Look What's New for Kids!

Dragonbreath: Attack of the Ninja Frogs by Ursula Vernon - When Suki the salamander--the new foreign exchange student--is being stalked by ninja frogs, Danny, Wendell the iguana, and Suki travel to Great-grandfather Dragonbreath's home in mythical Japan to find a solution for the problem.

June Recommendations for Kids

Fiction

Boys are Dogs by Leslie Margolis - While Annabelle is at summer camp, her mother moves in with her boyfriend. Annabelle, accustomed to her uniform wearing all-girl school, is confronted with annoying sixth grade boys. Her life improves with the addition of a new puppy and the dog training manual, which she hilariously also uses to train the boys she encounters.

The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood - A gentle picture book filled with quiet events from morn till night, some seriously, some amusing. Children will identify with first one awake quiet, lollipop quiet, and top of the roller coaster quiet, with parents recognizing the mother moose thinking of a good reason you were drawing on the wall quiet! A treasured book to share at the end of a busy day.

Princesses are Not Perfect by Kate Lum - Princess Allie is a baking expert, Princess Libby can build anything and Princess Ellie could make just about anything grow in her garden. When they become bored, they switch places because they insist, "princesses are good at everything!" Hopefully, they will be ready for the Summer Party!

The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen - The idea for this book is based on an actual event from 1836 when a circus ship foundered off the coast of Maine. When circus animals swim to shore, the locals learn to love them and when the greedy circus owner returns to gather the animals the townspeople have invented clever ways to hide the animals. A fun read for any child who has ever wanted to picnic with a tiger!

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by W.R. Philbrick - Homer’s older brother is illegally sold into the Union Army by the ornery, ruthless guardian, the meanest man in Maine. Homer relates his mostly true odyssey as he searches for this beloved older brother, from their home in Pine Swamp Maine to the Battle of Gettysburg. His amusing adventures as a wild pig boy with a traveling medicine show led by Professor Fleabottom; his encounter with fugitive slave catchers, Stink and Smelt; his travails with a lovesick clergyman duped by a beautiful young woman, and a daring escape in a reconnaissance balloon comprise this action filled tale. Filled with humor and charm, but laced with somber details of slavery and the civil Ward, this historical fiction makes a highly entertaining read.

June Recommendations for Adults

Fiction

Blockade Billy by Stephen King - "Combining a reminiscent, folksy first person point of view of a third base coach now in a retirement home with one of his best forms, the novella, King takes readers on a nostalgic journey to 1957. The framing device is forgotten almost instantly as the reader becomes engrossed in the story of a young player, William "Billy" Blakely, who is called up from the minors to get his big break on a major league team. There’s something not quite right about Billy, but he scores as a catcher and a hitter until his sinister secret is unveiled. King excels when he mines the slightly off-kilter reality of seemingly ordinary people who are hiding dark secrets. Readers unfamiliar with baseball may feel a bit lost in the narrative, which is heavy in both baseball lingo and action, but those who love the game will appreciate the insider’s knowledge and loving detail that King shares. Lavishly illustrated with Alex McVey’s gorgeous pen-and-ink drawings, this read-at-one-gulp tale, which ends with an expected gruesome twist, will appeal to both King and baseball fans." - Charlie Osborne, Oxford P.L., MI (from Library Journal, Xpress Reviews)

Every Last One by Anna Quindlen - "Mary Beth Latham seems to have an idyllic life in a Vermont town as the wife of a respected doctor and the mother of three teenagers. But her son Max has been withdrawn and depressed, unlike his outgoing and popular twin, Alex, and her moody and sensitive daughter, Ruby, wants to break up with her emotionally needy boyfriend, who is practically a member of the family. Quindlen gives her readers an ominous sense of impending tragedy, but it still arrives with a shock. The book is divided into before and after, and it is compulsive reading. You might find yourself racing through the story, which could be drawn from today’s headlines or TV news, and only later reflecting on how skillful the author is in her portrayal of family life in all its little details and in her flawless pacing. Highly recommended." - Leslie Patterson, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence (from Library Journal, Xpress Reviews)

