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Best Books of 2007
As 2007 comes to a close, we at Kidsreads.com have compiled some of our favorite books of the year for children. Along with HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, the conclusion to J.K. Rowling’s classic series featuring the bespectacled young wizard, we spotlight THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, Trenton Lee Stewart's mind-bending, puzzle-packed debut novel for kids in which readers are taken on a dazzling adventure that puts friends, family and enemies to the test; and THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET, an entirely new kind of reading experience from Caldecott Honor artist Brian Selznick that brings together elements of the picture book, the graphic novel and film.
Anthony Horowitz’s roller-coaster ride of a series starring 14-year-old secret agent Alex Rider resumed with SNAKEHEAD, marking the improbable return of Scorpia to the world stage. Other series updates included THE LAND OF THE SILVER APPLES, the long-awaited sequel to THE SEA OF TROLLS, from National Book Award winner and Newbery Honor author Nancy Farmer; THE NIXIE’S SONG, the first book in Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black’s sequel series, Beyond The Spiderwick Chronicles; LADY FRIDAY, the fifth installment in Garth Nix's seven-part fantasy series, The Keys to the Kingdom; and FANCY NANCY & THE POSH PUPPY, the continuation of Jane O’Connor’s charming series about a young girl who believes that more is ALWAYS better when it comes to being fancy.
No year would be complete without a few pop-up books, and master paper engineers Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart made sure that fans were kept busy turning pages. This time they teamed up to create the eye-opening MEGA-BEASTS, the third and final volume of their wildly successful Encyclopedia Prehistorica series. But may the Force be with Reinhart, whose STAR WARS: A POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY is a huge hit with the Kidsreads.com staff. A number of ’Ology books also released in 2007. Among them were MYTHOLOGY, perfect for both lovers of Greek myths and those just discovering their timeless power, and code-writing kits that invite children to engage with the various subjects covered throughout the series in a creative, hands-on way.
Additional standouts included ELIJAH OF BUXTON, Christopher Paul Curtis’s moving tale of the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves; GREAT JOY, an “Insta-Classic” from Kate DiCamillo that shows how the gifts of kindness and hope can transform a sad and lonely world; THE NAME OF THIS BOOK IS SECRET by Pseudonymous Bosch, an intriguing story involving two intrepid 11-year-olds, some evil villains and one mysterious box with secret potions; and GALLOP!, an amazing picture book in which short lines of text are accompanied by moving pictures.
We hope you enjoy our year-end feature and make new discoveries along the way, as you look forward to what lies ahead in 2008.
Stand-Alone Chapter Books/
Middle Grade Novels
THE AURORA COUNTY ALL-STARS
Deborah Wiles
Harcourt Children's Books
ISBN: 9780152060688
Ages 10-up
272 pages
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Twelve-year-old House Jackson --- star pitcher and team captain of the Aurora County All-Stars --- has been sidelined for an entire year with a broken elbow. He's finally ready to play, but unfortunately the team's only game of the year has been scheduled for the exact same time as the town's 200th-anniversary pageant. Now House must face the pageant's director, Frances Shotz (his nemesis and perpetrator of the elbow break), and get his team out of this mess. There's also the matter of a mysterious old recluse who has died and left House a wheezy old dog named Eudora Welty --- and a puzzling book of poetry by someone named Walt Whitman.
EDWARD'S EYES
Patricia MacLachlan
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781416927433
Ages 8-12
128 pages
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Jake is a part of an extraordinary family. He has a life filled with art, music and long summer nights on the Cape. He has hours and days and months of baseball. But more than anything in this world, Jake knows he has Edward. From the moment he was born, Jake knew Edward was destined for something. Edward could make anyone laugh and everyone think. During one special year, Edward became the only one in the neighborhood who could throw a perfect knuckleball, a pitch no one could not hit. That same year, Jake learned there are also some things you cannot hold.
ELIJAH OF BUXTON
Christopher Paul Curtis
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780439023443
Ages 9-up
288 pages
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Eleven-year-old Elijah is the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves just over the border from Detroit. He’s best known in his hometown as the boy who made a memorable impression on Frederick Douglass. But things change when a former slave steals money from Elijah’s friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Elijah embarks on a dangerous journey to America in pursuit of the thief, and he discovers firsthand the unimaginable horrors of the life his parents fled --- a life from which he’ll always be free, if he can find the courage to get back home.
FEATHERS
Jacqueline Woodson
G. P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN: 9780399239892
Ages 8-up
208 pages
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"Hope is the thing with feathers" starts the poem Frannie is reading in school. Frannie hasn't thought much about hope. Each day, her friend Samantha seems a bit more "holy." There is a new boy in class everyone is calling the Jesus Boy. And although the new boy looks like a white kid, he says he's not white. Who is he?
