Children's Fiction Collection
Singer, Isaac Bashevis, Stories for Children. New York: Farrar, Stravs, Giroux. 1985.
| Annotation |
"These incredible tales of wisdom, beauty and joy remain timeless." Annotation taken from the book jacket by: CC 10/03/99 |
Billinsly, Franny. The Folk Keeper. Thorndike: Thorndike Press. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Corinna, disguised as a boy, Corin, is a folk keeper. She feeds the
fierce, dark dwelling cave folk to keep them from damaging the neighborhood. When the old
lord Merton asks her to become folk keeper on cliff’s end, where the folk are
particularly fierce, she comes face to face with herself, with the powers she has and
doesn’t have." Annotation taken from the book jacket: by tw 9-20-00. |
The Highlights Big Book of Science Secrets: 101 Amazing Experiments. New York: Barnes and Noble Books. 1997.
Annotation |
| "*Do you think water is strong enough to break a pencil? *Can a bowl of water feel hot and cold at the same time? The answers to these and other science puzzlers are found in this amazing book that sloves some of the basic riddles of science with the use of household or easily found objects. *step by step instructions *full color illustrations" Annotation taken from book jacket: by tw 9-20-00 |
Holland, Isabelle. The Journey Home. New York: Scholastic Inc. 1990.
Annotation |
| Maggie and Annie are headed west. Now their Ma is dead are they‘re going
to Kansas to meet their new family. Original Annotation by: tw on 9-20-00 |
Avi. Ragweed. New York: Harper Trophy. 1999.
Annotation |
| "Ragweed, a young country mouse, leaves his family and travels to the
big city, where he finds excitement and a danger and sees cats for the first time." Annotation taken from book jacket: by tw 0n 9-20-00 |
Martin, Ann, M. Eleven Kids, One Summer. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1993.
Annotation |
| "How do eleven kids, two parents and a cat named Zsa – Zsa manage
to hang out together on a small island for an entire summer? No vacation is complete with
out a haunted house, a georgeous movie star, a seashell salesman, a ghost from the sea and
a disappearing little brother." Annotation taken form book jacket: by tw on 9-20-00 |
Blume, Judy. Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret. New York: Dell Publishing. 1986.
Annotation |
| "No one ever told Margaret Simon the eleven-going-on-twelve would be
such a hard age. When her family moves to New Jersey, she has to adjust to life in the
suburbs, a different school and a whole new group of friends. Margaret knows she needs
someone to talk to about growing up-and its not long before she’s found a solution-
"Are you there God, it’s me Margaret?" Annotation taken from book jacket: by tw on 9-20-00 |
Cleary, Beverly. Ramona the Pest. New York: Dell Publishing. 1982.
Annotation |
| "Ramona Quimby isn’t really a pest. The people who call her a pest
are always bigger and so they can be unfair. She is a girl who can’t wait. Life is so
interesting she has to find out what will happen next. In this story, Ramona enters
Kindergarten! Yes, school is fun… untill something happens and ramona almost becomes
the first Kindergarten dropout." Annotation taken from book jacket: by tw on 9-20-00 |
Cleary, Beverly. Ramona and Her Mother. New York: Dell Publishing. 1988.
Annotation |
| "Now that Daddy has a job, Ramona hopes that her mother will stop
working. But life at the Quimby household is not going to be as it was. Ramona’s
mother will keep her job. Still, she’ll never be too busy to pay attention to
Ramona…. Will she?" Annotation taken from book jacket: by tw on 9-20-00 |
Baillie, Alan. Adrift. New York: Puffin Books.1983.
Annotation |
| "Flynn
gets stuck babysitting his little sister Sally. When she sees an old crate bobbing among
the rocks beside the beach, he comes up with the perfect way to keep her busy - a Pirate
game. They climb aboard and pretend to be sailing a great ship. But the fun quickly turns
to terror when the strong currents set them adrift helpless and at the mercy of the
sea." Annotation taken from book jacket by: TW on 9-26-00. |
Byars, Betsy. Bingo Brown and the Language of Love. New York: Scholastic Inc. 1988.
Annotation |
| "A
story about a teenage love triangle involving Melissa, Bingo’s one true love, Cici,
the big blonde who wants Bingo, and Billy Wentworth who wants Cici. Love is in the air and
its turning Bing’s world upside down." Annotation taken from book jacket by: TW on 9-26-00. |
Danziger, Paula. The Cat Ate My Gymsuit. New York: Dell Publishing Co. Inc. 1983.
Annotation |
| "A
Story about Marcy Lewis who helps organize a protest to help her teacher who gets
suspended for controversial teaching methods. Along the way she learns values and to stand
up for what you believe in." Annotation taken from book jacket by: TW on 9-26-00 |
Stine, R.L. Say Cheese And Die! New York: Scholastic, Inc. 1992.
Annotation |
| "Greg
thinks there is something wrong with the old camera he and his friend found. The
photographs keep turning out wrong. Very wrong. Like the snapshot Greg took of his
father’s new car that show it totaled. And then Greg’s father is in a nasty
wreck.But Greg’s friends don’t believe him. Shari even makes Greg bring the
camera to her birthday party and take her picture. Only Shari’s not in the photograph
when it develops. Is Shari about to be taken out of the picture permanently? Who is going
to take the next fall for… The evil camera?" Annotation taken from back of book by CK 10/10/00 |
Stine, RL. The Beast From The East. New York: Scholastic, Inc.1996
Annotation |
| "Ginger
Wald and her identical twin brothers, Nat and Pat, are lost in the woods. No Problem.
