Fast Five Fiction: Sports Fiction

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. Our summer reading theme this year is Adventure Begins at your Library and we've got a ton of great books for readers of all ages. Each week we're adventuring through a different genre in children's department. With the Summer Olympics kicking off this week we've been focusing on Sports Fiction, here's a small sampling of all the sports books in the children's department.   

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

Track series by Jason Reynolds

Race through Jason Reynolds’s New York Times bestselling Track series.

Ghost. Patina. Sunny. Lu. A fast but fiery group of kids from wildly different backgrounds, chosen to compete on an elite track team. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves. Discover each of their stories in Jason Reynolds’s bestselling Track series.

Super Sports Society by Bryan Chick

Two best friends. One spot on the baseball team. And a giant, looming, SMELLY turd tank. What could possibly go wrong? This is the first illustrated chapter book in a laugh-out-loud funny series told in dual point-of-view that's about friendship, teamwork, and the occasional fart joke. PFFFT . Fans of The Last Kids on Earth, Big Nate, and The Secret Zoo will love The Super Sports Society.

Eleven-year-old Tommy has dreamed of being on the Bulldogs sports team forever. The Bulldogs eat, breathe, and fart sports. They’re part of the elusive Super Sports Society in his hometown, and Tommy knows that if he makes the team, he’ll be set up for life.

Meanwhile, Pel would rather be at home gaming in the air conditioning, but his mom decided that he has to “be a role model” to his little siblings (ugh!), and now he’s trying out for the Bulldogs too. At least that means the two BFFs won’t be in competition for the spot . . . right? ( Wrong .)

Join Pel; Tommy; the owner of a pickle store, Pete; a supercool girl named Clutch; a coach who wears sunglasses inside; and the rest of the Bulldogs sports team in this epically awesome illustrated book that’s packed with tons of laugh-out-loud moments.

But be warned—this book is based on a true story. Do NOT eat this many sunflower seeds at home . . . trust us.

Local Legends series by Lane Walker

Experience exciting sports stories with a purpose! The Local Legends books teach valuable life lessons through exciting sports stories. Kids will love the characters and stories that will stick with them long after they've turned the last page. Make reading a fun and enriching experience for your child!

Sports included in the bundle: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Soccer
Life Lessons Taught In Book:

Book 1: Resilience, adversity, believe in yourself.
Book 2: Humility, teamwork, forgiveness.
Book 3: Perseverance, Effort, Faith over Fear
Book 4: Self-confidence, Believing in yourself
Book 5: Aversion to peer pressure, open-mindedness

Mike Lupica books

Michael Lupica is an author and former American newspaper columnist. He first came to prominence as a sportswriters and through appearances on ESPN before becoming an author. He writes books for both children and adults on a wide range of sports. 

King of the Bench series by Steve Moore

From the nationally syndicated cartoonist of "In the Bleachers" comes a new, highly illustrated middle grade series about Steve, who plays the same position in every sport: bench-warmer. Perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Timmy Failure, King of the Bench is an ode to teammates, underdogs, and bench-warmers everywhere.

Steve is King of the Bench. No brag. It's just a fact. But this year, Steve and his friends are excited to try out for the Spiro T. Agnew Middle School baseball team. The only problem is, after watching another player get beaned by a fastball, Steve has developed a serious case of bean-o-phobia--the fear of getting hit by a pitch. If Steve ever wants to get off the bench and get in the game, he's going to have to muster up some courage, and fast.

Oh, and if you're wondering why Steve would write a book and tell total strangers all about the humiliating phobia that almost ruined his first year on the baseball team? Duh. It's pretty much a rule that you spill your guts when you write a book about yourself.

Happy Friday and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: Mythology

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. Our summer reading theme this year is Adventure Begins at your Library and we've got a ton of great books for readers of all ages. Each week we're adventuring through a different genre in children's department. This weeks theme is mythology so today I'm sharing 

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

Heroes in Training series by Joan Holub and Tracey West

The terrible Titans—merciless giants who enjoy snacking on humans—have dominated the earth and put the world into chaos. But their rule is about to be put to the test as a group of young Olympians discover their powers and prepare to righteously rule the universe. These early chapter books are perfect for elementary age students.

