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Best Books of 2006
As 2006 comes to a close, we at Kidsreads.com have compiled some of our favorite books of the year for children. Of course the major highlight of 2006 was the release of THE END, the final chapter in Lemony Snicket's saga of the Baudelaire orphans. The conclusion of A Series of Unfortunate Events answers the burning questions that fans have been asking ever since THE BAD BEGINNING was published: Will Count Olaf prevail? Will the Baudelaires survive? And will the series end happily?
Other notable series updates in 2006 include ARK ANGEL, book six in Anthony Horowitz's series of adventures starring teen spy Alex Rider; THE LOST COLONY, the fifth installment in Eoin Colfer's blockbuster fantasy series, Artemis Fowl; SIR THURSDAY, which continued Garth Nix's action-packed Keys to the Kingdom series; and SONS OF DESTINY, book twelve in the saga of Darren Shan that marked the end of the Cirque du Freak series. In addition, Louis Sachar returned with SMALL STEPS, the long-awaited follow-up to his 1998 blockbuster HOLES, and the most famous resident of the Plaza Hotel had the starring role in ELOISE IN HOLLYWOOD.
The popular 'Ology series expanded to four volumes this year with PIRATEOLOGY, a magnificent resource for pirate lovers everywhere. And those who fell in love with Dugald A. Steer's DRAGONOLOGY and THE DRAGONOLOGY HANDBOOK couldn't wait to get their hands on THE DRAGON'S EYE, the first in a series of full-length novels known as The Dragonology Chronicles. Also enjoying their debuts this year were Harriet Bean by Alexander McCall Smith, a mystery series featuring a nine-year-old detective and her many aunts, and Araminta Spookie, written by the celebrated author of the bestselling Septimus Heap series.
Additional standouts in 2006 include THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE, in which Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo takes readers on an extraordinary journey involving a rabbit who is lost and waiting to be found; FAIREST, Gail Carson Levine's bold retelling of the Snow White tale; THE WRIGHT 3 by Blue Balliett, the highly anticipated follow-up to CHASING VERMEER (which many referred to as "THE DA VINCI CODE for kids"); and PETER PAN IN SCARLET, the first-ever authorized sequel to J. M. Barrie's timeless masterpiece.
We hope you enjoy our year-end feature and make new discoveries along the way, as you look forward to what lies ahead in 2007.
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Stand-Alone Chapter Books/
Middle Grade Novels
 THE ADVENTURES OF VIN FIZ
Clive Cussler
Philomel Books
ISBN: 0399244743
Ages 7-up
160 pages
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Ten-year-old twins Lacey and Casey Nicefolk, who live on a tiny herb farm in California, wish they could see the world. But how can they, when times are so hard? That's where Sucoh Sucop comes in. The mysterious man leaves the twins a magic box that can transform any toy into a life-sized reality. Soon Casey and Lacey, and their faithful dog Floopy, are soaring cross-country through the sky in the enchanted Vin Fiz, Casey's model of a Wright Brothers biplane. But the ride is anything but a smooth one.
 CINDERELLA (AS IF YOU DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW THE STORY)
Barbara Ensor
Schwartz & Wade Books/Random House
ISBN-10: 0375836209
ISBN-13: 9780375836206
Ages 7-11
128 pages
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Almost everyone is familiar with the Cinderella fairy tale, and some probably think they know all that there is to know about it. But did you remember that Cinderella was such a nice girl --- so smart and funny? Did you know that "Cinderella" was just a nickname? And that her handsome prince loved Jell-o and was a wonderful dancer? Readers will delight in following Cinderella through all the usual happenings, presented in a most unusual way. And they'll finally see what becomes of her after she marries the prince. So maybe you should hear the story one last time. Because it's actually much different from what you might have thought...
 FAIREST
Gail Carson Levine
HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060734086
ISBN-13: 9780060734084
Ages 8-14
336 pages
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The fairy Lucinda has once again given a dreadful gift. This time it's a mysterious magical mirror. The gift is disastrous when it falls into the hands of Aza, who never looks in a mirror if she can help it. In the Kingdom of Ayortha, Aza is most definitely not the fairest of them all. But in a land of singers, she has her own gift: a voice that can do almost anything, a voice that captivates all who hear it. In Ontio Castle, merry Prince Ijori is drawn to it, and Queen Ivi wants to use it for her own ends. Queen Ivi would do anything to remain the fairest in the land.