After all, Ginger did go to that stupid nature camp. Still, there’s something odd
about this part of the woods. The grass is yellow. The bushes are purple. And the trees
are like skyscrapers. Then Ginger and her brothers meet the beasts. They’re big blue
furry creatures. And they want to play a game. The winners get to live. The losers get
eaten…" Annotation taken from back of book by CK 10/10/00 |
Stine, R.L. Tales to Give You Goosebumps Ten Spooky Stories. New York: Scholastic, Inc. 1994
Annotation |
| "From
an evil baby sister, to a remote control that can control more than just the television
set, to a teacher who likes snakes a little too much, to a cute, cuddly bear gone bad,
here are ten creepy, spooky stories guaranteed to give you Goosebumps all night
long!" Annotation taken from back of book by CK 10/10/00 |
Pascal, Francine. Holiday Mischief. New York: Bantam Books. 1998
Annotation |
| "The
Sweet Valley Middle School Choral Group is off to Washington, D.C., to compete in the
national choral championship. Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield and their friend Anna
can’t wait to go. For the twins, it’s their first big trip away from home. For
Anna, it’s her chance to find her long-lost sister Leslie, who she has just
discovered is living in Washington, D.C." "Jessica comes up with a brilliant plan to bring Anna and Leslie back together again. But it will mean sneaking out after dark from their hotel to a foreign embassy. If the girls get caught, the whole choral group might be sent home. They know it’s dangerous but they don’t realize that their escapade is about to become an international news event! And the biggest, most wonderful surprise is that Anna’s sister is not at all what-or who- anyone expected." Annotation taken from back of book by CK 10/10/00 |
Pascal, Francine. The Bully. New York: Bantam Books. 1988
Annotation |
| "Dennis
Cookman is the biggest bully at Sweet Valley Middle School. Elizabeth and Jessica
Wakefield, along with the whole sixth grade, are trying to figure out what to do about
him. When Dennis smashes Jimmy Underwood’s bicycle, some of the kids feel he’s
gone too far. Just because Dennis is bigger and older doesn’t give him the right to
pick on the sixth graders. Something has to be done to stop this bully once and for all!
That’s when Ken Matthews comes up with the perfect dare that will expose Dennis
Cookman as the coward that he really is." Annotation taken from back of book by CK 10/10/00 |
Strasser, Todd. Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home. New York: Scholastic, Inc. 1995
Annotation |
| "For
fourteen-year-old Jesse, the idea of family is confusing—he’s just feeling
comfortable with his foster parents, and he’s trying to get used the half brother he
just found out he has. But for whales like Willy, being part of a family comes naturally.
The whales stick together and protect one another. Jesse knows that’s how a family
should be. So when an oil spill threatens Willy’s family, Jesse is determined to keep
them together. He risks his own life to fight an oil company that wants to separate the
young whales from their mother. Will Jesse’s courage be enough to save the whales
this time?" Annotaion taken from back of book by CK 10/10/00 |
Stine, R.L. Egg Monsters From Mars. New York: Scholastic. 1996.
Annotation |
| "An
egg hunt. That’s what Dana Johnson’s bratty little sister, Brandy, wants to have
at her birthday party. And whatever Brandy wants, Brandy gets. Dana’s not big on egg
hunts. But that was before he found The Egg. It’s not like a normal egg. It’s
about the size of a softball. It’s covered with ugly blue and purple veins. And
it’s starting to hatch…." Annotation taken from back of book by CK 10/10/00 |
Stine, R.L. It Came From Beneath The Sink! New York: Scholastic. 1995
Annotation |
| "Kat
and her brother, Daniel, are so lucky. They just moved to a new house with tons of rooms,
two balconies, and a lawn the size of a football field! But all that good luck is about to
run out. Because there’s something really evil living in their new house.Something
that’s moving. Watching. Waiting.Something that comes from beneath the
sink…" Annotation taken from back of book by CK 10/10/00 |
Dadey, Debbie. Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots. New York: Scholastic. 1990.
Annotation |
| "There are some pretty
weird grown-ups living in Bailey City. But could the new third grade teacher from the
Transylvanian Alps really be a vampire? The Bailey School Kids are going to find out! The
third grade at Bailey Elementary was very hard to handle. Most teachers quit – and
moved – Far away – after trying to teach them. But Mrs. Jeepers was different.
No one ever dared make her mad – because whenever they did, the strangest things
would happen…" Annotation from back of book by ck 10/12/00 |
Gayle, Sharon. Kai A Big Decision. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. 1997.
Annotation |
| "Kai and her beautiful
older sister, Jamila, have survived a difficult trek across the forests and plains of
Yorubaland. Their tribespeople are threatened by a blight on the precious yam crop, and
the girls have traveled to Oyo to seek help. They both emerged from their journey with
heightened confidence in their own abilities, and greater respect and love for each other.
But now Kai faces the most difficult decision of her life. Should she return home with her
sister to enjoy the new-found closeness and be reunited with her best friend, Aisha? Or
should she stay in Oyo where she has a chance to realize her cherished dream of becoming a
sculptor of the magnificent bronze figures for which her people are famous." Annotation from inside front cover by ck 10/17/00 |
Greene, Jacqueline. Marie Mystery at the Paris Ballet. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. 1997.
Annotation |
| "At last Marie has
realized her dream of dancing with the famed Paris Opera, but life at the ballet is not
all she imagined it would be. The other dancers in the corps de ballet, jealous of her
talent, tease her about her youth and inexperience. He long hours of practice leave her
little time for her best friend, Joelle. Her wealthy patron, Countess du Lac, gives her
lavish gifts, but it is difficult for Marie to accept the Countess’s extravagance
while people struggle to provide for their families and poor children beg for food in the
streets of Paris. Now Marie has been accused of a terrible crime that threatens her very
future in the ballet. In clearing her name, Marie discovers an unlikely culprit, and
learns how valuable true friends can be." Annotation from inside front cover by ck 10/17/00 |
Haddix, Mararet. Among the Hidden. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Luke has never been to
school. He’s never had a birthday party, or gone to a friend’s house for an
overnight. In fact, Luke has never had a friend. Luke is one of the shadow children, a
third child forbidden by the Population Police. He’s lived his entire life in hiding,
and now, with a new housing development replacing the woods next to his family’s
farm, he is no longer even allowed to go outside. Then one day Luke sees a girl’s
face in the window of a house where he knows two other children already live. Finally,
he’s met a shadow child like himself. Jen is willing to risk everything to come out
of the shadows – does Luke dare to become involved in her dangerous plan? Can he
afford not to?" Annotation from back of book by ck 10/17/00 |
Ibbotson, Eva. The Secret of Platform 13. New York: Penquin Group. 1994.
