"The Short Seller" by Elissa Brent Weissman

"The Short Seller" by Elissa Brent Weissman – Twelve year old Lindy Sachs is home sick with an illness that keeps her from school for over a month. Lindy is bored. Her father thinks playing the stock market will help Lindy ease her boredom. Mr. Sachs sets up an account for Lindy and links it to his own stock account. He gives her $100.00 to invest and tells her to be careful because if she loses the money she will get no more.  With the help of resources such as “Buying Stock for Dummies”, “The Wall Street  Journal”, the Bloomberg Report, plus beginners luck and a bull market, Lindy causes her initial Market investment of $100.00 to more than double in less than one month. Confident in her ability to make money, Lindy borrows the margin money in her father’s account and puts the money in her account so she can make a whole lot of money with the intention of returning the money she borrowed back into her father’s account without him being aware the margin money was ever used. Too bad  Lindy doesn't know enough about bull and bear markets and how fast the the markets can change. If Lindy had taken the family car on an illegal joy ride and crashed it she would be in so much less trouble. 

A very funny book about a highly intelligent, believable, and charming girl and a little bit about how the stock market works, I highly recommend “The Short Seller”.  School Library Journal recommends this book for grades 5-7.

 Mary G., Grand Glaize

Dewey Discoveries: "The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees" by Sandra Markle

When we learn about science, it often feels like a mystery that's already been solved. In reality, there's lots left in the world to discover and understand. In "The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees: a Scientific Mystery" by Sandra Markle, you, the reader, are tasked with the job of finding out what's killing the honeybees. Markle clearly explains the life of bees, and talks about the recent epidemic of dying bees. There have been many hypotheses made about the problem, but no real conclusions have been made. Read the book, study the evidence, and maybe you could be the person who figures it all out and saves the honeybees! Best for grades 4-8.

Dewey Number 595.799

--Andrea W., Headquarters

A Mouse in the House!

“Mouse House Tales” written by Susan Pearson and illustrated by Amanda Shepherd consists of two stories. The first tale is how Mouse, with the help of her friends, builds and furnishes a home. Mole digs; Beaver provides the lumber, Duck feathers for a bed, etc and before long the house is complete. Then Goat’s contribution finally gets used as they celebrate the Mouse’s new house by eating goat cheese. 

The second tale is about a mysterious visitor Mouse has in her new house. Mouse wants to capture the visitor and her friends give her ideas on how to accomplish that. But Goat does not think their trap will work. Mouse tries different ideas but it is Goat’s idea that works.

Amanda Shepherd’s illustrations are those of jauntily dressed anthropomorphized animals. The illustrations are fun with lots of action, things to look at and even Owl just watching the activity from his hole in the tree. 

--Robbin O., Headquarters

Maker Monday: "Loom magic!"

Either you got a Rainbow Loom last year or you know someone who did.  It was THE gift of 2013.  What's great about the loom is the degree of difficulty is up to the user.  There are easy project for beginners or difficult designs for the advanced.  This book is for those who want a challenge.  Most of them required two looms, which I don't have, so I didn't actually get to make any of these awesome projects.  But the photos and explanations are clear and easy to understand.  Each design has a complete supply list with easy step-by-step instructions.   "Loom Magic!" by John McCann and Becky Thomas is for makers who want to go beyond bracelets with charms, mustaches, and earrings. 


--Angie RH, Headquarters

Kids Music Friday Twofer!

We all know and love Sandra Boynton's cuddly and adorable animals from her numerous board books. Did you know that she writes music, too? Boynton just released her fifth album, "Frog Trouble," featuring popular country artists like Dwight Yoakam and Alison Krauss. Today's Kids Music Friday is a two for one special! For some adorable inspiration, watch the music videos below as Josh Turner sings "Alligator Stroll," and Ryan Adams sings "When Pigs Fly" (Please click on the link to watch).To request the album and songbook, click on the title above.

--Andrea W., H.Q.

P.S. For kicks and giggles, watch Sandra as she gives a short TEDx talk at Yale about the making of "Frog Trouble."

Staff Review: "Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library" by Barbara Rosenstock

“Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library” written by Barbara Rosenstock, and illustrated by John O'Brien is the story of Thomas Jefferson the reader, not the President. Thomas Jefferson read every subject and collected books, an expensive hobby as one book might cost more than the average person would earn in a lifetime. When Thomas became President he expanded the Library of Congress, a very small library at the time, and hired the first librarian to run it. When Britain once again went to war with the United States in 1814 the Library of Congress was burned. Thomas Jefferson sent more than 6,500 books from his personal library to rebuild the Library of Congress. If you like to read, and who doesn't, you will enjoy this story of a voracious reader and how important he was to his country and its main library. He was a man that may not have become President had he not learned so many things about the world from reading many books.

Mary G., Grand Glaize

Dewey Discoveries: "Ick! Yuck! Eew!: Our Gross American History" by Lois Miner Huey

Calling all grossology historians! I bet you had no idea that 150 years ago, American streets were paved with poo, that bugs swarmed beds to bite you at night, or that doctors routinely bled their patients in an attempt to heal their sicknesses. For more disgustingly fascinating info on early America, check out "Ick! Yuck! Eew!: Our Gross American History" by Lois Miner Huey and prepare to feel nauseous. For grades 4-8.

Dewey Number 973



--Andrea W., Headquarters