NO PARKING AT THE END TIMES by Bryan Bliss. Greenwillow, 2015.

Is the end that near?
Abby's parents think ti's true
But Abby has doubts.

Rain Reign

RAIN REIGN by Ann M. Martin. Fewer and Friends, 2014.

Rose loves Rain but she
Does not like school very much.
No one understands.

The Crossover

THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014.

Twin basketballers
Living life on and off court
But it's not all game.

100 Sideways Miles

100 SIDEWAYS MILES by Andrew Smith. Simon & Schuster, 2014.

Finn, Cade, Julia
Circumstances dictate their
Accidental ties.

NEST

NEST by Esther Erlich. Wendy Lamb Books, 2014.

Chirp loves her family.
But Mom is depressed, absent.
Everything seems wrong.

Seven Stories Up

SEVEN STORIES UP by Laurel Snyder. Random House, 2014.

Time traveling Annie
Meets her own grandmother and
Becomes her close friend.

Revenge of the Flower Girls

REVENGE OF THE FLOWER GIRLS by Jennifer Ziegler. Scholastic, 2014.

Disrupt a wedding?
Leave that to the triplets and
Determination.

THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH

THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH by Jennifer L. Holm. Random House, August 2014.

Wen her mother brings home a teen aged boy, Ellie is sure he is just one of her new causes. Turns out, though, that this big is actually Ellie's own grandfather who has reversed his aging through an experiment. Life is bad enough with a sullen teen, but add in Melvin's imperious nature, his constant criticism, and having your grandfather going to your school and, well, you can see how much fun this is NOT for Ellie. The book design (floating goldfish at chapter headings) adds to the delight of this funny book about family, friends, and science!

Crow

CROW by Barbara Wright. Listening Library, 2013.

Crow tells the story of Moses Thomas. The year is 1898, and his town in North Carolina has been relatively calm. His father is one of two Black people who serve as alderman. There is still division between the races, but the town seems to be dealing with racism. But then something changes, and the racism and hatred mount. Moses will have to face his fears and stand up for what he knows is right. The narration by J.D. Jackson is perfect as he captures a wide range of characters from Moses to his grandmother, Boo Nanny, and his parents along with the people of the town.

Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too

NELLY GNU AND DADDY TOO by Anna Dewdney. Viking, 2014.

Nelly and Dad build
A little house that needs
To become a home.

A Snicker of Magic

A SNICKER OF MAGIC by Natalie Lloyd. Scholastic, 2014.

Take one girl who has a mother who loves to move from town to town. Add in a new school, fold in a love interest. Blend in some ice cream and maybe a soupçon of magic (actually a snicker is a better measurement). Natalie Lloyd treats readers to sumptuous feast of words and phrases as she tells us the story of Felicity, the Threadbare Brothers, and a mystery that perhaps only she can solve.

No Nap! Yes Nap!

NO NAP! YES NAP! by Margie Palatini with illustrations by Dan Yaccarino. Little Brown, 2014.

Baby or Mama?
Which one will win the battle?
Maybe both of them?

UNDER THE SAME SUN

UNDER THE SAME SUN by Sharon Robinson with illustrations by AG Ford. Scholastic, 2014.


The Tanzanian relatives await the arrival of Grandmother and Auntie Sharon all the way from American. All of the family will celebrate Grandmother Bibi's birthday with a safari on the Serengeti. This is a wonderful celebration of family.

Borrowing and paying back

THE RUNAWAY HUG by Nick Bland with illustrations by Freya Blackwood. Wendy Lamb Books, 2013.


Mama loans her hug
Now Lucy must pay it back
And pay it forward.

Facing our fears

FRAIDYZOO by Thyra Heder. Abrams, 2013.

A family trip to the zoo seems impossible given that Little T is afraid to go. Unfortunately, she cannot recall which creature causes such a fearful reaction. So, the family acts out all the various animals hoping to find the one that keep Little T from wanting to join the rest of her family at the zoo. Terrific surprise ending will delight readers.

Ladders to the Moon

MAX AND THE TAG-ALONG MOON by Floyd Cooper. Philomel, 2013.

Max hates to leave his Grandpa. But Grandpa tells Max that the moon is always following him, that the moon connects them both. I did a quick brainstorm below of other books that could fit on a ladder featuring the moon:





KITTEN'S FIRST FULL MOON
MAX AND THE TAG ALONG MOON
THE MOON WAS THE BEST
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
A LADDER TO THE MOON
COME BACK MOON
GOOD NIGHT MOON
HOW TO BICYCLE TO THE MOON AND PLANT SUNFLOWERS
MOONCAKES
THE MOON SAW IT ALL
SIDNEY, STELLA, AND THE MOON
LITTLE BUNNY'S NIGHT LIGHT
CINDY MOO
ON THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN
OWL MOON
THE SAND MAN
BEFORE YOU CAME
BROTHER SUN, SISTER MOON
A CIRCLE IN THE SKY
HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE
THE RABBIT AND THE COYOTE

Family

THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN by Audrey and Don Wood. Scholastic 2013.

Birthdays are special
And the queen wants to be sure
Everything's perfect.

THE BLESSING CUP by Patricia Polacco. Simon and Schuster, 2013.

Blessing traditions
Are important to fam'ly
Down generation.

I am in love with Anna

SPLASH, ANNA HIBISCUS! by Atinuke with illustrations by Lauren Tobia. Kane Miller, 2013.

Anna wants someone to come and splash in the waves with her. Her parents and even her grandparents are too busy. Friends are more interested in playing games or texting on their phones. Finally, Anna simply jumps in the ocean herself. Her squeals of delight draw the attention of others. Soon, she has plenty of company. Thanks to my good friend, Ed Spicer, for introducing me to the world of Anna Hibiscus. Thanks, also, to Kane Miller for sending me a package of Anna Hibiscus books.

Stuck on you

STICKY, STICKY STUCK by Michael Gutch with illustrations by Steve Bjorkman. Harper, 2013.

Annie's family never seems to have time for her. They are all glued to their gadgets, only taking time to tell her she is making a mess. One day, Annie and her family literally become stuck to one another when she tries to make a peanut butter and honey sandwich without using a knife. Can they get out of this sticky situation?

If You Find Me

IF YOU FIND ME by Emily Murdoch. St. Martins Griffin, 2013.

Carey and Jenessa have only known the rusted camper as home for almost as long as either of them can recall. Carey knows that they ran away from their father a long time ago. Mom wanted to keep them off the grid for their own protection, and so they live in the woods without electricity or running water. Somehow they manage. But now Mom has been gone for an awfully long time, and the food is running short. Carey worries about Jenessa who rarely speaks, How will they survive?

Suddenly, there is a man approaching the camper accompanied by a woman from social services. Carey and Jenessa are to be handed over to Carey's father who has been searching for them ever since Carey's mother abducted her when she was little. Now, they have a father (one Carey is not sure she can trust) and a stepmother and stepsister, too. There will be many changes hurtling toward Carey as the truth is slowly revealed. Great pacing, realistic characters and emotions will draw readers in and hold them to the final page.