READ @ MPL

If you are a fan of historical novels and Karen Cushman, you will welcome this new novel with a strong female character.
Meggy, not wanted by her mother, comes to London to stay with her dad. Elizabethan London being a cruel and unwelcoming town is hard to get used to but, Meggy is not one to give up without a fight. Poor Meggy, lame, ugly, and unwanted tries to make it in the big city, gain friendship and find a place to stay after her father is convicted of murder. Check catalog for availability.
Submitted by Irene @Tippecanoe

Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson is the second book in the Seeds of America trilogy. The first book, Chains, was a National Book Award Finalist. This may be a historical fiction for older youth, but adults will appreciate the writing and details of the Revolutionary War and slavery. The research done by the author in writing this novel truly shines through the book. Each chapter starts with a famous historical reference from the Revolutionary War. The book Chains is where we first meet the characters Curzon and Isabel, but that is Isabel's story. The second title, Forge, is Curzon's story, a 15 year old former slave who enlists in the Continental Army. Curzon narrates the story and enables us to visualize the everyday life of a soldier in the Continental Army, the cruelty of war and the bloody battlefields. We view the harsh cold winter of Valley Forge encampment, the lack of food, lack of shelter and lack of tools. The book helps us see the politics, the greed, as well as the camaraderie that occurred while fighting for liberty among the soldiers. Also covered in the book are the subject of slavery and the lives of slaves during the revolutionary war. This book is available in hardcover and audio book. I listened to the audio book and I just wanted to keep listening to find out what happened next to the various characters.

Submitted by Gail at Zablocki

This series is awesome! It's action packed, full of wit and humor topped off with unique well developed characters. Artemis Fowl II is a super genius too smart for his own good. His initial scheme in the first book involves him and his body guard Butler building a scheme to steal gold from the leprechauns who live underground with other faerie folk unbeknownst to all humans... well almost all. Thus far there are seven books in the series with at least one more yet to be published. The first two books have been made into graphic novels which are more awesome (if that's even possible) than the regular books. Although this series is considered to be for children, the humor and adventure can also be enjoyed by young adults albeit at an easier reading level. I recommend every single book and graphic novel in the series. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Click on the book cover above to check the catalog for available copies.

Artemis has his own website. You may have guessed...it's awesome!

Did you love to read mythology as a child? Do you love fantasy and adventure? If so, do I have a series for you! Rick Riordan wrote the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Starting with The Lightning Thief, which was also released as a movie in 2010, and ending with The Last Olympian, many of Rick Riordan's fans were sad to reach what they thought was the end of their favorite demigods. With the release of Lost Hero: Heroes of Olympus, Book 1, fans can again cheer on their favorite demigod. This new adventure series introduces us to three new teens, Jason, Piper, and Leo. They have been labeled as "troubled teens", but are really three unclaimed children of the gods. The narration of the book rotates between three teen demigods as they discover and cope with their new found talents. The story is fast paced and the plot moves along with the teens going from one problem to the next. I truly enjoy how Riordan weaves information about Greek & Roman mythology into the story. Who is Jason? Why does he keep using Roman names for the Gods and other creatures? What about the Great Prophecy? And where in the world is Percy Jackson?

Submitted by Gail @ Zablocki

Jumping off a train is easy. It's landing that's difficult.

But 12 year old Abilene Tucker is used to jumping off trains. It's the dust-bowl days of the depression, and she's been riding the rails with her father as long as she can remember. When he sends her away to his hometown of Manifest, Kansas over the summer, Abilene is crushed.

Despite its name, Manifest is slow to give up its secrets. Why is this struggling little town so different from the bustling, lively place in her father's memories? Why did Abilene's father send her here, so far from him and the only life she's ever known? Who is the Rattler, the mysterious spy rumored to be skulking in the woods? And above all, why doesn't anybody seem to have any stories about her father?

With the help of two school friends, a pastor who also runs the local speakeasy, a fortune-teller who lives on the Path to Perdition, and a spunky nun, Abilene uncovers Manifest's true past - and her own.

This Newberry award winner will captivate you from the first page to the last with its honest and perceptive narrator, deeply evocative setting, and beautiful language. You don't have to be a child to remember the thrill of an illicit game of exploration, the long hot days of summer vacation, or the way your world changed when you realized your parents were only human. A brilliant debut.

Submitted by Audrey @ Central

From Madison to Cairo and around the world, government, politics, political participation and protest are in the news. Whether you are answering your children's questions about current events or want to brush up on government and civics yourself, DK Publishing's primer, Who's in Charge? How Governments Make the World Go Round is an informative and engaging look at how countries and groups around the world organize society. It offers both an historical and wide-ranging perspective on how different political systems function and the way government and citizenship are defined in different countries. You can read it cover to cover or dip in for trivia that may surprise even the most avid political junkies.

