Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Ask a room full of four-year-olds, “Who likes cookies?” and you will invariably find yourself greeted unanimously by cookie-lovers. Rosenthal uses this universal language of food to demonstrate some big concepts in Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons.

“TRUSTWORTHY means, if you ask me to hold your cookie until you come back, when you come back, I will still be holding your cookie.”

“GREEDY means taking all the cookies for myself. Hee Hee Hee. Yum Yum Yum.”

“LOYAL means that even though the new person has a much bigger cookie, I’m sticking by you and your little cookies because you’re my very best friend.”

Jane Dyer’s precious pastel watercolors of children and animals enjoying baked goods impart a timeless feel to Rosenthal’s book of virtues. Share Cookies over a plate of real cookies for an especially tasty treat.

JD

Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt

Many frightening things keep Scaredy Squirrel at home in his nut tree- tarantulas, poison ivy, green Martians, killer bees, germs, and sharks, to name a few. Sometimes the same old view and the same old nuts get boring, but life in the nut tree is safe and under control. Scaredy Squirrel is prepared with an emergency kit and an exit plan if he should ever have to embark beyond the tree. But Scaredy Squirrel is not prepared when a killer bee appears IN the tree. Mouth opened wide with terror at the smiling bee floating before him, he panics and knocks his emergency kit right out of the tree. It isn’t long before this timid squirrel finds himself outside of the tree as well. Melanie Watt’s simple watercolor illustrations poke gentle fun at a life lived too cautiously. Youngsters who live life on the edge may learn some lessons in safety and careful planning, while the more fastidious may be inspired by Scaredy Squirrel’s realization that it’s sometimes okay to “jump into the unknown.”

JD

17 Things i'm not allowed to do anymore by Jenny Offill

Savvy listeners of all ages will fall in love with Offill’s gloriously naughty narrator. Ever creative, she is undeterred by each new taboo she encounters.

“I had an idea to show Joey Whipple my underpants. I am not allowed to show Joey Whipple my underpants anymore. I had an idea to set Joey Whipple’s shoe on fire using the sun and a magnifying glass. I am not allowed to set Joey Whipple on fire anymore.”

At the end of a busy day of trouble-making, she finally receives approval:

“I had an idea to say the opposite of what I mean to trick everyone. ‘I’m sorry.’ I am allowed to say the opposite of what I mean forevermore.”

While parents may wince at the narrator’s triumph, Carpenter’s sophisticated collage illustrations will appease adult sensibilities. Tots and even teens will appreciate the amusing images of stapled hair, spilled glue, and Delaware-crossing beavers. Mom’s expression as the young narrator attempts to place an order for a different, less vomit-inducing, dinner is a stand-out. Check out 17 Things I’m not allowed to do anymore for that conversation about behavior or just to share a good laugh.

JD

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Aislinn: A seventeen-year-old girl born with the Sight. What does that mean? It means she can she see into the faery world. Aislinn has always followed the rules when it comes to the faery world. These include: don’t stare at invisible faeries, don’t speak to invisible faeries, and most importantly, don’t ever attract their attention. But, things are changing. The rules no longer work for Aislinn and the faery world is becoming a larger part of her life. Why?

Keenan: The Summer King of the faery world. Keenan is looking for his Summer Queen and has been looking for nine long centuries. It is not that he hasn’t found anyone to be his Queen over the centuries, but none of them have ever passed the test, a test that will condemn a girl to a life of winter and cold if not the right one. Now, he has chosen Aislinn to be his Queen. Is she the right one?

Seth: Aislinn’s best friend, and hopefully something more, in the mortal world. Can he protect Aislinn from the faeries so determined to make her a part of their world?

Wicked Lovely is a terrific blend of fantasy and modern day life. Aislinn is a strong female character who knows exactly what she wants, mainly Seth, and will let nothing stand in her way. A fast-paced read that both fantasy and non-fantasy readers will enjoy. YA 10th grade & up.