The Lost Books of the Odyssey, a novel by Zachary Mason - "Mason's fantastic first novel, a deft reimagining of Homer's Odyssey, begins with the story as we know it before altering the perspective or fate of the characters in subsequent short story–like chapters. Legendary moments of myth are played differently throughout, as when Odysseus forgoes the Trojan horse, or when the Cyclops—here a gentle farmer—is blinded by Odysseus while he burgles the Cyclops's cave. Mason's other life—as a computer scientist—informs some chapters, such as The Long Way Back in which Daedalus's labyrinth ensnares Theseus in a much different way. Part of what makes this so enjoyable is the firm grasp Mason has on the source material; the footnotes double as humorous asides while reminding readers who aren't familiar with the original that, for instance, Eumaios is the swineherd who sheltered Odysseus when he first returned to Ithaca and later helped him kill the suitors. This original work consistently surprises and delights." - Publisher’s Weekly (Feb.)

Zachary Mason was a finalist for the 2009 New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award.

The Black Minutes by Martín Solares - When a young journalist named Bernardo Blanco is killed in the fictional Mexican port city of Paracuán, investigation into his murder reveals missing links in a disturbing multiple homicide case from twenty years earlier. As police officer Ramón "el Macetón" Cabrera discovers, Blanco had been writing a book about a 1970s case dealing with the murder of several young schoolgirls in Paracuán by a man known as el Chacal. Cabrera realizes that whoever killed Blanco wanted to keep the truth about el Chacal from being revealed, and he becomes determined to discover that truth. The Black Minutes chronicles both Cabrera’s investigation into Blanco’s murder and goes back in time to follow detective Vicente Rangel’s investigation of the original el Chacal case. Both narratives expose worlds of corruption, from cops who are content to close the door on a case without true justice to powerful politicians who can pay their way out of their families’ crimes. Full of dark twists and turns, and populated by a cast of captivating—and mostly corrupt—characters, The Black Minutes is an electrifying novel from a brilliant new voice.
"A breathless, marvelous first novel…This is Latin American fiction at its pulpy phantasmagorical finest…a literary masterpiece masquerading as a police procedural and nothing else I’ve read this year comes close." –Junot Diaz.


Nonfiction

This Time Together: Laughter and Reflections by Carol Burnett - "After detailing her difficult early childhood in the best-selling One More Time, legendary performer Burnett now writes of her amazing journey from being fired from a movie theater usher job to her Broadway success and her amazing TV career on shows such as The Carol Burnett Show and specials with Julie Andrews. Burnett relates behind-the-scenes stories from her show, like Bob Mackie coming up with the concept of her parodic "Went with the Wind" dress, which is now in the Smithsonian. Burnett’s easygoing writing style makes the reader feel like a special friend, as she shares stories about Andrews, Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, and Marlon Brando. Burnett ends the book with the tragic death of her beloved daughter Carrie Hamilton in 2002." -
Sally Bryant, Pepperdine Univ. Lib., Malibu, CA (from Library Journal, Xpress Reviews)

Making Sense of Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Create the Brightest Future for Your Child with the Best Treatment Options by James Coplan, M.D. - "This guide to everything parents need to know about Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) covers spotting the signs, getting a diagnosis, and understanding therapies. Coplan, a board-certified physician in developmental-behavioral pediatrics and neurodevelopmental disabilities, shares knowledge from his vast clinical and research experience. He discusses normal development and how children with ASD develop differently. He explains possible causes and defines likely outcomes for children based on their general intelligence and the severity of their atypicality. Presenting different behavioral and language therapies and medications, Coplan also discusses treatments he does not endorse. Finally, he focuses on how autism affects the family and what parents need to do for themselves and their children now and for the long term. He appends several sections, including a resource list and glossary. Coplan does an excellent job of explanation, presenting information in both words and graphics that are easy to understand. Parents of children with autism will be well served by Coplan’s expertly written and compassionate guide." - Terry Lamperski, Carnegie Lib. of Pittsburgh (from Library Journal, Xpress Reviews)

