2019-2020 Book List

Be Kind			Author Pat Zietlow Miller		2019-2020 Gallery
Illustrated by Jen Hill	Publisher Roaring Brook Press	ISBN# 978-1626723214 (HB)	Copyright 2/6/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 2.20
When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate wants to make her feel better, wondering: What does it mean to be kind? From asking the new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this moving story explores what kindness is, and how any act, big or small, can make a difference―or at least help a friend.

Be Kind, by Pat Zietlow Miller, ISBN 978-1626723214, RL2.20. When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate wants to make her feel better, wondering: What does it mean to be kind? From asking the new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this moving story explores what kindness is, and how any act, big or small, can make a difference―or at least help a friend.

A Boy Called Bat			Author Elana K. Arnold		2019-2020 Crown
Illustrated by Charles Santoso	Publisher Walden Pond Press	ISBN# 978-0062445827 (HB)	Copyright 3/14/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 4.60
For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life tends to be full of surprises—some of them good, some not so good. Today, though, is a good-surprise day. Bat’s mom, a veterinarian, has brought home a baby skunk, which she needs to take care of until she can hand him over to a wild-animal shelter. But the minute Bat meets the kit, he knows they belong together. And he’s got one month to show his mom that a baby skunk might just make a pretty terrific pet.

A Boy Called Bat, by Elana K. Arnold, ISBN 978-0062445827, RL4.60. For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life tends to be full of surprises—some of them good, some not so good. Today, though, is a good-surprise day. Bat’s mom, a veterinarian, has brought home a baby skunk, which she needs to take care of until she can hand him over to a wild-animal shelter. But the minute Bat meets the kit, he knows they belong together. And he’s got one month to show his mom that a baby skunk might just make a pretty terrific pet.

Confessions from the Principal’s Kid			Author Robin Mellom		2019-2020 Crown
Illustrated by	Publisher HMH Books for Young Readers	ISBN# 978-0544813793 (HB)	Copyright 8/1/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 3.90
During the school day, fifth-grader Allie West is an outsider. Everyone knows the principal’s kid might tattle to her mom! But after school, Allie is an insider. She’s friendly with the janitor, knows the shortest routes around the building, and hangs out with the Afters, a group of misfits whose parents are teachers at their school. Although Allie secretly loves her insider life, she’s sick of being an outsider—so she vows to join the Pentagon, the popular math team led by her ex–best friend. But can Allie change her status without betraying where she really belongs?

Confessions from the Principal’s Kid, by Robin Mellom, ISBN 978-0544813793, RL3.90. During the school day, fifth-grader Allie West is an outsider. Everyone knows the principal’s kid might tattle to her mom! But after school, Allie is an insider. She’s friendly with the janitor, knows the shortest routes around the building, and hangs out with the Afters, a group of misfits whose parents are teachers at their school. Although Allie secretly loves her insider life, she’s sick of being an outsider—so she vows to join the Pentagon, the popular math team led by her ex–best friend. But can Allie change her status without betraying where she really belongs?

Ellie, Engineer			Author Jackson Pearce		2019-2020 Crown
Illustrated by Tuesday Mourning	Publisher Bloomsbury USA Childrens	ISBN# 978-1681195193 (HB)	Copyright 1/16/2018	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 4.50
Ellie is an engineer. With a tool belt strapped over her favorite skirt (who says you can’t wear a dress and have two kinds of screwdrivers handy, just in case?), she invents and builds amazing creations in her backyard workshop. Together with her best friend Kit, Ellie can make anything. As Kit’s birthday nears, Ellie doesn’t know what gift to make until the girls overhear Kit’s mom talking about her present—the dog Kit always wanted! Ellie plans to make an amazing doghouse, but her plans grow so elaborate that she has to enlist help from the neighbor boys and crafty girls, even though the two groups don’t get along. Will Ellie be able to pull off her biggest project yet, all while keeping a secret from Kit?

Ellie, Engineer, by Jackson Pearce, ISBN 978-1681195193, RL4.50. Ellie is an engineer. With a tool belt strapped over her favorite skirt (who says you can’t wear a dress and have two kinds of screwdrivers handy, just in case?), she invents and builds amazing creations in her backyard workshop. Together with her best friend Kit, Ellie can make anything. As Kit’s birthday nears, Ellie doesn’t know what gift to make until the girls overhear Kit’s mom talking about her present—the dog Kit always wanted! Ellie plans to make an amazing doghouse, but her plans grow so elaborate that she has to enlist help from the neighbor boys and crafty girls, even though the two groups don’t get along. Will Ellie be able to pull off her biggest project yet, all while keeping a secret from Kit?

