FLAWED DOGS: THE NOVEL: The Shocking Raid on Westminster
written and illustrated by Berkeley Breathed
Philomel Books
ISBN: 9780399252181
Ages 8-12
208 pages

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Sam the Lion is actually a priceless dachshund, bred to be a show dog. More important, he is Heidy's best friend --- and she needs one like never before. Living with her reclusive uncle is hard, but Sam has a way of making her feel soft and whole. Until the day Sam is framed by the jealous poodle Cassius, and is cast out by Heidy's uncle, alone on the wild streets, where he is roughed up by a world he was not bred for. Sporting a soup ladle for a leg, Sam befriends other abandoned dogs and journeys all the way to the Westminster Dog Show, where his plan for revenge on Cassius takes an unexpected turn when he and Heidy spot each other after years of being apart.

THE GEORGES AND THE JEWELS
Jane Smiley
Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780375862274
Ages 10-up
240 pages

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Jane Smiley makes her debut for young readers in this stirring novel set on a California horse ranch in the 1960s. Seventh-grader Abby Lovitt has always been more at ease with horses than with people. Her father insists they call all the mares “Jewel” and all the geldings “George” and warns Abby not to get attached: the horses are there to be sold. But with all the stress at school and home, Abby seeks refuge with the Georges and the Jewels. But there’s one gelding on her family’s farm that gives her no end of trouble: the horse who won’t meet her gaze, the horse who bucks her right off every chance he gets, the horse her father makes her ride and train, every day. She calls him the Ornery George.

THE LOST CONSPIRACY
Frances Hardinge
HarperCollins Children’s Books
ISBN: 9780060880415
Ages 10-up
576 pages

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On an island of green jungles and slumbering volcanoes, ancient tensions collide with new calamities, and two young sisters are caught in a deadly web of deceit. One, Arilou, is a beautiful prophet. The other, Hathin, is her nearly invisible attendant. But neither girl is exactly what she pretends, and when they are drawn into a sinister, island-wide conspiracy, Hathin discovers that the only thing more dangerous than the secret she hides is the truth she must uncover.

THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT
written by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Yoko Tanaka
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763644109
Ages 7-up
208 pages

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When a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller's mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true.

In this timeless fable, Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo evokes the largest of themes --- hope and belonging, desire and compassion --- with the lightness of a magician’s touch.

MURDER AT MIDNIGHT
Avi
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780545080903
Ages 8-12
272 pages

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A plot to overthrow King Claudio is brewing in the Kingdom of Pergamontio, Italy. Mangus the Magician has been marked as an easy scapegoat for the traitor lurking within the king’s court. Against all odds, his faithful new servant boy, Fabrizio, sets out to solve the mystery and prove his master’s innocence before the stroke of midnight…in order to save him from certain death!

ODD AND THE FROST GIANTS
written by Neil Gaiman
illustrated by Brett Helquist
HarperCollins Children’s Books
ISBN: 9780061671739
Ages 8-up
128 pages

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Odd has had some terrible luck: His father perished in a Viking expedition, a tree shattered his leg, the freezing winter might never end, and his neighbors are growing dangerously grumpy. But Odd’s luck may be about to change when he rescues a bear who is more than what he seems to be.

This brilliantly inventive short novel inspired by traditional Norse mythology takes readers on a wild and magical trip to the land of giants and gods and back

THE UNFINISHED ANGEL
Sharon Creech
HarperCollins Children’s Books
ISBN: 9780061430954
Ages 8-12
176 pages

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In the winding stone tower of the Casa Rosa, in a quiet little village in the Swiss Alps, lives one very unlikely angel. An angel who is still awaiting her instructions from the angel training center. What happens to an angel who doesn’t know her mission? She floats and swishes from high above, watching the crazy things that “peoples” say and do. But when a zany American girl named Zola arrives in town and invades the Casa Rosa, dogs start arfing, figs start flying through the air, lost orphans wander in, and the village becomes anything but quiet. As Zola and the angel work together to rescue the orphans, they each begin to realize their purpose and learn that there is magic in the most ordinary acts of kindness.

Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls

ALLIE FINKLE’S RULES FOR GIRLS: Book Four – Stage Fright
Meg Cabot
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780545040457
Ages 9-12
224 pages

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Mrs. Hunter's fourth grade class is putting on a play. But Allie's theatrical hopes are crushed when she doesn't get cast as the princess --- the part that she wanted. Instead, Allie is cast as the evil queen. But as opening night approaches, Allie learns it’s not the size of the part, it's the size of the heart that really matters.

Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles

THE WYRM KING: Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 3
Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
ISBN: 9780689871337
Ages 7-up
224 pages

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In the final installment of Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles, Nick and Laurie had thought they solved their giant problems when they drove all the giants into the sea. But now, the Grace kids have come back to tell them they may have more trouble coming their way. It turns out the giants control the population of Hydra, a dragon-like creature that is creating sinkholes all over Florida. But with the mermaids refusing to return the giants to the shore, the nixie’s still missing and the threat of a destroyed Florida drawing closer, the kids have to take matters in their own hands.

Will Nick and Laurie be able to stop the destruction they unwittingly caused? Can a new giant hunter help save the day? Can Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide help them out of this, or are they on their own?

Bobby vs. Girls

BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY)
written by Lisa Yee
illustrated by Dan Santat
Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780545055925
Ages 9-12
160 pages

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Meet Robert Carver Ellis-Chan --- a perfectly normal fourth grader who gets into perfectly crazy situations! Like when he was running for class president and discovered his big sister's panties (static-) clinging to the back of his sweater. Or when he got stuck to the rare, sticky (and stinky) Koloff tree on a field trip…. Then there's his family --- busy mom, ex-pro football player dad, a bossy older sister, and an adoring younger one --- and best friends (one of whom is a secret, because she's a *girl*). Life may be complicated for Bobby, but it's going to turn out just fine.

The Book of Time

THE CIRCLE OF GOLD: The Book of Time III
Guillaume Prevost
Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439883771
Ages 9-12
304 pages

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Sam rescued his father from Dracula's castle, but that doesn't mean their troubles are over. Now Allan Faulkner lies in a coma in the Sainte-Mary hospital, tossing about and muttering aloud about saving Sam's late mother. Sam has no choice but to go back in Time to see her. His inability to control his destination, however, means he journeys to ancient China, Renaissance Rome, and even 2025 --- where he sees his own grave! Can Sam prevent this grisly ending and save his mother once and for all?

Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist

THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX: Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist, Book One
written by R. L. LaFevers
illustrated by Kelly Murphy
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN: 9780547238654
Ages 9-12
144 pages

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Nathaniel Fludd’s life has taken a turn for the worst. With his parents lost at sea, he lands on the doorstep of a distant cousin --- the world’s last remaining beastologist. Soon Nate is whisked off on his first expedition, to Arabia, where the world’s only phoenix prepares to lay its new egg. When disaster strikes, Nate quickly finds himself all alone.


Will he be able to see the phoenix safely hatched, keep his accidental pet gremlin out of trouble, and rescue his guardian from the Bedouin? If he fails, nothing will stand between the world’s mythical creatures and extinction.

Secret Series

THIS BOOK IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU
Pseudonymous Bosch
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316040860
Ages 8-12
400 pages

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Between the pages of this book lies the secret to the best-tasting chocolate in all the world. I promise, your taste buds will tingle. Your palette will sing! Oh no, have I accidentally tempted you to read this book? I will warn you, however, the most delicious things are never good for you...and this story is particularly scrumptious!

In this tooth-rotting adventure, Cass's mom has been kidnapped by the evil dessert chef and chocolatier, Señor Hugo! The ransom: the legendary tuning fork. Can Cass and Max-Ernest find the magical instrument before it's too late? Will they discover the evil secret ingredient to Señor Hugo's chocolate success?

If you're tempted, take a taste, but just remember...this book is not good for you.