KSS

The Tenderness of Wolves

Winner of the U.K. Costa Award (formerly the Whitbread Award), The Tenderness of Wolves is a finely wrought tale of complex human beings as they react to a violent murder in 1867 in Dove River in Canada’s Northern Territory. Mrs. Ross, a resident of the settlement, discovers the murder and reports it. The murder casts its shadow on two people, one of whom is Mrs. Ross’s adopted son, who is missing and William Parker, a half-breed Native American trapper, who is found in the murdered trapper’s cabin some time after. Several outsiders are drawn to the community because of the murder: Thomas Sturrock, a man whose inquiry into two children’s disappearance years ago ties him to Dove Rover, seeks something the murdered man owned; Mackinley and Moody, the Hudson Bay Company representatives, are here to find an answer. Mrs. Ross’s son, Francis, is the object of a cross-country trip, fraught with its own dangers: bitter cold, wolves, madmen and dangerous people. Moody sets out to bring back Francis, convinced of his guilt. Mrs. Ross’s devotion to her son (and belief that evidence suggests his innocence) makes her seek out Parker to guide her into the wilderness, frightened as she is of it. Parker has his own reasons for the trip.
Penney writes with fluidly and with wonderful detail – both of personalities and setting. The book is not only suspenseful, but revelatory of human actions, desires and feelings.
This is a true winner!

nrh

Archer's Quest by Linda Sue Park

Most kids know to call 911 when a stranger comes into their house. But Kevin doesn’t have time for this. The arrow that shot through his baseball cap is stuck in the wall, and a new arrow is ready to be shot – right at Kevin. The arrow wielding intruder says that his name is Koh Chu-mong, Skillful Archer, and that he comes from the (ancient) kingdom of Yemek (the country that is today called Korea). Kevin has many decisions to make that all center on one question: is Archer telling the truth, or is he a crazy man who only believes that he is an ancient king? If Archer is from the past than why is he here and how can Kevin help him get back? If Archer is delusional than how can Kevin help him, or at least escape from this man who claims that he got into Kevin’s bedroom when he fell off of a tiger?

Archer’s Quest is a fast paced adventure where reader and author alike can play the game of “What if?” This book gives a small taste of how interesting the past can be – especially when it comes falling into your room with bow and arrow!

AM

The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson

Nina, Mel and Avery have been inseparable friends for years. As the summer leading into their Senior year in High School rolls around, events unfold that begin driving wedges into their once cohesive bond. When Nina flies across the country for a Summer camp at Stanford, she meets the earthy Steve and swan dives into loving admiration.

Meanwhile, back home, Mel and Avery are beginning to forge a different kind of bond in their relationship. When Nina returns she senses something amiss as the once strong trio has become more akin to a lopsided duet. Finding herself struggling with the realities of the new situation, Nina turns to Steve, whose once comforting and frequent emails slowly begin to wane. It isn't long before all three girls must begin to examine their relationships with their own selves to understand their relationships with each other.

The Bermudez Triangle is a page turning novel of discovery, relationships, the pain of heartbreak and the glory of friendship.

KY

Play Dirty by Sandra Brown

Five years ago Griff Burkett, famous quarterback for the Cowboys, did the unthinkable in the sports world: purposely threw games to pay off his gambling debts. Having done his time in prison, Griff is looking to make a new start. But, the first person he sees on his way out of prison is Stanley Rodarte, a low-life scumbag whose sole purpose in life is to bring Griff down.

Not only does Griff have to worry about Rodarte, he has been offered the most bizarre job, so to speak, for Foster and Laura Speakman, a wealthy couple who desperately want to have a child. Griff has been offered a lot of money to father their child and accepting this offer would leave him set for life. But, an offer this good does not come without a price and Griff must decide if he is willing to pay it.

Play Dirty is one of the best books Sandra Brown has written in a long time. The characters are great and the surprise twists and turns of the story will keep readers guessing until the end.

KSS

Good, Good Pig by Sy Montgomery

The naturalist author lives on a farm in New Hampshire with her writer husband and their pig Christopher Hogwood. In Good, Good Pig, she shares and celebrates the learnings garnered from living with him for 10 years; connectedness to community, love and living to appreciate the gifts of life in the present.

PS

Here If You Need Me: A True Story by Kate Braestrup

A memoir by a chaplain to the Maine Warden Service, Kate Braestrup writes of her life as a widow with four young children. She chooses to go to seminary to become a minister, after the tragic death of her state trooper husband.

Here If You Need Me tells the stories of Kate's life serving as chaplain for search and rescue missions in the Maine woods, giving comfort both to the victims families, and to the rescuers. Providing her presence, her comfort, her sense of humor as well as her religious support when requested, she serves as a compassionate and caring presence during times of tragedy and of joy, and reminds us that love and gratitude give meaning to our lives.