During a winter full of surprises, good and bad, Frannie starts seeing a lot of things in a new light --- her brother's deafness, her mother's fear, the class bully's anger, her best friend's faith and her own desire for "the thing with feathers."
FOOTBALL GENIUS
Tim Green
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780061122705
Ages 10-14
256 pages
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Troy White has a phenomenal gift: he can predict any football play before it happens. When his single mom gets a job working in public relations for the Atlanta Falcons, Troy figures it's his chance to prove what he can do. But first he has to get to the Falcons --- and with tight security and a notoriously mean coach, even his mom's field passes aren't much help. Then Troy and his best friends devise a plan to get the attention of star linebacker Seth Halloway. With Seth's playing and Troy's genius, the Falcons could be unstoppable --- if they'll only listen.
THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET
Brian Selznick
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780439813785
Ages 9-12
544 pages
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Orphan, clock keeper and thief, 12-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender and spellbinding mystery.
THE NAME OF THIS BOOK IS SECRET
Pseudonymous Bosch
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316113663
Ages 8-12
384 pages
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Warning: this description has not been authorized by Pseudonymous Bosch. As much as he'd love to sing the praises of his book (he is very vain), he wouldn't want you to hear about his brave 11-year-old heroes, Cass and Max-Ernest. Or about how a mysterious box of vials, the Symphony of Smells, sends them on the trail of a magician who has vanished under strange (and stinky) circumstances. And he certainly wouldn't want you to know about the hair-raising adventures that follow and the nefarious villains they face. You see, not only is the name of this book secret, the story inside is, too. For it concerns a secret. A Big Secret.
THE NEDDIAD: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization
Daniel Pinkwater
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
ISBN: 9780618594443
Ages 10-14
320 pages
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It all begins when Neddie Wentworthstein reads about the Brown Derby restaurant in Los Angeles and tells his father he wants to eat there. So the family packs up and sets off from Chicago by train. During the course of their journey on the Super Chief, which includes pit stops in Topeka, Santa Fe and the Grand Canyon, Neddie meets many of the friends and foes who ultimately will be involved in a showdown to determine the fate of the world.
 ON THE WINGS OF HEROES
Richard Peck
Dial Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780803730816
Ages 8-12
160 pages
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Davy Bowman adores his father (who looks forward to Halloween more than a kid) and his brother Bill (who flies B-17s) and tries his best to follow their lead, especially now. World War II has invaded Davy's homefront boyhood. There's an air raid drill in the classroom, and being a kid is an endless scrap drive. Bill has joined the Army Air Corps, breaking their dad's heart. It's an intense, confusing time, and one that will invite Davy to grow up in a hurry.
PAINT THE WIND
Pam Munoz Ryan
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780439873628
Ages 7-10
336 pages
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Maya feels like a prisoner in her grandmother's house in California. Every word and action is strictly monitored, and even Maya's memories of her late mother have been erased --- except within the imaginary world she has created. In the rugged Wyoming wilderness, a tobiano Paint horse called Artemisia runs free, belonging only to the stars. She embodies the spirit of the wild and holds the key to Maya's memories. How the lives of Maya and Artemisia intertwine is at the heart of this adventure about captivity and freedom, about holding on and letting go.
 THE PHANTOM ISLES
Stephen Alter
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ISBN: 9781582347387
Ages 10-14
244 pages
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When Ming, Orion and Courtney read an incantation from the pages of a book titled THE COMPLEAT NECROMANCER, they have no way of knowing that they're about to conjure up the ghosts of an entire nation. Because the ghosts that the three friends summon aren't just any ghosts. They were captured from an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean --- the Ilhas dos Fantasmas --- a place where the living and the dead once co-existed peacefully. Now confined to the pages of a few dozen library books in a New England town thousands of miles from their home, the ghosts must rely on the children and a determined librarian to free them before they are lost forever.
 THE TREASURES OF WEATHERBY
Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781416913986
Ages 8-12
224 pages
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At age 12 Harleigh J. Weatherby IV is about as tall as a six-year-old, and no one lets him forget it. Now he is homeschooled at the Weatherby mansion, where strict Aunt Adelaide is always on his case about something. Then Harleigh meets Allegra, who literally flies over the walls of Weatherby and into Harleigh's life, and the two form an unlikely friendship. Allegra is fascinated by the enormous mansion and against Harleigh's orders sneaks inside. Together they discover that someone is trying to find -- and steal -- the long-lost Weatherby treasure. Will Harleigh and Allegra be able to outsmart the villain and save Weatherby House?