 FRAMED
Frank Cottrell Boyce
HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060734027
ISBN-13: 9780060734022
Ages 8-up
320 pages
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Here's a few things you should know about Dylan. He's the only boy in his entire town, which means he can't play soccer. His best friends are two pet chickens, and his family owns the world's only gas station/coffee house --- the food is great, but profits are awful. Criminal instincts run in his family; his sister is a mastermind-in-training, and the tax men are after his father for questioning. And one more small thing about nine-year-old Dylan --- the crime of the century has just fallen into his lap.
 GOSSAMER
Lois Lowry
Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books
ISBN-10: 0618685502
ISBN-13: 9780618685509
Ages 10-up
144 pages
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• Author Talk -- May 2006
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Where do dreams come from? What nighttime messengers are the guardians of our most deeply hidden hopes and our half-forgotten fears? Drawing on her rich imagination, two-time Newbery winner Lois Lowry confronts these questions and explores the conflicts between the gentle bits and pieces of the past that come to life in dream, and the darker horrors that find their form in nightmare. In a haunting story that tiptoes between reality and imagination, two people --- a lonely, sensitive woman and a damaged, angry boy --- face their own histories and discover what they can be to one another.
 HEAT
Mike Lupica
Philomel Books
ISBN: 0399243011
Ages 10-up
324 pages
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Michael Arroyo can throw some serious heat, and he dreams of pitching in the Little League World Series. But unfortunately he must deal with the reality of his day-to-day life. Newly orphaned after his father led the family's escape from Cuba, Michael can only rely on his older brother Carlos, who's 17. If Social Services hears of the boys' situation, they either will be separated in the foster care system or sent back to Cuba. Michael and Carlos do their best to carry on alone --- until someone questions how a 12-year-old boy could possibly throw with as much power as Michael Arroyo throws. Michael has no way to prove his age, no birth certificate, and no parent to fight for his cause.
 THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE
Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 0763625892
Ages 7-up
228 pages
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Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely. And then, one day, he was lost.
Kate DiCamillo takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the bedside of an ailing child to the bustling streets of Memphis. And along the way, we are shown a true miracle: even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.
 ROOM ONE: A Mystery or Two
Andrew Clements
illustrated by Brian Sel
Simon & Schuster
ISBN-10: 0689866860
ISBN-13: 9780689866869
Ages 8-12
176 pages
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Ted Hammond loves a good mystery, and in the spring of his fifth-grade year, he's working on a big one. How can his school in the little town of Plattsford stay open next year if there are going to be only five students? But the mystery that has Ted's full attention at the moment is about a face he sees in the upper window of the Andersons' house as he rides past it on his paper route. The Andersons moved away two years ago, and their old farmhouse is empty, boarded up tight. At least it's supposed to be...
 VANISHING ACT: Mystery at the U.S. Open
John Feinstein
Knopf
ISBN-10: 037583592X
ISBN-13: 9780375835926
Ages 10-up
288 pages
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Aspiring sports reporters Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson have kept in touch after their wild time at the Final Four. So when Susan Carol manages to score a press pass to cover the first week of the US Open Tennis Tournament in New York, Stevie works out a way to be there as well. But the disappearance of a young Russian phenom right before her second-round match overshadows all the fun and games. Was she kidnapped? Did she run? Is she even still alive? The rumors are growing wilder by the hour, though they don't even come close to the shocking truth.
Debut Series
The Dragonology Chronicles
 THE DRAGON'S EYE: The Dragonology Chronicles, Volume One
written by Dugald A. Steer
illustrated by Douglas Carrel
Candlewick Press
ISBN-10: 0763628107
ISBN-13: 9780763628109
Ages 9-up
256 pages
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In Volume One of The Dragonology Chronicles, THE DRAGON'S EYE, Daniel Cook and his sister, Beatrice, spend the summer with their parents' eccentric former tutor, Dr. Ernest Drake. Daniel and Beatrice begin to study dragonology and are soon caught up in the race to find the stolen Dragon's Eye jewel --- which has the power to reflect the true Dragon Master --- before it is taken by evil dragonologist Ignatius Crook. The two must work with Dr. Drake --- as well as many friendly dragons --- to foil Ignatius and recover the Dragon's Eye.
