What Should Oliver Read Next?

Welcome back my claw-some friends! Oliver the cat here, in case you forgot. Are mew ready for another book review? Today’s book is InvesiGATORS by John Pactrick Green. From the moment I picked up this book I knew it was going to be purrty great.

Alligators (yikes!) Mango and Bash try to solve the mysterious disappearance of Chef Gustavo and find out who caused the explosion at the science factory.

They must go undercover at the chef’s restaurant, Batter Down. They put on their fake mustaches and get to work. Have you ever seen an alligator with a mustache? Hysterical!! 

They find out that the villain, Crocodile, has escaped from jail. They have to get to S.U.I.T. headquarters and the fastest way to do that is to flush themselves into the sewer. Wait a mewoment! How appawling!! I like to be clean. They figure out that Crackerdile has taken Chef Gustavo so he can make super dough to make Crakcerdile invincible. After a lot of puns and adventures Crackerdile manages to escape! Which sets us up for the second book.

If you're looking for a book with lots of humor then this is for you! I can see why it’s popufur with the younger crowd! As for me, I am going to have a bath and get into my pawjamas. All of the sewer adventures made me feel pawsitivly dirty. Until next time!

What Should Oliver Read Next?

Hello friends! It is I, Oliver. Did you miss me? I’ve been very busy this summer. Eating, sleeping, and reading. I am ready to get back to sharing my book reviews with mew! The first book I want to share with you all is Noodle Conquers Comfy Mountain by Jonathan Graziano.

Now Noodle is a pug. One day he finds that he can’t get comfy in his bed so he goes on a quest to find just the right napping spot. He searches all over his home and finally decides on the top of the couch, or as he likes to call it Comfy Mountain. The problem is pugs are quite small and can’t always jump high enough to get on the couch. Noodle decides he wants to try and get up there himself. After many failed attempts, he realizes that he needs help. Noodle barks and barks until his claw-some human Jonathan figures out what he wants. He places Noodle on top of comfy meow-tian. Noodle was so happy and ended up taking an amazing nap! 

What a pawsome story! I know all about finding pawsome napping spots. My purrsonal favorite is on my mom’s desk, on top of her key board while she is working. If you are looking for a book with a claw-ver dog then this is the one for you. Thanks to our friend Cecilia for recommending this pawsome read! Now back to my nap.

Fast Five Fiction: September 11, 2001

It's time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. This week it seemed fitting to share some stories of the events of September 11, 2001. If you keep reading to the bottom there's a photo filled nonfiction recommendation and a link to the website for the National Day of Service and Remembrance. May we never forget.

Click the title to be directed to the book in our catalog. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

Ground Zero by Alan Gratz

It's September 11, 2001. Brandon, a 9-year-old boy, goes to work for the day with his dad . . . at the World Trade Center in New York City. When two planes hit the towers, Brandon and his father are trapped inside a fiery nightmare as terror and confusion swirl around them. Can they escape -- and what will the world be like when they do?
In present-day Afghanistan, Reshmina is an 11-year-old girl who is used to growing up in the shadow of war, but she has dreams of peace and unity. When she ends up harboring a wounded young American soldier, she and her entire family are put in mortal danger. But Reshmina also learns something surprising about the roots of this endless war.

Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes

When her fifth-grade teacher hints that a series of lessons about home and community will culminate with one big answer about two tall towers once visible outside their classroom window, Deja can't help but feel confused. She sets off on a journey of discovery, with new friends Ben and Sabeen by her side. But just as she gets closer to answering big questions about who she is, what America means, and how communities can grow (and heal), she uncovers new questions, too. Like, why does Pop get so angry when she brings up anything about the towers?

Survivor Tree by Marcie Colleen

Beneath the Twin Towers, a pear tree once stood.
It still grows there today.
This is its story.

One September day, the perfect blue sky exploded. Dust billowed. Buildings crumbled. And underneath it all, a tree sprouted green leaves in its distress. Pulled from the wreckage, the tree saw many seasons pass as it slowly recovered far away from home. Until one day, forever scarred and forever stronger, it was replanted at the 9/11 Memorial.

This story of the real Survivor Tree uses nature's cycle of colors to reflect on the hope and healing that come after a tragedy -- and assures readers of their own remarkable resilience.

