Book Reviews

Oh no! Your favorite heroic hound, Dog Man, is in big trouble. He's been sent to the pound for a crime he didn't commit, and now everyone thinks he's bad to the bone! Can Dog Man's loyal pals help clear his name and prove his innocence? While his friends work hard to solve the mystery, Dog Man faces a tough challenge. He's part dog and part man, and sometimes it feels like he doesn't quite fit in with either world. Join Dog Man on an exciting adventure filled with laughs, friendship, and a quest to discover where he truly belongs. This sixth book in the bestselling Dog Man series from Dav Pilkey is packed with action and heart, perfect for young readers who love hilarious stories and amazing comic art.

A New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2017 Selection A Mighty Girl Book of the Year Illinois Monarch Award Nominee 2018-2019 Florida SSYRA Book Award Nominee 2018-2019 With magical animals, science, mystery, and adventure -- the brand new series Zoey and Sassafras has something for everyone! Easy-to-read language and illustrations on nearly every page make this series perfect for a wide range of ages. In the first book of this series, Zoey discovers a glowing photo and learns an amazing secret. Injured magical animals come to their backyard barn for help! When a sick baby dragon appears, it's up to Zoey and Sassafras to figure out what's wrong. Will they be able to help little Marshmallow before it's too late? Each story in the Zoey and Sassafras series features a new magical animal with a problem that must be solved using science. There isn't a set formula for each book; Zoey sometimes needs to run experiments, while other times she needs to investigate a mystery, and yet other times she needs to do research. Zoey models how to keep a science journal through her handwritten entries in each story. Each story is complete with a glossary of the kid-friendly definitions for scientific terms used. The series highlights child-led inquiry science and the topics covered align with both Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.

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With magical animals, science, mystery, and adventure -- the brand new series Zoey and Sassafras has something for everyone! Easy-to-read language and illustrations on nearly every page make this series perfect for a wide range of ages. In the first book of this series, Zoey discovers a glowing photo and learns an amazing secret. Injured magical animals come to their backyard barn for help! When a sick baby dragon appears, it’s up to Zoey and Sassafras to figure out what’s wrong. Will they be able to help little Marshmallow before it’s too late?

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A girl, Zoey, and her cat, Sassafras, use science experiments to help a dragon with a problem.

Poor Duncan just wants to sit down and color a beautiful picture. But when he opens his crayon box, he finds a stack of letters instead. His crayons have officially had enough, and they are going on strike! Blue crayon is exhausted from coloring all those massive oceans and rivers. Black crayon is tired of only being used to outline things. Meanwhile, Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking to each other because they both firmly believe they are the true color of the sun. Even Beige is upset about playing second fiddle to Brown. What can Duncan possibly do to appease his unhappy art supplies and get them back to doing what they do best? You will be laughing out loud at this hilarious, colorful adventure that will make you look at your own crayon box in a completely new and imaginative way.

Have you ever dreamed of living in your very own secret hideout? Meet Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny, four resourceful siblings who find themselves on an extraordinary adventure! When they become orphans, they know they have to stick together, no matter what. One day, deep in the woods, they stumble upon an abandoned red boxcar. With teamwork and cleverness, they transform it into a cozy, secret home all their own. Imagine waking up in a boxcar, cooking over a campfire, and exploring the wilderness around you! But even with their new home, life on their own brings exciting challenges and a touch of gentle mystery. Join the Boxcar Children as they prove that with family, courage, and a little bit of ingenuity, you can create a wonderful life anywhere. This classic chapter book is filled with heartwarming moments and adventures that will make you wish you could join them in their special boxcar home.

Meet Frog and Toad, two amphibious best friends who are always there for each other. Frog is cheerful and energetic, while Toad would usually prefer to stay in bed. Yet, together, they make the perfect pair. Join them for five classic adventures that celebrate the true meaning of friendship. You will help Toad search for his lost white button, wait patiently for a very important letter to arrive in the mail, and celebrate the joyful arrival of spring. The short chapters and highly accessible vocabulary are specifically designed to help you build confidence as you begin to read independently. It is a funny, tender, and deeply comforting introduction to one of literature's most beloved duos.

#1 New York Times Bestseller!
Now an Apple+ Animated TV Series!
Winner, John Newbery Medal

What does it take for a student with hearing loss and a hearing aid to become a superhero!!?!?

Starting at a new school is scary, especially with a giant hearing aid strapped to your chest! At her old school, everyone in Cece’s class was deaf. Here, she’s different. She’s sure the kids are staring at the Phonic Ear, the powerful aid that will help her hear her teacher. Too bad it also seems certain to repel potential friends.

Then Cece makes a startling discovery. With the Phonic Ear she can hear her teacher not just in the classroom but anywhere her teacher is in the school—in the hallway . . . in the teacher’s lounge . . . in the bathroom! This is power. Maybe even superpower! Cece is on her way to becoming El Deafo, Listener for All.

But the funny thing about being a superhero is that it’s just another way of feeling different . . . and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding the thing she wants most, a true friend?

El Deafo is a book that will entertain children, give hearing-impaired children a hero of their own, and challenge others to consider an experience unlike their own. Like other great works for children, it provides the opportunity for young readers to consider how they would act or react in a similar situation, helping to build empathy and understanding through the power of story.


