Best of
Young-Readers

2008

Stolen Children


Peg Kehret - 2008
    Armed with misinformation and a weapon, the men take Amy and little Kendra to a remote cabin in the woods. There they make videos of the girls and mail them to Kendra’s wealthy parents in an effort to get ransom money. After several of her escape attempts fail, Amy is forced to make one last, desperate move. Award winner Peg Kehret crafts a suspenseful thriller with a spunky heroine who uses her wits to save herself and the toddler.

The Serial Garden: The Complete Armitage Family Stories


Joan Aiken - 2008
    After Mrs. Armitage makes a wish, the Armitage family has “interesting and unusual” experiences every Monday (and the occasional Tuesday). The Board of Incantation tries to take over their house to use as a school for young wizards; the Furies come to stay; and a cutout from a cereal box leads into a beautiful and tragic palace garden. Charming and magical, the uncommon lives of the Armitage family will thrill and delight. Includes Joan Aiken’s “Prelude” from Armitage, Armitage, Fly Away Home, as well as introductions from Joan Aiken’s daughter, Lizza Aiken, and best-selling author Garth Nix. Illustrated by Andi Watson.

Magic Tree House: #38-39


Mary Pope Osborne - 2008
    And so they head off in the magic tree house for Florence, Italy, in the early 1500s to spend the day with one of the greatest artists and inventors of all time-Leonardo da Vinci!Dark Day in the Deep SeaJack and Annie know they have to find one of the four secrets of happiness to help save Merlin. But when the magic tree house whisks them off to a misty island in the middle of nowhere, they wonder how they will find anything. As the fog lifts, they see a huge ship that turns out to be the world's first floating science laboratory. The ship's crew is searching for undiscovered sea creatures-and for the giant sea monster that seems to be following them!

Bella's Gift


Felicity Brown - 2008
    Bella Sara is an imaginative world full of magical horses. Each book includes a unique code for girls to enter and play with on the Web site.

Hamish X Goes to Providence Rhode Island


Seán Cullen - 2008
    Only then will the mysteries of Hamish X, his boots, and his past finally be revealed.

Return to Fairyopolis (Flower Fairies)


Cicely Mary Barker - 2008
    That is until a journey to the countryside begins to melt her doubt. Investigation, research, and correspondence with her friend (and still a believer) Cicely Mary Barker-along with fairy magic-leads her back to Fairyopolis!With stunning pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, postcards, maps, glitter and more on every spread, this book brings all the fairy magic alive again!

Ugly Guide to the Uglyverse


David Horvath - 2008
    And now, Uglydoll lovers everywhere can get their first-ever glimpse into the mysteries of the Uglyverse Join Wage, Babo, and the rest of the Uglydolls' quirky characters on a tour of Ugly Town. In Ugly Guide to the Uglyverse, you'll dine in Ugly Town's fine (and not-so-fine) restaurants, go on a tour of the Ugly History Museum, check in to the Ugly Hospital, vacation at the Ugly Beach, and learn even more about Ugly Town and the Uglydolls themselves, including what Jeero really does all day and what Big Toe wants to be when he grows up. Ugly Guide to the Uglyverse is a must-have for Uglydoll fans everywhere

Star Wars Mad Libs


Roger Price - 2008
    With 21 Mad Libs stories about characters and events from all six of the blockbuster films, you?ll be laughing your ___________ off!

Star Wars: Epic Battles


Simon Beecroft - 2008
    Full color.

Cork and Fuzz: The Collectors


Dori Chaconas - 2008
    Fuzz is a tall possum who also likes to collect shiny stones. Fuzz tries to collect a “stone” from a duck’s nest and, in turn, the mama duck tries to collect him. Will Cork be able to save his friend? An Easy-to-Read series that critics compare to “the measured dialogue and sweet illogic of Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad,”** Cork and Fuzz collect fans with each new adventure.

