Cool New Books for May
In this month's roundup of cool new books, we spotlight the return of two popular series --- Cirque du Freak and Nancy Drew (All New) Girl Detective --- and Louise Erdrich's captivating sequel to THE BIRCHBARK HOUSE, a National Book Award Finalist. May also marks the release of two picture books that tie in perfectly to Father's Day --- one written by Jason Alexander of "Seinfeld" and the other by former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman. And let's not forget the visual treat served up by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, who help readers look for Art in New York City's Museum of Modern Art.
Chapter Books
 ARTHUR AND THE MINIMOYS
Luc Besson
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060596236
Ages 8-12
240 pages
Arthur's grandfather disappeared four years ago. All he left behind were his notebooks full of stories about little-known African tribes --- including the Minimoys, a miniature people who are less than one inch tall. But the Minimoys can't possibly be real, can they? Arthur is about to find out, as he uncovers a hidden message that leads him on an adventure wilder than he had ever imagined. In just three days, he must find a way to the land of the Minimoys, recover a stolen treasure, battle an invading force of mosquito-riding warriors, defeat an evil wizard, win the heart of a very independent princess --- and somehow get back home again.
 THE BOOK WITHOUT WORDS: A Fable of Medieval Magic
Avi
Hyperion
ISBN: 0786808292
Ages 8-12
208 pages
In the ancient Northumbrian town of Fulwich, there is an old man named Thorston who nobody knows. His plan is to stay alive forever thanks to The Book Without Words, which contains the secret of immortality. But to make this secret a reality, he must sacrifice Odo, a coal-black raven, and Sybil, his thirteen-year-old servant. Just as Thorston is on the brink of immortality, Sybil decides she wants to live her own life, and Odo wants the gold he believes Thorston has made. Who will live? Who will die? And who will get the gold?
 CLEMENCY POGUE: Fairy Killer
J. T. Petty
illustrated by Will Davis
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0689872364
Ages 8-12
128 pages
• Read a Review
When a wicked, invincible fairy attacks Clemency Pogue, he remembers the story of Peter Pan and repeatedly shouts "I don't believe in fairies!" until the horrible little creature drops dead. But then a mischievous hobgoblin arrives to tell Clemency that her declaration has also killed six other fairies, some bad but mostly good. Even if it was a mistake, it is now Clemency's duty to right the wrongs she set in motion.
 THE GAME OF SILENCE
Louise Erdrich
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060297891
Ages 8-12
272 pages
• Read a Review
In this sequel to the National Book Award nominee THE BIRCHBARK HOUSE, Louise Erdrich continues the story of Omakayas, a young Ojibwe girl who lives with her family on an island in Lake Superior during the mid-1800s.
The lives of the Ojibwe have returned to a familiar rhythm in THE GAME OF SILENCE: they build their birchbark houses in the summer, go to the ricing camps in the fall to harvest and feast, and move to their cozy cedar log cabins near the town of LaPointe before the first snowfall. But the satisfying routines of Omakayas's days are interrupted by a surprise visit from a group of desperate and mysterious people. The chimookomanag, or white men, want Omakayas and her people to leave their island and move farther west.
 KILLERS OF THE DAWN: Book #9
Cirque du Freak Series
Darren Shan
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 0316156264
Ages 8-12
224 pages
• Read a Review and Excerpt
Outnumbered, outsmarted and desperate, the hunters are on the run, pursued by the vampaneze, the police, and an angry mob. With their enemies clamoring for blood, the vampires prepare for a deadly battle. Is this the end for Darren Shan and his allies?
 MALIBU CARMIE
Leah Komaiko
Delacorte Press
ISBN: 0385731728
Ages 8-12
256 pages
"Change" is what Carmie Hoffman wants more than anything --- a thinner body, a more beautiful face, someone who thinks she's special, and a reason to stop worrying about her clinically depressed mother. This last wish appears to come true when she finds out for the first time that her mom used to be a Malibu surfer. Carmie now has visions of starting a new life with her mom in Malibu Beach; in her movie notebook, Carmie writes herself a starring role as a glamorous, gorgeous surf star. But not everything is as easy as it is in the movies, and Carmie learns that her mom is a much more complicated and wonderful person than she ever knew.
 RIVERBOAT RUSE: Nancy Drew (All New) Girl Detective #11
Carolyn Keene
Aladdin
ISBN: 0689873352
Ages 8-12
160 pages
A whodunit dinner on a restored riverboat turns into a real quest to find some stolen jewels. Mrs. Cornelius Mahoney's necklace is swiped right off her neck! Fortunately, Nancy, George and Bess are there --- but will they be able to reel in "sticky fingers" before this dinner cruise is sunk?
 THE SPOON IN THE BATHROOM WALL
Tony Johnston
Harcourt Children's Books
ISBN: 0152052925
Ages 8-12
144 pages
• Read a Review
Living in the Bloggins School boiler room is Martha Snapdragon, daughter of the school's janitor. Life gets even stranger for Martha when she realizes that some bizarre events are taking place at the school. Among them: the dastardly dealings of evil principal Dr. Klunk and school bully Rufus, and a giant golden spoon that simply appears one day, stuck in the wall of the school bathroom. Although everyone tries, only Martha is able to remove the spoon from the wall, which leads her to a destiny far beyond her life in the boiler room.
Picture Books
 DAD, ARE YOU THE TOOTH FAIRY?
Jason Alexander
illustrated by Ron Spears
Orchard Books
ISBN: 0439667453
Ages 4-8
32 pages
When Gaby overhears some older kids on the playground saying that the tooth fairy is just make-believe, he goes straight to his father to find out the truth. His dad tells him an enchanting tale of a time long ago when mysterious and magical creatures lived on the earth. For any child who has ever wondered about the existence of the tooth fairy, this original and reassuring story will give them the power to believe that magical things can indeed happen.
 LET GEORGE DO IT!
George Foreman
story by Fran Manushkin and illustrated by Whitney Martin
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0689878079
Ages 4-8
32 pages
George has four brothers, all named George. It's their father Big George's birthday, and everyone wants to help. Even though Mrs. George tries to assign each boy a job, nothing is easy in a family of Georges.
George Foreman, two-time heavyweight boxing champ of the world (who has five sons of his own named George), has written a laugh-out-loud book about an unusual family.
 SEEN ART?
Jon Scieszka
illustrated by Lane Smith
Viking Children's Books
ISBN: 0670059862
All ages
48 pages
The narrator told his friend Art that he would meet him on the corner of Fifth and Fifty-Third. When he doesn't spot him, he asks a lady if she has seen Art. She replies, "MoMA?...Just down Fifty-Third Street here." The address turns out to be the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and as the narrator continues looking for his friend, he views some of the best pieces of modern art.
People of all ages will love this book's playful illustrations and full-color reproductions of the artwork, as Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith help readers gain a deeper appreciation of modern art.
 UNDER THE WILD WESTERN SKY
Jim Arnosky
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0688171214
Ages 7-up
32 pages
The American Southwest has a wide variety of unique wildlife --- prairie dogs, buffalo, desert cottontail, and several kinds of rattlesnakes and cacti. Traveling west of the Rocky Mountains into the canyon lands and deserts, acclaimed artist and naturalist Jim Arnosky shares facts and observations about the landscape and animals found in this fascinating area.
--- Compiled and written by Tom Donadio
Back to top.
|