PS

Austenland by Sharon Hale

In the novel Austenland, Jane Hayes’ past 13 boyfriends have not compared favorably to Mr. Darcy. Through a bequest from a wealthy great aunt, she travels to an English resort which caters to women who want to live their fantasies in the regency era, complete with carriages, corsets, empire-waist gowns and actors who portray the Regency aristocracy. With hopes of shedding her unrealistic fantasies with regency men and getting on with her real life by immersing herself in regency life for three weeks, she finds herself drawn into mastering Regency etiquette, language and flirting. But her modern sensibilities are at war with the pleasure she feels at times. Does she master her obsession or does she find her own Mr. Darcy: handsome, tall, opinionated, and humbled by Jane’s own realness. Definitely a fun read, and one women who enjoy Austen will want to read!

nrh

Jinx by Meg Cabot

Jean Honeychurch, or Jinx as she is called by her friends and family, has the worst luck in the world. Bad luck has followed her around since birth. In fact, to escape her current misfortune, she is sent to live with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in New York.

Jinx is looking forward to living in New York. The last time she saw her cousin Tory they had such a good time together. But 5 years is a long time not to see anyone and Tory is certainly not what Jinx expected. The new Tory dabbles in drugs, considers herself to be a witch, and has established a coven for witches.

When Jinx realizes that Tory has cast spells, rather unsuccessfully, on the people around her she must step in and finally embrace her own magical power to combat Tory.

Jinx contains all the usual elements of a Meg Cabot book including, humor, romance, witty dialogue with an extra twist of magic. Those who enjoy reading other Cabot books will like this one also.

KSS

The Buenos Aires Broken Hearts Club by Jessica Morrison

At the age of seventeen, Cassie Moore planned her life. On a color-coded spreadsheet, she broke her life into eight manageable ten year stages that were broken down further by five year major goals. Cassie has followed her plan religiously for the past 11 years, never straying from her path. But, in one day, Cassie’s life is turned upside down. She loses her job and she comes home to find her fiancée in bed with his ex-girlfriend…so not in her plan.

In a drunken stupor, Cassie decides she needs time off from her plan, six months, in fact, and she books herself a flight to Buenos Aires. Here she spends the next six months learning Spanish, meeting new people, and finding herself.

The Buenos Aires Broken Hearts Club is an uplifting story of a woman who must let go of everything she has believed in for years to rebuild her life around the theory that sometimes life cannot be planned.

KSS

Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot

Lizzie Nichols, notorious for not being able to keep a secret, is living her dream. After spending the summer in France, she is living in New York with her hot, new boyfriend, Luke. Well, maybe not quite living her dream as she has no money, no job and is living in Luke’s mother’s apartment, but, she is living in New York.

Now she just has to find her dream job of “vintage wedding gown designer/restorer.” After all she did not get her degree in Fashion History from the University of Michigan for nothing. Oh, but wait, she does not have her degree yet, because she went to France last summer and just recently handed in her thesis.

None of these set backs keep Lizzie down for long. She has high hopes of finding her dream job, getting Luke to marry her, and being recognized by Vogue magazine for her creative wedding gown designs. Even her big mouth has not gotten her into trouble…yet.

In Queen of Babble in the Big City, Cabot once again delivers a light, fun read that will be a sure hit for her many fans. If you haven’t read it yet, read Queen of Babble first.

KSS

Obsession by Karen Robards

Katharine Lawrence is brutally attacked at home one night for no reason she can understand, but it instantly changes her life. Her memory seems to have short-circuited from the attack. In addition, she no longer feels she can trust the people she was once close to and has a deep-seated fear that they mean to do her harm.

The only person she feels some sort of connection to is her neighbor—Dr. Dan Howard. But, even he elicits an emotional response in her that she is not sure to trust. She soon discovers she has no choice but to trust him and they find themselves on the run trying to stay one step ahead of those who wish to see her dead.

With great characters and a strong plot, Obsession is a tense, suspenseful novel that will keep you guessing to the end with all of its twists and turns.