Submitted by KW @ Forest Home

Certainly somewhere inside each one of us there lurks a desire to rule the world. At last, Vordak the Incomprehensible (with the help of his minion, Scott Seegert) makes these aspirations possible. In this nefariously delightful book readers will learn how to create an evil name, select an appropriately heinous supervillain costume, as well as discover plenty of pithy advice on discovering their own inner evil. Particularly informative is the section on creating an evil lair. Vordak wisely points out that one should begin with a starter lair and using the "Evil Lair Gradual Upgrade Chart" slowly make your lair dreams come true. Apparently supervillains have fantastic vocabularies if Vordak is any indication. That said, one will also find plenty of humor appreciated almost exclusively by pre-tween boys. At first I thought that the intended audience was would-be pre-teen villains, however, after having heartily laughed my way through Vordak's advice, I'm sure he must have also been intending for adults interested in channeling their inner nine-year-old to join in the fun as well. This book is far too much fun to be read by children only. Muahahahaha

Submitted by Tricia @ Capitol

Welcome to the Last Apprentice series! Rage of the Fallen is actually book 8 in the tale of Tom Ward's apprenticeship to John Gregory, the local spook. Set in medieval times, a spook is a hunter & defender of their assigned county against the scary, ghostly things that plague local residents. An eerie position, most folks are afraid of and dislike spooks but desperately need them when ghosts, boggarts or witches show up in the county. Tom Ward's ongoing apprenticeship has him encountering all types of frightening creatures as well as discovering who he is.

In book 8, John Gregory, Tom and his friend Alice are in Ireland in hopes of finding some temporary safety while a larger war goes on back home. Unfortunately, they discover a new sort of evil creature making town's people go mad. As spooks, John Gregory & Tom must stop this creature. Although what they find may lead back to an old adversary with a grudge. All the while Tom fearing for his & Alice's life as they try to outmaneuver their greater enemy, the Fiend. A small cracked jar in Tom's pocket is the only thing keeping him away for the moment. Their last hope is to collaborate with the Witch Assassin Grimalkin to attempt to bind their common enemy, the Fiend; however they haven't heard from Grimalkin in weeks.

The apprenticeship of Tom Ward includes a bestiary of all types of creatures, everyday adventures and a bigger ongoing story of Tom, his past and his future. For John Gregory, a spook of an earlier generation, the world looks very black and white, wrong and right, good and evil. For Tom, whose own history puts him in question, everything is not so clear. Caught between his destiny and his choices, he stays true to himself and loyal to his friends, even to his detriment.

Submitted by Casey @ Atkinson

Though it wasn't until 1925 that Winnie-the-Pooh officially became a storybook character, he was a stuffed bear given to A. A. Milne's son Christopher Robin 90 years ago on his first birthday, August 21, 1921. The bear then became the model and inspiration for the honey-loving hero of the children's book series that is loved by millions.

Milne made a contribution to the Christmas Eve issue of the Evening News; a bedtime story that he had made up for his son about adventures he had with his Teddy Bear who was known as Winnie-the-Pooh. This bedtime story formed the first chapter of Milnes book entitled Winnie-the-Pooh and was famously followed by Now We are Six and The House at Pooh Corner. The New York Public Library has a timeline about the Real Pooh.

Submitted by Jacki @ MPL Central

September 24th kicks off Banned Books Week, an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Join us in celebrating your freedom to read by picking up a banned or challenged book at your library today.

Below is a list of the ten most frequently banned or challenged books in the country in 2010, according to the American Library Association.

1) And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
At New York City's Central Park Zoo, two male penguins fall in love and start a family by taking turns sitting on an abandoned egg until it hatches.
2) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.
3) Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Huxley's classic prophetic novel describes the socialized horrors of a futuristic utopia devoid of individual freedom.
4) Crank, by Ellen Hopkins
Kristina Snow is the perfect daughter, but she meets a boy who introduces her to drugs and becomes a very different person, struggling to control her life and her mind.
5) The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.
6) Lush, by Natasha Friend
Unable to cope with her father's alcoholism, thirteen-year-old Sam corresponds with an older student, sharing her family problems and asking for advice.
7) What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones
A series of poems reflect the thoughts and feelings of Sophie, a fifteen-year-old-girl, as she describes her relationships with a series of boys and as she searches for Mr. Right.
8) Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich
In an attempt to understand the lives of Americans earning near-minimum wages, Ehrenreich works as a waitress in Florida, a cleaning woman in Maine, and a sales clerk in Minnesota.
9) Revolutionary Voices, edited by Amy Sonnie
An anthology of stories by gay youth reveal their fears and joyous moments as they attempt to survive and thrive.
10) Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer
When seventeen-year-old Bella leaves Phoenix to live with her father in Forks, Washington, she meets an exquisitely handsome boy at school for whom she feels an overwhelming attraction and who she comes to realize is not wholly human.

