Fast Five Fiction: New Graphic Novels

 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. We've had some great new graphic novels come in over the last couple of weeks that I'll be highlighting today. 

Graphic Novels are one of the fastest growing sections in our children's department.  Our young patrons can't get enough.  In addition to being a ton of fun to read there are a lot of benefits too. Graphic novels are full of text, they're engaging and can help kids develop empathy. Images are powerful and the images that coincide with the text helps readers to relate to the characters. Reading graphic novels helps build comprehension and critical thinking skills and gets kids excited about reading!

Click the title to be directed to the library's catalog. Book summaries are from Goodreads. 

City of Secrets by Victoria Ying

Ever Barnes is a shy orphan guarding a secret in an amazing puzzle box of a building.

Most of the young women who work at the building’s Switchboard Operating Facility, which connects the whole city of Oskar, look the other way as Ever roams around in the shadows. But one of them, Lisa, keeps an eye on the boy. So does the head of the Switchboard, Madame Alexander . . . a rather sharp eye.

Enter Hannah, the spunky daughter of the building’s owner. She thinks Ever needs a friend, even if he doesn’t know it yet.

Good thing she does!

Lisa and Madame Alexander are each clearly up to something.

Ever is beset by a menacing band of rogues looking to unlock the secret he holds–at any cost.

And whatever is hidden deep in the Switchboard building will determine all of their futures.

On a journey that twists and turns as much as the mechanical building Ever Barnes calls home, he and his new friend Hannah have to ­ and out what’s really going on in this mysterious city of secrets . . . or else!

Katie the Catsitter by Colleen Venable

Katie is dreading the boring summer ahead while her best friends are all away at camp--something that's way out of Katie and her mom's budget, UNLESS Katie can figure out a way earn the money for camp herself. But when Katie gets a job catsitting for her mysterious upstairs neighbor, life get interesting. First, Madeline has 217 cats (!) and they're not exactly . . . normal cats. Also, why is Madeline always out EXACTLY when the city's most notorious villain commits crimes?! Is it possible that Katie's upstairs neighbor is really a super villain? Can Katie wrangle a whole lot of wayward cats, save a best friendship (why is Beth barely writing back? And who's this boy she keeps talking about?!), AND crack the biggest story in the city's history? Some heroes have capes . . . Katie has cats!

Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel

If you have a Bad Kitty fan in your household you won't want to miss these full-color adaptations. 

Kitty's life is hard. Really, really, really hard. She's always being bothered, Puppy is always in her space (and drooling on her), and her plans for world domination seem to be at a bit of a stand still. So, when she gets the opportunity to go with her very favorite, generous, kind-hearted Uncle Murray to LOVE LOVE ANGEL KITTY WORLD, how on earth could she refuse?

Kitty is so excited--this is going to be the adventure of a lifetime! But what she doesn't realize is that it will be an adventure just trying to get there...and when she and Uncle Murray end up in a precarious situation, they will have to rely on their wit and love for each other to get themselves out.

The Tea Dragon Tapestry by Katie O'Neill

Join Greta and Minette once more for the heartwarming conclusion of the award-winning Tea Dragon series!

Over a year since being entrusted with Ginseng's care, Greta still can't chase away the cloud of mourning that hangs over the timid Tea Dragon. As she struggles to create something spectacular enough to impress a master blacksmith in search of an apprentice, she questions the true meaning of crafting, and the true meaning of caring for someone in grief. Meanwhile, Minette receives a surprise package from the monastery where she was once training to be a prophetess. Thrown into confusion about her path in life, the shy and reserved Minette finds that the more she opens her heart to others, the more clearly she can see what was always inside.

Unicorns are the Worst! by Alex Willan

Perfect for fans of Dragons Love Tacos and Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great, this wildly funny and imaginative picture book celebrates the value of differences as a grumpy goblin gets to know his new unicorn neighbors.

It’s an undeniable fact that unicorns are the worst!

Magic is serious business, but all unicorns do is frolic around, have tea parties, and leave glitter all over the place! They’re nothing like goblins—practical and hard-working, who can put magic to good use! Unicorns aren’t helpful at all.

Or are they?

Happy Friday and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: Winter books

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 snow is coming this weekend it seemed the perfect time to share some winter themed picture books.

Click the title to be directed to the library's catalog. Book summaries are from Goodreads. 

