Thursday, July 28, 2016

On Shelves Now: EMMANUEL'S DREAM: THE TRUE STORY OF EMMANUEL OFOSU YEBOAH by Laurie Ann Thompson

40 p.
Ages: 4 to 8

Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, he was dismissed by most people—but not by his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams. As a boy, Emmanuel hopped to school more than two miles each way, learned to play soccer, left home at age thirteen to provide for his family, and, eventually, became a cyclist. He rode an astonishing four hundred miles across Ghana in 2001, spreading his powerful message: disability is not inability. Today, Emmanuel continues to work on behalf of the disabled.

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On Shelves Now: A MORNING WITH GRANDPA by Sylvia Liu

32 p.
Ages: 5 to 8

Mei Mei’s grandpa is practicing tai chi in the garden, and Mei Mei is eager to join in. As Gong Gong tries to teach her the slow, graceful movements, Mei Mei enthusiastically does them with her own flair. Then Mei Mei takes a turn, trying to teach Gong Gong the yoga she learned in school. Will Gong Gong be able to master the stretchy, bendy poses? Winner of Lee & Low’s New Voices Award, A Morning with Grandpa celebrates, with lively spirit and humor, the special bond between grandparent and grandchild and the joy of learning new things together. Readers of all ages will want to try out some tai chi and yoga too!

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Tuesday, July 26, 2016

On Shelves Now: MITZI TULANE, PRESCHOOL DETECTIVE IN WHAT'S THAT SMELL by y Lauren McLaughlin

32 p.
Ages: 2 to 5

Mitzi Tulane may be only three years old, but she sure knows how to follow a trail of evidence and solve tough mysteries. From the strange happenings in the kitchen to the sudden arrival of every family member she’s ever met, Mitzi pieces together the clues and (finally) realizes that she’s…in the middle of her own surprise birthday party!

Kids and parents will laugh along as Mitzi sorts through not-so-subtle hints and comes to her conclusions. Readers will love figuring out the surprise ahead of the private-eye protagonist! Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s bouncy illustrations bring an extra layer of fun to Lauren McLaughlin’s clever story.

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On Shelves Now: TOWERS FALLING by Jewell Parker Rhodes

240 p.
Ages: 8 to 12

When her fifth-grade teacher hints that a series of lessons about home and community will culminate with one big answer about two tall towers once visible outside their classroom window, Deja can't help but feel confused. She sets off on a journey of discovery, with new friends Ben and Sabeen by her side. But just as she gets closer to answering big questions about who she is, what America means, and how communities can grow (and heal), she uncovers new questions, too. Like, why does Pop get so angry when she brings up anything about the towers?

Award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes tells a powerful story about young people who weren't alive to witness this defining moment in history, but begin to realize how much it colors their every day.

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Thursday, July 7, 2016

On Shelves Now: COLOR MY FRO by Crystal Swain-Bates

68 p.
Ages: 4 and up

In "Color My Fro," 31 big-haired fairies, mermaids, warriors, models, cheerleaders, and fierce divas grace the pages of this coloring book celebrating the beauty of black women and natural hair. At each turn of the page, a new natural hair inspired illustration greets you.

Fun for any occasion, "Color My Fro" is the perfect coloring book for natural hair lovers of any age so grab your crayons, colored pencils, and your afro pick and get started!

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On Shelves Now: BIG HAIR, DON'T CARE by Crystal Swain-Bates

32 p.
Age: 4 to 7

Lola has really big curly hair, much bigger than the other kids at her school. Although her big hair often causes kids to stare and sometimes her big curls cause her to lose at hide and seek, that doesn't stop her from telling anyone who will listen just how much she LOVES her hair!

Amazon | B & N | Book Depository | IndieBound

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

On Shelves Now: DARA PALMER'S MAJOR DRAMA by Emma Shevah

288 p.
Ages: 8 to 12

Dara Palmer knows for a fact that she was meant to be on stage. But when The Sound of Music is selected for the school musical, Dara isn't cast as Maria—or at all. She can't help but wonder: is it because she's different? Maybe it's because she was adopted from Cambodia and doesn't look like a typical fraulein…

So irrepressible Dara comes up with a grand scheme to shake the school: write her own play about her own life. Then she'll have to be the star.

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On Shelves Now: MIRAGE by Tracy Clark

272 p.
Ages: 14 and up

Seventeen-year-old Ryan Poitier Sharpe is a gutsy, outgoing girl who spends her summer days hurling herself out of planes at her parents’ skydiving center in the Mojave Desert. Fiercely independent and willing to take risks, she challenges those around her to live life fully. But after a brush with death, Ryan is severely altered—she’s not the same thrill-seeking girl she once was and seems to be teetering on the edge of psychosis. As her relationships crumble and her life unravels, Ryan must fight the girl she’s become—or lose herself forever—in this eerie and atmospheric thriller.

Amazon | B & N | Book Depository | IndieBound