The above annotations are from our catalog or the readers' advisory database NoveList.

Submitted by Audrey @ Forest Home

Wildwood by Colin Meloy follows the adventures of Prue Mckeel and her friend Curtis who embark on a dangerous quest after a murder of crows kidnap Prue's baby brother. Upon following the crows they are taken into the Impassible Wilderness which no one from their town has ever dared to go. There they find a whole secret society called Wildwood, inhabited with humans, animals, bandits, and a number of aggressive coyotes. As Wildwood's different factions begin fighting with one another, Prue and Curtis become separated and must determine where the allegiances lie. As they become more entwined in the battle, both realize that they are more connected with the Wildwood than they realize. The story is beautifully illustrated by Carson Ellis and fans of the band the the Decemberists will enjoy singer/songwriter Colin Meloy's successful foray into children's literature. Be on the lookout for the movie version which has just been optioned by Laika Studios, the producers of Coraline.

Submitted by Maria @ MPL Central

Oh, you've GOT to read this one! Sunny Nwazue was born in New York, but moves with her family to her parents' native Nigeria at the age of twelve. Sunny, an albino, has always felt a little like an outcast, and these feelings only intensify when she is the new girl at school. Through the help of two classmates, a teen from Chicago, and some adult mentors, she realizes that her skin is far from the only thing that sets her apart. The writing style is accessible for any reader, and I loved the interpretations of traditional African culture as Sunny explores her heretofore unknown abilities. There's a mystery to solve, too! Someone is using children in her town for a sinister purpose. How can the evil and magical Black Hat be stopped? And by the way, who wouldn't love a book where librarians are the richest and most powerful people in the community? Yes, you must read Akata Witch, it's a fun, fast-paced, and intriguing book!
Submitted by Ephemera, soon to be blogging from Villard Square Library!

In The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, when Dwight brings an origami finger puppet of Yoda to school, everyone assumes that it is just Dwight being a weirdo as usual. But then Dwight starts waving the puppet around and dispensing advice in a bad Yoda impression. And then people start to realize that the advice is good, and they wonder if maybe Dwight really is somehow channeling the wisdom of Yoda. The book is set up as a case file of stories gathered by Dwight's friend Tommy, each telling the story of how Origami Yoda has helped someone in class. Tommy's friend Kellen provides some great Star Wars related cartoons.

In Darth Paper Strikes Again, after suffering several Origami Yoda-related humiliations, Harvey gets Dwight suspended from school. Origami Yoda pleads with Tommy and Kellen to save Dwight by making a new case file. Tommy and Kellen record cases such as "Origami Yoda and the Pre-eaten Wiener," and "Origami Yoda and the Exploding Pizza Bagels." But Harvey and his Darth Paper puppet have a secret plan that could make Dwight's suspension permanent.

These books are written in notebook format with cartoon illustrations similar to The Wimpy Kid books and will certainly appeal to the same audience but beneath the humor is some wisdom that only Yoda could dispense. The movie references make it a great choice for any boy (or girl) who is more interested in watching Star Wars than reading. Included, of course, are instructions on making your own Origami Yoda and Darth Paper.

Submitted by Fran @ Bay View

The Mysterious Howling begins with intrepid 15 year old, Penelope Lumley, recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, on her way to take a position as governess at palatial Ashton Place. Once she arrives she realizes why the ad she answered requested someone with "Experience with Animals." Her three charges were only recently found in the woods and were apparently raised by wolves. Penelope has been trained to deal with almost anything and quickly takes the children in hand, convincing them of the need to wear clothes, eat at a table, and keep the howling to a minimum. In addition to the children, Penelope must also deal with her employers, Lady Constance who views the children as uncivilized nuisances and wants them gone and hunt crazed Lord Fredrick who thinks the children are trophies and property ("Finder's keepers, what?"). The mystery of the children's and Penelope's own origins take center stage in this hilarious, tongue in cheek story that will have readers begging for more.

In The Hidden Gallery, Ashton Place is in need of repairs after a disastrous Christmas party so the entire household plans an extended trip to London. Penelope is hoping to further civilize her charges with visits to museums and the theater but the children prove to be not quite ready for London after they attack a Beefeater whose hat they have mistaken for a bear. Penelope carries on though and the children make further strides. But mysterious happenings begin to occur including a fortuneteller who seems to hold some clues to the children's past. With the help of Penelope's old school mistress and a handsome playwright, some questions are answered but more arise.

