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Kids' Books December 2013
"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."
~ G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936), English writer, as paraphrased by Neil Gaiman
New and Recently Released!
Fairy Tale Comics: Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists - edited by Chris Duffy
Publisher: First Second
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/24/2013
Share Fairy Tale Comics%3a Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists ISBN-13: 9781596438231
ISBN-10: 1596438231
Graphic Novel/Fairy Tales. In this lively follow-up to Nursery Rhyme Comics, 17 fairy tales get visual makeovers from a talented crew of comic artists. Readers will find the comfort of familiar stories (such as an adventurous "Rapunzel" and a wordless, hysterically funny "Goldilocks and the Three Bears") mingled with the novelty of lesser-known tales (like the Japanese "The Boy Who Drew Cats" and "Rabbit Will Not Help" featuring Bre'r Rabbit). With vibrant, diverse illustrations from big names like Raina Telgemeier and Brett Helquist, Fairy Tale Comics is "an instant crowd-pleaser" (Kirkus Reviews).
From Norvelt to Nowhere - by Jack Gantos
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/24/2013
Share From Norvelt to Nowhere ISBN-13: 9780374379940
ISBN-10: 0374379947
Historical Fiction. Twelve-year-old Jack and his elderly neighbor Miss Volker return in this uproarious sequel to the Newbery Award-winning Dead End in Norvelt. It's 1962, and since Norvelt's founder, Eleanor Roosevelt, has just died, Jack and Miss Volker travel to New York to pay their respects at her grave. Their journey takes a sharp detour, however, and soon the companions are on a cross-country road trip in hot pursuit of a serial killer. Filled with unexpected twists and offbeat characters, this zany ride will keep you holding on tight until the last page.
The Abominables - by Eva Ibbotson
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/08/2013
Share The Abominables ISBN-13: 9781419707896
ISBN-10: 1419707892
Fantasy. After young Lady Agatha Farlingham is kidnapped by yetis on a trip through the Himalayas, she discovers that the supposedly "abominable" creatures are actually quite lovable. For years, Agatha lives happily with the family of yetis in their hidden valley, until rampant tourism forces them to abandon their home and make their way to Agatha's family estate. Can the innocent, quirky yetis survive the trip from Tibet to England without being discovered? Find out in his warm, witty, fast-paced fantasy that's just right for Roald Dahl fans.
Rooftoppers - by Katherine Rundell
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/24/2013
Share Rooftoppers ISBN-13: 9781442490581
ISBN-10: 1442490586
Historical Adventure. When scholar Charles Maxim discovers baby Sophie floating in a cello case among the remains of a shipwreck, he decides to keep her, and the two of them form an unconventional but loving family. Once Sophie is 12 years old, they follow the clues from the cello case to Paris, where spirited orphan Matteo and his roof-dwelling friends aid Sophie in the search for her long-lost mother. If you're spellbound by Rooftoppers' breathless adventure and lyrical portrayal of 1890s Paris, you'll savor the mysterious atmosphere of Venice in Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord.
Scaly Spotted Feathered Frilled: How Do We Know What Dinosaurs Really Looked Like? - by Catherine Thimmesh
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/01/2013
Share Scaly Spotted Feathered Frilled%3a How Do We Know What Dinosaurs Really Looked Like? ISBN-13: 9780547991344
ISBN-10: 0547991347
Nonfiction. Devoted dinosaur fans and budding artists alike will be drawn to this unique book about paleoartists and their methods for creating lifelike images of prehistoric creatures. In addition to vivid, full-color images, the book offers detailed information about how paleoartists use fossil findings and other scientific data -- plus a few educated guesses -- to piece together how dinosaurs' muscles, skin, and movement might have appeared. For another fascinating and painlessly educational perspective on paleontology, check out Born to Be Giants by Lita Judge.
Focus on: Dragons
Dragon Castle - by Joseph Bruchac
Publisher: Dial Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/09/2011
Share Dragon Castle ISBN-13: 9780803733763
ISBN-10: 0803733763
Fantasy. Young Prince Rashko believes that his parents and his older brother Paulek, while loveable, are utter fools. He's even more convinced of this after the King and Queen depart castle Hladka Hvorka unexpectedly, the hostile Baron Temny gathers his army outside the castle walls, and Paulek invites Temny and his troops inside. Now it's up to Prince Rashko to stop the baron and save the kingdom -- but, smart as he is, is he up to the challenge? This very funny fantasy boasts a large cast of eccentric and highly entertaining characters, elements of Slovakian folklore, and (of course!) swordfighting, dark wizards, and dragons.
The Runaway Dragon - by Kate Coombs
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/01/2009
Share The Runaway Dragon ISBN-13: 9780374363611
ISBN-10: 0374363617
Fantasy. Though feisty Princess Meg is distressed when her dragon Laddy runs away, she seizes the opportunity to ditch boring palace life in favor of a quest to bring her beloved pet home. But before being reunited with Laddy, Meg and her gang of misfit friends will have to face down an evil sorceress, outsmart a giant, liberate some handsome bandits, and rescue a princess named Spinach. Sure to be a hit with fans of Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles, this rousing, lighthearted sequel to The Runaway Princess crackles with clever humor.
Dragon Rider - by Cornelia Funke; translated by Anthea Bell
Publisher: Chicken House
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 04/01/2011
Share Dragon Rider ISBN-13: 9780545316484
ISBN-10: 0545316480
Fantasy. Of the few remaining silver dragons, young Firedrake is the only one who believes in the Rim of Heaven, a mythical dragon refuge. So when the dragons' home is threatened, Firedrake (along with his grumpy brownie pal Sorrel and human orphan Ben) sets off in search of the legendary haven. As the companions seek out clues from a dazzling variety of fanciful creatures, they're pursued at every turn by Nettlebrand, an evil, golden-scaled monster dedicated to destroying the dragons. Seasoned fantasy readers will be enchanted by the classic style and brisk pacing of this epic tale from the author of the Inkheart trilogy.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - by Grace Lin
Publisher: Little, Brown
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 07/01/2009
Share Where the Mountain Meets the Moon ISBN-13: 9780316114271
ISBN-10: 0316114278
Fantasy. Young Minli and her parents live near China's Fruitless Mountain, and though they all work very hard, they're terribly poor. Enchanted by the folktales that her father tells every night and weary of her mother's bitter complaining, Minli -- aided by a talking goldfish, a dragon who cannot fly, and others -- embarks on a long journey to find the mythical Old Man of the Moon and change her family's fortune. While Minli's grand and exciting adventure is distinctively Chinese, it will thrill fans of other quests with girl heroes, such as The Wizard of Oz or Isobelle Carmody's Gateway trilogy (which starts with Night Gate).
Dragonbreath - by Ursula Vernon
Publisher: Dial Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/11/2009
Share Dragonbreath ISBN-13: 9780803733633
ISBN-10: 0803733631
Fiction. Danny Dragonbreath, a young dragon who hasn't yet mastered the art of breathing fire, dreams of adventure on the high seas. In reality, he gets picked on for being the only mythical creature at his school and has just received an "F" for his science paper on the ocean. With only one night to rewrite his paper, Danny convinces his best friend to come with him to the Sargasso Sea, where his cousin Edward the sea serpent lives...and where, like it or not, real adventure awaits them. With its generous amount of comic-book style art, Dragonbreath is a fun choice for fans of books like Babymouse or the Lunch Lady graphic novels.
Contact your librarian for more great books!

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