Montgomery, Sy. INKY'S AMAZING ESCAPE : HOW A VERY SMART OCTOPUS FOUND HIS WAY HOME

Montgomery, Sy.
INKY'S AMAZING ESCAPE : HOW A VERY SMART OCTOPUS FOUND HIS WAY HOME
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 9781534401914


Have you ever seen an octopus? They are very interesting looking. This is a story based on a real life story.  Inky was living in the Pacific Ocean enjoying everything around him. He was a very curious octopus and loved to squeeze into places. One day he found a box with a lobster in it. He loved lobsters so he squeezed in and ate the lobster. But, he was in a lobster trap and was pulled onto a boat. The fisherman who caught Inky saw that he had been hurt so decided to bring him to an aquarium to be helped. This is Inky's story about his life in and out of the aquarium.

Holm, Jennifer L. THE THIRD MUSHROOM

Holm, Jennifer L.
THE THIRD MUSHROOM
New York : Random House, 2018
IL 3-6, RL 5.3
ISBN 978-1-52471-980-7


Ellie's grandfather is back for a visit. He is a genius in the body of a 14 year old boy but the personality of a grumpy old man. And he is back in Ellie's life. Her family and her best friend Raj are the only ones who know about what has happened to Melvin. Ellie is so happy to have him around. They even go to school together. When they find out about the upcoming science fair, they work together. Neither can even expect the results that they will find.

DePaola, Tomie. QUIET

DePaola, Tomie.
QUIET
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 9781481477543

Do you think that sometimes the world is just too noisy? There are people talking and laughing. The tv is playing. There are videos to watch and everything is just too noisy. What happens when a grandfather and his grandchildren decide to experience quiet?

Barton, Chris. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A VOICE LIKE THAT? : THE STORY OF EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA JORDAN

Barton, Chris.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A VOICE LIKE THAT? : THE STORY OF EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA JORDAN
New York : Beach Lane Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 9781481465618


Barbara Jordan was a powerful force. Born in Houston,Texas, it was obvious as a young girl that she had a powerful voice and the ideas to match it. At one point, she thought she would be a pastor and preach the word of God. But as she grew up, she saw that there was work to be done here. And she decided that the best way to get things done was through politics. But was that the right road for her?

Miedoso, Andres. SCARY LIBRARY SHUSHER

Miedoso, Andres.
SCARY LIBRARY SHUSHER
New York : Little Simon, 2018
IL K-3
IL 9781534426924

Andres loves libraries but when he learns that the library in his new town is haunted, he is not that anxious to visit it. But a school assignment send Andres and his friend Desmond to the library to research the history of the library. Desmond just loves libraries and is hoping to find one in the library. The boys split up to look around the library, and Andres feels someone watching him. And then he sees her. She has to be a ghost and she is shushing Andres when he tries to call for Desmond. Is this a real ghost? 

Burleigh, Robert. SYLVIA'S BOOKSHOP : THE STORY OF PARIS'S BELOVED BOOKSTORE AND ITS FOUNDER (AS TOLD BY THE BOOKSTORE ITSELF!}

Burleigh, Robert.
SYLVIA'S BOOKSHOP : THE STORY OF PARIS'S BELOVED BOOKSTORE AND ITS FOUNDER (AS TOLD BY THE BOOKSTORE ITSELF!}
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 9781481472456

This is a story told from the perspective of a bookstore!  You heard me right. The Shakespeare and Company Bookstore in Paris was opened by Sylvia Beach in 1919.  Sylvia loved books and wanted to create a bookstore that would welcome everyone. And did it ever. Many famous authors spent time in the bookstore through the years. The bookstore is still open but in a new spot. It was closed in 1940 when the Nazis invaded Paris. But it reopened after the war ended.  

