Book Finder

Ever wondered where colors come from? Explore the colors like never before in a totally engaging, often downright funny, and always informative book written by an illustrator (depicted with his dog throughout!). Additional resources and activities conclude this fascinating, unique look at one aspect of art.

Rami sees a floating girl in the art museum where his mother heads the cleaning crew. Could it be connected to the missing painting? Can Rami and classmate Veda solve the mystery before Rami’s mother loses her job? What does Agatha, the turtle in the museum pond see that others missed? Intrigue, friendship, and art combine in this memorable volume.

Mouse, a rodent living in Dogtown, narrates this fast-paced, humorous, and engaging tale of life for misfit shelter dogs, both real and robotic. Revisit Buster, the bounce back hound, and robot dog Smokey with a peculiar chip in Dogtown (opens in a new window), the standalone, highly illustrated first tale in the series.

Lola has always felt the magic in her Mexican City home. To save her brother — and the magic — Lola travels to a hidden world where she learns that to gain something, other things must be let go. Beautifully written and handsomely illustrated.

Can two young people save the world’s magic? Find out in this memorable, beautifully written fantasy filled with fast-paced adventure and mythical creatures come alive to help or hinder. Sophisticated readers will appreciate the art and introduction to the unique beings in this epic fantasy.

Rufus and the staff of the Woofmore Hotel work diligently to please all guests but especially movie star Greta Garbark. Wordplay, a bit of scatological humor, and full-color illustrations will engage readers young and old in the first volume of the series. 

A small dwarf rabbit named Mishka helps an Afghan family relocated to the Netherlands find home and a sense of permanence. Based on Elman’s experience, this touching family story is enhanced by delicate, textured illustrations.

Magnolia thought that her summer would be boring until she met Iris Lam, new to the city. Together, Iris and Magnolia venture to reunite lost socks with their owners. Along the way, they meet fascinating, quirky people in this charming, humorous novel illustrated with line drawings.

Isabel Beane is a quiet girl who lives with five siblings in a home with hubbub, hullabaloo, and “too muchness.” At school, Isabel feels anxious in class when a new girl behaves unkindly. Find out how Isabel learns to speak up for herself in this accessibly told novel. Resources about autism and anxiety are included.

Out of the depths of the Great Depression comes the astonishing tale of nine working-class boys from the American West who at the 1936 Olympics showed the world what true grit really meant. With rowers who were the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew was never expected to defeat the elite East Coast teams, yet they did, going on to shock the world by challenging the German boat rowing for Adolf Hitler.

Learn about the amazing life of three-time Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner–and how she persisted. Considered the fastest woman of all time, Florence Griffith Joyner, also known as Flo Jo, set two world records in 1988 that still stand today. But getting there wasn’t easy, and Flo Jo had to overcome many challenges along the way.
 

Teen sports reporter Susan Carol is competing as a swimmer at her first-ever Olympic games. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and her best friend Stevie is both amazed and envious. Usually they cover sporting events together, now he’s covering her. But Stevie can’t shake the feeling that something’s not right. Everyone wants a piece of Susan Carol’s success — agents, sponsors, the media. Just how far will they go to ensure that America’s newest Olympic darling wins gold?
 

Everything seemed set against Chaunté Lowe. Growing up with a single mother in Paso Robles, California, where she experienced food insecurity, homelessness, and domestic abuse. But then, one day, she turned on the TV and there was Flo Jo, competing in the Olympics and shattering records in track and field. Chaunté worked hard — both in the classroom and out on the sports field — and through her own fierce determination and grit, she overcame every imaginable obstacle, eventually propelling herself to the place she always dreamed about: the Olympic medal podium.

Dedicating his life to helping patients labeled “incurables,” Ludwig Guttmann fought for the rights of paraplegics to live a full life. The young doctor believed — and eventually proved — that physical movement is key to healing, a discovery that led him to create the first Paralympic Games.

Safiyyah studies old maps in the library of the Grand Mosque of Paris. Change happens quickly when the Nazi’s invade the city. Safiyyah, her family, and other Muslims work to save their Jewish neighbors from the horror that is starting. Inspired by the true story of how the Grand Mosque of Paris saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during World War II, this little-known piece of history is compelling and presented in rich language. An author’s note describes the background.

Unbeknownst to his family, Theo wants to become a police officer unlike the rest of his family who are, well, thieves. Each family member is described and depicted throughout in exaggerated illustrations equal to the over-the-top humor in this readable, slightly irreverent novel.

