Summer Reading

"What lifts the Anna Pigeon novels far above most of the other contemporary amateur sleuth mysteries is Barr's exquisite writing -- it swoops, it soars, sails then catches you unawares beneath the heart and takes your breath away, " proclaimed the Cleveland Plain Dealer of last year's Liberty Falling. In Deep South, Nevada Barr takes our breath away once again as her heroine travels cross-country to Mississippi, only to encounter terrible secrets in the heart of the south.

The handwritten sign on the tree said it all: Repent. For Anna Pigeon, this should have been reason enough to turn back for her beloved Mesa Verde. Instead she heads for the Natchez Trace Parkway and the promotion that awaits her. Almost immediately, she finds herself in the midst of controversy: as the new district ranger, she faces resentment so extreme her ability to do her job may be compromised, and her life may very well be in danger. But all thoughts of personal safety are set aside with the discovery of a young girl's body in a country cemetery, a sheet around her head, a noose around her neck.

The kudzu is thick and green, the woods dark and full of secrets. And the ghosts of violence hover as Anna struggles for answers to questions that, perhaps, should never be asked. Deep South proves that, "like the parks and monuments she writes of, Nevada Barr should be declared a national treasure" (The Bloomsbury Review).

"After his father's death, Kevin Hunt inherits a ranch in Wyoming--the only catch is it also belongs to a half brother he never knew existed. But danger follows Kevin, and he suspects his half brother is behind it. The only one willing to stand between them is Winona Martin--putting her in the cross hairs of a perilous plot and a risk at love"--

From two-time Newbery medalist Lois Lowry comes this warm and resonant story of an unlikely friendship, which unfolds as a revelation on how we hold on to--and pass on--what matters most.

The latest compelling work from the master storyteller.

When precocious eleven-year-old Sophie sets out to save her elderly neighbor (who is also her dearest friend), her journey will take her through their familiar suburban landscape and then, steadily yet unexpectedly, deeper into a landscape of history and shared stories.

Everyone knows the two Sophies are best friends. One is in elementary school, and one is . . . well . . . in a little trouble of late. She's elderly, sure, but she's always been on her game, the best friend any girl struggling to fit in could ever have. The Sophies drink tea, have strong opinions about pretty much everything, and love each other dearly. Now it seems the elder Sophie is having memory problems, burning teakettles, and forgetting just about everything. It looks like her son is going to come and get her and steal her away forever. Young Sophie isn't having that. Not one bit. So she sets out to help elder Sophie's memory, with the aid of her neighborhood friends Ralphie and Oliver. But when she opens the floodgates of elder Sophie's memories, she winds up listening to stories that will illustrate just how much there is to know about her dear friend, stories of war, hunger, cruelty, and ultimately love.

Presents ideas and instructions for more than three hundred drawing and painting projects featuring different styles and media, from crayon drawings of dogs to a painted dragon and a tissue-paper collage of plants decorated with colored pencils.

Life is boring when you live in the real world, instead of starring in your own book series. Owen knows that better than anyone, what with the real world's homework and chores. But everything changes the day Owen sees the impossible happen -- his classmate Bethany climb out of a book in the library. It turns out Bethany's half-fictional and has been searching every book she can find for her missing father, a fictional character. Bethany can't let anyone else learn her secret, so Owen makes her a deal: All she has to do is take him into a book in Owen's favorite Kiel Gnomenfoot series, and he'll never say a word. Besides, visiting the book might help Bethany find her father. Or it might just destroy the Kiel Gnomenfoot series, reveal Bethany's secret to the entire world, and force Owen to live out Kiel Gnomenfoot's final (very final) adventure.

From the creators of the beloved bestseller This Book Is Perfect!, comes an unforgettable and hilarious story about valuing kindness over popularity...

Finn the Frog is convinced he's gone viral for his fame and charm, but when a sick reader opens his book, Finn's about to face a whole new challenge--GERMS! What starts as a simple request for help quickly spirals into a hilarious medical mishap, as Finn tries (and fails) to cure the reader... and ends up catching a cold himself!

With sneezes, strange remedies, and comical chaos at every turn, Finn learns that being famous isn't always easy--especially when you're under the weather. Will these two unlikely patients find a way to recover, or will Finn's "viral" fame take a whole new meaning?

For kids ages 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, and grades K-3

Other books in the Finn the Frog Collection®:
This Book Is Perfect!
This Book Is On Fire!
This Book Is A Mistake!
This Book Stinks!

"Boo does not like Halloween. All the noise, and scary costumes, and people running around... No, she doesn't like it one bit! But when she meets a little boy who shares his fears with her, Boo wonders if perhaps some things aren't quite as scary as she thought? And maybe just maybe, Boo is now ready to shine!" --Back cover.

Ever wonder how the colors GREEN and ORANGE came to be? It all started with a little teamwork and some perseverance! Join three primary paint splatters, RED, YELLOW, and BLUE as they discover why everything is better when you work together!

This story begins when Red, Yellow and Blue encounter a persistent problem and are unsure of how to solve it. They each try to solve it in their own way and it seems to make the problem worse. Instead of giving up, they embrace each other's differences and learn how to work together and in process learn about about some NEW colors too!

If you loved I'm NOT Just a Scribble you will love Splatter too!
 

You must never touch a dinosaur . . . except in this book! This dinosaur-themed touch-and-feel book is perfect for babies and kids. Kids will love reading the funny rhyme that warns of the dangers of touching a dinosaur - and then ignoring the advice!Innovative silicone touches feature throughout the book, with a different textures for kids to explore on every page.Fun and durable textured silicone sensory series for babies and toddlers. The Silicone textures in this sturdy board book are perfect for kids to turn and touch. Perfect present for vacations and road trips, stocking stuffers and Easter baskets. Babies to 3-year-olds. Part of the Never Touch Range.If your child enjoys Never Touch a Dinosaur, check out the rest of the Never Touch series: Never Touch a Polar Bear, Never Touch a Porcupine, Never Touch a Spider, Never Touch a Dragon, Never Touch a Monster and Never Touch a Tiger.

Meet the axolotl in this clever, funny, and informative nonfiction picture book, part of a series that focuses on endangered species.

“Wild, fun, and truly eye-opening, Meet the Wild Things gets us up close and personal with some of the world's most amazing creatures. With this series, Hayley and John Rocco are doing more than entertaining our kids—they’re inspiring them to care about the future of our planet.” —Brad Meltzer, bestselling author of the Ordinary People Change the World series

Did you know that axolotls have a superpower? They can regrow lost limbs, tails, and even parts of their hearts and brains!

And they sparkle! That's because they have special cells in their bodies that reflect light like glitter. Pretty neat, huh?

But did you also know the axolotl is endangered and needs our help? While there are about a million axolotls in tanks and aquariums around the world, there are fewer than 500 left in the wild.

Chock-full of amazing, kid-friendly facts and inviting artwork from the #1 New York Times bestselling, Caldecott Honoree illustrator of Blackout, the Meet the Wild Things series introduces young readers to endangered animals from around the globe, told from the points of view of the animals themselves.