Kids' Books
August 2019
Recent Releases
Shouting at the rain
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Struggling with her unconventional home life and growing distance from a friend, a young meteorology enthusiast leans on the support of her Cape Cod neighbors and bonds with a tragedy-marked newcomer who helps her redefine her perspectives on family.
The shores beyond time : book three of the Chronicle of the dark star
by Kevin Emerson

While Mina scrambles to find her friends among the humans and Telphons caught in the blast zone of the Centauri supernova, Liam and Phoebe awaken on a mysterious ship in the middle of a dead universe, in a conclusion to the series that began with Last Day on Mars.
Because of the rabbit
by Cynthia Lord

Accompanying her game warden father on a routine call on the last night of summer before she ends homeschooling and starts public school for the first time, young Emma finds herself caring for a baby bunny while navigating a project with an animal-loving boy who does not quite fit in.
Song for a whale
by Lynne Kelly

Frustrated by the communication challenges of the hearing world as her school's only hearing-impaired student, a 12-year-old electronics whiz uses her tech skills to help a whale that has lost its ability to communicate.
Tree of dreams
by Laura Resau

An urgent story inspired by the painful realities of the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and its people follows the impact of a talking tree, mysticism and chocolate on a community that finds its culture and sacred beliefs targeted for destruction. By the author of The Lightning Queen
Gateway Fantasy
If you love the idea of gateways to other worlds -- think Platform 9 ¾, or the wardrobe that leads to Narnia -- you might enjoy the fantasy books below!
 
 
The Crooked Sixpence
by Jennifer Bell

Welcome to: the secret underground city of Ludinor, where “uncommon” objects are more than they seem: belts make people fly, bicycle bells talk, and toilet brushes are weapons. 

What happens: After a suitcase portal transports them to Ludinor, 11-year-old Ivy and her brother Seb are targeted by a sinister group searching for a valuable uncommon treasure. 

Series alert: If you enjoy the imaginative setting and charming wordplay in this 1st Uncommoners book, don’t miss the sequel, The Shadows of Doom.
The Unicorn Quest
by Kamilla Benko

Introducing: sisters Claire and Sophie, who’ve just moved into Windermere Manor, where a ladder in the fireplace leads to Arden, a magical land on the brink of war.

What happens: When Sophie goes missing -- along with a powerful artifact of Arden’s long-lost unicorns -- timid Claire sets out on a dangerous mission to find them both.

Heads up: This vivid, suspenseful fantasy ends on a cliffhanger, so be ready to jump right into the sequel, Secret in the Stone.
Sweep : the story of a girl and her monster
by Jonathan Auxier

In nineteenth-century England, after her father's disappearance Nan Sparrow, ten, works as a "climbing boy," aiding chimney sweeps, but when her most treasured possessions end up in a fireplace, she unwittingly creates a golem
The trials of Morrigan Crow
by Jessica Townsend

Born on the unluckiest day of the year and blamed for all misfortunes that occur in her community, a girl doomed to die at midnight on her 11th birthday is unexpectedly whisked away by a stranger on horseback who brings her to a magical city, where she learns she has been chosen to compete for a position with an organization comprised of highly talented individuals.
Behind the Canvas
by Alexander Vance

What it’s about: On a class trip to the local art museum, sixth-grade loner Claudia spots a blue-eyed boy who seems to be trapped inside the museum’s paintings. Who is he, and how can she get inside the paintings to rescue him?

Read it for: a smart heroine, an exciting adventure, and plenty of clever, comical footnotes about art history. 
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-11!