It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

Han, Jenny It's Not Summer Without You, 277 pgs. Simon & Schuster, 2010. Language - PG-13 (52 swears, 2 "f"), Sexual Content - PG-13; Violence - PG; Belly and her family spend every summer at a summerhouse on the beach belonging to a close friend of her mom. Well, every summer before her mom's friend Susannah dies, that is. Now Belly's mom is practically a vegetable and Belly hasn't talked to Susannah's sons, and her friends, Conrad and Jeremiah in a while. Then Jeremiah calls for Belly's help because Conrad has disappeared. Belly jumps on the chance to see Conrad again because she is hopelessly and helplessly head over heels for him--even if he doesn't feel the same. This book was very fun to read because of all the drama. Belly doesn't want to get over Conrad, a love triangle is revealed, and new problems arrive when they find Conrad and his hiding place. Jeremiah was my favorite character because he's so nice, unlike his jerk of a brother. MS, HS - ADVISABLE. Student Reviewer: CCH

The Other Side of Blue by Valerie O. Patterson

Patterson, Valerie O. The Other Side of Blue, 223 pgs. Houghton Mifflin, 2009. Language-G, Sexual Content-G; Violence-G; The summer after Cyan’s father drowned off the island of Curacao, she, her mother, and her soon-to-be step sister return to the house their family has stayed at every summer. But, Cyan decides to use her summer trying to figure out what really happened to her father. This book is all about hope, forgiving, and healing. It is very well written, and has intricate word choice. I really enjoyed reading this book. MS- ADVISABLE. Student Reviewer: HW

Modern Fairies, Dwarves, Goblins & Other Nasties: A Practical Guide by Miss Edythe McFate, by Lesley M. M. Blume

Blume, Lesley M. M. Modern Fairies, Dwarves, Goblins & Other Nasties: A Practical Guide by Miss Edythe McFate, 256 pages. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2010. Sexual Content-G; Language-G; Violence-PG. Miss Edythe McFate’s practical guide is no light-hearted “fairy” book. It is truly a compilation of cautionary tales set in New York about dealing with modern fairies and other magical creatures. A girl helps a distraught mermaid capture the attention of a sea captain, whom she lures to his death. A young man finds a secret door in Lincoln tunnel and picks a ruby off of a dwarf’s tree with disastrous results. A little girl is ugly and unloved, so the fairies turn her into a flower. Another little girl helps brownies relocate after their hotel is taken over. The writing style is conversational and draws the reader into the stories. Between stories, Miss Edythe McFate gives further tidbits and advice on dealing with fairies, such as how to tell a good one from a bad one. The illustrations by David Foote haunt every page with their inky black lines. EL- ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian

Elmer and the Hippos by David McKee

McKee, David. Elmer and the Hippos. Andersen Press (Lerner Publishing Group), 2010. $16.95. PICTURE BOOK. Elmer, the patchwork elephant, is back for another story. This time the elephants aren’t happy because hippos have moved into their part of the river. The elephants talk about making the hippos leave, but Elmer tells them to wait. Elmer talks to the hippos who explain that their river dried up. Elmer tells the elephants about the hippos’ plight and then goes to investigate. He discovers that a rock slide has dammed the river. Elmer enlists the help of his cousin Wilbur to help him convince the elephants to help the hippos remove the rocks. They work together to remove the blockage and then enjoy playing in the river. Both the elephants and hippos invite each other to come back and visit at any time. Author/illustrator David McKee’s colorful patchwork elephant Elmer sets the stage for the vibrant illustrations. This simple story of empathy and teamwork is sure to appeal to children, parents, and teachers. EL – ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian.

Penny Dreadful by Laurel Snyder

Snyder, Laurel. Penny Dreadful, 304 pgs. Random House, 2010. $16.99. Content-G. There is nothing dreadful about Penelope Grey’s life. In fact, it’s dull. She lives in a big house with servants and tutors while her father works and her mother is off on charitable committees. Penelope longs for something to happen and it does. Her father quits his job and wanders around in his bathrobe. Her mother is stressed with finances as one by one their servants leave. Everything seems dire, until Penelope’s mom inherits a house in Tennessee. When they arrive they discover that they’ve inherited Aunt Betty’s house and all of her friends. Aunt Betty’s friends added their own houses onto her house and get to stay rent free. Aunt Betty also left a lot of debt. Penelope’s mom gets a job and her dad starts to help around the house. Meanwhile Penelope, now Penny, is meeting and making friends with Betty’s friends: Luella and her mom the artist, Twent and his two moms, Duncan and his over-cautious parents, and more. Penny doesn’t want to leave, but how can they afford to stay? Penny leads the cast of likeable, unique characters that seek friendship and adventure. Penny learns that life doesn’t need magic to be magical. EL – ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian.

Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems - ESSENTIAL

Willems, Mo. Can I Play Too? Hyperion, 2010. $8.99. EARLY READER.