Khan, Hena. BOUNCE BACK

Khan, Hena.
BOUNCE BACK
New York : Salaam Reads, 2018
IL 3-6
ISBN 9781534412064

Zayd is so excited that his family have gotten the brand new basketball hoop in his own driveway. Yes the DIY part of the process is not going well, but they are not giving up. Zayd knows that having a regulation hoop to practice on will really up his game. He is already one of the best players on his team but he really wants to be captain.  He practices and dreams. And the team is doing really well and is sure to make the championships this year. But when Zayd is injured in practice, he is devastated.  Sidelined for four weeks!!  Will the team be able to hold on? And then there is his brother's wedding.

McGhee, Alison. DEAR SISTER

McGhee, Alison.
DEAR SISTER
New York : Atheneum, 2018
IL 3-6
ISBN 9781481451420

An 8 year old boy is not too excited about his new baby sister. His parents want him to write a note to her to put in her baby book. They do not like the picture he draws and want him to rewrite the note. Through the years, he continues to write notes that the "wardens' do not approve. As the years go by, the notes show a change in their relationship. Will he ever come to love his little sister?

Maker, Martha. THE UN-FRIENDSHIP BRACELET

Maker, Martha.
THE UN-FRIENDSHIP BRACELET
New York : Little Simon, 2018
IL K-3, RL 4.0
ISBN 978-1-53440-908-8


Do you like to do crafts? Emily and Maddie certainly do. They love to create . They even have a craft room that they stock with supplies. They are so full of ideas. They are best friends and have made friendship bracelets to prove it. But a new girl in school may change all that. Bella becomes friends with Maddie first. Maddie wants to hang around with Bella and Emily feels left out. When her friendship bracelet falls apart, is this a sign?

Del Rosario, Juleah. 500 WORDS OR LESS

Del Rosario, Juleah.
500 WORDS OR LESS
New York : Simon Pulse, 2018
IL YA
ISBN 9781534410442

Nic is a senior in a high school where everyone is obsessed with getting into an Ivy League college. Nic is taking all AP courses and studying whenever she can. She tries not to think about Ben, her ex-boyfriend. The love of her life that she cheated on. He has transferred to another school and many of her classmates won't let her forget it. As she tries to figure out who she is, she finds an escape. She starts writing college essays for those same kids who blame her for Ben leaving. But in writing the essays, Nic finds she is getting to know the kids better and maybe learning about herself.

Rylant, Cynthia. ECCLESIASTES : TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON

Rylant, Cynthia. 
ECCLESIASTES : TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON
New York : Beach Lane Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 9781481476546



You may be familiar with the text of this book. It is from the Bible but is also a well-known song. Cynthia takes this text and illustrates it as only she can. The illustrations are simple but bold. See what you think.

Rundell, Katherine. ONE CHRISTMAS WISH

Rundell, Katherine. 
ONE CHRISTMAS WISH
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 9781481491617

Theo is all alone. Well, he has a baby sitter but she fell asleep on her phone. His parents are working and there is no one around. When he sees a shooting star, he wishes with all his might. His wish -- to not be alone. He has spent the evening decorating the Christmas tree with the old, broken ornaments and it looks OK. But now, the ornaments are coming to life.  What is happening?

Joyce, William. BUDDY

Joyce, William. 
BUDDY
New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017
IL K-3, RL 4.4
ISBN 978-1-48148-961-4



If you lived in the 1930s in New York City, you may have come across a smartly dressed women walking with a gorilla. Yes, I said gorilla. Gertie Lintz loved animals. Her home included chimpanzees, birds, and lots of other animals. When she adopted a baby gorilla, she fell in love immediately. Buddy was tiny and not very healthy. With the help of the other animals, she was able to raise him up to be a healthy gorilla.  Gertie didn't believe in cages and she raised her animals as humans. They wore clothes and ate at the table. When Buddy grew up, he was very big and sometimes got upset. What will happen when he gets too big to be safe?