I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001: The Graphic Novel by Lauren Tarshis

On the day that shocks the world, one boy just wants to find his family.
The only thing Lucas loves more than football is his Uncle Benny, his dad's best friend at the fire department where they both work. Benny taught Lucas everything about football. So when Lucas's parents decide the sport is too dangerous and he needs to quit, Lucas has to talk to his biggest fan.So the next morning, Lucas takes the train to the city instead of the bus to school. It's a bright, beautiful day in New York. But just as Lucas arrives at his uncle's firehouse, everything changes -- and nothing will ever be the same again.

All We Have Left by Wendy Mills

A haunting and heart-wrenching story of two girls, two time periods, and the one event that changed their lives—and the world—forever.
Now:
Sixteen-year-old Jesse is used to living with the echoes of the past. Her older brother died in the September 11th attacks, and her dad has filled their home with anger and grief. When Jesse gets caught up with the wrong crowd, one momentary hate-fueled decision turns her life upside down. The only way to make amends is to face the past, starting Jesse on a journey that will reveal the truth about how her brother died.
Then:
In 2001, sixteen-year-old Alia is proud to be Muslim... it's being a teenager that she finds difficult. After being grounded for a stupid mistake, Alia is determined to show her parents that that they must respect her choices. She'll start by confronting her father at his office in downtown Manhattan, putting Alia in danger she never could have imagined. When the planes collide into the Twin Towers Alia is trapped inside one of the buildings. In the final hours she meets a boy who will change everything for her as the flames rage around them...
Interweaving stories past and present, full of heartbreak and hope, two girls come of age in an instant, learning that both hate and love have the power to reverberate into the future and beyond.

If you'd like to check out a nonfiction book to remember or discuss with your family I'd recommend: A Nation Challenged: A Visual History of 9/11 and its Aftermath, Young Readers Edition from the New York Times. Or look through the website for the National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Fast Five Fiction: National Cat Month

It's time! Fast Five Fiction has returned after it's brief hiatus! Each week I'll share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. This month, we're celebrating National Cat Month in the children's department so I'm sharing some of our most popular graphic novel and chapter book series featuring feline characters!

Click the title to be directed to the book in our catalog. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

Breaking Cat News graphic novels by Georgia Dunn

This series is so good, one of our adult book clubs recently read it and enjoyed it! 

This just in: Three adorable house cats are reporting the most hilarious breaking news! Based on author/illustrator Georgia Dunn's real life pets, Elvis, Lupin, and Puck strap on neckties and pick up microphones to provide the most up-to-date relevant news stories (at least according to them).

Cats reporting on the news that matters to cats with stories such as The Vacuum Cleaner Is Back!, The Woman Is Cooking Bacon!, and The Ceiling Cats Are Everywhere Tonight! Cynical, no nonsense Elvis and shy, sweet, sensitive Puck are the reporter kitties in the field, while the adventurous jokester Lupin serves as anchor cat. Together they break headlines on the food bowl, new plants, mysterious red dots, strange cats in the yard, and all the daily happenings in their home

Stick Cat series by Tom Watson

There's a new pet in town.

Stick Cat.

It's a big day in the big city for Stick Cat and his best friend, Edith. There are treasures to hunt, songs to sing, pigeons to catch, and naps to take. But way up on the twenty-third floor, danger lurks just around the corner. Terrible noises and violent crashes trap a desperate man in the building across the alley. Stick Cat will need to navigate his way across the alley--and around Edith's peculiar ways--to attempt a rescue.

With Tom Watson's trademark combination of laughs and adventure, Stick Cat's high-wire act is sure to please cat lovers and Stick Dog fans everywhere.

Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat series by Johnny Marciano

Klawde is not your average cat. He's an emperor from another planet, exiled to Earth. He's cruel. He's cunning. He's brilliant... and he's about to become Raj Banerjee's best friend. Whether he likes it or not.

Klawde had everything. Sharp claws. Fine fur. And, being the High Commander of the planet Lyttyrboks, an entire world of warlike cats at his command. But when he is stripped of his feline throne, he is sentenced to the worst possible punishment- exile to a small planet in a quiet corner of the universe... named Earth.

Raj had everything. A cool apartment in Brooklyn. Three friends who lived in his building. And pizza and comics within walking distance. But when his mom gets a job in Elba, Oregon, and he is forced to move, all of that changes. It's now the beginning of summer, he has no friends, and because of his mother's urgings, he has joined a nature camp.