Annotation |
| "Under Platform 13 in
one of London’s busiest train stations is an old doorway covered with peeling
posters. Behind it is the entrance to a Magical Kingdom – an island where humans live
happily with mermaids, ogres, and mysterious creatures called Mistmakers. When a beastly
woman named Mrs. Trottle kidnaps the island’s young prince, it’s up to a strange
band of rescuers to find him, save him, and return him to the King and Queen. But can the
rescuers – an ogre, a hag, a wizard, and a fey – troop around London unnoticed?
And what if the Prince doesn’t want to go back?" Annotation from back of book by ck 10/17/00 |
Nixon, Lowery Joan. A Family Apart. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens. 2000.
Annotation |
| "The
Orphan Train Adventures begin in 1860 in New York City, where Mrs. Kelly, a young widow,
realizes she cannot give her six children the life they deserve. Mrs. Kelly makes the
ultimate sacrifice of love and sends them west on the Orphan train to find better lives
with new families. The children, especially thirteen-year-old Frances Mary, feel an
overwhelming sense of betrayal and abandonment. Their arrival in St. Joseph, Missouri,
separates the children not only from their mother, but also from each other as well. One
by one they are adopted by western families - some looking for children to love, others
only seeking cheap labor. Frances has promised ma that she will look after Pety, her
youngest brother, no matter what. Will honoring Ma’s request help Frances understand
that splitting up the family was really her mother’s act of love?" Annotations taken from the back the book by Darla, November 6, 2000. |
Watson, Jude. The Captive Temple. New York: Scholastic. 2000.
Annotation |
| "The
Jedi Temple is under attack. An attempt has been made to kill Yoda. A dangerous intruder
has infiltrated the Jodi. Everybody is under suspicion. And no one is safe from harm.
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn must get to the heart of the conspiracy…or watch the
temple be destroyed- from the inside." Annotations taken from the back the book by Darla, November 6, 2000. |
Eastman, P. D. The Cat In The Hat Beginner Book Dictionary. New York: Random House. 2000.
Annotation |
| A
child’s picture dictionary. Original annotation by: JK 1-7-00 |
Swartz. Alvin. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. New York: Harper & Row. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Phantom
Footsteps! Ghostly wails! Creatures that go bump in the night!" "Turn the lights down low. Now get ready for the fright of your life. Here are chilling, thrilling stories that will make you shiver & shake – and make your friend quiver & quake! Guaranteed to cause pleasurable shivers. Misty & eerie. Sure to provoke chills along the spine." Annotation taken form the back of the book: JK 11-7-00 |
Thompson, Kay. Eloise’s Guide to Life. New York: Simon & Schuster. 2000.
Annotation |
| Eloise’s
Guide to Life shares tips on such subjects as "How to Eat", "How to
Dress", "How to travel", "How to Behave", and "Stay Six
Forever!" Annotation by ck 10/25/00 |
Pullman, Philip. The Amber Spyglass. New York: Philip Pullman. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Lyra
and Will, the two ordinary children whose extraordinary adventures began in The Golden
Compass and The Subtle Knife, are in unspeakable danger. With help from Iorek
Byrnison the armored bear and two time Gallivespian spies, they must journey to a dank and
gray-lit world where no living soul has ever gone." "All the while, Dr. Mary Malone builds a magnificent amber spyglass. An assassin hunts her down. And Lord Asriel, with troops of shining angels, fights his might rebellion, a battle of strange – allies – and shocking sacrifice." "As war rages and Dust drain from the sky, the fate of the living – and the dead – finally comes to depend on two children and the simple truth of one simple story. The Amber Spyglass reveals that story, bringing Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials to an astonishing conclusion." Annotation from inside front cover by ck 11/2/00 |
Martin, Ann M. What Happened to Dawn’s Spirit?. New York: Scholastic Inc. 1995.
Annotation |
| "It’s
school spirit month at SMS. That means a new activity everday, including a pep rally, a
big game against their rival school, and all kinds of dress-up days. Dawn likes some of
the events, especially school clean-up day." "But soon Dawn sees that some of the kids are getting too involved in school spirit month. They make fun of the people who don’t participate, and Mary Anne is becoming afraid to go to school. Dawn doesn’t think that is fair." "School Spirit Month was supposed to bring SMS together, but now a huge war is about to break out. And Dawn is right in the middle of it." Annotation from back of book by ck 11/7/00 |
Sciescka, Jon. Summer Reading Is Killing Me! New York: Puffin Books. 1998.
Annotation |
| "Joe,
Sam, and Fred are determined to spend their summer vacation relaxing. Then Fred
accidentally places their summer reading list inside The Book, and the guys find
themselves transported to a bizarrely bookish universe. Trapped in Hoboken while villians
from children’s classics run amok, the intrepid trio must find The Book before the
Headless Horseman, Long John Silver and a dastardly Mr. (Teddy) Bear do away with the
heroes of their stories. Will the gang be on time? Or (horrors!) will Alice in Wonderland
become Frankenstein in Wonderland?" Annotation from back of book by ck 11/7/00 |
Sharmat, Mitchell. Nate The Great San Francisco Detective. New York: Delacorte Press. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Nate,
the great detective, and his dog, Sludge, are off to San Francisco! They’re going to
visit Nate’s cousin Olivia Sharp. She’s a detective too, and a very busy one. So
busy she sends her chauffeur and limo to greet Nate and Sludge at the airport." "Olivia isn’t around to solve her case 22. Her client, Duncan, has lost his joke book. He tells Nate that if the book isn’t found – and soon – the world will come to an end. Nate takes the case. He and Sludge cruise up and down and around San Francisco in the limo, tracking down clues. Sticky clues, big and small clues, all-around-the-town clues that take them to a pancake house, over the Golden Gater Bridge, and finally to a place that seems wrong but could be right." "Can Nate the Great keep the world from coming to an end? Can he solve his first out-of-town case?" Annotation from back of book by ck 11/7/00 |
Sathre, Vivian. Stage Invader. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Samantha
Kepler is working on the school play. All of her friends are involved, including Wishbone!
