| Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. BunceIntroducing: Myrtle, a 12-year-old girl who’s more interested in crime and toxicology than she is in following Victorian rules for Young Ladies of Quality.
What happens: When nobody in her small English village believes that Myrtle’s neighbor was poisoned, Myrtle decides to find the murderer herself, proving both her intelligence and her skill as a sleuth.
Series alert: Packed with wit, twists, and eccentric characters, this book kicks off the Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery series. |
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Whiti : Colossal Squid of the Deep
by Cleal, Victoria
"The colossal squid has been the most popular exhibit at Te Papa since it arrived there in 2007. Now this appealing book for young readers tells the fascinating story of these creatures from the deep, through sparkling and informative text and amazing illustrations. A must-have natural history book for young readers and their whānau and teachers"
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The Forever Horse
by Stacy Gregg
Maisie has always loved horses. She is also a talented artist. When the opportunity arises for her to go to art school in Paris, she doesn't imagine she'll get to ride there too. But in the very heart of the city, Maisie comes across the Republican Garde Stables and meets the beautiful white stallion Claude. As their bond develops, Maisie can't imagine life without him... As these two worlds collide, Maisie discovers the secret diaries of famous horse artist, Rose Bonifait, taking her back in time to 1848. But as the two girls stories emerge, tragedies unfold - both past and present - in a story that takes us from Paris right into the wild horselands of the Camargue...
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| Twins by Varian Johnson; illustrated by Shannon WrightStarring: brainy, nervous Maureen and confident go-getter Francine, identical twin sisters who used to be best friends.
What happens: Starting middle school highlights the ways in which the sisters are growing apart, although they still agree about one thing: each wants to beat the other in the race for class president.
Art alert: Smart details and expressive faces make it easy to tell the feuding twins apart in this warm, funny read (the 1st in a series). |
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The Book of Mythical Beasts and Magical Creatures : Meet Your Favourite Monsters, Fairies, Heroes, and Tricksters from All Around the World by Inc. Dorling KindersleyEnter the enchanting world of mythical creatures and explore the history behind them in this beautifully illustrated compendium. You'll meet an incredible cast of mind-boggling fictional animals from all around the world. Say hello to Bigfoot in the forests of North America and learn about the Native American traditions that inspired its story. Voyage to Japan to meet kitsune, supernatural nine-tailed foxes that can turn into humans. And jump onboard an ancient storm-battered ship to learn why mermaids were the last thing a sailor wanted to see. Learn about the societies that spawned these legendary creatures, from Ancient Greece to the indigenous tribes of Australia, and find out what the beasts tell us about the people who created them.
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| Saucy by Cynthia KadohataWhat it's about: In search of something to set her apart from her three siblings, 11-year-old Becca adopts a lost, sick piglet and names it Saucy. But adding an ever-growing pig to an already busy, messy family turns out to be way more trouble than Becca expected.
Why you might like it: It's hard not to smile at Saucy's attitude-filled antics, and you'll want to spend even more time with Becca and her diverse, loving, perfectly imperfect family. |
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Kidnap on the California Comet
by M. G. Leonard
While on a journey from Chicago to San Francisco on the California Comet with his uncle, amateur sleuth Hal Beck stumbles into a mystery when the daughter of a billionaire tech entrepreneur goes missing.
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Messi Rules
by Simon Mugford
If Lionel Messi is your favourite football superstar, then this book is for you. Discover how Little Leo left his home in Argentina to lead the strikeforce at Barcelona and earn the label, Greatest Of All Time. Learn how Messi won the Ballon d'Or five times, helped Barcelona win the Treble twice, and became Argentina's top scorer!
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Egg & Spoon : an Illustrated Cookbook
by Tylee, Alexandra
A beautiful illustrated cookbook for children--and their families--that celebrates imagination and pleasure in cooking. A fun and modern cookbook for families packed with recipes for meals, snacks, treats, and a whole lot of humour. Alexandra Tylee's lively inner ten-year-old knows exactly what food appeals to children and how to talk to kids about food. She trusts them to choose flavours and handle equipment in this joyful book that will set them on a lifetime love of healthy cooking and eating. Giselle Clarkson's illustrations are salivatingly delicious and subversively playful.
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| One-Third Nerd by Gennifer Choldenko; illustrated by Églantine CeulemansWhat it's about: Either the dog or the family has to go! So says the landlord of the apartment where Liam and his family live with Cupcake, their German Shepherd who keeps peeing on the carpet. Can Liam and his younger sisters -- scientist Dakota and hug expert Izzy -- find a way to keep both their dog and their home?
You might also like: Dana Alison Levy's Family Fletcher series, for further slice-of-life stories about a quirky, loving family. |
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| The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue by Karina Yan GlaserWhat it's about: During one hectic week, the five Vanderbeeker kids team up to save their mom's baking business and investigate the abandoned pets that keep appearing at their already-crowded home.
Series alert: Although this is the 3rd book about the determined, energetic Vanderbeekers, the story stands on its own.
Further reading: Similar to the Vanderbeekers series, Emma Donoghue's Lotterys series focuses on the joys and challenges of life in a large multiracial family. |
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| The Problim Children by Natalie LloydWhat it's about: All seven of the Problim siblings have a "grace," an unusual ability unique to the day of the week when they were born. Altogether, they're a charmingly odd bunch, and they've just moved into their grandfather's old mansion -- right next door to mean, scheming Desdemona O’pinion.
Series alert: 1st in a new trilogy from the author of A Snicker of Magic, The Problim Children has a similar mix of warmth, whimsy, and low-key fantasy. |
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| Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunnWelcome to: Gingerbread Island, North Carolina, where protective older sister Cat and her brother Chicken are visiting the grandparents they’ve only just met.
What happens: Since their dad died, Cat has taken care of Chicken while their mom works. But with their grandparents around to help, Cat's responsibilities shift, making her reconsider how she fits into her family.
Try this next: Teresa E. Harris’ The Perfect Place, which also follows siblings who spend a life-changing summer with an older relative. |
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Portrait Drawing for Kids : A Step-by-step Guide to Drawing Faces
by Angela Rizza
Anyone can take a picture―but drawing a person with recognizable likeness takes practice. Portrait drawing offers a completely unique interpretation of your subject, and Portrait Drawing for Kids gives budding artists the skill set they need to draw pictures of themselves, their family, and friends.
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| Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-GarciaWhat it's about: Sisters Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern travel from their Brooklyn home to rural Alabama so they can spend the summer of 1969 with their grandmother, Big Ma. While there, the girls discover the complicated history of their African American family and get tangled in a long-standing feud between Big Ma and her half-sister.
Series alert: Warm, vivid, and authentic, Gone Crazy in Alabama is a satisfying conclusion to the award-winning series that begins with One Crazy Summer and P.S. Be Eleven. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-11!
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