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2016 Spring Reading List

Spring Reading Featured


opposite zooThe Opposite Zoo

Whimsical and stunningly illustrated, THE OPPOSITE ZOO (On sale March 8, 2016 | Ages 2–5) is a charming picture book that gives readers a simple introduction to opposites through animals with diverse appearances and traits. Featuring a sleeping panda and an awake owl, a hairy lion and a bald hippo, Il Sung Na revels in the beauty and wonder of zoo animals in the night when the zoo is closed. Reminiscent of the textural beauty found in Il Sung Na’s A Book of Sleep, THE OPPOSITE ZOO is sure to enchant young readers and is the perfect bedtime book.

Written by: Il Sung Na
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My ShadowMy Shadow

Inside, outside, climbing up the stairs, or jumping into bed, your shadow may be following you! He may even be one step ahead as you run down the street! Complete with a cast of the whole family, a cat, a dog, and a teddy, this story is for everyone. Little ones who are just discovering their shadows for the first time will find inspiration between these pages, while older, more experienced kids are sure to learn new ways to play with their shadows. Get ready to laugh and giggle and then find the nearest light source and try out some shadows of your own!

Written by: Robert Louis Stevenson
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Hypnosis HarryHypnosis Harry

No pajamas at the park. No toys in the toaster. Harry’s parents say no to everything! That is, until Harry learns about hypnosis. With a little practice, and Grandpa’s watch, Harry puts his parents in a trance and envisions a future full of fun and yes’s! Comic books by the crate, night-vision goggles for his teddy bear, a pet monkey (or two)—no request is too big or too bizarre. Harry loves his new freedom and, not to mention, all that bacon. So what if his robot goes rogue and playmates are hard to find? But when his ninja moves result in a playground pile-up, Harry starts to wonder if he really wants his every wish granted. Hypnosis Harry is a wildly funny, sweetly silly look at the real meaning of the word no. Children will delight as little Harry answers the delicious question: What would you do if you could do anything? This charming romp is perfectly captured in the lively, layered illustrations of Sarita Rich. Each read reveals clever new details, making this the perfect reread for parent and child.

Written by: Catherine Bailey
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Hattie PeckHattie Peck

Poor Hattie Peck simply loves eggs, but she has only ever laid one egg—and it never hatched. Eggs are all she thinks about, all she dreams about. No egg is too big; no egg is too small. So if she can’t lay another egg, she’s going to have to go out into the world to find one. Hattie embarks on a journey in search of all the abandoned eggs. She dives to the deepest depths of vast oceans. She soars over gigantic cities and climbs up mountains towering above the clouds. Through gloomy dark caves, deep below the ground, Hattie searches. And she doesn’t find just one egg. There are so many abandoned eggs, just waiting for her to find them! Energetic and colorful illustrations fill this story with humor and fun. Kids will take away positive messages about making your dreams come true in unexpected ways. This can also work as an adoption story about unconditional love. With a cute surprise ending, this is sure to make kids laugh and smile. A picture book for children 3 to 6 years old, this is a sweet and simple story about how to love all different kinds of people. It has a great message for adopted children and their families as well as lots of humor for read alouds.

Written by: Emma Levey
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teen frankensteinTeen Frankenstein

High school meets classic horror in Teen Frankenstein, Chandler Baker’s modern reimagining of Mary Shelley’s gothic novelIt was a dark and stormy night when Tor Frankenstein accidentally hits someone with her car. And kills him. But, all is not lost―Tor, being the scientific genius she is, brings him back to life… Thus begins a twisty, turn-y take on a familiar tale, set in the town of Hollow Pines, Texas, where high school is truly horrifying.

Written by: Chandler Baker
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101 personality quizzes101 Fun Personality Quizzes

Open this book to any page and you’ll find a personality quiz that’s both fun to fill out and revealing in its results. Just grab a pen and get started. You already know the answer to every question, but do you dare discover what those answers say about who you are… really?!

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fisherdawgFisherdawg

Well Woofo there! Sorry, my mouth’s a bit full here. I’m the one and only FisherDawg. Kind of like Superman! Dawg – I meant to say SuperDawg! In this book, I’ll tell you about my hero, the Phil-man and why I was nicknamed the FisherDawg. And let me tell you, it only gets crazier from here! Hold onto your seat – or in this instance – your fish! This is a children’s series that you and your child will both love! None of those illustrations though! You get the real me on every page. Really! Look inside! Uh-oh, my ego is showing! Woof!

Written by: Lisa L Phillips
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little starThe Little Star

The Star family is overjoyed when their newest Little Star is born. Everyone in the rock pool celebrates, but their excitement is soon taken away when the Little Star becomes very ill and dies. How will the Star family cope with this tragic loss? How will the other animals in the rock pool deal with the news and support the family? Will the rock pool ever be the same again? The Little Star tells the true story of the Mortimer family and how they coped with the death of their precious baby boy, Charlie, and supported their two boys, Harry and Adam. It includes their brave decision to bring baby Leo into the world. It aims to support families who have been through a similar experience and provides information and discussion questions to help children deal with the death of a baby.

Written by: Kay Moorby
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teeny tiny toadyTeeny Tiny Toady

When a giant hand scoops up her mama and puts her in a pail, a terrified tiny toad named Teeny hops faster than she ever did in her life. “Mama’s stuck inside a bucket! Help me get her out!” she begs her big, clumsy brothers. “Don’t you worry, kid. We’ll save her!” they promise, bumbling and stumbling and jumbling out the door. But as the boys rush headlong to the rescue, pushing their little sister aside, it becomes clear: brawn isn’t always better than brains—and the smallest of the family may just be the smartest one of all. Written in lilting verse, this teeny book packs in humor, emotion, and triumphant girl power.