Gone Camping			Author Tamera Will Wissinger		2019-2020 Gallery
Illustrated by Matthew Cordell	Publisher HMH Books for Young Readers	ISBN# 978-0544638730 (HB)	Copyright 3/28/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 3.00
Hiking in the great outdoors, catching fish, watching the stars come out at night—camping is fun. Until it’s time to sleep. Then, Lucy wonders, what kinds of creatures lurk in the dark? With only her brother and grandpa as tent-mates, will Lucy be able to face her camping fears?

Gone Camping, by Tamera Will Wissinger, ISBN 978-0544638730, RL3.00. Hiking in the great outdoors, catching fish, watching the stars come out at night—camping is fun. Until it’s time to sleep. Then, Lucy wonders, what kinds of creatures lurk in the dark? With only her brother and grandpa as tent-mates, will Lucy be able to face her camping fears?

The Hiding Game			Author Gwen Strauss		2019-2020 Crown
Illustrated by Herb Leonhard	Publisher Pelican Publishing Company, Inc.	ISBN# 978-1455622658 (HB)	Copyright 2/8/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 0.00
At their new home in the Villa Air-Bel, Aube and her family are used to things being hidden. Among the secrets kept at the château are a radio, a cow, and—most secret of all—Aube herself. Even with the threat of Nazi capture looming over their heads, life at the villa has been colorful for the refugees awaiting their escape to safety. Joined by writers, musicians, artists, and great thinkers like Marc Chagall and Max Ernst, Aube spends each day singing, playing games, and creating art. Together, this lively congregation are able to fight back fear and hatred with bravery and laughter—not just for young Aube, but for themselves as well.

The Hiding Game, by Gwen Strauss, ISBN 978-1455622658, RL0.00. At their new home in the Villa Air-Bel, Aube and her family are used to things being hidden. Among the secrets kept at the château are a radio, a cow, and—most secret of all—Aube herself. Even with the threat of Nazi capture looming over their heads, life at the villa has been colorful for the refugees awaiting their escape to safety. Joined by writers, musicians, artists, and great thinkers like Marc Chagall and Max Ernst, Aube spends each day singing, playing games, and creating art. Together, this lively congregation are able to fight back fear and hatred with bravery and laughter—not just for young Aube, but for themselves as well.

How Oscar Indigo Broke the Universe			Author David Teague		2019-2020 Lamplighter
Illustrated by	Publisher HarperCollins	ISBN# 978-0062377494 (HB)	Copyright 11/7/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 4.90
Oscar Indigo has never been good at baseball, so naturally he’s nervous when he has to fill in for his team’s injured All-Star, Lourdes. Luckily, Oscar has a mysterious gold watch that can stop time, which he uses to fake a game-winning home run. Now Oscar’s the underdog hero of his town and even Lourdes wants to be his friend.

How Oscar Indigo Broke the Universe, by David Teague, ISBN 978-0062377494, RL4.90. Oscar Indigo has never been good at baseball, so naturally he’s nervous when he has to fill in for his team’s injured All-Star, Lourdes. Luckily, Oscar has a mysterious gold watch that can stop time, which he uses to fake a game-winning home run. Now Oscar’s the underdog hero of his town and even Lourdes wants to be his friend.

I Can Only Imagine			Author Bart Millard		2019-2020 Gallery
Illustrated by Sumiti Collina	Publisher Thomas Nelson	ISBN# 978-1400321339 (HB)	Copyright 7/3/2018	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 0.00
I Can Only Imagine asks questions a child might ask and invites families to wonder together: What is heaven like? What does God do? What would it be like to spend a day with Jesus? Children will see that although experiencing the glory of heaven may be far off, we can enjoy a friendship with Jesus every day - right here on earth. Whimsical, playful illustrations and thought-provoking questions make this a book that families will cherish.

