Cool New Books for July

For many of us, the summer season can be summed up in one word: vacation! But there's no need to leave your house or apartment if you're looking for a change of scenery, because the cool new books we've assembled this month will transport you to strange and exciting places: under water, through outer space, and into a magical world populated by elves, fairies and other mythical creatures. Along the way, meet a number of famous people from different walks of life who have each made major contributions to America, and travel back in time to the year 1587 to try to solve a mystery that has puzzled people for years!

DIVIDE
Elizabeth Kay
The Chicken House/Scholastic
ISBN: 0439456967
Ages 9-12
320 pages

When Felix's parents take him to "The Divide" --- a spot in Costa Rica where the waters that run down to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans separate --- Felix finds himself in a magical world filled with all kinds of mythical creatures. Here he meets Betony, an elf who he soon becomes friends with. As he explores this new world, Felix eventually discovers that the fairies and mythical beasts think he is a legendary creature who uses practical science instead of magic. Will Felix ever find his way back home...and will he want to?

LITTLE VAMPIRE GOES TO SCHOOL
Joann Sfar
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0689857179
Ages 10-up
40 pages

In this entertaining picture book that reads very much like a comic, Little Vampire is tired of living in a haunted mansion with monsters for company. He desperately wants someone his own age to play with, so he begs his family to let him go to school. To avoid being seen by humans, he can only go out at night and he begins a pen-pal relationship with Michael, a little boy who attends school in the daytime. Despite everyone's warnings, Little Vampire and Michael explore each other's worlds and learn what it means to be a true friend.

REBEL
Willo Davis Roberts
Atheneum
ISBN: 0689850735
Ages 8-12
160 pages

As her name may suggest, Rebel was a difficult child to deal with. As a toddler, she resisted strained spinach and potty training. At five, she refused to go to kindergarten. Now at fourteen, she is not as rebellious as she once was. Yet she still feels the need to deal with a challenge head-on, despite the opinions and advice of others.

When Rebel and her friend Moses witness some strange incidents, they decide to investigate the matter themselves rather than going directly to the police. A bizarre robbery, an open door in the middle of the night, and muddy footprints are all clues that lead Rebel and Moses to more questions than answers --- but they still won't go for help. Little do they know the danger that awaits them.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK OF OUTSTANDING AMERICANS
Sheila Keenan
Scholastic Reference
ISBN: 0439283582
Ages 9-13
256 pages

This fabulous collection of mini-biographies details the lives and accomplishments of noteworthy Americans from all walks of life --- athletes, astronauts, founding fathers, suffragists, artists, scientists, judges, outlaws, presidents, and chiefs. Each of the nearly 500 entries includes a photograph and a description of what made that person famous. There are two entries per page, in addition to 34 full-page extended entries and a quotation from one of the outstanding Americans that runs across each spread.

So if you'd like to learn about the fascinating lives of some very interesting people (including Pocahontas, Rosa Parks, Ben Franklin, Babe Ruth, and Bill Gates), then this book is a must-read.

ANDREW LOST: UNDER WATER - Book 5
ANDREW LOST Series
J.C. Greenburg
Random House
ISBN: 0375825231
Ages 7-10
96 pages

They're baaaack! After getting unshrunk, Andrew, Judy and Thudd take a much-needed vacation to Hawaii. But when Andrew tries to make a few improvements to Uncle Al's latest invention --- the submarine-like Water Bug --- he ends up trapping himself, Judy and Thudd inside! Now the Water Bug is stuck on autopilot and headed for the deepest ocean. Can they regain control of the Water Bug before they're lost underwater forever?

COWBOY BOY
James Proimos
Scholastic
ISBN: 0439416817
Ages 7-10
96 pages

Ricky Smootz is terrified of starting middle school. He and his best friend, Fred Bologna, just KNOW they are targets for bully Keanu Dungston and his henchman. Ricky's Grandma, whom he loves very much, reminds him that his great, great, great third cousin was a cowboy, and he specialized in running bullies out of Dodge. So when Keanu wedgies him on the first day of school, Ricky summons the courage of his ancestor, finds an old Halloween costume, and becomes . . . Cowboy Boy!

LEONARDO, BEAUTIFUL DREAMER
Robert Byrd
Dutton Books
ISBN: 0525470336
Ages 7-10
40 pages

Leonardo da Vinci falls into many different categories: a painter, musician, philosopher, sculptor, an engineer for dukes, popes and kings --- even a prankster! His ambitious, unpredictable brilliance is evident in all that remains of his work. This glowing picture book celebrates Leonardo's magnificent life and accomplishments with twenty lavish spreads, which includes side drawings, supplemental texts, and quotes from Leonardo's writings. With this one short book, Robert Byrd has made Leonardo's art, jokes, explorations, and inventions come alive for all to appreciate.

ROANOKE: The Lost Colony--An Unsolved Mystery from History
Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple
illustrated by Roger Roth
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0689823215
Ages 6-up
32 pages

In 1587 Sir Walter Raleigh chose John White to lead a new colony at Roanoke off the Atlantic coast. After bringing lots of men, women and children to the new land, White went back to England to gather supplies for the long winter. But when he finally returned to the fort almost three years later, he discovered that all of the colonists were gone. The only signs of life left were the letters CRO carved into a tree and the word CROATOAN carved into one of the fort's posts.

There are many theories surrounding their disappearance, but no one knows for sure. Now it's your turn. As you read this true story, study the clues and try to figure out for yourself what really happened. Make sure you read very carefully and check your clues. Who knows? You might be the very first person to solve a mystery that has baffled people for years.

THEY'LL BELIEVE ME WHEN I'M GONE
Amy Axelrod and Jack E. Davis
Dutton Books
ISBN: 0525466606
Ages 5-8
32 pages

Max is convinced that aliens are coming for him --- and he can't wait! Living with aliens will be so much better than living with his annoying big brother and listening to his father's boring questions about school. His alien mom won't make him eat broccoli or wear clean underwear, and playing basketball will be no problem in outer space, where there's little gravity. Neither Max's family members nor his friends believe him --- even though he's an expert on space --- but they'll be surprised when he's gone.

--- Compiled and written by Tom Donadio

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