For children and adults who have been waiting for a predecessor to Lemony Snicket to arrive, The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place will certainly fill a void. These madcap stories will have readers howling with laughter.

Submitted by Fran @ Bay View

Established in 1950, the National Book Award is an American literary prize given to writers by writers and administered by the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization. 2011 winners include:

FICTION: Jesmyn Ward, Salvage the Bones

NONFICTION: Stephen Greenblatt, The Swerve: How the World Became Modern

YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE: Thanhha Lai, Inside Out & Back Again

POETRY: Nikky Finney, Head Off and Split

Submitted by Jacki @ Central

Marquette University Libraries and Milwaukee Public Library invite you to the fifth and final event in the fall series "Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women."

"Louisa May Alcott: Documentary and Biography Discussion"

Tuesday, November 29, 6:30 - 7:45 p.m.

Milwaukee Public Library, Central Library

Herzfeld Activity Center, Betty Brinn Children's Room (1st floor)

Marquette professors Angela Sorby and Sarah Wadsworth will screen the second half of the American Masters 2008 documentary film about Alcott and wrap up the entire programming series with a discussion of Harriet Reisen's biography, Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women. We will enjoy a birthday cake to celebrate Alcott's birthday (1832).

Programs in this series are sponsored by the American Library Association with the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

12 year old Fletcher Moon (a.k.a Half Moon) is the proud graduate of the Bob Bernstein Academy of Washington, D.C. where over a two year period he took online classes to become a private investigator. He graduated at the top of his class and carries a small leather wallet with a silver-plated detective's badge and laminated ID card to prove it. After studying and memorizing the Bernstein manual and rules for investigating, Fletcher's ready to take on his first real case. All of the proper characters are represented to make this a true PI mystery. There's the snitch - snot-nosed Doobie Doyle. The usual suspect and bad guy - Herod Sharkey (and family). There's the though guy (girl in this case) Bella Barnes. There's the law Principal Quinn and Sergeant Hourihan. Of course this story wouldn't be complete without a pretty (and popular) dame, enter April Devereux. In this case there's also April's pretty little cousin May. Written in an accurate PI style - who, what, where, when and why - this mystery is both fun and hilarious. Now all we need is a crime... see page 2.

Submitted by Valerie @ MPL Central

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker; illus. by Tom Lichtenheld. Ages 3-6. The machines on the construction site say goodnight in this beautifully illustrated tale.

Ultimate Weird But True (National Geographic). Ages 8 - 12. This extensive fact-filled book loaded with pictures includes more than 1,000 pieces of information proving that fact can be as weird as fiction.

Can You See What I See?: Toyland Express by Walter Wick. Ages 4 - 8. In this search-and-find story, children read the simple text and use the picture clues to search twelve photos for 100 hidden objects!

The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander. Ages 9 - 12. From his 'office' in the underused East Wing boys' bathroom, Mac takes care of almost any middle school problem.

Silverlicious by Victoria Kann. Ages 4 - 8. After stealing her brother's cookie, Pinkalicious loses her sweet tooth, so she asks the Tooth Fairy for help--with surprising results.

Clementine and the Family Meeting by Sarah Pennypacker. Ages 7 - 10. Clementine faces friends' changing interests, a surprise announcement at the Family Meeting and a missing science project rat.

The Midnight Tunnel: A Suzanna Snow Mystery by Angie Frazier. Ages 8 -12. In the early 1900's, 11 year old Suzanna helps her parents run a hotel. But her dreams of becoming a detetive are put to the test when a guest's daughter goes missing.

Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Talented Pop Star by Rachel Renee Russell. Ages 9 -13. When Nikki Maxwell enters the talent show, her arch nemesis MacKenzie threatens to expose her secret.

Submitted by Jacki @ Central

Submitted by Jacki @ Central

The Academy Awards will be presented February 26, 2012 and six of the nine best picture nominations are based on books, which provides a great reading list.

Hugo, based on The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick was nominated for best picture, best director (Martin Scorsese), and best adapted screenplay (John Logan). When twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toyseller and his goddaughter, his undercover life and his biggest secret are jeopardized.

Moneyball, based on the book by Michael Lewis, was nominated for best picture, best actor (Brad Pitt), best supporting actor (Jonah Hill), and best adapted screenplay (Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin. Story by Stan Chervin). Moneyball explains how Billy Beene, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics, is using a new kind of thinking to build a successful and winning baseball team without spending enormous sums of money.

The Descendants, based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings, was nominated for best picture, best director (Alexander Payne), best actor (George Clooney) and best adapted screenplay (Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon and Jim Rash). A descendant of royalty and one of the largest landowners in Hawaii, Matthew King struggles to deal with his out-of-control daughters, ten-year-old Scottie and seventeen-year-old Alex, as well as his comatose wife, whom they are about to remove from lifesupport.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, was nominated for best picture and best supporting actor (Max von Sydow). Oskar Schell, the 9-year-old son of a man killed in the World Trade Center attacks, searches the five boroughs of New York City for a lock that fits a key his father left behind.