I Can Only Imagine, by Bart Millard, ISBN 978-1400321339, RL0.00. I Can Only Imagine asks questions a child might ask and invites families to wonder together: What is heaven like? What does God do? What would it be like to spend a day with Jesus? Children will see that although experiencing the glory of heaven may be far off, we can enjoy a friendship with Jesus every day - right here on earth. Whimsical, playful illustrations and thought-provoking questions make this a book that families will cherish.

I Love You, Michael Collins			Author Lauren Baratz-Logsted		2019-2020 Crown
Illustrated by	Publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux	ISBN# 978-0374303853 (HB)	Copyright 6/20/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 5.10
It’s 1969 and the country is gearing up for what looks to be the most exciting moment in U.S. history: men landing on the moon. Ten-year-old Mamie’s class is given an assignment to write letters to the astronauts. All the girls write to Neil Armstrong (“So cute!”) and all the boys write to Buzz Aldrin (“So cool!”). Only Mamie writes to Michael Collins, the astronaut who will come so close but never achieve everyone else’s dream of walking on the moon, because he is the one who must stay with the ship. After school ends, Mamie keeps writing to Michael Collins, taking comfort in telling someone about what’s going on with her family as, one by one, they leave the house thinking that someone else is taking care of her―until she is all alone except for her cat and her best friend, Buster. And as the date of the launch nears, Mamie can’t help but wonder: Does no one stay with the ship anymore?

I Love You, Michael Collins, by Lauren Baratz-Logsted, ISBN 978-0374303853, RL5.10. It’s 1969 and the country is gearing up for what looks to be the most exciting moment in U.S. history: men landing on the moon. Ten-year-old Mamie’s class is given an assignment to write letters to the astronauts. All the girls write to Neil Armstrong (“So cute!”) and all the boys write to Buzz Aldrin (“So cool!”). Only Mamie writes to Michael Collins, the astronaut who will come so close but never achieve everyone else’s dream of walking on the moon, because he is the one who must stay with the ship. After school ends, Mamie keeps writing to Michael Collins, taking comfort in telling someone about what’s going on with her family as, one by one, they leave the house thinking that someone else is taking care of her―until she is all alone except for her cat and her best friend, Buster. And as the date of the launch nears, Mamie can’t help but wonder: Does no one stay with the ship anymore?

In Over Their Heads			Author Margaret Peterson Haddix		2019-2020 Lamplighter
Illustrated by	Publisher Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers	ISBN# 978-1481417617 (HB)	Copyright 4/11/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 5.30
In Under Their Skin, twins Nick and Eryn successfully met their new stepsiblings, Ava and Jackson. But in doing so, the twins found themselves on a mission to discover how to prevent humanity from facing certain doom.

In Over Their Heads, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, ISBN 978-1481417617, RL5.30. In Under Their Skin, twins Nick and Eryn successfully met their new stepsiblings, Ava and Jackson. But in doing so, the twins found themselves on a mission to discover how to prevent humanity from facing certain doom.

John Ronald’s Dragons			Author Caroline McAlister		2019-2020 Gallery
Illustrated by Eliza Wheeler	Publisher Roaring Brook Press	ISBN# 978-1626720923 (HB)	Copyright 3/21/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 4.00
John Ronald loved dragons. He liked to imagine dragons when he was alone, and with his friends, and especially when life got hard or sad. After his mother died and he had to live with a cold-hearted aunt, he looked for dragons. He searched for them at his boarding school. And when he fought in a Great War, he felt as if terrible, destructive dragons were everywhere. But he never actually found one, until one day, when he was a grown man but still very much a boy at heart, when he decided to create one of his own.

John Ronald’s Dragons, by Caroline McAlister, ISBN 978-1626720923, RL4.00. John Ronald loved dragons. He liked to imagine dragons when he was alone, and with his friends, and especially when life got hard or sad. After his mother died and he had to live with a cold-hearted aunt, he looked for dragons. He searched for them at his boarding school. And when he fought in a Great War, he felt as if terrible, destructive dragons were everywhere. But he never actually found one, until one day, when he was a grown man but still very much a boy at heart, when he decided to create one of his own.