This is the first time students have had complete control of the production. Already under
pressure, Sam becomes even more concerned when trouble begins; to brew behind the scenes:
Sam, Wishbone, and their friends soon begin to suspect that someone is trying to destroy
the play. If the play fails to open, this may mean the end of student-run productions.
Time is running out, and Sam and Wishbone must save the show by bringing down the curtain
on the mysterious stage invader." Annotation from back of book by ck 11/7/00 |
Stewart, Molly Mia. The Twins Mystery Teacher. New York: Bantam Skylark. 1989.
Annotation |
| "Elizabeth
and Jessica Wakefield are identical twins who sit side by side in their second grade
class. When their teacher is out with the flu, everyone changes seats, and the substitute
teacher can’t figure out who anyone is – especially Jessica and Elizabeth! That’s when the new substitute teacher arrives. Mr. Marshall is very strict, and the class is on it’s best behavior. Then the twins see Mr. Marshall getting into a police car. Could he be a dangerous criminal? When the class finds out who he really is, they are in for a big surprise!" Annotation from back of book by ck 11/7/00 |
Stine, R L. Don’t Forget Me! USA: Parachute Publishing. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Danielle
Warner was only pretending to hypnotize her brother Peter. So why is Peter acting so
strange…so terrifying? Doesn’t Peter realize it was all a joke? Danielle and her
brother are about to learn a frightening lesson: It’s not a good idea to kid around
in The Nightmare Room." Annotation from back of book by ck 11/7/00 |
Strickland, Brad and Fuller, Thomas E. Disoriented Express. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Joe
Talbot, Wishbone, and their friends take a ride on a train called the Zenith Condor. In
the 1930’s, the train was used to smuggle money and other valuables. Wishbone and his
friends soon learn that the train is still involved in conducting shady business when they
face a murder on board… Well, it’s not a real murder. Instead, it’s part of
a murder-mystery weekend sponsored by Oakdale College. But Wishbone’s nose for
mystery tells him that a real crime is being committed on board. And, once again, the
Zenith Condor is hiding something valuable. Now, Joe and Wishbone must find out
what’s going on before the train reaches it’s destination and priceless pieces
of the past are lost forever." Annotation from back of book by ck 11/7/00 |
Numeroff, Laura. If You Take a Mouse to the Movies. New York: Harper Collins. 2000.
Annotation |
| Taking
a mouse to the movies can be quite an adventure. He’ll want to make a popcorn string
for your Christmas tree and build a snowman. He may even start a snowball fight. Read to
find out just what a mouse would do. Annotation by Jennifer G. 12/28/00 |
Lantz, Francess. Stepsister From the Planet Weird. New York: Random House. 1997.
Annotation |
| Ariel
Cola from Zircalon-6 and Megan from Earth are about to become stepsisters if they
don’t make a move quick. Read to find out if they can stop this intergalactic
marriage. Annotation by Jennifer G. 12/28/00 |
Geisel, Theodore Seuss. And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street. New York: Vanguard Press. 1964.
Annotation |
| A
boy has seen a lot of people and weird things on Mulberry Street. See the pictures of what
they were. Any child would enjoy this Dr. Seuss book. Annotation by Jennifer G. 12/28/00 |
Jukes, Mavis. Blackberries in the Dark. Boston: Houston Mifflin. 1989.
Annotation |
| After
his grandfather died, Austin and his grandmother try to keep his memory alive. This book
contains questions about the story and a glossary. Annotation by Jennifer G. 12/28/00 |
Thayer, Jane. The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy. New York: William Morrow & Co. 1985
Annotation |
| Petey
the puppy only wanted one thing for Christmas, a boy. He goes on an adventure to find one,
but is having trouble locating one. Read this book to find out the surprise ending. Annotation by Jennifer G. 12/28/00 |
Mitter, Matt. The Gift of Christmas. New York: Golden Books. 2000.
Annotation |
| This
is a wonderfully illustrated Precious Moments book about the real meaning of Christmas.
This is a great book for kids of all ages. Annotation by Jennifer G 1/17/01 |
Steele, Michael Anthony. Forgotten Heroes. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Digging
around a garage sale, Joe Talbot and Wishbone find a shoebox full of old baseball cards among the cards is one from the 1933 Oakdale Oaks. Joe is thrilled to have a card from the Oakdale’s old baseball team. But when he finds out they won the 1933 national championship and there’s no mention of it in the town records, he can’t believe it! Joe, David Barnes, Samantha Kefler, and Wishbone dig deeper. They discover that someone tried to erase all records of the team’s victory by taking all the newspapers from 1933. They also uncover a dark secret from Oakdale’s past. Unless Wishbone and his friends find the truth a whole year of the town’s history will vanish and some of the best athletes who ever played baseball will be forgotten!" Annotations taken from the back of the book by Darla, on November 13, 2000. |
Applegate K.A. . The Proposal. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Marco
already knows he has a few problems; the constant battle with the Yeerks; finding out his
mother was infested… and it is now about to get even weirder, Marco’s father is
thinking about getting married again. Meanwhile, the Animorphs and Ax have other things to
worry about. Now the kids have to find away to slow down recruitment. But Marco’s
personal stress is causing him to morph into creatures that don’t exist. Creatures
the Yeerks are sure to notice… and attack…. " Annotations taken from the back of the book by Darla, on November 13, 2000. |
Applegate, K.A. The Prophecy. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens. 2000 .
Annotation |
| "There
is a chance for the Herk-Bajir on Earth to help start a rebellion against the Yeerks on
the Hork- Bajir home world. And they’ve learned from the last surviving Arn - the
race that created the Hork-Bajir - that Aldrea, daughter of Prince Seerow, knew the
locations of a stolen Yeerk vessel. The only way to recover the ship is to ask Aldrea
herself - and she’s dead. But the Arn has Aldre’s persona stored and Cassie,
Rachel, or Toby Hamee is the closet match. The only promblem is that Aldrea gets into one
of their minds, she may not want to come out…. Annotations taken from the back of the book by Darla on November 13, 2000. |
Steele Alexander. Case of the Unsolved Case. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens. 2000.