Debut Series
Alex and the Ironic Gentleman
ALEX AND THE IRONIC GENTLEMAN
Adrienne Kress
Weinstein Books
ISBN: 9781602860056
Ages 9-12
320 pages
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Alex Morningside is an inquisitive 10-and-a-half-year-old girl who lives with her uncle above a doorknob shop. A student at the prestigious Wigpowder-Steele Academy, Alex is often mistaken for a boy because of her bowl haircut, but that's okay --- she has an excellent sense of humor. Alex hates Wigpowder-Steele because as much as she enjoys learning, she doesn't enjoy wearing a uniform with a skirt. Luckily for Alex, the new school year brings an exciting new teacher. Mr. Underwood makes lessons fun and teaches her how to fence. But Mr. Underwood has a mysterious family secret --- the swashbuckling and buried treasure kind --- and not everyone is glad he has come to Wigpowder-Steele.
Atherton
ATHERTON: THE HOUSE OF POWER
Patrick Carman
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316166706
Ages 8-12
352 pages
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Edgar, a gifted climber, is a lonely boy scaling the perilous cliffs that separate the three realms of Atherton: a humble fig grove, a mysterious highland world of untold beauty and sinister secrets, and a vast wasteland where he must confront an unspeakable danger that could destroy the people of Atherton. When Edgar discovers a book that contains the history of Atherton's origins and ultimate apocalypse, his world --- quite literally --- begins to turn inside out.
The Book of Time Trilogy
THE BOOK OF TIME
Guillaume Prevost
Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439883757
Ages 9-12
224 pages
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A statue. A coin. An old book. They look as dusty as everything else in the Faulkner Antiquarian Bookstore, where 14-year-old Sam Faulkner is looking for his father, who has been missing for days. But when Sam slips the coin into the statue, he is swept back in time --- to Scotland in 800 A.D. --- where he must find both the statue and another coin in order to return to the present. It's the first step in an adventure that will take him to ancient Egypt, World War I, even Dracula's castle --- and a mystery that will end only when Sam saves his dad, or loses him in time.
The Mysterious Benedict Society
THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY
Trenton Lee Stewart
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 9780316057776
Ages 8-12
496 pages
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ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD LOOKING FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES? Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests. Only four succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where there are no rules. But what they'll find in the hidden labyrinth of the school's underground tunnels is more than your average school supplies.
The Navigator
 THE NAVIGATOR
Eoin McNamee
Wendy Lamb Books/Random House
ISBN: 9780375839108
Ages 9-12
352 pages
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One day the world around Owen shifts oddly: Time flows backwards, and the world and family he knew disappear. Time can only be set right when the Resisters vanquish their ancient enemies, the Harsh. Unless they are stopped, everything Owen knows will vanish as if it has never been. And Owen discovers that he has a terrifying role to play in this battle: he is the Navigator.
The Seems
THE SEEMS: THE GLITCH IN SLEEP
John Hulme and Michael Wexler
Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
ISBN: 9781599901299
Ages 10-14
288 pages
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Twelve-year-old Becker Drane works as a Fixer for The Seems, a secret organization that ensures our world keeps running --- and more importantly, sticks to The Plan that’s been made for it. When a Glitch is reported in the Department of Sleep, Becker is dispatched to Fix it, but he’s not so sure this is a routine mission. Could the Bed Bugs, who are behind our Worst Nightmares, be responsible for the problems? Or maybe it’s The Tide, an underground organization determined to destroy The Seems? No matter what, Becker is in for quite an adventure, and it’ll take all his training, a little luck and the coolest Tools™ known in (or out of) the Seems to Fix the problem.
Skulduggery Pleasant
SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT
Derek Landy
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780061231155
Ages 10-up
400 pages
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Meet Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton. Sure, he may lose his head every once in a while (in fact, he won his current skull in a poker match), but he's much more than he appears to be. Skulduggery avoided the grave so he could save the world from an ancient evil. In order to defeat it, he will need the help of a new partner: a not-so-innocent 12-year-old girl named Stephanie.
Series Updates
Alex Rider
SNAKEHEAD:
An Alex Rider Adventure
Anthony Horowitz
Philomel Books
ISBN: 9780399241611
Ages 8-12
400 pages
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What goes up must come down, and when we last saw Alex Rider, he was as up as can be --- in outer space. When he crash lands off the coast of Australia, the Australian Secret Service recruits him to infiltrate one of the ruthless gangs operating across South East Asia. Known as snakeheads, the gangs smuggle drugs, weapons and, worst of all, people. Alex accepts the assignment, in part for the chance to work with his godfather and learn more about his parents. What he uncovers, however, is a secret that will make this his darkest and most dangerous mission yet…and that his old nemesis, Scorpia, is still very much a part of his life.
Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles
THE NIXIE'S SONG: Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1
Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9780689871313
Ages 7-up
192 pages
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The Spiderwick Chronicles leave the old-fashioned charm of New England far behind and head south for some fiendish faerie fun in the hot Florida sun. Eleven-year-old Nicholas Vargas only thinks his life has been turned upside down after his developer father remarries and moves his new wife and daughter into the soon-to-be completed Mangrove Hollow. But an "expedition" to a nearby lake turns up a little nixie with a giant problem --- and it's up to Nick, stepsister Laurie and big brother Julian to figure out the best way to stop a host of rampaging giants before all of Florida goes up in smoke.
Children of the Lamp
 THE COBRA KING OF KATHMANDU: Children of the Lamp #3
P. B. Kerr
Orchard Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439670234
Ages 9-12
384 pages
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As djinn twins John and Philippa Gaunt travel from New York to London to Nepal and India on a whirlwind adventure, they try to help fellow djinn, Buck, find out who killed his friend using the venomous snakebite of the king cobra. All too soon, John and Philippa find themselves caught up in the lethal world of the Cult of the Nine Cobras, only to discover that they themselves are a target of the creepy cobra cult.
Chronicles of Ancient Darkness
 SOUL EATER: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, Book Three
Michelle Paver
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060728311
Ages 10-up
336 pages
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Torak has survived the summer and his heart-stopping adventure in the Seal Islands. He and Wolf are together again, but their reunion is short-lived. As midwinter approaches, Torak learns that the Soul-Eaters have snatched Wolf so that they can sacrifice him. Desperate to rescue Wolf, Torak hatches a perilous plan. He will find the Soul-Eaters, infiltrate the cult, and come face-to-face with the most feared and powerful mages alive. As Torak battles to save himself and Wolf, he learns an utterly chilling secret of his own.
The Gatekeepers
 NIGHTRISE: Book Three of The Gatekeepers
Anthony Horowitz
Scholastic Press
Horror/Fantasy
ISBN: 9780439680011
368 pages
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The world is in great danger --- and only five kids can save it. But to do that, they must face off against some of the most powerful people in the world.
Two of the five, Scott and Jamie, have always known they were different. Twins whose birth is shrouded in mystery, they’ve always been able to communicate with each other telepathically. Their supernatural talent has landed them no farther than a gig in a Z-grade sideshow in Reno, Nevada...until they garner the attention of a very scary clientele. Soon their lives are in jeopardy, with one of them trapped and one of them on the run.
Harry Potter
 HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS
J.K. Rowling
Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780545010221
Ages 9-18
759 pages
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It all comes down to this --- a final faceoff between good and evil. You plan to pull out all the stops, but every time you solve one mystery, three more evolve. Do you stay the course you started, despite your lack of progress? Do you detour and follow a new lead that may not help? Do you listen to your instincts, or your friends?
Lord Voldemort is preparing for battle and so must Harry. With Ron and Hermione at his side, he's trying to hunt down Voldemort's Horcruxes, escape danger at every turn, and find a way to defeat evil once and for all. How does it all end? Find out in HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS.
John Feinstein’s "Mystery" series
COVER-UP: Mystery at the Super Bowl
John Feinstein
Knopf
ISBN: 9780375842474
Ages 10-up
304 pages
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More than 95 million fans will be watching the Super Bowl, but Steve Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson know that what they'll be watching is a lie. They’re fully aware that the entire offensive line of the California Dreams have failed their doping tests and that the Dreams' owner is trying to cover up the test results. These two teens are sitting on the biggest sports scandal of the decade. What they don't know --- yet --- is how to prove it.
The Keys to the Kingdom
LADY FRIDAY: The Keys to the Kingdom, Book Five
Garth Nix
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780439700887
Ages 9-12
320 pages
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Four of the seven Trustees have been defeated and their Keys taken, but for Arthur, the week is getting worse. Suzy Blue and Fred Gold Numbers have been captured by the Piper, and his New Nithling army still controls most of the Great Maze. Superior Saturday is causing trouble wherever she can, including turning off all the elevators in the House and blocking the Front Door. Amidst all this trouble, Arthur must weigh an offer from Lady Friday that is either a cunning trap for the Rightful Heir or a golden opportunity he must seize --- before he's beaten to it!
