THE KING IN THE WINDOW
Adam Gopnik
Disney Children's Books
ISBN: 078681862X
Ages 10-up
416 pages

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Oliver Parker is a 10-year-old American boy miserably stuck in Paris. Intimidated by his French school, Oliver longs to return home. But one January night, while wearing a paper crown and looking out the window, he sees an amazing vision --- the reflection of a boy in 17th century dress gazing back at him. Oliver's pursuit of the boy leads him to a terrifying secret. He learns he has kingly powers, and with no weapons other than his mind, he must take on an extraordinary mission

THE KINGDOM KEEPERS
Ridley Pearson
Disney Editions
ISBN: 0786854448
Ages 10-14
352 pages

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When Disney comes looking for five teenagers to serve as actors for a new technology -- Daylight Hologram Images, or DHIs -- there is more to it than meets the eye.

Finn Whitman, a middle-schooler, goes to sleep one night and has the dream of a lifetime: he "wakes up" inside Walt Disney World as his DHI character, a glowing hologram. He meets an old man there, Wayne, who claims to be one of the original Imagineers and explains to Finn that he "and your friends" have a mission to save the park from forces that humans can neither see nor hear. Back in real life, Finn sets out to find the four other kids who were chosen to be DHIs and in the process learns an eerie fact: he is not alone in this "dream." The five kids must solve the Stonecutter's Quill, a puzzle/fable left behind by Walt Disney --- and the solution of each phase of the puzzle involves a different ride in the park.

LAST SHOT: A Final Four Mystery
John Feinstein
Knopf
ISBN: 0375831681
Ages 10-up
256 pages

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Stevie Thomas is one of two lucky winners of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's contest for aspiring journalists. His reward? A trip to New Orleans and a press pass for the Final Four! But it turns out that the behind-the-scenes action involving coaches, the players, the media, and the fans is more fiercely competitive than anything that transpires on the court. Stevie and his fellow winner, Susan Carol Anderson, overhear what sounds like a threat to throw the championship game. They have just 48 hours to figure out who is blackmailing one of Michigan State's star players --- and why.

LUNCH MONEY
Andrew Clements
illustrated by Brian Selznick
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0689866836
Ages 8-12
224 pages

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Greg Kenton always has had a natural talent for making money. Just before sixth grade, he learns that nearly every kid at school has an extra quarter or two to spend almost every day. So Greg decides to take advantage of this amazing discovery by selling his peers comic books that he writes and illustrates himself. The teachers and principals should have no problem with this --- after all, school always encourages reading, writing, creativity and individual initiative, right?

THE NUTTY NEWS
Ron Barrett
Knopf
ISBN: 037582751X
Ages 10-up
80 pages

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• Author Interview -- November 8, 2005
• Read an Excerpt Online
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If you've been reading newspapers lately and saddened by all the bad news, then we have some good news for you: THE NUTTY NEWS is here! This crazy newspaper is filled with nothing but hilarious news, features and advertisements. They include such headlines as "One-Minute-a-Day School Opens," an interview with New York's first teddy bear cab driver, a weather forecast prepared by the United States Bureau of Guessing, Your Horoscope, and other items that will make you laugh out loud.

THE PENDERWICKS: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
Jeanne Birdsall
Knopf
ISBN: 0375831436
Ages 9-12
272 pages

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In Jeanne Birdsall's debut novel, winner of the 2005 National Book Award, the Penderwick sisters share a memorable summer with a local boy while vacationing with their widowed father, much to the dismay of his snobbish mother. Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle and excerpted.

REPLAY
Sharon Creech
Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060540192
Ages 8-12
240 pages

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Twelve-year-old Leo dreams of being a big star on Broadway. People call him "fog boy" because he's always dreaming and replaying things in his brain. He fantasizes about who he is in order to discover who he will become. As an actor in his school's play, he is ready for the curtain to open, confident in his acting abilities. But in real life, Leo is eager to find out exactly where he fits in

THE SECRET APARTMENT
Natalie Fast
Delacorte Press
ISBN: 0385746717
Ages 8-12
192 pages

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Eleven-year-old Jillian's life is changing and she's not happy about it. First of all, her mother got remarried and they moved from their house in Pennsylvania to her new stepfather's apartment in New York City. Second, her new stepfather has a daughter, which means Jillian now has a stepsister. And finally, Jillian is being sent to camp for the summer.

