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| The Tale of Angelino Brown by David AlmondWhat it's about: After Bert and Betty Brown adopt pocket-sized angel Angelino, their lives -- and the lives of almost everyone they meet -- become a bit better and a lot weirder. But who is Angelino? And why are villains trying kidnap him?
Read it for: goofy humor (it's hard not to laugh at a character named Professor Smellie from Blistering-on-the-Fen) paired with deep ideas about good and evil. |
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| Out of the Wild Night by Blue BalliettWhat it's about: When greedy outsiders begin flipping the ramshackle old houses of Nantucket, the island's ghosts start fighting back with help from a gang of local kids.
Why you might like it: Similar to author Blue Balliett's other mysteries, this twisty tale takes you deep into the past and present of a fascinating real-life place. |
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| Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani ChokshiIntroducing: seventh-grader Aru, who accidentally frees an ancient demon and discovers that she's the reincarnation of a demigod -- which means it's up to her to stop the demon and save the world.
Try this next: For another funny, fast-paced adventure filled with Indian deities and demons, try Sayantani Dasgupta's The Serpent's Secret.
Series alert: This series opener is the 1st book from Rick Riordan Presents, a new collection of mythological fantasy series chosen by the popular author himself. |
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| The Parker Inheritance by Varian JohnsonWhat it's about: After finding intriguing clues in her grandmother's attic, bookish 12-year-old Candice and her new friend Brandon search for buried treasure in a small Southern town haunted by its own ugly history of racism.
Why you might like it: Switching between Candice's present-day story and her grandmother's in 1957, this suspenseful puzzle mystery encourages you, just like the characters, to piece the clues together. |
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| Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander with Chris Colderly and Marjory Wentworth; illustrated by Ekua HolmesWhat it is: an imaginative, inspiring collection of poems that celebrate 20 diverse poets from throughout history and around the world.
What's inside: attention-grabbing collage art, odes to long-departed poets (like Persian mystic Rumi and haiku master Bashō), and loving tributes to modern poets (such as Nikki Giovanni and Naomi Shihab Nye).
Who it's for: readers, writers, and poetry fans who want to try something new. |
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| Hypnotize a Tiger: Poems About Just About Everything by Calef BrownWhat it's about: Dinosaur barbecues, vampire gym teachers, and whiny vultures are just a few of the strange situations you'll find in this poetry book, alongside giggle-worthy puns and drawings.
Why you might like it: Weird word mash-ups such as "underwaterutabaga," "grouchyoungorilla," and "onenourmoustork" may tempt you into trying some wordplay of your own.
For fans of: the silly poetry and imaginative art of Shel Silverstein. |
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| When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano; illustrated by Julie MorstadWhat it's about: the turn of the seasons, as told through inviting artwork and quiet, wistful poetry.
Want a taste? "From a snow-covered tree, one bird singing, each tweet poking a tiny hole through the edge of winter…"
You might also like: Jon J. Muth's Hi, Koo!, another delicately illustrated and easy-to-read book of seasonal poems. |
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| Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems by Paul B. Janeczko (editor); illustrated by Melissa SweetWhat it is: Grouped by seasons, the poems in this collection are only a few lines long, but when those lines are written by poets like Langston Hughes, Carl Sandburg, and Joyce Sidman, they cast a powerful spell. Why you might like it: Just as powerful are the bold, vivid illustrations, which are sure to fuel your imagination.
Who it's for: Anyone who's ever felt like reading poetry was too slow or confusing. |
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| Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob RaczkaWhat it is: Poet Bob Raczka offers up 21 clever concrete poems -- or, as he calls them, "word paintings" -- in which the shape of the poem reflects what the poem is about.
Why you might like it: After seeing how words on a page can be used to form dripping icicles, floating balloons, or a soaring airplane, you too might be inspired to mix up a few concrete poems. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-11!
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