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When orphans Prosper, age 12, and Bo, age 5, run away to Venice, they find themselves in the company of a gang of teens who live in an abandoned movie theater and rob the rich to survive. A little bit of mystery, a little bit of fantasy, and a lot of the Venetian setting.

In 1950’s Appalachia, the Collins family leads a hard existence. The youngest sister, Carolina, is adrift, when her guitar-playing cousin, Tadpole, unexpectedly arrives. Tadpole’s beautiful singing and positive outlook inspire the family, but when they learn he’s on the run from an abusive uncle, they worry the uncle will come and take Tadpole away.

Hermux Tantamoq is a simple watchmaker mouse. Linka Perflinger is a daring mouse aviatrix, with a watch that needs fixing. When Hermux agrees to do the repair, he falls for Linka and gets dragged into an adventure involving mad scientists and a garish cosmetics maven mouse.

In this celebration of dads, heartwarming illustrations of baby animals and their fathers remind us of the many reasons why dads are so special.

Cam Jansen’s photographic memory once again foils the bad guy as she helps catch the thief who snitches her grandparents’ luggage — along with birthday gifts for Cam’s parents — at the airport. There is a lot to celebrate in this well-paced and engagingly narrated mystery.

Stink’s real name is James, just like President James Madison. And like Madison, Stink is short — a notion constantly reinforced by his older sister Judy. Stink, however, learns how to cope with it while along the way learning about U.S. presidents.

Ralph is a mouse who speaks human and lives at the Mountain View Inn run by Ryan’s family. The fun starts when Ralph’s motorcycle breaks and he convinces Ryan to take him to a mysterious place called school. Characters come to life through the lively narration.

Have you ever wondered why there is thunder and lightning? Hear this Nigerian folktale and other tales (as well as original poems) retold and shared by a master storyteller, artist, and writer. Ashley Bryan’s distinctive style and resonant voice echo the techniques of traditional griots.

Two girls, Bean and Ivy, learn that in spite of their very different personalities, they have lots in common. And their funny, sometimes outrageous, highly credible, everyday adventures begin one summer.

Arthur’s everyday world, both real and daydreamed, is presented through a lively narration of four books: Arthur’s Mystery Envelope, Arthur Makes the Team, Arthur Accused!, and Arthur and the Lost Diary. Children and adults alike will recognize the concerns and the humor in these gentle sagas.

Many creatures have wings: birds, bats, insects. How these amazing appendages work and how they are used are presented with brief text and stunning collage illustrations for a memorable look at flight.

Sophisticated readers (and fans of Lemony Snicket) will appreciate the sly humor and word play in this outrageously funny take-off on novels of yesteryear. Here, the Willoughby children must overcome their self-centered parents who ultimately meet their rightful — and very satisfying — end.

Something, someone was just here/Now there’s barely a trace… begins the elegantly illustrated, lyrical poem. From a pond to the sand at water’s edge to the forest and beyond, what has been there “…can only be seen/in/its/traces.”

Science is all around! And summer is a great time to dip into it — especially when it’s presented with such energy. Just do some “navel gazing” and get the “lowdown on lint” or find out which is more common — the “innie” or “outie.” Information and experiments are playfully presented and illustrated.

The Whydah Galley was a real, fast-moving ship that was involved in 18th century slave trade, transporting people from Africa to the Caribbean until captured by pirates. How the Whydah and her treasures were discovered by underwater archaeologists is revealed in informal text and dramatic illustrations. Additional resources are included.

Information about the symbols, emblems, and gods from Ancient Egypt is included with step-by-step instructions on how to draw them. A guide to pronunciation and where to go for more information on Egyptian antiquities is also included.

We all know that Goldilocks met the three bears, but what did she do before? Well, she met a boy named Jack, who before he climbed up the beanstalk had a fight with his little sister, Jill … Familiar folktales and rhymes are cleverly woven together to create an entirely new tale.

Stunning watercolors evoke the height and breadth of New York City while a dramatic text relates the true story of a now-famous feathered resident, a hawk named Pale Male. The tension between the lifestyle of Pale Male and human residents as well as the fate of Pale Male’s mates and offspring create riveting reading.

People have kept old and interesting things for a long, long time — in fact, Princess Bel-Shati Nannar in 550 BC kept her collections in what she called a museum. Read about unusual and interesting collections housed in museums in this gripping, informative, and highly readable book.

Regardless of where they are found, mazes are amazing! Visit mazes that can be found around the world in this brief, informative, and intriguing look at these mysterious labyrinths.

Sophisticated readers will appreciate the over-the-top adventures of a cryogenic pickle that emerges with superhero skills through the bedroom floor of Jo Jo Wigman. This full-color comic is distinguished by funny puns and wordplay as well as the combination of familiar school problems and Magic Pickle’s fantastic dilemmas.

Ten-year-old Catherine Corey Keegan Dana, better known as Keeker, goes on a family road trip — along with Keeker’s horse named Plum and Plum’s goat friend — to vacation in New York. There they visit relatives and solve a not-too-scary mystery in the Sleepy Hollow made famous by tales of a headless horseman.

Cassie loved to dance and aspired to grow up to dance in a troupe. The only problem was her fear of performing in front of people. Even Jake, a real dance show-off, is afraid to dance in front of his father. The satisfying resolution will encourage many young dancers, performers, and readers.

A nearsighted greyhound? False teeth for an elephant? Strange-but-true animal stories on bright pages (with sources noted) make fascinating and entertaining reading, definitely proving that truth is stranger than fiction!