But she gets a break when Mrs. Whiteflower in the penthouse apartment asks her to catsit for the summer. Mrs. Whiteflower's apartment offers a great view of the windows in the building across the street. Watching the neighbors is fun --- until Jillian and her new friend Emily see something that doesn't look right. And it's up to them to save the day.

THE TIME HACKERS
Gary Paulsen
Wendy Lamb Books/Random House
ISBN: 0385746598
Ages 9-12
96 pages

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Seventh-grader Dorso Clayman and his pal Frank have been the target of some strange practical jokes. Somebody has hacked into the time line, and things from the past are appearing in the present. Soon, the jokes aren't funny anymore --- they become dangerous. Dorso and Frank must beat the time hackers at their own game by breaking the code, before they get lost in the past themselves.

Picture Books

THE 2000 YEAR OLD MAN GOES TO SCHOOL
Mel Brooks & Carl Reiner
illustrated by James Bennett
HarperCollins
ISBN: 006076676X
Ages 4-8
40 pages

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About four days ago, a plane landed in America with a man who claimed to be 2000 years old. Today, that man is visiting a school to tell the children of the world what it's like to be 2000 years old. Among the things you'll learn: what transportation the 2000 Year Old Man used, what language he spoke, and what food he ate.

Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner have brought their classic 2000 Year Old Man character to school for an unforgettable show-and-tell exhibit. A CD of Brooks and Reiner performing the text is included with the book.

DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT MUMMIES
Kenneth C. Davis
illustrated by S. D. Schindler
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060287810
Ages 6-9
48 pages

• www.dontknowmuch.com/kids

What do mummies have in common with raisins? What did a well-dressed mummy wear? Did mummy makers ever make mistakes?

These questions and many others are answered in this book by bestselling author Kenneth C. Davis as he unwraps the fascinating history of mummies from around the world. Quotes, fact-filled sidebars, fun pop quizzes, and hilarious art are also featured in Davis's trademark question-and-answer format.

ELOISE: THE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Kay Thompson
illustrated by Hilary Knight
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 1416908234
All Ages
80 pages

• Eloise Series
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With a shiny new gold cover, the complete original Eloise story, and a 16-page scrapbook by Vanity Fair writer-at-large Marie Brenner (which is illustrated with stylish photographs, memorabilia, and sketches from the collection of Hilary Knight), this 50th anniversary edition is a can't-miss for fans of the rawther beloved Plaza girl. The scrapbook even includes Hilary Knight's own memories of Kay Thompson and the collaboration that created Eloise.

THE MAGICALLY MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES OF NOELLE THE BULLDOG
Gloria Estefan
illustrated by Michael Garland
Rayo
ISBN: 0060826231
Ages 4-8
32 pages

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Five-time GRAMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan's first book for children tells the heartwarming story of a young bulldog named Noelle, who is adopted by a little girl but feels as if she doesn't fit into her new home. What can an odd-looking brown pup possibly have to offer in a world where shimmering fish, glittering fireflies, and beautiful Dalmatians play games that Noelle's short legs can barely keep up with?

As a special treat, Estefan has written and recorded a song based on Noelle's story, and the single CD accompanies both English and Spanish editions of the book

MOTHER TERESA
written and illustrated by Demi
Margaret K. McElderry Books
ISBN: 0689864078
Ages 7-10
40 pages

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Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910. She was called to a religious life at the age of 12, and six years later she traveled to Ireland, where she joined a community of nuns who would eventually bring her to Calcutta. Founder of the Missionaries of Charity, she came to be known as Mother Teresa and oversaw thousands of nuns as they administered to the poor, the starving, and the dying.

