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Cool New Books for October
A number of familiar faces highlight this month's roundup of cool new books. Olivia, the lovable piglet, is determined to find the culprit who stole her toy; young sleuths Cam Jansen and Nate the Great are hard at work trying to solve baffling cases; and George, Harold and the rest of the gang have returned for another heart-stopping (and slimy) Captain Underpants adventure. We're also featuring two books that CANNOT be missed: the tenth installment of Lemony Snicket's wildly popular series and Robert Sabuda's amazing new pop-up version of a classic story. With selections like these, who needs a television set?
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 BRAINBOY AND THE DEATHMASTER
Tor Seidler
Laura Geringer Books
ISBN: 0060291818
Ages 8-up
320 pages
Darryl Kirby, an orphan, is a whiz at computer games --- especially those conceived by Keith Masterly, the greatest software guru of all time. But when Darryl plays a new prototype of his favorite game, StarMaster, strange things occur. After he finds his way through a torturous maze and answers questions that could stump a scientist, a mysterious message "WANT TO PLAY?" invites him into a game that eventually lands him in a luxurious laboratory where Masterly has gathered a group of intelligent children.
Daryl and new friend Nina, who suspects Masterly's motives, slowly uncover a sinister plan, and Daryl soon finds himself the star of his own real-life computer game --- but this isn't Pacman we're talking about here. He and Nina must stop Masterly and escape before it's too late.
 THE JOURNAL OF RUFUS ROWE: A Witness to the Battle of Fredricksburg, Bowling Green, Virginia, 1862
MY NAME IS AMERICA Series
Sid Hite
Scholastic
ISBN: 0439353645
Ages 9-14
144 pages
Sixteen-year-old Rufus Rowe runs away from home to escape his cruel stepfather. He finds work and shelter in Fredericksburg, Virginia, just as the Rebel troops begin to amass in preparation for a confrontation with the Union Army. At a time when no Southerner believes the South can be beaten, Rufus sensitively observes and records the gripping battle that takes place there.
 MILLICENT MIN, GIRL GENIUS
Lisa Yee
Arthur A. Levine Books
ISBN: 0439425190
Ages 8-12
256 pages
Millicent Min is having a bad summer. Her fellow high school students hate her for earning such excellent grades, while her fellow 11-year-olds hate her for going to high school. And to make matters worse Millicent's mother has arranged for her to tutor Stanford Wong, the poster boy for Chinese geekdom. It certainly isn't easy being a genius. But then Millie meets Emily, a girl who isn't aware of Millicent's IQ score. She actually thinks Millie is cool. So Millie is determined to make Emily her first friend and will do whatever it takes to make it happen --- even if it means concealing her true self.
 NINJAS, PIRANHAS, AND GALILEO
Greg Leitich Smith
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 0316778540
Ages 10-13
192 pages
Elias, Shohei and Honoria have always been a trio united against That Which Is The Peshtigo School. But suddenly it seems that supporting a best friend isn't as easy as it used to be. Elias reluctantly participates in the school's science fair and finds himself challenging the authority of his chemistry teacher. Meanwhile, Shohei is approaching a showdown with his adoptive parents and Honoria discovers that telling a best friend you like him, without actually telling him, is quite difficult.
 THE NOBEL BOOK OF ANSWERS: The Dalai Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev, Shimon Peres, and Other Nobel Prize Winners Answer Some of Life's Most Intriguing Questions for Young People
Edited by Bettina Stiekel
Atheneum
ISBN: 0689863101
Ages 10-up
272 pages
Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has honored outstanding men and women throughout the world who have made important contributions to physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, economics, and world peace. Now, for the first time, these creative thinkers are challenged to answer some of life's most difficult and intriguing questions --- for children.
Contributors include the Dalai Lama, who explains what love is, Desmond Tutu answers the complex question of why there is war, Shimon Peres responds to the question "What is politics?" and Mikhail Gorbachev tells us how one can win the Nobel Prize. Every single answer will make you think --- and learn something new.
 Book 10, THE SLIPPERY SLOPE
A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS Series
Lemony Snicket
illustrated by Brett Helquist
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0064410137
Ages 9-12
352 pages
Lemony Snicket's saga about the charming and intelligent, yet grossly unlucky, Baudelaire orphans continues to alarm fans all over the world. The tenth book in the series features some distressing details, such as snow gnats, an organized troupe of youngsters, an evil villain with a dastardly plan, secret headquarters, and dangerous antics that should never be tried at home. A chilling book, to say the least!
 SONATA #1 FOR RILEY RED
Phoebe Stone
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 0316990418
Ages 8-12
208 pages
For thirteen-year-old Rachel Townsend, music is her only means of expression. But then she meets eccentric and dramatic Desmona and her lovable, cool older brother Riley. Desmona gathers young "outcasts" like Rachel, and they ride around in Riley's little red sports car, saving dozens of cats and dogs from the pound.
Desmona's wish to do an extraordinarily good deed involves them all in a series of protests for animal rights, a suspension from school, and the nighttime rescue of a neglected zoo elephant. As their efforts go awry, Rachel must decide what she can do to become an active participant in life rather than a mere observer.
 SWEAR TO HOWDY
Wendelin van Draanen
Knopf
ISBN: 0375825053
Ages 10-up
144 pages
• Review & Excerpt
Joey Banks is funny, daring, mischievous, and gets in trouble --- though he would be in hot water much more frequently if people found out about half the things he's done. That's because Rusty Cooper, Joey's best friend, knows how to keep a secret. But then comes a secret that is too terrible to tell, yet too terrible to keep --- a secret so huge that it threatens to eat them alive.
 ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
Lewis Carroll
illustrated by Robert Sabuda
Little Simon
ISBN: 0689847432
Ages 4-8
• Author Talk
Robert Sabuda, one of today's most innovative and inventive creators of children's books, has outdone himself in this stunning pop-up version of Lewis Carroll's classic story. The unusual settings and creatures of Wonderland spring to life with every turn of the page. Each spread contains majestic pop-ups that take center stage, but they also are accompanied by side panels --- mini-pages that contain the story's text along with smaller pop-ups.
The book's numerous highlights include Alice's initial fall down to Wonderland (very cleverly done), the Mad Hatter's tea party (complete with sparkling silverware and a fuzzy dormouse), and the bizarre croquet match that startles Alice. But it's the final spread that will simply blow you away!
Sabuda's ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND has "family favorite" and international bestseller" written all over it --- a book that BOTH children and adults will treasure for many years to come.
CAM JANSEN AND THE TENNIS TROPHY MYSTERY (#23)
David A. Adler
illustrated by Susanna Natti
Viking Children's Books
ISBN: 0670036439
Ages 7-10
64 pages
In Cam Jansen's latest adventure, Cam and Eric's gym teacher, Mr. Day, has just had his office walls painted. But Cam notices that the walls aren't the only thing that's different --- his tennis trophy is missing! Did somebody steal it, or is it all just one big misunderstanding?
 CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS AND THE BIG, BAD BATTLE OF THE BIONIC BOOGER BOY, PART 2: The Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers
CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS Series
Dav Pilkey
Scholastic
ISBN: 0439376122
Ages 7-10
176 pages
• Read a Review
When Melvin and Mr. Krupp accidentally switch brains, George and Harold must travel in a time machine to recover the one instrument that will solve the problem. But how will they be able to combat the disgusting Robo-Boogers and prevent Melvin from becoming the world's most annoying superhero?
 CLORINDA
Robert Kinerk
illustrated by Steven Kellogg
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0689864493
Ages 4-8
40 pages
Life on the farm is everything a cow like Clorinda could want --- or so she thought. On Election Day, Clorinda wakes up early to travel to a distant city where she'll cast her ballot. All does not go smoothly, and Clorinda accidentally stumbles into a classical ballet performance instead. She's startled at first but then falls in love with what she sees. Clorinda is determined to fulfill her dream of becoming a bovine ballerina, and she heads for the big-city stage to start her career. Readers will immediately fall in love with this slightly overweight heroine!
 Book 24, NATE THE GREAT ON THE OWL EXPRESS
NATE THE GREAT Series
Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Mitchell Sharmat
illustrated by William Durbin
Delacorte Press
ISBN: 0385730780
Ages 6-9
48 pages
In their latest case Nate, the great detective, and his dog Sludge board a train in order to guard an owl named Hoot. Hoot belongs to Nate's cousin, who thinks someone on the train might be out to get her beloved bird. Sludge keeps an eye on the owl's cage while Nate searches for clues. But as in all great mysteries, there's a twist --- Hoot disappears!
With many suspects to question and a number of places to look, Nate probably feels that being the bodyguard to a little bird is more difficult than babysitting a cranky child. As the train races toward its final stop, one question remains: Will Nate be able to solve the mystery of the vanishing owl?
 OLIVIA . . . AND THE MISSING TOY
Ian Falconer
Atheneum
ISBN: 0689852916
Ages 3-7
42 pages
• Author Talk
Olivia has one special toy that she adores more than anything else in the world --- a stuffed animal that she has tea with, wheels around in a stroller, and takes everywhere. But one day the unthinkable happens: Olivia's beloved companion disappears! Of course, Olivia is devastated. Who on earth could be responsible for such a terrible act? She looks everywhere --- under the rug, under the sofa, even under the cat --- and demands answers from her little brother William and baby Ian.
That night (a dark and stormy night) Olivia hears a mysterious noise and heads down the hall to investigate. She nervously enters a room, and standing right before her is the villain!
This fabulous new picture book by stage designer and artist Ian Falconer has a perfect blend of suspense and humor, and is sure to delight youngsters young and old who read it.
 SIMEON'S GIFT
Julie Andrews Edwards and Emma Walton Hamilton
illustrated by Gennady Spirin
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060089148
Ages 4-8
40 pages
Meet Simeon, a humble Renaissance musician who sets off on a quest for knowledge and is eager to improve his craft. On his journey he encounters many sounds: the rhythms of soldiers' drums, the soaring harmonies of monastic chanting, and the vibrations of a crowded city. Understandably, Simeon becomes overwhelmed with all the choices and decides to return home to his beloved Sorrel. It is here where he discovers his own true self and the glorious gift he has to offer.
This marvelous book is accompanied by a CD, with a special reading of the story by Julie Andrews Edwards --- so be sure not to overlook it!
 Book 3: LUCINDA'S SECRET
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES Series
Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0689859384
Ages 6-10
128 pages
• Review & Excerpt
Things at the Spiderwick estate are getting completely out of hand in Book 3 of THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES. Along with being attacked by goblins and almost being eaten by a bridge troll, the house boggart Thimbletack is out to get Jared, Simon has a very hungry griffin recuperating in the carriage house, and Mallory is convinced that the only way to stop the madness is to get rid of the Field Guide.
Jared refuses to take this step, as he is convinced that the Guide will ultimately protect them from the creatures that are pursuing them. Why are all the Faeries determined to gain possession of the Guide? Only one person can help solve this mystery --- their crazy old aunt Lucinda.
--- Compiled and written by Tom Donadio
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