Winter is Here by Kevin Henkes

Snow falls, animals burrow, and children prepare for the wonders winter brings. Caldecott Medalist and award-winning author Kevin Henkes’s striking text introduces basic concepts of language and the unique beauty of the winter season. Laura Dronzek’s expressive paintings beautifully capture the joyful wonders of winter.

The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming

Alive with swirling snow and lots of outdoor fun, the first ten days of winter bring special gifts for a special friend. This cumulative tale will have children chanting along as they discover all the trimmings needed for the most perfect snowman ever!

When Winter Comes by Nancy Van Laan

Where oh where do the leaves all go when winter comes and the cold winds blow? 

What happens to fish, flowers, field mice, and other living things when ponds freeze and the air turns blustery? Walk with a curious child and his parents as winter's first snow falls and find out....

If Winter Comes, Tell it I'm Not Here by Simona Ciraolo

Nothing is better than summer, with its joys of swimming every day and eating ice cream. One little boy’s older sister tells him he’d better make the most of it, because summer is going to end soon. When winter comes, she assures him, it will be cold and dark, and the icy rain will turn to snow. They’ll be stuck on the sofa for days and won’t even dream of eating ice cream…. Simona Ciraolo’s expressive illustrations belie the bleak forecast with images of glowing autumn leaves, cozy couch snuggles, wintry play, and sweet desserts. A celebration of the changing of the seasons, this inviting tale shows how much fun can be found around every sunny—or snowy—corner.  

No Two Alike by Keith Baker

No two snowflakes are alike, 
almost, almost . . . 
but not quite. 

Follow a pair of birds on a snowflake-filled journey though a gorgeous winter landscape to explore how everything, everywhere is wonderfully unique--from branches and leaves to forests and trees to friends and loved ones.

Happy Friday and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: New Series

 It's Friday and time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share 5 fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. This week I've got 5 books in a series new to our shelves that you may want to check out! Click the title to be directed to the library's catalog. Book summaries are from Goodreads. 

Never After by Melissa de la Cruz

Real life and fairy tales collide in Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy, book one in the new middle-grade Never After series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Descendants series, Melissa de la Cruz.

Nothing ever happens in Filomena Jefferson-Cho's sleepy little suburban town of North Pasadena. The sun shines every day, the grass is always a perfect green, and while her progressive school swears there's no such thing as bullying, she still feels bummed out. But one day, when Filomena is walking home on her own, something strange happens.

Filomena is being followed by Jack Stalker, one of the heroes in the Thirteenth Fairy, a series of books she loves about a brave girl and her ragtag group of friends who save their world from an evil enchantress. She must be dreaming, or still reading a book. But Jack is insistent--he's real, the stories are real, and Filomena must come with him at once!

Soon, Filomena is thrust into the world of evil fairies and beautiful princesses, sorcerers and slayers, where an evil queen drives her ruthless armies to destroy what is left of the Fairy tribes. To save herself and the kingdom of Westphalia, Filomena must find the truth behind the fairytales and set the world back to rights before the cycle of sleep and destruction begins once more.

An Epic Series of Failure by Chris Rylander 

A boy discovers his destiny could totally stink in this riotously funny fantasy-adventure

Risk-averse Greg Belmont is content with being ordinary. He's got a friend--that's right, just one--at his fancy prep school, and a pretty cool dad (even if he is obsessed with organic soaps that smell like a mix of salted pork and Icelandic bog). The problem is, Greg isn't ordinary . . . he's actually an honest-to-goodness, fantastical Dwarf!

He discovers the truth the day his dad brings home a gross new tea--one that awakens bizarre abilities in Greg. Then a murderous Bro-Troll kidnaps his dad and Greg is whisked away to the Underground, where Dwarves have lived for centuries right beneath the subways of Chicago.

With the help of some awesome new friends and a talking ax, Greg learns all about the history of the Dwarves, which has been marked with tales of epic failure since the dawn of time. However, the return of the magic they once wielded means big changes are afoot, escalating tensions with the Dwarves' sworn enemy: the Elves.

Vanderbeekers by Karina Yan Glaser

The Vanderbeekers have always lived in the brownstone on 141st Street. It's practically another member of the family. So when their reclusive, curmudgeonly landlord decides not to renew their lease, the five siblings have eleven days to do whatever it takes to stay in their beloved home and convince the dreaded Beiderman just how wonderful they are. And all is fair in love and war when it comes to keeping their home.