Written by: Jill Esbaum
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ah-chooAh-Choo!

When hunting for his new best friend, a boy goes through an alphabetical menagerie of animals. From an antelope, to bobolink birds, to wolves and zebras—and of course, a cat and dog, too—he brings them all home. But each creature just makes his sister go AH-CHOO! Will he ever be able to have the perfect pet? This children’s book is a delightful way to talk about pet allergies and getting a first pet! I’d love to send you a copy for review, and I provide a copy for a giveaway on your blog or website.

Written by: Lana Wayne Koehler
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Joey Visits GrandpaJoey Visits Grandpa

This story is about a loving relationship between Joey and his grandpa. Joey visits his grandpa and they do many fun things together. But soon afterwards Joey’s grandpa discovers he has a problem and not just one problem. Discover how Joey solves the problems and finds a solution at the end of the story. This imaginative story will captivate both children and adults and will delight the reader with its lighthearted humor.

Written by: Patricia Nichvolodoff
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ZoonicornsBuffy Meets the Zoonicorns

In Buffy Meets the Zoonicorns, Buffy feels a little ignored and wants the freedom that the older animals have. Within Buffy’s dream, she meets the Zoonicorns and learns to appreciate the balance of freedom and responsibility. After waking up from her dreamland adventure, Buffy quickly realizes how much she appreciates her life… just as it is! Each book includes a life lesson for positive reinforcement.

There are even Zoonicorn stuffed animals that you can buy. They are soft and cuddly – and perfect to go along with the book! My daughters love their Valeo one, but there are four to choose from.

Written by: Mark Lubratt
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sophies squashSophie’s Squash Go to School

This charming sequel to the beloved Sophie’s Squash is the perfect antidote to the back-to-school jitters. Sophie goes to school for the first time and has no interest in making friends that aren’t squash. Here’s a gently humorous read-aloud that proves that making friends, just like growing squash, takes time.

On Sophie’s first day of school, nobody appreciates her two best friends, Bonnie and Baxter, baby squash that she grew in her garden. Even worse, one classmate, Steven Green, won’t leave Sophie alone. He sits by her at circle time. He plays near her during recess. And he breathes on her while she paints. Steven just wants to be friends, but Sophie isn’t interested. Still, Sophie knows that her squash friends won’t last forever. Maybe it would be nice to have some human friends after all. . . .

Written by: Pat Zietlow Miller
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CrayonsHow the Crayons Saved the Rainbow

The Sun and the Clouds are best friends. Together they keep the world warm, the gardens growing, and the sky full of beautiful rainbows. But one day they get into a fight and refuse to be in the sky together. And that means there are no longer any rainbows. Without rainbows, the colors start disappearing until Earth was left with no color … except for one little forgotten box of crayons in one little school desk.

Determined to save the rainbows and fix the Sun and Clouds’ friendship, the crayons draw rainbows all over town. Their attempts go unnoticed. Soon they realize that they’re going to have to do something big to get the attention of the former friends. So, the crayons create the biggest rainbow they can and hope it’s enough to bring color back to the world.

Written by: Monica Sweeney
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IzzyIzzy the Very Bad Buglar

Izzy comes from a family of excellent burglars. But every time Izzy takes something that doesn’t belong to her, she gets a bad feeling in her stomach that won’t go away. She tries to tell her parents about the bad feeling, but whenever she mentions it, they tell her she needs to be a good burglar.

Izzy finds ways to make the funny feeling in her stomach subside. She and her friend, Frog, start by tidying up as they burgle. They make the beds, dust, wash the dishes, and do the laundry. When the people come home, some of their things will be gone . . . but at least they won’t have any chores to do.

Written by: Amy Proud
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Amazing DadMy Amazing Dad

With bright illustrations from award-winning illustrator Tom Jellett and minimal text by award-nominated Ezekiel Kwaymullina, My Amazing Dad celebrates the unconventional father who may not always get it right but certainly knows how to turn every day into something special.

This dad is not like other dads. He is not good at: Mowing the lawn, Getting his children to school on time, Baking cakes, Fixing a leaky faucet, or Remembering bed time

But, he is good at: Making mazes, Getting his children to school eventually, Eating cakes, Making bubble baths, and Telling bedtime stories. And this is what makes him so special.

Written by: Ezekiel Kwaymullina
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my grandpa is a dinosaurMy Grandpa is a Dinosaur

This little girl has been watching her grandpa for a very long time, and she is almost absolutely certain that he is a dinosaur. So why is it that nobody believes her? Why can’t anyone else see what she sees? He roars! (And no, it’s not just a snore.) He has green skin! (And no, he’s not from outer space.) He even has a tail! (And no, he’s not a horse!) Determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, the little girl goes straight to the source. It’s time to ask Grandpa once and for all: is he a dinosaur?

Just like Gorillas in Our Midst, this book is all silliness and fun. Comic artist Richard Fairgray’s illustrations are filled with wonderful, quirky details for kids to discover with each read. Kids will love that they can see that Grandpa is a dinosaur when nobody else can. And, of course, a story like this can’t end without a surprising twist!

Written by: Richard Fairgray
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The SpinfordsThe Spinfords

What’s the one thing in the world that scares kids the most? Being different. But not Salvatore. You see, Salvatore’s webs are different. Much to his family’s disappointment. Because this family of circus-performing spiders has built their act off tradition. Webs are circles, period. But not Salvatore’s. And over his father’s squashed body is he going to let him perform with them. It would ruin all they worked for since Grandpa Sebastian Spinford started their show back in 1934. But Salvatore knows better. He knows the crowd is craving something new and fresh. And with his grandfather’s help, he’s going to prove it. Salvatore’s story will give children of all ages the confidence to be themselves, no matter what.

Written by: AnnMarie Martin
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