Mapping My Day

Mapping My Day
by Julie Dillemuth 
illustrated by Laura Wood

The story starts with a sleeping young narrator named Flora, who is waking up with the sun shining in her face, asking the readers which direction her window must face. The first pages show a map of the home she lives in, including an explanation of map scales. Later we see a treasure map she has created to lead the readers to her treasure chest, as well as maps of their dining room table, town they live in (which shows the routes her parents take) and many other maps of places she goes. Each hand-drawn map includes important map features - legends, compass rose, etc - and explanations of what these features are. At the end of the book are several map activities, including a place for the reader to draw his or her own map. Web addresses to download these activities are provided.

This book is a great choice for readers wanting to know more about maps as well as teachers looking for books to share with their classes about maps.

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

Little Dog, Lost

Little Dog, Lost
by Marion Dane Bauer
illustrated by Jennifer Bell

Buddy, a sweet dog, is confused when her beloved family leave her at a new home with an owner who just doesn't know very much about taking care of a dog. Desperate for her old family, the cute canine digs her way out of her new yard and roams around the town in search of a friendly face.  In the same town where Buddy is searching for her family,  Mark, who desperately wants a dog yet is unable to convince his mother to agree, is working with his friends to try to get the town council to agree to a dog park.   Mr. LaRue, an elderly man living alone in an old mansion, struggles with the loneliness and isolation of his life. These three characters become connected to each other, and subsequently help each other, in a very extraordinary way.

This was such a sweet, emotional story!    The fiction chapter book is told in verse and does an excellent job of bringing the reader into the minds of the characters.  This is a great choice for readers who enjoy fiction stories about dogs.

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

The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake

The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake
by Robin Newman
illustrated by Deborah Zemke


MFI (Missing Food Investigators) Detective Wilcox and Captain Griswold have picked up a tasty case: a missing carrot cake! Suspects include the carnivorous Fowler the Owl, the constantly hungry Porcini, and the sweet-toothed Hot Dog. Will they be able to solve the mystery of Miss Rabbit’s missing cake before her party?

This book is part of the Wilcox and Griswold Mystery series, a fun series that follows the case files of the two mice in charge of investigating missing food cases! This cute mystery is full of idioms and puns that add to the humor of the engaging tale. With subtle clues, diligent detectives, and comical suspects, this series is a great introduction to the mystery genre for growing readers.

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

Be Quiet!

Be Quiet!
by Ryan T. Higgins

Rupert wants to make a wordless picture book, but his well-meaning friends Nibbs and Thistle just have too much to say! Despite the annoyed mouse’s constant reminders to be quiet, his helpful (yet clueless) two friends continue to voice many hysterical suggestions for Rupert’s book.  Will their help go a little too far?

What a funny, cute book!  Author Ryan Higgins does an outstanding job of illustrating the three hilarious mice.  The use of speech bubbles, set against bright, full-paged illustrations, give this book a comic-like feel.  Readers who have read Ryan Higgins' books Mother Bruce and Hotel Bruce will recognize some familiar characters in this entertaining picture book.

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

The Door By The Staircase

The Door By The Staircase
by Katherine Marsh

Mary is thrilled when she is rescued from her miserable orphanage by the unusual, yet generous, Madame Z.  In her happy, comfortable home with Madame Z, Mary gets everything she needs and she quickly makes a new friend named Jacob in a nearby village.   However,  Mary soon becomes curious about a mysterious. locked door by the staircase.   After investigating the unusual door, Mary soon learns a terrifying secret about Madame Z.

The Door By The Staircase is a great choice for readers who like suspenseful, magical stories.  I quickly found myself being pulled into this book, anxious to see what would happen next.   I love how author Katherine Marsh incorporated a character from Russian folklore, Baba Yaga, into this story.   After reading this book, I immediately searched for information on Baba Yaga to learn more about this folklore character.

