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Hello, readers! Do you have a question about books for children? Interested in a personalized suggestion? Please feel welcome to email me at amassey@dconc.gov, or visit your librarian at any Durham County Library location. See you at the library! Allie Massey, Children's Librarian Southwest Regional Library
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New and Recently Released! |
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| Unstoppable Octobia May by Sharon G. FlakeHistorical Mystery. Mr. Davenport, the new arrival at Aunt Shuma's boardinghouse, must be a vampire. Ten-year-old Octobia May is sure of it -- why else would Mr. Davenport only come out at night? No one believes her claims, but Octobia refuses to give up her investigation. Though living with her unconventional aunt gives her more freedom than most kids have, it's 1953, and African American Octobia May still faces plenty of danger and discrimination as she discovers that the truth about Mr. Davenport might be less supernatural (but more frightening) than she suspected. Smart, complicated, and offbeat, Unstoppable Octobia May is an intriguing puzzle that will appeal to imaginative sleuths-in-training. |
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| Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with Great Whites of California's Farallon Islands by Katherine RoyNonfiction. Great white sharks are among the world's most famous predators, and they live closer to humans than you might think. Neighborhood Sharks describes how scientists study the great white sharks of the Farallon Islands, an area near the city of San Francisco. While sensitive readers may be more interested in the facts about shark biology (did you know that they have projectile jaws?), those who are drawn to the "violence and wild beauty" (Publishers Weekly) of nature will be riveted by the dramatic, bloody illustrations of sharks on the hunt. Shark fans won't want to miss this gloriously gory read. |
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| The Yeti Files: Meet the Bigfeet by Kevin SherryGraphic Fantasy. Blizz Richards is a yeti, and like his fellow cryptids (creatures from myths and legends), he's taken an oath to stay hidden from humans. Though he's got an awesome secret lair in Nepal, Blizz still misses his family, so he rounds up his friends (Alexander the elf and Gunthar the goblin) and sets out for the Bigfeet reunion in Canada. But with creepy cryptozoologist George Vanquist on their trail, can they make the journey without being spotted? Find out in this goofy, cartoon-illustrated chapter book, the first in the Yeti Files series. For further cryptid adventures, check out the Imaginary Veterinary series by Suzanne Selfors.
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| Zorgoochi Intergalactic Pizza: Delivery of Doom by Dan YaccarinoScience Fiction. Similar to Wendy Mass' Pi in the Sky, this exciting series opener takes an unlikely hero -- a delivery boy -- and sends him into space. Luno Zoorgoochi is only 12, but there's a lot riding on his first interstellar pizza delivery: if he fails, the family business might be taken over by evil mega-corporation Quantum Pizza. Accompanied a super-smart garlic clove and a walking pizza oven, Luno encounters robots, wormholes, Tai Cheese-practicing Mozzarella Monks, and tons of other surprises on his epic delivery run. Full of exaggerated illustrations and super-silly wordplay, Delivery of Doom is "an action-packed slice with everything on it" (Publishers Weekly).
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| Arcady's Goal by Eugene YelchinHistorical Fiction. After his parents are accused of anti-Communist activity and arrested, Arcady grows up in a series of orphanages in Soviet Russia. His self-taught soccer skills catch the attention of former teacher Ivan Ivanych, who adopts Arcady and encourages his soccer training. At first, Arcady sees Ivan as only a coach who might help him win a coveted place with the Red Army Soccer Club. But over time, he begins to understand that Ivan, too, has experienced loss. A companion book to the Newbery Honor-winning Breaking Stalin's Nose, Arcady's Goal is a powerful combination of sports, history, and unforgettable characters. |
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| Life in the Boreal Forest by Brenda Z. Guiberson; illustrated by Gennady SpirinNonfiction. "Boreal" means "of the North or northern regions," and looking at this book's incredibly realistic winter scenes might give you a shiver. From birds to bears and from pitcher plants to whooping cranes, the plants and animals of the great northern forests get introduced in this fascinating book, which shows how they all depend on one another -- and on you -- for survival. Life in the Boreal Forest is seventh heaven for animal and nature lovers. |
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| Weird Sea Creatures by Erich HoytNonfiction. A filmy blue blob drifts across black space, pulsing with light and trailing tentacles. Is it some kind of alien? Nope, it's a carnivorous comb jelly, and like all the animals in Weird Sea Creatures, it really exists. The book provides brief scientific facts about deep-sea dwellers, but the stunning photographs are the real reason you'll keep turning pages. Each creature, from the sea cucumber to the vampire squid, is shown in crisp, glowing detail, highlighting its intense colors or bizarre features. This unusual read offers "eerie, riveting eye candy for budding biologists and casual browsers alike" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| Zombie Makers: True Stories of Nature's Undead by Rebecca L. JohnsonNonfiction. Did you know that there are zombies among us? Don't worry, these zombies aren't after human brains: this excitingly disgusting book examines fungi, viruses, and other kinds of parasites who survive by hijacking the brains and bodies of other animals. For instance, a certain fungus can force a carpenter ant to find just the right environment before the fungus starts growing…out of the ant's head. While Zombie Makers might be too barf-worthy for squeamish readers, those who love all things gross will be intrigued by the astonishing science and up-close photos in these real-life zombie horror stories. |
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| Face to Face with Wild Horses by Yva Momatiuk and John EastcottNonfiction. Few people ever get a glimpse of the wild mustangs that roam the American West, but the remarkable photos in this book may be the next best thing. The large, sharp pictures are its main attraction, but the authors also detail the history of these untamed equine bands, provide fascinating facts about their habits and social structure, and explain both the threats to wild horses' survival and how you can help. |
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| Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea by Sy Montgomery; photographs by Nic BishopNonfiction. The Matschie's tree kangaroo is furry, adorable, and rare. This elusive animal, which has a pouch like a kangaroo but looks more like a bear, lives in the remote cloud forest of Papua New Guinea. In Quest for the Tree Kangaroo, you can follow the intrepid team of scientists who are tracking Matschie's tree kangaroos in the wild. You'll also get a peek at camp life (fending off leeches, bathing in freezing waterfalls) and the local Papuan culture and language. If you like this photo-illustrated look at science in action, you're in luck: there are over 40 more books in the popular Scientists in the Field series. |
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Try something new: Book of the Month Club!
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Looking for more great books? |
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For personalized reading recommendations from Durham County librarians, you may want to try My Next 5! Simply complete an online form to tell us a little about what genres, books, and authors you like (or dislike). A DCL librarian will review your submission and reply within three days with a list of the next five books you should read.
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NextReads is a service of Durham County Library and NoveList, a comprehensive database of fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages, including recommendations, articles, and lists for your fiction and nonfiction needs. Durham County Library cardholders can access NoveList from any computer.
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