Beds, Bedrooms and Pajamas by Patricia Lauber - ESSENTIAL

Lauber, Patricia What You Never Knew About Beds, Bedrooms and Pajamas PICTURE BOOK Simon and Schuster - 

EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

A new addition to the Around the House series. Bright and fun illustrations compliment a quirky fact-filled picture book about sleeping and its accessories through the ages and around the globe. Teachers of any age of student could use this book in their classroom.

 

Bringing Ezra Back by Cynthia DeFelice - OPTIONAL

DeFelice, Cynthia Bringing Ezra Back 148 p. FSG -

EL, MS - OPTIONAL

The Fowler family has recovered from the vicious attacks by "Weasel", though their mother passed away from a fever later. Now, a traveling peddler brings along a flyer that proclaims "See the White Injun, A man with no name and no tongue! Deaf and Dumb," and Nathan is sure that this "injun" is their old friend Ezra, who helped rescue them from Weasel. Nathan is determined to seek out this traveling show and rescue his friend, even if he has to learn to trust the world again.

After the tense danger of "Weasel", this sequel comes off as a milder entry. Though it does answer questions about Ezra, it only raises more at the end. I would prefer to have "Weasel" in hardcover and this one in paperback.

CINDY

Disney Dossiers by Jeff Kurti - ADVISABLE

Kurti, Jeff Disney Dossiers 159 p. Disney Editions -

EL. MS. HS - ADVISABLE

An awesome full-color soft cover book with details and gossip and behind scene information on the entire cast of Disney animated characters up through 2004's Home on the Range. I revisited original friends that I hadn't thought about in years and met new characters from movies I haven't seen. The author's honesty is fresh and fun. I am a little worried about putting this book on the shelves, because I am sure it will be loved to death.

My Life Starring Mum by Chloe Rayban - OPTIONAL

Rayban, Chloe My Life Starring Mum 279 p. Bloomsbury -

EL, MS - OPTIONAL

Holly's mum is the famous British singer Khandi. When a threat against Holly shows up, she is whisked away from her school and her friends to a high-security hotel where her mother alternately ignores her or tries to turn Holly into a younger version of herself.

 The story moves very quickly, keeping the reader's interest, until the very end, where it abruptly sputters and dies mid-stream. This has happened in so many books that I have read that I wonder if authors have lost the art of the denouement. There is absolutely no resolution, only a short, unsatisfying reunion scene, with a flippant end. Despite that, I think younger readers will enjoy Holly's life and adventure and are probably not knowledgeable enough to be frustrated by the ending. There are five clunky, unnecessary uses of swear words, though.

CINDY

That Girl Lucy Moon by Amy Timberlake - ESSENTIAL

Timberlake, Amy That Girl Lucy Moon 294 p. Hyperion -

 EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

As Lucy starts her sixth grade year at the local middle school, her photographer mother takes off on an extended trip in search of clouds. Her friends start growing and changing and Lucy feels left behind and out of the loop - especially when she receives unwarranted discipline after organizing a protest against the fencing of the town's favorite sledding spot. Winter causes Lucy's light to dim and she ceases to care whether her mother ever returns.

 A beautiful book in the tradition of Stargirl, with a new heroine who doesn't seem to think she needs to lie down and take it. And after reading snippets of Lucy's antics in elementary school, I kind of wish the author would also write a prequel.

CINDY