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THE MIGHTY MISS MALONE by Christopher Paul Curtis (Historical Fiction)
In 1936, the country desperately struggles through the Depression. However, 12-year-old Deza is relatively happy; she has her best friend, her treasured books, her beloved school, and her amazing family. But then her father leaves to look for work, and despite his promises, the family doesn’t hear from him for months. Then her mother loses her job as well. With no other options, the family packs up their few belongings and begin a dangerous journey in search for Deza’s dad. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.
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2012 ALA Youth Media Awards
Each year the American Library Association (ALA) honors books and media for children and teens. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards --- including the Newbery, Caldecott, Sibert and Coretta Scott King Book Awards --- guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by committees composed of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards encourage original and creative work in the field of children’s and young adult literature and media.
» Click here to see this year's winning titles and honor books.
Celebrating Black History Month
America may be one of the greatest countries in the world, but the path to get here was long and filled with struggles and mistakes. Black History Month is a time not only to remember the historic wrongs committed against African Americans, but to celebrate their monumental achievements as well.
The books we have compiled teach young people about facets of American history ranging from slavery to segregation. They also show kids how to challenge the status quo and overcome life’s hardships with perseverance, pride, grace, faith and self-confidence. Role models to be found include Frederick Douglass, Satchel Paige, Henry “Box” Brown, and a long list of African American inventors. Our choices consist of picture books, short novels and illustrated poetry to ensure that you find something to inspire the youthful reader in your life or in yourself.
» Click here to see our roundup of books celebrating Black History Month.
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 War Horse
On Christmas Day comes the release of War Horse, based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel of the same name. The movie tells the story of a powerful bond between a young man named Albert and his horse, Joey, during World War I. Albert trains and cares for Joey until the two are forced apart. But the separation is the beginning of a remarkable journey for Joey, who touches the lives of everyone he meets as he moves through the war.
To celebrate its gallop into theaters, WAR HORSE: The Making of the Motion Picture will be available in stores beginning December 27th --- and you will not want to miss it. This outstanding visual companion to Steven Spielberg's epic adventure details the movie's story, its production and real-life history, and includes over 140 dramatic images from the film.
» Click here for more details about War Horse.
 The Adventures of Tintin
Ever since 1929, the French comic book artist Hergé has been spinning thrilling tales of Tintin, a curious young reporter, and his faithful dog Snowy. Now, on December 21st, The Adventures of Tintin, based on the comic book series, comes to the big screen. The film follows Tintin and Snowy as they discover a ship with a centuries-old mystery and get drawn into a desperate chase from a deadly villain. The two travel halfway around the world in search of The Unicorn, a shipwreck that may hold the key to a fortune, and are swept into exhilarating adventures along the way.
» Click here for more details about The Adventures of Tintin.
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DEAR AMERICA: BEHIND THE MASKS: The Diary of Angeline Reddy - Bodie, California, 1880 by Susan Patron (Historical Fiction)
Growing up in the wild gold-mining town of Bodie, California, in the 1880s, Angeline Reddy has seen it all --- saloons, brawls, and a whole lot of desperation. When her father, Bodie's greatest lawyer, is declared murdered, Angie knows deep in her heart that he isn't dead and decides it is up to her to solve the mystery of what happened to him. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
Click here to read our Dear America series feature.
GOOSEBUMPS HALL OF HORRORS #5: DON’T SCREAM! by R.L. Stine (Horror)
Jack Harmon finds a cell phone on the school bus. He raises the phone to his ear and hears a girl's voice: "Hi, Jack. Don't scream. I've been waiting for you. I'm your new friend." Jack tries to end the call, but the girl's voice won't go away. She appears in all sorts of electronic devices --- he can't escape her, and she begins to force him to do dangerous things. But Jack finally outwits the voice when she jumps into his wristwatch. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
Click here to read our Goosebumps HorrorLand series feature with updated trivia.
THE MYSTERY IN VENICE by Geronimo Stilton (Mystery)
When Geronimo’s friend, Petunia Pretty Paws, gives him a crystal figurine of a boat as a gift, he has to accept it. After all, he has the biggest crush on Petunia. But the figurine is so ugly. So Geronimo isn't too sad when his cousin Trap accidentally breaks it, especially when Geronimo discovers a piece of paper inside with a mysterious message from someone in Venice, Italy, asking for help. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
Click here to read our Geronimo Stilton series feature with updated trivia.