Babysitters Club by Ann M. Martin

With the success of the graphic novel adaptations by Raina Telgemeier and the hit Netflix show, Scholastic has released new editions of the beloved Babysitters Club books. 

When Kristy Thomas has the great idea to form a baby-sitters club--a chance to earn money and spend time with her friends, all while doing something they each love to do--she has no idea how much the club will change everything.

Crank calls, uncontrollable toddlers, wild pets, untruthful clients . . . running a business is hard work! Kristy and her co-founders, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey, are sure they can handle anything. But only if they stick together . . . 

The Best of Iggy by Annie Barrows

Meet Iggy Frangi. He's not a bad kid, he's really not. Okay, so he's done a few (a few is anything up to 100) bad things. And okay, he's not very sorry about most of them. People make a big deal about nothing. What's a little pancake here and there? Is that something to get mad about? Iggy doesn't think so. No one got hurt, so there's not problem. No one got hurt except for that one time, that one time when the Best Idea Ever turned into the Worst Idea of All Time.

Iggy is sorry he did it. He is really, really, really sorry.

"For what?" you might ask.
"What did he do?"

Well, you'll have to listen to and/or read the book to find out.

Things Iggy will NOT do this book:

Be the most polite kid ever.
Play the cello.
Think before acting.
Learn a lesson.
Regret his actions. (Most of them, anyway.)

Happy Friday, and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: Favorite Newbery's

It's the first Friday of the New Year! Here's to hoping 2021 is a happier, healthier year than 2020. Over the last few weeks in the children's department we've been switching out our copies of Newbery Award winning books with nice, clean, new copies. Some of our Newbery's have been on the shelf for multiple decades and it was definitely time for some updated graphics and unstained pages!

The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children". The Newbery (for chapter books) and the Caldecott Medal (for picture books) are considered the two most prestigious awards for children's literature in the United States! These books have been vetted by a committee that read well over 200 books and have chosen it as the best book for that year. 

Click on the title to be taken to our catalog to request items. Book summaries are from Goodreads. 

Here are five of my favorites!

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (1963)

It was a dark and stormy night. Out of this wild night, a strange visitor comes to the Murry house and beckons Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O'Keefe on a most dangerous and extraordinary adventure—one that will threaten their lives and our universe.

Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo (2014)

It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry—and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (1968)

When suburban Claudia Kincaid decides to run away, she knows she doesn’t just want to run from somewhere, she wants to run to somewhere — to a place that is comfortable, beautiful, and, preferably, elegant. She chooses the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Knowing her younger brother Jamie has money and thus can help her with a serious cash-flow problem, she invites him along.

Once settled into the museum, Claudia and Jamie find themselves caught up in the mystery of an angel statue that the museum purchased at auction for a bargain price of $225. The statue is possibly an early work of the Renaissance master, Michelangelo, and therefore worth millions. Is it? Or isn’t it?

Claudia is determined to find out. Her quest leads her to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the remarkable old woman who sold the statue, and to some equally remarkable discoveries about herself.

New Kid by Jerry Craft (2020)

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? 

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting (1923)

Doctor John Dolittle, the veterinarian who can actually talk to animals, sets sail on the high seas for new adventures! Accompanied by his young friend Tommy Stubbins and the beloved animals of his household -- Polynesia the parrot, Jip the dog, and Chee-Chee the monkey -- the good doctor is off to forbidding Spider Monkey Island to examine the rare jabizri beetle. But the mysterious island holds another, darker secret: The famous Indian naturalist, Long Arrow, has mysteriously disappeared -- and Doctor Dolittle urgently needs to speak with him.

Doctor Dolittle and his friends brave a shipwreck, find the floating island, and meet the incredible Great Glass Sea Snail -- the keeper of the greatest mystery of all. This is the most popular of the twelve Doctor Dolittle novels. The next has been carefully edited for modern readers by renowned children's book authors Patricia and Fredrick McKissack. This new edition, featuring color illustrations by best-selling artist Michael Hague, is sure to bring a whole new generation under the spell of Doctor Dolittle and his animal friends.

Curious about what other books have won the Newbery? Here's  a complete list of Newbery Winners as well as the Honor books from 1922-present. 

Happy Friday, and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: Favorite Christmas books

 Merry Christmas! As Christmas falls on a Friday this year for today's Fast Five Fiction I've got my five favorite Christmas books on our shelves. Click the link to be directed to the catalog to place materials on hold. Book descriptions are from Goodreads. 

