Reads to Wrap 2016

A young boy and girl, with very different ideas about what they want to play, face off during a play date.

In tis astonishingly inventive new book (that even turns upside down for several pages!), you'll never look at being bored the same way again.

Barnacle is bored by the monotony of the tides, and envies the fish who swim freely--until an eel comes along.

Silly what-if story, kids will roar with laughter,

Lyrical picture book inspiring readers of all ages to create, to question, to explore, and to imagine.

The day he starts school, a young boy falls in love. Sylvia sits in front of him at school, and he's so in love with her, she's all he can see. But sadly, Sylvia doesn't see him.The only thing Sylvia has eyes for is birds. So in a bold attempt to get Sylvia's attention, the boy decides to go to school dressed up as a bird; when it comes to love, sometimes you have no choice but to follow your heart and spread your wings.

 Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and their friends illustrate how super heroes—and regular people—get from place to place! !

An adorable and informative photo-essay about Eclipse, a dog who rides the bus to the dog park herself.

A charming retelling of Hey Diddle Diddle, with exciting touches for little hands to explore.

In 1843, 14-year old Hanson Gregory left his family set sail as a cabin boy on the schooner Achorn. Little did he know that a boat load of hungry sailors, coupled with his knack for creative problem-solving, would yield one of the world's most prized pastries.

Members of a large group of animals, including a penguin, two rabbits, and a koala, disappear at an alarming rate but the hungry lion remains.

Charming touch-and-feel book for little hands to explore!

As spotless Lucy Ladybug flies through the seasons, she acquires some spots, only to find her new spots are different from the other ladybugs and its those differences that make everyone want to be like Lucy!

Mira lives in a gray and hopeless urban community until a muralist arrives and, along with his paints and brushes, brings color, joy, and togetherness to Mira and her neighbors.

Perfect for a family of book lovers.

Everyone on Grimloch Lane enjoys the trees and shrubs clipped into animal masterpieces after dark, but William, a lonely boy, spots the artist, follows him, and helps with his special work.

Oskar and and his bear Theodore must save the day when an angry monster barges into the library...and thinks it's an all-you-can-eat buffet

Princess Pinecone would like a real war horse for her birthday. Instead she gets a plump, cute pony--but sometimes cuteness can be a kind of weapon, especially in a fight with dodgeballs and spitballs and hairballs and squareballs.

A young Native American boy struggles to create his own identity. The boy’s father is called Big Thunder, a striking and bold name, while the boy is nicknamed Little Thunder, which he thinks sounds like “a fart.” Determined to create a new identity, he comes up with a list of nicknames based on his interests.

Based on the song, follow a family through frosty fields and snow-covered woods as they walk and play together.

 Fly Guy and Buzz learn all about where the President lives

Leo isn’t just a stuffed toy, he is Henry’s best friend and brother. But when the two are accidentally separated, no one in Henry’s family believes Leo is real enough to find his way home.

There is no better way to introduce your child to the entertaining, action-packed world of hockey than through this series of books. Published through the combined efforts of the NHL, the NHLPA and Fenn/Tundra, My First NHL Books introduce preschool readers to the essential early concepts of learning through the fun and entertaining themes of hockey.

The perfect book to bring Lucille Ball to life. Providing the right role model and inspiring children to strive and dream.

Listen to the young girl's advice:  Never bring that piano to the beach!

Purrrrrrrrfect monster book. Snarky, fun, disgusting and scary (not really, but young ones will squeal with delight when you read this book... over and over again).

After finding a box just the right size to hide in, a little fox tries to play some tricks on his big friend, Pig, but things do not work out exactly as he planned.

Sweet story that will empower little girls. Ruby is unlike most little girls in old China; instead of aspiring to get married, Ruby is determined to attend university when she grows up, just like the boys in her family.

It is time to say farewell to Elephant and Piggie.  In this last book, Piggie is determined to thank everyone she knows, but Gerald thinks she will forget someone important.

Baby Lincoln has had enough of her older sister, Eugenia, telling her what to do and sets out on her own on a journey of self-discovery.

See the silly side of travel as you explore the wackiest landmarks from around the world . You won't believe our world is full of so many bizarre and wonderful places!

Chi is a mischievous newborn kitten who finds herself lost. Separated from the warmth and protection of her mother, Chi is overcome with loneliness.  Rescued by a young boy named Yohei and his mother she is quickly and quietly whisked away into the warm and inviting Yamada family apartment where pets are strictly not permitted.