Pegasus series by Kate O'Hearn

A young girl, a winged horse, and a war of epic proportions make for an adventurous start to this series. 

When Pegasus crashes onto a Manhattan roof during a terrible storm, Emily’s life changes forever. Suddenly allied with a winged horse she’d always thought was mythical, Emily is thrust into the center of a fierce battle between the Roman gods and a terrifying race of multiarmed stone warriors called the Nirads. Emily must team up with a thief named Paelen, the goddess Diana, and a boy named Joel in order to return Pegasus to Olympus and rescue the gods from a certain death.

Along the way, Emily and her companions will fight monsters, run from a government agency that is prepared to dissect Pegasus, and even fly above the Manhattan skyline—all as part of a quest to save Olympus before time runs out.

Goddess Girls Graphic Novel Series by David Campiti

The Goddess Girls series are based on Greek mythology and depict the younger generation of Olympians as privileged tween students attending Mount Olympus Academy (MOA) to develop their divine skills.

The series focuses on four primary characters – Athena, Persephone, Aphrodite, and Artemis — as a diverse group of loyal friends. Athena is noted for her intelligence, Persephone is mysterious and kind, Artemis is bold and strong, and Aphrodite is "effortlessly beautiful". Holub writes about Athena and Artemis, Williams about Persephone and Aphrodite.

Zeus is represented as the principal of the academy, and many other gods, including Hades, Poseidon, and Ares, appear in the series. Pandora, Medusa, and Heracles appear as mortal characters. The series includes deities and characters from other mythological traditions as visitors to the academy.

Dragon Masters series by Tracey West

Dragon Masters is a fantasy series that takes place in a world where dragons and magic are real. If you are eight years old, you can be chosen by the magical Dragon Stone to be paired with a dragon. Dragon Masters and their dragons work together to discover each dragon’s special powers. Then the Dragon Masters team up to solve problems, save their land from villains, and go on adventures.

Mini Myths by Joan Holub

The Mini Myths board book series puts a modern spin on ancient Greek mythology for preschoolers. Leslie Patricelli’s depictions of the physical comedy bring a lively visual narrative to Joan Holub’s expertly focused text. Each book includes a short summary of the original myth at the end. Perfect for babies, toddlers, and even early elementary students. 

Happy Friday and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: Animal Fiction

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. Our summer reading theme this year is Adventure Begins at your Library and we've got a ton of great books for readers of all ages. Each week we're adventuring through a different genre in children's department. This weeks theme is animal fiction which has long been a staple of children's literature. Our shelves are filled with stories featuring animal characters so today I'll be sharing some some popular animal-centric series

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

Animal Rescue Friends series by Meika Hashimoto

At the Animal Rescue Friends shelter, everyone is looking for a way to belong—kids and animals alike. Animal Rescue Friends is a heartwarming, graphic novel series filled with humor and furry friendships.

Welcome to Animal Rescue Friends, where any stray can find a friendly face—furry or otherwise. This first collection of middle-grade comics includes five tales of found family: A lonely girl living in the suburbs finds happiness with a stray pit bull; a protective mama ferret and her six kits learn to trust a shelter volunteer; a shy boy stands up for himself with the help of a strong-willed bunny; a cantankerous cat helps to mend a troubled relationship; and the shelter's unofficial mascot eventually finds a home. Perfect for animal-loving kids, this adorable comics series will inspire and uplift.

 

A to Z Animal Mysteries series by Kayla Whaley

Solve Animal Mysteries from A to Z! Young clue hunters Abbi, Daniel, and Lydia sniff out the mystery behind a group of missing alpacas. Inspired by Ron Roy’s beloved A to Z Mysteries series, this spin-off is perfect for budding young chapter-book readers–and future detectives!

A is for ALPACAS ....

B is for BATS....

C is for COUGARS....

D is for DOLPHIN....

E is for EMU EGG ....

 

Jasmine Green Rescues series by Helen Peters

Jasmine Green's dad is a farmer, and her mum is a large-animal vet, so Jasmine spends a lot of time caring for animals and keeping them out of trouble. Unfortunately, this often means she gets into hot water herself… A fantastic series of animal stories for younger readers by Waterstones Children’s Book Prize-shortlisted author Helen Peters, with beautiful black-and-white illustrations by Ellie Snowdon. Brilliant storytelling that will make you laugh and cry, read the whole series to discover new animals, all on Jasmine's farm!

