Cool New Books for March

March's roundup of Cool New Books includes SIR THURSDAY, Garth Nix's fourth installment in the action-packed Keys to the Kingdom series; FLYTE, book two in Angie Sage's continuing story of Septimus Heap; and GROOVES, a "groovy" mystery/fantasy adventure from Kevin Brockmeier. We're also featuring two outstanding picture books --- watch the Empire State Building take shape in SKY BOYS, and get into the swing of things with PLAY BALL, based on the childhood of New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada --- as well as the debut of three series titles: The Cronus Chronicles, Grey Griffins, and the first book in a new trilogy about a young shepherd who finds a family in the monsters of Greek mythology.

Stand-Alone Fiction

COUNTING ON GRACE
Elizabeth Winthrop
Wendy Lamb Books/Random House
ISBN-10: 038574644X
ISBN-13: 9780385746441
Ages 8-12
240 pages

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At the age of 12, Grace and her best friend Arthur must leave school and go to work as "doffers" on their mothers' looms in the mill. Unfortunately Grace is left-handed and doffing is a right-handed job. Together Grace and Arthur write a secret letter to the Child Labor Board about underage children working in Pownal, Vermont. A few weeks later, famous reformer Lewis Hine shows up with a camera; he's working undercover collecting evidence for the Child Labor Board. Grace's brief acquaintance with Hine and the photos he takes of her will have a lasting impact on her future.

GROOVES: A Kind of Mystery
Kevin Brockmeier
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060736917
ISBN-13: 9780060736910
Ages 8-12
208 pages

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When wealthy entrepreneur Howard Thigpen comes to Dwayne Ruggles's school, Dwayne notices that Thigpen is surrounded by a cloud of tiny sparks that follows him wherever he goes. And when Dwayne discovers that the ridges in his Thigpen Brand Blue Jeans and the grooves in Thigpen Brand Potato Chips are encoded with a secret message that he can hear through an old Victrola horn, he must stop Thigpen from stealing the lights in everyone's eyes. But what does that mean? It's a mystery, and Dwayne better figure it out fast before Thigpen does too much damage.

ROXIE AND THE HOOLIGANS
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
illustrated by Alexandra Boiger
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster
ISBN-10: 1416902430
ISBN-13: 9781416902430
Ages 7-10
128 pages

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Roxie Warbler knows what to do in all kinds of situations. She's learned it all from her favorite book, LORD THISTLEBOTTOM'S BOOK OF PITFALLS AND HOW TO SURVIVE THEM. There's one situation though that Roxie doesn't know how to handle: dealing with Helvetia's Hooligans, the meanest bullies in school. But when Roxie and the hooligans are stranded together on a desert island --- the hideout of a couple of criminals on the loose --- they must try to outsmart these villains and find their way home.

THE WALL AND THE WING
Laura Ruby
Eos/HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060752556
ISBN-13: 9780060752552
Ages 10-up
336 pages

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In one vast and sparkling city, almost everyone can fly. But one girl discovers she can do something better: She can become invisible. This amazing power will help her uncover the secret mysteries of the city. But even with her newfound talent, Gurl can't seem to hide from a giant rat man with a taste for cats, a manipulative matron with a penchant for plastic surgery, and a belligerent boy named Bug. Gradually Gurl learns to control her power and teams up with Bug to figure out who and what she is.

Series Books

The Keys to the Kingdom

SIR THURSDAY: The Keys to the Kingdom, Book Four
Garth Nix
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0439700876
Ages 9-12
352 pages

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Following their adventures in the Border Sea, Arthur and Leaf head for home. But only Leaf gets through the Front Door. Arthur is blocked because someone, or something, has assumed his identity and is taking over his life. Before Arthur can take action, he's drafted by Sir Thursday and forced to join the Glorious Army of the Architect. Arthur must survive his basic training, avoid getting posted to the Front, and figure out how he can free Part Four of the Will.

Septimus Heap

FLYTE: Septimus Heap, Book Two
Angie Sage
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060577347
ISBN-13: 9780060577346
Ages 9-up
544 pages

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In the continuing story of Septimus Heap, it's been a year since Septimus discovered his real family and true calling to be a wizard. As Apprentice to ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand, he's learning the fine arts of Conjurations, Charms and other Magyk, while Jenna is adapting to life as the Princess. But Marcia is being stalked by a menacing Darke Shadow, and Septimus's brother Simon has returned with a vengeance. Why is the Darke Magyk still lingering?