Malala’s Magic Pencil			Author Malala Yousafzai		2019-2020 Gallery
Illustrated by Kerascoët	Publisher Little, Brown Books for Young Readers	ISBN# 978-0316319577 (HB)	Copyright 10/17/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 3.60
As a child in Pakistan, Malala made a wish for a magic pencil. She would use it to make everyone happy, to erase the smell of garbage from her city, to sleep an extra hour in the morning. But as she grew older, Malala saw that there were more important things to wish for. She saw a world that needed fixing. And even if she never found a magic pencil, Malala realized that she could still work hard every day to make her wishes come true.

Malala’s Magic Pencil, by Malala Yousafzai, ISBN 978-0316319577, RL3.60. As a child in Pakistan, Malala made a wish for a magic pencil. She would use it to make everyone happy, to erase the smell of garbage from her city, to sleep an extra hour in the morning. But as she grew older, Malala saw that there were more important things to wish for. She saw a world that needed fixing. And even if she never found a magic pencil, Malala realized that she could still work hard every day to make her wishes come true.

Moto and Me: My Year as a Wildcat’s Foster Mom			Author Suzi Eszterhas		2019-2020 Crown
Illustrated by Suzi Eszterhas	Publisher Owlkids	ISBN# 978-1771472425 (HB)	Copyright 4/11/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 5.30
Moto and Me tells the remarkable firsthand story of wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas’s care for an orphaned baby serval—a small, spotted wildcat—in Kenya. When a grass fire separates the serval from his family, a ranger asks Suzi, who is living in a bush camp and is skilled with animals, to be the serval’s foster mom.

Moto and Me: My Year as a Wildcat’s Foster Mom, by Suzi Eszterhas, ISBN 978-1771472425, RL5.30. Moto and Me tells the remarkable firsthand story of wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas’s care for an orphaned baby serval—a small, spotted wildcat—in Kenya. When a grass fire separates the serval from his family, a ranger asks Suzi, who is living in a bush camp and is skilled with animals, to be the serval’s foster mom.

Not So Different			Author Shane Burcaw		2019-2020 Gallery
Illustrated by Matt Carr	Publisher Roaring Brook Press	ISBN# 978-1626727717 (HB)	Copyright 11/7/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 4.10
Shane Burcaw was born with a rare disease called spinal muscular atrophy, which hinders his muscles’ growth. As a result, his body hasn’t grown bigger and stronger as he’s gotten older―it’s gotten smaller and weaker instead. This hasn’t stopped him from doing the things he enjoys (like eating pizza and playing sports and video games) with the people he loves, but it does mean that he routinely relies on his friends and family for help with everything from brushing his teeth to rolling over in bed.

Not So Different, by Shane Burcaw, ISBN 978-1626727717, RL4.10. Shane Burcaw was born with a rare disease called spinal muscular atrophy, which hinders his muscles’ growth. As a result, his body hasn’t grown bigger and stronger as he’s gotten older―it’s gotten smaller and weaker instead. This hasn’t stopped him from doing the things he enjoys (like eating pizza and playing sports and video games) with the people he loves, but it does mean that he routinely relies on his friends and family for help with everything from brushing his teeth to rolling over in bed.

Orphan Train Girl			Author Christina Baker Kline		2019-2020 Lamplighter
Illustrated by	Publisher HarperCollins; Young Readers' ed. edition	ISBN# 978-0062445940 (HB)	Copyright 5/2/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 4.50
Molly Ayer has been in foster care since she was eight years old. Most of the time, Molly knows it’s her attitude that’s the problem, but after being shipped from one family to another, she’s had her fair share of adults treating her like an inconvenience. So when Molly’s forced to help a wealthy elderly woman clean out her attic for community service, Molly is wary. But from the moment they meet, Molly realizes that Vivian isn’t like any of the adults she’s encountered before. Vivian asks Molly questions about her life and actually listens to the answers.

Orphan Train Girl, by Christina Baker Kline, ISBN 978-0062445940, RL4.50. Molly Ayer has been in foster care since she was eight years old. Most of the time, Molly knows it’s her attitude that’s the problem, but after being shipped from one family to another, she’s had her fair share of adults treating her like an inconvenience. So when Molly’s forced to help a wealthy elderly woman clean out her attic for community service, Molly is wary. But from the moment they meet, Molly realizes that Vivian isn’t like any of the adults she’s encountered before. Vivian asks Molly questions about her life and actually listens to the answers.

