Good Reads Youth

Vampenguin

By Lucy Ruth Cummins
JP Cummins, Lucy Ruth

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From the critically acclaimed author and illustrator of A Hungry Lion and Stumpkin comes a charming, wryly humorous story of adventure, mistaken identity, and a vampire family's day at the zoo. On a Saturday morning, baby Dracula visits the zoo with his family, where baby Penguin lives with hers. But these intrepid young adventurers are not content with staying in their proper places. Instead, baby Dracula slips into the Penguin House to spend the day eating, swimming, and hanging around, while baby Penguin waddles into the stroller to explore the rest of the zoo. Dracula's family doesn't even notice the switch--will they bring the right baby home? Observant and adventurous young readers will love this tale of the shenanigans that happen when parents' backs are turned.

Grumpy Monkey Party Time!

By Suzanne Lang
JP Lang, Suzanne

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Everyone's favorite New York Times bestselling Grumpy Monkey is back in this hilarious sequel about managing social anxiety and listening to your needs! Have you ever been a little anxious about going to a party? Jim Panzee feels that. Porcupine is having a big party, and according to Jim's best friend Norman, there will be--gulp--dancing. Jim can DEFINITELY not dance. When he tells his friends, they all try to teach him cool moves--surely that's the only reason Jim isn't excited about this party! Now, their job complete, the other animals sweep Jim along, all the way to the dance floor. Jim is dipped, swayed, and twirled until he can't take it anymore--he just doesn't like to dance! When he lets everyone know, he's met with disbelief...until Water Buffalo reveals that he doesn't much care to dance, either. As more and more animals have the courage speak their truths, does this mean there's no place for them at this party? In this hilarious sequel to GRUMPY MONKEY, kids will learn that it's okay not to go with the flow if they're uncomfortable, and that speaking up about what they need can help others speak up, too--and maybe they need the same thing!

We Move the World

By Kari Lavelle
JP Lavelle, Kari

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An inspiring and empowering picture book about the small things kids do that have the potential to change the world!

Meet some of the world's most beloved movers, shakers, scientists, activists, dreamers, and doers from the past and present who model what every childhood first can lead to! Neil Armstrong, Misty Copeland, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and more were once kids--they grew up to lead us to the moon, dance in the ballet, and break barriers.

From first steps to solving puzzles and learning the alphabet, all the small things are only the beginning: they can lead to future activism and innovation that just might change the world!

Now That Night is Near

By Astrid Lindgren
JP Lindgren, Astrid

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It's bedtime, and across the land everyone is settling down to sleep. The cows are lying down in their fields, the rabbits are snug in their burrows, and the birds are resting on their branches. Except someone isn't quite ready to close their eyes just yet...

A curious cat gently wanders through midsummer fields, forests and dusky Swedish landscapes as the sun slowly sets. When will he be ready to sleep?

 

Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter

By Jamie Michalak
JP Michalak, Jamie

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In a clever take on the "night at the museum" theme, a little mouse with a genius for collecting leads picture book readers--and seek-and-find aficionados--on a thrilling nocturnal adventure. Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter is both a rollicking story with a dash of danger and, in its final eye-popping spreads, a seek-and-find challenge. As the clock in the great museum tick-tocks past midnight, a little mouse with a sack and a treasure map scurries past the guards. Plucky and intrepid Dakota Crumb scours the museum for artifacts, including the famous Purple Jewel of Cairo (a gumdrop stashed in an exhibit).

 

Hurricane

By John Rocco
JP Rocco, John

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That night the wind roars and rumbles, like the sound of a thousand waves pounding the shoreline. A young boy's favorite place in the world is the old, splintery neighborhood dock. He calls it " my dock." At this dock the boy can swim, fish, or watch minnows dart between the rocks. But a hurricane is coming... and its violent winds and rain carry with it anything that can float, including his dock. As the boy tries to rebuild alone, eventually the town's people all pitch in, and it becomes " our dock." Caldecott Honoree John Rocco shows the power of community and the beauty of rebuilding after adversity in this dramatically-illustrated companion book to Blizzard and Blackout .

We Give Thanks

By Cynthia Rylant
JP Rylant, Cynthia

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From acclaimed and beloved creators Cynthia Rylant and Sergio Ruzzier comes a cozy and quirky picture book that reminds us of all the wonderful things we have to be thankful for. We give thanks for apple trees and bushes filled with roses. We give thanks for nice warm soup and fires to warm our toeses. Follow two sweet friends as they zip around town talking to all their pals about the things they love. The pair may even have a plan cooking to show everyone their gratitude! With its themes of thankfulness and inclusion, this playfully illustrated story is the perfect read for Thanksgiving--or for any day of the year.

