Review: "Hippopotamister" by John Patrick Green.

"The old City Zoo was falling apart. No one was buying tickets. No one was managing the office. The habitats needed repair. The monkeys had no energy. The lion's mane wasn't very regal. The walrus's smile wasn't very bright. And at the center of it all, lived Red Panda and Hippopotamus."

In "Hippopotamister" by John Patrick Green, an animal can only take so much, and Red Panda couldn't take it anymore. So Red Panda waved farewell to his friend and neighbor, Hippopotamus, and left the zoo to live amongst the humans. He visited Hippo often, dressed each time in a different work uniform, and every time he'd visit he'd say the same thing . . ."Hey Hippo! Life outside the zoo is great! My job is awesome!" Finally, Hippo couldn't take it anymore! He didn't want to live in the shabby old zoo, he wanted to have adventures and work awesome jobs, too! He asked his friend, Red Panda, to help him find a job. Red Panda is happy to help, but it turns out working amongst the humans is not all it's cracked up to be. Will Hippo and Red Panda make it in the working world, or find themselves back at the zoo? To find out, pick up "Hippopotamister" by John Patrick Green. School Library Journal recommends this graphic novel for readers in grades one to four. Click on the link above to reserve a copy today.

--Kelly B., Prairie Commons

Review: "Secret Coders" by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes

In "Secret Coders" by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes, Hopper isn't so excited about starting her new school. It seems to be haunted, the kids are rude, and the principal is mean and scary! Even the janitor is creepy and definitely has anger issues. And there are four-eyed birds fling around with two eyes shut. So Hopper is not  a happy camper. Why in the world is the school so creepy? Why does it look like a haunted house? Why are the walls all covered in the number nine? Hopper and her new friend Eni have a lot of questions that need to be answered. They will have to become secret coders in order to solve the mystery of Stately Academy. Solve the puzzles right along side them as they do whatever it takes to break the code. Appropriate for readers in grades thee to seven. Click on the link above to reserve a copy today.

--Jocelyn H., Jamestown Bluffs

Kids Music Friday: "Secret Superhero" by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo

Have you ever thought that you might have super powers? That's what "Secret Superhero" by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is all about! Watch the video, count how many kid superheros (or villians!) you can spot, and check out the album.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Review: "Missile Mouse: the Star Crusher" by Jake Parker

In "Missile Mouse: the Star Crusher" by Jake Parker, Missile Mouse is a secret agent for the Galactic Security Agency, also known as the GSA. This mouse is on a dangerous mission traveling through the galaxy to retrieve a special compass showing the location of a centuries ago hidden Star Crusher, a ship that can create black holes that gobble the galaxy one solar system at  a time. The Rogue Imperium of Planets is on the same quest only they plan to use the star crusher to control. the universe.

Missile Mouse encounters dangers such as mercenaries, double agents, a rodent eating plant, a genius, bumbling bad guys and the head of the GSA agency who is not helpful. The story is a bit "Star Wars" meets "Superman" meets "Mighty Mouse." "Missile Mouse is a quick and fun read, especially good for reluctant readers. Appropriate for readers in grades three to six. Click the link above to reserve a copy today.

--Mary G., Grand Glaize

Review: "Terror in the Ghost Mansion" by Paul Storrie

Are you tired of book characters making the wrong choices? Are you looking for a book where you, yes YOU control the story? Well, look no further! Twisted Journeys by various authors is a choose-your-own adventure series in full-color comic book style! You are in control and you can choose your own path through the story.

In "Terror in the Ghost Mansion" by Paul Storrie, you're in a haunted house, a creepy kid ghost is right behind you, and you've hit a dead end in the form of a window. Do you go ahead and jump out of the window and risk getting cut by glass? OR do you take the time to find a chair to smash the window and risk the ghost catching up to you? You decide! Appropriate for readers in grades four to seven. Click on the link above to reserve a book today!

--Ariel V., Oak Bend

Review: "The Only Child" by Guojing

Illustrator Guojing was raised in China under the one-child rule. Her parents worked full-time, and Guojing was often left at home for hours by herself. One day, her father put Guojing on a bus to her grandmother's house. On the way, she fell asleep and missed her stop. Luckily, she was able to find a familiar road and walk to her grandmother's house, but that terrifying childhood experience inspired her to create "The Only Child," her award-winning (and wordless) graphic novel.

In this story, we meet a little girl who is left home alone after her mother leaves for work. She becomes bored after only a few hours, and decides to take the bus to her grandmother's house (leaving a note, of course). Unfortunately, she misses her stop and becomes lost. A stag in the woods finds her, and together they fly into the sky for a nighttime adventure in the clouds. The little girl meets other animals in the sky, but eventually misses her family. The stag returns to her home, where she reunites with her worried parents and grandmother.

This story takes place in rural China on a dark, snowy day. The imagery is striking, yet quiet--silly, yet full of powerful emotion. "The Only Child" will appeal to fans of Raymond Brigg's "The Snowman" or other wordless tales. School Library Journal recommends this for readers in grades one to four. Click on the link above to reserve a copy today.

--MacKenzie S., Natural Bridge

Is There a Monster in the House?

Who wouldn't love to have a pet monster? It sounds like a great idea--someone fuzzy to play with who will always be there. It's not always perfect, however, as we discover in two new chapter books for readers in second and third grade. Click on the links below to reserve a copy today.

Would you like to have a hyper monster baby for a best friend? Harold Fuzzwonker does in "Fizzopolis" by Patrick Carman, a silly book about wacky inventions and candy spies. As the son of a mad food scientist, Harold Fuzzwonker is dying to go into his dad's secret lab. Once he turns ten he's allowed inside, and there he finds all kinds of fun and crazy monsters, one who becomes his best friend and just might cause some big trouble at school. 

Some monsters are a little more cantankerous, as we find out in "Ruffleclaw" by Cornelia Funke. What would you do if you were a four-armed, furry earth monster who just so happens to love cake, piano music, and shampoo? Move into a people house, of course! If you were a boy, what would you do if a smelly, four-armed furry monster crawled into your bed? Become friends, of course! Right?

--Andrea W., Headquarters