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

This just might be the best known Christmas book of all time. And we have numerous versions of this holiday classic, a Lego version, Berenstain Bears, as well as editions done by a few different illustrators. 

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert E. Barry

This was my favorite Christmas story as a kid and I still have my mom's copy from 1963. Even though my kids are past the Christmas stage we read it together every Christmas. 

Christmas is here and Mr. Willowby's tree has arrived. There's just one big problem: The tree is too tall for his parlor. He cuts off the top so it will fit, and soon the top of that tree is passed along again and again to bring holiday cheer to all the animals in the forest.

Kids will love watching the tree move from home to home, and families will appreciate the subtle message of conservation and recycling, as the tree top spreads joy to so many of the forest dwellers.

This heartwarming story is the perfect way to start your yuletide season, and a warm addition to your family's festive holiday traditions.

Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney

Llama Llama holidays. Jingle music. Lights ablaze.

How long till that special date? Llama Llama has to wait.

If there's one thing Llama Llama doesn't like, it's waiting. He and Mama Llama rush around, shopping for presents, baking cookies, decorating the tree . . . but how long is it until Christmas? Will it ever come? Finally, Llama Llama just can't wait any more! It takes a cuddle from Mama Llama to remind him that "Gifts are nice, but there's another: The true gift is, we have each other."

Home Alone by Jason Rekulak

Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister wished his family would disappear. He never thought the wish would come true!

Home Alone arrived in theaters twenty-five years ago, and remains the #1 highest-grossing live-action comedy film of all time. Now, illustrator Kim Smith has reimagined the story as a classic Christmas fable--complete with bumbling burglars, brilliant booby-traps, and a little boy named Kevin who's forced to fend for himself. Through a series of comic adventures, Kevin learns lessons about responsibility and the importance of family. 

Merry Christmas, Squirrels! by Nancy Rose

Nancy Rose's squirrel books are a true delight and this Christmas themed one is no exception. 

Mr. Peanuts loves Christmas - but he loves it even more when he has a friend to share it with. When Cousin Squirrel invites him to spend the holidays together, Mr. Peanuts is in for a whirlwind of winter fun! Mr. Peanuts and Cousin Squirrel are the perfect holiday addition to every household. Featuring photographs of wild squirrels in handcrafted homemade miniature settings, this striking book is sure to surprise and delight young and old alike. 

Happy Friday, and happy reading. And a very Merry Christmas to you & your families!

Fast Five Fiction: My top five middle grade books of the year!

It's FRIDAY and time for Fast Five Fiction.  If you've glanced through my Goodreads, you know I read A LOT of books each year. I read an eclectic mix of middle grade, young adult, and adult books in various genres. So far this year, I've read 234. It was hard to narrow it down to my five favorite books/series of 2020 but that's what I'm sharing with you today. Click on the link to be directed to the catalog. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger

This series has been flying off the shelves this year, as soon as they're checked in, they're checked out again. I was a little late to the game reading this series, as the first book was published in 2012 but once I started I couldn't put them down. If your child is looking for a clean read with lots of action and adventure than this would be a great choice. 

From the first book in the series: 

Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath—someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain. Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there’s a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from anything she has ever known. Sophie has new rules to learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come “home.” There are secrets buried deep in Sophie’s memory—secrets about who she really is and why she was hidden among humans—that other people desperately want. Would even kill for.

These titles are now available in our all-in-one audiobook format, Playaways. Place that format on hold  here. 

Pages & Co. series by Anna James

An enchanting story about the magic of books and the power of imagination. Since her mother’s disappearance, eleven-year-old Tilly Pages has found comfort in the stories at Pages & Co., her grandparents’ bookshop. But when her favorite characters, Anne of Green Gables and Alice from Wonderland, start showing up at the shop, Tilly’s adventures become very real. Not only can she follow Anne and Alice into their books, she discovers she can bookwander into any story she chooses. Tilly’s new ability leads her to fun and exciting adventures, but danger may be lurking on the very next page…

When new secrets are uncovered, it’s up to Tilly to solve the mystery of what happened to her mother all those years ago. From debut author Anna James comes a charming and exciting adventure about a bookish young heroine, a mysterious librarian, and a magical bookshop that will delight book lovers everywhere.

Twilight Hauntings: Enchanter's Child # 1 by Angie Sage

This is the first in a new series, and I can't wait for the next one. Alex has a set of Enchanted cards. When she flutters her fingers above them, something magical happens: the cards come alive and create moving pictures of what is now and what is yet to come. But Enchantment is illegal in the city of Luma, and those who practice it are imprisoned forever in the Vaults—dark dungeons deep below the city.

