Book Finder

Jess runs Sunnyside Stables where Chloe is going to spend a week learning how to jump a horse. But will she be able to learn anything with the horse named Cookie?  Not only does Chloe learn to trust and enjoy Cookie, she learns a great deal about herself and her expectations. Like others in the Pony Camp series, this is told as though written in Chloe’s diary. Line illustrations are sprinkled throughout.

Young Carter Jones first meets Mr. Bowles-Fitzpatrick, an English butler, on a particularly hectic and rainy morning. Mr. Bowles-Fitzpatrick comes to the Jones family from Carter’s recently deceased grandfather to bring order, cricket and help to the family while the father is deployed. By turn humorous and touching, Carter grows emotionally as do his fellow cricket players and the entire family in this fast, fresh, and nuanced novel.

Fifth-grader, Liam, is the oldest of the three with two younger sisters. Confident Dakota is a third grader just waiting until she can cure cancer; friendly second grader, Izzy, is a hugger and notices things that other kids miss. Their parents are divorced and money is tight. Can the kids figure out what is causing their beloved dog to urinate on the apartment’s carpet – before the landlord evicts them? Difficult themes are handled with a light touch by the author of Newbery-honor winning, Al Capone Does My Shirts.

Magic and mischief exist in the Legendary Alston Boys Virginia town. Can they thwart Mr. Flux’s intentions — and ability to freeze time when he takes a snapshot with his camera? This fantastic adventure, populated by likeable characters, is fast, funny and filled with twists and turns, just right for summer.

As Bat’s year in third grade nears its end, he begins to worry about releasing his skunk kit into the wild; he worries that his best friend will forget him during his summer away, and more. But Bixby Alexander Tam (Bat for short) still looks forward to working with his veterinarian mom and time with his sister. This is the third book about Bat (who is likely on the autism spectrum and first introduced in A Boy Called Bat (opens in a new window)) but this book stands alone.

After Little Lobo and his dog, Bernabe, finish breakfast, they load their wagon to deliver to the various merchants. While they deliver the goods, they take time to watch the dancing, smell the churros, and even draw stripes on the newly made “zonkey”. Humor abounds in the graphic tour of Mexican culture complete with Spanish words. A glossary concludes this cheery introduction to a country and its language.

Two friends, Fox and Chick, are quite different. But they find common ground to enjoy a boat ride, chocolate cake, and even the sunrise, in three short, generously, gently illustrated chapters. As with their first adventure, The Party: and Other Stories (opens in a new window), Fox and Chick star in short tales presented in easy graphic novel style just right for readers just starting longer chapter books.

Polly and her magic book, Spell (first introduced in Polly and the Magic Book (opens in a new window)) are back for another magical adventure. What Polly writes in Spell comes true, just not always as she intended. Magical, madcap adventure follows in this generously illustrated and engaging second book about Polly and the power of writing.

Mr. Penguin longs for adventure with his Kung Fu kicking spider sidekick, Colin. They find it in the Museum of Extraordinary Things many times over. The author/illustrator (opens in a new window) of the “Claude” series has begun a new series with quirky, over-the-top, always comic characters as Mr. Penguin and Colin save the day and the museum, putting the bad guys where they belong.

“Letters hold magic…they open worlds.” Playful and rich, powerful, giggling, bewitching words are all presented in different typefaces, playfully illustrated to evoke their command and enchantment. Sure to intrigue, try reading this aloud for full, dynamic effect. You’ll never look at the alphabet in quite the same way!

Juana has an almost perfect life: beautiful home in Bogota, great mami and loving abuelas, decent school, and the best dog ever: Lucas. But when Mami begins spending more time with Luis, well, that becomes Juana’s big problemas! First introduced in Juana and Lucas (opens in a new window), Juana’s again narrates in an honest and child-like voice. The cartoon style illustrations enhance characterization, adding verve and humor to Juana’s concerns about change and her continued place in her family, near universal concerns of childhood.

