| Gertie's leap to greatness by Kate Beasley; illustrated by Jillian TamakiGertie Reece Foy is "one-hundred-percent, not-from-concentrate awesome," and she's ready to prove it. Sure, her mom walked out and moved to the other side of their Alabama town when Gertie was a baby, but that's all the more reason to show her what a great daughter she's missing. Gertie's progress toward becoming the greatest fifth-grader in the universe, however, is thwarted at every step by the rich new girl in class, Mary Sue Spivey. Even when her never-quit attitude lands her in trouble, you'll be rooting for Gertie in this slice-of-life story featuring spirited artwork by award-winning illustrator Jillian Tamaki. |
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From Moa to Dinosaurs: Explore & discover ancient New Zealand
by Candler, Gillian
Go back in time to explore ancient forests, lakes and the seas around Zealandia, and discover unique survivors and long-extinct animals that once made this land their home: Dinosaurs of Gondwana and Zealandia ; Giant penguins and shark-toothed dolphins ; Crocodilian and turtle inhabitants of ancient lakes ; Moa, adzebill and other extinct birds ; Tuatara, wētā and bird survivors. This beautifully illustrated and highly informative book is aimed at children from pre-schoolers up and anyone curious about New Zealand's ancient past and the animals that have lived here.
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Get the scoop on animal snot, spit & slime!: From snake venom to fish slime, 251 cool facts about mucus, saliva & more
by Dawn Cusick
Snot, spit, and slime may sound gross, but there's a lot science in these icky fluids. Mucus and saliva help animals eat, breathe, build, communicate, and defend themselves from predators and their environments. From spitting cobras and snot otters to slime stars and snotties, explore the world of animal snot, spit, and slime with hundreds of cool examples, incredible photos, and real science!
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| Welcome to Wonderland: Home sweet motel by Chris Grabenstein; illustrated by Brooke AllenLike his grandpa Walt, 11-year-old P.T. Wilkie is a born showman. It's a good thing, too, because with the loan coming due on the Wonderland – the old Florida motel where the Wilkies work and live -- P.T. will need every ounce of his outsized confidence. Combining his smooth talking with his friend Gloria's business savvy, P.T. launches several desperate schemes to save the motel, stirring up a local mystery along the way. If you like this series opener about an optimistic Florida kid hustling to keep his family afloat, you may also want to try Jennifer L. Holm's Full of Beans. |
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| Garvey's Choice by Nikki GrimesWhy do so many people seem to want Garvey to be someone he's not? Kids at school tease him for being fat, and his family (especially his dad) is disappointed that Garvey isn't athletic like his sister. Only his friend Joe understands that Garvey prefers science fiction and music to sports -- and it's through music that he's finally able to find new friends and chance to share who he really is. Written in short yet powerful tanka poems, Garvey's Choice is a sensitive, honest read that's just right for fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Sharon Creech, and Kwame Alexander. |
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Guinness world records 2017: Gamer's edition
by Guinness World Records
Lists records, superlatives, and unusual facts about computer and video games, and includes interviews with champion gamers, tips on play, and profiles of the best-selling games
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Speed King: Burt Munro, the world's fastest Indian
by Hill, David
In 1967 an unknown, elderly New Zealander and his ancient Indian motorcycle set a world land-speed record at Bonneville. The man was Burt Munro, and he became a Kiwi legend. How did he do it? His amazing true story is now a stunning picture book. A crowd of people stand on a flat white plain. In the distance, a snarling, roaring dark speck is hurtling towards them. 'Go, Burt!' The red bike blurs past. Fingers click stop-watches. The moment young Burt Munro saw a motorbike chugging down a quiet Invercargill street, he was hooked. More than fifty years later, he and his ancient Indian motorcycle would amaze the world by setting a land-speed record - one that remains unbroken to this day. Burt didn't have much money. He wasn't young. But he was determined. And he became a Kiwi legend. A wonderful true story about a very unlikely champion by an award-winning author and illustrator.