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#1 New York Times Bestseller! Now an Apple+ Animated TV Series! Winner, John Newbery Medal What does it take for a student with hearing loss and a hearing aid to become a superhero!!?!? Starting at a new school is scary, especially with a giant hearing aid strapped to your chest! At her old school, everyone in Cece’s class was deaf. Here, she’s different. She’s sure the kids are staring at the Phonic Ear, the powerful aid that will help her hear her teacher. Too bad it also seems certain to repel potential friends. Then Cece makes a startling discovery. With the Phonic Ear she can hear her teacher not just in the classroom but anywhere her teacher is in the school—in the hallway . . . in the teacher’s lounge . . . in the bathroom! This is power. Maybe even superpower! Cece is on her way to becoming El Deafo, Listener for All. But the funny thing about being a superhero is that it’s just another way of feeling different . . . and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding the thing she wants most, a true friend? El Deafo is a book that will entertain children, give hearing-impaired children a hero of their own, and challenge others to consider an experience unlike their own. Like other great works for children, it provides the opportunity for young readers to consider how they would act or react in a similar situation, helping to build empathy and understanding through the power of story.

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Starting at a new school is scary, even more so with a giant hearing aid strapped to your chest! At her old school, everyone in Cece's class was deaf. Here she is different. She is sure the kids are staring at the Phonic Ear, the powerful aid that will help her hear her teacher. Too bad it also seems certain to repel potential friends. Then Cece makes a startling discovery. With the Phonic Ear she can hear her teacher not just in the classroom, but anywhere her teacher is in school — in the hallway... in the teacher's lounge... in the bathroom! This is power. Maybe even superpower! Cece is on her way to becoming El Deafo, Listener for All. But the funny thing about being a superhero is that it's just another way of feeling different... and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding the thing she wants most, a true friend? This funny perceptive graphic novel memoir about growing up hearing impaired is also an unforgettable book about growing up, and all the super and super embarrassing moments along the way.

Walking down a quiet street with no other children around can make a boy feel awfully alone. Henry knows this feeling all too well until his parents finally agree to let him get a dog. Enter Mudge, a tiny puppy who quickly grows into a massive, lovable, and incredibly slobbery companion. You will follow along as Henry and Mudge become the very best of friends, sharing every adventure from walking to school to exploring their neighborhood. Mudge might drool on the furniture and weigh as much as a grown man, but to Henry, he is the absolute perfect pet. When Mudge unexpectedly goes missing during a walk, Henry must gather his courage to find his faithful friend. This classic story explores the special bond between a boy and his dog, proving that true companionship comes in all shapes, sizes, and levels of drool.

Why are there pointy things stuck to a rose? Why are there hairs growing inside your nose? Ada Twist is a girl with a boundless imagination and a head full of questions! A scientist to her very core, Ada is hopelessly curious about how the world works. She is never afraid to ask why, and she loves performing experiments to find the truth. When her house suddenly fills with a horrific, toe-curling smell, Ada knows it is up to her to find the source. Not afraid of a little failure, she embarks on a fact-finding mission that leads to even more stink—and a little bit of trouble! This charming, rhyming story celebrates the power of perseverance and passion. Join Ada as she learns that her questions might not always lead straight to answers, but they will always lead to exciting new discoveries!

A mysterious tree house hidden high in the woods of Frog Creek changes everything for Jack and his younger sister Annie. When they climb inside, they discover it is filled with books and possesses incredible magic. With a single wish, they are suddenly transported millions of years into the past, landing squarely in the prehistoric age of dinosaurs. They come face-to-face with a gentle Triceratops, explore a Pteranodon nest, and marvel at the massive creatures roaming the earth. But the prehistoric world is full of hidden dangers, and a towering, hungry Tyrannosaurus Rex is on the prowl. Now, they must figure out how the magic tree house works so they can return home before the sun goes down. You will join the very first adventure that started it all, blending thrilling encounters with fascinating dinosaur facts in an unforgettable race for survival.

Narwhal is a happy go lucky sea creature who loves waffles and parties. Jelly is a no nonsense jellyfish who prefers to keep things sensible. The two might not have a lot in common at first glance, but they are about to discover the whole wide ocean together! In this wonderfully silly graphic novel, Narwhal gets a little lost but ends up finding an amazing new best friend. You will get to join Narwhal and Jelly as they form their very own pod of awesomeness with their quirky ocean friends. They even try to read the best book ever made, even though it has absolutely no words or pictures.

To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig—she is a porcine wonder! And to the portly, good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of hot, buttered toast. But Mercy's love for snuggling in bed with her owners leads to a massive problem. BOOM! CRACK! The bed suddenly begins to sink right through the floor! As the Watsons panic, Mercy escapes in a flash. Her owners are certain she is rushing to alert the fire department. But Mercy actually has a different emergency on her mind: a sudden, powerful craving for the neighbors' sugar cookies! Can this hungry pig accidentally save the day while searching for a midnight snack? Welcome to the hilarious world of Mercy Watson. This fast-paced, laugh-out-loud chapter book is packed with colorful illustrations, silly misunderstandings, and plenty of buttery toast.

Meet Rosie Revere, a quiet girl with a big secret! When the world sleeps, Rosie is wide awake, creating amazing gizmos and gadgets. She dreams of becoming a great engineer, always inventing things, from hot dog dispensers to snake-repelling hats. But sometimes, Rosie worries about what others might think of her clever creations. One day, her incredible great-great-aunt Rose comes to visit. Aunt Rose, who inspired many women, shares a dream she's never quite finished: to fly! This sparks an idea in Rosie, and she gets to work building a flying machine to help her aunt soar. When her invention takes a tumble, Rosie thinks it's a big failure. But Aunt Rose helps her understand that true failure only happens if you give up. Every bump and wobble is just a step on the path to success! This inspiring story will show you that it's okay to try, to invent, and to keep going, no matter what.