CORYDON & THE ISLAND OF MONSTERS
Tobias Druitt
Knopf
ISBN-10: 037583382X
ISBN-13: 9780375833823
Ages 8-12
304 pages

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A young shepherd, Corydon, is driven out of his village because of his unusual appearance and then captured and put on display as a monster. Alongside him in the traveling freak show are Medusa, the Minotaur, the Sphinx, and other classical beasts. When Corydon helps these monsters escape their cages, an army arrives hoping to kill them. In book one of this new trilogy, Corydon must unite these unloved and unlikely allies to fight for their survival and for their island home.

The Cronus Chronicles

THE SHADOW THIEVES: The Cronus Chronicles, Book 1
Anne Ursu
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 1416905871
Ages 8-12
432 pages

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Something extraordinary is about to happen to Charlotte Mielswetzski. It's not the very cute kitten that appears out of nowhere and demands to go home with her. It's not the sudden arrival of her cousin Zee, who believes he's the cause of a mysterious sickness that has struck his friends back in England. It's not her creepy English teacher Mr. Metos, who takes his mythology lessons just a little too seriously. And it's not the white-faced, yellow-eyed men in tuxedoes who follow Charlotte everywhere.

What's so extraordinary is not any one of these things...It's all of them. And when Charlotte's friends start to get sick one by one, Charlotte and Zee set out to find a cure.

Grey Griffins

THE REVENGE OF THE SHADOW KING: Grey Griffins, Book 1
Derek Benze and J. S. Lewis
Orchard Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 0439795745
Ages 9-12
373 pages

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Max Sumner and his three best friends, who form the secret club The Grey Griffins, seem to be the only people in their Minnesota town to notice that strange things have started to happen. When creatures like goblins, fairies and unicorns --- all characters from a card game the Grey Griffins play --- begin to make appearances in Max's backyard, Max and his friends know something is terribly wrong. And it's up to them to stop the wicked creatures of the cards from destroying their town, and the world.

Nancy Drew (All New) Girl Detective

DANGEROUS PLAYS: Nancy Drew (All New) Girl Detective #16
Carolyn Keene
Aladdin Paperbacks
ISBN-10: 1416906053
ISBN-13: 9781416906056
Ages 8-12
160 pages

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Nancy gets a call from Ned just before she flies to London. Will she meet one of his professors for lunch before she goes? It seems some fishy things are happening at the professor's London townhouse, and he's hoping she'll check it out. Little does Nancy realize, though, that this simple task is only the beginning of a much bigger mystery.

Picture Books

THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Louise Borden
illustrated by Adam Gustavson
Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster
ISBN-10: 0689868693
ISBN-13: 9780689868696
Ages 7-10
40 pages

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The school year is coming to an end, and everyone at Albert E. Chapman Elementary School is counting down, including Mrs. Mallory's third grade class. Matthew Perez, one of Mrs. Mallory's students, has a perfect good-bye gift for his teacher, and he can't wait to give it to her. But when is the right time? Will Matt get his chance before the school day is over?

PLAY BALL!
Jorge Posada, with Robert Burleigh
illustrated by Raul Colon
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
ISBN-10: 1416906878
ISBN-13: 9781416906872
Ages 6-10
32 pages

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Jorge loves the game of baseball. He's as good as any right-handed hitter on the Casa Cuba team, but his father tells him, "Good isn't best." When Casa Cuba is up against Club Caparra and their pitcher's sidearm rocket, a switch-hitter is just what Casa Cuba needs.

Based on the childhood of New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, this is the story of a boy from Puerto Rico who worked hard to be his best and didn't stop until he was a champion.

SKY BOYS: How They Built the Empire State Building
Deborah Hopkinson
illustrated by James Ransome
Schwartz & Wade/Random House
ISBN-10: 0375836101
ISBN-13: 9780375836107
Ages 4-9
48 pages

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It's 1930 and times are tough for Pop and his son. But on the corner of 34th Street and 5th Avenue, a building is being constructed in record time. Hundreds of men are leveling, shoveling and hauling. They're hoisting 60,000 tons of steel, stacking 10 million bricks, and eating lunch in the clouds. And when they cut the ribbon and the crowds rush in, the boy and his father will be among the first to zoom up to the top of the tallest building in the world and see all of Manhattan spread at their feet.

THANKS A MILLION
Nikki Grimes
illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera
Amistad/Greenwillow Books
ISBN-10: 068817292X
ISBN-13: 9780688172923
Ages 5-up
32 pages

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What makes you thankful? A book? Weekends? Your family?

How do you say thanks? With a flower? With a chocolate bar? With a surprise?

In sixteen extraordinary poems that range in form from a haiku to a rebus to a riddle, Nikki Grimes reminds us how wonderful it is to feel thankful and how powerful a simple "thank you" can be.

--- Compiled and written by Tom Donadio

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