Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) by Stephanie Meyer

I just wanted to say how much I am enjoying this book aimed at grades 9 and up. I kept hearing from all the other librarians that I just had to read it. Well, I am not into fantasy or vampires AT ALL so I kept declining. Then, I had teachers at my own campus keep telling me how much they enjoyed the book. With the movie coming out, I decided to give in...So, I just began it last night and didn't want to put it down but told myself I had to stop. It is only Monday. Had it been Thursday, I would have stayed up all night reading. I will keep you all posted on my thoughts about this book. I am NOT seeing the movie though until I finish the book!!

From School Library Journal Grade 9 and Up:
When Bella Swan moves from sunny Phoenix to Forks, Washington, a damp and dreary town known for the most rainfall in the United States, to live with her dad, she isnt expecting to like it. But the level of hostility displayed by her standoffish high school biology lab partner, Edward Cullen, surprises her. After several strange interactions, his preternatural beauty, strength, and speed have her intrigued. Edward is just as fascinated with Bella, and their attraction to one another grows. As Bella discovers more about Edwards nature and his family, she is thrown headlong into a dangerous adventure that has her making a desperate sacrifice to save her one true love. One of the more original vampire constructs around, this recording of Stephenie Meyers debut novel (Megan Tingley Books, 2005) is narrated with great style by Ilyana Kadushin, who makes the infinitely romantic tale of star-crossed lovers resonate with a bittersweet edge. Although Edward and Bellas romance and subsequent danger develops slowly, the pacing is appropriate for teens who want learn all the details in this suspenseful tale. An excellent purchase for both school and public libraries.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Billy Hooten, Owlboy by Tom Sniegoski

Here is a graphic novel (comic book) to read!

School Library Journal (September 1, 2007) Grades 3-6:
Billy Hooten is a comic-book nerd who has been dubbed "Owlboy" by the class bully because of his last name and his big glasses. When he hears a cry for help coming from a nearby cemetery, Billy follows the voice into a crypt, where he meets Archebold, a goblin, and discovers that he is the next Owlboy, crime-fighting superhero of Monstros City, an underground world populated by every type of monster imaginable. Billy is amazed that his comic-book story is real and is not sure about being a superhero, much less donning the Owlboy costume, which doesn't fit. But after he completes a series of tests and discovers that he has some unusual powers when in Monstros City, he realizes that taking on the mantle of Owlboy is his destiny. He begins his adventures by catching the evil Slovakian Rot-toothed Hopping Monkey Demons. Sniegoski clearly knows his superhero stories and fills this book with tropes that hark back to Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man. Owlboy has an Owlmobile, but there are other more imaginative touches, such as a secret hideout called the "Roost" complete with a gadget-creating troll. This lively tale should be a hit, especially with reluctant readers. A few black-and-white sketches appear throughout.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Easy Origami by Boursin

School Library Journal (February 1, 2006) Grade 4 and up:
Boursin offers directions for 24 models, some of which are original and actually live up to the title's promise. Using standard origami notation (introduced, along with several bases, at the beginning), he presents two-color step diagrams with reasonably lucid captions for an array of animals, toys, and decorations, from a two-piece tuliplike flower, a perky hamster, and a string of paper dolls to a 12-piece geometric ball. Each project is rated for difficulty and includes one or more color photos of the finished work. Many of the models require scissors cuts, which will ruffle origami purists, but paper-folding novices in particular may be drawn to this collection by its unusually clean design and bright, inviting colors.-John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

The Jumbo Book of Needlecrafts by Judy Ann Sadler

School Library Journal (May 1, 2005) Grades 4-7:
An attractive, how-to guide to the basics of knitting, crocheting, embroidery, quilting, and sewing. The introduction presents ideas on how needlework can be used to liven up clothing and create gifts and decor items. The volume begins with helpful suggestions on gathering supplies, measuring, selecting fabric, and stitching. The rest of the book presents detailed, step-by-step directions on basic techniques for projects that range from very simple to intricate. Patterns for decorations include permission for copying for personal or classroom use. Color drawings and photographs are appealing as well as instructive. This book is for an older audience than Ray Gibson's Starting Needlecraft (Usborne, 1994). An excellent addition to needlework collections.-Elizabeth Stumpf, Clearfield Middle School, PA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Book 1 of 7 of the Shadow Children Series)