Annotation |
| "It’s
winter break in Oakdale, and everyone is having a great time. The residents are preparing
for the tree-lighting ceremony, Joe Talbot is enjoying a good book, and Wishbone is
hunting down holiday treats and hidden presents. But things start to go wrong in this
winter wonderland when Joe loses a valuable ring that had belonged to his father, and
Wishbone misplaces a valuable rawhide bone. Worst of all, David Barnes ends up missing Joe
and Wishbone search high and low for their friends, but it seems as if he has completely
disappeared. As the hours tick by, Joe and Wishbone wonder if David will ever be
back… " Annotation taken from the back of the book by Darla, November 13, 2000. |
Applegate, K.A. The Mutation. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Visser
three is still trying to find a way to reach the pemalite ship. The ship that was hidden
thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface. A ship contaning technology so advanced
that it is superior to anything even the Andalites have built. And this time, the Visser
plans to find the ship so he can use its power to complete Earth’s invasion. Jake the
other Animorph’s and Ax acquire additional deep-sea morphs in order to stop the
Visser’s plan But, while trying to destroyed the Yeerk ship, the kids make a
startling discovery - an under water civilization. Have the kids discovered Atlantis
… or is it just another trap? Annotation taken from the back of the book by Darla, November 13, 2000. |
Butcher, Nancy. Lights! Camera! Action Dog. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Two
of Oakdale’s success stories – the famous filmmaking Drake brothers –
return to their hometown to make a movie about Oakdale during the 1880’s. When Joe
Talbot lands a role in the film, he and Wishbone get a taste of the behind- the scenes
excitement … and the film set’s catered snacks, But sabotage soon threatens to
ruin the movie. A costume gets destroyed. Then someone steals important props and valuable
film. When mysterious notes and odd clues point to someone involved with the movie, Joe
and Wishbone decide to discover the truth. Unless they can find the culprit soon,
Oakdale’s big story will never make it to the big screen! Annotation taken from the back of the book by Darla, November 13, 2000. |
Baillie, Alan. Adrift. New York: Puffin Books.1983.
Annotation |
| "Flynn
gets stuck babysitting his little sister Sally. When she sees an old crate bobbing among
the rocks beside the beach, he comes up with the perfect way to keep her busy-a Pirate
game. They climb aboard and pretend to be sailing a great ship. But the fun quickly turns
to terror when the strong currents set them adrift helpless and at the mercy of the
sea." Annotation taken from book jacket by: TW on 9-26-00. |
Byars, Betsy. Bingo Brown and the Language of Love. New York: Scholastic Inc; 1988.
Annotation |
| "A
story about a teenage love triangle involving Melissa, Bingo’s one true love, Cici,
the big blonde who wants Bingo, and Billy Wentworth who wants Cici. Love is in the air and
its turning Bing’s world upside down." Annotation taken from book jacket by: TW on 9-26-00. |
Danziger, Paula. The Cat Ate My Gymsuit. New York: Dell Publishing Co. Inc., 1983.
Annotation |
| "A
Story about Marcy Lewis who helps organize a protest to help her teacher who gets
suspended for controversial teaching methods. Along the way she learns values and to stand
up for what you believe in." Annotation taken from book jacket by: TW on 9-26-00. |
Coville, Katherine. Space Brat 3: The Wrath of Squat. New York: A Minstrel Book.1994.
Annotation |
| "When
Blork is declared a hero and invited to the Galactic Celebration, his old enemy, Squat,
decides it is time to take revenge. With the help of his personal mad scientist, Squat
hatches a plan to humiliate Blork in front of the entire galaxy. Soon Blork and his
friends are hurtling through space, on a trip toward destiny, crankiness, and the
strangest tantrum in the history of the galaxy." Annotation taken from the back of the book by ck 10/25/00. |
Dahl, Roald. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. New York: Puffin Books. 1998.
Annotation |
| "The
gates of Mr. Willy Wonka’s famous chocolate factory are opening at last – and
only five children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop – a fat pig who would eat anything that came within reach or bite. Veruca Salt – a spoiled brat with parents trained to jump at her every scream. Violet Beauregarde – a gum-chewing gabber with the fastest jaws and the slowest wits around. Mike Teavee – a fiend for television. And Charlie Bucket – Our hero, who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!" Annotation taken from the back of the book by ck 10/25/00. |
Hiller, B B. Bingo. New York: Scholastic Inc. 1991.
Annotation |
| "My
name is Bingo. Like any other dog, all I really wanted was a good home. When I met Chuckie
Devlin, I knew he was the boy for me. He like to skateboard, needed help with his math
homework, and best of all, he liked me as much as I liked him. But Chuckie’s parents
didn’t want pets and before Chuckie and I could change their minds, the whole family
had to move away. I had to find him. So I set out across country. I certainly didn’t
think it would be a problem, not with my nose! I didn’t count on a couple of crooks
named Eli and Lennie making life difficult for me, but then I didn’t count on the
Thompson girls dressing me up like a baby either!" Annotation taken from the back of the book by ck 10/25/00. |
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Peril in the Bessledorf Parachute Factory. New York: Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. 1999.
Annotation |
| "The
sign in the parachute factory reads, "…to insure that every parachute will open,
each of our employees knows that at any time, an inspector may require him to jump from a
plane in the parachute he has just completed." Bernie Magruder does not think this
will ever apply to his sister Delores, who works at the factory. What Bernie wants is for
Delores to marry, leave home, and give her nice, large bedroom to him. So he and his
friends create a romance between Delores and Dewayne Hopper, who also works at the
factory.There are puzzling questions about Dewayne, however, and also about a strange
building going up in a nearby town. But as Bernie investigates, it proves, as his dad
says, that "Magruders welcome challenge, thrive on change, seek out the difficult, go
where angels fear to tread, feed a fever and starve a cold." The results are
nationwide publicity for Delores, tense moments for the Magruder family, and a wonderfully
funny story for Bessledorf readers." Annotation from inside front cover by ck 10/25/00. |
Sterman, Betsy and Samuel. Backyard Dragon. New York: Scholastic Inc. 1993.