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January’s roundup of Cool New Books includes THE MIGHTY MISS MALONE, Christopher Paul Curtis’s novel about a man who is forced to leave his loved ones to find work during the Great Depression and his family’s long search for him; EARWIG AND THE WITCH by the late Diana Wynne Jones, which follows an orphan as she gets adopted unwillingly by a very strange couple; THE WHITES OF THEIR EYES, the third addition to Andrew Clements’s Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School series, in which Ben and his friend Jill fight to prevent their school from being torn down; and THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, a picture book adaptation of the bestselling memoir for adults that introduces readers to a boy from Malawi who sets out to build a windmill that could revolutionize his village.
» Click here
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January’s roundup of New in Paperback titles includes KENNY & THE DRAGON by Tony DiTerlizzi, a fully illustrated retelling of Kenneth Grahame's classic short story "The Reluctant Dragon," about an epic battle between a sophisticated dragon and a retired knight; SPIRITS IN THE STARS, the sixth addition to Erin Hunter's Seekers series, in which Toklo, Lusa, Kallik and Ujurak meet a tribe of bears with a strange illness; THE FOURTH STALL, Chris Rylander’s tale of a rule-breaking problem-solver and his business manager who provide a unique service from the fourth stall in the East Wing boys bathroom --- they can solve any problem; and SKY BOYS by Deborah Hopkinson and James E. Ransome, a riveting brick-by-brick account of how one of the most amazing accomplishments in American architecture --- the Empire State Building --- came to be. » Click here |
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ROBBIE FORESTER AND THE OUTLAWS OF SHERWOOD ST. by Peter Abrahams (Fantasy/Action & Adventure)
Robyn, or Robbie, Forester is sick of all the injustice happening in the world --- or at least in her neighborhood. Armed with a charm bracelet that grants some extraordinary powers, Robbie and her band of thieves look to restore justice and stop the rich from stealing from the poor. Reviewed by Benjamin Boche.
SHOWOFF by Gordon Korman (Mystery)
The Man With The Plan is back for another adventure. Only this time, while his parents are away for six weeks, Griffin has promised that he will behave while staying at Ben’s house. Unfortunately, an unexpected emergency explodes out of control, and Griffin has no choice but to come up with the ultimate plan to save their friend Savannah’s huge, unruly Doberman --- by entering him in a fancy dog show. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.
THE GRAVE ROBBERS OF GENGHIS KHAN: Children of the Lamp, Book 7 by P.B. Kerr (Fantasy/Action & Adventure)
Djinn twins John and Philippa are off on another enchanting and dangerous adventure in the last book of the Children of the Lamp series. As volcanoes begin erupting all over the world, spilling golden lava, the siblings must go on a hunt for the wicked djinn who wants to rob the grave of the great Genghis Khan. Can they stop this latest disaster before the world is overwhelmed? Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts.
THE GENIUS FILES #2: NEVER SAY GENIUS by Dan Gutman (Fiction/Action & Adventure)
Coke and Pep continue their amazing cross-country journey in an RV with their parents, which will take them from Spring Green, Wisconsin, to Washington, D.C. Along the way, their mom and dad insist on stopping at all sorts of strange but interesting tourist traps, with the twins continually receiving weird encoded messages from an unknown source --- all while somebody is still trying to kill them. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.
DUMPLING DAYS by Grace Lin (Fiction)
Pacy’s family is Taiwanese-American, but she has lived all her life in New Hartford, New York. DUMPLING DAYS is about Pacy’s first trip to Taiwan to visit relatives and learn more about the country her parents once called home. Can she be an American when she doesn’t look like everyone else in her school? Can she be Taiwanese when she doesn’t even speak the language? Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood.