The Help, based on the novel by Kathryn Stockett, was nominated for best picture and best actress (Viola Davis), and a pair of supporting actress nominations (Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer). Limited and persecuted by racial divides in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, three women, including an African-American maid, her sassy and chronically unemployed friend and a recently graduated white woman, team up for a clandestine project against a backdrop of the budding civil rights era.

War Horse, based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, was nominated for best picture. Joey the horse recalls his experiences growing up on an English farm, his struggle for survival as a cavalry horse during World War I, and his reunion with his beloved master.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, based on the novel by John Le Carre, was nominated for best actor (Gary Oldman) and best adapted screenplay (Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan). British agent George Smiley ferrets out a mole in the Secret Service and begins his epic game of international chess with his Soviet counterpart, an agent named Karla.

My Week With Marilyn, based on the book by Colin Clark, was nominated for best supporting actor (Kenneth Branagh) and best actress (Michelle Williams). Presents the author's diary accounts of the week he, an assistant on the set of the movie "The Prince and the Showgirl," bonded with Marilyn Monroe after she escaped the high-pressure set and toured the English countryside with him.

Albert Nobbs, based on the novella by George Moore, was nominated for best actress (Glenn Close) and best supporting actress (Janet McTeer). While working at a hotel as a waiter, Albert Nobbs must share his bed with an out-of-town laborer who discovers his secret.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on the novel by Stieg Larsson, was nominated for best actress (Rooney Mara). Forty years after the disappearance of Harriet Vanger from the secluded island owned by her powerful family, her uncle, convinced that she had been murdered by someone from her own deeply dysfunctional clan, hires journalist Mikael Blomqvist and Lisbeth Salander, an unconventional young hacker, to investigate.

Submitted by Jacki @ Central

Winner of the 2012 Coretta Scott King (Author) award and Honor book for the 2012 Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) award.

My first thought when I finished Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans was that it would win an award. This oversize book is stunningly beautiful with 47 oil paintings richly illustrating the trials and triumphs of African Americans in the United States from Colonial days to the present. The book offers a timeline that starts in 1565 and ends in January 2009. There are twevle chapters written by an unnamed female voice. The feel of the writing is like an elder member telling stories to the young children in the family, stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. The narrator takes us through historical events that changed the lives of African-Americans in the United States from slavery, reconstruction, the great migration, to World War II, inventions and Civil Rights. The events are presented in a simple and concise way that assures understanding of the events; truly an inspiring read and an excellent choice to share during African American History month.

Submitted by Gail @ Zablocki

Okay for Now is set in the late 1960's and is a stand-alone companion to the Wednesday Wars, a Newbery Honor book, where we first met Doug Swieteck. This title gives you a taste of life for a 14 year old boy growing up in small town, Marysville, New York during 1968. Doug's oldest brother Lucas is off fighting in the Vietnam War. His second oldest brother Christopher is labeled a "bad boy." At home Doug is cheering on the New York Yankees baseball team and watching the Apollo space mission. Doug is also dealing with a verbally abusive father. Each chapter opens with a reproduction from John James Audubon's Birds of America. A librarian named Mr. Powell helps Doug discover a hidden talent and opens up a new world to him. The story is one of creativity, of loss, of love, and of survival. As you read you find out why Doug has always struggled in school and why the prints of birds are so important to Doug. I found this book to be interesting historical fiction filled with many twists, turns and colorful characters.

Submitted by Gail @ Zablocki

Hidden starts when Wren Abbott, an eight year old girl and her mother are at a gas station. Wren's mother leaves the keys in the minivan so Wren can listen to music while she pays for the gas. The sound of a gunshot comes from the store and Wren dives to the floor of the van and hides herself under a blanket. The van door suddenly opens; Wren realizes it is not her mother in the van, but a stranger, so Wren remains hidden. Is Wren's mother alright? Is she hurt? Who is this man driving the van and where is he taking her? What will happen if he finds out Wren is in the vehicle? The minivan turns into a garage and Wren can hear the sounds of a family coming from the house. The young girl inside the house is Darra Monson, the man's daughter.

Now the story moves ahead six years and Darra and Wren are both fourteen years old and spending the summer in Upper Michigan at summer camp. Will the two girls recognize each other? What has life been like for each girl since the incident? How has the incident changed their life? How does each girl remember the events? These are the questions explored by the author Helen Frost in parts two and three of the book.