When Alex is betrayed by her foster sister Zerra, she knows she is in great danger. With the help of her little foster brother, Louie, she makes a daring escape.

But Alex discovers she is not safe outside Luma either. Here lurk deadly Hauntings that seek out those who practice magic: Enchanters and their children. The Hauntings take many forms and Alex is hunted by a giant bird of prey, the Hawke, a murderous Night Wraith called the Grey Walker, and the eerie Xin.

But why do the Hauntings haunt Alex?

Alex doesn’t believe she’s an Enchanter’s Child, but she has no idea who her parents are. Her precious Enchanted cards are her only clue to her true identity, and she becomes determined to find out who she is. And, while she is at it, to get rid of the deadly Twilight Hauntings forever.

Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor by Ally Carter

April didn’t mean to start the fire. She wasn’t even the one who broke the vase. 

She had absolutely no intention of becoming the only person who knows that Gabriel Winterborne, the missing-and-presumed-dead billionaire, is neither missing nor dead and is actually living in the basement of Winterborne House, sharpening his swords and looking for vengeance. 

Now that April knows Gabriel Winterborne is alive, it’s up to her to keep him that way. But there’s only so much a twelve-year-old girl can do, so April must turn to the other orphans for help. Together, they’ll have to unravel the riddle of a missing heir and a creepy legend, and find a secret key, before the only home they’ve ever known is lost to them forever. 

I've read everything Ally Carter has ever written. While most of her books are geared towards teens her middle grade debut did not disappoint. 

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”.

And because I just can't stop myself from recommending some Young Adult titles too, here's my five favorite YA books for the year:

• The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Barnes
• The Grace Year by Kim Ligget
• Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson
• The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black
• The Clue Mysteries: In the Hall with the Knife and In the Study with the Wrench by Diana Peterfreund

Happy Friday, and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: Series for your kids to binge read over break

 It's Friday, so it's time for Fast Five Fiction. Each week I'll be sharing five fiction recommendatiosn around a common theme. As we get closer to winter break I've got Five book series perfect for binge reading over Winter Break. Click on the link to be directed to the catalog to place items on hold. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

In an evocative and fast-paced adventure on the high seas and on a faraway island, an orphan boy named Peter and his mysterious new friend, Molly, overcome bands of pirates and thieves in their quest to keep a fantastical secret safe and save the world from evil.  Peter and the Starcatchers is brimming with richly developed characters, from the scary but somehow familiar Black Stache and ferocious Mister Grin to the sweet but sophisticated Molly and fearless Peter. Page after page of riveting adventures take readers of all ages on a voyage from a filthy, crime-ridden port in old England across the turbulent sea. Aboard the Neverland is a trunk that hold the “greatest treasure on earth” —but is it gold, jewels, or something far more mysterious and dangerous?

Roiling waves and raging storms; skullduggery and pirate treachery provide the backdrop for battles at sea. Bone-crushing breakers eventually land our characters on Mollusk Island—where the action really heats up.

This impossible-to-put-down tale leads readers on an unforgettable journey—fraught with danger yet filled with mystical and magical moments.

The audiobooks are narrated by the phenomenal Jim Dale. They're also available in CD format. 

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

This series has been flying off the shelves this year, as soon as they're checked in, they're checked out again. In the first book: 

Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath—someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain. Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there’s a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from anything she has ever known. Sophie has new rules to learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come “home.” There are secrets buried deep in Sophie’s memory—secrets about who she really is and why she was hidden among humans—that other people desperately want. Would even kill for.

These titles are now available in our all-in-one audiobook format, Playaways. Place that format on hold  here. 

Septimus Heap by Angie Sage

The first in this series came out in 2005 so your child may have missed it.  One advantage of an older title is that they're all published, no waiting for the next book to come out. In the first in the series, Magyk:

The 7th son of the 7th son, aptly named Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born by a midwife who pronounces him dead. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across a bundle in the snow containing a newborn girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take this helpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son, Septimus?

The first part of this enthralling new series leads readers on a fantastic journey filled with quirky characters, clever charms, potions and spells, and a yearning to uncover the mystery at the heart of this story...who is Septimus Heap? 

This series is also available on one of our ebook platforms, Overdrive. Check availability here.

