New Kid's books July 6th

Junonia by Kevin Henkes

Returning to the beach cottage- a cottage named Scallop - where 

she has always celebrated her birthday is a special occasion for Alice Rice

Who will see the first dolphin this time?  The first pelican? What

will have changed?  Stayed the same?  And will this be the year

she finally finds a junonia shell?

Alice's friends are all returning, too.  And she's certain her parents

have the best party planned for her.  Alice can't wait.  If Alice

is lucky, everything will be absolutely perfect.  Will Alice be lucky?

A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

Elodie journeys to the town of Two Castles

to become a mansioner - an actress - but the master of the

troupe turns her away.  Brilliant dragon Meenore takes her

in, then sends her on a dangerous mission within an ogre's castle.

There, disguised as a kitchen maid, she plays the role of a

lifetime, pitted against a foe intent on murder.

Black-and-white cats, a handsome cat trainer, a greedy king,

a giddy princess, a shape-shifting ogre, a brilliant dragon...Elodie

must discover which of them is kind, which is cruel, and, most of all,

which is the one who deserves her trust.

Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine weaves an

entrancing tale of a fearsome ogre, a dragon detective, and

a remarkable heroine who finds friendship where she least

expects it, learns that there are many ways to mansion, and

discovers that goodness and evil come in all shapes and sizes.

Spinster Goose:Twisted rhymes for naughty children  by Lisa Wheeler

There are some children simply too naughty for

Mother Goose to handle.  Luckily her sister, Spinster Goose,

knows just how to deal with these uncouth urchins.

The school of Spinster Goose is home to some world-class

troublemakers.  They bite and pinch.  They talk back and fight.

They eat chalk!

But this isn't just any school.  Spinster Goose will rid these

students of their horrendous behaviors...right?

Fans of Mother Goose will delight in these devilishly

twisted alternatives to the classic rhymes.

If I Had a Hammer by David Rubel

In West Virginia, a thirteen-year-old girl now invites

friends home without embarrassment.  In a Brazilian village,

children no longer sleep beneath a table when the heavy

rains come.  For a quarter century in more than ninety countries,

Habitat for Humanity has built homes with and for the people who

are most in need of them, aided by more than a million multigenerational

volunteers - two of the most devoted of whom are former president 

Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn.

Now this captivating account, abundantly illustrated with photos

from around the world, relays some favorite Habitat stories and 

experiences with special resonance for young readers.   Exploring

everything from creative home design (such as using window

bars in India to keep out monkeys) to the emotional rewards of helping

to build a house from the ground up, this is an essential resource for inspiring

future youth volunteers.