Harriet Bean
 Harriet Bean Series
Alexander McCall Smith
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Ages 7-9
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Humor, suspense and a charming cast of characters abound in this delightful mystery series starring nine-year-old Harriet Bean. Fans of Nate the Great or Junie B. Jones will appreciate the antics of Harriet and her aunts as they discover each other and uncover baffling bedlam --- and have loads of fun doing both. These stories manage to feel both up-to-the-minute and enchantingly old-fashioned. Readers of series chapter books won't be able to resist them. Then again, why should they?
Araminta Spookie
 Araminta Spookie Series
Angie Sage
illustrated by Jimmy Pickering
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
Ages 7-10
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Humor, suspense and a charming cast of characters abound in this delightful mystery series starring nine-year-old Araminta Spookie. Fans of Nate the Great or Junie B. Jones will appreciate the antics of Harriet and her aunts as they discover each other and uncover baffling bedlam --- and have loads of fun doing both. These stories manage to feel both up-to-the-minute and enchantingly old-fashioned. Readers of series chapter books won't be able to resist them. Then again, why should they?
Never Land Adventures
 ESCAPE FROM THE CARNIVALE: A Never Land Adventure
Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Disney Editions/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN-10: 0786837896
ISBN-13: 9780786837892
Ages 7-10
144 pages
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Life on Mollusk Island has settled into a regular rhythm after all the excitement surrounding the arrival of Peter, Molly and the pirates. But one day when Little Scallop and a few of her mermaid friends venture beyond the boundaries set by their parents, big trouble awaits them. Then the young mermaid Surf is grabbed by Crookshank's men and taken aboard his ship, the Carnivale. To her shock, Surf finds that Crookshank plans to make her part of his circus at sea --- just another sideshow attraction. Little Scallop, Teacher, James and Surf's twin Aqua devise a plan in an attempt to rescue Surf.
Ulysses Moore
 ULYSSES MOORE #1: THE DOOR TO TIME
Beth Dunfey
Scholastic
ISBN: 0439774381
Ages 9-12
240 pages
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Eleven-year-old twins Jason and Julia have just moved from London to an old mansion on the English coast. Their new home is filled with twisting tunnels and strange artifacts from around the world, and they can't wait to discover all its secrets. Before long, Jason, Julia, and their friend Rick stumble upon a mysterious-looking door hidden behind an old wardrobe. But none of the keys in the house will open it. What lies behind the door? And why has someone tried to conceal it?
 ULYSSES MOORE #2: THE LONG-LOST MAP
Scholastic Inc.
ISBN: 043977439X
Ages 9-12
272 pages
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Jason, Julia and Rick have discovered one of the secrets of Argo Manor --- the Door to Time. Now the door has transported them to Ancient Egypt, a mysterious land of labyrinths, riddles and secrets. But when they're accidentally separated, Julia ends up at Argo Manor again --- and she can't get back to Egypt, or the boys. Now Jason and Rick have to find the long-lost map of Kilmore Cove, hidden somewhere in the past. But where? And with the wicked Oblivia Newton and her servant, Manfred, on their trail, the stakes are higher than ever!
Series Updates
A Series of Unfortunate Events
 THE END: Book the Thirteenth
written by Lemony Snicket
illustrated by Brett Helquist
HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0064410161
ISBN-13: 9780064410168
Ages 10-up
368 pages
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Near the conclusion of THE END, the thirteenth (and final) volume in A Series of Unfortunate Events, our hapless narrator reflects: "Perhaps you do not yet know what the end really means. 'The end' is a phrase which refers to the completion of a story, or the final moment of some accomplishment, such as a secret errand, or a great deal of research, and indeed this thirteenth volume marks the completion of my investigation into the Baudelaire case, which required much research, a great many secret errands, and the accomplishments of a number of my comrades, from a trolley driver to a botanical hybridization expert, with many, many typewriter repairpeople in between."