Winterhouse trilogy by Ben Guterson

This trilogy if perfect winter break reading, as it begins on the protagonist's winterr break:

Orphan Elizabeth Somers’s malevolent aunt and uncle ship her off to the ominous Winterhouse Hotel, owned by the peculiar Norbridge Falls. Upon arrival, Elizabeth quickly discovers that Winterhouse has many charms―most notably its massive library. It’s not long before she locates a magical book of puzzles that will unlock a mystery involving Norbridge and his sinister family. But the deeper she delves into the hotel’s secrets, the more Elizabeth starts to realize that she is somehow connected to Winterhouse. As fate would have it, Elizabeth is the only person who can break the hotel’s curse and solve the mystery. But will it be at the cost of losing the people she has come to care for, and even Winterhouse itself?

Book Scavenger series by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

A hidden book. A found cipher. A game begins . . . .

Twelve-year-old Emily is on the move again. Her family is relocating to San Francisco, home of her literary idol: Garrison Griswold, creator of the online sensation Book Scavenger, a game where books are hidden all over the country and clues to find them are revealed through puzzles. But Emily soon learns that Griswold has been attacked and is in a coma, and no one knows anything about the epic new game he had been poised to launch. Then Emily and her new friend James discover an odd book, which they come to believe is from Griswold and leads to a valuable prize. But there are others on the hunt for this book, and Emily and James must race to solve the puzzles Griswold left behind before Griswold's attackers make them their next target.  

Happy Friday, and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: NEW Christmas Books

It's FRIDAY and time for Fast Five Fiction. 2020 has been a rough year for everyone but as holiday decorations spring up around the library we've all been experiencing a little bit more cheer. As we approach this holiday season we've got  books for all ages, picture books, chapter books, and nonfiction baking and craft books. This week I've got five Christmas picture books new to our shelves. Click on the title to be directed to our catalog and see if items are available, or place them on hold. Book summaries provided by Goodreads.

5 More Sleeps 'Til Christmas by Jimmy Fallon

With his typical humor, Jimmy Fallon brings us a new holiday classic to help us prepare for the most exciting week of the year. 

Everyone who grew up celebrating Christmas remembers the excitement that built up to the most magical day of the year. But why not make the last week until Christmas more fun by counting how many sleeps until the arrival of Santa and his reindeer?

Just 5 more sleeps 'til Christmas!
Can you believe it's here?
I know that Santa's coming soon
'cause I've been good all year.

All the Colors of Christmas by Matthew Paul Turner

In his trademark style, Matthew Paul Turner celebrates the Christmas season, particularly the colors that infuse the holiday and all the memorable sensations and experiences--including a festive market, sledding, and nativity scene--connected to those bright hues. Matthew draws his readers into a whirling ribbon of the familiar reds and greens of Christmas, as well as other festive hues, including white, gold, blue, and brown.

Christmas is RED.
It's a bright shiny sled.
It's candy canes,
and toy store lanes.
It's sprinkles on sweet bread.

All the colors come together when readers are reminded that Christmas is YOU--you're a part of the story, the joy and the glory! Matthew shows us again and again that the holidays are nothing without being with the people we love, celebrating treasured traditions, and making new memories--all in vivid color.

Christmas Heroes! by DC

Celebrate the holidays with super cute versions of Batman, Wonder Woman, and your favorite DC Super Heroes in a brand-new board book series for toddlers.

Batman is making a list and he's checking it twice: The Joker is naughty and Supergirl is nice! Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, and the DC Super Heroes--and villains--have never been more adorable in this sturdy board book that's perfect for the holidays!

A Very Quacky Christmas by Frances Watts

Samantha Duck is getting ready for Christmas and her friend Sebastian thinks she's silly. After all, he says, Christmas isn't for animals. But Samantha knows that Christmas is for everyone and sets out to make sure that all the animals have a very quacky Christmas (and a tortoise new year).

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore

A classic tale comes to life in this new edition of The Night Before Christmas. 

This wonderful new edition of Clement C. Moore's classic "The Night Before Christmas" is a perfect holiday book. Families who read the poem every year will now enjoy this beautiful hardcover edition. Moore's poem, faithfully reproduced here, is accompanied by Kai Wuerbs's stunning illustrations.

Happy Friday, and happy reading!

P.S. Did you see last week's post about the 48 new Playaway titles we added to our shelves? If you're looking for something for your kids to listen to over their holiday break, stop in and pick up a few today. You can read that post here.