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"When I saw those watching faces a giddiness swept over me... I let the music carry me away." ~ Josephine Baker (1906-1975), performer and activist, as quoted in Patricia Hruby Powell's Josephine
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New and Recently Released!
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| The Forbidden Stone by Tony AbbottMystery. A coded email. An antique star map. A suspicious death. All of these mysteries come together when Wade and his stepbrother Darrell realize that they hold the first clue to finding a powerful, time-altering device created by the astronomer Copernicus. Soon Wade and Darrell (along with Wade's dad, his cousin Lily, and Lily's friend Becca) are flung headlong into a code-breaking, puzzle-solving, globe-trotting quest to locate all 12 pieces of the device before the ruthless knights of the Teutonic Order catch up to them. Fans of the 39 Clues series will appreciate the thrilling pace, historical background, and smart humor of this suspenseful series debut. |
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| Leo Geo and the Cosmic Crisis by Jon ChadGraphic Novel. Just as explorer Leo Geo realizes that a comet is hurtling towards the lab where his brother, Matt Data, lives, Matt discovers that Leo's computer companion has a dangerous bug. From opposite ends of this flip-over book, the brothers set out to rescue each other. But with space pirates, black holes, and asteroids in their way, can they meet in the middle before it's too late? Find out in this exciting graphic novel that explains astronomy concepts with unusual wit and energy. Don't forget to check the inside covers for lists of specific (and silly) hidden objects to find in the illustrations.
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| Winter Sky by Patricia Reilly Giff Fiction. Ever since her mother died, 11-year-old Siria has felt compelled to watch over her father, a firefighter. So every time Pop is called out to a fire, Siria sneaks out to follow the sirens and watch the blaze until she knows that Pop is safe. When a series of strange fires endangers Pop and his team, Siria suspects that it might be arson...but she's worried that the evidence might point to one of her best friends. With a feisty and deeply relatable narrator as well as a warm supporting cast, Winter Sky is an authentic and satisfying story about family, friendship, and compassion. |
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| Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell; illustrated by Christian RobinsonBiography. African-American dancer Josephine Baker exploded onto the stage during the Roaring Twenties when she wowed audiences with her innovative moves. Yet "America wasn't ready for Josephine, the colored superstar. Paris was." In expressive free verse, Patricia Hruby Powell describes not only Josephine's fame and flamboyant life in Paris, but also her later exploits, such as spying for the French during World War II, supporting the American Civil Rights Movement, and adopting children from all over the world. Stylish, exaggerated illustrations ably capture Baker's passion and originality both on and off the stage. For another rollicking picture book biography of this remarkable woman, try Marjorie Priceman's Jazz Age Josephine.
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| The Pirates of Crocodile Swamp by Jim ArnoskyFiction. Brothers Sandy and Jack Casperin live on edge, never knowing what their father might do after a night of drinking. One day, their dad drives them right out of Pennsylvania and all the way to Florida. Figuring that he must have done something terrible, the boys escape from their dad and hide...in Crocodile Swamp, a nature preserve that is home to not only crocodiles but also poisonous snakes, a very territorial hammerhead shark, and even a former pirate. Author Jim Arnosky has written dozens of books about wildlife, and his descriptions of the swamp in this fast-paced survival story will fascinate fans of TV nature shows. |
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| The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey by Louise Borden; illustrated by Allan DrummondBiography. Curious George, that famously misbehaving little monkey, always manages to escape disaster. In that respect, he's just like his creators, Margret and H.A. Rey. Both German-born and Jewish, the Reys were living in France when the Nazis invaded in 1940. Through poetic text, well-chosen photos, and original documents, this "quietly dramatic" (The Horn Book) biography describes how the Reys fled Europe by bicycle, train, and boat before arriving safely in New York City. Among the few possessions they brought with them was The Adventures of FiFi -- a manuscript about a certain monkey who would one day be renamed Curious George. |
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| Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid FleischmanBiography. He was born Ehrich Weiss in Budapest, Hungary, in 1874, but he remains known throughout the world as "Harry Houdini," the legendary magician and escape artist. Author Sid Fleischman, who's a magician himself, tells the intriguing story of Houdini's life, from his childhood in Wisconsin to his early days as a struggling showman and his triumphs as the world's most famous magician. Fleischman also describes some of Houdini's famous feats, such as breaking out of a Chicago jail cell and being suspended upside-down in a tank of water. Prepare to be amazed! |
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| Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris GrabensteinMystery. After billionaire game designer Luigi Lemoncello builds a cutting-edge new library in their town, Kyle Keeley and a dozen other 12-year-olds win the opportunity to preview the new building during an overnight lock-in. Once they're inside, however, they're given a challenge: they've got to find their way out of the library using only the resources they find in the library. Cool technology (including a holographic librarian), sly gaming references, and bookish in-jokes combine with clever puzzles in this "instantly engaging and wildly creative mystery" (Booklist) that's sure to appeal to fans of Roald Dahl's classic Charlie and Chocolate Factory. |
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| The Sasquatch Escape by Suzanne Selfors; illustrated by Dan SantatAdventure. Expecting just another snooze-worthy summer with his grandfather in boring Buttonville, Ben is surprised and intrigued when Grandpa's cat catches what appears to be a baby dragon. Ben and his friend Pearl take the dragon to the eccentric Dr. Woo, and learn that Dr. Woo runs an undercover veterinary hospital for imaginary creatures -- creatures like the stinky, pudding-loving sasquatch that Ben and Pearl accidentally let loose! The final pages of this hilariously illustrated fantasy adventure include information about science and mythology, as well as a tasty pudding recipe (just in case you need to feed a sasquatch).
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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