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Cool New Books for July
As difficult as it may be to believe, there ARE books that released in July whose main character isn't a bespectacled young wizard. July’s roundup of Cool New Books includes CAVE OF THE DARK WIND, a continuation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s series of adventures featuring favorite characters from Never Land; ONE BEASTLY BEAST, a collection of four fun fantasy tales from internationally bestselling author Garth Nix; FOOTBALL GENIUS, in which former NFL player Tim Green tells the story of a 12-year-old boy’s struggle to realize his gridiron dreams; and THE GIRL’S LIKE SPAGHETTI by Lynne Truss, the author of EATS, SHOOTS & LEAVES, who now turns her attention to apostrophes and illustrates why we can’t manage without them.
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Stand-Alone Chapter Books/Middle Grade Novels
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AUNT NANCY AND THE BOTHERSOME VISITORS
written by Phyllis Root
illustrated by David Parkins
Candlewick Press
ISBN-10: 0763630748
ISBN-13: 9780763630744
Ages 7-10
64 pages
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com
Unfortunately for Aunt Nancy, four bothersome individuals come knocking at her door. From Cousin Lazybones to Old Man Trouble, from doleful Old Woeful to sly, slick Mister Death, Aunt Nancy’s visitors nearly try her patience. Can she outwit these unwelcome guests? Find out in these irresistible trickster tales from masterful storyteller Phyllis Root.
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THE BAD LUCK CHAIR
Sue Wilkowski
Dutton Children’s Books
ISBN-10: 0525477942
ISBN-13: 9780525477945
Ages 8-up
96 pages
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• Click here to buy from Amazon.com
Every kid at Brookside Elementary knows the legend. If you sit in The Bad Luck Chair, you’ll be cursed with bad luck forever. When Addy walks into the classroom to find it at her desk, she feels like she’s living her worst nightmare. How can she, a quiet girl who just wants to go unnoticed, stand up to The Chair? Her classmate Katie claims to have secret information that explains how to reverse the curse. She’s convinced that Addy is the only one who can do it. Does Addy have what it takes, or will The Chair bring her greater misfortune?
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FOOTBALL GENIUS
Tim Green
HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 006112270X
ISBN-13: 9780061122705
Ages 10-14
256 pages
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• Click here to buy from Amazon.com
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.
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ONE BEASTLY BEAST: Two Aliens, Three Inventors, Four Fantastic Tales
written by Garth Nix
illustrated by Brian Biggs
Eos/HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060843195
ISBN-13: 9780060843199
Ages 7-11
176 pages
• Read a Review
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com
One beastly beast that's more than meets the eye.
Two aliens with slimy tentacles and too many eyes fixed on adopting a human son.
Three inventors and a sea serpent, a princess, an orphanage, and two ships full of pirates.
Four fantastic tales by renowned fantasy author Garth Nix.
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Series Books/Sequels
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Mercy Watson
MERCY WATSON: PRINCESS IN DISGUISE
written by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Candlewick Press
ISBN-10: 0763630144
ISBN-13: 9780763630140
Ages 6-8
80 pages
• Read a Review
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com
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? |
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Never Land Adventures
CAVE OF THE DARK WIND: A Never Land Book
Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Disney Editions/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN-10: 078683790X
ISBN-13: 9780786837908
Ages 8-up
176 pages
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com
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. |
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Sequel to DRAGON KEEPER
GARDEN OF THE PURPLE DRAGON
Carole Wilkinson
Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN-10: 1423103386
ISBN-13: 9781423103387
Ages 8-12
354 pages
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com
In the time of the Han Dynasty in ancient China, a young orphan struggles with her new responsibility. Ping has survived her days as a slave at Huangling Palace, but new challenges await her in the desolate mountains of Tai Shan. The aged dragon Danzi is gone, and now it is up to Ping to take care of the baby dragon, Kai. She does her best, but food is scarce, and she must be constantly on the lookout for her enemies. Things seem to get better when fate leads her back to the Imperial Palace, to the Garden of the Purple Dragon. Yet even within these hallowed walls, Ping and Kai are not as safe as they believe. |
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Picture Books
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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-10: 0399247068
ISBN-13: 9780399247064
Ages 6-up
32 pages
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com
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).
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ONE THOUSAND TRACINGS: Healing the Wounds of World War II
written and illustrated by Lita Judge
Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN-10: 1423100085
ISBN-13: 9781423100089
Ages 5-9
40 pages
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com
In the aftermath of World War II a family in America established contact with a family in Germany and to help them sent them supplies, including shoes. The German family was extremely grateful and asked if their American friends would help others in Europe. Soon shoe tracings from all over the continent started pouring in to the modest Midwest farm. The network of families helping from the U.S. started to grow so that ultimately hundreds of people on both sides of the Atlantic were touched by this remarkable process.
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SUGAR CANE: A Caribbean Rapunzel
written by Patricia Storace
illustrated by Raul Colon
Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN-10: 0786807911
ISBN-13: 9780786807918
Ages 6-10
48 pages
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com
Stolen away from her parents on her first birthday by island sorceress Madam Fate, beautiful Sugar Cane grows up in a tower overlooking the sea. With only a pet green monkey named Callaloo for company, Sugar Cane is lonely --- her only consolation is her love of music. Often she stands at her window and sings, imagining that the echo of her voice is someone answering her. Then one night, someone does hear her song, but could this young man with a gift for music break the spell of Madam Fate and help Sugar Cane set herself free?
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THE TOP JOB
written by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
illustrated by Robert Neubecker
Dutton Children’s Books
ISBN-10: 0525477896
ISBN-13: 9780525477891
Ages 4-up
32 pages
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com
Every kid loves to go with his or her parents to work, no matter what they do for a living. But imagine how cool it would be if your dad was responsible for changing the lightbulbs at the top of the Empire State Building! Readers will be amazed by the little-known details THE TOP JOB provides about one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. At the same time, they will relate to one girl’s pride when she brags to her classmates about her dad’s very high position.
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--- Compiled and written by Tom Donadio
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