I am currently reading book 4 of the series. These books are
so enjoyable!
School Library Journal (September 1998) Grades 5th-8th:
Born third at a time when having more than two children per family is illegal and subject to seizure and punishment by the Population Police, Luke has spent all of his 12 years in hiding. His parents disobeyed once by having him and are determined not to do anything unlawful again. At first the woods around his family's farm are thick enough to conceal him when he plays and works outdoors, but when the government develops some of that land for housing, his world narrows to just the attic. Gazing through an air vent at new homes, he spies a child's face at a window after the family of four has already left for the day. Is it possible that he is not the only hidden child? Answering this question brings Luke greater danger than he has ever faced before, but also greater possibilities for some kind of life outside of the attic. This is a near future of shortages and deprivation where widespread famines have led to a totalitarian government that controls all aspects of its citizens' lives. When the boy secretly ventures outside the attic and meets the girl in the neighboring house, he learns that expressing divergent opinions openly can lead to tragedy. To what extent is he willing to defy the government in order to have a life worth living? As in Haddix's Running Out of Time (S & S, 1995), the loss of free will is the fundamental theme of an exciting and compelling story of one young person defying authority and the odds to make a difference. Readers will be captivated by Luke's predicament and his reactions to it.-Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA

No Dogs Allowed! by Bill Wallace

Booklist (July 2004 (Vol. 100, No. 21) Gr. 4-6.
Kristine still hasn't recovered from the death of the family's pet horse when her grandfather surprises her with a new puppy on her eleventh birthday. She pretends to be excited, but she is determined not to care for another pet and risk being hurt again. After Kristine learns that her grandfather has some potentially serious health problems, and that her new baby sister may also be ill, she begins to learn how to manage her fears of losing a loved one. A related subplot, Kristine's interest in a sixth-grade boy, further reveals her unwillingness to take a chance on a relationship that might end painfully. Kristine's first person narration of the story doesn't feel particularly authentic, but the dilemmas she faces and the way she deals with them will ring true to many young readers. Libraries short on fiction dealing with grief or pet death may want to consider adding this.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin

Publishers Weekly (October 13, 1989) Ages 2-6:
In this bright and lively rhyme, the letters of the alphabet race each other to the top of the coconut tree. When X, Y and Z finally scramble up the trunk, however, the weight is too much, and down they all tumble in a colorful chaotic heap: ``Chicka Chicka . . . BOOM! BOOM!'' All the family members race to help, as one by one the letters recover in amusingly battered fashion. Poor stubbed toe E has a swollen appendage, while F sports a jaunty Band-Aid and P is indeed black-eyed. As the tropic sun goes down and a radiant full moon appears, indomitable A leaps out of bed, double-daring his colleagues to another treetop race. This nonsense verse delights with its deceptively simple narrative and with the repetition of such catchy phrases as ``skit skat skoodle doot.'' Ehlert's bold color scheme, complete with hot pink and orange borders, matches the crazy mood perfectly. Children will revel in seeing the familiar alphabet transported into this madcap adventure. Ages 2-6. (Oct.)

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Booklist starred (Vol. 88, No. 7 (December 1, 1991))
Gr. 4-8. In the West Virginia hill country, folks mind each other's privacy and personal rights, a principle that is respected in 11-year-old Marty Preston's family and reinforced by a strict code of honor--no lying, cheating, or taking what isn't yours. When a beagle he names Shiloh follows him home, Marty painfully learns that right and wrong are not always black and white. Marty's dad realizes that the beagle is Judd Travers' new hunting dog and insists they return Shiloh to his rightful owner, even though they both know that Judd keeps his dogs chained and hungry to make them more eager hunters. Sure enough, Judd claims the dog and greets him with a hard kick to his scrawny sides. Marty worries about Shiloh being abused and makes plans to buy the dog . . . if Judd will sell him. Then Shiloh runs away again, and Marty secretly shelters the dog, beginning a chain of lies as he takes food and covers his tracks. Though troubled about deceiving his family, Marty reasons, "a lie don't seem a lie anymore when it's meant to save a dog." The West Virginia dialect richly seasons the true-to-life dialogue. Even when the Prestons care for Shiloh after he is nearly killed by another dog, Mr. Preston insists Shiloh be returned to Judd if he recovers; however, Marty makes a deal with the malicious Judd to earn Shiloh for his own. Not until the final paragraph can readers relax--every turn of the plot confronts them with questions. Like Marty, readers gain understanding, though not acceptance, of Judd's tarnished character. Fueled by the love and trust of Shiloh, Marty displays a wisdom and strength beyond his years. Naylor offers a moving and powerful look at the best and the worst of human nature as well as the shades of gray that color most of life's dilemmas.

Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe

Amazon.com Ages 9-12: This immensely popular children's story is told from the point of view of a dog named Harold. It all starts when Harold's human family, the Monroes, goes to see the movie Dracula, and young Toby accidentally sits on a baby rabbit wrapped in a bundle on his seat. How could the family help but take the rabbit home and name it Bunnicula? Chester, the literate, sensitive, and keenly observant family cat, soon decides there is something weird about this rabbit. Pointy fangs, the appearance of a cape, black-and-white coloring, nocturnal habits … it sure seemed like he was a vampire bunny. When the family finds a white tomato in the kitchen, sucked dry and colorless, well … Chester becomes distraught and fears for the safety of the family. "Today, vegetables. Tomorrow … the world!" he warns Harold. But when Chester tries to make his fears known to the Monroes, he is completely misunderstood, and the results are truly hilarious. Is Bunnicula really a vampire bunny? We can't say. But any child who has ever let his or her imagination run a little wild will love Deborah and James Howe's funny, fast-paced "rabbit-tale of mystery." (Ages 9 to 12) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Sitting Bull Remembers by Ann Warren Turner

Booklist (August 2007 (Vol. 103, No. 22))
Grades 1-3. Though we fought hard, they built their railroad, / and noise and smoke and greed / came to stay on our land. In this handsome, fictionalized picture-book biography (which is catalogued as nonfiction), spare, moving poetry and beautiful double-page paintings depict Sitting Bull, the chief of the Sioux people, remembering how it was. The chief recalls when he was 14 and first counted coup by striking an enemy warrior’s head, and then how it all changed with the arrival of the whites who killed the buffalo and wanted to own the land and sell it, piece by piece. He also remembers Custer, and how the Sioux were hunted and hounded and forced onto the reservation. Then he thinks back to his own surrender. The art includes clear colored-pencil pictures inspired by images of Sitting Bull housed in the Smithsonian Institution. A final note fills in some of the essentials of the rich history.

H is for Home Run: A Baseball Alphabet by Brad Herzog

I just love the sport of baseball!!!

School Library Journal (August 1, 2004)
Gr 1-4-In keeping with the established format of this series, Herzog provides a baseball-related term for each letter of the alphabet. Each page contains the letter in upper- and lowercase as well as an alliterative verse that often makes reading aloud a challenge. The accompanying sidebars, set in a smaller font, provide additional facts for advanced enthusiasts, possibly ESL students-it is difficult to determine the audience for this mixed format. Tricky letters such as U, W, X, and Z are incorporated within the theme more effortlessly than perhaps the Q: "Q is when a base runner/moves at a quick pace./Quietly, he has a quest--/stealing second base." Dramatic, action-packed paintings done from a variety of perspectives capture the energy, personalities, and excitement of the game. Supplemental.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Horn Book starred (March, 1992) Kinder-3rd grade
Young mouse Chrysanthemum loves her name - until she starts school and finds the teasing of her peers unbearable. Then the beloved music teacher, Mrs. Delphinium Twinkle, announces that she plans to name her baby Chrysanthemum, and suddenly everyone wants to be named after a flower. Another very engaging female protagonist from Henkes.

The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin

Booklist starred (January 1, 2006 (Vol. 102, No. 9))
Gr. 3-5. When Lin was a girl, she loved the Betsy books by Carolyn Hayward, a series about a quintessentially American girl whose days centered around friends and school. But Lin, a child of Taiwanese immigrants, didn't see herself in the pages. Now she has written the book she wished she had as a child. Told in a simple, direct voice, her story follows young Grace through the Year of the Dog, one that Grace hopes will prove lucky for her. And what a year it is! Grace meets a new friend, another Asian girl, and together they enter a science fair, share a crush on the same boy, and enjoy special aspects of their heritage (food!). Grace even wins fourth place in a national book-writing contest and finds her true purpose in life. Lin, who is known for her picture books, dots the text with charming ink drawings, some priceless, such as one picturing Grace dressed as a munchkin. Most of the chapters are bolstered by anecdotes from Grace's parents, which connect Grace (and the reader) to her Taiwanese heritage. Lin does a remarkable job capturing the soul and the spirit of books like those of Hayward or Maud Hart Lovelace, reimagining them through the lens of her own story, and transforming their special qualities into something new for today's young readers.