Hoofbeats: Margret and Flynn, 1875


Kathleen Duey - 2008
    Fredriksen in her sod house in Littleton, Colorado. Margret knows that Libby, with her basic distrust of anyone, will have them moving along soon enough, but Margret wants to stay. When a tornado sweeps through, bringing with it an injured horse, Margret lays claim to the animal, naming him Flynn, nursing him back to health, and teaching herself to ride. Now more than ever, Margret yearns for some stability in her life. Somehow she must convince Libby to stay so she can make Flynn hers.

Usborne Stories for Little Boys


Jenny Tyler - 2008
    Ride back in time for a castle adventure and take an incredible journey right under the ground.

Brand New School, Brave New Ruby


Derrick Barnes - 2008
    When Ruby isn't hanging with her friend, Theresa Petticoat, she's finding out what kind of mischief her brothers are getting into. She's sweet and sassy and every bit as tough as her older siblings. She sings like nobody's business; she has a pet iguana named Lady Love; her favorite color is grape-jelly purple; and when she grows up, she's going to be the most famous woman animal doctor on the planet. She's the fabulous, oh-so-spectacular Ruby Marigold Booker!

Sarashi Asobi


Touya Tobina - 2008
    She is the student council president at her school and really a good-hearted girl, but she is feared by the whole school because of her harsh way of speaking. Ai possesses her body and exposes her kind, true nature and so enjoys his "Sarashi Asobi (Exposing Game)". But gradually he is starting to feel and interest in being with Ren...

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Florida


Frank Remkiewicz - 2008
    Readers are in for a wild holiday countdown, as they meet 12 panthers purring, 11 grannies golfing, 10 flamingos flapping…and eat a few key lime pies too!

Biscuit's First Sleepover


Alyssa Satin Capucilli - 2008
    Woof!It's time for a sleepover!Will Biscuit ever be able to get to sleep?It's fun to have a sleepover with friends!Have more fun with Biscuit!

Cynthia Rylant


Jill C. Wheeler - 2008
    Readers will learn about Rylants childhood in West Virginias Appalachian Mountains, her early separation from her parents, and their affect on her life and work. Rylants autobiographies But Ill Be Back Again and Best Wishes are also introduced. Easy-to-read text and full-color photos highlight Rylants childhood, education, and early influences. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

Looking Closely Inside the Garden


Frank Serafini - 2008
    Look very closely. Is it ... a stained-glass window? A jigsaw puzzle? Give up? Just turn the page and, lo and behold, it's a monarch butterfly. See what looks like a pair of chopsticks revealed as a mormon cricket, a sponge as a strawberry, and many more surprises when you look closely into the garden. The Looking Closely series takes children on a journey of discovery through four environments --- the forest, the shore, the desert and the garden. Frank Serafini's camera lens enlarges each world through the magic of close-up photography. Young eyes will rediscover our planet as a place of beauty, mystery and delight. Readers are first challenged to guess the identity of each closeup photograph. The next page reveals the entire photograph of the plant, animal or natural object accompanied by a simple but detailed description of the habitat. By inspiring children to ask questions and use their imaginations, these books help build problem-solving skills. They also encourage curiosity about environments that, examined this closely, are full of unexpected wonders.

Beautiful Butterflies


Meish Goldish - 2008
    Large, eye-popping photos and clear, grade-appropriate text will engage emergent readers as they learn about the natural habitat, physical characteristics, diet, and behavior of this unique invertebrate. Beautiful Butterflies is part of Bearports No Backbone! The World of Invertebrates series.

The Nutcracker


Stephanie Spinner - 2008
      Peter Malone’s exquisite illustrations capture all the magic of The Nutcracker’s most memorable scenes: the Christmas Eve party, Godfather Drosselmeyer’s spellbinding visit, and the ferocious battle between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker. Marie’s journey to the Land of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy welcomes her with exuberant dancers from around the globe—and toothsome desserts—springs to life as never before.   Stephanie Spinner’s lyrical text, Peter Malone’s jewel-like artwork, and a sparkling performance of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable music make this a gift to inspire even the very youngest dancer.