DiTerlizzi, Tony. THE BROKEN ORNAMENT

DiTerlizzi, Tony. 
THE BROKEN ORNAMENT
New York : Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 9781416939764

Jack wants to make this the best Christmas ever. When he finds an old ornament, he decides to unwrap it and put it on the tree. But, crash! It falls on the floor and breaks. His parents come running in and his mother is very  upset. He doesn't know why, but Jack knows that instead of making this the best Christmas, he has made his mother very, very sad.  What is going on? Why is his mother so sad? Can he make it right?

Calandrelli, Emily. ADA LACE AND THE IMPOSSIBLE MISSION

Calandrelli, Emily.
ADA LACE AND THE IMPOSSIBLE MISSION
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young , 2018
IL K-3, RL 3.9
ISBN 978-1-53441-685-7

Third grader Ada Lace is at it again.  She and her her best friend Nina are back in school and have a new social studies teacher. The teacher just loves group projects. Of course Ada and Nina will team up but why does Milton have to be in their group?  Ada really wants the project to be the best but Milton has a habit of pulling pranks. Their model of an old silver mine is very realistic. Hours are spent on getting everything just right. All the models have been locked into the teacher's storage room. Even though Milton promises that he did not rig the model to do something awful, can the girls trust him?

White, Dianne. WHO EATS ORANGE?

White, Dianne.  
WHO EATS ORANGE?
New York : Beach Lane Books, 2018
IL K-3, RL 1.9
ISBN 978-1-53440-408-3



Who eats orange?  What types of foods are orange? Carrots, oranges, pumpkins. What about red foods? Like lobsters. What about yellow food? Corn. What color food do you eat?

Callaghan, Cindy. POTION PROBLEMS

Callaghan, Cindy.
POTION PROBLEMS
New York : Aladdin, 2018
IL 5-8, RL 5.3ISBN 978-1-53441-740-3

Kelly Quinn and her friends Darbie and Hannah are not having a good day. Their special Secret Recipe Book has gone missing and ended up in Charlotte's hands. As if this were not bad enough, they learn that their favorite class at school is being cut because of budget cuts. Kelly comes up with an idea to enter a cooking contest to earn enough money to save the cooking class. TV chef Felice Faoudini is Kelly's favorite and she just knows that they can win with the help of the Secret Recipe Book.  They just have to get it back and cast a spell on Charlotte to get her to leave them alone. This series of books are the basis for the popular television show, Just Add Magic.

Halligan, Katherine. HERSTORY : 50 WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO SHOOK UP THE WORLD

Halligan, Katherine.
HERSTORY  : 50 WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO SHOOK UP THE WORLD
New York  : Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL 3-6
ISBN 9781534436640

Come along and learn about 50 amazing women who changed the world. All through history, women have been told what they can't do. These woman didn't believe that. They wanted to show what they could do.  There are authors, poets, scientists, and activists. From ancient Egypt to the 21st century, women have been shaking up the world.

McNamara, Margaret. ELIZA : THE STORY OF ELIZABETH SCHUYLER HAMILTON

McNamara, Margaret.
ELIZA : THE STORY OF ELIZABETH SCHUYLER HAMILTON
New  York : Schwartz and Wade Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN  9781524765897
With the popularity of the Broadway play Hamilton, books are being written about Alexander Hamilton and his family. Not much is known about Hamilton's wife Eliza, but this book aims to introduce her. She was born to a wealthy family in 1757. She was expected to marry well. When she met Alexander, she knew that he was the one for her. She stood with him through troubled times. After his death, she did what she could for the poor of New York. Learn about this remarkable woman who had an effect on so many.

Hood, Susan. LIFEBOAT 12

Hood, Susan.
LIFEBOAT 12
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL 5-8, RL 4.8
ISBN 978-1-48146-883-1