Hidden is told in verse and through the alternating viewpoints of the girls. Each girl's voice has her own poetic style which really captures the feelings and emotions of each of them. Though short, the ramification of the event and the toll it has taken on each girl's life is explored in this suspenseful novel..defnitely worth your time to read; this will not disappoint!

Submitted by Gail @ Zablocki

In Hurt Go Happy 13-year old Joey Willis lives with her 4-year-old brother and her over-protective divorced mother and her mother's new husband in rural California. Deaf since six, Joey's mother fears that her daughter would be ostracized by her "difference" if she learned sign language. Mom doesn't understand how difficult lip-reading can be but fully understands that the worst punishment she can give her daughter is to turn away her face so that Joey can't read either her lips or her expression. Consequently, during this difficult first teenage year, Joey feels isolated from both her family and her peers. Then, a chance meeting with a retired anthropologist and his baby chimp that he has taught to sign occurs. So Joey secretly begins to learn sign to talk with her new friends. When her mother discovers Joey's new skill and her new friends, she takes a long time to see the reality & repercussions of her denial of Joey's communication handicap. That much of a story would be sufficient for most books, but when Joey's love for the chimp prompts her to rescue the animal from a chemical laboratory's animal testing site this takes on a 'Free Willy' flavor. Thankfully, the author never stoops to preaching animal rights--just animal conservation and rescue. Marketed as a children's book, any age would find this a gripping and heart-wrenching story.

Submitted by Leah @ Wisconsin Talking Book & Braille Library

Carl Hiaasen's ventures into children's fiction are just as strong, and funny, as his popular adult novels. This time around, Wahoo Cray, and his father Mickey, own a zoo for animals that they rescued from various shelters around their home in southern Florida. They sometimes rent out their tame pets for appearances in various TV shows that call for alligators ETC.

Enter Derek Badger, the pompous star of a reality TV show named Expedition Survival. It seems Derek wants to wrestle alligators and snakes in the Florida Everglades for his show and wants to hire the Cray's to supply the tame animals he'll wrestle.

What ensues is a delightful romp through the Everglades that is educational, funny and sweet. Hiaasen's voice still promotes environmental conservation, but with a subtle touch of sentimentality that will appeal to both adults and children alike.

Recommended for ages 8 to 80!

Check here for availability.

Submitted by Dan @ Central

12 year old Stephanie Edgley sees detective Skulduggery Pleasant at her uncle's funeral and then meets him at the reading of the will. From then on she can't stop wondering about Skulduggery's bizzare appearance and overall weirdness. She doesn't have to wait long to get to know him better when late one night he saves her from a murderous burglar. Skulduggery Pleasant opens up a whole new world for Stephanie - one full of magic, danger and horror. Oddly enough she couldn't be happier about it. Now if she could just get rid of the resulting nightmares.

The audio version of this book is absolutely fantastic. Even if you prefer reading a book over listening to one, I highly recommend that you listen to Rupert Degas read a couple chapters. The voice Degas uses for Skulduggery is wonderful and his timing is impeccable. I also have to mention that the music at the beginning and ending of each chapter is clever and made me smile each time I heard it.

Valerie @ MPL Central

Let the crying commence. Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian is the eighth and final book of Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl Series.

Book eight starts out with Artemis having just completed six months of therapy with Dr. J. Argon in order to cure his case of Atlantis Complex, a condition similar to Multiple Personality Disorder. However, things can't remain quiet for long, Opal Koboi from book number four, The Opal Deception, returns to bring her dreams to rule the world, and the underworld, to fruition. Phase one simultaneously gets her out of jail and destroys as many electronic communication systems as possible including televisions, laptops, cell phones and more. So far she's got an excellent start. Now Artemis, his body guard Butler, and his dear friend Captain Holly Short are up against the ultimate egomaniac under the most extreme and extraordinary circumstances. Who prevails will determine if the world falls into the dark ages under the maniacal rule of Opal Koboi or returns to order with the carefully calculated plans of Artemis Fowl, the greatest genius mastermind of all times.

Valerie @ MPL Central

When ten year old August was little, he wore a space helmet to go outside so people wouldn't stare at the facial anomalies he was born with. But when he enters the fifth grade at Beecher Prep, he must find the strength to face others and in doing so, teach them about the importance of acceptance and kindness. Check catalog for availability.

Fran @ Bay View

The Milwaukee Public Library's Wisconsin Writers Wall of Fame pays tribute to a spectrum of literary talents--novelists, poets, journalists, playwrights, historians--whose work has been influenced by their life and experiences in Wisconsin.