FRENCH DUCKS IN VENICE written by Garret Freymann-Weyr, illustrated by Erin McGuire (Fiction)
Siblings George and Cecile live in Venice, California, but think of themselves as French ducks. They have an important friend, Polina Panova, who conjures magical dresses of thread, silk and velvet…of grass, pieces of night sky, and strawberry jam. To the ducks, who delight in her daily visits, Polina is a princess. But when Polina's prince --- who makes movies almost as luminous as her dresses --- decides to go away, life on the canal changes, and so does Polina. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
GLORY BE by Augusta Scattergood (Historical Fiction)
As much as Glory wants to turn 12, sometimes she wishes she could turn back the clock a year. Her sister Jesslyn no longer has the time of day for her now that she’s entering high school. Things have always been so easy with her best friend Frankie, but now suddenly they aren’t. And then there’s the debate about whether or not the town should keep the segregated public pool open. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin
THE DEAD GENTLEMAN by Matthew Cody (Science Fiction/Action & Adventure)
The Dead Gentleman is dead set on conquering earth and bringing all the dead to life. The only two people to stop him live a hundred years apart and seem the unlikeliest of partners. Present and past collide across multiple worlds in order to save the future. Reviewed by Benjamin Boche.
THE NEW KID by Mavis Jukes (Fiction)
Carson’s father moves him to a new town in Northern California, where he'll be the new kid in class --- friendless and alone, except for his beloved stuffed moose (named Moose, of course). As Carson settles into his new surroundings, a series of delightful mishaps start to occur; and when his beloved Moose goes missing, Carson makes his first new non-stuffed animal friend. Reviewed by Kathy Purcell.
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SUPERHEROES: An Amelia Rules! Book written and illustrated by Jimmy Gownley
Amelia Louise McBride has been forced to move out of Manhattan after her parents decided to get divorced, and is now living in a small town with her mom and her aunt. She’s dealing with being the new kid in school, many trips to the principal’s office, first kisses, etc. In this volume, the members of G.A.S.P. (Gathering of Awesome Super Pals) embrace their inner superheroes, even if it means wearing underwear over their pants. Reviewed by John Hogan.
LUZ SEES THE LIGHT written and illustrated by Claudia Davila
Change is in the air. Power outages are increasing, and gas prices are soaring. At first, 12-year-old Luz balks, hardly thrilled by the prospect of actually having to walk to the mall. But Luz doesn't mope for long. After all, her name -- pronounced "loose" -- means "light." Soon, this intelligent and spirited chica begins to understand that she must change with the times. Reviewed by Danica Davidson.
THE ADVENTURES OF SIMONE & AJAX written and illustrated by Andrew Pepoy
Mix: One wacky girl with one tiny dinosaur; Result: Big Fun! THE ADVENTURES OF SIMONE & AJAX collects three full-color, zany tales of Simone & Ajax: “The Case of the Maltese Duck,” “A Christmas Caper” and “Simone, Queen of the Jungle,” plus extras by Eisner-winner Andrew Pepoy (FABLES, THE SIMPSONS). Reviewed by John Hogan.
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GREAT BOOKS FOR BOYS
Kidsreads.com Founder Carol Fitzgerald frequently has been told by mothers how difficult it is to get their sons to read. Some are busy participating in sports and other extracurricular activities, watching television, playing video games and surfing the Internet, while others simply don't like to read, no matter how much free time they may have.
This inspired her to enlist her son Cory, an avid reader, to compile a list of books that he thinks are great reads for boys. Included are series titles and stand-alone fiction that cover a variety of genres: fantasies, mysteries, thrillers, action/adventure novels and historical fiction. While many of these selections also will appeal to girls, they especially will capture the attention of boys, who often are much more reluctant readers.
UPDATED! We have added to our list to reflect those books that have been released since our last update in October 2009. Among our most recent additions are KINGDOM KEEPERS III: DISNEY IN SHADOW by Ridley Pearson, LORD SUNDAY by Garth Nix, POWERLESS by Matthew Cody, THE UNUSUAL MIND OF VINCENT SHADOW by Tim Kehoe and A WHOLE NOTHER STORY by Dr. Cuthbert Soup.
» Click here to see our complete list, along with the latest additions at the top of the page. |
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 Start Your Own Book Club!
Thinking about starting a Book Club? Trying to find new ideas for your Club? Wondering what the heck a Book Club is?! Never fear, Kidsreads has all the answers to your Book Club questions, and some guides to help you lead a good discussion with your friends. Book Clubs are easy to start and lot of fun, so if you love books, this is for you!
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CLASSICS AND NEW FAVES READING LISTS
Listmania! We've freshened up our Reading Lists, adding new titles to our Contemporary Favorites and Classics age categories. Be sure to check them out when you need a great book to read. |
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THE WHITES OF THEIR EYES: Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School, Book 3 by Andrew Clements