Annotation |
| "Own
has a large problem. It’s about as large as a two-story house. It breathes
fire…and talks! How did the magical dragon come to be in New Jersey? And more importantly – What’s Owen going to do with him?" Annotation from back of book by ck 10/25/00. |
Suzanne, Jamie. Jumping to Conclusions. New York: Bantam Books. 1988.
Annotation |
| "Elizabeth
Wakefield thinks that her twin sister, Jessica, must be wrong: their very own mother in
love with a strange man? There’s no way it could be true. But how else can they
explain all of Mom’s hushed phone calls and her mysterious trips out? Even their
brother, Steven, spotted Mom having a fancy lunch with a handsome and rich-looking man!
Now even Elizabeth is beginning to believe the worst. There’s only one way to find
out the truth, but they’ll need the help of their friends. Can they round up the gang
and put the plan into action before it’s too late?" Annotation taken from back of book by ck 11/8/00. |
Tripp, Valerie. Meet Kit: An American Girl. Madison: Pleasant Company. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Kit
Kittredge is a nine-year-old girl with a nose for news. But since most of the news in the
early 1930’s is about the Hard times of the Depression, Kit writes her own newspaper
stories. She reports on what happens at home while Dad is at work – like the day
Mother invites fussy Mrs. Howard and her son to stay with them. Kit is excited to have a
boy her own age to play with, but Stirling is a disappointment – and he causes Kit
nothing but trouble. Then, when Dad loses his business because of the Depression, Mother
gets a brainstorm that turns the Kittredge household upside down." Annotation taken from back of book by ck 11/8/00. |
Applegate, KA. The Illusion. Milwakee: Gareth Stevens. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Tobias
and the other Animorphs, and Ax already have a few problems: saving the world, keeping
their identities secret, finishing their homework. Now they have one more thing to add to
the list. The Yeerks have discovered a way to cause a person to demorph. And, with this
device, Visser Three plans on capturing "the Andalite Bandits." Now what? The Animorphs and Ax realise they have to get rid of the device – or be captured by the Yeerks. And, the risk of getting caught is very high. That’s when Tobias comes up with the only possible plan. Someone has to acquire Ax…." Annotation taken from back of book by ck 11/16/00. |
Applegate, KA. The Conspiracy. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Jake’s
great-grandfather has died. It blows the family away – especially Jake’s mom. So
Jake’s parents decide they should all travel to the great-grandfather’s home to
help with any arrangements. In another state. For three or four days. This is a very big
problem for Jake’s brother, Tom. He can’t be away from the Yeerk pool for that
long. So Tom refuses to go – and his father insists. But Tom’s Yeerk will do
anything to survive. Including making his father less of a problem. Now Jake, the other
Animorphs, and Ax have to find a way to protect Jake’s father. Without Tom
discovering their secret. And without having to choose between his father’s
life…and Tom’s." Annotation taken from back of book by ck 11/15/00. |
Applegate, K A. The Separation. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Rachel,
is falling apart. Literally, her newest morph has the ability to regenerate its limbs, but
when Rachel demorphs, there’s a lot more Rachel, that when she started out. One more
Rachel, to be exact. Rachel is an okay person to have around. But two with completely
opposite personalities: one is pathetically weak; one is super strong and super nasty. Now
the Animorphs have to figure out a way to put Rachel back together again. Because if
it’s up to the "twins," Rachel the weak will surrender to Visser Three.
Rachel the super bold will try to single-handedly take him down. And twice the trouble may
be twice as much as the other Animorphs and Ax can handle…." Annotation from back of book by ck 11/15/00. |
Applegate, K A. The Alien. New York: Scholastic, Inc. 1997.
Annotation |
| "What
would you do if you were the only alien trapped on a strange planet? Probably freak out,
right? But as an Andalite warrior-cadet, Ax has to be pretty cool about stuff like that.
He’s been hanging with the Animorphs ever since the Dome ship was destroyed by the
Yeerks and his brother, Prince Elfangor was destroyed by Visser Three. Life on Earth is
pretty different for Ax. But there is one thing he, Cassie, Marco, Jake, Rachel, and
Tobias have in common. Something that one alien, four kids, and a hawk know they have to
do: Stop the Yeerks…" Annotation from back of book by ck 11/15/00. |
Disney, Walt. Walt Disney’s Story Land. New York: Western Publishing. 1991.
Annotation |
| "This
book contains hours and hours of reading fun for the whole family – at bedtime,
playtime, anytime. More than 50 beloved stories, many adapted from classic Walt Disney
films, have been brought together in this new and revised 320-page volume, illustrated in
color" Annotation taken from the back of the book by ck 11/8/00. |
Lenski, Lois. High-Rise Secret. Philadelphia: J B Lippincott Company. 1966.
Annotation |
| "Peggy
and her family have just moved into the big new Porter Project in a large city. Here live
hundreds of children, most of them unfriendly. Peggy tries to find new friends and keep
her secret from being discovered." Annotation taken from book jacket by TW on 11-28-00. |
Lewis, C S. Prince Caspian. Thorndike: Thorndike Press. 2000.
Annotation |
| "The
dwarf Trupkin has told Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy of how young Caspian escaped his
Uncle Miraz, false King of Narnia, and found his true calling leading the Old Narnians in
their fight for freedom. Now the children are suddenly pulled into Narnia from their own
land of England by a distress call from Prince Caspian. It has been hundreds of years
since the time of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, when the children reigned over the
land as benevolent Kings and Queens. Now most of the Talking Beasts and enchanted
creatures who once lived there in peace have been killed or frightened into hiding. Only
Caspian and the rulers of Narnia, with the help of the great Aslan, can liberate Narnia
and make it safe for its rightful inhabitants." Annotation from the back of the book by ck 12/7/00. |
Nixon, Joan Lowery. In The Face of Danger. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens. 2000.