Kevin Henkes

Born in Racine, Henkes often visited the local art museum - The Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts. He was greatly inspired by these visits and by reading his favorite books. Henkes is best known for the books featuring an adorable assortment of marvelous mice - Chester, Chrysanthemum, Lilly, Owen, Penny, Wendell and Wemberly - to name a few. But he has written more than 40 books including novels, picture books, and his popular "mouse books." Kitten's First Full Moon was the winner of the Caldecott Medal and Henke's novel Olive's Ocean won a Newbery Honor. The Association of Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, selected him to deliver the prestigious May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture in 2007.

Richard Schickel

Born in Milwaukee, film historian, filmmaker, and film critic, Schickel is the author of more than 30 books and the director-writer-producer of dozens of film and television documentaries. Among his best-known books are Elia Kazan: A Biography; D.W. Griffith: An American Life; Clint Eastwood: A Biography; The Disney Version; Brando: A Life in Our Times; and his memoir, Good Morning, Mr. Zip Zip Zip. His most recent titles are Clint: A Retrospective and Conversations with Scorsese. A film critic for Life magazine and Time magazine for 43 years, Schickel reviews at Truthdig.com. He has held a Guggenheim Fellowship and was awarded an honorary degree by the American Film Institute.

Jacki @ Central

Jacki @ Central

Looking for last minute holiday gift ideas? Books feed children's minds. The gift of a good book will encourage children to read, and parents to read with them and/or ask them about their books. Many children rarely receive books as gifts, so even gently read books are special treats. Here is a quick sampling of titles to consider. For more ideas, take a look at our great gift giving boards on Pinterest: Great Books = Great Gifts: Children & Teens and Give Books! 2012 which includes adult titles as well.

Peekaboo Baby by Sebastien Braun is a great book for ages infant to two. The reader is invited to lift the flaps to reveal babies engaged in a variety of familiar activities.

Mice written by Rose Fyleman and illustrated by Lois Ehlert has simple, rhyming text that celebrates what's nice about mice and will be enjoyed by ages 3 - 5.

For ages 5 - 8 Let's Go for a Drive! by Mo Willems is a good bet. Elephant Gerald and Piggie want to go for a drive, but as Gerald thinks of one thing after another that they will have to take along, they come to realize that they lack the most important thing of all.

McQuarrie Middle School's students miss Origami Yoda when Dwight leaves for Tippett Academy, but he sends Sara a paper Fortune Wookiee that seems to give advice just as good as Yoda's--even if, in the hands of girls, it seems preoccupied with romance. The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee by Tom Angleberger is great fun for ages 9 - 14.

Jacki @ Central

A young Lemony Snicket is asking all the wrong questions. Where is he going? Stained by the Sea, a seaside town that no longer boarders any water. Who is he with? S. Theodora Markson, the woman Snicket will be assisting for his apprenticeship. What is he doing? Helping S. Theodora Markson return the Bominating Beast statue to the rightful owner. What is a Bominating Beast and who is the rightful owner? That is what you and Snicket must find out. What does the S. in S. Theodora Markson stand for? Silly reader, that's another wrong question.

These are just a few of the questions - right and wrong - that will be answered in the first installment of All the Wrong Questions. The series features Snicket as a boy who leaves his parents (or were they really decoys?) to become an apprentice with an agency we can't talk about. With a mystery that is as complicated as it is wacky, this novel will leave you asking even more questions and anxious for the sequel. Check catalog for availability.

Lizzy, Central Library Children's Room

National Parks: A Kid's Guide to America's Parks, Monuments and Landmarks by Erin McHugh; Art by Neil Aspinall, Doug Leen and Brian Maebius

Featuring an in-depth look at National Parks in each state, this book will make you yearn for warm weather and family road-trips around the country. The book features old travel posters that promote the Nation's greatest parks, like Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. Interesting facts on each page accompany illustrations and information like how many acres the park has or how many people visit each year. According to National Parks, Crater Lake National Park in Oregon has 5 trillion gallons of water in the lake on average and only 1 person has been to the bottom of the lake and survived.

Whether you are nostalgic for old camping trips or need inspiration for your next vacation, National Parks will make you daydream of the wilderness that is in our own backyard.

Lizzy, Central Library Children's Room

Being a forty-something fourteen year old, I recently re-read The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss and found it pleasantly diverting. The timeless story of a family working together for a common goal seems at timed dated, but with a genuine sincerity that I found both warm and endearing.

Published in 1812 and influenced by and possibly based upon Daniel Defoe's 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe, The Swiss Family Robinson is both an exciting adventure story and an instructional manual for Christian based morality for early Nineteenth Century dwellers.

I find the Robinson's heroically romantic as they conquer the island they so luckily find after being shipwrecked. The father comfortably teaches his four boys about hunting and how to do manly things while Elizabeth, the mother, dutifully cooks up whatever the menfolk hunt down after spending the day sewing.