It's only when his doorbell rings and he meets a furball of a cat that Raj begins to think maybe his luck is turning around...

Heavily illustrated, with a hilarious, biting voice that switches between Raj and Klawde's perspectives, this is the story of an unlikely friendship that emerges as two fish out of water begin to find their footing in strange new worlds.

Dr. Kitty Cat series by Jane Clarke

We'll be there in a whisker! Dr. KittyCat is a talented vet -- and an adorable cat. She's ready to rescue whenever help is needed. When a call comes in that Posy the puppy has hurt her leg at the Paws and Prizes field day, Dr. KittyCat rushes to the scene. Without Dr. KittyCat's help, Posy will be disqualified! Supercute photographs of real puppies and kittens combine with hand-drawn purple line art for a completely unique look.

Warriors series by Erin Hunter

The Warriors book series is about the adventrues of feral cat clans living in a forest who follow a strict "warrior code" and believing in ancestral spirits called StarClan. The books feature themes of war, loyalty, prejudice, and survival as a pampered house cat named Rusty joins ThunderClan, becoming the warrior Firestar. The extensive series is organized into multiple arcs, or mini-series, each focusing on new protagonists within different cat clans and exploring complex ideas within a world of anthropomorphic cats

Happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: National Library Week 2025

It's Friday and time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. Since we've been celebrating National Library Week this week, today I thought I'd share five books and series featuring libraries!

Click the title to be directed to the book in our catalog. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library series by Chris Grabenstein

When Kyle Keeley learns that the world's world's most famous game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, has designed the town's new library and is having an invitation-only lock-in on opening night, Kyle is determined to be there! But the tricky part isn't getting into the library--it's getting out. Because when morning comes, the doors stay locked. Kyle and the other kids must catch every clue and solve every puzzle to find the hidden escape route!

The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.

Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures, but the town itself.

Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an aging (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story from award-winning authors Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. It's about owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book (and, of course, the librarian who gave it to you).

The Library of Ever series by Zeno Alexander

With her parents off traveling the globe, Lenora is bored, bored, bored--until she discovers a secret doorway into the ultimate library. Mazelike and reality-bending, the library contains all the universe's wisdom. Every book ever written, and every fact ever known, can be found within its walls. And Lenora becomes its newly appointed Fourth Assistant Apprentice Librarian.

She rockets to the stars, travels to a future filled with robots, and faces down a dark nothingness that wants to destroy all knowledge. To save the library, Lenora will have to test her limits and uncover secrets hidden among its shelves.

The Story Collector series by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb

In the tradition of E. L. Konisburg, this middle-grade mystery adventure is inspired by the real life of Viviani Joffre Fedeler, born and raised in the New York Public Library.

The Story Collector by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb is a middle-grade historical fiction inspired by the real life of Viviani Fedeler. Eleven-year-old Viviani Fedeler has spent her whole life in the New York Public Library. She knows every room by heart, except the ones her father keeps locked. When Viviani becomes convinced that the library is haunted, new girl Merit Mubarak makes fun of her. So Viviani decides to play a harmless little prank, roping her older brothers and best friend Eva to help out.

But what begins as a joke quickly gets out of hand, and soon Viviani and her friends have to solve two big mysteries: Is the Library truly haunted? And what happened to the expensive new stamp collection? It's up to Viviani, Eva, and Merit (reluctantly) to find out.

Library Mouse series by Daniel Kirk

Beloved children's books author and illustrator Daniel Kirk wonderfully brings to life the story of Sam, a library mouse. Sam's home was in a little hole in the wall in the children's reference books section, and he thought that life was very good indeed. For Sam loved to read. He read picture books and chapter books, biographies and poetry, and ghost stories and mysteries. Sam read so much that finally one day he decided to write books himself! Sam shared his books with other library visitors by placing them on a bookshelf at night. Until there came the time that people wanted to meet this talented author. Whatever was Sam to do? The joy of reading, writing, and sharing is brought to life in this warmhearted tale.

Happy Friday and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: Road Trip Reads

It's Friday and time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. This week I've got some road trip reads! As Dr. Seuss said, "Reading can take you places you have never been before." So whether you're traveling for spring break or staying at home, these books can take you where you've never been before!