The Land of Elyon
 INTO THE MIST: A Prequel to the Land of Elyon Trilogy
Patrick Carman
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780439899529
Ages 9-12
304 pages
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From a humble and unexplained childhood in a very strange orphanage to a series of fearless escapes to a quest full of riddles and exploration, Thomas Warvold and his brother Roland find that their identity --- and the mysterious tattoos on their knees --- are linked to a much greater history than they ever would have guessed. Thomas is destined for adventure on land, while Roland is destined for adventure on sea. But before this happens, they must journey into the mist...and find the truth about both their past and their future.
Mercy Watson
MERCY WATSON: PRINCESS IN DISGUISE
written by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763630140
Ages 6-8
80 pages
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When the Watsons decide to zip their porcine wonder into a formfitting princess dress for Halloween --- complete with tiara --- they’re confident that Mercy will be beautiful beyond compare. Mercy is equally certain she likes the sound of trick-or-treating and can picture those piles of buttered toast already. As for the Lincoln Sisters next door, how could they know that their cat would get into the act and lead them all on a Halloween "parade" of hysterical proportions?
Never Land Adventures
CAVE OF THE DARK WIND: A Never Land Book
Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Disney Editions/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN: 9780786837908
Ages 8-up
176 pages
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While Peter is away from the island, James and the other Lost Boys discover a mysterious cave. Shining Pearl and her sister Little Scallop warn the boys that the cave is a dangerous place, inhabited by a creature known as the Goat Taker --- a beast so scary that even the Mollusk tribe fears it. But the boys can’t resist trying to discover the cave’s secrets. When the first of those secrets turns out to be a tantalizing hint of a famous haunted treasure, Captain Hook and his band of cutthroat pirates quickly join the hunt. Before long the children are fleeing for their lives in a dark and deadly underground labyrinth --- and their only hope of escape is to solve the mystery of the CAVE OF THE DARK WIND.
’Ologies
THE WIZARDOLOGY HANDBOOK: A Course for Apprentices
written by Dugald A. Steer
illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert, John Howe, Tomislav Tomic and Helen Ward
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763634018
Ages 9-up
80 pages
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When we last heard from the legendary Merlin, he had fashioned a journal --- known to magic enthusiasts as WIZARDOLOGY: The Book of the Secrets of Merlin --- from the trunk of a tree in which he'd been imprisoned, divulging centuries' worth of knowledge and insight on the mystical world, in hopes of finding his next great successor. In this companion volume, scribbled on the remaining pieces of his wooden confines, he once again extends the invitation to wizards-in-training.
PIRATEOLOGY: GUIDEBOOK AND MODEL SET
Dugald A. Steer
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763635824
Ages 8-up
24 pages
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Ahoy, mateys! Famed pirate hunter Captain William Lubber just will not rest until he has captured every last seafaring villain to wreak havoc on the open water. In PIRATEOLOGY: GUIDEBOOK AND MODEL SET, the companion to Dugald A. Steer's PIRATEOLOGY, the good captain employs (forces, rather) the help of one very bad pirate to better understand just how these wily buccaneers storm the seven seas.
MYTHOLOGY
written by Lady Hestia Evans
edited by Dugald A. Steer
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763634032
Ages 8-up
32 pages
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Zeus and the war over Mount Olympus. Jason's search for the Golden Fleece. The 12 Great Tasks of Hercules. These are just a few of the many wondrous tales in Greek mythology, which are some of the most adored and enduring stories of all time. Passed down from generation to generation for centuries, Greek myths still captivate audiences today, conjuring up a mystical time and place when the fate of the world lay in the hands of powerful and tempestuous gods, where fantastical monsters roamed the land, and when men --- with a little divine intervention --- had super-hero abilities.
In MYTHOLOGY, the latest addition to the hugely popular and bestselling 'Ologies series, author Dugald A. Steer tackles this topic of legendary proportions, bringing these age-old fables to a whole new generation of readers.
DRAGONOLOGY: FIELD GUIDE TO DRAGONS
written by Dr. Ernest Drake
edited by Dugald A. Steer
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763636869
Ages 8-up
40 pages
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Even skilled dragonologists need special preparation to study in the field. What if an unfamiliar species should approach? Now an impressive guide highlights 19 different dragon species, many seen here for the first time. To help readers recognize dragons in the wild, mini models of 12 of the species await assembly, each tucked in its own pocket and complete with its own stand.
’OLOGIES CODE-WRITING KITS
edited by Dugald A. Steer
Candlewick Press
Ages 8-up
32 pages
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The 'Ologies series explores the mythical and fantastic in a series of books and related toys about dragons, ancient Egypt, wizards and fairies, and pirates. The latest products in this series are code-writing kits that invite children to engage with these subjects in a creative, hands-on way.