Poem in My Pocket

By Chris Tougas
JP Tougas, Chris

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I had a poem in my pocket // but my pocket got a rip // Rhymes tumbled down my leg // and trickled from my hip. Thus begins the journey of a young poet's words out into the world, where they join randomly with other words to form funny riffs and puns all over a busy city street.. Not only a fanciful rhyming adventure tale, Chris Tougas's picture book is also a delightful allegory for the creative writing process.

Boo Stew

By Donna Washington
JP Washington, Donna

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Curly Locks is a good-hearted girl, but she's an awful cook. All the townspeople of Toadsuck Swamp know to steer clear of her culinary concoctions, like the batwing brownies and toad eye toffees. So when one of her dishes goes missin' from her windowsill, word spreads like a kerosene fire about how the Scares have been terrorizin' the town at mealtime. They shriek Gitchey Boo, Gitchey Bon! Gitchey Goo, Gitchey Gone!? and send folk runnin' from their dinner plates.

With everyone else tremblin' and squawkin' about the Scares, Curly Locks gets an inklin'. Can she use her smarts and unique talents to help corral those Scares for good?

Cows Go Boo!

By Steve Webb
JP Webb, Steve

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On Farmer George's farm, the pigs go "oink," the sheep go "baa," and cows go . . . wait, where did all the cows go?

These mischievous cows have taken to sneaking up on Farmer George and shouting "BOO!" Luckily, George knows just how to put his impolite herd to good use. This hilarious story is guaranteed to get children giggling!

Shelby & Watts: Tide Pool Troubles

By Ashlynn Anstee
JE Anstee, Ashlyn

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There isn't a mystery that Shelby & Watts can't solve! They're saving the environment, one case at a time. Meet Shelby & Watts! Shelby loves a good mystery. And her best friend, Watts, is never without his encyclopedia. When Shelby gets a letter from Fred the hermit crab claiming that all the shells are missing from the beach, she and Watts are just the duo to help him. With Shelby's deductive skills and Watts's scientific knowledge, there's no case the two of them can't solve--one environmental mystery at a time!

The Big Mix-Up!

By Dana Regan
JE Regan, Dana

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Meet Mike, a helpful hedgehog who lives in the town of Happy Rivers in this Level 1 Ready-to-Read! Although helpful, sometimes he gets involved in some silly mix-ups, like delivering ants instead of pants and pigs instead of wigs! Jay needs a fan. Mike brings a pan! Val paid for pens. Mike brings her hens! Mike is busy making deliveries to his friends. The problem is, he is accidentally mixing up the deliveries, resulting in some very silly mistakes!

Corduroy Makes a Cake

By Alison Inches
JE PBK Freeman, Don

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Corduroy was first introduced to readers by Don Freeman in 1968 and has become a contemporary classic. Now everybody's favorite department store bear comes to you in a brand new series aimed at beginning readers. In Corduroy Makes a Cake, it's Lisa's birthday and Corduroy sets out to make her a special surprise. But it's much harder than it looks. . . .

Grumpy Monkey Ready, Set, Bananas!

By Suzanne Lang
JE PBK Lang, Suzanne

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Funny monkey Jim Panzee, star of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, is reluctant to join the race in the jungle until banana after banana falls from above. Jim Panzee 's plans for a quiet morning nap are interrupted by Tortoise's plea to join him in the jungle race. This makes Grumpy Monkey even grumpier but he reluctantly agrees. Then one of the runners bumps into a tree and bananas come raining down! The race to the finish is over as everyone, including Grumpy Monkey, races to get the biggest share of bananas. Easy-to-read words and colorful illustrations will hook young readers on the lifelong habit of reading. Step 2 readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. They are perfect for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

Pig and Pug

By Laura Marchesani
JE PBK Marchesani, Laura

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A story of an unlikely, but adorable, friendship! Pig lives on a farm with lots of other animals. All the animals have friends, but Pig does not. One day a new animal comes to the farm. Pug has a curly tail like Pig. Pug plays in the mud like Pig. Pug even snorts like Pig. Pug is not a pig, but maybe, just maybe, Pig and Pug can be friends!

Guess What!?

By Mo Willems
JE Willems, Mo

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From Mo Willems, creator of the revolutionary, award-winning, best-selling Elephant & Piggie books, comes this breakout beginning-reader series, Unlimited Squirrels. An ensemble cast of Squirrels, Acorns, and pop-in guests hosts a page-turning extravaganza. Each book features a funny, furry adventure AND bonus jokes, quirky quizzes, nutty facts, and so, so many Squirrels. In Guess What!? , Zoom Squirrel is excited to go to the beach. But what will happen when Zoomy and pals finally get there? Do you know more about going to the beach than the Squirrels do? You will by the end of this book!

Some Penguin Problems

By Kate Biberdorf
J Biberdorf, Kate

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There are some penguin problems on the fifth-grade field trip in this fifth installment of the Kate the Chemist fiction series that shows kids that everyone can be a scientist!

