Staff Favorites

Anthony:
Ideas That Changed the World
by DK Publishing
$24.99
Ages 10 and up
This is my new favorite book to pass the time. Did you know that the idea for a microwave (1947) started when a scientist accidentally melted a chocolate bar in his pocket? From the crane (515 B.C.E), to the Tesla Electric Car (2008), this book explains where every day products come from. Do you know how many things needed to be invented just so I could enjoy Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream? It even talks about one of the greatest video games ever- Pong (1972)! What is pong you ask? It is just like World of Warcraft or Call of Duty, except instead of futuristic graphics and overdubbed music it has dots and lines, and beeps! Well not as exciting, but if not for the invention of the Atari (1972) and Pac Man (1980) you would probably not be fighting ogres and elves right now. Without half of the items in this book, we would be sitting around the campfire, eating whatever we found lying around that day, and playing with a rock and some sticks. Ideas That Changed the World is a great gift for that budding inventor in your family.

Herbert's Wormhole
by Peter Nelson
$5.99 paper
Grades 4 and up
Have you ever had one of those summers where your mom makes you go outside to play with Herbert, one of the kids next door? You know, the summer where he creates a wormhole that sends you both into a future filled with crazy aliens (maybe from Australia?), and all kinds of new gadgets? You remember right? That summer where you end up battling some wicked aliens, saving the planet, and then somehow finding your way back home in time for dinner? Yeah, those are my favorite kind of summers too. With sarcastic wit and funny illustrations, Peter Nelson creates one of my favorite summer reads. If you are a fan of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, you have to check this out.

How Angel Peterson Got His Name
By Gary Paulsen
$5.99 paper
Grades 5 and up
Every 13-year-old boy should read this book. There, I said it. Fifty years before the term "Extreme Sports" became overused and outdated, Gary and his friends invented it. Ever borrow a quarter to wrestle a bear to impress a girl? That is in this book. Ever try to shoot a barrel down a waterfall? They got it covered. Almost electrocuted? Check. And they did it with no sports trainers, no Gatorade, and (sorry Mom and Dad) no helmets. While the events in this book are extreme, Gary recounts his wild days like we were all in his living room for a fireside chat. Some of the events may be slightly embellished, but they all happened. I also recommend this book to all the adults out there who (self included) have forgotten how to enjoy the outdoors. No Playstation, no ipods, and no internet. But please, don't try this at home.

Nation
By Terry Pratchett,
$16.99, $8.99 paper
5th grade and up
I love robots, spies and time travel. This book had none of those, but it makes up for it with tidal waves, ancient gods, raiders, and a young boy named Mau. Throw in a shipwrecked girl, and a long-lost civilization and you have one of my favorite books in this store. It is clever, witty, and a great novel for adults, too. Oh, and did I mention it comes with a surprise ending inside?

Cheryl:
Serious Farm
by Tim Egan
$6.95 paper
Ages 4 - 8
Farmer Fred believes that farming is serious business, and even though all of his farm animals understand that, they long to smile and laugh, and they worry that Farmer Fred is all work and no play. In an effort to make Farmer Fred lighten up a little, they indulge in some farmyard high jinks, but Farmer Fred doesn't even crack a smile. When the animals decide they can't take it anymore, they run away. What happens next results in a happy ending that should make everyone smile. This slim book is a delight, and the illustrations, especially the expressions on the animals' faces, will even make adults chuckle.

Sitting Ducks
by Michael Bedard
$7.99
Ages 3 - 8
When an egg rolls off the conveyor belt at the Colossal Duck Factory and cracks open, the baby duck that emerges is discovered by one of the worker alligators who then sneaks the little duck out of the factory to his home. The alligator intends to keep the duck locked up in his home until the duck grows fat enough to become a tasty meal, but much to his surprise, the alligator finds that he greatly enjoys the duck's company, and soon they are best friends. Their friendship inspires the duo to undertake a brave and risky mission to save a town full of captive ducks. This is a wonderful story of the transcending power of friendship. Kids and adults alike will adore the lively illustrations, and adults in particular will appreciate Bedard's humorous homage to Edward Hopper.