The year is 1940 and the Germans have started bombing England. The Germans are now in France and it is just a short trip across the English Channel between Britain and invasion. To keep their children safe, parents have agreed to have them sent to Canada to escape the bombing.  Ken's parents have applied to the Children's Overseas Reception Board to get him transport to safety.  Ken doesn't know how he feels about this. At first he believes that it is just his stepmother's way to get rid of him. She doesn't seem to like him very much. But then he realizes that it could be a great adventure. Sailing across the Atlantic with the Royal Navy guarding them. Maybe he'll just stay in Canada and never come back. The ship is amazing and the food is something the kids had never experienced before.  Some children have trouble adjusting to life at sea but seem to be settling in. On day four, they are miles away from the U-boats and bombers that can hurt them so they can now begin to enjoy their life aboard a luxury liner. But then the torpedo shatters the night and the ship begins to sink. Ken gets separated from his friends and his lifeboat launches without him.  But does get on the last lifeboat before the ship sinks.  And now they are alone in the ocean with no one around, very little water, and getting sicker by the day. This story is based on a real life event that happened in World War II.

Turley, Beth. IF THIS WERE A STORY

Turley, Beth.
IF THIS WERE A STORY
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL 3-6
ISBN 978-1-53442-061-8


Hannah is a fifth grader who is just a bit different from most of her class. She is very bright and believes she contains magic. When she gets the note that says "Nobody like Hannah", things change. Her parents focus on her more and they tend to fight less. Most people suspect that Kimmie sent the note. Kimmie's mother has died and she now lives with her grandmother. Kimmie is angry all the time. And Hannah is the only one who can beat her in the spelling bee. The notes continue and we are introduced to Hannah's inner world where her stuffed animal can talk as can coins and street signs. The school counselor tries to help Hannah but she becomes more withdrawn. This is an unusual tale of bullies, family problems, and imagination.

Ward, Jennifer. MAMA DUG A LITTLE DEN

Ward, Jennifer.
MAMA DUG A LITTLE DEN
New York : Beach Lane Books, 2018
IL K-3, RL 3.0
ISBN 978-1-48148-037-6


What kind of animal digs a den for her family? And I say her since it is usually the female that digs the den.  You probably think of bears rights away. They spend winters in their dens. But there are so many animals that dig underground to keep their families warm. Some build dens in hollow trees or logs. Some dig in sand. Come along and see which mamas dig a little den.

McCanna, Tim. BOING : A VERY NOISY ABC

McCanna, Tim.
BOING : A VERY NOISY ABC 
New York : Simon & Schuster, 20158
IL K-3
ISBN 978-1-48148-755-9



This is a very noisy alphabet! It starts out with a young boy and his grandfather in the garden. When the grandfather sneezes, the boy loses control of the bouncing ball and now he is trying to catch it. Join the chase and go through the alphabet as well.

Calkhoven, Laurie. LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA

Calkhoven, Laurie.
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA
New York : Simon Spotlight, 2018
IL K-3, RL 2.9
ISBN 978-1-53442-242-1
Have you heard of the musical Hamilton? Or the man behind it, Lin-Manual Miranda?  Even if you haven't, he is someone who you should get to know about. Lin-Manual Miranda was born in New York City in 1980. Both his parents were from Puerto Rico and Lin-Manual grew up listening to the sounds of his Hispanic neighborhood. Lots of Spanish songs, Broadway tunes and hip hop. His love for music was so strong, he dreamed of being on Broadway himself. He attended a special school for gifted students and he dove into theater arts. In college, he wrote a play that he hoped would appear on Broadway. Through hard work and the help of friends, Lin-Manual did make it to Broadway. Follow his journey from birth to fame.

Alexander, William. A FESTIVAL OF GHOSTS

Alexander, William.
A FESTIVAL OF GHOSTS
New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2018
IL 3-6, RL 4.9
ISBN 978-1-48146-918-0

Rosa has been raised in libraries -- literally. Her mother is a well-known ghost appeaser and every library has one. But now her mother is telling her that she must start school in the fall. What? She has never been to school. She is becoming an appeaser herself and would rather work on that than go to school. But her mother insists that the school needs Rosa. So, along with her best friend Jasper who is also studying to become an appeaser, off to school they go. But from the very start, we just know something is wrong with the school. It tries to keep Rosa out but Jasper is able to get the door open. When students start losing their voices, Rosa knows she is up against some strange haunting.

