Treasure Hunters by James Patterson - ESSENTIAL

Patterson, James and Chris Grabenstein with Mark Shulman.  Treasure Hunters.  Illustrated by

Juliana Neufeld.  Language: G, Sexual Content: G, Violence: PG (death threats, guns, peril, but everyone is okay). Imagine Diary of A Wimpy Kid, slightly less wimpy and on a sail boat—with a little CIA, pirates, and treasure.  Bick and Beck are twins.  Bick is the storyteller and Beck is the artist.  Their older brother is Tommy, who is very handsome, a great sailor, but not that bright.  Their sister Storm is brilliant, but a little self-conscious because she’s very overweight.  At the beginning of the book their mom is missing and their dad presumably has been swept overboard in a storm.  Determined to stay together on their boat and keep sailing, they continue the family business—treasure hunting.  They meet some shady dealers, evil girls in bikinis, and an old family friend.  Who can they trust?  Are the clues leading them to treasure or to their parents?  A quick, plot driven read that will definitely keep boy’s attention with plenty of action and piratey peril.  The illustrations are frequent and fun in a comic book style.  Great for reluctant readers.

 

EL/MS - ESSENTIAL.  Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.

The Queen and the Nobody Boy: A Tale of Fontania by Barbara Else - ADVISABLE

Else, Barbara.  The Queen and the Nobody Boy: A Tale of Fontania.  326 pages.  Gecko Press, 2013.  $17.95.  Language: G, Sexual Content: G, Violence: PG (peril, experimentation, poisonous toads).  Hodie is an odd jobs boy at the castle since his father died.  He decides to leave and make his own way; the only problem is that the Queen (a young girl) has decided to run away too—with him.  Sibillia, the Queen, is tired of everyone’s expectations, especially since she has yet to show any magical abilities.  At the same time the country is under siege by a neighboring country and has no chance of victory without its magical ties that have gone missing.  Both Hodie and Sibillia discover who they are and what they can do in this unlikely adventure in a most magical/science fiction setting.  The main characters are likeable and their development rings true.  The secondary cast is truly odd and definitely original.  The plot moves at a good pace.  Recommend this adventure to your quirkiest readers. 
EL/MS - ADVISABLE.  Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.

Sofia the First: Holiday in Enchancia by Catherine Hapka-ADVISABLE

Hapka, Catherine, ill. By Disney Storybook Art Team, Sofia the First: Holiday in Enchancia. pgs. 38. Disney Hyperion, 2013.$12.99. PICTURE BOOK.

In Enchancia, Wasailia is like Christmas. They light candles, decorate trees, and give each other gifts. When King Roland gets caught in a blizzard and disappears, Sofia and her family go in search of him. With Wassailia almost over and no sign of her stepdad, will Sofia find a way to make things right and save their holiday?

A cute, fun picture book for kids who love princesses. The illustrations are colorful and eye-catching. The story is engaging, but simple enough for younger kids to enjoy. A great read aloud for parents and young children. PreK, EL (K-3). ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.

Sofia the First: The Floating Palace by Catherine Hapka-ESSENTIAL

Hapka, Catherine, ill. By Grace Lee. Sofia the First: The Floating Palace. Pgs. 30. Disney Hyperion, 2013. $15.99. PICTURE BOOK.

When Sofia and her royal family go on vacation to Merroway Cover, they never expected to meet any mermaids. When Sofia saves a mermaid, however, things get a little dicey. Oona, the mermaid she saves, mother is the queen of the mermaids and is against humans. After Oona gets kidnapped by a sea monster, the queen threatens to destroy the royal floating palace. Can Sofia find a way to save her new friend and her family before it’s too late?

A cute picture book perfect for young princess fans. The illustrations are colorful and complement the text well. The story is simple, but engaging enough for younger kids to enjoy A great read aloud addition to any collection. PreK, EL (K-3). ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.

Friends on Ice by Jessica Ward-ADVISABLE

Ward, Jessica, Friends on Ice. Pgs. 128. Disney Hyperion, 2013. $6.99. Content: Language: G, Mature Content: G, Violence: G

When Daisy sees an ad for an ice skating competition, she talks her friends, Minnie and Nancy, into doing it with her. There’s just one problem, however, Nancy not only can’t skate, but she has a fear of ice skates. Can the trio get a routine together in time for the competition?

A cute friendship story for fans of Mickey and Minnie’s world. The characters are true to the originals and are likable. The plot is well-written, but simple enough for readers of all ages to follow. Readers who like Disney characters, friendship stories, and school stories will enjoy reading this book. EL. ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.