assignment: take the cats and dogs that are raining down on Dragon Land back to their home on the rain cloud --- without flying! How will the dragons do it? Together they come up with a very unique solution to their problem and learn to appreciate what they have.
 SUGAR ON SNOW
Nan Parson Rossiter
Dutton
ISBN: 0525469109
Ages 4-8
32 pages
This cozy picture book is about a modern-day family in New England that collects sap to make maple syrup. Two young brothers take pride in finally being able to help with every step of the sugaring-off process. There are beautiful illustrations of the sights of early spring, as well as woodland animals and birds to spot on every page. At the end of the book, you can even learn about the legendary beginnings of sap gathering.
 THE SULKY VULTURE
Sally Grindley
illustrated by Michael Terry
Bloomsbury
ISBN: 1582347948
Ages 4-8
32 pages
With his head pulled down, shoulders hunched up and toes curled in, Boris the vulture is sulking. His friends see how sad he is and they try their best to cheer him up. But nothing seems to go quite right and Boris ends up even grumpier! Finally, he goes home to his mom for a cuddle, but this is one vulture that just won't be comforted. Boris appears determined to sulk the entire day!
--- Compiled and written by Tom Donadio
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