Click the title to be directed to the book in our catalog. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

On a Wing and a Tear by Cynthia Leitich Smith

A living legend roosting in the backyard. An unmissable game. A hair-raising mystery. A road trip full of adventure and danger. And all the overlapping circles that connect us throughout Creation.

Melanie "Mel" Roberts and Ray Halfmoon may be from different Indigenous Nations, but the friends have become like siblings since the Robertses moved in with the Halfmoons. And they soon welcome a distinguished guest: Great-grandfather Bat, whose wing is injured, has taken refuge in their old oak tree.

A rematch of the legendary Great Ball Game is coming up, with Bat as the star player. Grampa Charlie Halfmoon offers to drive Bat from Chicago down to the traditional playing field outside Macon, Georgia, and Mel and Ray are determined to help out.

Together, they all set off on a road trip--facing adventure, danger, and a hair-raising mystery--on the way to the historic game.

With loving care and boisterous humor, acclaimed author Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee) tells a modern folklore story about friendship, embracing the unexpected, and all the overlapping circles that connect us throughout Creation. Perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo, Brian Young, and Elana K. Arnold!

The Vanderbeekers on the Road by Karina Yan Glaser

The popular Harlem family is putting the VAN in Vanderbeekers as they hit the highway to give their dad the best birthday surprise EVER! Re-creating a road trip Papa never got the chance to take with his own father, the whole crew is packed and ready for a cross-country adventure.

Things get off to a rocky start when the car breaks down on their way to pick up Papa. But they really veer off course when Laney discovers that Jessie and Orlando are interviewing at a college once they get to California. How can they even think about leaving New York Wouldn't that change their family And how can she and her other siblings stop them

Exploring themes of leaving home, embracing change, and the lessons to be learned from going to new places, The Vanderbeekers on the Road is every bit an engaging and rewarding journey.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

Five years. That's how long Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have lived on the road in an old school bus, crisscrossing the nation. It's also how long ago Coyote lost her mom and two sisters in a car crash.
Coyote hasn’t been home in all that time, but when she learns the park in her old neighborhood is being demolished - the very same park where she, her mom, and her sisters buried a treasured memory box - she devises an elaborate plan to get her dad to drive 3,600 miles back to Washington state in four days...without him realizing it.
Along the way, they'll pick up a strange crew of misfit travelers. Lester has a lady love to meet. Salvador and his mom are looking to start over. Val needs a safe place to be herself. And then there's Gladys....
Over the course of thousands of miles, Coyote will learn that going home can sometimes be the hardest journey of all...but that with friends by her side, she just might be able to turn her “once upon a time” into a “happily ever after”.

Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling

Twelve-year-old Jolene spends every day she can at the library watching her favorite livestream: The Desert Aviator, where twelve-year-old "Addie Earhart" shares her adventures flying an ultralight plane over the desert. While watching this daring girl fly through the sky, Jolene can dream of what it would be like to fly with her, far away from her own troubled home life where her mother struggles with a narcotic addiction. And Addie, who is grieving the loss of her father, finds solace in her online conversations with Jolene, her biggest--and only--fan.

Then, one day, it all goes wrong: Addie's engine abruptly stops, and Jolene watches in helpless horror as the ultralight plummets to the ground and the video goes dark. Jolene knows that Addie won't survive long in the extreme summer desert heat. With no one to turn to for help and armed with only a hand-drawn map and a stolen cell phone, it's up to Jolene to find a way to save the Desert Aviator. Packed with adventure and heart, Across the Desert speaks to the resilience, hope, and strength within each of

 us.

Secrets of the Seven series by Sarah L. Thomson

When middle school puzzle master Sam and history wiz Martina win a contest for a summer trip across the US, they discover they've been drafted into something vastly more extraordinary. Joining another kid on the trip, Theo, a descendant of George Washington himself, they must follow clues to find seven keys left behind by the Founding Fathers. Together the keys unlock Benjamin Franklin's greatest invention--a secret weapon intended to defend the country. Each key is hidden in a unique location around the U.S., protected with puzzles, riddles, and traps. This has kept the weapon safe . . . until now! Gideon Arnold, a dangerous descendant of the infamous Benedict Arnold, is on the chase.
In competition with Arnold and his thugs to reach the artifacts first, Sam, Martina, Theo, and readers must use their wits to solve ingenious puzzles, escape death-by-booby-trap, and, by the end of the series, save our nation by uncovering many of its greatest secrets.




