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| Henry Heckelbeck Gets a Dragon by Wanda CovenWhat it’s about: Henry’s mom and sister are witches, but Henry is a regular kid who doesn’t know he can do magic until he tries out a spell that brings his toy dragon to life.
Series alert: This fun, easy-to-read chapter book is the 1st in the Henry Heckelbeck series. There’s a whole series about Henry’s sister, Heidi, too!
You might also like: For another book about a surprise pet dragon, try There’s A Dragon in My Dinner by Tom Nicoll. |
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Gross as a Snot Otter: Discovering the World's Most Disgusting Animals
by Jess Keating; illustrated by David DeGrand
What it is: a round-up of 17 amazingly icky animals, complete with photos, cartoons, and facts.
Did you know: that marabou storks poop on their legs to cool down? Or that herring communicate by passing gas? Or that Siberian chipmunks rub their fur with snakeskins to ward off predators? It’s all true!
Series alert: This is the 3rd book in the World of Weird Animals series -- for something less yucky, try Pink Is for Blobfish or Cute as an Axolotl.
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Pie in the Sky
by Remy Lai
What it’s about: After the loss of his father, 12-year-old Jingwen immigrates to Australia with his family. Though his brother Yanghao has no trouble fitting in, Jingwen feels like an alien. The only thing that makes him feel better is baking the cakes he dreamed up with his dad -- an activity he has to hide from his strict mother.
Read it for: an easy-to-read blend of words and crisp cartoon art (think Raina Telgemeier or Gene Luen Yang).
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Just Jaime
by Terri Libenson
What it is: the illustrated story of Jaime and Maya, two best friends who might be former best friends before the day is over.
Why you might like it: Because it’s told from both girls’ points of view, you’ll understand why Jaime feels betrayed when Maya starts freezing her out, as well as why Maya feels pressured by pushy, popular Celia.
For fans of: Shannon Hale’s Real Friends or Victoria Jamieson’s All’s Faire in Middle School.
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Lalani of the Distant Sea
by Erin Entrada Kelly
Starring: 12-year-old Lalani Sarita, the last hope of Sanlagita Island.
What happens: After Sanlagita is plagued with disaster and illness, Lalani sets out across the sea on a quest from which no man has ever returned: to bring back good fortune from the legendary Mount Isa.
Did you know? Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly based this enchanting, hopeful fantasy on folktales from her Filipino heritage.
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Merci Suárez changes gears
by Meg Medina
Alienated from her more privileged classmates at a Florida private school, sixth-grade scholarship student Merci Suarez is targeted by a competitive rival at the same time her beloved grandfather begins to develop memory problems. By the award-winning author of Mango, Abuela, and Me
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| The Parker Inheritance by Varian JohnsonWhat it's about: After finding intriguing clues in her grandmother's attic, bookish 12-year-old Candice and her new friend Brandon search for buried treasure in a small Southern town haunted by the ugly history of racism.
Why you might like it: Switching between Candice's present-day story and her grandmother's in 1957, this suspenseful puzzle mystery encourages you, just like the characters, to piece the clues together. |
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Hello universe
by Erin Entrada Kelly
Lives of four misfits are intertwined when a bully's prank lands shy Virgil at the bottom of a well and Valencia, Kaori, and Gen band together in an epic quest to find and rescue him
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| Camp Panda: Helping Cubs Return to the Wild by Catherine ThimmeshWhat it is: A fascinating, fact-filled book about how humans are helping to increase the threatened giant panda population by preparing panda cubs for life in the wild.
Art alert: Camp Panda is packed with photos of cute, fuzzy baby pandas, as well as memorable pictures of human scientists wearing panda costumes!
You might also like: Nancy F. Castaldo’s Back from the Brink, another hopeful book that explores efforts to save endangered species. |
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The book of Boy
by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Bullied and marginalized because of the hump on his back and his tendency to talk to animals, Boy is engaged as a servant to a shadowy pilgrim who takes him on an expedition across Europe to steal seven religious artifacts from dangerous enemies. By the author of Dairy Queen. 50,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook.
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-11!
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