Resistance			Author Jennifer A. Nielsen		2019-2020 Lamplighter
Illustrated by	Publisher Scholastic Press	ISBN# 978-1338148473 (HB)	Copyright 8/28/2018	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 5.80
​Chaya Lindner is a teenager living in Nazi-occupied Poland. Simply being Jewish places her in danger of being killed or sent to the camps. After her little sister is taken away, her younger brother disappears, and her parents all but give up hope, Chaya is determined to make a difference. Using forged papers and her fair features, Chaya becomes a courier and travels between the Jewish ghettos of Poland, smuggling food, papers, and even people. Soon Chaya joins a resistance cell that runs raids on the Nazis’ supplies. But after a mission goes terribly wrong, Chaya’s network shatters. She is alone and unsure of where to go, until Esther, a member of her cell, finds her and delivers a message that chills Chaya to her core, and sends her on a journey toward an even larger uprising in the works—in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Resistance, by Jennifer A. Nielsen, ISBN 978-1338148473, RL5.80. ​Chaya Lindner is a teenager living in Nazi-occupied Poland. Simply being Jewish places her in danger of being killed or sent to the camps. After her little sister is taken away, her younger brother disappears, and her parents all but give up hope, Chaya is determined to make a difference. Using forged papers and her fair features, Chaya becomes a courier and travels between the Jewish ghettos of Poland, smuggling food, papers, and even people. Soon Chaya joins a resistance cell that runs raids on the Nazis’ supplies. But after a mission goes terribly wrong, Chaya’s network shatters. She is alone and unsure of where to go, until Esther, a member of her cell, finds her and delivers a message that chills Chaya to her core, and sends her on a journey toward an even larger uprising in the works—in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Run with Me: The Story of a U.S. Olympic Champion			Author Sanya Richards-Ross		2019-2020 Lamplighter
Illustrated by	Publisher Zondervan	ISBN# 978-0310761211 (HB)	Copyright 6/6/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 0.00
From her early days running in Jamaica to her final race, Sanya shares the importance of determination, courage and faith. She uses the 4 Ps—push, pace, position and poise—a model created by her coach, Clyde Hart, to approach and tackle every obstacle. In her book, Sanya reveals how these strategies have helped her and will help kids learn how to run their best race in life. Run with Me is Sanya’s story—her wins and her losses—chronicling her unique triumphs and trials with fame, family and faith. Written purposely for the 8-12 audience, this book will inspire kids to pursue their dreams at full speed.

Run with Me: The Story of a U.S. Olympic Champion, by Sanya Richards-Ross, ISBN 978-0310761211, RL0.00. From her early days running in Jamaica to her final race, Sanya shares the importance of determination, courage and faith. She uses the 4 Ps—push, pace, position and poise—a model created by her coach, Clyde Hart, to approach and tackle every obstacle. In her book, Sanya reveals how these strategies have helped her and will help kids learn how to run their best race in life. Run with Me is Sanya’s story—her wins and her losses—chronicling her unique triumphs and trials with fame, family and faith. Written purposely for the 8-12 audience, this book will inspire kids to pursue their dreams at full speed.

Running on Empty			Author S.E. Durrant		2019-2020 Lamplighter
Illustrated by	Publisher Holiday House	ISBN# 978-0823438402 (HB)	Copyright 11/18/2018	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 0.00
CJ is a runner—and when he’s running, he’s fast, free, and flying. It was Grandad who taught him to run, and who did a lot more, besides. Grandad always made sure things were in order around CJ’s house, because his parents could not. CJ’s parents are different, and because they do not have the tools to cope with certain elements of everyday life, it was Grandad who reviewed the water bill, saw to it that the electricity meter had funds, and kept everything else shipshape. But now, with Grandad’s sudden passing and Aunt Joan about to have a baby, CJ knows it’s up to him to make sure Mum and Dad are okay and to keep the household going. It would be a hard job for any adult, but for a kid who’s also starting middle-school and trying to impress the gruff track coach . . . is staying afloat even possible?