Happy Friday and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: Library Lover's Month

It's Friday and time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. February is Library Lover's Month so today I'm sharing some stories featuring libraries that are perfect for reading any time of the year. 

Click the title to be directed to the book in our catalog. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.

Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures, but the town itself.

Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an aging (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story from award-winning authors Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. It's about owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book (and, of course, the librarian who gave it to you).

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library series by Chris Grabenstein

When Kyle Keeley learns that the world's world's most famous game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, has designed the town's new library and is having an invitation-only lock-in on opening night, Kyle is determined to be there! But the tricky part isn't getting into the library--it's getting out. Because when morning comes, the doors stay locked. Kyle and the other kids must catch every clue and solve every puzzle to find the hidden escape route!

The Library of Ever series by Zeno Alexander

With her parents off traveling the globe, Lenora is bored, bored, bored--until she discovers a secret doorway into the ultimate library. Mazelike and reality-bending, the library contains all the universe's wisdom. Every book ever written, and every fact ever known, can be found within its walls. And Lenora becomes its newly appointed Fourth Assistant Apprentice Librarian.

She rockets to the stars, travels to a future filled with robots, and faces down a dark nothingness that wants to destroy all knowledge. To save the library, Lenora will have to test her limits and uncover secrets hidden among its shelves.

The Story Collector series by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb

In the tradition of E. L. Konisburg, this middle-grade mystery adventure is inspired by the real life of Viviani Joffre Fedeler, born and raised in the New York Public Library.

The Story Collector by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb is a middle-grade historical fiction inspired by the real life of Viviani Fedeler. Eleven-year-old Viviani Fedeler has spent her whole life in the New York Public Library. She knows every room by heart, except the ones her father keeps locked. When Viviani becomes convinced that the library is haunted, new girl Merit Mubarak makes fun of her. So Viviani decides to play a harmless little prank, roping her older brothers and best friend Eva to help out.

But what begins as a joke quickly gets out of hand, and soon Viviani and her friends have to solve two big mysteries: Is the Library truly haunted? And what happened to the expensive new stamp collection? It's up to Viviani, Eva, and Merit (reluctantly) to find out.

Library Mouse series by Daniel Kirk

Beloved children's books author and illustrator Daniel Kirk wonderfully brings to life the story of Sam, a library mouse. Sam's home was in a little hole in the wall in the children's reference books section, and he thought that life was very good indeed. For Sam loved to read. He read picture books and chapter books, biographies and poetry, and ghost stories and mysteries. Sam read so much that finally one day he decided to write books himself! Sam shared his books with other library visitors by placing them on a bookshelf at night. Until there came the time that people wanted to meet this talented author. Whatever was Sam to do? The joy of reading, writing, and sharing is brought to life in this warmhearted tale.

Happy Friday and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: Black History Month

It's Friday and time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. Black History Month is celebrated each February and is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. History and society. One way we can celebrate is by amplifying black voices and reading their literary contributions. 

Click the title to be directed to the book in our catalog. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky. But no one saw it happen. They were all too busy--

Talking about boogers.
Stealing pocket change.
Skateboarding.
Wiping out.
Braving up.
Executing complicated handshakes.
Planning an escape.
Making jokes.
Lotioning up.
Finding comfort.
But mostly, too busy walking home.

Jason Reynolds conjures ten tales (one per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings, and brilliantly weaves them into one wickedly funny, piercingly poignant look at the detours we face on the walk home, and in life. 

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade.

As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself? 

This Newbery award winning title is also available on Playaway.

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

The letter waits in a book, in a box, in an attic, in an old house in Lambert, South Carolina. It's waiting for Candice Miller.

When Candice finds the letter, she isn't sure she should read it. It's addressed to her grandmother, after all, who left Lambert in a cloud of shame. But the letter describes a young woman named Siobhan Washington. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding the letter-writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle. Grandma tried and failed. But now Candice has another chance.

So with the help of Brandon Jones, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues in the letter. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert's history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter's promise before the summer ends?

Genesis Begins Again by Alice D. Williams

This deeply sensitive and powerful debut novel tells the story of a thirteen-year-old who must overcome internalized racism and a verbally abusive family to finally learn to love herself.