The Seems

THE SEEMS: THE LOST TRAIN OF THOUGHT
John Hulme and Michael Wexler
Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
ISBN: 9781599901312
Ages 10-14
304 pages

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Fixer Becker Drane never thought things could get so bad: he's in deep trouble with The Seems for breaking so many rules, he never gets to see his girlfriend, and it looks like his days as a Fixer may be numbered. So when a train carrying a load of Thought destined for The World disappears, Becker reluctantly agrees to join a crew of fixers to solve the mystery --- in The Middle of Nowhere. The mission leads Becker into a scenario more terrifying and dangerous than he could have ever prepared for. Getting the Train of Thought back on track is just a temporary Fix. Becker's real mission may prove to be saving The World from ending --- forever.

Septimus Heap

SYREN: Septimus Heap, Book Five
Angie Sage
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060882105
Ages 9-up
640 pages

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In this fifth book in the Magykal series, Septimus ends up on a captivatingly beautiful island --- one of seven set in a sparkling sea. He’s stranded there with his badly injured dragon, Spit Fyre, along with Jenna and Beetle. There are some strange things about the island, including a Magykal girl named Syrah, a cat-shaped lighthouse that has lost its Light, and an eerie presence that sings to Septimus. Can he escape the persistent call?

Trouble is also brewing for Lucy and Wolf Boy, who have become entangled with nefarious sailors at sea, and for Milo Banda, Jenna’s father, who is harboring a mysterious treasure chest in his ship’s hold…

Sequel to AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS

AL CAPONE SHINES MY SHOES
Gennifer Choldenko
Dial Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780803734609
Ages 8-12
288 pages

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Moose and the cons are about to get a lot closer in this much-anticipated sequel to AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS.

It’s 1935. Moose Flanagan lives on Alcatraz with his family, the other families of the guards, and a few hundred no-name hit men, con men, mad dog murderers and a handful of bank robbers too. And one of those cons has just done him a big favor.

You see, Moose has never met Al Capone, but a few weeks ago Moose wrote a letter to him asking him to use his influence to get his sister, Natalie, into a school she desperately needs in San Francisco. After Natalie got accepted, a note appeared in Moose’s freshly laundered shirt that said: Done.

As this book begins, Moose discovers a new note. This one says: Your turn. Is it really from Capone? What does it mean? Moose can’t risk anything that might get his dad fired. But how can he ignore Al Capone?

Sequel to SWINDLE

ZOOBREAK
Gordon Korman
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780545124997
Ages 9-12
256 pages

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When Griffin Bing's class goes to a floating zoo, they don't expect to see animals being treated so badly. They don't expect to find Cleo, Dog Whisperer Savannah's pet monkey who's been missing for weeks. And they really don't expect to have to hide the animals once they've rescued them. Hilarity ensues as Griffin's team once more pulls off a heist...trying to break the animals back into a (better) zoo.

THE CIRCUS SHIP
written and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763630904
Ages 4-8
40 pages

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When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the poor animals are left on their own to swim the chilly waters. Staggering onto a nearby island, they soon win over the wary townspeople with their kind, courageous ways. So well do the critters blend in that when the greedy circus owner returns to claim them, villagers of all species conspire to outsmart the bloated blowhard.

DEWEY: THERE’S A CAT IN THE LIBRARY!
written by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter
illustrated by Steve James
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316068741
Ages 4-8
40 pages

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When Librarian Vicki Myron finds a young kitten abandoned in the Spencer Library return box, she nurses him back to health, deciding then and there that he will be their library cat, and naming him, appropriately, Dewey Readmore Books. Dewey loves his new home, but once he discovers the littlest library visitors --- who like to chase him, pull his tail, and squeeze him extra tight --- Dewey begins to wonder if he's truly cut out for the demands of his new job.

THE LION AND THE MOUSE
illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316013567
Ages 4-7
40 pages

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In award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney's wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he'd planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher's trap. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively-drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling, and his stunning pictures speak volumes.

PEENY BUTTER FUDGE
written by Toni Morrison and Slade Morrison
illustrated by Joe Cepeda
Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781416983323
Ages 4-8
32 pages

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There is no one like Nana in the whole wide world. She is the best. Nana knows how to take an ordinary afternoon and make it extra special! Nap time, story time and playtime are transformed by fairies, dragons, dancing and pretending --- and then mixing and fixing yummy, yummy fudge just like Nana and Mommy did not so many years ago....

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison and her son Slade tell a story of what really goes on when Nana is left in charge.