Annotation |
| "The
Orphan Train Adventures follow the story of the six Kelly children, whose widowed mother
has sent them West from New York City in 1860 because she realized she cannot give them
the life they deserve. Shy Megan Kelly truly believes she is to blame for her
family’s misfortune. She’ll never forget the day a gypsy grabbed her palm and
read it, announcing that Megan was a "bad –luck penny" Who would always
bring trouble to those around her. Megan is happy when a loving young couple living in the
rugged Kansas territory adopt her. But during the first trying months, a blizzard, a pack
of prairie wolves, and an armed fugitive are just some of the disasters the family must
face. Megan is certain the gypsy’s curse is real. With the help of her new family,
can Megan find a way to overcome her fear and Superstition?" Annotation from the back of the book by Darla on Dec 6, 2000. |
Watson , Jude. The Mark of the Crown. New York: Scholastic. 1999 .
Annotation |
| "A
Queen is dying. Her son is conspiring to thwart his planets election and maintain his
rule. But he might not be her only heir, There may be another bearing the elusive mark of
the crown. Qui-Gon Jinn and young OBI-Wan Kenobi came to the planet of Gala as guardians
of peace. Now they are facing a deadly battle for power and royal position. The true heir
must be found. The Jedi must find the way." Annotation from the back of the book by Darla on Dec 6, 2000 . |
Avi. The Barn. New York: An Avon Camelot Book. 1996.
Annotation |
| "The
school master says nine-year-old Benjamin is the finest student he’s ever seen
–fit for more than farming: destined for great things someday. But his father’s
grave illness brings Ben home from school and compels him to strive for sometimes great
right now - to do the one thing that will please father so much he’ll want to live.
But first Ben must convince his older sister and bother to work with him. And together,
they succeed in ways they never dreamed possible." Annotation taken from the back of the book by Darla on Dec 6, 2000. |
Nixon, Joan Lowrey. The Orphan Train Adventures. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens. 2000.
Annotation |
| "The
Orphan Train Adventures followed the story of the six Kelly children, whose mother sent
them West from New York City in 1860 because she realized she could not provide them with
the life they deserved. It’s the Autumn of 1863, and as the Civil War rages, a
stranger named Violet Hennessey seeks refuge with the Kelly family. Eleven-year–old
Peg Kelly is thrilled because Violet has critical information that may save the Union. But
she cannot deliver her message unless she undertakes a dangerous journey, and, to do this,
she needs Peg’s help. Peg and her brother Danny are determined to be courageous for
the sake of the Union, But what price will they pay their heroism?" Annotations taken from the back of the book by Darla on Dec 7, 2000. |
Nixon, Joan Lowery. A Place to Belong. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens. 2000.
Annotation |
| "The
Orphan Train Adventures followed the story of the six Kelly children, whose widowed mother
has sent them West from New York City in 1860 because she realized she could not give them
the life they deserve. Danny and his younger sister Peg feel lucky to be adopted by kind
Alfred and Olga Swenson in St. Joseph, Missouri. But when Olga dies suddenly, the children
fear they will lose their new family. Danny comes up with an ingenious plan so they
won’t be separate, and which might even bring his real family back together. Then
Danny runs into a phony doctor he knew in New York City, Who recognized him. Can Danny
protect himself and those he loves from the Evil Doctor and still make his plan
work?" Annotations from the back of the book by Darla on Dec 7, 2000. |
Cleary, Beverly. Ramona The Brave. New York: Dell. 1995.
Annotation |
| "Ramona
Quimby can’t wait to begin first grade! She’ll finally be in the same grown-up
school as her sister, Beezus. Though Ramona has high hopes, life in Mrs. Griggs’s
class is not what she though it would be. On the very first day Ramona tells an exciting
story for the show and tell only to have the class laugh at her. Then, When a classmate is
praised after copying Ramona’s project for parent’s night, Ramona decides
she’s had it with school! Nothing is going the way she had planned. Can Ramona find
the courage to go back to room one?" Annotations taken from the back of the book by Darla on Dec 7, 2000. |
Ibbotson, Eva. Which Witch? New York: Penguin Group. 1999.
Annotation |
| "
"Wanted: One Wildly Wicked Witch to Wed." Arriman the Awful, the handsome Wizard
of the North, has decided to marry. But which witch will it be? Arriman devises a contest:
whoever performs the darkest piece of magic will become his bride. Belladonna, the
smallest of the coven, wants desperately to win, but she has one problem: She’s a
good witch. Her spells conjure up begonias and baby birds, not a single nest of vipers or
bloodshot eyeball. But Belladonna is in love, and she'’ determined to do something
sinister, in time for the contest…" Annotation from the back of the book by ck 12/22/00. |
Konigsburg, E.L. Silent to the Bone. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Annotation |
| "Branwell
Zamborska is struck dumb. Nikki, his baby ½ sister, has slipped into a coma. Branwell
dials 911, but he cannot speak. He cannot explain what is wrong; he cannot utter a sound.
Nikki is taken to the hospital and Branwell is taken to the Juvenile Behavior
Center." Annotation taken from book jacket by TW on 12-12-00. |
Nixon, Joan Lowrey. Caught in the Act. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens Publishing. 2000.
Annotation |
| "Mike
Kelly is adopted by the Friedrichs, a German immigrant farm family living in Missouri.
Their son Gunther is a bully who finds countless ways to get Mike into deep trouble. When
he begins to suspect that the Friedrichs are hiding something, he vows to uncover their
secret." Annotation taken from book jacket by TW on 12-12-00. |
Packard, Edward. The Mystery of Chimney Rock. Toronto: Bantam Books. 1979.
Annotation |
| "On
your vacation in Connecticut, you notice a huge empty stone house at the top of a hill.
The old house known as Chimney Rock, is so dark and gloomy that most people won’t go
near it. But you’re the curious type. Should you see for yourself what’s inside? If you say "I’ll do it!" turn to p.4 If you say "No thanks!" turn to p.6" Annotation taken from book jacket by TW on 12-12-00. |
Fleischman, Sid. McBroom’s Ghost. New York: A W.W. Norton Book. 1971.