From the creator of Captain Underpants comes a new story about a crime-fighting Dog Man.  

Dory the rascal turns learning to read into a hilarious adventure through the power of imagination    Ever since Dory met Rosabelle, a real true friend whose imagination and high spirits match her own, school has been pretty good. But now the class is learning to read, and it's proving to be a challenge for Dory. While Rosabelle can read chapter books in her head, Dory is stuck with baby books about a happy little farm. Dory wishes for a potion to turn her into a reader but things don't go as planned. Suddenly, a naughty little girl who looks an awful lot like Dory's imaginary nemesis, Mrs. Gobble Gracker, shows up. And a black sheep leaves the pages of the farm book to follow Dory to school. It really needs her help--this seems like a job for a superhero! And it would help if she knew how to read.  In her third book, Dory the rascal takes reluctant reading to new heights with a story that is as one-of-a-kind and hilarious as she is.

The eleventh installment of everyone's favorite middle schooler, Greg Heffley.

Ghost wants to be the fastest sprinter on his elite middle school track team, but his past is slowing him down.

Catrina and her family have moved to the coast of Northern California for the sake of her little sister, Maya, who has cystic fibrosis. Cat is even less happy about the move when she is told that her new town is inhabited by ghosts, and Maya sets her heart on meeting one.

Hoping to become the greatest detective that ever grew, Inspector Flytrap  and his assistant, Nina the Goat, investigate "big deal" mysteries.

In the 1920s, a ten-year-old newsgirl who aspires to be a reporter at the ChicagoTribune investigates the murder of a gangster.

What could be cooler than transforming a piece of paper into Boba Fett, Princess Leia, Yoda, or R2-D2?  Star Wars® Origami marries the fun of paper folding with the obsession of Star Wars.

A graphic novel adventure about a girl who discovers roller derby right as she and her best friend are growing apart

A girl living in a children's hospital during WWII discovers that a winged horse has entered her world and needs her help.

When Reuben discovers an extraordinary antique watch, he soon learns it has a secret power and his life takes an intriguing turn. Reuben finds himself torn between his innately honest nature and the lure to be a hero.  Even with fearless Penny, mighty Jack, and the wise Mrs. Genevieve on his side, can Reuben outwit and outmaneuver the sly villain and save the city from a terrible fate?

A re-imagining of Snow white in the 1920's. Amazing and moving story. Well told with beautiful graphics.

This book mixes White's personal letters, photos, and family ephemera with Sweet's own exquisite artwork to tell his story, from his birth in 1899 to his death in 1985.

"My name is Bruce Wayne, and I'm the new kid (UGH) at Ducard Academy. There's a gang of clowns roaming the halls, a kid named Bane wants to beat me up, and the guidance counselor, Hugo Strange, seems really, well, strange.

Imagine a high school for the galaxy’s most powerful teenagers, both superheroes and super-villains alike.

Washed ashore and activated by a group of curious otters, Roz the robot isn’t sure where she came from or what she is doing on the island.  At first, the forest animals are frightened or aggressive towards her, but everything changes when she saves a baby goose and needs to work with the island’s other animals to help the baby survive.

Amadou and his younger brother Seydou are trapped in modern day slave cacao farm. There is no thought of escape until a young wildcat named Khadija is thrown into the farm and helps Amadou find the strength to run.  A book you won't be able to put down and one read will make you rethink where your sweet chocolate comes from.

An authentic coming of age story.that deals with difficult family dynamics. Violence surrounds Abraham. The fury he keeps inside, reined in but unable to control when pushed. Also in his life is the sweet Ophelia who brings beauty and the possibility of a sane future. But really what stands out in this book is the incredible writing.

Set in the Son of Sam backdrop.  Great characters, great setting, the 70's in the city feels accurate, and very very good story.

As plague ravages the overcrowded Earth, a gifted mechanic and cyborg, becomes involved with handsome Prince Kai and must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect the world in this futuristic take on the Cinderella story.

Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are the only enchanters in Russia, and the tsar wants a powerful enchanter by his side. He initiates the Crown's Game, a duel of magical skill, and the winner will become his Imperial Enchanter; the loser will die. And as long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes increasingly clear to them that the Crown's Game is not one to lose.