Half Magic
By Edward Eager
$19.95, $6.99 paper
Ages 9 - 12
One listless summer afternoon, four children discover an old coin on a sidewalk and soon learn that it possesses the power to grant wishes. When their wishes result in wild, unpredictable misadventures through time and around the planet, the children gradually realize that the coin is only half magic and thus they must be very careful in their wish-making. Delightfully written, with simple, appealing illustrations, Half Magic is a charming, sweetly funny book that you will read with great pleasure many times over.

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins
By Barbara Kerley,
Illustrated by Brian Selznick
$16.95, $8.99 paper
Ages 6 and up
In Victorian England, Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins was an artist and sculptor who became fascinated by the discovery of gigantic animal bones that we now recognize as dinosaur bones. Since no complete dinosaur skeleton had yet been found, scientists of the day used their knowledge of biology to speculate about the construction of these bizarre animals. Hawkins made it his mission to construct life-size models of the creatures to educate and amaze the general public. This superb book traces Hawkins' efforts, successes, mistakes, and crushing defeats. Engagingly written by Barbara Kerley with Brian Selznick's lavish illustrations, The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins captures both the excitement and the small-mindedness of the era. Copious endnotes by the author and illustrator expand on the fascinating story of this largely unknown figure.

Diane:
The Empty Pot
By Demi
$17.99, $7.95 paper
Ages 4 to adult
Demi's The Empty Pot is a stunning Chinese folktale about integrity. The emperor announces an unusual test to choose his heir. Getting flower seeds to sprout is the simple task. A year later Ping returns with an empty pot, but he is rewarded!

Not a Box
By Antoinette Portis
$14.99
Ages Newborn to 6
The book's cover is made of cardboard and the very creative story shows a line drawn bunny using a box as a great plaything. Not a Box by Antoinette Portis depicts an ordinary carton as a car, a boat, a hot-air balloon, a robot, and other imaginative toys. Looking for a great summer activity? Unplug the electronics, read the book, and find a box. (We usually pile them by the store's back door.)

Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin
By Lloyd Moss
$18.99, $6.99 paper
Ages 3 - 7
Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin is a picture book that introduces the instruments of the orchestra. Author Lloyd Moss creates music with his poetic text, and illustrator Marjorie Priceman's whimsical art completes a delightful story that is also educational.

The Listening Walk
By Paul Showers
$6.99 paper
Ages 4 - 8
Father-and-daughter stories are in short supply; the 1961 The Listening Walk is a delightful picture book. Aliki's drawings complement Paul Showers' story of a little girl, her father, and her dog walking around the neighborhood. They quietly listen to the sounds of nature and their community. There is not one electronic device in evidence!

Elizabeth:
Strange Case of Origami Yoda
By Tom Angleberger
$12.95
Grades 4-8
Join Tommy as he sets out to discover the truth behind Origami Yoda, an oracle finger puppet operated by none other than Dwight, possibly the weirdest most clueless kid in middle school. You know, the kid eating glue in corner or making jokes that no one else understands, that's Dwight. So if it's really him doing the advice giving, why is Origami Yoda always right??? Tommy has compiled a notebook of evidence and needs your help to decide: is Origami Yoda real or not?

Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie
By Jordan Sonnenblick
$16.99, $6.99p
Grades 7 and up
Just so you know, this is a story about a teenager whose 5-year-old brother is diagnosed with cancer. So, yes, it has its tear-jerking moments. However, it also manages to be absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious and a stunningly accurate portrayal of teenage life. Even when bad things are happening, you can still have a crush on the most gorgeous girl in school and not notice the amazing best friend who's always been there for you. Read this and get ready to have your heart broken and sewn back together again.

Orwell's Luck
By Richard Jennings
$15.00, $6.99 paper
Ages 9 and up
In Orwell's Luck, a child finds an injured rabbit and decides to nurse him back to health. Inexplicably, wonderful things appear as the rabbit heals, including: horoscopes that actually predict the future, secret messages, and winning lottery tickets. As you spend time with these honest, unaffected characters, you may find yourself believing magic waits just around the corner.

Home of the Brave
By Katherine Applegate
$16.95, $6.99 paper
Ages 10 - 14
Kek, a boy from Africa, is sent to live in America after his mother, the only surviving member of his immediate family goes missing. Written in sparse, but elegant lyrical verse, the novel explores the humor and heartbreak of the immigrant experience and takes us inside Kek's mind as he struggles to negotiate the modern world. Although this story opens the door for a discussion of the political unrest in Sudan, it does so in as delicate a way as possible with such an emotionally charged subject. Readers are guaranteed to fall in love with this bright character who refuses to let go of hope.

