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Best Books of June -- Middle Grade!

Here are Lauren's picks for the best middle grade books being released in June!
$15.99
ISBN-13: 9781416997177
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 6/2011
Carly Wheeler has it all: lots of friends, all the right clothes, and an "in" at the hottest soap opera since her mom just so happens to be the wardrobe designer. But all that changes the day her mom is arrested for embezzlement. Carly doesn't know what to do, her so-called friends avoid her, her stepdad is always angry, and her mom is breaking down. She feels like she has no one to turn to and has to grow up fast. An absorbing read that demonstrates both the pain of a disappointing parent and the power of forgiveness - great for middle-schoolers!

Who What Wear (Paperback)

$8.99
ISBN-13: 9781402243929
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 6/2011
Emma Rose, aka "Allegra Biscotti", is now a full-fledged fashion designer! There's only one problem: she has to keep it a secret from just about everyone, including her bff. When the most popular girl at Emma's school demands an Allegra original, Emma has to scramble to create the perfect dress and keep her true identity a secret. Will she be able to pull it off or has Emma finally bit off more than she can chew? Budding fashionistas will love this fun novel - it's designed to look like a sketch book and is filled with drawings of gorgeous outfits!

Best Books of June -- Picture Books!

Here are Lauren's picks for the best picture books being released in June.
$12.99
ISBN-13: 9781416979319
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 6/2011
Charming illustrations and a sweet, simple story - perfect for bedtime!

$16.99
ISBN-13: 9781416955030
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 6/2011
A heartwearming ode to big brothers - the perfect gift for a newly-minted sibling!

$16.99
ISBN-13: 9781423137610
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Disney-Hyperion, 6/2011
Wonderfully colorful and detailed illustrations puncuate this sweet story of friendship. Everyone needs a friend, especially when you have a hole in your middle!

Farmyard Beat (Hardcover)

$15.99
ISBN-13: 9780375864551
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 6/2011
Kids will love Marc Brown's bright pictures, they almost seem to pop right off the page! And the bouncy beat of the story will have kids and adults singing along!

Latest Dear Dumb Diary

Love the Dear Dumb Diary series? Well, check out this super fun book trailer for the series. 

And just out this week is Book 12 in the series, Me! (Just Like You, Only Better). Just in time for great summer reading!

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$5.99
ISBN-13: 9780545116169
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Scholastic Paperbacks, 6/2011

Best Books of May - Young Adult!

Here are Lauren's picks for the best Young Adult books coming out this month.

Divergent (Hardcover)

$17.99
ISBN-13: 9780062024022
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Katherine Tegen Books, 5/2011
Roth's exciting debut novel - and the start of a promising new series - is a cross between "The Giver" and "Hunger Games". This thrilling adventure is sure to be a hit with teens and adults alike!

$17.95
ISBN-13: 9780810997479
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Harry N. Abrams, 5/2011
This clever story of unrequited love makes a wonderful graphic novel: Shiga's illustrations are by turns hilarious and poignant. Perfect for both the lucky and unlucky in love!

Beauty Queens (Hardcover)

$18.99
ISBN-13: 9780439895972
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Scholastic Press, 5/2011
Behold: the best Crossover book of the summer! I know that's a bold claim to make, and it's still early in the season, but Beauty Queens is just that good. Told with Bray's trademark caustic wit, it is the tale of a planeful of beauty queens who get stranded on a desert island. Think "Lost" meets "Miss America". Add a healthy dose of reality tv (in my mind, only large doses of reality tv are healthy!) and a boat of sexy pirates and you've got a hilariously snarky don't-miss read!

Flawless (Paperback)

$9.99
ISBN-13: 9781599905969
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 5/2011
A clever retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac, this novel makes the classic come alive - perfect for teens who think nothing good was written before 2005 (and yes, I'm aware of the irony in that statement).

The Magnolia League (Hardcover)

$17.99
ISBN-13: 9780316078498
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Poppy, 5/2011
I have always been fascinated with debutantes: the culture, the traditions. Debs who do more than just dabble in the Dark Arts? Now that's my kind of book! Still reeling from the sudden death of her mother, 16-year-old Alexandria is sent to live with her estranged and very wealthy grandmother. Her grandmother is beautiful and almost freakishly youthful, as are all her friends - almost as though they had made a deal with the Devil... Alex resists her grandmother's and her peers' attempts to get her to debut, but there are higher forces at work. "The Magnolia League" is cynical, creepy fun, and the only good thing about the book ending was finding out there will be more. I can't wait for the rest of this amazing series!

Bitter End (Hardcover)

$17.99
ISBN-13: 9780316086950
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 5/2011
Brown's second novel follows in the footsteps of her first ("Hate List") by tackling a difficult topic: domestic abuse. Everyone hears stories of husbands who beat their wives, but what if it's your boyfriend? And what if you love him more than anyone else and can't stop going back? Brown handles this sensitive subject deftly, resulting in a moving novel that creates an impact without ever veering into the schlock-y. An important read!

Best Books of May - Middle Grade!

Lauren chooses the best books coming out in May for Middle grade readers, kids aged 8 to 12.
$6.99
ISBN-13: 9780142415023
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Puffin, 5/2011
Lucy B. Parker is back - and she's running for office! Incensed at what she deems "dork discrimination", Lucy overcomes her qualms and runs for class president, intending to stand up for the little guy. Of course, when it comes to Lucy B. nothing ever goes as planned - stick around for the wild, hilarious ride!