Hay Fever: How Chasing a Dream on a Vermont Farm Changed My Life by Angela Miller with Ralph Gardner Jr. - "Searching for a fresh start and a shared project, literary agent Miller and her husband bought a dilapidated farm in West Pawlet, VT. Over the course of six years they transformed Consider Bardwell Farm into an award-winning dairy—their cheeses are distributed nationally and served in upscale restaurants like Daniel and the French Laundry. With New York Times contributor Gardner, Miller writes about her decision to keep her Manhattan career while devoting half her week to the physical and financial challenges of dairying. This memoir covers much of the farm’s history but focuses on the 2008 agricultural year. Miller completes "mountains of chores," hires and fires employees, and copes with economic crises—all while managing a willful herd of Oberhasli goats. Full of vivid descriptions and details of business savvy, this book will please cheese enthusiasts and anyone who’s considered a second career in dairy farming. For complementary narratives, look no further than Gordon Edgar’s Cheesemonger and Liz Thorpe’s The Cheese Chronicles." - Lisa Campbell, Univ. of Alabama Lib., Tuscaloosa (from Library Journal, Xpress Reviews)

For All the Tea in China: How England Stole the World’s Favorite Drink and Changed History by Sarah Rose -
In 1848, the British East India Company, having lost its monopoly on the tea trade, engaged Robert Fortune, a Scottish gardener, botanist, and plant hunter, to make a clandestine trip into the interior of China, a territory forbidden to foreigners, to steal the closely guarded secrets of tea horticulture and manufacturing. Disguised in Mandarin robes, Fortune ventured deep into the country, confronting pirates, hostile climate, and his own untrustworthy men as he made his way to the epicenter of world’s finest tea nurseries, the remote Wu Yi Shan hills. One of the most daring acts of corporate espionage and smuggling in history, Fortune's exploit would save the British East India Company and ultimately reshape global economy.
"A wonderful combination of scholarship and storytelling" -Guy Raz, NPR host All Things Considered

Kids Summer Reading Program Book Recommendations

Picture Books

Nanook & Pryce: Gone Fishing by Ned Crowley - Parka-clad friends Nanook and Pryce and their dog Yukon encounter many different types of ocean life and adventure on an unexpected voyage.

Gilbert, The Surfer Dude by Diane DeGroat - Gilbert the opossum imagines himself as Surfer Dude on a fun-filled day at the beach.

Little Boat by Thomas Docherty - One brave little boat is on a journey to discover the seven seas. Setting off into the big, wide world, Little Boat runs into treacherous waters, turbulent tides, and seafaring friends. After all his nautical adventures, our hero finds out that he's no longer such a little boat.

Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud by Johnette Downing - When Crawfish takes advantage of Crab's generosity, his trickery costs him the friendship.

Dirty Joe, the Pirate by Bill Harley - Dirty Joe and his pirate crew terrorize the seven seas in their quest for dirty socks, but they meet their match in Stinky Annie, whose favorite loot is pilfered underwear.

Mermaid Dance by Marjorie Hakala - On the first night of summer when high tide brings the ocean to the edge of the forest, woodland animals watch mermaids frolicking under a full moon.

Archie and the Pirates by Marc Rosenthal - When Archie the monkey finds himself on a strange island, he makes a multitude of new friends who help him defend their home from intruding pirates.

Captain Small Pig by Martin Waddell - Small Pig and his friends Old Goat and Turkey spend the day in a rowboat on a lake.

Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach by Mélanie Watt - Scaredy Squirrel doesn't like crowds so he doesn't go to the beach, he builds his own. However, something is missing so he needs to go to the real beach and retrieve it.