FunJungle series by Stuart Gibbs

Join FunJungle’s resident zoo sleuth, Teddy Fitzroy, as he solves mysteries and strives to protect the animals at the zoo with the bestselling FunJungle series from New York Times bestselling author Stuart Gibbs.

When Teddy Fitzroy moved into FunJungle, the nation’s largest zoo, with his scientist parents, he expected things to be kind of quiet. There’d be the occasional elephant stampede and water balloon fight with the chimpanzees, of course, but when Henry the Hippo dies from not-so-natural causes, Teddy suspects foul play. And that was just the beginning. He begins to realize that the zoo is far more exciting than he thought it was, and soon the mysteries at FunJungle are piling up…

Nocturnals series by Tracey Hecht

The Nocturnals features three unlikely friends: Dawn, a serious fox, Tobin, a sweet pangolin, and Bismark, the loud mouthed, pint-sized sugar glider. The stories all play out in their nighttime world with teamwork, friendship and humor in every adventure. These books are available in both chapter books and early reader books. 

Happy Friday, and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: Folk Tales & Fables

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. Our summer reading theme this year is Adventure Begins at your Library and we've got a ton of great books for readers of all ages. Each week we're adventuring through a different genre in children's department. This weeks theme is fables and folk tale so that's what we're sharing today!

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

Aesop's Fables for Little Children by Susanna Davidson

A delightful collection of six stories, with lively retellings and colorful artwork by Columbian illustrator, John Joven. A perfect first introduction to Aesop for little children. Stories include well-known classics The Lion and the Mouse, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse and The Ant and the Grasshopper.

Anansi and the Golden Pot by  Taiye Selasi

Award-winning author of Ghana Must Go, Taiye Selasi, reimagines the story of Anansi, the much-loved trickster, for a new generation. Kweku has grown up hearing stories about the mischievous spider Anansi. He is given the nickname Anansi by his father because of his similarly cheeky ways. On a holiday to visit his beloved Grandma in Ghana, Anansi the spider and Anansi the boy meet, and discover a magical pot that can be filled with whatever they want. Anansi fills it again and again with his favorite red-red stew, and eats so much that he feels sick. Will he learn to share this wonderful gift?

This charming retelling of a West African story teaches readers about the dangers of greed, and the importance of being kind. Tinuke Fagborun's colorful illustrations bring the magic and wonder of the tale to life. When you've finished sharing the story, you can also find out more about the origins of Anansi folktales. This is a beautiful storybook that little ones will treasure forever.

Fables by Arnold Lobel

Winner of the Caldecott Medal

A pig flying through marshmallow clouds? A camel pirouetting through the desert? Where else could a reader find such marvelous things but in a fable? From the author-illustrator behind beloved Frog and Toad, Arnold Lobel, comes a collection of humorous, silly fables that will delight readers young and old.

The Tale of the Mandarin Duck: A Modern Fable by Bette Midler

How do you get people to appreciate what is right in front of them? In The Tale of the Mandarin Duck, it takes a mysterious, beautiful duck and a clear-eyed kid to point out the obvious! Bette Midler's distinctive voice joins striking photos of the real duck by Michiko Kakutani and charming black-and-white drawings by Joana Avillez. This book will have readers of all ages coming back to visit the fantastical interpretation of New York City and its odd ducks--both feathered and human.

An afterword by Ms. Kakutani adds details to the facts behind this one-of-a-kind story of the Mandarin Duck.

Once a Mouse .... A Fable Cut in Wood by Marcia Brown

Marcia Brown retells an Indian fable from the Hitopadesa in this Caldecott Medal-winning tale of a mouse who becomes a tiger.

When a small mouse's life is threatened by large jungle predators, a kindly hermit uses magic to change him into a cat, a dog, and a majestic tiger. But the proud tiger must suffer the consequences when he becomes ungrateful and forgets his humble origins. Marcia Brown's magical woodcuts bring this Indian fable to life with the mastery that won her a second Caldecott Medal.

Happy Friday and happy reading!