"How did you die?" It's the most popular question in Hell, and Mitchell Johnson has been answering it ever since he was hit by a bus at age seventeen and inexplicably ended up in the Underworld. Now Mitchell is The Devil's intern in Hell's accounting office. Lately, he's noticed a disturbing trend: the volume of new arrivals is straining Hell's limited resources. Then Mitchell overhears his boss discussing plans to limit newcomers with a legendary time travel mechanism. With a device like that, Mitchell realizes, he could change history and prevent his own death.

In alternating voices, Fiona "Fi" Doyle experiences her teen years in two ways, with and without a disfiguring accident that occurred at age six.

A book that is serious in its treatment of the Claire Dad's stroke but also full of humor and the self centeredness of being a teenager.

J.K. Rowling's screenwriting debut. When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt's fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone.

Gotham City's most prestigious prep school is a very weird place. But nothing is as strange as the students! GOTHAM ACADEMY is a new teen drama set in the shadow of Batman and the craziness of Gotham City, with new characters and old plus a secret tie to Gotham's past.

Fenrin Grace is larger than life, almost mythical. He’s the school Pan, seducing girls without really meaning to. He’s biding his time until someone special comes along. Someone different, who will make him wonder how he got along all this time without her.

A behind-the-scenes view of Hamilton the musical, detailing the many dramatic episodes in Alexander Hamilton's life

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is  text of the play that premiered in London's West End. It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn't much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted.

Solomon can't leave his home because of severe anxiety attacks. Enter Lisa, who decides to make him her project so she can have a killer essay and get a full ticket to college as she becomes a well renowned psychologist. What can go wrong? 

 Sarah tries to finish her unfinished business alongside her fellow dead teens, Sarah falls hard for a cute boy named Nick. And she discovers an uncanny ability to haunt the living. While she has no idea who killed her, or why, someone she loves is in grave danger. Sarah can’t lose focus or she’ll be doomed to relive her final moments again and again forever. But can she live with herself if she doesn’t make her death matter?

Keeley is in love with Jesse and as the town slowly goes underwater she finally gets to be his girl, just in time to find out she is changing and may want something more.

Buy this for the YA reader in your life who wants to read the book before the movie. A heart-renching tale, this story follows the unhappy life of Conor O'Malley and the monster who visits him at night.

Samuel and his younger brother, Joshua, are free black boys living in an orphanage during the Civil War, but when Samuel takes the blame for his brother's prank, he is sent South, given a new name, and sold into slavery--and somehow he must survive both captivity and the war, to find his way back to his brother.

A bolt of lightning inspires an incredible journey in this charming, magical realism adventure that takes four teens on an all-night journey through the streets of New York City. 

In the small town of Lewis Creek, baseball is everything, especially for all-star pitcher Austin Braxton.  All that stands between him and a new start is one final season. But when Austin starts flunking Chemistry, his picture-perfect future is in jeopardy.

A Great story about Dynasties, Robots and Trains. Set in a far off alternate future where aliens have built a system of worm holes that allow travel to distant galaxies. 

Books in this world are truly magical and impart more than information--they may even change the future. Literally. Sefia is a fun character who throws herself into one dangerous situation after another. 

Emma Allen couldn't be more excited to start her sophomore year. Not only is she the assistant stage manager for the drama club's production of Hamlet, but her crush Brandon is directing. But soon after school starts, everything goes haywire. Emma's promoted to stage manager with zero experience, her best friend Lulu stops talking to her, and Josh turns out to be a disaster. One night after rehearsal, Emma stays behind to think through her life's latest crises and distractedly falls through the stage's trap door...landing in the basement of the Globe Theater.

 When we first learned that Cindy moon had been bitten by the same radioactive spider as Peter Parker,  she then went on to save Peter Parker's life  Now, as SILK, Cindy is on her own in New York City, searching for her past, defining her own future, and webbing up wrong-doers along the way!

Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

Tired of Hunger Games spin-offs? This tale of witches and queens is for the  reader who loves a thriller, but also wants complex characters who can tackle real problems with aplomb.

Wolverine, Deadpool, Doctor Doom, Thanos: There's one hero that's beaten them all-and now she's got her own ongoing series: SQUIRREL GIRL! It's the start of a brand-new set of adventures starring the nuttiest and most upbeat super hero in the world!

Action packed, with the main character suffering from a phychological twist, 

Perfect for readers who need a realist in their stories, even if that realist is being abducted by aliens and told he is the only one who can save a planet that seems to always be against him.