Annotation |
| A tall tale
story of a ghost haunting a small farm throughout a very cold winter. Or is it? Annotation by Carol K. 12/27/00. |
Larkin, Rochelle and Joshua Hanft. Fright Time. New York: Baronet Books. 2000.
Annotation |
| This book
contains "Three complete stories of Haunting and horror!" It includes: Madman on
Main Street, Scary Harry and It’s Almost Dark. In Madman on Main Street a
paperboy discovers a dangerous fiend. Scary Harry is a tale of a brother who must
track down the scientist who is turning his brother into an ape. And in It’s
Almost Dark you learn what might happen if a writer of scary stories moves in next
door. Annotation by Carol K. 12/27/00. |
Larkin, Rochelle and Joshua Hanft. Fright Time: Three Spine Tingling Tales for Young Readers. New York: Baronet. 2000.
Annotation |
| This Fright
Time book includes three scary stories. In Forest Of Fear, aliens land on a farm
and a young boy must do battle. Ghost Twin is the tale of Peter whose twin brother Charlie is trying to take his place. The trouble? Charlie died at birth. In Something’s in the Sewer, two boys have to prove to the whole town that something in the sewer is responsible for the disappearance of several children. Annotation by Carol K. 12/27/00. |
McBrier, Page. Adventure in the Haunted House. Mahwah: Troll Associates. 1986.
Annotation |
| Oliver takes
care of animals it is his business. So taking care of a friend’s cat should be no
problem. That is, until the cat disappears into a spooky "haunted" house. Annotation by Carol K. 12/2/00. |
Rowling, J K. Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire. Thorndike: Thorndike Press. 2000.
Annotation |
| "In the
pivotal fourth novel in the seven-part tale of Harry Potter’s training as a wizard
and his coming of age, Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the
International Quidditch Cup with Hermione, Ron, and the Weasleys. He wants to dream about
Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do more than dream). He wants to find out about the
mysterious event that’s supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event
involving two other rival schools of magic and a competition that hasn’t happened for
a hundred years. He wants to be a normal fourteen-year-old wizard. Unfortunately for Harry
Potter, he’s not normal – even by wizarding standards. And in his case,
different can be deadly. Annotation from book by ck 12/27/00. |
Voight, C ynthia. It’s Not Easy Being Bad. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 2000.
Annotation |
| "In
this third book in the Bad Girls series, Newbery Medalist Cynthia Voight gives us a
refreshingly wry view of the good, the bad, and the unpopular – and a glimpse into
the hearts of a remarkable pair of friends." Annotation taken from book cover by Carol K 1/4/01. |
Aurelio, John. The Beggar’s Christmas. New York: Paulist Press. 1979.
Annotation |
| "This
is a fable for readers of all ages about the true meaning of Christmas. Set in the Middle
Ages, two beggars, one blind and the other crippled encounter an angel who grants they
their wish --- to journey through space and time in search of the meaning of Christ’s
birth. This is a classical and timeless little book, yet profoundly relevant statement of
hope for our present human situation. It is inspiring friction in the tradition of "A
Christmas Carol." " Annotation from back of book by Carol K. 12/27/00. |
Awdry, The Rev. W. Thomas The Tank Engine: The Complete Collection. New York: Random House. 1999.
Annotation |
| "A
complete edition of all 26 books from the famous Railway Series." "Beautifully
illustrated." Annotation from inside front cover by Carol K. 12/27/00. |
The Best Christmas Stories Ever. New York: Scholastic Inc. 1991.
Annotation |
| A
delightful collection of great Christmas Stories. Includes, O. Henry’s "The Gift
Of The Magi". Hans Christian Andersen’s "The Fir Tree." Kate Douglas
Wiggin’s "The Birds Christmas Carol" Louisa May Alcott’s "A
Christmas Dream and How It Came True." Hans Christian Andersen’s "The
Little Match-Girl". Annotation by Carol K. 12/27/00. |
Blettner, Valerie. Life Is Good Now as told by Floyd. City: Grinning Beagle Productions. 2000.
Annotation |
| The
story of brother and sister beagles and their adventures from being lost to finding a home
and everything in between. A delightful read. Annotation by Carol K. 12/27/00. |
Cushman, Karen. Matilda Bone. New York: Clarion Books. 2000.
Annotation |
| "In
Blood and Bone Alley, where she has come to serve Red Peg the Bonesetter, Matilda finds
she is alone in her belief that prayer and study are the only worthy pursuits. Here she is
expected to go to market, tend the fire, mix plasters and poultices, and help treat
patients. Surrounded by people who laugh and joke and eat sausages, while she herself
seeks higher things, Matilda feels alone and misunderstood. How she yearns for her former
life at the manor, where she was instructed by Father Leufredus and her most difficult
task was to find her way to the privy in the dark! With the fascinating and pungent world of medieval medicine as a backdrop Matilda Bone is the compelling, comic story of a girl learning to live contentedly in this world." Annotation from inside front cover by Carol K. 12/27/00. |
Dadey, Debbie and Marcia Thornten Jones. Santa Claus Doesn’t Mop Floors. New York: Scholastic Inc. 1991.
Annotation |
| "There
are some pretty weird grown-ups living in Bailey City. But could the jolly new janitor
really be Santa Claus? The Bailey school kids are going to find out!" Annotation from back of book by Carol K. 12/27/00. |
Dahl, Roald. The Magic Finger. New York: Penguin Books. 1966.
Annotation |
| "With
a finger like this you can really make a point!" "The Greggs are hunters who will shoot anything in the woods for fun. The little girl who lives next door hates it. She tries to talk them out of it, but they only laugh at her – so she turns her "Magic Finger" on them. The next morning to their surprise, the Greggs wake up bird-sized, complete with wings. And before they know it, they’re living in a nest, while four strange, human-size ducks have taken over their house! Now the shoe is on the other foot – and that foot is webbed." Annotation from back of book by Carol K. 12/27/00. |