McTavish knew he’d chosen the right family to rescue when he met the Peachey family although the family thought that they had saved a shelter dog. With a little help from young Betty, McTavish straightens out the family after Mum quit being mum. Wry, understated humor in crisp prose from both human and canine perspectives is complemented by clever drawings.

A boy insists that they not leave until the whale accidentally caught in their fishing net is extricated. No words are needed as the tale is revealed in dramatic illustrations from various perspectives. The author cautions readers that this is more fable rather than a realistic portrait but effectively conveys the whale’s struggle and one child’s empathetic response to it.

The sea turtle, pufferfish, octopus and other sea creatures do what they do; crab bakes cakes. One day, however, there’s a huge splash and sunshine no longer reaches the bottom; crab bakes a cake. Fortified by cake, the sea critters turn the tide on polluters in a droll, dramatic, and effective tale told with visual elements of a graphic novel. Final resources include links to information about oceans and pollution.

What happens when the bees buzz off? Who will pollinate? Where could they have gone? Follow brave bugs as they work to bring the bees back. Clues and the occasional bee are hidden beneath flaps on each sturdy page. This playful story has a satisfying conclusion and is infused with information about bees and more.

Bespectacled Sweety was different from others, even other naked mole rats. Sweety’s Aunt Ruth helps her niece discover what she  most enjoys and develop the confidence to share it. An understated text and comical line and wash illustrations present an awkward but endearing group of rodents sure to dance their way into readers’ hearts and thoughts.

Not all of the residents on Deckawoo Drive were thrilled when a small piglet wound up on their street. Happily, however, this small creature found the way into the hearts of the Watsons and became the toast-eating toast of Deckawoo Drive. How Mercy Watson came to become part of the family and community is a worthy prequel to those who have read or will read the early chapter books by the same author/illustrator team. Nonetheless, t is strong, handsomely illustrated tale in its own right.

Soon after a small pig starts a bath (“oink!”), there’s an insistent “knock, knock” on the door. Gradually, poor pig is joined by sheep (“Maa!}, cow (“Moo!”) and more. Then one-by-one all of the animals leave pig alone for a peaceful bath. The humor in this nearly wordless book is conveyed by understated line and wash illustrations sure to elicit laughs and language from readers.

Two children — one from New York City, the other from Mexico City — express concern about moving to a new place. Spritely, detailed illustrations visually convey the many similarities between the children’s interests and the places to which they are moving. Notable places in both cities (e.g., Lincoln Center, the Palacio de Belles Artes) conclude this encouraging look at similarities among people. The Spanish edition, Un nuevo hogar (opens in a new window), is also available.

Leila discovers a bit more about herself and her family during their weekly dinner with Leila’s grandmother. She discovers that the color saffron really does look good on her and that she is part of a loving family. Bold, bright illustrations capture the colors of the Middle Eastern family, glimpsing their diverse community.

Home is many things including a “little bit of green, a corner, and a chair.” And home is all that you miss when you move. But the most important thing about home is “the people gathered near.” Warm illustrations use bold shape on open pages in this lyrical presentation of one family’s moving story.

Dragons from the East are significantly different from those of the West. But Gondra is the offspring of a dad from the East and a mother from the West and has characteristics from both. Lush, often humorous illustrations complement the story and show characterizations of both eastern and western dragons.

Paul plants and waters his crops but despairs when the rain doesn’t come. “But Paul is not alone.” A cow, donkey, and mole who have also watched Paul’s hard work bring buckets and barrels just before the rain begins resulting in lush crops and a jubilant Paul. Dramatic illustrations are naïve and extremely effective in conveying a range of emotions.

Cyril is the only squirrel in Lake Park; that is until he meets Pat. Pat has a different kind of tail and looks a bit scruffy but the duo enjoy each other’s company until one of the  park’s other inhabitants informs Cyril that Pat is a rat and no squirrel can befriend one. The rhyming saga is illustrated in Gravett’s signature style to complement and extend the droll telling.