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

Book trailer:

Framed! A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery

Framed! A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery
by James Ponti

Florian Bates has an after-school job: working for the FBI! His use of T.O.A.S.T. (Theory of All Small Things) has caught the attention of the FBI after he discovers clues about a museum burglary that others have overlooked. Now the twelve-year-old is on the case of the art thefts. Will he, with a little help from his new friend Margaret, help the FBI solve the mystery?

What a fun book! As I read this entertaining mystery,  I thought of other art-related mysteries, including Chasing Vermeer and Eddie Red Undercover. This book will be a hit with fans of mystery fiction. This was one of those books that, when I started reading it, I couldn't put it down until I was done. The conclusion of this action-filled mystery hints at future adventures for Florian and Margaret.

Author's website: https://www.jamesponti.com/

Go, Otto, Go!

Go, Otto, Go!
by David Milgrim

Otto the robot misses his family, so he decides to build a spaceship so that he can go visit him!  After working hard to make his new spaceship, he takes off!  Will his spaceship get him home to his family?

What a cute book!  This is part of "The Adventures of Otto" series, which follows Otto the robot and his various animal friends.  Go, Otto, Go! recently won a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor.   With large font, repetitive text, and entertaining illustrations, this humorous story is a great choice for beginning readers.



Author's website: http://www.davidmilgrim.com/index.html

Maxi's Secrets

Maxi's Secrets (or, what you can learn from a dog)
by Lynn Plourde

Being new isn't easy, but for Timminy it's extra hard: he's smaller than any other kid in his grade and his dad is the new assistant principal at his school. The one good thing about his family's move is Maxi, the Great Pyrenees puppy that his parents let him get. When Timminy realizes that Maxi is deaf, he decides to do whatever he can to help his active new puppy. Maxi, with her entertaining personality, also helps Timminy make new friends as well as breaks the ice between him and one of his bullies. Just as things seem to be getting better, however, Timminy and his family receive news about their beloved dog that will change everything.

This was such a wonderful book! I've always been a big fan of Lynn Plourde and was so excited to read her first chapter book!  This is definitely an emotional story and will likely bring tears to many readers.  I'll be honest, there are sad parts, but the most important part of this book is the bond betwen Timminy and Maxi and how this sweet dog helps Timminy learn to deal with the changes and struggles he encounters.   I highly recommend reading Maxi's Secrets!  

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

The Cat From Hunger Mountain

The Cat From Hunger Mountain 
by Ed Young

Lord Cat has everything imaginable in his home on Hunger Mountain: the tallest pagoda to live in, the finest clothes to wear, and the most extravagant food.  Most importantly to this story, Hunger Mountain has delicious rice to harvest and, sadly, much of this rice is wasted as it is washed down the Great River.  When a drought and subsequent famine forces his workers to leave, Lord Cat is left without anyone to serve him.  When the hungry cat wanders down the mountain to beg for food, he is led to a kind monk who feeds him a meal of the same rice Lord Cat wasted for years, teaching the greedy feline a valuable lesson.

I loved this book!  It sends a wonderful message about sharing as well as not being wasteful or greedy.  Ed Young's beautiful collage illustrations are outstanding!  The pictures incorporate such an engaging variety of color, pattern, and texture.   I found myself going back and admiring the illustrations over and over again!

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

The Blobfish Book

The Blobfish Book
by Jessica Olien

The cover of this book shows a cartoonish pink blobfish excitedly tearing through the cover.  While one may initially assume this is a fiction book, once inside it is clear from the photographs of various deep sea creatures that there is much more to this book than our boisterous (and slightly impatient) pink friend.

This nonfiction book is an excellent introduction to deep sea animals for younger readers.  Large, nearly page-sized photographs of intriguing animals such as anglerfish and viperfish are paired with brief, yet informative, explanations of what these creatures are.  The appearance of the comical blobfish, with his speech-bubble dialogue, adds humor to this engaging book.  The final page includes recommended websites to learn more about the different deep sea animals shown.

Author's website: https://www.jessicaolien.com/