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Recommended for Kids

Alone

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Alone by Megan E. Freeman
Format: Book
Who’s it for: Kids, Teens

After waking up in a town evacuated while she slept, Maddie has to learn to survive on her own. At only twelve years old, she weathers harsh climate, natural disasters, illness, looters, and wild animals. Remembering her dad’s advice to “stay put” during a crisis, Maddie scavenges nearby houses for food and supplies, soon also finding the neighbor’s Rottweiler, George, who becomes her constant companion. With only George and the books she’s able to pilfer from her local library to keep her company, brave and determined Maddie perseveres in the hopes that one day her parents will come back for her. In simple but powerful verse, she often heartbreakingly remembers her life “before,” worries about her loved ones, and wonders when – and if – she will ever see them again.

Alone is a middle-grade novel in verse and Megan E. Freeman’s debut. At 400 pages, it manages to be incredibly fast-paced and keeps its momentum until the last page. Reminiscent of Hatchet, Island of the Blue Dolphins, and the I Survived series, Alone is a story about the internal struggle of isolation, but also, survival, courage, family, and hope.

Find Alone in the catalog here!

Something’s Wrong!

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Something’s Wrong! by Jory John
Format: Picture Book
Who its’s for: Preschool-2nd grade

Have you ever had an off day? You just feel like something is not quite right? But you can’t put your finger on it. Well Bear feels just that way. He’s done all the normal things a bear does to start his day. But something is different… So Bear sets out to find his friend Anders, a hare, who he knows will be honest with him and help him figure it out. “Oh Anders!” says Bear. “Oh hey Jeff, how’s your….. uh, day….um….how’s your…let’s see…” Anders is a bit stumped. Should Anders tell his friend that he’s wearing underwear? Over his fur??
This story is about a Bear named Jeff, some forest friends, a hare named Anders, good friends and underwear!

Find Something’s Wrong! in the catalog.

Lift

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Lift by Minh Lê, art by Dan Santat
Format: Book, eBook
Who it’s for: Kids

Those of us who are older siblings can probably relate to Iris’ experience in Lift. Iris has always been the one to push the buttons on the elevator in her family’s building. But now, her baby brother has taken over her favorite job. She’s upset, but soon finds herself in possession of an elevator button of her own that opens new worlds from her bedroom. But does she want to explore them alone?

Though not a completely wordless picture book, Lift provides the opportunity to expand on the story with your child through Santat’s graphic novel-like illustrations. Pick out the small details that add to the feeling of the story and spin your own tales while Iris explores other worlds. This picture book is fun for kids and adults alike, and especially for all those older siblings out there.

Find Lift in the catalog.

Sunrise Summer

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Sunrise Summer by Mathew Swanson and Robbi Behr
Format: Picture Book
Who it’s for: Kids

During the summer a young girl and her family travel four thousand miles across the country to Egegik Alaska.
In Egegik, where their cabin is, she gets to join the family salmon fishing crew! If you’re old enough to be on the crew, like she is, for the first time. There are many things to do while waiting for the salmon to arrive. Dragging six-foot anchor poles into the sand, and endless ropes through knee-deep mud and fetching water from the spring. Plus lots of chores around the cabin.  Keeping busy is easy.  But they are constantly keeping an eye out, waiting for the salmon to come!
Only 106 people live in Egegik during the winter when the fish are out to sea. But in summer the streets are full of people that catch fish and ship them somewhere else.
When the salmon arrive, they start early with the tide and fish at 4:00 a.m. A set-net, fishing from the shore, pulley system is how they catch the fish.

This story is based on a real life family adventure. The dad Mathew wrote this story and the mom Robbi in the story drew the pictures. You will learn lots of salmon and Alaska facts in this book where the sun shines at midnight!

Find Sunrise Summer in the catalog! 

Begin with a Bee

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Begin with a Bee by Liza Ketchum, Briggs Martin, and Phyllis Root
Format: Book
Who’s It For: Children and Adults

What’s the buzz? It’s the life cycle of a bee! Explore the life of the rusty-patched bumble bee, well-known for its fuzzy yellow and black hairs. Did you know that this bee is native to the United States? Have you seen them?  Follow this bumble bee from underground hibernation, to pollination, to colonization. Illustrator Claudia McGehee brings the bee’s story to life with gorgeous woodcut-like (scratchboard) drawings. Did you know that rusty-patched bumble bees are on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s endangered list? This non-fiction book concludes with suggestions of how bee-lovers can “bee” helpful to bees.

Check it out! 🙂

Don’t Touch My Hair!

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Don’t Touch My Hair! Written and illustrated by Sharee Miller
Format: Book
Who It’s For: Kids

Aria is a girl with ah-maaazing hair. Big and thick, soft with dark springy curls, everyone notices Aria’s hair when she walks down the street and they love it almost as much as she does. Unfortunately, everywhere Aria goes, people want to touch her hair, without asking her permission! Aria tries to hide her hair or hide from people so she feels safe, but when hiding doesn’t work, she escapes. Whether she is deep in the blue ocean, in a steamy jungle, or high in a castle tower, there’s always someone or something who tries to touch her hair and finally Aria. Has. Had. ENOUGH!!

Read Don’t Touch My Hair! to see how Aria finds the strength she needs to set her own personal boundaries while still loving her friends and her beautiful hair.

Find Don’t Touch My Hair! in the catalog