 THE BEATRICE LETTERS
written by Lemony Snicket
illustrated by Brett Helquist
HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060586583
ISBN-13: 9780060586584
Ages 10-up
72 pages
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Casual readers of A Series of Unfortunate Events know Beatrice best as the subject of each book's dedication. (For example: "For Beatrice- When we met my life began, Soon afterward, yours ended.") More dedicated fans have speculated about this mystery woman, the tragic object of the author's apparent undying love. With THE BEATRICE LETTERS, these die-hard fans have plenty to keep them busy as they struggle to piece together the clues, and the codes, hidden inside. As the author's note on the back cover reads, "Top secret --- only for readers deeply interested in the Baudelaire case. How I pity those readers."
Alex Rider
 ARK ANGEL: An Alex Rider Adventure
Anthony Horowitz
Philomel/Penguin Young Readers Group
ISBN: 0399241523
Ages 8-12
324 pages
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Shot outside the offices of MI6 and left for dead by Scorpia, Alex Rider awakens in a top-secret hospital, looking forward to his release. But when the boy in the next room is the victim of a kidnapping attempt by a terrorist organization known as Force Three, it is Alex who saves him --- only to be kidnapped himself. The boy's father is none other than Nikolei Drevin, a multibillionaire who single-handedly is funding the first luxury hotel in outer space, Ark Angel. Drevin cannot thank Alex enough for coming to his son's rescue and invites him to stay at his lavish estate for two weeks. But soon Alex will learn the truth about this wealthy developer and what he hopes to accomplish with Ark Angel.
Artemis Fowl
 THE LOST COLONY: Artemis Fowl #5
Eoin Colfer
Miramax/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN-10: 0786849568
ISBN-13: 9780786849567
Ages 9-12
400 pages
• Artemis Fowl Series Feature
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Ten thousand years ago, humans and fairies fought a great battle. When the fairies realized they'd never win, they moved their civilization underground and hid. All the families agreed, except the demons. The demons planned to lift themselves out of time until they were ready to wage war on the humans once more. But the spell went wrong, and they were catapulted into Limbo. Now the spell's deterioration is accelerating and the demon materializations are erupting. Even the fairy scientists can't predict the next one. But someone can.
Artemis Fowl, teenage criminal mastermind, has solved temporal equations that no human can. So when a confused and frightened demon pops up in a Sicilian theatre, Artemis is there to meet him. Unfortunately, a second mysterious party has also solved the equations and has managed to abduct the demon. Once again, Artemis will pair up with his old comrade, Captain Holly Short, to track down the missing demon, before the spell dissolves completely and the lost demon colony returns violently to Earth.
'Ology Series
 PIRATEOLOGY: The Pirate Hunter's Companion
Captain William Lubber
edited by Dugald A. Steer
Candlewick Press
ISBN-10: 0763631434
ISBN-13: 9780763631437
Ages 8-up
32 pages
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Avast! There be pirates ahead! From history books, literature and the big screen, figures like Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, Francis Drake, Captain Hook and Jack Sparrow have grabbed hold of our imaginations and whetted our appetites for danger and adventure with their swashbuckling conquests through the seven seas. But have you ever wondered what they were really like --- the sorts of crimes they committed, the drinks they preferred, their weapons of choice, or even their favored attire? Well look no further, because everything you've ever wanted to know --- and so much more --- can be found in PIRATEOLOGY, Dugald A. Steer's guide to these awful but equally awesome figures.
Sequel to PETER PAN
 PETER PAN IN SCARLET: The Official Sequel
Geraldine McCaughrean
Margaret A. McElderry Books/
Simon & Schuster
ISBN-10: 1416918086
ISBN-13: 9781416918080
Ages 9-14
320 pages
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In August 2004 the Special Trustees of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, who hold the copyright for PETER PAN, launched a worldwide search for a writer to create a sequel to J. M. Barrie's timeless masterpiece. Renowned and multi-award-winning English author Geraldine McCaughrean won the honor to write this official sequel. Illustrated by Scott M. Fischer and set in the 1930s, PETER PAN IN SCARLET takes readers flying back to Neverland in an adventure filled with tension, danger and swashbuckling derring-do!