This is the story of a thirteen-year-old girl who is filled with self-loathing and must overcome internalized racism and a verbally abusive family to finally learn to love herself.

There are ninety-six things Genesis hates about herself. She knows the exact number because she keeps a list. Like #95: Because her skin is so dark, people call her charcoal and eggplant—even her own family. And #61: Because her family is always being put out of their house, belongings laid out on the sidewalk for the world to see. When Genesis reaches #100 on the list of things she hates about herself, will she continue on, or can she find the strength to begin again?

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson

For as long as ZJ can remember, his dad has been everyone's hero. As a charming, talented pro football star, he's as beloved to the neighborhood kids he plays with as he is to his millions of adoring sports fans. But lately life at ZJ's house is anything but charming. His dad is having trouble remembering things and seems to be angry all the time. ZJ's mom explains it's because of all the head injuries his dad sustained during his career. ZJ can understand that--but it doesn't make the sting any less real when his own father forgets his name. As ZJ contemplates his new reality, he has to figure out how to hold on tight to family traditions and recollections of the glory days, all the while wondering what their past amounts to if his father can't remember it. And most importantly, can those happy feelings ever be reclaimed when they are all so busy aching for the past?

Happy Friday and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: Books for Valentine's Day

It's Friday and time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. With Valentine's Day being right around the corner, today I've got five adorable Valentine themed books perfect readers of any age. 

Click the title to be directed to the book in our catalog. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

Grumpy Monkey: Valentine Gross-Out by Suzanne Lang

When Jim Panzee hears Oxpecker cooing over her doting boyfriend on Valentine's Day, he has just one thought: Gross. But Jim finds out that not everything about Valentine's Day is hearts and kisses. Jim learns there are different types of valentines and many kinds of love, such as love for a parent or for friends. 

 

The Secret Life of Squirrels: A Love Story by Nancy Rose

Mr. Peanuts spends his days climbing trees and gathering nuts--but he wishes he had another squirrel to share his time with. When he meets a special squirrel friend, he soon finds himself falling in love! They visit the bookstore, go to the park, and have a romantic candlelit dinner. Will Mr. Peanuts get his happily ever after?

Little Blue Truck's Valentine by Alice Schertle

Join Little Blue Truck as he delivers Valentine's Day cards to all his farm animal friends. But as Blue beeps along, he starts to wonder: will he get any cards of his own?

Llama Llama I love you by Anna Dewdney

In Llama Llama I Love You, little llama shows his friends and family how much he loves them with heart-shaped cards and lots of hugs. What could be sweeter than Llama Llama on Valentine's Day?

Pete the Cat: Valentine's Day is Cool by Kimberly and James Dean

At first, Pete thinks Valentine's Day isn't cool...until he realizes all the special cats there are in his life. Pete the Cat: Valentine’s Day Is Cool comes complete with a poster, stickers, and twelve punch-out Valentine’s Day cards.

Once Pete the Cat realizes how much fun Valentine’s Day can be, he decides to make valentine cards for his family and friends. But what happens when he realizes he's forgotten to make a card for a very important cat?

Happy Friday and happy reading!

What Should Oliver Read Next?

Hi, everyone! Oliver reporting in with yet another book review, this time from my friend Valyria. As a cultured cat with an eye for fine art and stories, I must say I Can Only Draw Worms by Will Mabbitt is the most claw-some book about worms I’ve ever read! This book is simple, silly, and filled with wiggly fun—perfect for kittens (and humans) who love a good giggle. Worms may not be my usual prey of choice (I’m more of a mouse-and-bird kind of cat), but these little squigglers really grew on me.

This book is all about worms—lots of worms! While the author purr-fesses he can only draw them (suspicious), and each worm is just lines with a bit of color, they have so much purr-sonality and are hiss-terical. I found myself paw-nder-ing if I could swat at them through the pages. As a cat, I’d normally be more interested in chasing worms than reading about them, but this book was so engaging that I purred through the whole thing.

If you’re looking for a book that’s short, silly, and absolutely worm-derful, this is it! It’s a purr-fect choice for bedtime or a quick laugh, and I give it five out of five paws. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to dig in the garden and see if I can find some worms of my own!

See you all in my next review!

Oliver