Peter and the Starcatchers Trilogy
PETER AND THE SECRET OF RUNDOON
Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Disney Editions/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN: 9780786837885
Ages 10-up
496 pages
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In this action-packed finale to the Starcatchers series, Peter and Molly find themselves in the dangerous land of Rundoon, ruled by an evil king who enjoys watching his pet snake consume those who displease him. But that’s just the beginning of trouble for our heroes. Peter and Molly once again find themselves pitted against the evil shadow-creature, Lord Ombra, in a struggle to save themselves, not to mention the planet.
Ranger’s Apprentice
 RANGER'S APPRENTICE: The Icebound Land - Book Three
John Flanagan
Philomel Books
ISBN: 9780399244568
Ages 8-12
260 pages
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Kidnapped after the fierce battle with Lord Morgarath, Will and Evanlyn are bound for Skandia as captives aboard a fearsome wolfship. Halt has sworn to rescue Will and will do anything to keep his promise --- even defy his King.
Expelled from the Rangers he has served so loyally, Halt is joined by Will’s friend Horace as he travels toward Skandia. On their way, they are challenged constantly by freelance knights --- but Horace knows a thing or two about combat. Soon he begins to attract the attention of knights and warlords for miles around with his uncanny skill. Even so, will they be in time to rescue Will from a horrific life of slavery?
Redwall
EULALIA!: A Tale from Redwall
Brian Jacques
Philomel Books
ISBN: 9780399242090
Ages 9-12
400 pages
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Lord Asheye of Salamandastron has a prophecy: A new Badger Lord must take his place and reign over the legendary badger fortress. But who is this young warrior who shuns both armor and sword? And how is he to be found? Mad Maudie, a feisty haremaid of the Long Patrol, is just the one to track him down. Meanwhile, the unsuspecting future Badger Lord has been captured by a scurrilous group of Sea Raiders led by the infamous fox, Vizka Longtooth, who intends on conquering Redwall Abbey. It is up to our young hero to defend Redwall so that he may fulfill his destiny as leader of Salamandastron.
Septimus Heap
PHYSIK: Septimus Heap, Book Three
Angie Sage
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060577377
Ages 9-up
560 pages
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When Silas Heap unseals a forgotten room in the Palace, he releases the ghost of a Queen who lived 500 years earlier. Queen Etheldredda is as awful in death as she was in life, and she's still up to no good. Her diabolical plan to give herself everlasting life requires Jenna's compliance, Septimus's disappearance and the talents of her son, Marcellus Pye, a famous Alchemist and Physician. And if Queen Etheldredda's plot involves Jenna and Septimus, then it will surely involve all of the other wacky, wonderful characters that made MAGYK and FLYTE so memorable.
The Spiderwick Chronicles
CARE AND FEEDING OF SPRITES
Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781416927570
Ages 7-up
48 pages
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This addition to the popular Spiderwick Chronicles series --- brought to you by the experts of the International Sprite League, with the assistance of Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black --- is a beautifully illustrated handbook containing everything a sprite owner needs to keep a faerie pet happy and healthy.
THE CHRONICLES OF SPIDERWICK:
A Grand Tour of the Enchanted World, Navigated by Thimbletack
Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781416950387
Ages 7-10
32 pages
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Take a tour with Thimbletack, resident and caretaker of the Spiderwick mansion, as he guides you through his scrapbook and personal collection of faerie artifacts. Learn the history of the Spiderwick estate and its former occupants; peruse lost letters that uncover long-hidden secrets; browse through personal items from the Grace kids; and read clips of stories from around the world about other encounters with strange and mythical creatures. THE CHRONICLES OF SPIDERWICK comes complete with pullouts, pop-ups, foldouts and more.
Sequel to THE SEA OF TROLLS
THE LAND OF THE SILVER APPLES
Nancy Farmer
Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books
ISBN: 9781416907350
Ages 10-14
512 pages
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Thirteen-year-old Jack, only a bard-in-training, is amazed to have caused an earthquake. But his sister, Lucy, has been stolen by the Lady of the Lake. Caught between belief in the old gods and Christianity (this is 790 AD Britain), Jack calls upon his ash wood staff to subdue a passel of unruly monks, and, for his daring, ends up in a knucker hole. It’s unforgettable (for the boy and for readers), as are the magical reappearance of the berserker Thorgil from a burial by moss; new characters Pega, a slave girl from Jack's village, and the eager-to-marry-her Bugaboo (a hobgoblin king); kelpies; yarthkins; and elves (not the enchanted sprites one would expect but the fallen angels of legend).