Blessed by Pope John Paul II himself, this magnificent biography traces Mother Teresa's life from her first religious calling to her death in 1997 and beatification in 2003.

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
Billy Joel
illustrated by Izak
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0439553822
Ages 4-8
32 pages

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Two spirited little dogs experience the energy and excitement of New York City, one of the world's most visited cities. From the "movie stars in their fancy cars" at Radio City Music Hall to Chinatown, from the Empire State Building to a Central Park carriage ride, this colorful portrait of the Big Apple's most beloved landmarks from legendary performer Billy Joel is a joyous celebration of a great American city.

THE SERPENT CAME TO GLOUCESTER
M.T. Anderson
illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 0763620386
Ages 6-10
40 pages

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In a small Massachusetts fishing village in August 1817, dozens of citizens claimed to have seen an enormous sea serpent swimming off the coast. Terrified at first, the people of Gloucester eventually became quite accustomed to their new neighbor. Adventure seekers came from miles around to study the serpent and aggressively hunt it down, but the creature managed to avoid getting captured. The Gloucester sea serpent was then, and remains now, a complete mystery.

Award-winning author M.T. Anderson and illustrator Bagram Ibatoulline recount this exhilarating sea adventure through the eyes of a little boy who secretly hopes for the serpent's survival.

SEEN ART?
Jon Scieszka
illustrated by Lane Smith
Viking Children's Books
ISBN: 0670059862
All ages
48 pages

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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.

Pop-Up Books

CINDERELLA: A Pop-Up Fairy Tale
Matthew Reinhart
Little Simon
ISBN: 1416905014
All ages
12 pages

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For ages, people have been enchanted by the story of Cinderella. Told again and again throughout literary history by writers like Charles Perrault, Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm and Walt Disney, this classic tale continually finds its way into the hearts and imaginations of children of all ages. In his latest work, illustrator and paper engineer extraordinaire Matthew Reinhart joins the ranks of these illustrious storytellers by breathing new life and a new kind of magic into a centuries-old story with CINDERELLA: A POP-UP FAIRY TALE.

ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: DINOSAURS
Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 0763622281
All ages
12 pages

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Candlewick Press calls ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: DINOSAURS "the definitive pop-up" --- and that is exactly what Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart's latest masterpiece is. Dinosaurs of all shapes, sizes and colors come to life in six multi-layered spreads that each feature one large pop-up (including a massive T-Rex with jagged teeth and a raptor that appears to fly off the edge of the page) along with several booklets of smaller pop-ups, all making for a visually stunning read.

In addition, Sabuda and Reinhart offer lots of cool facts and up-to-the-minute information about more than 50 different species of dinosaurs and even some amusing tidbits on the history of paleontology itself.

This fascinating book --- the first of three in a series --- will be read, admired and treasured for a long time to come.

WINTER'S TALE: An Original Pop-Up Journey
Robert Sabuda
Little Simon
ISBN: 0689853637
All ages
12 pages

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WINTER'S TALE is Robert Sabuda's most spectacular original pop-up story yet. The simple, elegant text is illustrated with breathtaking artwork and extraordinary paper engineering. Stunning visual effects of foil, glitter, and a twinkling surprise further capture the magic of winter. This is a must-have for everyone's bookshelf.

Debut Series

The Gatekeepers

RAVEN'S GATE: Book One
Anthony Horowitz
Scholastic Press
Horror/Fantasy
ISBN: 0439679958
256 pages

• Read a Review & Excerpt
• Author Interview -- August 2005
• The Gatekeepers Series
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From the author of the bestselling Alex Rider novels comes The Gatekeepers, a thrilling new series for teens that pits good against evil and past against present in a riveting modern-day drama of ancient secrets, supernatural powers, and spellbinding magic. Five young people unknowingly hold the power to prevent one of the most diabolical plots ever envisioned --- one that will alter the course of history by unlocking an ancient barrier and unleashing unfathomable evil. Will the gatekeepers be able to intervene before it's too late?

