Spring 2010 Recommendations

When bedtime roles are reversed, Mommy's reluctance (five more minutes?) and her nighttime requests (Can we read two?) become chucklingly funny. Two more twists at the end of this already backwards tale make this one a real treat. LeUeyen Pham's watercolor and vignette style illustrations couldn't be better! Best for ages 2-6

Tashi is the first tale in a fantastical short chapter book series from Australia. Kids will be enthralled by Tashi's stories of dragons, giants, Baba Yaga, warlords, and more! Perfect for early readers, the incredible pencil illustrations bring Tashi's world to life. Best for independent readers ages 5-7, or as a read aloud to ages 3-5.

The action follows Mr. Cheeseman and his three unique and savvy children. On the lam in order to protect a time machine Mr. Cheeseman has created, they must elude an unbelievable and funny array of characters with ill intentions. What makes this one noteworthy is its joyful manipulation of language. Young readers will find word play, circular arguments, unnecessary clarifications, tongue-in-cheek descriptions, and aptly-named characters. Best for ages 9-11 and fans of Lemony Snicket or Norton Juster.

I immediately recognized Sophie Blackall's illustrations from the now popular Ivy & Bean books and the cover of the Newbery Award winner, When You Reach Me. Upon closer inspection, I delighted in the wonderful patterned textiles found throughout the pages of this emotional story. We're excited to have a wonderful new story where the characters are of Pakistani heritage, and the story a universal one of sibling rivalry, friendship, and family dynamics. Best for ages 3-6