The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen - When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the poor animals are left on their own to swim the chilly waters. Staggering onto a nearby island, they soon win over the wary townspeople with their kind, courageous ways. So well do the critters blend in that when the greedy circus owner returns to claim them, villagers of all species conspire to outsmart the bloated blowhard.


Fiction

Jack Plank Tells Tales by Natalie Babbitt - Pirate Jack Plank is unable to get a job and he spends his evenings telling stories to the other boarders at Mrs. DeFresno boarding house.

Raiders’ Ransom by Emily Diamand - In 23rd-century Great Britain, where climate change has caused vast flooding, the piratical raiders kidnap the Prime Minister's daughter and thirteen-year-old Lilly Melkun, an English fisher-girl, takes her seacat on a daring rescue attempt, with a mysterious talking jewel from a past computer age tucked in her belt as ransom.

Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas by Cary Fagan - School Library Journal: "Jacob Two-Two and his family are moving to Canada from England and have embarked on the SS Spring-a-Leak, along with other passengers who are various types of actors or entertainers. Unfortunately, Jacob finds that things are not all shipshape onboard as he and Cindy, a girl traveling with her mother, soon uncover some devious plans that result in them being captured by pirates."

Emily Windsnap and the Siren’s Secret by Liz Kessler - When Neptune tells Emily and her merman father and human mother to return to Brightport to try to make merpeople and humans work more closely together, Emily faces problems with old enemies, her new, half-merfolk friend Aaron, and a mystery related to a group of legendary lost sirens.

Water Steps by A. LaFaye - Eleven-year-old Kyna, terrified of water since her family drowned in a storm that nearly took her life as well, works to overcome her phobia when her adoptive parents, Irish immigrants with a mysterious past, rent a cabin on Lake Champlain for the summer.

The Wreckers by Iain Lawrence - Shipwrecked after a vicious storm, fourteen-year-old John Spencer attempts to save his father and himself while also dealing with an evil secret about the English coastal town where they are stranded.

Uncle Pirate by Douglas Rees - Wilson is one of the most bullied fourth-graders at the chaotic Very Elementary School until his long-lost uncle, Desperate Evil Wicked Bob--a pirate--and his talking penguin arrive and begin making everything ship-shape, one classroom at a time.

The Not-So-Jolly-Roger by Jon Scieszka - Amazon.com: "Friends Joe, Sam, and Fred--the Time Warp Trio--once again look into the mysterious book sent by Joe's magician uncle and are transported into a pirate adventure full of thrills and high comedy."


Nonfiction

You Wouldn't Want to be a Pirate's Prisoner! by John Malam - Offers a humorous look at life as a captain of a Spanish treasure ship taken prisoner by pirates.

Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys and Gulls by Lucy Nolan - What if Jack and Jill had been playing on a nice soft sand dune instead of that treacherous hill? And suppose Mary's pet wasn't really a lamb? What if Mary had a little clam? This collection retells Mother Goose rhymes and celebrates America's coastlines and waterways from sea to shining sea. Includes "For Creative Minds" section.

National Geographic Oceans: Dolphins, Sharks, Penguins, and More! by Johnna Rizzo - Presents a variety of sea creatures and their homes, including dolphins, sharks, and sea turtles.

Can You See What I See?: Treasure Ship by Walter Wick - A pirate ship and a chest of gold take readers on a journey through time that leads to the location of purloined treasures. Beginning with a zoom of a gold coin, photographs pull back to reveal the story of the coin's travels from the hull of a pirate ship in the 1700s to the shore of a beach town today.

A Thousand Years of Pirates by William Gilkerson - From the days of the Vikings to the present and in all the oceans of the world, pirates have made their presence known and feared. Recorded here are their stories along with striking images of ships, storms at sea, and secret harbors where "black ships" could be re-stocked and refitted.

Shipwrecks: Exploring Sunken Cities by Mary Cerullo - Documents the histories of two shipwrecks while describing the stories of their final voyages as revealed by the objects found around the wreckage, sharing the tales of lost families and fabled gold that motivated their discoveries.