Curtis, Christopher Paul (2007). Mr. Chickee’s Messy Mission. 230 p. (Gr. 3-6)
Join the Flint Future Detectives on another mystery and fantasy adventure. When Russell’s dog, Rodney Rodent, chases a gnome and disappears into a mural, Steve Carter and his friends follow him and meet Mr. Chickee. If they want to return to their own universe, the detectives have to find Rodney Rodent and save the alternate universe of Ourside at the same time.

Fontes, Justine & Ron (2007). The Trojan Horse: The Fall of Troy. 48 p. (Gr. 4-6)

If your kids like to hear myths and legends, but can’t read Virgil on their own, then have them try this refreshing new take on Greek myths in the form of a graphic novel (comic book). Kids will enjoy learning about the battle of Troy and the story behind the wooden horse through scenes full of action and color.

Gifford, Peggy (2007). Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little. 92 p. (Gr. 3-5)
Meet nine year old Moxy who realizes that summer is ending and she has not yet read her summer reading assignment! Does this sound familiar? The book that she has put off reading is “Stuart Little,” but not because she doesn’t like it. Moxy brings the book with her everywhere, including the pool. It’s just that she hasn’t managed to spare any time to read it. Will Moxy finish the book the day before she starts fourth grade or will she have to face the consequences?

McAllister, Angela (2006). Digory the Dragon Slayer. 124 p. (Gr. 3-5)

Digory was an average boy until he found a dragon’s tooth while walking through the forest. Suddenly, the people of his village think that he has slayed a dragon! Now he is considered a knight, but can Digory face a real dragon?

New Programs offered at the Children's Library

Music, Movement, and Me for ages 0-4.

Join Sara Epstein in the Children's Library for a fun, exciting, interactive early childhood music and movement class. We sing, dance and play to/with a variety of music all genres. Shaker eggs, bells, sticks, puppets, scarves and other fun, colorful props are used to delight the children and stimulate their senses. We learn basic rhythm and pitch in a fun, non-competitive and safe environment.

Location: In the Storytime Room
From: 10:30-11:30 am
Dates: Friday February 29
Monday March 24
Monday April 28

Registration will be available approximately one week before each session.
Maximum of 20 children, plus adult.

Sing-Along with Ed Morgan, "The Music Man" for ages 2.9 - 5.

Join Ed in singing, clapping, and movement songs on Friday March 14 and April 11 from 3-3:45 pm in the Storytime Room. These are drop-in sessions, no registration required. Adults are required to attend with their child.

Picture Books for Chinese New Year

Katz, Karen. My First Chinese New Year.

Your child will enjoy reading about how a little girl prepares for her first Chinese New Year. This book is full of colorful illustrations, which vividly portray the celebration.

Low, William. Chinatown.

Experience the sights and smells of Chinatown as you read about a boy and his grandmother who take a walk on Chinese New Year's Day.

Thong, Roseanne. Round is a Mooncake.

Simple shapes in her home and neighborhood remind a girl of her Chinese-American heritage.

Wong, Janet. This Next New Year.

Read about the many ways that a Chinese-Korean boy and his friends celebrate the "lunar new year."

More books about Chinese New Year and Chinese-Americans:

• Compestine, Ying Chang. The Runaway Rice Cake.
• Hall, Bruce Edward. Henry and the Kite Dragon.
• Lin, Grace. Fortune Cookie Fortunes.
• Nunes, Susan. The Last Dragon.
  

Picture Books about Friendship

Bloom, Suzanne. A Splendid Friend, Indeed.
Can a goose and a polar bear be friends? Find out how a curious goose wins over a polar bear who can't be bothered.

Dunrea, Olivier. Gossie & Friends: A First Flap Book.
Your child will enjoy reading about Gossie, Gertie, BooBoo, and Peedie. Lift the flaps to learn about colors, seasons, countings, and more!

Ford, Miela. Bear Play.
Two polar bears have a great time playing in the water.

West, Colin. "Buzz, Buzz, Buzz," Went Bumblebee.
The bumblebee buzzes from one animal to the next, hoping to find a friend. He finally lands on a butterfly who doesn't mind a bumblebee on his wing.

Exciting historical fiction

Kathryn Lasky's The Last Girls of Pompeii.

184 p. Gr. 6-8

In the year A.D. 79, 12 year old Julia is the youngest child in the Petreius family who was born with a deformed arm, which she refers to as the “Curse of Venus.” The summer has been a busy one for Julia, because her sister Cornelia is to be wed. Both their parents are consumed by the wedding preparations and Julia gets dragged from one augur to the next. While her family is preparing for the upcoming wedding Julia and her slave Sura begin to notice strange things happening in Pompeii. First they notice that the water from the fountain is not flowing as freely as usual and then they smell sulfur, which has an odor like rotten eggs. Little do they know that beneath Mount Vesuvius there is a volcano that is ready to erupt and destroy the lives of the ones they love.

For Young Mystery Lovers!

Pearson, Susan. The 123 Zoo Mystery. 88 p. Gr.1-3
Classroom 123 has sixteen pets, including Mrs. Lettuce, the rabbit who will soon have baby rabbits. One morning Ernie’s class arrives and finds that someone has let all the pets out of their cages, but who? It is up to “Eagle-Eye” Ernie and the Martian club to solve the mystery.


Napoli, Donna Jo. Sly the Sleuth and the Pet Mysteries. 92 p. Gr.2-4
Join Sylvia, also known as “Sly the Sleuth,” in solving three mysteries about the pets in her neighborhood. Black and white illustrations portray the characters and pets in the story.

Sharmat, Marjorie. The Sly Spy. 44 p. Gr.K-2
From the same author as “Nate the Great” comes Olivia Sharp, Agent for Secrets. Olivia Sharp solves secret problems, but this time Olivia has a problem. Another agent is covering up her ads and impeding on Olivia’s business. In addition, Olivia is hiding a feathery birthday present in her apartment. Read the book to find out what it is!

Stefanec-Ogren, Cathy. Sly, P.I.: The Case of the Missing Shoes.
48 p. Gr. K-2
Help Sly, P.I. solve the mystery of the missing ballet shoes. On opening night, Miss Lotta Oink’s ballet slippers mysteriously disappear and it is up to Sly P.I. to solve the case.

Counting Monkeys and Crocodiles

Alborough, Jez. Tall.
This is a great picture book for infants through preschool. Using very few words, Alborough depicts how various jungle animals help a very little monkey to feel that he is tall.

Christelow, Eileen. Five little monkeys jumping on the bed. Your little one will enjoy reading or singing this silly story about five monkeys who jump on the bed until they fall off and bump their
heads.

Ochiltree, Dianne. Ten Monkey Jamboree.

Rhyming text and colorful pictures show how many monkeys it takes to make a jungle jamboree and how many combinations of numbers will add up to ten.

Sierra, Judy. Counting crocodiles.
Find out how one monkey outsmarts hungry crocodiles with her counting ability and gets to a banana tree on an island across the sea.