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The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons
by Natascha Biebow
What it's about: A sumptuously illustrated tribute to the inventor of the Crayola crayon describes how Edwin Binney grew up loving the colors of nature before leading a team to create one of the world's most enduring, best-loved childhood toys.
Who it's for: fans of nonfiction stories, especially kids who think the process of creating crayons is really, really cool.
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| A Small Zombie Problem by K.G. CampbellStarring: lonely August DuPont, who's never been allowed outside his family’s ramshackle mansion until he receives an invitation from an aunt he didn’t know he had.
What happens: August gets a crash course in eerie family history, as well as a new companion: Claudette, the undead relative who follows him home.
Series alert: This goofy and ghoulish illustrated book is the 1st in the Zombie Problems series. |
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| Sea Sirens by Amy Chu and Janet K. LeeWhat it’s about: Wiping out on a huge wave plunges surfer Trot and her one-eyed cat Cap’n Bill deep into the undersea realm of the mermaid-like Sea Sirens, where war with the Sea Serpents is looming -- and Trot’s beloved grandfather might be caught in the middle.
Read it for: a fast-paced fantasy filled with eye-catching art and dreamy details.
Try this next: Katie O’Neill’s Aquicorn Cove, another colorful graphic novel about imaginary sea creatures. |
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Create a Costume!
by Sarah Myer
What it's about: The comic convention is just a few short weeks away. All Bea and Parker need now are great costumes . . . But won't the supplies and materials cost a fortune? Not if Bea and Parker follow a few simple instructions from Costume Critter, the world's cutest cosplayer!
Read it for: actual advice on how to make easy, budget-friendly costumes. You don't have to start from scratch: A few simple modifications can transform thrift store clothes into a variety of costumes. Even mastering the sewing machine isn't as hard as it looks!
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| A Tale Magnolious by Suzanne NelsonWhat it’s about: After orphan Nitty steals a bag of glowing green seeds and rescues a circus elephant named Magnolious, both girl and elephant flee to Fortune’s Bluff, a tiny town troubled by dreadful dust storms and a mean mayor.
Why you might like it: Set during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, this heartfelt story blends history, magic, and mystery.
For fans of: Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan or Kate DiCamillo’s The Magician’s Elephant. |
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| The Oddmire, Book One: Changeling by William RitterWhat it’s about: Troublemakers Tinn and Cole have been raised as human twins, but one of them is actually a goblin changeling -- and neither of them knows which one.
What happens: When they learn that the goblin must return to the horde or else the Wild Wood’s magic will die, Tinn and Cole set out on a hazardous quest for answers about who they are.
Who it’s for: This series starter will grab readers who prefer dark, mischievous fantasy. |
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Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid Body Electric Guitar and Rocked the World
by Kim Tomsic
What it's about: A true story of a rock and roll legend. This is the story of how Les Paul created the world's first solid-body electric guitar, countless other inventions that changed modern music, and one truly epic career in rock and roll. How to make a microphone? A broomstick, a cinderblock, a telephone, a radio. How to make an electric guitar? A record player's arm, a speaker, some tape. How to make a legendary inventor?
Who it's for: A few tools, a lot of curiosity, and an endless faith in what is possible, this unforgettable biography will resonate with inventive readers young and old.
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| My Fate According to the Butterfly by Gail D. VillanuevaWhat it’s about: A black butterfly is a death omen, so after one lands on superstitious almost-11-year-old Filipina Sab, she decides to spend her final week discovering the truth about why her sister won’t talk to their dad anymore.
Read it for: a funny pet duck, an honest look at a tough family situation, and you-are-there descriptions of Manila (including snippets of Tagalog).
Further reading: For a very different taste of Manila, try Marie Miranda Cruz’s Everlasting Nora. |
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The Girl Who Sailed the Stars
by Matilda Woods
What it's about: Oona, nearly eleven, has longed to sail with her sea captain father but when she stows away on his ship headed to the far North, she faces great adventure and danger.
Author alert: If you like the lyrical feel of The Girl Who Sailed the Stars, try Matilda Wood's other book, The Boy, the Bird, & the Coffin Maker.
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| The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer BellWelcome 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.
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| The Unicorn Quest by Kamilla BenkoIntroducing: 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. |
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| Dragon's Green by Scarlett ThomasWhat it’s about: Determined to carry out her dying grandfather’s final wish -- “find Dragon’s Green” -- Effie Truelove discovers that Dragon’s Green is a book that transports readers to the Otherworld, where Effie comes into her own as a True Hero.
Featuring: a fascinating fantasy world and a likable crew of misfits
Who it’s for: Anyone who believes that books are magic will be enchanted by this intriguing 1st book in the Worldquake series. |
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| Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times by Emma TrevayneWhat it’s about: In Victorian London, ten-year-old Jack follows magician Lorcan Havelock through a door into smoggy Londinium, a parallel world filled with clockwork creatures and ruled by the fearsome Lady, who’s decided she wants to keep Jack as her son.
Why you might like it: With touches of history, science fiction, and fantasy, as well as a thrilling plot, this unusual tale will keep you turning pages. |
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| Behind the Canvas by Alexander VanceWhat 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.
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-12! |
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Morton Grove Public Library 6140 Lincoln Ave Morton Grove, Illinois 60053 (847) 965-4220www.mgpl.org/ |
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