Book Finder

Rocket, the small dog (How Rocket Learned to Read (opens in a new window)), loves words and wants to use them in a story. His teacher — a patient yellow bird — helps Rocket write. Not only does Rocket write (and revise) a story, he finds a friend. Concrete strategies for successful writing are presented with a light and always appealing touch.

Best friends, Jilli and Jim fret, when Jilli’s dog, Fiercely, digs under the fence and into another yard. The children muster their courage and some gummy bears to confront the witch but discover that she’s a trusted teacher who’s preparing for school. This gentle, easy-to-read story, provides readers with an important reminder.

The charming child and hound first introduced in Apple Pie ABC are back. This time the girl chases her mischievous black-eared dog to reclaim her shoe through the gate to a hen house counting all the while in the cadence of a familiar nursery rhyme. Illustrations are open and appealing, adding story to the counting book.

While on holiday, the Drew children Barney, Simon, and Jane find a map in a hidden room in the Cornwall house, involving them and their great uncle, Merry, in a struggle between good and evil steeped in Arthurian legend. The first in the Dark is Rising sequence, the entire series exudes a strong sense of place and traditional tales. (The sequence continues with The Dark is Rising (opens in a new window) followed by Greenwitch (opens in a new window), The Grey King (opens in a new window), and concludes with Silver on the Tree (opens in a new window).

When the Volnick family accidentally brings a Boggart home to Toronto from Scotland, the results are tumultuous and very funny. It’s up to Jess and Emily to figure out how to return the rascally spirit. The family meets the Boggart again on another visit to Scotland with similar outrageous results (which include a renowned water creature) in The Boggart & the Monster (opens in a new window). Both books are steeped in the magic and traditions of the region in which they are set.

In this 3rd book about Pacy, she and her family plan to go to Taiwan to celebrate her grandmother’s birthday.

Pinch is too lazy to make his own soup so visits his friend, Dash who is making some. With ingredients from both kitchens, however, the friends make a tasty soup which turns into an inedible disaster. Short chapters and engaging illustrations create an accessible, engaging book for newly independent readers.

Mason winds up joining the basketball team under relentless encouragement from his best friend, Brody, even though Mason knows he’s a klutz. The disasters mount especially when the class bully joins an opposing team. Children will appreciate the situations Mason finds himself in and enjoy the gratifying resolutions.

Can the Lunch Lady protect the Breakfast Bunch of Thompson Creek School from evil mutants posing as “mathletes” in a school math competition? Readers will find out in the latest installment of kids and their offbeat superhero done in signature black/white illustration in graphic format.

Freddie Ramos’ super running and jumping powers and his confidence disappear after the loss of his zapatos. When his special-soled shoes are found, Freddie is able to successfully confront a bully as well as his own swimming fears. Easy but lively language and line drawings present an engaging story for new readers.

Daisy loves to collect words and decides that the perfect word is just the right gift to give to her teacher as a wedding present. Daisy’s daily activities, her friendships, and even dealing with a bully are sure to resonate with newly independent readers.

How Captain American becomes one of the Avengers — superheroes that included Thor and the Hulk — is told in this new picture book format sure to please young Marvel Comic book fans and superhero aficionados. Bright illustrations move the text along to its exciting conclusion — and likely the next book.

Best friends don’t have to be alike, just look at tall Gollie and short Bink! They share a day at the state fair playing Whack-a-Duck, a talent show, and a visit to Madame Prunely. The line drawings capture the humor, the fun of a fair and the solid friendship of this appealing duo first introduced in Bink & Golly (opens in a new window).

How Suryia, a highly photogenic orangutan, learns to swim with other animals in the South Carolina wildlife preserve is presented as a photograph album. Though most orangutans dislike water, Suryia enjoys swimming with the tigers and his best friend Roscoe (introduced in Suryia & Roscoe (opens in a new window)). Color photographs and simple text are sure to engage a range of readers.

Join Buzz, his pet fly Fly Guy, and Buzz’s dad on a car ride that turns into an exciting adventure when Fly Guy is swept out of an open window and into the mouth of a passing truck driver. Can Fly Guy survive? Will he be reunited with Buzz? This installment of the funny saga is presented in short, easier to read chapters, and signature illustrations of bug-eyed characters.

Jeremy preferred no disturbances when he was drawing but the unexpected return of his blue monster causes Jeremy to think of a creative and highly satisfying solution. Similar in style to Jeremy Draws a Monster (opens in a new window), this stand-alone is equally enjoyable.

Each type of train makes a slightly different sound from the “clang, ting” and “bing” of a freight train to the “zooosh” of the diesel. The long format is reminiscent of a track to support the colorful trains rushing by as well as their onomatopoeic sounds in varied typeface.

Henkes’ first easy reader introduces Penny and her mouse family in two appealing chapters. Penny must wait to share her original song until after dinner. When she does, not only do her parents join in, the babies respond in a surprising way. Henkes’ signature illustrations expressively complement the well-paced narrative.

In this version of a familiar tune, Jo MacDonald (the old farmer’s granddaughter) and her cousin plant a Spring garden, watch it grow, observe what visits it, gather its bounty before the cycle ends only to begin again. Engaging illustrations suggest ways to dramatize the yearly cycle, and suggested activities conclude the book.

Kate is a cowgirl who cares for her herd on her horse, Cocoa. In four short, easy to read stories Kate’s resourceful personality shines in snappy dialog between cowgirl and horse. Cartoon illustrations enhance the humor and the warmth of their friendship as they go about their work.

A field trip to the art museum becomes a mystery for the Breakfast Bunch to solve – perhaps without the help of Lunch Lady! Read more adventures of this unique superheroes team in Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians (opens in a new window), Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown (opens in a new window), Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta (opens in a new window), and Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit (opens in a new window).

Meet the Breakfast Bunch: three regular kids, and their not-at-all-ordinary Lunch Lady! With the help of amazing and useful kitchen gadgets, Lunch Lady defeats a plot by cyborg subs to take Teacher of the Year Award. The launch of this graphic novel series for younger readers is sure to delight with its humor and recognizable situations.

Annie and Jack travel to a long-ago Ireland to inspire Augusta to share her creativity with near calamitous results. How the sibling team solves the problem and achieves their mission is a worthy addition to the appealing Magic Tree House series.

It’s tough to be a scientist but especially hard when kids find out Fran’s middle name. To change it, Fran Kissypie Stein invents a machine to go back to change it with near-disastrous but with laugh out loud results.