Simon, Coco, CRACKS IN THE CONE

Simon, Coco,
CRACKS IN THE CONE
New York : Simon Spotlight, 2018
IL 3-6, RL 5.2
ISBN  978-1-53441-750-2
The Sprinkle Sundays Sisters are back at the ice cream shop. This time, Tamiko is telling the story. She is looking forward to working at Allie's mom's ice cream shop with Allie and Sierra. But something is off.  Allie seems to be in a bad mood and is not very nice to Tamiko.  When she gives a boy a sample of an ice cream flavor, Allie is cross and tells Tamiko not to do that because it is wasting money. Tamiko is just trying to get the customers to try new flavors.   Nothing she does seems right.  When she accidentally drops a sundae, Allie is upset and reminds Tamiko that the ice cream costs money and she can't be dropping things and giving away large samples. Even Allie's mother doesn't appreciate Tamiko's efforts.  Maybe she should just quit.

Simon, Coco, SUNDAY SUNDAES

Simon, Coco,
SUNDAY SUNDAES
New York : Simon Spotlight, 2018
IL 3-6, RL 5.0
ISBN  978-1-53441-747-2


Allie is looking forward to coming home after summer camp. Sure she enjoyed her time at camp but she misses her friends and family. But things have changed in ways she could never have imagined. And it all happened while she was away. Her parents tell her they are getting divorced. She can barely believe it. And that is not all. They are selling the house and moving away. Her mom has bought a house in a nearby town and her dad will be living in an apartment in town. And she will have to go to a new school and make all new friends.  Can this get any worse? Well it can when the mean girls target her from day one at the school.

Guglielmo, Amy. HOW TO BUILD A HUG : TEMPLE GRANDIN AND HER AMAZING SQUEEZE MACHINE

Guglielmo, Amy.
HOW TO BUILD A HUG : TEMPLE GRANDIN AND HER AMAZING SQUEEZE MACHINE
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL K-3,
ISBN 978-1-53441-097-8

As a child, Temple Grandin was different from most kids. The things that didn't bother other kids, were like torture for her. Even wearing socks or a hug from her mother was a horrible experience. At school, she couldn't handle the sound of the school bell or the fan, or the loud cafeteria.  You see, Temple has autism. We hear the term all the time now but back in the 1950s when she was in school, people didn't really know about it. Temple was sent to a private boarding school that specialized in children who were different. Here Temple blossomed. She was very bright and loved the animals. But she still wondered why a simple hug was so awful for her. She watched others enjoying hugs but still could not stand the thought of people hugging her. One summer, she finally discovered a way to enjoy hugs.

Boldt, Mike. ATTACK OF THE 50-FOOT FLUFFY

Boldt, Mike.
ATTACK OF THE 50-FOOT FLUFFY
New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2018
IL K-3, RL 1.7
ISBN 978-1-48144-887-1

When Claire is happy, so is Fluffy.  When Claire is sad, so is fluffy. But you don't want to see Claire or Fluffy when she is angry. And today is not going well. There is no Super Choco Puff cereal left. A button fell off Fluffy's dress and there is a long line at the swings.  And Claire got angry. And so did Fluffy!

Weatherford, Carole Boston. BE A KING : DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S DREAM AND YOU

Weatherford, Carole Boston.  
BE A KING : DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S DREAM AND YOU
New York : Bloomsbury, 2018
IL K-3, RL 1.7
ISBN 978-0-8027-2368-0 

You have probably heard Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic "I have a dream" speech. He dreamt of equality. When there was no walls between the races. Where children of any color or creed could work together to make the world a better place. Can you be like that? Can you work towards equality? Can you be a King?

You can be a King. Stamp out hatred. Put your foot down and walk tall.

You can be a King. Beat the drum for justice. March to your own conscience.

