The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
by William Kamkwamba & Bryan Mealer
illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

Growing up in a poor Malawi village, fourteen-year-old William lived without electricity as well as other resources many of us take for granted.    When a drought hit his village, food and money became scarce.   Forced to leave school, William began to visit the local library.   Through books, he was able to learn more about how things worked, including how a windmill could help bring electricity and water to his village.  Without the money or materials for a windmill, William was able to salvage materials from the village junkyard to build his country's first windmill, bringing electricity to his village for the first time.  

This biography is a wonderful tool for teaching about wind energy as well as how life is in other cultures.   I recently used this book to teach several classes about how some countries do not have many of the conveniences that we do and also discussed the use of wind as an energy source.

Author's website:  http://williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/ 

Related video:  This video includes interviews with William's family and others from his village.

One for the Murphys

One for the Murphys
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

After a vicious attack by her stepfather, twelve-year-old Carley is placed into foster care.    Life with the Murphy family couldn't be more different than living with her fun-loving mother and short-tempered stepfather.  Feeling abandoned and betrayed her mother, Carley initially resists the patient attempts of Mrs. Murphy to help her recover from the emotional pains of being betrayed by her mother.    Although Carley slowly begins to accept the Murphys,  her mother's return into her life threatens to take her away from the stable, loving family she has come to think of as her own. 

One for the Murphys is a beautiful story that brought out a variety of emotions in me as I read it!    I read this book in one day, unable to put it down.  I highly recommend this book for fans of realistic fiction.

Author's website:  http://lyndamullalyhunt.com/

Book trailer: 

Like Bug Juice on a Burger

Like Bug Juice on a Burger
by Julie Sternerg
illustrated by Matthew Cordell

Eleanor does not like camp.   In fact, she really hates it.   It's full of bugs, strange noises, and food that she doesn't like.    To make matters worse, she is the worst swimmer in her cabin.   To her, camp is like bug juice on a burger and she just wants to go home.   How will she ever survive ten days at camp?

Like Bug Juice on a Burger is a light, humorous story about a nine-year-old girl dealing with being away from home for the first time.   Eleanor is a likeable character that many girls will be able to relate to.  

Author's website: http://www.juliesternberg.com/

Wake Up Missing

Wake Up Missing
by Kate Messner

All Cat wants is to be the way she was before her head injury.   The I-CAN treatment center, known for treating head injuries like hers, promises to do just that.   However, shortly after her arrival at the isolated Florida island home of the I-CAN center, Cat grows suspicious of the motives of the doctors.  She soon realizes that she, as well as the other five patients of the center, are part of a secret project.  Will she and the other patients be able escape the center before it's too late?

What a great book!  Wake Up Missing is one of those stories that I started and could not put down.  It's a thrilling combination of science fiction and mystery.   My only disappointment with this book was somewhat of a lack of closure in the end regarding several of the characters.  I was left wanting to know what happened next with everyone.  I'd love to see these characters again in future stories! 

Author's website: http://www.katemessner.com/

Fortunately, the Milk

Fortunately, the Milk 
by Neil Gaiman 
illustrated by Skottie Young 

Upon discovering that his family is out of milk, Dad takes what should be a quick trip to the corner store to get more. His hungry children, anxiously waiting for milk for their breakfast cereal, grow anxious as time passes. Finally, their father returns, disheveled and with a strange tale of a wild adventure that includes being abducted by aliens and encounters with pirates to explain his lengthy absence. 

Full of humor and unlikely adventures, this book was a quick and entertaining read.   Accompanying illustrations added to the humor of this fun, light-hearted book.  


Author's website: http://www.neilgaiman.com/
Book trailer: 

Mr. Wuffles!

Mr. Wuffles!
by David Wiesner

There's something strange about Mr. Wuffles' new toy!   In this almost wordless picture book, a new toy sparks the interest of a picky cat named Mr. Wuffles.  However,  the new object is not really a toy, but a small alien spaceship!   Will the tiny aliens be able to escape the determined Mr. Wuffles? 

David Wiesner uses amazing illustrations to tell the story of Mr. Wuffles and the aliens inside the tiny spaceship.    Readers who enjoy his other wordless picture books, including Flotsam and Tuesday, will love his newest story!

Book trailer:

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild

Mr Tiger Goes Wild
by Peter Brown

Mr. Tiger is bored with always being so proper.    While all of the other animals in town are perfectly fine with being proper all the time, Mr. Tiger just wants to be wild.   Then one day Mr. Tiger goes wild, much to the displeasure of the very proper animals around him.    As his behavior becomes more and more wild, the other animals in town urge him to leave.    Running away to the wilderness, Mr. Tiger enjoys his new freedom, but soon learns that he also misses his old life.   Can Mr. Tiger find a way to live with his old friends but still be a little bit wild?

What a great book!   This funny story is full of wonderful, engaging illustrations that will entertain many.    Readers who like funny animal stories will love this book, especially the fun pictures of different animals dressed up in their "proper" clothing.   

Author's website:  http://www.peterbrownstudio.com/

Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms

Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms
by Lissa Evans

When Stuart Horten's mother is offered a new job, his parents decide to move to the small town where his father group up.    Stuart is not happy about leaving his home and all of his friends.   Soon after his arrival, however, Stuart learns of a family mystery.  His great-uncle Tony, a magician, mysteriously disappeared many years earlier.    Hidden somewhere is his uncle's secret workshop, where he created magical tools.   Stuart finds himself caught up in a quest to find his uncle's secret workshop and solve the mystery of his disappearance. 

This was a fun read with a combination of mystery, adventure, and magic!   I loved the characters and the many fun gadgets that Stuart encountered throughout the story.    This book definitely sparked my interest in the "miraculous mechanisms" described in the book.   I'm excited to read the next book in the series!

Author video: 

Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace

Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace 
by Nan Marino

Elvis Ruby needs a place to hide. After a disastrous performance, the famous eleven-year-old just wants to get away from the cameras and fans that are always following him.  The Pancake Palace, a tiny restaurant in a tiny town, seems the perfect place for Elvis to go.  At first his disguise seems to fool everyone, except Cecelia, who recognizes Elvis almost immediately.  She promises to keep his identity a secret, but also needs his help in an important task.    Will he be able to help Cecelia without anyone else finding out who he really is?

This is a fun book that will be a nice choice for fans of realistic fiction.   The story is full of many fun, likeable characters, particularly the main characters Cecelia and Elvis.  

Author's website:   http://www.nanmarino.com/

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library
by Chris Grabenstein

Twelve sixth-graders are faced with an unusual challenge: find a way to escape from the brand new public library designed by game-maker Luigi Lemoncello.   After a dozen years without a public library, their town is celebrating the impending opening of the new, unique library.

Kyle is one of the twelve sixth-graders who win an essay contest to be part of a group of students who get to spend a night in the library before it is open to the public.   Not only does this innovative new library contain books, it also is home to an IMAX theater, a game room, and other amazing things!  

Just when everything couldn't get any more exciting, the twelve are offered another contest:  be the first to escape from Mr. Lemoncello's library!   In order to find a way out, Kyle and the others must use book-related clues to find an alternate exit to the library.   Will Kyle accept the challenge and be the first to escape from Mr. Lemoncello's library?

As a librarian, I loved this book!   There were many connections to well-known books as well as other library-related trivia, such as the Dewey Decimal system.    As I read this book, I was easily able to envision this extraordinary, innovative library that the kids were exploring.   It is a fun book that has many similarities to stories such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  

Author's website:  http://chrisgrabenstein.com/kids/