Sequel to TRAVEL TEAM
SUMMER BALL
Mike Lupica
Philomel Books
ISBN: 9780399244872
Ages 10-up
256 pages
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Leading your travel team to the national championship may seem like a dream come true, but for Danny Walker, being at the top just means the competition tries that much harder to knock him off. Now Danny is leaving Middletown for the summer and heading to Right Way basketball camp, where he's out of his element and maybe out of his league. The country's best players are in attendance, and Danny will need to raise his game if he wants to match up. But it won't be easy. Old rivals and new battles leave Danny wondering if he really has what it takes to stand tall.
Nonfiction
 THE ANNOTATED CAT: Under the Hats of Seuss and His Cats
Philip Nel
Random House
ISBN: 9780375833694
Ages 10-up
192 pages
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How did Dr. Seuss come to write THE CAT IN THE HAT? How long did it take him to write THE CAT IN THE HAT and THE CAT IN THE HAT COMES BACK? Were these books instantly successful, or did their popularity build? The answers to these questions and more can be found in this fascinating illustrated study of two books that changed the way children learn how to read. Included in THE ANNOTATED CAT is the text of both books, along with photographs, draft material and essays by Dr. Seuss himself.
 DO NOT OPEN
John Farndon
DK Children
ISBN: 9780756632052
Ages 9-12
192 pages
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In the groundbreaking tradition of DK's New York Times bestseller PICK ME UP, this book uses the same irreverent style to explore all the things THEY don't want you know about. From the Mona Lisa's hidden past to the history of Area 51, Do Not Open explores lost worlds, unravels secret codes and lets readers step through the looking glass to see if they can handle the truth!
MARLEY: A DOG LIKE NO OTHER
John Grogan
Collins
ISBN: 9780061240331
Ages 9-11
208 pages
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Marley, a lovable Labrador retriever, is always getting himself into trouble. Some may say he's the world's worst dog. But those who know and love Marley understand that nothing can stop his loyalty, exuberance and passion --- not even the Grogans' screen door! How this big, rambunctious dog becomes the heart of the Grogan family is the story of MARLEY: A DOG LIKE NO OTHER, a middle-grade nonfiction book adapted from John Grogan's bestselling memoir MARLEY & ME.
Pop-Up Books
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA POP-UP
based on the books by C. S. Lewis, pop-ups by Robert Sabuda and illustrated by Matthew Armstrong
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780061176128
Ages 5-up
14 pages
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C. S. Lewis's classic Narnia books spring to life in the hands of award-winning paper engineer Robert Sabuda. Each of the seven books in the series has its own pop-up spread rendered in spectacular detail with stunning special effects. Experience a different adventure from Narnia on every spread in this beautiful addition to the Narnia library --- sure to enchant fans of both C. S. Lewis and Robert Sabuda.
ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: MEGA-BEASTS
Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763622305
Ages 5-up
12 pages
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In this third and final volume of the wildly successful Encyclopedia Prehistorica series, 3-D masters Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart team up to construct a pop-up book of gargantuan proportions. Within these pages lurk fearsome saber-toothed cats, bears taller than basketball hoops, and everyone's favorite Ice Age giant --- the woolly mammoth.
 STAR WARS: A POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
Matthew Reinhart
Orchard Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439882828
All Ages
6 pages
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Sabuda and Reinhart Studios have created another spectacular pop-up book for George Lucas's epic Star Wars movies! Bestselling pop-up artist and engineer Matthew Reinhart has designed a 30th anniversary commemorative edition that comes packed with a variety of novelty features --- pop-ups, working light sabers, pull tabs, and other interactive looks at the exciting and popular movies. This beautiful book will impress all fans of Star Wars and gives a whole new perspective to the films.
Picture Books
ANGELA AND THE BABY JESUS
(Children’s Edition)
written by Frank McCourt
illustrated by Raul Colon
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781416937890
Ages 5-10
32 pages
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Frank McCourt's first Christmas book is by turns tender and heartwarming, and wholly unforgettable. Angela is six years old and worries for the Baby Jesus on the altar of St. Joseph's Church near School House Lane in Limerick, Ireland, where she lives. December nights are damp and cold, and the church is dark. The Baby Jesus' mother doesn't even have a blanket to cover him. The Baby is sure to need Angela's help, even if she is not allowed to step near the altar, especially by herself.