Janet:
Red Blazer Girls: The Ring of Rocamadour
By Michael D. Beil
$6.99 paper
Ages 10 and up
Adventure! Suspense! Heroism! Humor! Homework! HOMEWORK? Yes! Sophie, Margaret, Rebecca, and Leigh Ann are 7th graders proud to wear the Red Blazer of St. Veronica's Catholic School. They use not only their considerable talents, but also the invaluable knowledge harvested from their school assignments, to decode a series of riddles, find a rare treasure, solve a mystery, and reunite a family. I liked the characters so much that I didn't even try to solve the puzzles - and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the story. For girls and boys, ages 10 and up.

Time You Let Me In: 25 Poets under 25
$16.99
Ages 12 and up
Award-winging poet and Guggenheim Fellow Naomi Shihab Nye is known for her poems about the beauties and challenges of daily like and the importance of family. She consistently champions the voices of new poets. Time You Let Me In startles and touches readers with lines like:

"I'm like the weather, never really can predict
when this rain cloud gonna burst..." Lauren Stacks

"The Bodhisatta Cat is, of course, a vegan:
He will not eat the inexpensive dry food
I fed my last cat, who was unenlightened..." by Margaret Bashar

Tender and tough, these poems resonate with love, loss, struggle and strength. A wonderful gift for the youthful poet in your life, or within yourself.

Hope Was Here
By Joan Bauer
$7.99
Ages 12 and up
Make mine the Combination Special. I'd like a tale about a hardworking 16-year-old waitress named Hope and her Aunt Addie, an extraordinary cook, who moves from Brooklyn to Mulhoney, Wisconsin, where they encounter an ethical employer, a despicable antagonist, politics, and romance. No one captures the profound satisfaction of humble work -- honorably performed -- and of families, however we build them -- like Joan Bauer. If books were food, this novel would be an immensely satisfying meal followed by your favorite dessert, all served with intelligence, insight and wit. Come on in, take a seat, and savor an inspiring story.

The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey:
A Graphic Novel of Jewish Wisdom and Wit
By Steve Sheinkin
$16.99 paper
Ages 10 and up
Rabbi Harvey travels from New York to the mythic "wild West" in search of work. Upon arriving in Elk Spring, Colorado, he vanquishes a band of bad guys, using not a 6-shooter, but his signature wit. The grateful citizens of Elk Spring hire him as their rabbi. He proceeds to counsel the confused, confound the corrupt, and comfort the clueless. Harvey's common sense, good heart and deadpan humor rule the day. For readers 10 to 100 -- of any religion, or none.

Keith:
And Then There Were None
By Agatha Christie
$6.99 paper Grades 8 and up
This book hooked me on the mystery genre for almost a solid year in Junior High. It has everything that you could possibly ask of a whodunit: an inhospitable island setting, a large and oddly terrifying mansion, and a group of eccentric characters who are introduced as strangers but who are all actually connected to each other by an unexpected and potentially fatal set of circumstances. It's the kind of book that you should read at night before bed. It will keep you up later than you like, but that's half the fun!

Pete and Pickles
By Berkeley Breathed
$17.99 Ages 4 and up
I love this book because it covers a lot of ground (dealing with loss, trying new things, making friends, accepting others’ differences, overcoming fears, the power of the imagination, and on and on…) in such a seamless way that you barely notice the life lessons until your third read-through. Even better, the illustrations are so good that you’ll want to crawl inside them.

Bears in the Night
By Stan & Jan Berenstain
$8.99
Ages 4 - 8
This is the first book that I can remember really wanting my parents to read to me every night, sometimes twice a night. The text couldn't be easier to understand, the illustrations are spooky and fun, and the story will appeal to any boy or girl who likes a little mischief and adventure.

Luke:
The Game of Sunken Places
By M. T. Anderson
$5.99 paper
Ages 11 and up

Wow! This book is weird! But in the greatest ways- eccentric characters, strange goings-on, and a fabulous off-beat humor throughout the entire story, no matter how dire the circumstances become. The story begins when two friends decide to stay with an eccentric Uncle for a short vacation, but when they find an old board game in the enormous Victorian mansion where they are staying, strange things begin happening. Let me repeat that, VERY STRANGE things begin happening. It may be too late when the boys find out that they both are enrolled in a dangerous game of life and death and they have no idea 1) What the object of the game is 2) What the rules to the game are and 3) Who their opponents are. BUT, the biggest selling-point of this story is that it is guaranteed to rock your world not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES! Three amazing plot twists come at you from nowhere- ZING! BANG! KA-POW! So if you're in the mood for a strange and very entertaining adventure, pick up this book!

