Book Finder

Fox and Chick are friends although they are quite different in many ways. Three short stories highlight the warmth of their friendship in spite of their differences. Told in graphic format, this will appeal to newly independent readers as well as comic book fans.

Bear and Mole go camping so that Mole can “see the stars turn on.” When Mole becomes afraid in the dark, Bear tells his a story of how the First Bear family created the moon and stars. The gentle tone and charming illustration create a soothing story.

Basic signs of two seasons (see also Autumn Babies (opens in a new window)) are presented in brightly colored illustrations and staccato rhymes. The small size and sturdy pages are just right to introduce the youngest children to seasonal emblems.

Bespectacled Rosa dons her helmet for a scooter ride with her friend Marcel. They share an everyday adventure that includes a healthful snack. Colorful, child-like illustrations and straightforward language are appealing and playful.

Fire fighters, police offices, medical staff and others are all rapid responders. Here, each introduces their special emergency vehicle. Lift the flap on sturdy pages for additional information about what it does. A similar format introduces all types of working boats in Whose Boat? (opens in a new window) by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by Tom Froese.

It’s Victor Starspeeder’s third year at Jedi Academy and things are… weird. After last year’s security breach, Principal Marr has been demoted and replaced with Commander ZC-04, a big, scary droid. There’s a curfew, new regulations, and everyone is on edge. Told through a mix of comics, doodles, and journal entries.

Kimmy, a budding paleontologist, is thrilled that Mr. Tiffin is taking her class on a field trip to the natural history museum. Her confidence is shaken, however, when Jake asserts that girls can’t be scientists. However, wise Mr. Tiffin makes a point to show her the discovery made by a woman scientist. KImmy notes her favorite (and very real) female paleontologists at the conclusion of this engaging book.

Young fowl hatch near a large bear named Bruce who becomes their adoptive parent.

Eugenia Lincoln is a practical person with no time for gee-gaws, whoop-de-whoops, or frivolity. When an unexpected package containing an accordion arrives at her house, she is determined to have nothing to do with it. But her plans to sell the accordion, destroy the accordion, and give the accordion away all end in frustration. How can Eugenia stop being tormented by this troublesome package? Might she discover that a bit of unforeseen frivolity could be surprisingly … joyous?

Sharks often get a bad reputation from movies and television but they’re crucial to a healthy ocean. Find out more about these amazing creatures in this dramatic, engaging comic book that is well-researched and well-documented. If things technical and mechanical things are of greater interest, then try Science Comics: Robots and Drones: Past, Present, and Future (opens in a new window) by Mairghread Scott, illustrated by Jacob Chabot.

Bixby Alexander Tam, aka Bat, is back. He was first introduced in A Boy Called Bat (opens in a new window) where Bat first met Thor, a baby skunk rescued by Bat’s veterinarian mom. Now Thor is big enough to be released, but Bat wants to keep him…even taking Thor to his sister’s play. The result is predictable but as gently humorous and engaging as this tale of Bat.

Celeste, the small mouse that accompanied John James Audubon’s apprentice, on an earlier adventure (A Nest for Celeste (opens in a new window)) is now separated from Joseph. Happily, she finds a new companion, an earnest young man named Abe Lincoln. This quiet fantasy is generously illustrated with expressive pencil drawings.

Hippos are denser than water and so sink in water. Plus, they can’t actually swim but push off to “sail through the water like otters.” Interesting factoids about these huge land animals are presented in cartoon illustrations complete with funny asides in conversation bubbles. Further resources are included at the end. The author approaches a furry animal in the same way in The Truth about Bears (opens in a new window).

Did you know that snails build “roads of slimy mucus”, other snails can follow those trails, often to eat together? That snails live everywhere on earth in all types of environments? Find out much more about these amazing — albeit slimy — creatures in this comically illustrated but fascinating glimpse at snails.

When Trey loses his lucky piece of sea glass, he’s convinced that his luck is gone, too. He goes into a slump in baseball, not certain that he can ever get his mojo back. Baseball fans will enjoy the baseball terms and jargon and just may figure out that lucky charms are not what create success on or off the baseball field.

Travel with Nate Bell and a group of kids whose adventure begins at the Science Museum. They travel back in time to explore dinosaurs and the eras in which they roamed the earth. Several suggestions for further investigation conclude this lighthearted but informative book.

Third grader, Jasmine Toguchi, wants to enter her school’s talent show, but what talent could she show? She knows though when she’s introduced to the traditional Japanese drums where Jasmine finds a skill – and a friend. Young readers will see themselves in Jasmine and her recognizable travails.

Lily and her mom miss their own garden. When they visit the public garden they find their neighbor preparing the soil. Soon Lily and her friends are helping Mr. Sam plant and tend a vegetable garden. A concluding activity for an easy home garden ends this informative, easier to read book.

When Jack and Annie don the magic baseball hats given to them by Morgan, they find themselves back in 1947 as batboys. There they learn a lot about the game, a player named Jackie Robinson, and how history was made. Readers may also want to find out more in the accessible nonfiction companion, Baseball (Magic Tree House Fact Tracker) (opens in a new window) which introduces more about the people and players of the period.

Kayla loses a tooth but now can’t find it! Will the Tooth Fairy still visit her? Can her trusty canine, King, help solve the mystery of the missing tooth?  The latest installment is sure to delight fans and stands on its own as a recognizable, satisfying, everyday mystery just right for newly independent readers.

Pete the Cat is marching with his look-alikes from one to ten, each adding an instrument to the cheerful conclusion. The riff on a familiar rhyme (“Ants go marching”) may inspire others as listeners or readers enjoy the humor.

The winter sports season is here, and the Aldens are excited about all the snow activities — especially snowboarding. But soon they find themselves in the middle of a mystery surrounding a star athlete and a stolen snowboard.

Flora and an ostrich, both clad in deep lavender, demonstrate opposites such as hello/goodbye, near/far. The expressive illustrations, however, reveal a friendship and humor that goes far beyond the single words on each open page occasionally expanded when a flap is lifted. 

Who’s the real pest eating up dog, donkey, sheep, and duck’s garden? Is it the groundhog or someone with feathers? Cartoon illustrations and repeating text create a silly tale sure to tickle multiple funny bones. The animal friends share another silly adventure in What Is Chasing Duck? (another story in the Giggle Gang series).