Running on Empty, by S.E. Durrant, ISBN 978-0823438402, RL0.00. CJ is a runner—and when he’s running, he’s fast, free, and flying. It was Grandad who taught him to run, and who did a lot more, besides. Grandad always made sure things were in order around CJ’s house, because his parents could not. CJ’s parents are different, and because they do not have the tools to cope with certain elements of everyday life, it was Grandad who reviewed the water bill, saw to it that the electricity meter had funds, and kept everything else shipshape. But now, with Grandad’s sudden passing and Aunt Joan about to have a baby, CJ knows it’s up to him to make sure Mum and Dad are okay and to keep the household going. It would be a hard job for any adult, but for a kid who’s also starting middle-school and trying to impress the gruff track coach . . . is staying afloat even possible?

See You on a Starry Night			Author Lisa Schroeder		2019-2020 Lamplighter
Illustrated by	Publisher Scholastic Press	ISBN# 978-1338195743 (HB)	Copyright 6/26/2018	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 3.80
Juliet has just moved to a beachside town with her newly separated mother and her moody older sister. When she meets their new neighbor, Emma, the girls form an instant bond. Emma’s big family takes Juliet in, and the girls have fun together—starting with the night they throw bottles with secret messages into the sea.

See You on a Starry Night, by Lisa Schroeder, ISBN 978-1338195743, RL3.80. Juliet has just moved to a beachside town with her newly separated mother and her moody older sister. When she meets their new neighbor, Emma, the girls form an instant bond. Emma’s big family takes Juliet in, and the girls have fun together—starting with the night they throw bottles with secret messages into the sea.

This is How We Do It			Author Matt Lamothe		2019-2020 Gallery
Illustrated by	Publisher Chronicle Books	ISBN# 978-1452150185 (HB)	Copyright 5/2/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 0.00
In Japan, Kei plays Freeze Tag, while in Uganda, Daphine likes to jump rope. While the way they play may differ, the shared rhythm of their days—and this one world we all share—unites them.

This is How We Do It, by Matt Lamothe, ISBN 978-1452150185, RL0.00. In Japan, Kei plays Freeze Tag, while in Uganda, Daphine likes to jump rope. While the way they play may differ, the shared rhythm of their days—and this one world we all share—unites them.

This is the Day!			Author Amy Parker		2019-2020 Gallery
Illustrated by Leeza Hernandez	Publisher Little Shepherd	ISBN# 978-1338047035 (HB)	Copyright 3/27/2018	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 0.00
Every day is a day to celebrate and find hope in this colorful, creative storybook inspired by Psalm 118:24. With joyous rhymes and colorful illustrations of all kinds of children, find the beauty and wonder of every moment of the day—and learn that you can make the world even more glorious, too!

This is the Day!, by Amy Parker, ISBN 978-1338047035, RL0.00. Every day is a day to celebrate and find hope in this colorful, creative storybook inspired by Psalm 118:24. With joyous rhymes and colorful illustrations of all kinds of children, find the beauty and wonder of every moment of the day—and learn that you can make the world even more glorious, too!

The Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library			Author Linda Bailey		2019-2020 Crown
Illustrated by Victoria Jamieson	Publisher Greenwillow Books	ISBN# 978-0062440938 (HB)	Copyright 6/20/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 3.70
Eddie is a tiny green bug who loves to read and who lives behind the chalkboard in the fourth-grade classroom with his parents, his 53 brothers and sisters, and his aunt Min. But when Aunt Min goes to the school library to read a book and never returns, Eddie leaves the comfort of his home for the first time and makes the dangerous trek through Ferny Creek Elementary School to find her. After dodging running sneakers, falling books, and terrifying spiders, Eddie reaches the library, where he discovers Aunt Min stuck in a perilous situation! To top it all off, there’s a substitute librarian who aims to close the library for good and get rid of all the books!

The Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library, by Linda Bailey, ISBN 978-0062440938, RL3.70. Eddie is a tiny green bug who loves to read and who lives behind the chalkboard in the fourth-grade classroom with his parents, his 53 brothers and sisters, and his aunt Min. But when Aunt Min goes to the school library to read a book and never returns, Eddie leaves the comfort of his home for the first time and makes the dangerous trek through Ferny Creek Elementary School to find her. After dodging running sneakers, falling books, and terrifying spiders, Eddie reaches the library, where he discovers Aunt Min stuck in a perilous situation! To top it all off, there’s a substitute librarian who aims to close the library for good and get rid of all the books!

