The 39 Clues: Maze of Bones

This new series for 3rd-6th graders, "The 39 Clues: Maze of Bones", begins with the death of Grace Cahill. Grace was the matriarch of the huge, powerful Cahill family (so huge that four hundred family members attended her funeral.) At the reading of the will, family members were instructed to look under their chairs and found a paper guaranteeing they would receive an easy one million dollars, if they were to decline participating in an adventure that could save their family and also the world. Grace's grandchildren, Amy and Dan Cahill, opt for the adventure and begin the most treachurous quest they've ever been on, one that would threaten their lives and reveal the true measure of their relatives' being. This is to be a series of ten books written by different authors, each containing a set of cards that will help you solve the mystery. In addition, after purchasing additional cards, you may go to www.the39clues.com, play the game and possibly win $100,000!

Banned Book Week: Celebrating our Freedom to Read

Banned Book Week is coming soon. The American Library Association sets aside one week a year to celebrate our freedom to read whatever book we like and to freely express our opinions.
From Sept. 27th to Oct. 4th, why not select a book that has been challenged in libraries throughout the United States and see what all the fuss is about. I think you'll find that some of your favorite books are on the challenged list. Yes, "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak is there! "Because of Winn-Dixie" by Kate DiCamillo, "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White,
even "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl all have been challenged at one time or another. Take a look at this list of frequently challenged books and celebrate your freedom to read!

Good Books Come in Threes!

I guess good books come in threes. Let's start with "Julia Gillian (And the Art of Knowing)" by Alison McGhee. Julia Gillian is an only child whose busy parents are both working on their degrees. Julia Gillian has started reading a green book about a dog but, with her "art of knowing" skills tingling, suspects something sad happens to the dog. With her parents too busy to notice her distress, Julia Gillian pulls on her favorite raccoon mask (it makes her feel strong) and relies on her network of protective friends to help her through her fear. Third through fifth graders will enjoy this book.
All you ghost lovers will enjoy "School Spirit", first in the Suddenly Supernatural series by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel. Kat's mom is a medium who helps others with their ghostly problems. Kat is freaking out because her psychic skills have suddenly appeared. How she and her best friend Jac, a wunderkind celloist, deal with the mean girls at middle school, the school ghost and the mysterious dark shadow in the library will have you laughing and wishing for a sequel. Fourth through sixth graders, line up for this one!
Another fantasy novel, "Puddlejumpers" by Mark Jean and Christopher C. Carlson, deals with the mystery of an orphan that no one wants. Ernie Banks was found on the doorstep of an orphanage as a baby, a baseball card and an acorn crystal the only clues to his identity. Now a thirteen-year-old, Ernie has become a troublemaker. Unfortunately, his latest pranks have brought him in front of a judge and he declares that Ernie must join a three week work program on a Farmer Russ's farm. Farmer Russ is kind and hardworking but hides a terrible truth--his only son was kidnapped as a baby. Ernie is determined to find out what happened to the baby and enlists the aid of Joey, a girl from a neighboring farm. With the help of the Puddlejumpers,
Ernie and Joey will have to face the most frightening creatures of the underworld to save the world as they know it. Adventure and ecology combine to create a story that will have you cheering the good guys and booing the bad guys! Anyone from fourth thru eighth grade will enjoy this adventuresome book.

The Girl Who Could Fly

Piper McCloud is the daughter of Betty and Joe McCloud, quiet farmers whose families have lived and worked in the same farming community for centuries. When Betty realizes her daughter has the ability to fly, she secludes the girl on the farm for her own safety. But word gets out and soon the farmer is deluged by reporters. The government arrives in the form of the beautiful Dr. Hellion, head of an institute devoted to children with unusual talents. When Piper finds out there are others like herself, she can't wait to get to her new school to finally make friends and gladly hops into the waiting helicopter. Once there, she meets her schoolmates and is amazed at their abilities. A bullying genius, twins who can control the weather, the world's fastest runner, a girl who can shrink herself to a minuscule size and others are all in her classroom. Good-hearted Piper finds her place and is amazed at how relaxed she feels. Once she finds out that she is being doped to forget her powers, however, Piper realizes they must all leave the institute before they are permanently changed. But with 8 levels of security guards and the evil Dr. Hellion, how will they ever succeed? Victoria Forester, author of The Girl Who Could Fly, has created a unique book that will keep you on the end of your seat. Fourth through sixth graders will love this marvelous story of chutzpah!

Billy Bones

Hey, parents, looking for a book for that 3rd-5th reluctant reader? Well, just clatter on over to the library and check out "Billy Bones: Tales from the Secrets Closet" by Christopher Lincoln. When poor Millicent's parents die, she is taken to live with her evil, social climbing Uncle Bigham. When investigating her new surroundings in the attic, she happens upon the family's Secrets Closet, inhabited by friendly Billy Bones and his parents. Pirate ghosts, monstrous beings, and Uncle Grim (the Grim Reaper) combine for an adventurous, amusing read. Be assured that, while the story deals with skeletons and ghosts, it will not send your youngsters hiding under the covers. Instead, you'll find them cheering Millicent and Billy's friendship and booing the politics of the underworld. (Yes, they have politics there, too!) From the way the book ends, I think it would be fair to say we are seeing the beginning of another "haunting" series.

Yoko, Keisha Ann and Splat the Cat

Rosemary Wells has done it again! Her new book, "Yoko Writes Her Name", features Yoko, a kind and gentle Japanese kitty. When she goes to school and writes her ABCs as she did in Japan, two mean classmates make fun of her and tell her she will never graduate because she can't write them in the English alphabet. The next day, with the help of her understanding teacher and a new friend, Yoko begins to enjoy her new school and, when it becomes appparent the mean girls may not graduate because they can't write their names in Japanese, Yoko graciously steps in to save the day.
In "Keisha Ann Can" by Daniel Kirk, Keisha Ann demonstrates that she can follow the rules to make school fun. Each page begins with rhyming questions ("Who can catch the school bus for the early-morning ride? Who can wait in line until it's time to go inside?) and ends with a resounding "Keisha Ann can!" Your children will love to join the refrain. This is a much needed positive introduction to the first day of school.
Splat the cat is afraid of his first day at school. He finds every excuse not to go, from not having clean socks to "the front door won't let me out, Mom." What Mom doesn't know is that Splat has packed his pet mouse in his lunchbox for company. Just think...a mouse in Cat School...doesn't sound good, does it? Mouse manages to help out the class in a time of need and the cats' perception of mice changes. Rob Scotton is both author and illustrator of "Splat the Cat". Splat has a soft, gently disheveled look, making him the perfect cat for this book.

School's Almost Here!

Wow, we just finished the summer reading program with a successful pool party. Did you know we hosted about 230 people? No wonder the snacks disappeared quickly! Better yet, WE READ OVER 7000 BOOKS! Pat yourselves on the back and be sure you mention to your teacher how many books you read this summer. Did you know that summer reading serves a real purpose, other than winning awesome prizes? Each summer, as you read, your brain is exercising, getting ready to return to school. When school starts, you will find it much easier to resume your studies because your brain is now buff! So, goodbye summer reading.

Buff brains, report to school!