Dogs Are People, Too

DOGS ARE PEOPLE, TOO by Dave Coverly. Holt, 2015.

Do you love comics?
And dogs?Then, get ready for a laugh
Chuckle, giggle, snort.

Knock, knock!

FLIP AND FIN: WE RULE THE SCHOOL by Timothy Gill with illustrations by Neil Numberman. Greenwillow, 2014.

Knock knock jokes rule school
Flip and Fin are talented
Fish who want to win

Lily the Unicorn

LILY THE UNICORN by Dallas Clayton. Harper, 2014.

Roger the Penguin
Is afraid of many things
Lily tries to help

The Pigeon Needs a Bath

Pigeon does not think
He needs a bath but he's wrong
He is SO dirty!

Happy Birthday, BabyMouse

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABYMOUSE by Jennifer and Matthew Holm. Random House, 2014.

BabyMouse is back (this is #18) and getting ready for the best birthday party ever. The only problem is that Felicia Furrypaws plans an awesome party for the exact same day. Even with help from Squish and his pals, BabyMouse's party is destined for disaster.

Wipeout of the Wireless Weenies

WIPEOUT OF THE WIRELESS WEENIES by David Lubar. Tor, 2014.

This collection of short stories follows in the worthy footsteps of LAWN WEENIES, RED HOT PEEER WEENIES, and NINJA WEENIES among others. Teddy bears, cat literal and faxes might all seem innocuous. But hand them to David Lubar and the results are creepy and often hilarious stories of comeuppance, justice, and irony. Perfect for reading aloud to kids, teachers will also find them valuable for a discussion of author style and process.

The Great Greene Heist

THE GREAT GREENE HEIST by Varian Johnson. AAL/Scholastic, 2014.

Jackson Greene is trying to keep out of trouble, but it seems as though trouble finds him instead. He is trying to help his friend Gaby get elected as class president. However, there is stiff competition from Keith, a wealthy boy who seems determined to be elected at ANY cost. Enter Jackson and his buddies who create an elaborate con to ensure the election is fair and square. Totally believable characters, great good humor (including some fun poking at a corrupt principal) and a romance gone wrong combine to make this a fast paced and absorbing read.

I kill the mockingbird

I KILL THE MOCKINGBIRD by Paul Acampora. Roaring Brook, 2014.

Lucy, Elena, and Michael are pleased to see that TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is one of their choices for summer reading. It is already one of their favorite books and one that their late beloved teacher Fat Bob loved, too. They know all too well, though, that not everyone is psyched about reading the book and hatch a plan to make TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD irresistible. A little help from the internet, some "misplaced" copies in bookstores, and soon their "I kill the mockingbird" plan has gone viral. Will the consequences be something with which the three can live? Will there be other repercussions? This novel considers all things literary and some very non-literary things as well as, over the course of a summer, demand for the book increases, a friendship is on the way to possibly becoming something more, and a town witnesses some magic.

The literary references are sure to please readers who are well read, but all readers are certain to find an element of connection in this novel about books, reading, teachers, love, cancer, small towns, and more.

Potpourri of Picture Books

PRESIDENT TAFT IS STUCK IN THE BATH by Mac Barnett with illustrations by Chris Van Dusen. Candlewick Press, 2014.

The President's stuck
In the tub. Who should we call?
How will he get out?

STONE SOUP WITH MATZOH BALLS: A PASSOVER TALE FROM CHELM by Linda Glaser with illustrations by Maryam Tabatabaei. Albert Whitman, 2014.

All we need for soup
Is a stone, some water, and
Generous people.

PLEASE, LOUISE by Toni Morrison and Slade Morrison with illustrations by Shadra Strickland. Simon & Schuster, 2014.

All Louise will need
Is at the library just
Just waiting for her there.

A CATFISH TALE by Whitney Stewart with illustrations by Gerald Guerlais. Albert Whitman, 2014.

His wife wants it all
A magic catfish can help
But how much's too much?

THE SHORT GIRAFFE by Neil Flory with illustrations by Mark Cleary. Albert Whitman, 2014.

He doesn't show up
In any photo. How can
We solve the problem?

Looniverse

LOONIVERSE: STAGE FRIGHT by David Lubar. Scholastic Press, 2014.

A rare blue moon might
Portend something dangerous
Or perhaps just strange?

(This short, funny chapter book is a stand alone part of a series.)

Timmy Failure returns

TIMMY FAILURE: NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE by Stephan Pastis. Candlewick Press, 2014.

Mysteries to solve
Timmy Failure on the job
Criminals beware!

Princess Labelmaker

PRINCESS LABELMAKER TO THE RESCUE by Tom Angleberger. Abrams, 2014.

Welcome back to Dwight and his Origami Yoda and to the Rebel Alliance that is fighting test prep at McQuarrie Middle School. A note from Princess Labelmaker to Principal Rabbski alerts her to the secret files sent her that demonstrate what is happening at the school with he dreadful test prep package that has replaced electives at the school. Will Rabbski stand up to the district? Will there Rebel Alliance win out over the Dark Side of test prep? Fans of the series will welcome this new entry into the lives of a band of misfits who are brought together by the Origami Yoda and his comrades.

A Nose for Fun

ROSIE AND REX: A NOSE FOR FUN by Bob Boyle. Harper, 2014.

Rosie and Rex don't
Agree on what to do for
Fun. Suggestions, please.

Sir Cumference Strikes Again!

SIR CUMFERENCE AND THE OFF-THE-CHARTS DESSERT by Cindy Neuschwander with illustrations by Wayne Geehan. Charlesbridge, 2014.


As the Harvest Faire approaches, the King and Queen are in a quandary: the Royal Baker is ill. Who might replace him? Two local bakers are placed in competition with one another to see who is the better. They track sales via charts and graphs to determine the winner. I adore this entire series and hope it has found its way into plenty of math classrooms.

Henny

HENNY by Elizabeth Rose Stanton. Simon and Schuster, 2014.

Henny is a chicken born with arms instead of wings. Is this a blessing or a curse? Young readers will adore this book and will pore over the illustrations for the details about Henny's own unique nature.

Poppy the Pirate Dog's New Shipmate

POPPY THE PIRATE DOG'S NEW SHIPMATE by Liz Kessler with illustrations by Mike Phillips. Candlewick, 2014.

Poppy the dog hates
George the new cat but Poppy
Comes to his rescue.

Doggie Duties

FETCH WITH RUFF RUFFMAN: DOGGIE DUTIES by Jeff Michalak. Candlewick, 2014.

Ruff, Chet, and Blossom
Have a big problem: broken
Toilet. Who can help?

The End (Almost)

THE END (ALMOST) by Jim Benton. Scholastic, 2014.

Donut wants to stay
Even after story's end.
Read it again please.

Monster Truck Mania with Hot Rod Hamster

HOT ROD HAMSTER: MONSTER TRUCK MANIA by Cynthia Lord with illustrations by Derek Anderson. Scholastic, 2014.

Hot Rod Hamster loves
The monster truck show. He comes
To a driver's aid.

How to wash a wooly mammoth

HOW TO WSH A WOOLY MAMMOTH by Michelle Robinson with illustrations by Kate Hindley. Holt, 2014.

Washing a mammoth
Can be tough work with all the
Scrubbing and drying.