Marcela:

A Faraway Island
By Annika Thor
$16.99
Ages 9 - 12
Twelve-year-old Stephie's experiences as a post-Kristallnacht Jewish refugee from cosmopolitan Vienna resettled in a remote area of rural Sweden are poignantly realized in their specific historical context and as the universal adolescent yearnings that unite Anne Frank and today's middle-school girl. Placed in a different family than her younger sister Nellie, Stephie encounters additional challenges ranging from the rigid, narrowly Protestant personality of her adoptive mother to the anti-foreign, anti-Jewish prejudice of several villagers and schoolmates. Her concerns about her absent parents' fate are intertwined with her jealously of Nellie's seemingly effortless adjustment to her new family.

Maureen:
Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre DVDs
$14.98
Ages 5 and up
This was a wonderful television series that retold some of the best-loved fairy talks of all time. Lavish costumes and sets and an all-star cast that includes Robin Williams, Bernadette Peters, Tim Curry and Mick Jagger made this must-see-TV in my house when I was a kid. Two episodes that I particularly cherished were The Snow Queen starring Lee Remick and The Dancing Princesses starring Leslie Ann Warren. A little funny, a little scary, and always entertaining, these are perfect for kids ages 5 and up.

The Fairy Rebel
by Lynne Reid Banks
$5.50 paper
Ages 9 - 12
This was one of my favorite books when I was a young girl; I think I ended up buying it three times because I read it so much. The Fairy Rebel is the story of an unlikely friendship between Tiki, a tiny pink-haired fairy, who is a bit of a troublemaker, and Jan, a young woman who yearns for a baby girl for herself and her husband. When the Fairy Queen finds out that Tiki has defied her laws by consorting with humans, she is furious, and Jan and Tiki, with the help of Tiki's friend Wijic, must use all of their wits to defeat her. A charming and heartfelt story of what it means to stand up for yourself no matter what the cost, and what it means to be a true friend.

Nikki:
The Cardturner: A Novel About a King,
a Queen, and a Joker*
By Louis Sachar
Grades 7 and up
Have you ever heard of a little game called bridge? If so, you probably have visions of old ladies gossiping over cards and snack bowls filled with pistachios, prunes, and stale taffy. You would be wrong. Bridge, as Alton Richards, underdog hero of The Cardturner, learns, is cut-throat: "more like a sport, a mental sport, like chess...." Pressured by his family to win the esteem of his rich, blind uncle in order to ensure a healthy inheritance, and pining over an ex-girlfriend who is now dating his best friend, Alton is relegated to spending his summer as his uncle's card turner. Alton soon realizes there is more to his uncle than anybody realizes, and that bridge is way more than just a game. Hilarious, moving, and peppered with romance, strategy, synchronicity, and even philosophy, The Cardturner is a game-changing summer read. *Warning: upon finishing the book, you will probably not be able to rest until you've established a bridge club.

A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers
By Nancy Willard, Illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen
$17.00, $7.00 paper
Ages 6 - 10
An ideal mixture of whimsical illustrations and magical, humorous poems, this muse on William Blake's original works collected both the Newbery Medal, and a Caldecott Honor Award in 1982. Peppered with wonder, wisdom, and colorful characters such as the King of the Cats, the man in the marmalade hat, and the namesake poet himself, this book is perfect for introducing poetry to young readers. It definitely deserves your visit!

Monkey Business
By Wallace Edwards
$9.95 paper
1st - 5th grades
Can of worms? Fish on a bicycle? Ever have difficulty "wrapping your head" around expressions like these? Well, "sink your teeth into" Monkey Business. Edwards' humorous and richly illustrated collection of idioms offers visual puzzles to delight and challenge readers of all ages. Perfect for interactive use, this text is an enjoyable tool for teachers and parents interested in exploring figurative language with students. Plus, there is a monkey hidden on every page. Who wouldn't go bananas for that?