KSS

Big Sister, Little Sister by Leuyen Pham

With spare illustrations that evoke the warm, comforting feeling of revisiting children’s picture books from bygone years, Big Sister, Little Sister enumerates both the jealousies and joys in having an older sister. Loveable in her pigtails and deliciously sassy expressions, Little Sister grumbles over the many differences between herself and her older sister. “The Big Sister gets all the new clothes. I’m the Little Sister. I get all her old clothes.” Despite Big Sister’s opportunities to try things first, wear lipstick, and stay up later, Little Sister finds that there are advantages to being the younger one as well. “The Big Sister tells all the good stories! I’m the Little Sister. I get to listen!” When Little Sister is sick, Big Sister performs bedside puppet shows. Originally planned as a gift from the author to her own older sister, this tale is sure to resonate with sisters everywhere.

JD

Letters from Rapunzel

Letters from Rapunzel by Sara Holmes

This story is not a fairy tale. Twelve year old Cadence writes letters to a post office box in hopes of understanding her father’s silence while he is in the hospital. Cadence misses him and his poems.

Her father always writes a new poem for Cadence on each of her birthdays. Will he this year?

In Letters from Rapunzel, Cadence experiences her own problems in school even after testing indicates she is much brighter than her school work currently shows.

Cadence must bravely face the truth about her father and her self. An interesting read for fifth or sixth grade and above. Adults would enjoy this with their child as well; a good book to discuss.

NL

Pants On Fire by Meg Cabot

Entering her senior year of high school, Katie seems to have everything. She’s pretty, smart, has lots of friends and her boyfriend is the best looking guy at school. Well, one of her boyfriends anyway, she seems to have picked up another boyfriend along the way.

But, there is one thing that is not so good. Katie is a liar. She lies to keep everybody happy. In fact, she lies so much she can barely keep her lies straight any more and that is a problem when you have two boyfriends.

And here is another thing that is not so good...Tommy Sullivan is back in town. Tommy is an old middle school friend she helped run out of town in the 8th grade. What is he doing back in town and what does he want? Oh yeah, and most importantly, how did he get so hot?

Pants on Fire is another entertaining novel by Meg Cabot with her trademark witty dialogue and fun characters. You won’t want to miss this one.

KSS

Beautiful Lies

Lisa Unger's debut novel, Beautiful Lies, takes the reader through a fast-paced thriller that looks at how timing and a moment's decision can bring a complete change to everything in one's life. The heroine, Ridley Jones, has had a perfect life, with only a few imperfections in her loving family. A chance good deed, caught on film by a photographer, brings her a moment in the spotlight. That causes someone from a past she didn't know about to contact her and insist that the perfect life she thinks she's leading is nothing but a lie.

Suddenly nothing is as it seems, and everything she knows of her family is under suspicion. Unraveling the truth causes her to question everything she has ever known, and everyone she turns to seems to have their own lies and hidden agendas. Not knowing who to trust or believe, each revelation brings about it's own consequences and dangers. The twists and turns don't end until the final page, and there are some questions that may never have answers.

JB

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

The circus is a source of fascination for young and old. Did you ever wonder about the people who work in the circus? In Water for Elephants Gruen tells the story of Jacob Jankowski a man who just happened to land on the train of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, a 1930s traveling circus fighting to stay solvent during the Great Depression. Jacob was about to take his final exams from Cornell school of veterinary medicine when his parents died in an auto accident. His plans to join his father in the practice of veterinary medicine were clearly not going to happen. But that is only the start of his tale. His father was deeply in debt, having mortgaged the house to put Jacob through school. There was nothing left; no one had paid his dad with anything but chickens and such since the start of the depression. Too dazed to write his exams, Jacob walks away from the school and lands on the train carrying the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.

A bittersweet statement on growing old in America, this novel tells Jacob’s story from his perspective as a resident of a nursing home. Jacob remembers Marlena the lovely but married star of the show. Her husband, August, is dashing but vicious and trains (and often beats) the animals. Among other characters are Kinko the dwarf clown, Rosie the elephant who only seems un-trainable, and Camel a circus worker who suffers from “Jake Leg” (an affliction that affected tens of thousands of people who drank Jamaican ginger extract during Prohibition, not knowing it could cause paralysis).

The book is full of authentic details about life during the depression and about circus life. Wonderfully written, a pleasure to read I highly recommend this to all lovers of good story.

AW