Trouble at School for Marvin & James			Author Elise Broach		2019-2020 Gallery
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy	Publisher Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)	ISBN# 978-1627793186 (HB)	Copyright 4/11/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 3.40
Marvin the beetle is off to school with James for the very first time! Everything runs smoothly on this big adventure until the bell rings after lunch and Marvin gets separated from James. In fact, he gets accidentally thrown away! Will Marvin make it back home to his family? How will James find him?

Trouble at School for Marvin & James, by Elise Broach, ISBN 978-1627793186, RL3.40. Marvin the beetle is off to school with James for the very first time! Everything runs smoothly on this big adventure until the bell rings after lunch and Marvin gets separated from James. In fact, he gets accidentally thrown away! Will Marvin make it back home to his family? How will James find him?

The Unicorn Quest			Author Kamilla Benko		2019-2020 Lamplighter
Illustrated by	Publisher Bloomsbury USA Childrens	ISBN# 978-1681192451 (HB)	Copyright 1/30/2018	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 5.40
Claire Martinson still worries about her older sister Sophie, who battled a mysterious illness last year. But things are back to normal as they move into Windermere Manor . . . until the sisters climb a strange ladder in a fireplace and enter the magical land of Arden. There, they find a world in turmoil. The four guilds of magic no longer trust each other, the beloved unicorns have disappeared, and terrible wraiths roam freely. Scared, the girls return home. But when Sophie vanishes in the night, it will take all of Claire’s courage to climb back up the ladder, find her sister, and uncover the unicorns’ greatest secret.

The Unicorn Quest, by Kamilla Benko, ISBN 978-1681192451, RL5.40. Claire Martinson still worries about her older sister Sophie, who battled a mysterious illness last year. But things are back to normal as they move into Windermere Manor . . . until the sisters climb a strange ladder in a fireplace and enter the magical land of Arden. There, they find a world in turmoil. The four guilds of magic no longer trust each other, the beloved unicorns have disappeared, and terrible wraiths roam freely. Scared, the girls return home. But when Sophie vanishes in the night, it will take all of Claire’s courage to climb back up the ladder, find her sister, and uncover the unicorns’ greatest secret.

The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City			Author Jodi Kendall		2019-2020 Lamplighter
Illustrated by Pascal Campion	Publisher HarperCollins	ISBN# 978-0062484536 (HB)	Copyright 10/3/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 4.80
Josie Shilling’s family is too big, their cramped city house is too small, and she feels like no one’s ever on her side. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, her older brother, Tom, brings home a pink, squirmy bundle wrapped in an old football jersey—a piglet he rescued from a nearby farm. Her name is Hamlet.

The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City, by Jodi Kendall, ISBN 978-0062484536, RL4.80. Josie Shilling’s family is too big, their cramped city house is too small, and she feels like no one’s ever on her side. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, her older brother, Tom, brings home a pink, squirmy bundle wrapped in an old football jersey—a piglet he rescued from a nearby farm. Her name is Hamlet.

Unstoppable: True Stories of Amazing Bionic Animals			Author Nancy Furtsinger		2019-2020 Lamplighter
Illustrated by	Publisher HMH Books for Young Readers	ISBN# 978-0544879669 (HB)	Copyright 10/10/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 7.70
Nancy Furstinger profiles Chris P. Bacon and many other animals in Unstoppable—all of whom are making their way around with the help of prosthetics, braces, orthotics and wheelchairs! Readers will meet the caretakers, prosthetists, vets, and loving families that help to make recovery possible. Furstinger offers a glimpse into the cutting-edge technologies, such as 3D printing and brain-controlled prosthetics, that are helping to improve the lives of animals and humans alike.

Unstoppable: True Stories of Amazing Bionic Animals, by Nancy Furtsinger, ISBN 978-0544879669, RL7.70. Nancy Furstinger profiles Chris P. Bacon and many other animals in Unstoppable—all of whom are making their way around with the help of prosthetics, braces, orthotics and wheelchairs! Readers will meet the caretakers, prosthetists, vets, and loving families that help to make recovery possible. Furstinger offers a glimpse into the cutting-edge technologies, such as 3D printing and brain-controlled prosthetics, that are helping to improve the lives of animals and humans alike.

Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge			Author Kristin L. Gray		2019-2020 Crown
Illustrated by	Publisher Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books	ISBN# 978-1481458429 (HB)	Copyright 3/7/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 4.30
Being responsible is NOT easy. Fourth grader Vilonia hasn’t lost her rain coat in the three weeks she’s had it and she’s brushed her teeth every night andshe’s volunteered to be the Friday Library Helper. But all that hard work is worth it if it means she can get a dog. Besides, this dog isn’t just because Vilonia has wanted one for pretty much ever. It’s also to help Mama, who’s been lost in one, big sadness fog for forty-three days—ever since Nana died. But Vilonia read that pets can help with sadness. Now all she has to do is keep the library goldfish alive over spring break, stop bringing stray animals home, and help Mama not get fired from her job. And she’s got to do all of it before the Catfish Festival. Easy as pie, right?

Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge, by Kristin L. Gray, ISBN 978-1481458429, RL4.30. Being responsible is NOT easy. Fourth grader Vilonia hasn’t lost her rain coat in the three weeks she’s had it and she’s brushed her teeth every night andshe’s volunteered to be the Friday Library Helper. But all that hard work is worth it if it means she can get a dog. Besides, this dog isn’t just because Vilonia has wanted one for pretty much ever. It’s also to help Mama, who’s been lost in one, big sadness fog for forty-three days—ever since Nana died. But Vilonia read that pets can help with sadness. Now all she has to do is keep the library goldfish alive over spring break, stop bringing stray animals home, and help Mama not get fired from her job. And she’s got to do all of it before the Catfish Festival. Easy as pie, right?

When the Cousins Came			Author Katie Yamasaki		2019-2020 Gallery
Illustrated by	Publisher Holiday House	ISBN# 978-0823434572 (HB)	Copyright 7/3/2018	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 0.00
Lila is excited for her cousins Takeo and Rosie to visit. They’re going to ride bikes, paint, and camp together! But when the cousins arrive, everything’s wrong: Rosie and Takeo are better painters than Lila, have skateboards instead of bikes, and don’t want to camp outside. Lila is terribly disappointed until the cousins make her a surprise: a big banner for their “best cousin” Lila!

When the Cousins Came, by Katie Yamasaki, ISBN 978-0823434572, RL0.00. Lila is excited for her cousins Takeo and Rosie to visit. They’re going to ride bikes, paint, and camp together! But when the cousins arrive, everything’s wrong: Rosie and Takeo are better painters than Lila, have skateboards instead of bikes, and don’t want to camp outside. Lila is terribly disappointed until the cousins make her a surprise: a big banner for their “best cousin” Lila!

Wishtree			Author Katherine Applegate		2019-2020 Crown
Illustrated by Charles Santoso	Publisher Feiwel & Friends; First Edition edition	ISBN# 978-1250043221 (HB)	Copyright 11/26/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 4.20
Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood “wishtree”―people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red’s branches. Along with a crow named Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red’s hollows, this wishtree watches over the neighborhood. You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red’s experience as a wishtree is more important than ever.

Wishtree, by Katherine Applegate, ISBN 978-1250043221, RL4.20. Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood “wishtree”―people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red’s branches. Along with a crow named Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red’s hollows, this wishtree watches over the neighborhood. You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red’s experience as a wishtree is more important than ever.

Zack and the Turkey Attack			Author Phyllis Reynolds Naylor		2019-2020 Crown
Illustrated by Vivienne	Publisher Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books	ISBN# 978-1481437790 (HB)	Copyright 10/3/2017	Intl. Setting	Reading Level 4.90
Zack has a problem. A turkey problem. A TOM turkey to be exact. Every weekend Zack goes to his grandparents’ farm with his father. As soon as he and his dad pull up in the truck, that ol’ Tom turkey’s right there, waiting, ready to peck, peck, peck at Zack’s legs. Now, Zack isn’t usually a scaredy-cat but this is different. The bird is flat out mean, and has clearly got it out for Zack.

Zack and the Turkey Attack, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, ISBN 978-1481437790, RL4.90. Zack has a problem. A turkey problem. A TOM turkey to be exact. Every weekend Zack goes to his grandparents’ farm with his father. As soon as he and his dad pull up in the truck, that ol’ Tom turkey’s right there, waiting, ready to peck, peck, peck at Zack’s legs. Now, Zack isn’t usually a scaredy-cat but this is different. The bird is flat out mean, and has clearly got it out for Zack.