Suggested for those who loved reading about Huck Finn and his friend Tom or Alice in her strange land of wonders or Emma setting up every dang person in her neighborhood. This is simply a good story and I whole-heartedly recommend it to readers of any age.

Dan @ Central

YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) honors the best teen literature each year with its six literary awards, announced each year at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. To learn more about the awards, including previous winners click here.

The Michael L. Printz Award annually honors the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit. The 2013 winner is Nick Lake for his novel In Darkness.

In January 2010 an earthquake rocks the island of Haiti leaving fifteen-year-old Shorty trapped in rubble at a hospital in Port-au-Prince. As he weakens he becomes delusional and has nightmares that mix together his violent childhood and events from a Haitian revolutionary leader's life.

The William C. Morris Award is for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens. This year the winner is Rachel Hartman for Seraphina.

In a tale full of dragons and royal scandal, Seraphina is a strong willed young lady who uses her musical talents as a distraction for her own dark secret.

Benjamin Alire Saenz won the Stonewall Book Award for Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. This award is given annually to English-language children's and teen books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience.

In 1987, two seemingly opposite boys forge a deep bond. When Dante's feelings for Ari come to light and tragedy strikes, Ari must decide the type of person he wants to be.

The Mildred L. Batchelder Award recognizes an outstanding children's book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States.

My Family for the War by Anne C. Voorhoere, translated by Tammi Reichel is this year's winner.

Before the start of World War II, 10-year-old Ziska Mangold, who is raised Protestant, is taken out of Nazi Germany on one of the Kindertransport trains to live in London with an "adopted" Jewish family. She learns about Judaism and endures the hardships of war while attempting to keep in touch with her parents, who are trying to survive in Holland.

The Odyssey Award is for the best audiobook produced for teens and/or children available in English in the US. This year's winner is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and narrated by Kate Rudd.

Diagnosed with stage IV thyroid cancer, Hazel has always known her fate. But when she meets Augustus Waters at a cancer support group, Hazel struggles to change her outlook on life and love.

The Schneider Family Book Award is for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience and this year was given to Harry Mazer and Peter Lerangis for Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am.

Ben is wounded and trying to recover from a traumatic brain injury that occurred while serving in Iraq. Although he will never be the person he once was, this is the story of his struggle and transformation.

Karli & Katharina, Central

Return to the Willows by Jacqueline Kelly

If you loved the adventures of Mole, Toad, Ratty and Badger in Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, you will enjoy this book. This is a continuation of the funny and entertaining adventures that the fabled foursome get into. The stories and writing are just as good as Grahame's. Clint Young's illustrations add to the fun and drama. Toad still exhibits great pride; Rat and Mole remain steadfast; and those pesky weasels and stoats still create mischief. Two new characters are also introduced, Toad's young nephew, Humphrey, and a young rat named Matilda, with whom Ratty falls in love!

Be a kid again, read this book and share it with those you love!

Irene @ Tippecanoe

Our Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss celebration takes place on Saturday, March 2 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Central Library. For more information on Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss and celebrations happening at neighborhood libraries, click here.

Get ready for the event by reading and sharing these favorite Dr. Seuss titles:

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Two children sitting at home on a rainy day are visited by the Cat in the Hat who shows them some tricks and games.

Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss
A city of Whos on a speck of dust are threatened with destruction until the smallest Who of all helps convince Horton's friends that Whos really exist.

The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss
Each time Bartholomew Cubbins attempts to obey the King's order to take off his hat, he finds there is another one on his head.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
With unmistakable characters and signature rhymes, follow Sam I Am as he tries to convince an acquaintance that green eggs and ham is, indeed, a delectable meal to be savored everywhere and every way.

Jacki @ Central

Hear Blue Balliett talk about her books. Check out one of her great titles from the library before the program. A book signing follows the event with books available to purchase from co-host Boswell Book Company.
Doors open at 6 p.m.; seating is first-come, first-served.

Meet the author of the Hyde Park series (Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, The Calder Game), The Danger Box and her new title Hold Fast.

Eleven year old Early Pearl, her four year old brother Jubie and their parents, Dash and Sum, shared a small apartment in Chicago and had big dreams of owning their own home. Though life was not always perfect, the small space was home. When Early's father, Dash, goes mysteriously missing, life for the remaining three Pearls quickly unravels. Early, Jubie, and Sum are forced from their home and into the shelter system. While they struggle with poverty and homelessness, Early tries to uncover the mystery of her missing father and a connection to the book he left behind, The First Book of Rhythms by Langston Hughes. The clues combine math and rhythm and it seems that Early, who shares her father's love of language, is the only one who can uncover the truth of his disappearance. Blue Balliett blends her unique style of mystery, serious social issues, and wonderfully rich language in this beautifully poignant middle grade novel. Check catalog for availability.

Karli @ Central