Wilson, Jamia. YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK : MEET 52 BLACK HEROES FROM PAST AND PRESENT

Wilson, Jamia. 
YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK : MEET 52 BLACK HEROES FROM PAST AND PRESENT
New York : Wide Eyed Editions, 2018
IL 3-6, RL 8.9
ISBN 978-1-78603-158-7



 “All children deserve to see themselves represented positively in stories. That’s why we’re highlighting the talent and contributions of black changemakers from around the world—for readers of all backgrounds to discover”



This book introduces us to 52 people from the past through today. Some of these people are well known but other may be new to you.  They are scientists, inventors, artists, singers and athletes. And they all have made a difference in the world.

Ness, Patrick. THE REST OF US JUST LIVE HERE

Ness, Patrick.  
THE REST OF US JUST LIVE HERE
New York : HarperTeen, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 978-0-06-240316-2

Mikey and his friends just want to get through the next few weeks.  Prom and graduation and then off to college. But things are happening in the town that are going unnoticed by many. If you aren't the Chosen One, it's easy to ignore things. But the Indie kids are there to help. All Mikey wants to do is go out with Henna. The story is told in separate narratives -- one about the Indie kids and the coming of the Immortal Ones. And then the rest of the kids who just live there.

DiPucchio, Kelly. SUPER MANNY CLEANS UP!

DiPucchio, Kelly.
SUPER MANNY CLEANS UP!
New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL K-3, RL 3.3
ISBN 978-1-48145-962-4

Every weekend, Manny and Gertie put on their capes and saved the planet from danger. They tame the giant lions at the library. They fight the fierce veggie monsters. And they even calm the giant yeti. But when they see the turtle caught up in plastic, they decide to change their game. How can they really save the world from danger?

Florian, Douglas. FRIENDS AND FOES : POEMS ABOUT US ALL

Florian, Douglas.
FRIENDS AND FOES : POEMS ABOUT US ALL
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 9781442487956
"What are best friends for/For sharing/For caring/For giving/Forgiving."  

Do you have a good friend?  What about someone you don't like? You may find a poem here that shows just how you feel.

Hellman, Blake Lilane. SOMETHING SMELLS

Hellman, Blake Lilane.
SOMETHING SMELLS
New York : Simon & Schuseter, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 978-1-48148-864-8

When he wakes up in the morning, Elliot smells the most terrible smell.  Where can that awful smell be coming from? His pets? His Dad? The baby?  No, they all smell fine.  It takes awhile but Elliot finally figures out where the smell is coming from. Can you figure it out?

Night, P. J. TRUTH OR DARE

Night, P. J.
TRUTH OR DARE
New York : Simon Spotlight, 2018
IL 3-6
ISBN 978-1-53441-657-4

The party is going to be so much fun. Abby, Leah, Chloe and Nora plan to have a great night -- complete with a game of Truth or Dare. The girls settle in and dig into the snacks and then the game begins.  Abby is already a bit freaked out since she thought someone was watching them from the woods. But she tires to ignore the creepy feeling.  When it is her turn for the game, she chooses truth and soon wishes she didn't. She has to tell the girls who she has a crush on.  That's when then the text comes. "Leave him alone. He's mine!!! Don't make me tell you twice!"

Strasser, Todd. PRICE OF DUTY

Strasser, Todd.
 PRICE OF DUTY
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL YA
ISBN 978-1-48149-709-1

Jake Liddell has been sent home to recover from his wounds. And he has come home as a hero. He is probably going to be presented the Silver Star. Jake comes from a tradition of military heroes so it makes sense that he is now also considered a hero. His grandfather is a retired general and has lined up lots of events to honor Jake. But Jake cannot shake the horrors of war. Nor can he shake his doubts about the war.  The forever war that has no end.  Thinking about all his training in JROTC and the promises of the recruiter just make him angrier. All the promises that lure boys into the military with hefty signing bonuses and thoughts of college after service. If they live through it.

Night, P. J. YOU CAN'T COME IN HERE!