Rebecca:
Catalyst
By Laurie Halse Anderson
$17.99, $7.99 paper
Ages 13 and up
I have not yet read a Laurie Halse Anderson novel that I did not love, but Catalyst is without a doubt my favorite. Kate is the ultimate Type-A high school student: great grades, good at sports, perfect boyfriend, ideal daughter. She is a devoted chemistry student with little time or patience for the ambiguous nature of the Humanities. The structured way in which she organizes her life is mirrored in the novel's breakdown of chapters into chemistry terms. On the outside, Kate appears to be in complete control of her world with a shining future ahead of her; however, internally she is plagued by self doubt. A personal catastrophe and a devastating revelation about a classmate Kate has always despised, shatter this division. In the end, Kate is forced to change the way she rigidly evaluates the world, and likewise, after reading Catalyst the reader cannot help but look at the world with a new perspective.

Ronia the Robber's Daughter
By Astrid Lindgren
$5.99 paperback
Ages 8-12
Ronia is born during a terrible thunderstorm, the first child of the chief of a band of robbers all overjoyed at her arrival. She grows up learning to jump, dance and yell as well as any of the rest of the robber band. Although adored and spoiled by all around her, Ronia feels most happy during her solitary explorations of the forest around her home. On one of these she meets Birk, the son of her father's greatest rival. The two quickly become friends. As their friendship grows so does the animosity between their fathers, which erupts into a bitter feud. Forbidden to see each other, Ronia and Birk run away together to the forest that they both love. There they face storms, hunger and fearsome creatures. Join Ronia and Birk in this exciting and fantastical adventure about the power of friendship and importance of staying true to oneself. Ronia the Robber's Daughter is often overlooked next to Lindgren's better know Pippi Longstocking series; however, it is truly a classic in its own right, a book I personally have re-read nearly every year since I first read it at 9 years old.

Sharon Hearn:
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
By Jacqueline Kelly
$18.99
Ages 10 and up
This 2010 Newbery Honor Book was my favorite read of last year. It's the summer of 1899 in a small Texas town and 11 year old Calpurnia Tate wants nothing more than to be the young naturalist she is at heart, exploring the flora and fauna of her surroundings, recording her observations in the notebook just given to her by her favorite brother Harry, and assisting her cantankerous Granddaddy with his scientific endeavors. But being the youngest and only girl among 7 children, and challenging her mother's traditional views of appropriate activities for a girl, means life is never dull. This thoroughly engaging read is filled with humor and charm and a heroine you will cheer for.

Tuck Everlasting
By Natalie Babbitt
$16.95,
Ages 10 and up
When asked what my favorite book written for children is, Tuck Everlasting always tops my list. A beautifully written story of 10 year old Winnie Foster, who is kidnapped and then befriended by Jesse Tuck and his family. The family has a secret, a secret they will go to any extremes to protect. The Tucks drink from a spring that allows them to live forever, without aging or injury. So even though Jesse Tuck has been alive for 104 years, in body and spirit he is still a 17-year old. Jesse wants Winnie to wait 7 years and then drink from the secret spring, so he can have a wife and they can enjoy life eternally together. But is the ability to live forever a blessing or a curse? This captivating story gives the reader much to ponder.

Marcelo in the Real World
By Francisco X. Stork
$16.99
8th grade and up
Marcelo is a 17 year old boy with a condition similar to Asperger's who is greatly looking forward to his summer job tending the ponies at his school for students with special needs. His plans are derailed by his father who wants Marcelo to work at his law firm instead. Marcelo's father believes that Marcelo has the abilities to function more fully in "the real world" and feels a summer job at his firm will help Marcelo develop the necessary skills and confidence. I found this a very moving, engaging read as I rooted for Marcelo while following his ups and downs as he navigated the complexities of romance, friendship, family loyalty, and the need to follow one's own sense of right and wrong when he discovers a photograph in a discard pile of a girl disfigured by a malfunctioning windshield produced by the firm's biggest client. Marcelo in the Real World is the 2010 winner in the young adult category of The Schneider Family Book Awards which honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience.

Sharon Howard:
Stargirl
by Jerry Spinelli
$16.99 hardcover, $8.95 or $6.99 paper
Middle school through early high-school
I loved Stargirl -- both the book and the character! Stargirl possesses those rare qualities that we all long for: goodness, optimism, and the confidence to just be ourselves, despite intense peer pressure to conform.