Penny Dreadful

Penny Dreadful
by Laurel Snyder
illustrated by Abigail Halpin

Penelope Grey is bored with the way her life is and wishes for something exciting to happen. Her wish for excitement leads to unexpected results when her father suddenly quits his job, causing the family to have little money. In danger of losing the their home, the Grey family is relieved when an unexpected inheritance gives them a new home in a small town. In her strange new home, surrounded by unusual neighbors, Penelope reinvents herself as Penny as she struggles to fit into her new life.

I really enjoyed this book! It's a wonderful story about changes and friendship.

Author's Website: http://laurelsnyder.com/

Here Comes the Garbage Barge!

Here Comes the Garbage Barge!
by Jonah Winter
illustrated by Red Nose Studio

The garbage barge is coming, but no one wants it! A garbage filled barge travels with more than 3000 tons of garbage from New York all the way to North Carolina, only to get turned away. After several months and many attempts to get rid of the garbage, the smelly barge must return to where it came from!

This story is based on an event that happened in 1987. It's a great story that reminds us of how important it is to recycle and not produce so much garbage!

The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows

The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows
By Jacqueline West

Can a painting come to life? In Olive Dunwoody’s house they do. She and her parents have just moved into a mysterious house full of old paintings that scare Olive. One day she finds a pair of magical glasses that give her the power to go inside the paintings into a scary place called Elsewhere, a world where people have been magically trapped inside by an evil man. Once someone is inside Elsewhere, it is almost impossible to get out. Will Olive get trapped inside Elsewhere or can she, with the help of three talking cats, save her family and her home from the dark forces that created the sinister world inside the paintings?

This is a great book full of magic, mystery, and talking cats! I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Author's Website: http://www.jacquelinewest.com/

The Familiars

The Familiars
by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson

Aldwyn is a troublemaking street cat living in a magical land. One day he finds himself in more trouble when a young wizard named Jack mistakes him for a magical cat, and chooses him as his companion. Soon Aldwyn finds himself living among three young wizards in training and their magical animal companions and struggles not to reveal that there is nothing magical about him! When the three young wizards are kidnapped by an evil queen, Aldwyn and his animal friends must try to rescue them before it's too late. Will Aldwyn success despite his lack of powers?

This is a great choice for readers who enjoy fantasy, animal stories, or both!

Book Website: http://www.thefamiliars.com/