Night, P. J.
YOU CAN'T COME IN HERE!
New York : Simon Spotlight, 2018
IL 3-6
ISBN 978-1-53441-658-1

Emily lives in a very nice house in a good part of town. The only problem is that there are no kids her age that she can hang around with. Until Drew and Vicky moved in across the street. Their house had been vacant for some time and is really run down.  The family has made no effort to clean things up in the months they lived there. Emily's parents complain about it but it didn't bother Emily.  She spends most nights hanging with Drew and Vicky playing games and just having fun.  She knows there is something different about the siblings but ignores it. None of her friends have met them and now her parents want to meet their parents.  Now things will really get weird.

Pingk, Rubin. SAMURAI SCARECROW

Pingk, Rubin.
SAMURAI SCARECROW
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 978-1-48143-059-3

Kashi loves being with her brother.  And she loves the spooky story of the Samurai Scarecrow.  As Halloween approaches, the kids are having fun choosing their costumes. Yukio decides to dress as a Ninja.   Kashi wanted to be a Ninja too.  But when Yukio sees her costume, he gets really mad and yells at her to stop copying him, she goes home crying. Yukio and his friends go and enjoy their night until ... Samurai Scarecrow appears!

Rille, Lauren. I FEEL TEAL

Rille, Lauren.
I FEEL TEAL
New York : Beach Lane Books, 2018
IL K-3, RL 0.8
ISBN  978-1-48145-846-7

Have you ever heard someone say they feel blue? Or that they are in the pink? The child in this book feels lots of colors. From pink in the morning, to purple, and yes, even teal. What color are you feeling today?

Mack, Jeff. MR. MONKEY BAKES A CAKE

Mack, Jeff.
MR. MONKEY BAKES A CAKE
New York : Simon and Schuster Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN  978-1-53440-431-1

Mr. Monkey really likes bananas. He decides to make a banana cake and enter it into a contest. He can't resist eating a few first. But sometimes he eats too many. Do you ever do that? At first they taste yummy but then he doesn't feel so good. But he gets the cake made and is ready to enter the contest. You will never guess what happens.

Parker, Aura. TWIG

Parker, Aura.
TWIG
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL K-3, RL 2.6
ISBN 978-1-53442-468-5
Have you ever felt invisible? As though no one even knows you are there?  Well, Heidi certainly does. She is a stick insect and when she starts insect school, no one even sees her.  Her teacher even mistakes her for a coat rack. Will Heidi find a way to let people know she is there? It is hard to make friends when no one even sees you.

Silvera, Adam. THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END

Silvera, Adam.  
THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END   


Mateo freezes when the phone rings a little past midnight. It can't be. He is only 18 and hasn't even lived yet. Rufus is beating up Peck when his phone rings a bit later. He tries to ignore the call but knows he can't. Death Cast has called them both. In a future world, Death Cast decides who lives and dies. When you get your call, you are told you will die within the next 24 hours. You don't know when or how but it will happen.  Rufus and his friends at the orphanage decide to hold his funeral so he can go out laughing with friends. But Peck has filed a complaint and called the police about the beating. Now Rufus is alone and on the run. Not a great way to spend your last day. Mateo usually stays in the apartment playing video games and is afraid to go outside. Both boys decide they don't want to spend their last day alone so reach out to Last Friend. This is a site where you can find someone to spend your day with. The two boys with nothing in common spend the day together finding out about each other. And about themselves. One thing we know. They both die in the end.

Turk, Evan. HEARTBEAT

Turk, Evan.
HEARTBEAT
New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readres, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 978-1-48143-520-8

A whale is born. There are two heartbeats as the love between mother and child grows and changes. Two hearts, one song. A young whale and her mother sing together. This beautifully illustrated picture book aptly conveys the relationship between animals.
 

Mack, Jeff. MR. MONKEY VISITS A SCHOOL

Mack, Jeff.
MR. MONKEY VISITS A SCHOOL
New York : Simon and Schuster Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN  978-1-53440-429-8

Mr. Monkey is practicing his juggling and thinks this would be a good show for a school to see.  First he has to find a school.  Then he has to get all his props there. Sounds pretty easy, right? Not for Mr. Monkey! You will never believe what goes wrong. Once you know Mr. Monkey, you will.

