New Kid's Books June 22, 2011

The Memory Bank by Carolyn Coman & Rob Shepperson

Lollipops have been found clogging the great machines

that take in and store all the memories being formed in 

the world.  Bonfires have been set. Practical jokes are gumming

up the works. And the mischief is getting more serious.

Caught in the middle is Hope Scroggins, who's been summoned

to the bank for failing to record New Memories.  And that's 

because her hideously awful parents told her to forget

her beloved little sister, Honey, who is out 

there somewhere, needing her.

Somehow Hope figures out that the World Wide Memory

Bank holds the key to finding Honey, and maybe even a

chance at happiness! But can she find it in time,

before the Clean Slate Gang takes away her

last, best shot at finding her sister?

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette  by Jeanne Birdsall

When summer comes around, it's off to the

beach for Rosalind...and off to Maine with Aunt

Claire for the rest of the Penderwick girls, as

well as their old friend, Jeffrey.

That leave Skye as OAP (oldest available Penderwick) -

a terrifying notion for all, but for Skye especially.

Things look good as they settle into their cozy cottage,

with a rocky shore, enthusiastic seagulls, a just-right

corner store, and a charming next-door neighbor. 

But can Skye hold it together long enough to figure out

Rosalind's directions about not letting Batty explode?

Will Jane's Love Survey come to a tragic conclusion

after she meets the alluring Dominic? Is Batty - contrary

to all accepted wisdom - the only Penderwick capable

of carrying a tune?  And will Jeffrey be able to keep

peace between the girls...these girls who are his

second, and most heartfelt, family?

Cinderella Smith by Stephanie Barden

Cinderella Smith has a problem with at capital P.

She loses shoes almost as quickly as she puts them

on her feet.  but now she's lost the most important shoe 

of all: her shiny, ruby red tap shoe.  Without it she won't 

have a chance of being chosen Pumpkin Blossom Fairy for

the fall dance recital - and that means no special tutu,

no crown, and no solo!

The school year is starting out with big problems too.  Her

new teacher laughs at her name, she's sitting at the 

smart-boys table, and her old best friend is ignoring her.

Now the new girl, Erin, has asked for her advice on 

wicked stepsisters.  And Cinderella doesn't have

stepsisters - wicked or otherwise!

The recital is just around the corner and the stepsisters

are on their way.  Can Cinderella and Erin solve

the capital P problems in time?

Celebritrees: Historic & Famous Trees of the World  by Margi Preus

Some trees have lived for hundreds - even

thousands - of years, standing as silent witnesses to

history.  Some are remarkable for their age and stature;

others for their usefulness.  A bristle cone pine tree in

California is over 4,000 years old; a baobab tree in

Australia served as a jail for Aboriginal prisoners

at the turn of the twentieth century; and a hollow oak

in England was used as a hiding place

for Robin Hood and his men (or so the story goes).

The fourteen trees in this book have earned the title

"Celebritrees" for their global fame and significance.

Both in fact and in legend, these fascinating trees

remind us not only how much pleasure trees bring,

but what they can tell us about history.