Orris, a grumpy rat happily lives alone in a barn until one evening a small owl becomes trapped and calls out for help. Can Orris trust an owl, a rat’s sworn enemy? Orris does the right thing, freeing the small white owl. Timble flies off but returns with a butterscotch to thank Orris. And thus begins their friendship in a sweetly told and illustrated novel.

Middle school is just around the corner for Ryan Hart, which means it’s time to start thinking about the future — and not just how to prank her brother, Ray! During Black History Month, Ryan learns more about her ancestors and local Black pioneers, and their hopes for the future, for her generation. She wonders who she wants to be and what kind of person her family hopes she becomes. Drawing on the ambitions of those who came before her and her own goals, Ryan is determined to turn her dreams into reality.

Days after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Hitler declared war on the U.S., unleashing U-boat submarines to attack American ships. Suddenly the waves outside Louisa June’s farm aren’t for eel fishing or marveling at wild swans or learning to skull her family’s boat — they’re dangerous, swarming with hidden enemies. Determined to help her mama and aching to combat Nazis herself, Louisa June turns to her quirky friend Emmett and the indomitable Cousin Belle, who has her own war stories — and a herd of cats — to share. In the end, after a perilous sail, Louisa June learns the greatest lifeline is love.

This middle grade historical novel set during the Great Depression is a moving tale of the spirit of American persistence, found family, and the magical partnership between girl and horse. Bea wakes to Daddy’s note in a hayloft, where he abandoned her with her little sister after the stock market crash took everything: Daddy’s job at the bank, their home, Mama’s health and life. How is Bea supposed to convince the imposing Mrs. Scott to take in two stray children? Mrs. Scott’s money and Virginia farm are drying up in a drought and the Great Depression, too. She might have to sell her beautiful horses, starting with a dangerous chestnut that has caused tragedy in the past and injures her stableman shortly after Bea arrives. Bea understands the chestnut’s skittish distrust. She sees hope in the powerful jumper — if he can compete at horse shows, they might save the farm, and maybe Bea can even win a place in Mrs. Scott’s heart.

In this no-nonsense guide, primary reading expert and classroom teacher Lindsay Kemeny shares seven ways K–3 teachers can modify what they are currently doing to transform their reading instruction. Each chapter focuses on a critical area of foundational reading–from the most efficient ways to teach phonemic awareness and phonics to the most effective ways to boost comprehension. Kemeny clears up confusing terms and concepts and offers up  “do-tomorrow” strategies to help kids acquire reading skills efficiently and successfully transfer those skills to their reading. Readers will find the literacy routines and lessons Kemeny uses every day with her students detailed in the book, along with links to video demonstrations showing how she puts them into practice.

This novel maps one girl’s quest to remember her grandfather through his scavenger hunts; reconnect with her family; and fight for her community in her rapidly changing hometown. Thanks to her Ye-Ye’s epic scavenger hunts, thirteen-year-old Ruby Chu knows San Francisco like the back of her hand. But after his death, she feels lost, and it seems like everyone is abandoning her. After Ruby gets in major trouble at school, her parents decide she has to spend the summer at a local senior center with her grandmother, Nai-Nai, and Nai-Nai’s friends for company. When a new boy from Ruby’s grade, Liam Yeung, starts showing up too, Ruby’s humiliation is complete. But Nai-Nai, her friends, and Liam all surprise Ruby. Alongside Nai-Nai, who is keeping a secret that threatens to change everything, Ruby retraces Ye-Ye’s scavenger hunt maps in an attempt to find a way out of her grief—and maybe even find herself. 

 The story of a dog who unwittingly becomes a hero to a park full of animals. Johannes, a free dog, lives in an urban park by the sea. His job is to be the Eyes — to see everything that happens within the park and report back to the park’s elders, three ancient Bison. His friends — a seagull, a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pelican — work with him as the Assistant Eyes, observing the humans and other animals who share the park and making sure the Equilibrium is in balance. But changes are afoot. More humans, including Trouble Travelers, arrive in the park. A new building, containing mysterious and hypnotic rectangles, goes up. And then there are the goats who appear, along with a shocking revelation that changes Johannes’s view of the world.

Maudie, who navigates the world in her own unique divergent way, is ready to spend an amazing summer with her dad, but will she find the courage to tell him a terrible secret about life with her mom and new stepdad? As Maudie navigates unfamiliar waters, she makes friends — and her autism no longer feels like the big deal her mom makes it out to be. But her secret is still threatening to sink her.