Books

Item Description

The Princess in Black, by LeUyen Pham: 

Who says princesses don’t wear black? When trouble raises its blue monster head, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses and becomes the Princess in Black! Princess Magnolia is having hot chocolate and scones with Duchess Wigtower when . . . Brring! Brring! The monster alarm! A big blue monster is threatening the goats! Stopping monsters is no job for dainty Princess Magnolia. But luckily Princess Magnolia has a secret —she’s also the Princess in Black, and stopping monsters is the perfect job for her! Can the princess sneak away, transform into her alter ego, and defeat the monster before the nosy duchess discovers her secret? From award-winning writing team of Shannon and Dean Hale and illustrator LeUyen Pham, here is the first in a humorous and action-packed chapter book series for young readers who like their princesses not only prim and perfect, but also dressed in black.

Digby O'Day, Up Up and Away:

The sky’s the limit in the third Digby O’Day adventure from the talented mother-daughter pair of author Shirley Hughes and illustrator Clara Vulliamy. Digby O’Day and his best friend, Percy, are headed to the air show to see gliders, helicopters, and hot-air balloons. Ariel, the new pet parrot of insufferable neighbor Lou Ella, sneaks out to tag along. But when the friends get to the air show, they notice that Lou Ella has followed them. They hide, but unfortunately, they’re crouched in the basket of a hot-air balloon, and one big gust of wind sets the balloon flying. Between Digby’s fear of heights and Percy’s hungry tummy, they’ve got problems—and then a big storm rumbles in. Can the trio find a way to land the balloon safely? And if they do, will Ariel have to return to his perch at Lou Ella’s house, or is there a better option? Daring readers will love soaring into the wild blue yonder with these clever characters, and when they’ve finished reading, they can engage in the included games and activities featuring Digby and his friends.

Slingshot and Burp, by Richard Hayes: 

Yippee-ki-yay! Saddle up and hit the dusty trail with the wildest bike-ridin’ kid cowboys west of the Mississippi!Slingshot and Burp—two pea-shootin’, slingshot-totin’ cowhands on two wheels—are on the lookout for action. Bleached bones? Bring ’em on! Lost outlaws? Let’s go! Hidden loot? Yee haw! Rattlesnakes! Scorpions! Ghost cats!Wait, what . . . ? Whoa! Saddled up to battle the boredom of summer, these two double cousins, best friends, and next-door neighbors have fitted themselves out like Old West cowboys to charge boldly (and sometimes bravely) into the southwestern desert that is their backyard. And sure enough, in two rattles of a snake’s tail, the boys find themselves boots-deep in adventure, dodging sisters, jail time, coyotes, and squirting skulls! Boll weevil!

Squirrels Fun Day, by Lisa Moser: 

Got to go, got to go, got to go, go, go! The energetic Squirrel is eager to make sure his friends have fun in four charming new (mis)adventures. Squirrel is busy, busy, busy — and determined to have a fun day! Mouse has cleaning to do, but it’s nothing that Squirrel’s frenetically helpful sweeping won’t take care of. Turtle may be too slow to run, run, run around the pond, but Squirrel has a rocky plan to help Turtle get across. And when Rabbit is reluctant to alter his grasseating routine, Squirrel’s comedic assistance makes for an unexpected adventure. Welcome back the funny, exhausting Squirrel and his ever-patient friends in a medley of stories perfectly suited for reading alone or reading aloud.

Bink and Gollie, by DiCamillo and McGhee: 

Winner of the 2011 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award!

In a brilliant collaboration, best-selling authors Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, along with acclaimed illustrator Tony Fucile, introduce an outrageously funny pair of friends.

Meet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls — one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible. Setting out from their super-deluxe tree house and powered by plenty of peanut butter (for Bink) and pancakes (for Gollie), they share three comical adventures involving painfully bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion. No matter where their roller skates take them, at the end of the day they will always be the very best of friends. Full of quick-witted repartee, this brainchild of Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo and award-winning author Alison McGhee is a hilarious ode to exuberance and camaraderie, imagination and adventure, brought to life through the delightfully kinetic images of Tony Fucile.