Can you say this five times fast? "Flapjack Jack flipped flat flapjacks! Flapjack Jack flipped flat flapjacks! Flapjack Jack flipped flat flapjacks! Flapjack Jack Flipped Flat flapjacks! Flapjack Jack Flipped Flat Flapjacks!" I bet you don't know what you call a pig that can write with both hooves, do you? Give up? You call them HAM-bidextrous! Did you know that the library has some great joke books? You won't want to miss checking out "Just Joking 6" by Rosie Pattison. This book is filled with great jokes, tongue twisters, riddles, and really silly photos too. Each page will be sure to get a smile on your face and get everyone in the room laughing. School Library Journal recommends this for readers in grades three to five. --Julie P., Indian Trails
Do you love "Diary of a Wimpy Kid?" Well, let me introduce you to "The Brilliant World of Tom Gates!" by Liz Pichon. Tom is ten years old. He has a weird dad, a horrible sister, and a crush on Amy Porter (who he sits next to in class). He loves music, especially his favorite band DUDE3, and his own band, Dog Zombies. When DUDE3 comes to his town, Tom must figure out a way to get tickets so he can impress Amy. But first, he has to get through his dumb homework and--UGH--choir practice. This book is super-goofy and full of awesome drawings and doodles that will make you laugh. School Library Journal recommends it for readers in grades 3 to 5. --Samantha D., Weber Road
In "Under the Egg" by Laura Marx Fitzgerald, thirteen-year-old Theodora Tenpenny is a New Yorker living in a two-hundred-year-old townhouse with a garden, a flock of chickens, a reclusive mother and a mystery that could change her life. Her grandfather's dying words, "it's under the egg," take meaning when she discovers that the painting of an egg hanging on their mantle has another painting hidden beneath it. Give that her grandfather worked as both an artist and a security guard at a museum makes Theodora question both the painting's value and the grandfather she thought she knew. The cast of quirky characters makes this an enjoyable read: Theodora's new friend from down-the-block, Bohdi, daughter of two famous actors, aids the unplugged Theodora with her smartphone and bold ideas while eluding the paparzzi; Eddie, the tattoo-covered, loud librarian who's mad search skills come in handy on several occasions; Cecily, the Greek Orthodox priest whose knowledge, kindness, and auction house connection helps along the way. Theodora's quest turns out to have lost of historical twists, making this a page-turner with bonus art history and fun facts. School Library Journal recommends this book for grades 4-7. --Sarah W., Headquarters
Who do you get when you cross an evil witch, some royal rodents, and a cursed hamster wheel? "Harriet the Invincible," that's who! When Princess Harriet Hamsterbone realizes that a sinister curse has left her indestructible until her twelfth birthday, she decides to abandon her royal obligations and go on a hero's journey. Armed with her sword, her wits, and her trusty quail Mumfrey, Harriet sets out on a quest to slay dragons, ogrecats, and any other monster foolish enough to pick a fight. On Harriet's twelfth birthday, however, the curse backfires, and it is up to the rough-and-tough princess to save her family, her castle, and the entire royal court. Written by "Dragonbreath" author Ursula Vernon, the "Hamster Princess" series is sure to be a hit among royal readers young and old. Recommended for readers in grades three to five. --MacKenzie S., Natural Bridge
We all know how hard it can be to wait for spring to come. No one explains this time of longing and transition more simply and beautifully than Kevin Henkes in his new picture book, "When Spring Comes." In simple sentences, Henkes expresses the drawn-out longing and expectant waiting of late winter, "If you wait, Spring will make the leftover mounds of snow smaller and smaller and smaller until suddently--they're gone." Changes come slowly until the watchful longing is fulfilled in Spring, "There will be buds and bees and boots and bubbles. There will be worms and wings and wind and wheels." But don't get too comfortable, because "Now, you have to wait for summer." Lushly illustrated in bright, vibrant colors by Laura Dronzek, "When Spring Comes" gently celebrates the joys of changing seasons for readers in preschool to first grade. --Andrea W., Headquarters
What lengths would you go to in order to become someone's friend? In "The Red Hat" by David Teague, Billy Hightower goes to great lengths to meet the girl in the red hat. Billy lives at the top of the world's tallest building. A building so high that it doesn't even rain on the roof because the clouds are beneath the roof. One day construction begins on a new high rise across from Billy's, and soon a girl in a red hat appears of the opposite roof. Billy tries everything imaginable to communicate with her--yelling, a paper airplane message, a kite--but the wind always snatches away his efforts. In one last grand attempt, Billy tries to fly to the other roof, but only manages to snatch away the girl's red hat. Will they ever be friends? Antoinette Portis illustrates this imaginative story with a bold palette of black, white, blues, and a little pops of red, creating a visually striking world. Shiny ribbons laced across each page bring the powerful wind to life and add subtle texture. "The Red Hat" is a visually pleasing story that will warm the hearts of readers of all ages. It is most appropriate for readers from preschool to second grade. --Andrea W., Headquarters