Fulton, Kristen. WHEN SPARKS FLY : THE TRUE STORY OF ROBERT GODDARD, THE FATHER OF US ROCKETRY

Fulton, Kristen.
WHEN SPARKS FLY : THE TRUE STORY OF ROBERT GODDARD, THE FATHER OF US ROCKETRY
New York : Margaret K. McElderry, 2018
IL K-3, RL 2.3
ISBN 978-1-48146-098-9
Have you ever heard of Robert Goddard? If not, I bet you have seen many of the things he invented. Way back in the 1880s, Robert wasn't able to go to school since he was often sick.  His parents wanted to be sure that he got a good education so they taught him at home. They gave him lots of scientific items and even bought him a subscription to the magazine Scientific American. He read every issue and did his own experiments.  When he learned about diamonds, he tried to make diamonds from pencil graphite and flame.  He didn't make diamonds but it lead to a many years of research.

Cronin, Doreen. CLICK, CLACK, QUACK TO SCHOOL!

Cronin, Doreen.
CLICK, CLACK, QUACK TO SCHOOL!
New York : Atheneum Books, 2018
IL K-3, RL 2.2
ISBN 978-1-53441-449-5

Farmer Brown is very excited to get an invitation to visit the school.  When he tells the animals, they are get very excited and start jumping and being very loud. No, No, No. Schools are quiet places. Schools are calm places. The animals will have to behave and be very quiet.  What do you think is going to happen?

Calabrese, Keith. LENA'S SHOES ARE NERVOUS : A FIRST-DAY-OF-SCHOOL DILEMMA

Calabrese, Keith.
LENA'S SHOES ARE NERVOUS : A FIRST-DAY-OF-SCHOOL DILEMMA
New York : Atheneum, 2018
IL K-3, RL 2.0
ISBN 978-1-53440-894-4

Lena is all ready for her first day of Kindergarten. She has laid out her dress and socks and headband and shoes.  This is going to be a big day. But when she starts to get dressed, she realizes she has a very big problem.  Her shoes are nervous about going to school and won't go. Lena's father tries to help but Lena knows there is only one thing she can try.

Cline-Ransome, Lesa GAME CHANGERS : THE STORY OF VENUS AND SERENA WILLIAMS

Cline-Ransome, Lesa
GAME CHANGERS : THE STORY OF VENUS AND SERENA WILLIAMS
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL 3-6
ISBN 9781481476843

Growing up in Compton, the Williams family didn't have much. But they did have a love of tennis. Venus and Serena were the youngest of the famlly and they were the ones who took the game most seriously. They would get up very early and go to the public tennis court. Before they could play, they needed to sweep broken glass off the courts and pull the weeds. Sometimes they even needed to duck bullets when the gangs got too close. Learn about how these remarkable women went from Compton to Wimbleton becoming two of the best tennis players in the world.

Weatherford, Carole Boston. SCHOMBURG : THE MAN WHO BUILT A LIBRARY

Weatherford, Carole Boston.
SCHOMBURG : THE MAN WHO BUILT A LIBRARY
Somerville : Candlewick, 2017
IL K-3, RL 6.8
ISBN 978-0-7636-8046-6

When Arturo Schomburg was a young boy in Puerto Rico, he loved listening to the men who read to them in the cigar shop.  His love words and his curiosity was born. When he was in 5th grade, his teacher told him that his people did not have any history. As he watched his white classmates take pride in their heritage, he longed to have that same pride. And that is when he started reading and collecting everything he could find about the history of African Americans.  He moved to New York City when he was 17 but could not continue school because his school records were lost and he could not prove he had a formal education. That did not deter Arturo. He continued to read and collect information about African Americans whose accomplishments were overlooked in the mainstream education. This is a biography of an amazing man.  He believed that "the American Negro must remake his past in order to make his future ... History must restore what slavery took away."