 

Generation Misfits

By Akemi Dawn Bowman
J Middle School Bowman, Akemi Dawn

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Eleven-year-old Millie Nakakura is starting sixth grade at a real school for the first time in her life. Previously homeschooled, Millie dreams of finally making friends and having a little bit of freedom--though this proves trickier than she expected.Then she spots a flyer for an after-school club for fans of Japanese pop music, which she loves more than anything else in the world. Millie makes true friends with this crew of misfits, and when of their members starts to bend under the strain of a troubled home life, the friends band together to help her get through these tough times. Generation Misfits is an emotionally resonant, diverse, and inclusive book that's perfect for readers who loved Real Friends and Stand Up, Yumi Chung.

School of Phantoms

By Kory Merritt
J Merritt, Kory

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It's been months since Levi and Kat defeated the Boojum and rescued their town's forgotten children. But now the strangeness has started again: hundreds of creepy snowmen pop up across town and a bizarre blizzard hits the day before spring break. Being trapped in the school overnight by freak weather is bad enough. But an evil is lurking . . . one far worse than ice and wind. Worse than power outages. Even worse than being stuck with teachers and annoying classmates. Something is roaming the darkened school halls. Something . . . hungry. Now it's up to a small group of student survivors--along with some supernatural helpers--to uncover the cold-hearted menace before it takes the entire school. 

The Other Side of Luck

By Ginger Johnson
J Johnson, Ginger

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Ignored because she is a girl, First Daughter Una sets out to find the silva flower and her path crosses with Julien, a pauper hoping to free his father by finding the same flower.

Never Grow Up

By Karen Kingsbury
J Kingsbury, Karen

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In the third book in Karen Kingsbury and Tyler Russell's beloved series about the Baxter children, Ashley and Kari Baxter struggle with what it means to grow up. When Kari Baxter is assigned an essay about what she wants to be when she grows up, her mind goes blank. She doesn't want to grow up; she wants everything to stay just like it is. But Kari comes to realize that while making time stand still isn't possible, she can enjoy every moment with her best family ever. Meanwhile, Ashley Baxter feels the same way. She is worried her siblings are growing up too fast. When she wins the role of Wendy in her school performance of Peter Pan , Ashley gets an idea. Maybe she and her siblings can pledge to never grow up at all! This third story in the Baxter Family Children series shares the reassuring message that even though growing up can be tough, family and friends are always there with support and love.

The Thing I'm Most Afraid Of

By Kristin Levine
J Middle School Levine, Kristin

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A new middle-grade tale from critically acclaimed, award-winning author Kristin Levine about facing your fears, set in Vienna during the Bosnian genocide. Most twelve-year-olds would be excited to fly to Austria to see their dad for the summer but then Becca is not most twelve-year-olds. Suffering from severe anxiety, she fears that the metal detectors at the airport will give her cancer and the long international flight will leave her with blood clots. Luckily, she's packed her Doomsday Journal, the one thing that always seems to help. By writing down her fears and what to do if the worst happens, Becca can get by without (many) panic attacks. Routines and plans help Becca cope but living in a new country is full of the unexpected--including Becca's companions for the summer. Like Felix, the short and bookish son of Becca's dad's new girlfriend. Or Sara, the nineteen-year-old Bosnian refugee tasked with watching the two of them for the summer. As Becca explores Vienna and becomes close to her new friends, she soon learns she is not alone in her fears. What matters most is what you do when faced with them.

Thrive

By Kenneth Oppel
J Middle School Oppel, Kenneth

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The. Aliens. Are. Here. The heart-pounding conclusion to The Overthrow trilogy that began with Bloom and Hatch . The alien invasion of Earth is imminent. But maybe not all the aliens are united. A rebel faction has reached out to Anaya, saying there's a way to stop the larger invastion--a way for humans and hybrids and cryptogens to work together. Can they be trusted? Or is this a trap? It's not even clear if Anaya, Petra, and Seth are united--some of the hybrids think they'd be better off if the aliens won... With everything on the line, these three teens will have to decide who they are at their core--alien or human, enemy or friend.

The Good War

By Todd Strasser
J Middle School Strasser, Todd

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From the author of The Wave comes a poignant and timely novel about a group of seventh graders who are brought together--and then torn apart--by an afterschool club that plays a video game based on WW2. There's a new afterschool club at Ironville Middle School. Ms. Peterson is starting a video game club where the students will playing The Good War, a new game based on World War II. They are divided into two teams: Axis and Allies, and they will be simulating a war they know nothing about yet. Only one team will win. But what starts out as friendly competition, takes an unexpected turn for the worst when an one player takes the game too far. Can an afterschool club change the way the students see eachother...and how they see the world? "By using a gaming lens to explore the students' entrée to prejudice and radicalization, he succeeds in lending immediacy and accessibility to his cautionary tale."-- Kirkus Reviews