Book Finder

Gianna Zales enjoys lots of things but doing a research project is not one of them. Achieving a balance between school work and family is presented through humorous, recognizable characters in a well-paced plot.

Middle school is stressful for everyone, especially for Ava. When she discovers her pencil can answer questions, Ava learns that there’s more to consider than just being right. Magic allows tough topics to be tackled.

Simple, everyday activities enjoyed by a father and his children become a vivacious romp as this is no ordinary family. They are, after all, alligators (though their antics are highly recognizable!) making the joy even more jubilant and the frolic more playful. 

Henry is a tireless toddler, generally outlasting each member of the family with his desire for more music, more stories, more attention!  That is until at last, the baby is tuckered out and goes to sleep with “more!” kisses from his loving family.  

A father tells a story about each tattoo which combine to present a family history.  Told as a conversation between father and son, this gently illustrated story is very contemporary but with an old-fashioned warmth.

A preschool child imagines that his dad goes to school to learn all the things that dads do — from making awesome snacks to telling silly stories.  But this dad and his child know that the most important job is “being my dad.”

Have you ever wondered what your dad would be like as an animal?  Siblings who usually like their real dad (except when he’s “grouchy, bossy, or just totally gross…”) imagine with very funny results their dad as various animals.

Inge Maria leaves her beloved Copenhagen to live with Dizzy, her seemingly stern grandmother. But Inge Maria brings mischief, laughter, and warmth to Bornholm, her new island home. The tale unfolds through Inge Maria’s naïve and good-natured voice.

Soledad and Ming have migrated to Louisiana from the Philippines. Their father has returned to their homeland leaving the girls with Vea, the girls’ unhappy, mean-spirited stepmother. As their world expands and fact and fantasy collide, the real world, friendships, and understanding also expand.

The four Fletcher boys (each from a different background; each adopted) and their two fathers vacation in New England. Together the boys and their neighbors, the Galindo girls, help solve the mystery of the closed lighthouse in this fast-paced novel with recognizable events and personalities. The characters in this stand-alone book were first introduced in The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher.

He is named after his father and is known as Little Thunder. But Little Thunder wants his name to reflect something special about him, what he does or who he is. Together with his dad, the perfect name is found. Vibrant illustrations and engaging narration present a recognizable concern.

The narrator is a rule-follower; his sister Jenny is a rule breaker. When Jenny breaks a rule, her brother must break a few in order to save her from the unique and quite humorous monsters she released. The outrageous tale is told and illustrated with verve and wit.

Mei Mei and her grandfather do tai chi together in Gong Gong’s backyard. Gong Gong even tries to learn a bit of yoga with Mei Mei. The warm relationship between adult and child is evident in expressive, sometimes humorous illustration and playful text. A guide to basic tai chi and yoga moves concludes the book.

Becoming a family can be hard, especially when the child doesn’t look like his/her parent. A small puppy narrates how “Mom is learning how to be my mom and I am learning how to be Mom’s kid. We are learning how to be a family.” Soft illustrations and gentle text tell an encouraging story.

One morning, the young narrator cannot find his much loved toy, Bongo. He finally finds it but comes up with a smart plan to prevent Bongo from running away again. Lushly hued, expressive illustrations and a narration that incorporates Spanish words and phrases create a memorable family story.

Meet a grand old woman who lives in a shoe with lots and lots of children. She also makes stew for the diverse cast of kids (and animals), mends their clothes, and fixes broken furniture! A well-known rhyme becomes new again in bright illustration and fresh verse.

A mother warns her seven children not to open the door in her absence, but alas, the children are duped by a tricky witch named Heckedy Peg. Their mother’s wisdom, however, cleverly saves the day. Told in the cadence of a folktale, this richly illustrated tale makes a fine read aloud.

From sending invitations to preparing party games, the queen makes certain that all is just perfect for an upcoming birthday party. Whose birthday is it? Her daughter’s! Bouncy illustrations and a relaxed text are sure to inspire party planners everywhere.

In this follow-up to the Newbery-winning novel The Crossover, soccer, family, love, and friendship, take center stage as twelve-year-old Nick learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams. Helping him along are his best friend and sometimes teammate Coby, and The Mac, a rapping librarian who gives Nick inspiring books to read. This electric and heartfelt novel-in-verse by poet Kwame Alexander bends and breaks as it captures all the thrills and setbacks, action, and emotion of a World Cup match!

A preschooler marks the progress of her day, not by the clock but by what happens after lunch, after nap, after swimming, after the library, and after Daddy comes home. She doesn’t map her neighborhood by street signs, either. Her morning walk to see dogs in the park takes her past the cat outside the deli, past her friend Errolyn’s building, and the daycare where she used to go when she was little, and down the block to the bagel store. The sounds, tastes, smells, and sights of a multiethnic Brooklyn neighborhood, as seen through a child’s eyes are captured through the text and illustrations.

A lighthearted look at a family from different viewpoints. The five members of the household, both human and feline, share many traits with one another while maintaining their individuality. The narrator (and only child in the group) sorts the five by their various commonalities from hair color to leisure activities to food preferences. “Three who like to hide in boxes./Four who have a knack with yarn”

What is your family like? Is your big brother as big and respected or your little brother “flighty and a dreamer”? How would you describe your cousins or even your best friend? The narrator characterizes each member of her “Wild Family” in descriptive language that is accompanied by a bold, energetic illustration which includes an animal that meets the description.

The movement of the train rocked me like a lullaby. I closed my eyes to the dusty countryside and imagined the sign I’d seen only in Gideon’s stories: Manifest—A Town with a rich past and a bright future. Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Armed only with a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was. (2011 Newbery Medal Winner)

A full cast voices this production which brings to life the summer of 1964 and the changes that were taking place in Greenwood, Mississippi.