BOOK NEWS: September 25, 2018

September is coming to a close. One more Tuesday release day for this month – and it is chock full of reading goodness! Take a look at some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids


 

This Little Scientist (Board Book) – Board book highlighting scientists like Isaac Newton and Jane Goodall. This looks delightful.
An Inconvenient Alphabet: Ben Franklin & Noah Webster’s Spelling Revolution – A history of language and spelling in America. I’ve seen a few sample pages of this, but I’d love to read the whole story. It’s fascinating!
Benji, the Bad Day and Me – A boy and his autistic younger brother are both having a bad day. This looks sweet. I can’t wait to read the whole thing!
Giraffe Problems – Along the lines of its predecessor, Penguin Problems, comes this book about a giraffe who is self-conscious about his long neck.
King Alice – A girl writes a story when her family is snowed in for the day. Adorable!
Quiet Wyatt – A shy and quiet boy is paired with a loud know-it-all for the school field trip. This looks terrific.
The Sun Is Kind of a Big Deal – A fun and factual book about the sun. Looks like a great resource for space-loving kids and for classroom use.
Take Your Octopus to School Day – From the author of Is Your Buffalo Ready For Kindergarten? (which I loved) comes this story of a kid who wants to “win” Show and Tell. I can’t wait to read this one!
What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?: The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan – This picture book biography would be fantastic for middle school history classrooms (and upper elementary ones) as well as school libraries.
Eleanor Roosevelt’s in my Garage – Book 2 in the History Pals series for readers ready for chapter books. This series looks SO fun, and I love anything about the Roosevelts.
The Princess in Black in the Science Fair Scare – The Princess in Black gets a little help battling a monster at the science fair. I love this series!
Shine of the Silver Dragon – Book 11 in the BRANCHES Dragon Masters series
Tornado Hits! – Book 5 in the BRANCHES series Hilde Cracks the Case. I thought the third book was great. I’m happy to see the series continue!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


 

I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 – Book 17 in this terrific series.
It’s the End When I Say It’s the End – The 7th and final book in the Timmy Failure series that looks like the Wimpy Kid books, but this series focuses on Timmy and his polar bear partner in crime-solving.
Little Red Rodent Hood – Book 6 in the fun Hamster Princess series of fractured fairy tales.
A Perilous Journey of Danger and Mayhem: A Dastardly Plot – A new alternate history series (about an Inventor’s Guild in 1883) by Christopher Healy, author of the terrific Hero’s Guide series. I’m excited about this one!
The Second Story – Magic Misfits book 2 by Neil Patrick Harris. I enjoyed book one and I’m looking forward to reading the second one.
Trapped! – Book 3 in the fantastic mystery series by James Ponti. This time, Florian and Margaret are trying to clear their FBI handler of a crime. Part of this one takes place at the Library of Congress. I am SO excited to read this! This is at the top of my list for this week.
Two Cats and a Baby – Book 4 in the Stick Cat series, by the same author as the Stick Dog books. Cute series that looks like Wimpy Kid in style. In this book, the cats are trying to watch the baby when the sitter gets stuck in the bathroom.
The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden – Book 2 in the Vanderbeekers series which has received RAVE reviews. In this book, the kids decide to build a garden to help their neighbor. I have book one on my wishlist for the library.
You Don’t Know Everything Jilly P! – Jilly P learns that life is different for her Black friends and her Deaf friends. I’m curious to read this one because it sounds like Jilly stumbles through her interactions like I’m always afraid I will. I think I can learn some things from Jilly – and kids can learn from her, too.
500 Words or Less – To salvage her reputation at school, a high school senior starts writing college admissions essays for her peers. I’m eager to read this one.
A Blade So Black – An urban fantasy version of Alice in Wonderland. In general, I don’t like Alice in Wonderland. And I’ve not had a ton of luck with retellings of the story either. But that cover has been taunting me all summer long. I think I will try this one from the library and see if it can redeem the Alice story for me.
Olympian Heritage (ebook – Sept. 29) – Sequel to the terrific Olympian Challenger. In this book Hope is on a quest for the gods to find the Fountain of Youth. I felt like the first book was a teen version of Percy Jackson with some elements of The Hunger Games thrown in. I am looking forward to reading this one!
Unstoppable Moses – A prank gone horribly wrong leaves Moses with one chance to have his record expunged by volunteering as a camp counselor. I am curious to read this and find out just what Moses did and if he is able to redeem himself.
The War Outside – In 1944 a German teen and a Japanese teen find themselves in a family internment camp in Texas, wondering what the future holds for them and who they can trust. Sounds like a fascinating premise for fans of historical fiction!
The Lego Architecture Idea Book: 1001 Ideas for Brickwork, Siding, Windows, Columns, Roofing, and Much, Much More – The latest Lego building book for Master Builders.