 Author Mo Willems delivers another delightful Elephant & Piggie Book. Elephant and Piggie are playing catch when a snake comes up and asks if he can play too. The two are reluctant because the snake doesn’t have arms, so how can he catch? Elephant and Piggie try throwing the ball to snake, but mostly bonk him on the head with the ball. Finally the snake realizes he can’t play catch, but Piggie has an idea on how to play catch with everyone.

 A wonderful book about including people who are different then you. The illustrations are simple and effective.

 Pre-K, EL – ESSENTIAL. Samantha, Public Librarian.

Somewhere So Sleepy by Diane Muldrow

Muldrow, Diane. Somewhere So Sleepy, illustrated by Jui Ishida. Golden Books, 2010. $7.99. BOARD BOOK. A beautifully illustrated lift the flap book that highlights different animals getting ready for bed: koalas cuddle, elephant’s bath, lions stretch, puppies lie down, hippos and owls close their eyes. And of course boys and girls, close their window shades and go to sleep. Pre-K – ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian.

Tubby by Leslie Patricelli

Patricelli, Leslie. Tubby. Candlewick Press, 2010. $6.99. BOARD BOOK. It’s time for his bath. He runs naked into the tub and plays with the bubbles. His mom washes his hair and then he plays more before washing. When it’s time to get out his mom dries him and his dad cleans up the floor. Then he streaks until they catch him and put on his diaper. The bright and simple cartoon illustrations will appeal to toddlers. Author/illustrator Patricelli carefully angles the pictures not to show too much, however, there are two illustrations that show bums. Pre-K – ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian.

The Thinga-ma-jigger is Coming Today! by Tish Rabe

Rabe, Tish. The Thinga-ma-jigger is Coming Today! illustrated by Christopher Moroney. Golden Books, 2010. $3.99. EARLY READER. The story is based on the TV series The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! The Cat in the Hat picks children up in the Thinga-ma-jigger and they fly over forests and shores. Then he presses a button and shrinks them so they can explore flowers and go under water. Then he presses a button and they get bigger and go into space. The Stoppermatoggle is broken. What will they do? It looks like a problem for Thing One and Thing Two. Author Tish Rabe writes in a creative Dr. Suess-like style, which is imaginative and fun. The colorful illustrations with familiar characters are sure to appeal to Suess fans. EL – ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian.

Rush by Jonathan Friesen - ADVISABLE

Friesen, Jonathan, Rush. Speak, 2010. Pgs. 320.

Language: PG-13, Sexual Content: PG-13, Violence: PG-13

When Jake gets a chance to be a part of an elite crew of firefighters who repel into wildfires, he jumps at the chance, despite the fact that they tend to mysteriously die young. As he begins to go through the grueling, unorthodox, unacceptable ways the leader has of initiating its member and weeding out the weak, Jake discovers he is in love with his best friend, Salome. As time goes on, the truth about the Immortals, as they call themselves, comes to light, he realizes that there is more to life than being immortal. Will Jake continue to be a firefighter? Will his adrenaline addiction get the best of him or will he fight for what’s right?

This story is an adrenaline rush in itself. The characters are well-developed. The plot is gripping and the book is hard to put down. Readers who like adventure and realistic fiction will enjoy reading this book.

MS, HS - ADVISABLE. Reveiwer: Jessica M, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High.

Magnus Maximus, A Marvelous Measurer by Kathleen T. Pelley

Pelley, Kathleen T. Magnus Maximus, A Marvelous Measurer illustrated by S.D. Schindler 32 pgs. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2010. PICTURE BOOK. $16.99. Magnus Maximus is a marvelous measurer because he goes above and beyond measuring every day kinds of things...he measures and counts wetness and dryness,nearness and farness, clouds in the sky and even freckles on a nose. Magnus even goes so far as to measure an escaped circus lion, thus becoming a town legend! But as Magnus gets caught up in measuring, he forgets that some of life's greatest treasures can't be measured. The illustrations give a nice, old-fashioned feel to the story. Although kids will enjoy the story, the real message of the book might be lost on them. EL-ADVISABLE. Whitney, Library-Teacher. 

Hubert Horatio Bartle Bobton-Trent by Lauren Child

Child, Lauren Hubert Horatio Bartle Bobton-Trent 48 pgs. Hyperion Books for Children, 2005. PICTURE BOOK. $16.99. Hubert Horatio Bartle Bobton-Trent is the child prodigy of two frightfully, frightfully rich parents. Constantly playing board games, drinking cocoa, and throwing parties, Hubert's parents are oblivious to the fact that their money funds have run dry. As Hubert and his fellow prodigy friend Stanton Harcourt III devise an equation to save the Bobton-Trent mansion, the solution is not what they expected! Although the text is longer and Hubert's name is a mouthful, this is a charming story about the value of things money can't buy. The collage illustrations that are so Lauren Child-ish will captivate the readers if the engaging, humorous text doesn't! This would be a fine addition to any picture book collection. EL-ESSENTIAL. Whitney, Library-Teacher.