Follow-up to HOLES
 SMALL STEPS
Louis Sachar
Delacorte Press
ISBN: 0385733143
Ages 10-up
272 pages
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In Louis Sachar's highly anticipated follow-up to HOLES, we find Theodore "Armpit" Johnson at home in Austin, Texas. He is trying to turn his life around, two years after being released from Camp Green Lake. The only person who believes in him is Ginny, his 10-year-old disabled neighbor; together, they are learning to take small steps. And he seems to be on the right path, until X-Ray, an acquaintance from Camp Green Lake, comes up with a get-rich-quick scheme. This leads to a chance encounter with teen pop sensation Kaira DeLeon, and suddenly his life spins out of control. Only one thing is for certain --- Armpit will never be the same again.
Sequel to CHASING VERMEER
 THE WRIGHT 3
Blue Balliett
illustrated by Brett Helquist
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0439693675
Ages 9-12
318 pages
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Spring semester at the Lab School in Hyde Park finds Petra and Calder drawn into another mystery when unexplainable accidents and ghostly happenings throw a spotlight on Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, and it's up to the two young sleuths to piece together the clues. They become tangled in a dangerous web thanks to the return of Calder's friend Tommy (which creates a tense triangle), H.G. Wells's THE INVISIBLE MAN, 3D pentominoes, and the hunt for a coded message left behind by Wright.
The Gatekeepers
 EVIL STAR: Book Two of The Gatekeepers
Anthony Horowitz
Scholastic Press
ISBN-10: 0439679966
ISBN-13: 9780439679961
Ages 10-up
320 pages
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• The Gatekeepers Series
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Matt thought his troubles were over when he closed Raven's Gate...but in fact they were just beginning. His fate --- and the fate of the world --- is tied to four other kids across the globe. The second is a street kid in Peru. He and Matt have never met; they don't even speak the same language. But destiny is going to throw them together as the evil threat of the Old Ones grows...and another Gate suddenly comes into play.
The Keys to the Kingdom
 SIR THURSDAY: The Keys to the Kingdom, Book Four
Garth Nix
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0439700876
Ages 9-12
352 pages
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Following their adventures in the Border Sea, Arthur and Leaf head for home. But only Leaf gets through the Front Door. Arthur is blocked because someone, or something, has assumed his identity and is taking over his life. Before Arthur can take action, he's drafted by Sir Thursday and forced to join the Glorious Army of the Architect. Arthur must survive his basic training, avoid getting posted to the Front, and figure out how he can free Part Four of the Will.
Cirque du Freak
 LORD OF THE SHADOWS: Cirque du Freak Series, Book #11
Darren Shan
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 0316156280
Ages 10-up
240 pages
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• Cirque Du Freak Series
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Darren Shan is going home --- and his world is going to hell. Old enemies await. Scores must be settled. Destiny looks certain to destroy him, and the world is doomed to fall to the Ruler of the Night...
The stage is set for the terrifying final installment in the Cirque Du Freak series.
Cirque du Freak
 SONS OF DESTINY: Book 12 in the Saga of Darren Shan
Darren Shan
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN-10: 0316156299
ISBN-13: 9780316156295
Ages 10-up
256 pages
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• Cirque du Freak Series Feature
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Time seemed to collapse... There was a sharp stabbing sensation in my stomach... Steve crowed, "Now I have you! Now you're gonna die!"
Dead if he loses --- doomed if he wins. The time has finally come for Darren to face his archenemy, Steve Leopard. One of them will die. The other will become the Lord of the Shadows --- and destroy the world.
Is the future written, or can Darren trick destiny?
Sequel to PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS
 PETER AND THE SHADOW THIEVES
Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Disney Editions/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN: 078683787X
Ages 9-12
576 pages
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In this riveting and adventure-packed follow-up to PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS, we discover Peter leaving the relative safety of Mollusk Island --- along with his trusted companion Tinker Bell --- for the cold, damp streets of London. On a difficult journey across the sea, he and Tink discover the dark and deadly, slithering part-man/part-creature Lord Ombra. It seems that the dreaded Ombra has a variety of mysterious powers including the ability to make shadows disappear.