Books for Adults


An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (Hardcover) – The fiction debut of Hank Green (brother of John Green) focuses on huge Transformer-like statues in samurai armor that appear overnight around the world. This has been getting a lot of buzz since it was first announced.
The Amish Christmas Letters (Trade Paperback) – A collection of three Amish Christmas stories. This is the time of year when I get in the mood for Christmas fiction. There are several new books out this week that are on my Christmas reading wish list.
Assault and Beadery (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Cora Crafts mystery series about a craft retreat business and the woman who runs it. This time, Cora  is trying to prove her friend innocent of the murder of the local theater director.
A Catered Cat Wedding (Hardcover) – Book 14 in this mystery series with recipes. This time the crime is focused around a wedding for a pair of cats. This premise is unusual enough to get me to jump into a series in the middle just to find out what happens.
Christmas by Accident (small Hardcover) – A car accident throws together an insurance adjuster who doesn’t like Christmas and a bookseller who loves it in this book that sounds like the premise for a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Christmas Cake Murder (Hardcover) – Book 23 in the Hannah Swensen mystery series.
The Christmas Sisters (Trade Paperback) – Three adopted daughters head home for Christmas, each carrying her own burdens and secrets. I’m looking forward to this one.
Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge (Hardcover) – Book 16 in the Jaine Austen mystery series about a freelance writer. I might have read book one when it first came out, but it’s been so long I’m just not sure. This sounds like a series I would enjoy.
Final Roasting Place (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Cook Off Mystery series. This time a TV personality is killed just after Sherry wins their cooking contest. I haven’t read the first one, but this one sounds terrific! This is on my list!
Forever Fudge! (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Candy-Coated mystery series. This time there’s a murder while a film crew is in town filming a new TV mystery pilot.
Just in Time (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Dodie O’Dell mystery series. You can read my review of book one here. In this book,  the theater is putting on their first musical – Bye Bye Birdie – when their accompanist is murdered.
One in a Million (Trade Paperback) – Annie accepts a challenge to make a stranger Instagram-famous in just thirty days, but her subject is a social media-hating historian. Annie has her hands full. A contemporary take on My Fair Lady. I love stories like this!
The Peppermint Mocha Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Chocolate Whisperer mystery series. I am several books behind on this series, but I love the premise. This is on my TBR list.
Premeditated Peppermint (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Amish Candy Shop mystery series by Amanda Flower. I have loved both of the previous books and pre-ordered this one back in March. Looking forward to reading it. Can’t go wrong with a peppermint-themed mystery!
Sadie (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Amish Fairytale Retellings series by Sarah Price. I’ll be reviewing this one next week, but I’ll say right now that it is just as fantastic as the first two!
Vengeful (Hardcover) – Sequel to Villains by V.E. Schwab. I am waiting for book one from the library right now. This superhero fantasy series sounds right up my alley!
The Walking Bread (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Bread Shop mystery series about a Mexican bakery. I’m looking forward to reading this one, but I know it will make me hungry!
Jesus Calling for Christmas (small Hardcover) – 50 holiday season devotions from Jesus Calling  by Sarah Young.
This Is the Day: Reclaim Your Dream. Ignite Your Passion. Live Your Purpose. (Hardcover) –  The latest from Tim Tebow focuses on inspiration and encouragement for those feeling “stuck” in their lives.

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