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The Wizard's Dog
by Eric Kahn Gale
Meet Nosewise. He’s spunky. He’s curious. And he’s a dog who can’t understand why his pack mates Merlin and Morgana spend all day practicing magic tricks. If it’s a trick they want, he’s the dog to ask! He can already Sit!, Stay!, and Roll Over! But there’s no way Nosewise is Stay!ing when his master and best friend, Merlin, is kidnapped. There’s nothing Nosewise won’t do to get Merlin back, even if it means facing the strange Fae people and their magic-eating worms, or tangling with the mysterious Sword in the Stone. But it may take more than sniffing out a spell to do it!
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The Lego Batman Movie : Junior Novel
by Jeanette Lane
It's not easy being Batman. He's may be a crime-fighting superhero, but he's also lonely. Enter Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon. The adorable orphan and tough-talking police commissioner have big plans for Batman, but will he let them join his team? Or is Batman destined to spend the rest of his life dressed in black, listening to loud music...alone?
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Revenge of the Green Banana
by Jim Murphy
Jimmy Murphy’s sixth grade teacher, Sister Angelica Rose, is out to get him. She humiliates him in class and punishes him when he hasn’t done anything wrong. She even forces him to perform onstage with second-graders, wearing a giant green banana costume. A classic underachiever with a talent for trouble, Jimmy wants revenge, and with his friends he plans a prank that will embarrass Sister Angelica in front of the whole school. What could possibly go wrong?
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| Molly and Pim and the Millions of Stars by Martine MurrayFiction. Ten-year-old Molly's mama was embarrassing even before she turned into a tree. She used to dreamily collect herbs and make weird food for school lunches, but ever since she was transformed by one of her own potions, Molly's mama can only make tree-branch beds and grow unusual fruit. Molly wants her mama back more than anything, but with such a strange problem, she needs help from a strange person -- someone like her offbeat classmate, Pim. Tinged with magic but rooted in everyday life, this story of family and friendship will charm readers who like realistic fiction with a fairy-tale feel. |
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The Adventures of Henry Whiskers
by Gigi Priebe
Twenty-five generations of Whiskers have lived in Windsor Castle’s most famous exhibit: Queen Mary’s Dollhouse. For young, book-loving Henry Whiskers and his family, this is the perfect place to call home. But when the dollhouse undergoes unexpected repairs and Henry’s youngest sister, Isabel, goes missing, he risks everything in a whisker-whipping race against time to save her. His rescue mission will take him to the murky and scary world of Rat Alley, and Henry will have to dig deep and find the courage he never knew he had in order to bring his sister back home.
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| The Harlem Charade by Natasha TarpleyMystery. While helping at her grandparents' Harlem bodega, seventh-grader Jin notices lots of things that other people don't see -- such as her classmate Alex, who secretly uses her family's wealth to help her neighbors. After Jin joins Alex's quiet charity project, the two girls meet Elvin, who's new to Harlem and recently homeless. Elvin's grandfather is in a coma following a mysterious attack, and the three new friends join forces to find the attacker, uncovering fascinating details about the art and history of Harlem along the way. For further urban mysteries starring smart young sleuths, pick up Elizabeth Eulberg's The Great Shelby Holmes or Blue Balliett's Pieces and Players. |
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| Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer TorresFiction. Though she wishes they would give her a little more freedom, middle school artist Estefenia Soto knows that her parents love her. There's only one "family member" Stef just can't stand: Tia Perla, her dad's beloved, battered old taco truck. Instead of letting Stef take the bus to school, her dad drops her off in Tia Perla, earning Stef the embarrassing nickname of "Taco Queen." She does her best to handle the school drama, but when the family business is threatened, Stef might have to step up in Tia Perla's defense. Breezy and sprinkled with Spanish, Stef Soto, Taco Queen serves up a fresh, warm-hearted slice of life. |
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| Mr. and Mrs. Bunny -- Detectives Extraordinaire! by Polly Horvath; illustrated by Sophie BlackallHumorous Mystery. Discovering that her parents have been kidnapped by disreputable foxes, sensible fifth-grader Madeline joins forces with Mr. and Mrs. Bunny (a pair of fedora-wearing, amateur detective rabbits) in order to find and rescue them. That's about all we can say about this wacky, witty story without ruining it -- but if you like fantastical tales with a slightly old-fashioned feel and both humans and talking animals as characters, hippity-hop right to the library and check out Mr. and Mrs. Bunny -- Detectives Extraordinaire! and its sequel, Lord and Lady Bunny -- Almost Royalty! |
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| Bo at Ballard Creek by Kirkpatrick Hill; illustrated by LeUyen PhamHistorical Fiction. Fans of historical fiction will love this cozy, engaging story set in 1920s Alaska. Abandoned by her mother years ago, five-year-old tomboy Bo lives happily with her adopted papas in Ballard Creek, a close, caring community made up of gold miners and Alaska Natives. Though Bo's life is full of hard work (endless chores, sluicing dirt for gold), it's also got plenty of thrills (being chased by a bear, seeing a plane for the first time). Readers will be fascinated by the diverse characters, authentic details, and expressive illustrations in this endearingly simple tale. If you like Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books, you should definitely check out Bo at Ballard Creek. |
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| The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison LevyFiction. It's back-to-school time, and along with their two dads and various pets, the multiracial Fletcher brothers -- sixth-grade athlete Sam, almost-twin fourth-graders Jax and Eli, and bouncy kindergartener Frog -- are excited to start the year. Their stodgy next-door neighbor, however, is NOT happy about their annual traditions, such as the epic Halloween party or the backyard ice rink. Can the Fletchers win him over with their brand of cheerful mayhem? Find out in this lively family story, which is followed by a sequel, The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island. For similar stories featuring sisters instead of brothers, don't miss Jeanne Birdsall's Penderwicks series. |
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| The Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara PennypackerFiction. Twelve-year-old Stella has a happy life on Cape Cod with her great-aunt Louise, although she isn't too fond of Angel, the foster kid Louise has taken in. But then something terrible happens, and Stella and Angel are forced to become a team -- or else they'll both be uprooted and sent away. Intense, deeply emotional, and yet at times surprisingly funny, this story of friendship and survival is one that fans of Kathi Appelt's more fantastical but still mostly realistic book Keeper are bound to enjoy. |
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| The Fantastic Family Whipple by Matthew WardFiction. Eleven-year-old Arthur Whipple doesn't think it's fair that he's a disappointment to his family. After all, being ordinary isn't a problem unless your family is extraordinary. Arthur's 12 siblings have broken nearly 50,000 world records, from Most Crème Brulée Eaten in One Minute to Highest Hamster-Piloted Model Rocket Launch -- how is completely average Arthur supposed to keep up? A new friend and a curious mystery might just help him find a way. Those who enjoy the quirky characters and over-the-top humor in The Fantastic Family Whipple should be sure to check out the sequel, War of the World Records. |
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