BAD DOG, MARLEY!
written by John Grogan
illustrated by Richard Cowdrey
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780061171147
Ages 4-8
40 pages
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In John Grogan's memoir, MARLEY & ME, the world learned how one bad dog became the heart of the family that loved him. Now, in this original picture book, Mommy, Daddy, Cassie and Baby Louie welcome the puppy Marley to the Grogan family. Marley grows and grows…and grows. His eagerness and energy grow with him, getting him into trouble in a great big way. And, in the end, Marley's over-the-top energy is just what's needed to save the day.
ELOISE’S CHRISTMAS TRINKLES
Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9780689874253
Ages 4-8
48 pages
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Eloise LOVES Christmas, and she's spreading holiday cheer all over The Plaza Hotel. She hangs holly and berries in the halls, trims the tree and attends the holiday parties. She has gifts ready for everyone: the hotel employees and best friends Nanny, Skipperdee and Weenie. But the best parts are dreaming of Santa coming to The Plaza and waking up to a gift that sparkles and trinkles.
FANCY NANCY & THE POSH PUPPY
written by Jane O'Connor
illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060542139
Ages 4-7
32 pages
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In this fantastic follow-up to FANCY NANCY, Nancy and her family decide to get a dog. Nancy is determined to find an appropriately fancy puppy --- one that is small, delicate and fluffy --- but her mom, dad and sister would like a large, plain dog. How unglamorous!
GALLOP!:
A Scanimation Picture Book
Rufus Seder
Workman Publishing Company
ISBN: 9780761147633
Ages 4-8
12 pages
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There's never before been a book like Gallop! Employing a patented new technology called Scanimation, each page is a marvel that brings animals, along with one shining star, to life with art that literally moves. It's impossible not to flip the page, and flip it again, and again, and again. A first book of motion for kids, it shows a horse in full gallop and a turtle swimming up the page. A dog runs, a cat springs, an eagle soars and a butterfly flutters.
GHOST SHIP
written by Mary Higgins Clark
illustrated by Wendell Minor
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
ISBN: 9781416935148
Ages 4-8
40 pages
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Thomas loved his summer visits to his grandmother's on Cape Cod. He spent hours wondering about the sailing ships of the past and dreamed of being on one himself. One afternoon, after a night of terrible thunderstorms, Thomas finds an old-fashioned belt buckle deep in the sand. When he picks it up, Silas Rich, who was a cabin boy on a ship called the Monomoy that sailed almost 250 years ago, appears. Suddenly the world of sailing ships is very near as Silas tells his tale.
THE GIRL’S LIKE SPAGHETTI: Why, You Can’t Manage Without Apostrophes!
written by Lynne Truss
illustrated by Bonnie Timmons
G. P. Putnam’s Sons
ISBN: 9780399247064
Ages 6-up
32 pages
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Just as the use of commas was hilariously demystified in EATS, SHOOTS & LEAVES: Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference!, now Lynne Truss and Bonnie Timmons put their talents together to do the same for apostrophes. Everyone needs to know where to put an apostrophe to make a word plural or possessive (Are those sticky things your brother’s or your brothers?) and leaving one out of a contraction can give someone the completely wrong impression (Were here to help you).
GREAT JOY
written by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763629205
Ages 4-8
32 pages
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It is just before Christmas when an organ grinder and a monkey appear on the street corner outside Frances’s apartment. Frances can see them from her window, and sometimes when it’s quiet she can hear their music. In fact, Frances can’t stop thinking about them, especially after she sees the man and his monkey sleeping outside on the cold street at midnight. When the day of the Christmas pageant arrives, and it’s Frances’s turn to speak, everyone waits silently. But all Frances can think about is the organ grinder’s sad eyes --- until, just in time, she finds the perfect words to share.
OLIVIA HELPS WITH CHRISTMAS
written and illustrated by Ian Falconer
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781416907862
Ages 3-7
58 pages
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Christmas is coming, and Olivia is incredibly busy. She has to wait for Santa, make sure her dad sets up the tree, wait for Santa, watch her mom make the Christmas dinner, wait for Santa, oversee the care with which the stockings are hung and, of course, OPEN HER PRESENTS! Do you see how hard it is to be so helpful during the holidays?
 THE WIZARD
written by Jack Prelutsky
illustrated by Brandon Dorman
Greenwillow Books
ISBN: 0061240761
9780061240768
Ages 5-10
32 pages
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A watchful wizard waits alone within his tower of cold gray stone and ponders in his wicked way what evil deeds he'll do this day. What do you think the wizard is planning to do? Conjure a magic spell? Turn a frog into a flea? Fill a cauldron with bubbling brew? You may think you know…but watch out. Because if the wizard is bored, he may come looking for you!
--- Compiled and written by Tom Donadio
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