Chronicles of Ancient Darkness

WOLF BROTHER: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #1
Michelle Paver
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060728256
Ages 10-up
304 pages

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Six thousand years ago, evil stalks the land. Only twelve-year-old Torak and his wolf-cub companion can defeat it. Their journey together takes them through deep forests, across giant glaciers, and into dangers they never imagined. Torak and Wolf are joined by an incredible cast of characters as they battle to save their world, in this first installment of The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness.

Drift House

DRIFT HOUSE: THE FIRST VOYAGE
Dale Peck
Bloomsbury Children's Books
ISBN: 158234969X
Ages 9-up
420 pages

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When Susan and her younger brothers, Charles and Murray, are sent to live with their uncle Farley in Canada, little do they realize that they're stepping into the adventure of a lifetime.

Uncle Farley's house looks like a ship perched at the edge of the sea, but it's not until a great flood comes that its name --- Drift House --- starts to make sense. Floating aimlessly, the house begins to yield its many secrets. But when a clan of diabolical mermaids trick the children and their uncle into helping them carry out a plan that will stop time forever, it will take all of Susan's ingenuity --- along with some help from a great whale, a band of pirates, and a magic carpet --- to set things straight.

Series Updates

Artemis Fowl

#4: THE OPAL DECEPTION
Eoin Colfer
Miramax/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN: 0786852895
Ages 9-12
320 pages

• Read a Review
• Author Interview - March 16, 2005
• Artemis Fowl Series
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THE OPAL DECEPTION marks the grimmest turn of events yet in the Artemis Fowl series, with the occurrence of a devastating and irreversible incident that will shake the very foundations of the fairy underworld.

Alex Rider

#5: SCORPIA
Anthony Horowitz
Philomel
ISBN: 0399241515
Ages 8-12
312 pages

• Read a Review
• Alex Rider Series
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In Anthony Horowitz's fifth Alex Rider novel, the teen spy learns that his father was an assassin for Scorpia, the most powerful terrorist organization in the world. Now Scorpia wants Alex on their side, and he agrees to join them. But then he learns of their latest plot: an operation known only as "Invisible Sword" that will result in the deaths of thousands of young people.

Spiderwick Chronicles

ARTHUR SPIDERWICK'S FIELD GUIDE TO THE FANTASTICAL WORLD AROUND YOU
Accurately Restored and Described by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0689859414
Ages 7-up
142 pages

• Read a Review
• Author Interview -- November 10, 2005
• Spiderwick Chronicles Series
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com

At long last the world gets to see Arthur Spiderwick's famous Field Guide, and we will finally understand why the creatures who live in the invisible world of faerie had wanted to keep it hidden from human eyes for so many years.

"Ologies" Series

WIZARDOLOGY: The Book of the Secrets of Merlin
As told by Master Merlin
illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert, John Howe, Tomislav Tomic and Helen Ward
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 0763628956
Ages 8-up
32 pages

• Click here to buy from Amazon.com

For any apprentice determined to learn the arcane arts of wizardry, could there be a better teacher than...Merlin himself? Originally discovered in 1588, this remarkable text by history's most respected wizard is revealed to the world for the very first time. Lavishly illustrated by four delicate artists, WIZARDOLOGY's intricate design even conceals a series of hidden symbols that spell out a secret message when their code is deciphered -- if the reader is clever enough to find them.

Inkheart Trilogy

INKSPELL
Cornelia Funke
The Chicken House/Scholastic
ISBN: 0439554004
Ages 9-12
656 pages

• Read a Review & Excerpt
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A year has passed, yet not a day goes by without Meggie thinking of INKHEART, the book whose characters became real. But for Dustfinger, the fire-eater who was brought into being from words, the need to return to the tale has become desperate. When he finds a crooked storyteller with the ability to read him back, Dustfinger leaves behind his young apprentice Farid and plunges into the medieval world of his past. A distraught Farid embarks on a search for Meggie, and soon both are caught inside the book as well. Still, the story is threatening to evolve in ways neither of them could ever have imagined

Geronimo Stilton

Geronimo Stilton Series
Geronimo Stilton
Scholastic Paperbacks
Ages 7-10

• Reviews of Books 15 thru 22
• Geronimo Stilton Series
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This year, Geronimo Stilton spent time at a mouseum, in a cheese-colored camper, on the Pirate Islands, in Cactus City, and at Cacklefur Castle. Despite his many wacky and dangerous adventures, Geronimo is alive and well and getting ready for more next year!