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| When the sea turned to silver by Grace LinPinmei doesn't really have a choice: the Tiger Emperor has kidnapped Amah, her beloved, storytelling grandmother, and the only way to rescue her is to find the legendary Luminous Stone That Lights the Night. Aided by her friend Yishan, Pinmei sets out in search of the Stone and plunges into a captivating world of Chinese folktales come to life. Although you can read this vivid, poetic adventure on its own, readers of Grace Lin's earlier books like Starry River of the Sky will relish finding the threads that bind her books into one sweeping, satisfying saga. |
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Botanicum
by Katherine Willis
Botanicum is a stunningly curated guide to plant life. With artwork from Katie Scott of Animalium fame, Botanicum gives readers the experience of a fascinating exhibition from the pages of a beautiful book. Learn how plants have evolved, see inside the dissection laboratory and discover the great variety of habitats on Earth. From perennials to bulbs to tropical exotica, Botanicum is a wonderful feast of botanical knowledge complete with superb cross-sections of how plants work.
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The most important thing: Stories about sons, fathers, and grandfathers
by Avi
A collection of short stories exploring the vital ties between fathers and sons includes the tales of a boy who seeks to understand the wishes of his father's ghost, a boy who makes surprising discoveries while camping with the eccentric grandfather he just met and a boy who asks provocative questions when interviewing a prospective stepdad.
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| The thing about jellyfish by Ali BenjaminSuzy Swanson doesn't talk. You don't need to talk to learn about jellyfish, and ever since last summer, when her former best friend Franny drowned at the beach, Suzy has been obsessed with the dangerous sea creatures. Convinced that Franny must have been stung by the rare Irukandji jellyfish, Suzy throws herself into the scientific method, letting its soothing, logical steps guide her (and readers along with her) toward the truth…no matter how painful or complicated it might be. For another heart-twisting story about the search for answers after a friend's death, try Elana K. Arnold's The Question of Miracles. |
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| The thing about luck by Cynthia KadohataLuck has been in short supply for Summer and her Japanese American family. Usually they spend harvest season travelling the American Midwest, harvesting wheat to earn money. But with her parents suddenly called away to Japan, Summer and her brother Jaz have to spend harvest season with their old-fashioned grandparents instead. Jiichan and Obaachan may be caring (and sometimes even funny), but they're also frustrating, and their health isn't great -- which means that when things go wrong, it's up to Summer to make her own luck. If you love realistic yet offbeat characters, you'll definitely want to spend time with Summer and her family. |
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The best worst thing
by Kathleen Lane
Seeing injustice and threats everywhere at the start of middle school, Maggie, a 10-year-old girl who does not feel quite ready to grow up, devises intricate and possibly dangerous ways to control her environment and protect others.
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The Swivel-eyed ogre-thing
by Barry Hutchison
In an alternate 15th century, where dragons roam, sailing ships transform into submarines, and blacksmiths build steampunk robots, ten-year-old orphan Benjamin Blank battles monsters, rescues maidens and discovers fantastic new lands, but never quite manages to get his homework handed in on time. Each adventure sees Ben and his friends, Paradise Little and Wesley Chant, face a new monstrous menace.
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Waylon!: One awesome thing
by Sara Pennypacker
Continuing his efforts to make life more awesome through science, Waylon is challenged by his friends' inclinations to separate into groups and his sister's adolescent rebelliousness. By the author of Pax.
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Junk drawer physics: 50 awesome experiments that don't cost a thing
by Bobby Mercer
An instructional reference that teaches kids how to use readily available household materials to conduct a variety of educational and inexpensive science experiments includes step-by-step instructions for building a potato chip canister planetarium, a plastic cup pinhole camera and more.
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The worst thing about my sister
by Wilson, Jacqueline
Being a sister isn't always easy but what's the very worst thing about your sister? Marty and her sister Melissa couldn't be more different. Marty loves her Converse trainers, playing football, hiding in her secret den and helping her dad with his DIY. But Melissa loves Justin Bieber and all things pink, girly and pretty. The sisters can manage to live together, despite their occasional scraps but then Mum tells them they have to share a room. For Marty, having to share her bunk beds and lose her private sanctuary turns out to be the very worst thing about having a sister. But the girls soon discover that being too close for comfort can have unexpected consequences, and when an accident happens, the sisters realise they are closer than they thought.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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