$14.95
ISBN-13: 9780810997158
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Harry N. Abrams, 5/2011
I'm guessing Tom Angleberger is a big kid at heart because he seems to have particular insight into what middle grade boys will like. His newest novel, which chronicles the "loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's corset" and the chaos that follows is laugh out loud funny and sure to appeal to Wimpy Kid fans!

$6.99
ISBN-13: 9780545317016
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Scholastic Paperbacks, 5/2011
A dystopian thriller for the younger set - perfect for the kids who aren't old enough to read the "Hunger Games" trilogy!

Best Books of May - Picture Books!

Here are Lauren's picks for the best books coming out in May -- Picture Book edition:

That's How! (Hardcover)

$16.99
ISBN-13: 9780062019639
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Greenwillow Books, 5/2011
Niemann's ingenious new book explains how things really work. For instance, did you know that a steamroller is powered by a bird tickling two bears? Me neither! I also learned how trains, planes, and more are operated in this brightly illustrated treat. This is a definite don't-miss!

RRRalph (Hardcover)

$17.99
ISBN-13: 9781442413054
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Beach Lane Books, 5/2011
Meet Ralph, the dog who can talk! He can say all sorts of things: his name (rrralph!), where he's at (roof! roof!), and whether he wants to go inside (yep! yep!). Rrralph, with Ehlert's trademark recycled material illustrations, is sure to be a classic!

Purple Little Bird (Hardcover)

$14.99
ISBN-13: 9780062008282
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Balzer + Bray, 5/2011
I am a huge Greg Foley fan - his Bear books slay me with their cuteness. His new book, about a little bird who loves all things purple, is so adorable it should be illegal!

Children's Choice Book Awards Announced Last Night

 

The fourth annual Children's Choice Book Award winners were announced last night at a gala hosted by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Lunch Ladies series, Punk Farm). The event launched
Children's Book Week, which lasts until May 8th.

The winners are:

Author of the Year: Rick Riordan for The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus, Book 1)

Illustrator of the Year: David Wiesner for Art & Max

Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year:
Little Pink Pup
by Johanna Kerby

Third Grade to Fourth Grade Book of the Year:
Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Book of the Year:
The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, Book 1)
by Rick Riordan

Teen Choice Book of the Year: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan 

For more information about Children's Book Week, visit their website: www.bookweekonline.com

Congratulations to the winners!

Best Books in April - Middle Grade and YA installment

Lauren's picks for the best new books being released in April. This time she chooses books for Middle Grader and teen readers. (Note: some of these books won't be released until the end of the month, but they are all available for pre-order!)

Zitface (Hardcover)

$16.99
ISBN-13: 9780761458302
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Amazon Childrens Publishing, 4/2011
As someone who has been called zitface (more than once!), I really enjoyed Emily Howse's debut novel. It's a realistic portrayal of how acne can affect one's self-esteem, even with the most down-to-earth people. A sympathetic read with a happy ending!

$9.99
ISBN-13: 9781606841495
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: EgmontUSA, 4/2011
Billed as "a book for the wimpy kid who has grown into a wimpy teen", this book is just that: a fun, journal - style novel for the older wimpy kids!

$18.99
ISBN-13: 9780061728938
Availability: Special Order - Subject to Availability
Published: Balzer + Bray, 5/2011
I'll confess: I've never been a fan of the show. But Candace Bushnell's fun novels chronicling the adventures of a young Carrie Bradshaw are the perfect beach read for teens and adults!

$16.99
ISBN-13: 9780061451058
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: HarperTeen, 4/2011
This sequel to Viola in Reel Life is the perfect coming of age story. Girls everywhere can relate to Viola's struggle to decide who she is and balance all the friendships in her life. A fun, sweet read!

Rotters (Hardcover)

$16.99
ISBN-13: 9780385738576
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 4/2011
This grisly tale of modern day grave robbers is perfect for teen guys: gory and twisted. I'm not sure what that says about me though, since I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am neither a guy nor a teen :)

Abandon (Hardcover)

$17.99
ISBN-13: 9780545284103
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Point, 5/2011
I always expect Meg Cabot's books to be amazing and her newest is no exception! A modern day retelling of Greek myth of Persephone, Abandon is both dark and romantic. If you never read Cabot before, start with this one!

Lauren's April Picks -- Picture Books

Lauren presents the best picture books being released in April. Check out our Facebook page for Lauren's pick for April Adult books!

I'm a Shark (Hardcover)

$16.99
ISBN-13: 9780061998461
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Balzer + Bray, 5/2011
Shark is not afraid of anything. In fact, scary things - the dark, a big scary squid - are afraid of him! Well, he might be scared of one teensy-tiny little thing...but good luck getting shark to admit it. Kids and their parents will enjoy this brightly illustrated story, especially the kids who aren't afraid of anything!

$17.99
ISBN-13: 9780062004000
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Balzer + Bray, 5/2011
Mo Willems' latest book is a collection of 6 1/2 short stories, each involving a surprise. Amanda and her alligator are the greatest of friends and the stars of each tail (get it?). Each story is adorable and hilarious and of course, Willems' pictures are fabulous. This would be great for kids who always beg for "just one more story" - you won't want to stop either!

Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Comics Contest

To kick off the new updated, expanded and revised Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book by Jeff Kinney, which goes on sale May 10, Abrams's Amulet Books is sponsoring a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Comics Contest.

Readers up to 16 years old may enter by mailing in an original cartoon. Entries must be received by June 10th.  One lucky winner will receive $500; a signed library of Wimpy Kid books; and $1,000 for the school or public library of his or her choice. Kinney will announce the winner at ALA in New Orlean on June 25.

 

$12.95
ISBN-13: 9780810989955
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Harry N. Abrams, 4/2011

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