Even though the days are getting longer it’s still chilly outside, so why not snuggle up with a staff pick? Some of these suggestions would also be a great choice for a book club selection as mentioned in the last blog. Here are a few of our choices:
Scott’s picks…
Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus J PRE When the Nazis invade Norway, teenage Espen becomes a young spy for the resistance movement. Living in constant danger, he and his family seek a way to escape the war.
Explorer: The Hidden Doors edited by Kazu Kibuishi J GN EXP The next in a series of graphic novels brings together seven great comic artists to tell seven stories of strange doors.
Wildwood by Colin Meloy J MEL
When Prue McKeel’s little brother is kidnapped by crows, she must go into the Impassable Wilderness, a strange and fantastic realm, to save him.
Carolyn’s picks…
Baking by Laura and Jess Tilli J 641.815 TIL Winter is the perfect time to make some delicious baked goods! Try the sweet Strawberry Jam Shortbread Cookies or the savory Mini Sausage Batter Bites. The recipes have simple step-by-step instructions and beautiful photographs. Tips, techniques, and symbols on when to ask for an adult’s help are included.
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown J BRO and Audio CD J F BRO Roz is a robot who is shipwrecked on a wild island with no idea who she is or what to do. She must figure out how to survive in this hostile environment. She adopts a gosling, and the island animals start to welcome her into their community. Then one day, everything changes, and Roz must fight to survive again.
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanore Estes J EST A young girl moves to a new school and is picked on because she wears the same dress every day. She tells her classmates that she has a hundred dresses at home, but they don’t believe her. Her classmates pick on her but later regret their behavior. It’s a touching, timeless story about being kind to others.
Alissa’s picks…
Katie Woo: Who Needs Glasses? by Fran Manushkin ER MAN Katie’s friend Pedro gets new glasses, but he doesn’t want to wear them. When he tells his class that he loses them, can Katie figure out what really happened?
The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson J EPS Magic isn’t just for humans! Aldwyn, an orphan cat, wanders into a pet shop and is adopted by a wizard. But when his wizard and new friends are kidnapped, Aldwyn needs to use his own kind of magic to save them.
How to Survive in the Wilderness by Samantha Bell J 796.5 BEL Wilderness survival shows are all the rage, but could you make it out in the woods alone? This handy book preps readers with things like daily tasks, types of wood to burn, and how to avoid dangerous bacteria in drinking water.
Dana’s picks…
Dog vs. Cat by Chris Gall E GAL A dog and a cat, both newly adopted, are forced to share a room. They don’t really get along, finding fun ways to torture each other, until a howling, smelly, terrifying newcomer unites them in a common cause!
The Forbidden Stone (Copernicus Legacy #1) by Tony Abbott J ABB It begins when four friends receive a strange and coded email from Uncle Henry just before he dies. The four set off for Germany to attend the funeral and discover that Uncle Henry has left them another confusing message that they must figure out. They end up on a dangerous quest to unlock an ancient and guarded secret that could destroy the world.
Accidental Keyhand by Jen Swann Downey J DOW In the Ninja Librarians series Book #1, Dorrie and her brother Marcus accidentally open a portal to Petrarch’s Library, where they discover a secret society of warrior librarians who travel in time protecting the world’s greatest thinkers from torture and death for sharing knowledge and ideas.
Check back soon for the rest of the staff’s picks, and be sure to visit this area in the library to see all of our choices and pick up a list…happy reading!