Imogene's Antlers by David Small

Small, David. Imogene’s Antlers. Crown Publishers, 1985. $16.99. PICTURE BOOK. One day Imogene woke up and discovered she had grown antlers. It was hard to get dressed and to go down the hall. Her family was quite upset, but she wasn’t. Imogene used her antlers to feed birds doughnuts and to dry hand towels. A milliner came to make a hat to cover the antlers, but her family was still upset. Imogene went to sleep and the next morning there wasn’t any antlers, but there was… The creative and wacky illustrations have made this book beloved for 25 years. Original story with charming humor. Pre-K, EL – ESSENTIAL. Samantha, Public Librarian.

ABC Baby Me! by Susan B. Katz

Katz, Susan B. ABC, Baby Me! illustrated by Alicia Padron. Random House, 2010. $7.99. BOARD BOOK. An alphabet book with short sentences on how parents care for infants. The text is simple and sweet. There is no fixed riming pattern, however, many entries rime. The cozy and charming illustrations of parents and children represent many ethnicities. Pre-K—ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian

Bear of My Heart by Joanne Ryder

Ryder, Joanne. Bear of My Heart, illustrated by Margie Moore. Little Simon, 2009. $8.99. BOARD BOOK. Originally published as a picture book in 2007, this beautifully illustrated story is about a mother bear’s love for her cub. The mother bear tells the cub of the places and things they will see and do together. She also assures the young cub that she will be there when he’s sad, lonely, or lost. Soft, pastel palette of the illustrations works perfectly with the theme and tone of the book. A lovely tribute about a parent’s love for a child in the same vein as Bernadette Rossetti-Shushtak’s I Love You Through and Through. Pre-K– ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian.

The Noisy Counting Book by Susan Schade and Jon Buller

Schade, Susan & Jon Buller. The Noisy Counting Book. Random House, 2010. $7.99. BOARD BOOK. Originally published as a picture book in 1987, this “noisy” counting book has both charm and humor works well in the board book format. A little boy is going fishing and a frog says “Ga-dunk!” Soon ducks, birds, fish, bugs, and crickets are all making noises. Finally the boy can’t stand the noise anymore and says, “Quiet!” The cartoon illustrations have personality and warmth. Pre-K–ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian.

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway

Benway, Robin The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June, 281 pgs. Razerbill, 2010. Language – R (129 swears, 11 “f”); Sexual Content – PG; Violence – PG (underage drinking and drugs).

April, May, and June have just moved with their newly divorced mom to a new city and new school. On the way to their first day, they all discover they have a strange power. April can see the future, May can turn invisible, and June can read minds. When April sees an accident in their future, she tries to stop it from happening.

This is a super fun book. Really funny and original. All three sisters are very different, with different views and opinions about how best to use their new powers. I really enjoyed it.


HS – ADVISABLE Reviewer: Rebekah, Youth Services Librarian

Benny and Babe by Eoin Colfer - OPTIONAL

Colfer, Eoin Benny and Babe, 282 pgs. Hyperion, 2007.

Content – PG

Benny is spending the summer with his grandfather in the country when he meets Babe, a tough-girl entrepreneur. They go into business together gathering lost fish hooks and selling them. But when Furty returns to town and gives them competition, things get a little complicated.


A fun book about a boy’s summer. The ending I thought was really sad. He lives in Ireland and there is so much slang I didn’t know what was going on for the first two chapters. But I caught on as I kept reading.

MS – OPTIONAL Reviewer: Rebekah, Youth Services Librarian

Whisper by Phoebe Katanidis

Kitanidis, Phoebe Whisper, 288 pgs. Balzer + Bray, 2010. Language – R (50 swears, 13 “f”); Sexual Content – PG; Violence – PG.

Joy can hear whispers—peoples deepest desires. She tries to use her gift to help others. Her sister Jessica can also hear whispers, but she uses her gift to make life miserable for everyone, especially herself. But then something happens, the whispers Joy hears are changing. When she hears one from Jessica, she knows she has to save her sister from self-destructing.


Interesting. Exciting. Takes itself very serious. Just okay.

HS – OPTIONAL Reviewer: Rebekah, Youth Services Librarian

Things I Know About Love by Kate le Vann

Le Vann, Kate Things I Know About Love, 153 pgs. Egmont, 2010. Content – PG.

Livia has been cancer free for a year and is excited to leave England for a few weeks to visit her brother who’s studying at Princeton University. She hasn’t ever been lucky in love, but this summer will be different. And to prove it, she’s keeping a private blog. While there she meets up with one of her brother’s friends, Adam. Things are looking up.


Livia is a great character. I loved reading her experiences in America and about her past and present relationships. It’s really well-written and fun and super sweet. Until the ending. I really hated the ending. But the rest of the book was really, really good.

MS, HS – ADVISABLE Reviewer: Rebekah, Youth Services Librarian