No David by David Shannon

Booklist (Vol. 95, No. 1 (September 1, 1998))
Ages 3-5. The author-illustrator of How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball (1994) and A Bad Case of Stripes (1998), among others, aims at a younger audience with this tally of no-nos inspired by a plainly autobiographical book he created as a small child. All little David hears from his mother as he writes on the wall, runs naked down the road, lets water pour over the side of the tub, sticks his finger far, far up his nose, and the like is "No, David!" "That's enough, David!" "Settle down!" Although Shannon's painterly technique is sophisticated, here he artfully gives his illustrations a childlike look, depicting David as a wooden-doll-like figure with a big, round head, cavorting through a neatly kept home replete with invitingly blank walls and fragile knick-knacks. As the book ends with a parental hug and "Yes, David . . . I love you!" it's not completely negative, and because young listeners will know ALL the words, the temptation to chime in will be irresistible.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Booklist starred (Vol. 89, No. 16 (April 15, 1993))
Gr. 6-9. Lowry once again turns in a new direction; this time to the future. Jonas lives in a world that many of us have longed for. There is no war, poverty, or family turmoil, and so no fear, no hardship, no everyday discontent, no long-term terror. Jonas lives with his father, who's a Nurturer at the childcare center; his mother, who works at the Department of Justice; and his sister, Lily, who is a Six. Jonas himself is soon to be a Twelve, an important age because each year at the annual Ceremony all the 12-years-olds in the community receive their life assignments from the Elders. Jonas is named to the most prestigious and unusual job in the community--the Receiver of Memory. There is only one Receiver, and when he grows old, he trains his successor. Jonas is both puzzled and frightened by his job, which requires him to receive all the memories of their world and the land that lies beyond their community, Elsewhere.
Like the falling of night, the story's mood changes almost imperceptibly. Readers lulled by the warmth and safety of the community will find themselves quite surprised as the darkness enfolds them. What the former Receiver, now the Giver, has to tell Jonas rocks the boy's sense of self and turns inside out the life he has known. At first, the Giver offers benign memories--of snow, sunshine, and color, things that existed before the community went to Sameness--and the boy grieves for what has been lost. But soon Jonas receives memories of pain and death, and then he is torn. Perhaps his community's decision to shelter the citizens from the world's sorrow has been correct. Yet by going to Sameness, the community has also eliminated all possibilities for choice and, finally, for happiness.
The simplicity and directness of Lowry's writing force readers to grapple with their own thoughts about this dichotomy; though it is clear what the right answer is (and, at times, the narrative lacks subtlety in insisting upon that answer), the allure of a life without pain will give even the least philosophical of readers something to ponder. Lowry forces the point for Jonas when he learns that baby Gabriel, whom the family had been raising, is to be Released. Jonas had always thought Release simply meant going Elsewhere, but now he knows the term's real meaning: the baby will be killed. So to save Gabriel, and with the Giver's help, Jonas decides to flee to Elsewhere. Lowry heightens the tension as Jonas and Gabriel dodge search parties and airplanes, face starvation, and become weaker seeking a better place.
Lowry's ending is the most unsatisfying element of the book. Jonas and Gabriel, freezing, starving, very near death, finally see the lights and hear the music of Elsewhere. But have they arrived? Or, as some (mainly adults, perhaps) will wonder--have the children died? With the book's tension level raised so high, readers will want closure, not ambiguity. Anti-Utopian novels have an enduring appeal. This one makes an especially good introduction to the genre because it doesn't load the dice by presenting the idea of a community structured around safety as totally negative. There's a distinctly appealing comfort in sameness that kids--especially junior high kids--will recognize. Yet the choice is clear. Sameness versus freedom, happiness at the risk of pain. Something to talk about.