When Peter reaches London, he sets out to find the indomitable Molly. Together they must combat Ombra's terrible forces to protect the Starcatchers and the treasured starstuff --- and most importantly to rescue Molly's mother from the clutches of evil.
Septimus Heap
 FLYTE: Septimus Heap, Book Two
Angie Sage
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060577347
ISBN-13: 9780060577346
Ages 9-up
544 pages
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In the continuing story of Septimus Heap, it's been a year since Septimus discovered his real family and true calling to be a wizard. As Apprentice to ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand, he's learning the fine arts of Conjurations, Charms and other Magyk, while Jenna is adapting to life as the Princess. But Marcia is being stalked by a menacing Darke Shadow, and Septimus's brother Simon has returned with a vengeance. Why is the Darke Magyk still lingering?
Chronicles of Ancient Darkness
 SPIRIT WALKER: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #2
Michelle Paver
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060728280
Ages 10-up
368 pages
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WOLF BROTHER introduced readers to Torak, a boy who can talk to wolves and whose mission it is to vanquish the Soul-Eaters. As the Moon of No Dark intensifies in this second installment, the clans fall prey to a horrifying sickness. Fear stalks the Forest, and the very breath of spring seems poisoned. No one knows the cause --- and only Torak can find the cure. His quest takes him across the sea to the mysterious islands of the Seal Clan. Here Torak battles an unseen menace and uncovers a betrayal that will change his life forever.
Mercy Watson
 MERCY WATSON GOES FOR A RIDE
Kate DiCamillo
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 0763623326
Ages 6-10
80 pages
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Mr. and Mrs. Watson's portly pig, Mercy, loves nothing more than a ride in the car. It takes a fair amount of nudging and bribing to get her out of the driver's seat. But once the convertible is on the road, Mercy loves the feel of the wind tickling her ears and the sun on her snout. One day the Watsons' elderly neighbor, Baby Lincoln, pops up in the backseat hoping for some "folly and adventure" --- and in the chaos that ensues, an exuberant Mercy ends up behind the wheel!
 MERCY WATSON FIGHTS CRIME
Kate DiCamillo
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 0763625906
Ages 6-8
80 pages
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Leroy Ninker wants to be a cowboy, but right now he's just a thief. In fact, he's robbing the Watsons' kitchen right now! As he drags the toaster across the counter and drops it into his bag, he doesn't realize that a certain large pig who loves toast with a great deal of butter is stirring from sleep. And never could he have guessed that a comedy of errors (not to mention the buttery sweets in his pocket) will soon lead this little man on the wild and raucous rodeo ride he's always dreamed of.
Amelia Bedelia
 AMELIA BEDELIA UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Herman Parish
Greenwillow Books
ISBN-10: 0060843446
ISBN-13: 9780060843441
Ages 6-up
64 pages
• Amelia Bedelia Series
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In Herman Parish's latest laugh-out-old offering, Amelia Bedelia has come to babysit Angela and Andrew Hardy while their mother goes to the doctor. Sounds simple enough, right? Wrong! Before long, the three of them are knee-deep in home renovation projects, including an attempt to fulfill Mrs. Hardy's wish for marble countertops...by covering them with real marbles, of course!
Geronimo Stilton
 GERONIMO STILTON Series
Geronimo Stilton
Scholastic Paperbacks
Ages 7-10
• Reviews of Books 23-27
• Geronimo Stilton Series Feature
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This year, Geronimo Stilton tried to have a memorable February 14th in VALENTINE'S DAY DISASTER, spent time with his nephew Benjamin and Benjamin's fellow classmates in FIELD TRIP TO NIAGARA FALLS, sought out precious diamonds in THE SEARCH FOR SUNKEN TREASURE, visited the Egyptian Mouseum in THE MUMMY WITH NO NAME, and did his best impression of Scrooge in THE CHRISTMAS TOY FACTORY.