Redwall

HIGH RHULAIN: A Tale From Redwall
Brian Jacques
Philomel Books
ISBN: 0399242082
Ages 8-12
384 pages

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• Redwall Series
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The otters of Green Isle have long been enslaved to the Wildcat Riggu Felis and his catguards, who torture the otters at every opportunity. The otters trudge on, waiting for the day their savior will arrive --- the prophesized High Rhulain, who will lead them in battle and a return to glory. Meanwhile, young Tiria Wildlough, an ottermaid at Redwall Abbey, longs for her chance to learn the ways of the warrior, much against the wishes of her father. But when an injured osprey arrives at the Abbey, seeking help for its wounds and carrying tales of an embattled clan of otters, young Tiria knows what she must do.

THE REDWALL COOKBOOK
Brian Jacques
illustrated by Christopher Denise
Philomel Books
ISBN: 0399237917
Ages 8-12
112 pages

• Redwall Series
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com

Ever read a Redwall novel and wonder exactly what Abbot's Special Abbey Trifle is? Or how to make Shrimp 'N Hotroot Soup, the delicacy of otters everywhere? Or Mole's Favourite Turnip and Tater Deeper 'N Ever Pie? From the simple refreshment of Summer Strawberry Fizz to Great Hall Gooseberry Fool, they're all here, along with dozens of other favorites, illustrated in full color. THE REDWALL COOKBOOK is a taste-tempting treat for fans of the Redwall series, old or new.

The Keys to the Kingdom

DROWNED WEDNESDAY: Book Three
Garth Nix
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0439700868
Ages 9-12
400 pages

• Read a Review
• The Keys to the Kingdom Series
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Everyone is after Arthur Penhaligon --- strange pirates, shadowy creatures, and Lady Wednesday, whose gluttony threatens both her world and Arthur's. As Arthur gets closer to the heart of his quest, the suspense and mystery grow more and more intense.

DROWNED WEDNESDAY is the third thrilling installment in New York Times bestselling author Garth Nix's series. This is the first book in the series to be published in hardcover --- and due to popular demand, Scholastic is simultaneously releasing hardcover editions of the first two books!

Cirque du Freak Series

KILLERS OF THE DAWN: Book #9
Darren Shan
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 0316156264
Ages 8-12
224 pages

• Read a Review & Excerpt
• Cirque du Freak Series
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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?

THE LAKE OF SOULS: Book #10
Darren Shan
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 0316156272
Ages 10-up
224 pages

• Read a Review
• Cirque du Freak Series
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com

Darren Shan and his trusted friend Harkat Mulds face monstrous obstacles on their desperate quest to the Lake of Souls. Will they survive the savage journey? And what awaits them in the murky waters of the dead?

The Lionboy Trilogy

LIONBOY: THE TRUTH
Zizou Corder
Dial Press
ISBN: 0803729855
Ages 8-12
240 pages

• Read a Review & Excerpt
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com

Catspeaker Charlie Ashanti and his parents are reunited in Africa, but not for long. Charlie soon finds himself on a boat bound for the Caribbean, where he and his nemesis, Rafi Sadler, will be sold to the Corporacy! Charlie's parents and his faithful lion friends are in hot pursuit, but can Charlie outwit his captors and topple the Corporacy's wicked enterprise? He intends to pull it off --- no matter the cost --- as the exciting Lionboy trilogy roars to its thrilling conclusion.

--- Compiled and written by Tom Donadio

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