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Cool New Books for March
Among the interesting and courageous people you'll meet in this month's roundup of cool new books are two girls named Annabel and Sarie, who must try their best to overcome certain challenges. You'll also learn about the extraordinary life of a great civil rights leader, take an adventurous trip to outer space and much more!
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 AKIKO AND THE ALPHA CENTAURI 5000
by Mark Crilley
Delacorte Press
ISBN: 0385729693
Ages 9-12
160 pages
Akiko and her crew --- Spuckler Boach, Mr. Beeba, Poog, and Gax --- are competing in an intergalactic race from one side of the universe to the other. Along the way, they have to make it through the narrow passages of the Labyrinth of Lulla-ma-Waygo, the notorious Almost Black Hole of Luzbert-7 and the deadly Jaws of McVluddapuck. All Akiko wants to do is make it back to Earth in one piece. But when Spuckler discovers that his old rival Bluggamin Streed is also in the race, winning becomes the most important thing. And Akiko quickly finds herself caught up in the competition. Who will go home with the celebrated Centauri Cup? Read this exciting book to find out!
 FINDING ZOLA
by Marianne Mitchell
Boyds Mills Press
ISBN: 1590780701
Ages 9-12
144 pages
Almost a year ago, a car accident changed Crystal's life. The accident killed her father and left her confined to a wheelchair. Now, Crystal and her mother are staying at the home of Grandmother Emilia, who has just passed away. They face the painful task of sorting through Gram's possessions, as well as their own memories. Then Crystal's mother, who is an artist, is offered an opportunity to exhibit her work at a gallery in New Mexico --- of course, she accepts it. With her mother gone, Crystal is left in the care of Zola, a friend of her grandmother's. One day, however, Zola suddenly disappears. Crystal is convinced that she must find Zola as quickly as possible --- before it is too late
 MIDNIGHT FOR CHARLIE BONE
by Jenny Nimmo
Orchard Books
ISBN: 0439474299
Ages 8-12
416 pages
The fabulous powers of the Red King were passed down through his descendants after turning up quite unexpectedly in someone who had no idea where they came from. This is what happened to Charlie Bone and to some of the children he met at Bloor's Academy. Charlie Bone has discovered an unusual gift: he can hear people talking in photographs! His scheming aunts decide to send him to Bloor's Academy, a school for geniuses. Here, Charlie uses his gifts to discover the truth --- despite all the dangers that lie ahead
 MILLIONS TO MEASURE
by David M. Schwartz
illustrated by Steven Kellogg
HarperCollins Juvenile Books
ISBN: 0688129161
Ages 5-12
40 pages
Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician takes readers way back in time to see how systems of measuring developed. Did you know that a foot was once measured with an actual foot? We all know that feet come in different sizes, so you can imagine the confusion that resulted. Marvelosissimo cleverly shows hippos, wrestlers and his magical unicorn being measured in both the English and metric systems. Steven Kellogg's artwork effectively illustrates all the fun and wild confusion, as humankind struggles to agree on a way to measure
 OVERNIGHT
by Adele Griffin
illustrated by Cliff Nielsen
Putnam
ISBN: 0399237828
Ages 9-12
160 pages
Everyone expects Caitlin's sleepover birthday party to be perfect. She is one of the Lucky Seven, the group every sixth-grade girl wants to belong to. But those inside this enchanted circle know it's often less about feeling accepted and more about watching your step. Of the seven, Gray is the easiest target for the others --- and tonight she disappears. As the girls search for her, some of them worry. Others have secrets they're not telling, not even to the police. But it's hard to hide the truth for long; emotions begin to fly, friendships become weaker and a power struggle ensues. The Lucky Seven is in danger of falling apart. In the meantime, Gray will somehow need to find the courage to survive this turbulent night
 SCHOLASTIC VISUAL SPORTS ENCYCLOPEDIA
by Scholastic Reference
ISBN: 0439317215
Ages 9-up
224 pages
This truly captivating book shows kids the rules, moves and strategies of more than 100 sports --- including baseball, skateboarding, water polo, alpine skiing and every imaginable sport in between. Marvelous illustrations show how athletes perform such feats as a toe loop in figure skating, a McTwist in snowboarding and a pass reception in football. THE SCHOLASTIC VISUAL SPORTS ENCYCLOPEDIA has all the sports information children need to either develop or improve their athletic skills
 THE STEPS
by Rachel Cohn
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0689845499
Ages 8-12
144 pages
Annabel has an almost infinite number of "steps" in her life --- they include her stepbrothers, stepsisters and half siblings. She's spending her Christmas vacation in Australia with her father and his new family. What would make Annabel happier than anything in the world is to convince him to come back to the United States with her. But she soon realizes how happy her dad is in Australia. Although she is jealous of his new family, Annabel does want to be a part of it. Can she share her father with them without losing him entirely?
 TADPOLE
by Ruth White
Farrar Straus & Giroux
ISBN: 0374310025
Ages 8-12
208 pages
It's the beginning of summer 1955 and Carolina's family is struggling financially. Each of her older sisters seems to have cut out a niche for herself, but Carolina is still trying to find her own special place in life. Their hardships are eased a bit by the sudden appearance of their favorite cousin, Tadpole, a charismatic thirteen-year-old who has a knack for playing the guitar. Tad sees in Carolina a spirit and talent that no one has noticed before; he predicts that she "is gonna surprise everybody one of these days." Soon, however, Carolina and her family learn the real reason for Tad's visit. The weeks that follow are filled with dread, as the family worries that Tad's abusive guardian will come and take him away. But Tad is not the kind of boy who surrenders to a bully --- and he and Carolina both have surprises in store for everyone.