Companion to NORY RYAN'S SONG and MAGGIE'S DOOR
 WATER STREET
Patricia Reilly Giff
Wendy Lamb Books/Random House
ISBN-10: 0385730683
ISBN-13: 9780385730686
Ages 9-12
176 pages
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Brooklyn, 1875: Bird Mallon, who lives on Water Street, wants nothing more in life than to be brave enough to be a healer, like her mother Nory, to help her sister Annie find love, and to convince her brother Hughie to stop fighting for money with his street gang. And of course, she wishes that a girl would move into the empty apartment upstairs so she can have a new friend close by. But the new residents turn out to be Thomas Neary and his father. Thomas's dad spends each night at the Tavern down the street, and this lonely boy has a secret that only Bird suspects.
Pop-Up Books
 ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters
Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart
Candlewick Press
ISBN-10: 076362229X
ISBN-13: 9780763622299
Ages 5-up
12 pages
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Throughout history, there have been many stories and legends of mythical, larger-than-life sea creatures --- Leviathan, Kraken, the Loch Ness Monster. It seems that a lot of people are fascinated by the ocean and the mysterious life that dwells in its depths. However, ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: SHARKS AND OTHER SEA MONSTERS by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart proves that as frightful and fascinating as these myths are, nothing is more hair-raising and captivating to the imagination than the real-life monsters that once stormed the seas centuries ago.
 MOMMY?
Maurice Sendak, Arthur Yorinks and Matthew Reinhart
Michael di Capua Books/Scholastic
ISBN-10: 0439880505
ISBN-13: 9780439880503
Ages 4-8
12 pages
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For decades, author and illustrator Maurice Sendak has enchanted children with his timeless tales and fanciful artwork. He tickles the imagination once again in MOMMY?, teaming up with renowned children's author Arthur Yorinks (HAPPY BEES!, QUACK!) and paper engineer extraordinaire Matthew Reinhart (Encyclopedia Prehistorica, CINDERELLA: A POP-UP FAIRY TALE) to create a three-dimensional adventure full of charm, laughs and a couple of spine-tingling chills and thrills.
 SABUDA & REINHART PRESENT - CASTLE: Medieval Days and Knights
Kyle Olmon
illustrated by Tracy Sabin
Orchard Books/Scholastic
ISBN-10: 043954324X
ISBN-13: 9780439543248
Ages 5-up
6 pages
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With images of fair damsels and knights in shining armor, as well as legends like those of King Arthur and Robin Hood, it's no wonder the Middle Ages remain one of the most intriguing and enchanting periods in history. From the studio of famed pop-up artists Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart, paper engineer Kyle Olmon and illustrator Tracy Sabin bring readers back in time to the days of yore in this soon-to-be-classic pop-up book, CASTLE: MEDIEVAL DAYS AND KNIGHTS.
Picture Books
 THE BERENSTAIN BEARS GO ON VACATION
Stan & Jan Berenstain
illustrated by Mike Berenstain
HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060574313
ISBN-13: 9780060574314
Ages 4-8
32 pages
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It's summer vacation, and the Berenstain Bears are off to the seashore for sun and fun. There is so much to do --- swimming, fishing, building sand castles, browsing through the general store, eating delicious dinners. Even a rainy day becomes a fun day with a visit to Gull Island Museum. Days at the shore pass quickly, and the Berenstain Bears must head home. They know it will be hard to leave this place, but Gull Island will always be waiting for them next summer.
 EATS, SHOOTS & LEAVES: Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference!
Lynne Truss
illustrated by Bonnie Timmons
G. P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN-10: 0399244913
ISBN-13: 9780399244919
Ages 5-8
32 pages
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The adult edition of EATS, SHOOTS & LEAVES has sold over 2 million copies worldwide while putting a huge smile on the face of all grammar fans. Now, Lynne Truss and Bonnie Timmons focus on the comma, demonstrating the hilarious confusion that this crucial punctuation mark can cause. Lively illustrations show how misplacing or leaving out a comma can change the meaning of a sentence completely.