 ALICIA'S BEST FRIENDS
by Lisa Jahn-Clough
Houghton Mifflin Co.
ISBN: 0618239510
Ages 4-8
32 pages
Alicia has four friends, all of whom are great. But when she decides to throw a best friends party, they all want to know which one of them is her best friend. Is it Mitchell, Charlotte, Henry, Lucy, or Alicia's dog, Neptune? They say she has to choose, but the task is nearly impossible for Alicia. And who can blame her? After all, each one of them is unique. In the end though, Alicia uses honesty and a little creativity to find her own wonderful way of solving the happy dilemma of being blessed with a number of best friends
 ANNA THE BOOKBINDER
by Andrea Cheng
illustrated by Ted Rand
Walker & Co
ISBN: 0802788319
Ages 5-9
32 pages
Anna loves to sit in the corner of her father's workshop and watch him repair books, a job he absolutely loves doing. Unfortunately, new large binderies are stealing her father's business because they can bind books faster than he can. Anna, though, understands what other people do not: their work will not endure nearly as long as her father's.
But many customers value speed over skill. In fact, her father's most important client threatens to pull his business unless his latest order of books is rebound in three days. Anna's father works long hours trying to complete the order, but all seems lost when Anna's pregnant mother goes into labor the night before the order is due. Determined not to let her father fail, Anna decides to take the fate of the family business into her own hands
 EYES AND EARS
by Seymour Simon
HarperCollins Juvenile Books
ISBN: 0688153038
Ages 5-8
32 pages
Every day we use our eyes and ears to explore the world around us. But how exactly do they work? In this informative book, acclaimed science writer Seymour Simon explains the important functions of seeing and hearing. Fifteen full-color photographs feature both the outside and inside of these organs, while detailed illustrations label their essential parts. Readers will also enjoy two mind-boggling optical illusions that demonstrate the brain's role in seeing. Seymour Simon certainly succeeds in making science an interesting and fun subject
 HARVESTING HOPE: The Story of Cesar Chavez
by Kathleen Krull
illustrated by Yuyi Morales
Harcourt Children's Books
ISBN: 0152014373
Ages 6-9
48 pages
Cesar Chavez is known as one of America's greatest civil rights leaders. When he led a 340-mile peaceful protest march through California, he ignited a cause and improved the lives of thousands of migrant farm workers. But Cesar wasn't always a leader. As a boy, he was shy and teased at school. His family worked tirelessly in the fields for barely enough money to survive. Cesar knew things had to change and he thought he could perhaps help change them. So he took charge. He spoke up --- and an entire country listened
 HERE'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU CAN'T FIND YOUR SHOE: (Ingenious Inventions for Pesky Problems)
by Andrea Perry
illustrated by Alan Snow
Atheneum
ISBN: 068983067X
Ages 4-8
40 pages
Do spiders make you jumpy? Stop turning down picnic invitations today and get Acme's Super Spider Spotter. You'll never be surprised by one again! Are you a messy eater? Buy a Crumbunny and watch it eat your problems away! Have you ever tried to walk a llama? It's tricky, but you too can do it with the Heavenly Heights Hitch and Harness! Andrea Perry has come up with a number of creative "inventions" to help you solve some of life's peculiar problems and writes about them in this clever book. Alan Snow includes plenty of images that will have readers laughing out loud
 MOSES GOES TO THE CIRCUS
by Isaac Millman
Farrar Straus & Giroux
ISBN: 0374350647
Ages 4-8
32 pages
Moses and his family are going to the circus. But this isn't just any old circus…this is the Big Apple's Circus of the Senses! In a single ring, there are acts by trapeze artists, acrobats, elephants, horses and clowns --- all specially designed for the deaf, hard-of-hearing and the blind. Though she isn't deaf, Renee (Moses's little sister) is learning sign language and Moses loves teaching her the signs for their day at the circus.
This book takes place in a circus, so it's surely an entertaining read. But it's also highly informative and educational. Detailed diagrams of the signs are included so that readers can learn right along with Renee
 ONCE UPON A TIME
by Niki Daly
Farrar Straus & Giroux
ISBN: 0374356335
Ages 4-8
40 pages
Something is worrying Sarie at school. Every time her teacher tells the class to take out their reading books, Sarie feels sick. The letters in the book all run together and she has a great deal of trouble reading the words. As a result, she stumbles and falters. To make matters worse, some very inconsiderate girls in the back of the room always make fun of her. Only Sarie's old friend, Auntie Anna, seems to understand that letters and words can be difficult things to grasp. And it is Auntie Anna, with the help of a book from her own daughter's childhood, who makes a unique Sunday ritual out of giving Sarie the help she needs. Miraculously, the letters that were once Sarie's enemies are now her friends --- just in time for Sarie to prove herself to the laughing girls at school
 STANLEY, FLAT AGAIN
by Jeff Brown
illustrated by Scott Nash
HarperCollins Juvenile Books
ISBN: 0060095512
Ages 7-10
96 pages
Any Doctor will agree that people are not flat. They are born round and stay that way their entire lives. But not Stanley Lambchop! He has been flat once before, after a bulletin board fell on him. When his brother made him round again by blowing him up with a hose, Stanley thought he would never be flat again.
But then one ordinary morning, Stanley suddenly becomes flat again. This time, though, the hose won't work. Not even Dr. Dan's explanation can really help Stanley understand why so many unusual things keep happening to him. Still, there are things a flat boy can do that a round person can't. And maybe this time, all it will take is one amazing event for everything to finally make sense.
--- Compiled and written by Tom Donadio
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