 ELOISE IN HOLLYWOOD
Kay Thompson
based on the art of Hilary Knight
written by J. David Stem and David N. Weiss; illustrated by Ted Enik
Simon & Schuster
ISBN-10: 0689842899
ISBN-13: 9780689842894
Ages 4-8
70 pages
• Eloise Series
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It only makes sense that Eloise, the shining star of The Plaza, would visit Hollywood. In 1957, on the set of the movie Funny Face, Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight first thought Eloise might go to La-La Land. Now, at last, after a trip to Paris, a lovely Christmas, a voyage to Moscow and a rawther bubbly bawth, Eloise will make her silver screen debut.
 IS THERE REALLY A HUMAN RACE?
written by Jamie Lee Curtis
illustrated by Laura Cornel
Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060753463
ISBN-13: 9780060753467
40 pages
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When the hero of Jamie Lee Curtis's new book asks, "Is there really a human race?" his imagination is off and running. He wonders, is the "race" an obstacle course or a relay? Does he get his own coach and his own lane? Did the "race" start on his birthday? This funny and touching fantasy is about the moment a child recognizes that there is a great big world to understand.
 LUCILLE LOST: A True Adventure
Margaret George and Christopher J. Murphy, DVM, PhD
illustrated by Bob Dacey and Debra Bandelin
Viking Children's Books
ISBN-10: 0670060933
ISBN-13: 9780670060931
Ages 6-up
32 pages
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Lucille, a pet Burmese tortoise, has found a way out of her safe pen. Now she'll have the adventure she's always wanted! After meeting a nice, old tortoise, and a not-so-nice snapping turtle in a nearby forest, Lucille discovers that adventure can be more scary than fun. And little does she know but her human family is heartbroken that she's missing and has organized a neighborhood search. Will they ever find her?
 A MILLION DOTS
Andrew Clements
illustrated by Mike Reed
Simon & Schuster
ISBN-10: 0689858248
ISBN-13: 9780689858246
Ages 4-8
48 pages
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It's a long way to a million, right? Of course it is. But do we really know what a million looks like? In this one-of-a-kind picture book, be prepared to see one million dots on the page --- and learn some interesting things along the way. You'll discover how many shoeboxes it takes to make a stack to Mount Everest, and how many times the average person's heart beats along the way. Be prepared to be amazed!
 OLIVIA FORMS A BAND
Ian Falconer
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster
ISBN-10: 141692454X
ISBN-13: 9781416924548
Ages 3-7
44 pages
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There are going to be fireworks tonight, and Olivia can hardly wait to hear the band. But when she finds out that there isn't going to be a band, she can't understand why not. How can there be fireworks without a band?! And so Olivia decides to put a band together herself...all by herself. Using pots, pans, her brother's toys, and even her father's suspenders, Olivia forms a band spectacular enough to startle any audience. Lavishly brought to life in Ian Falconer's signature style, and introducing an eye-catching shade of blue, here is Olivia doing what she does best -- making noise.
 PROBUDITI!
Chris Van Allsburg
Houghton Mifflin
ISBN-10: 0618755020
ISBN-13: 9780618755028
All ages
32 pages
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For his birthday, Calvin's mother gives him two tickets to see Lomax the Magnificent, magician and hypnotist extraordinaire. Calvin and his friend Rodney are greatly impressed by Lomax's performance, and they decide to make Calvin's sister Trudy the first subject for their own hypnotizing machine. Much to the boys' surprise, the machine works. Unfortunately, though, they cannot undo what they've already done --- Trudy is stuck in a trance and convinced she's a dog! Calvin can't remember Lomax's magic word (Probuditi!) so Calvin and Rodney decide to take Trudy to the one man they know can solve their problem. But will Lomax help them?
 WHERE'S WALDO? THE GREAT PICTURE HUNT!
Martin Handford
Candlewick Press
ISBN-10: 0763630438
ISBN-13: 9780763630430
Ages 6-up
24 pages
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For almost two decades, everyone's favorite red-and-white-striped traveler and his equally colorful associates have been globetrotting, time traveling, traipsing across tinsel town, and even journeying through the imagination in Martin Handford's classic Where's Waldo? series. After nine years, the elusive Waldo is finally back with an all-new adventure through the art world in THE GREAT PICTURE HUNT!
--- Compiled and written by Tom Donadio
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