The Birthday Ball Contributor(s): Lowry, Lois (Author); Feiffer, Jules (Illustrator) Princess Patricia Priscilla is bored with her royal life and the excitement surrounding her 16th birthday ball. Doomed to endure courtship by three grotesquely unappealing noblemen, she escapes her fate--for a week. What begins as a cure for boredom becomes a chance for the princess to break the rules. Illustrations. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Calamity Jack Contributor(s): Hale, Shannon (Author); Hale, Dean (Author); Hale, Nathan (Illustrator) Jack likes to think of himself as a criminal mastermind...with an unfortunate amount of bad luck. A schemer, plotter, planner, trickster, swindler...maybe even thief? One fine day Jack picks a target a little more giant than the usual, and one little bean turns into a great big building-destroying beanstalk. With help from Rapunzel (and her trusty braids), a pixie from Jack's past, and a man with inventions from the future, they just might out-swindle the evil giants and put his beloved city back in the hands of good people ....while catapulting themselves and readers into another fantastical adventure. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Conspiracy of Kings Contributor(s): Turner, Megan Whalen (Author) In this companion to the Newbery Honor book "The Thief" and its sequels, a kidnapped prince fights to reclaim his throne and his country in a sweeping adventure of swords, wits, and subterfuge. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Dreamer Contributor(s): Ryan, Pam Munoz (Author); Sis, Peter (Illustrator) This moving story about the birth of an artist is also a celebration of childhood, imagination, and the strength of the creative spirit. Ryan weaves sound poems and thought-provoking questions into her exquisitely crafted prose while Ss's delicate drawings transport readers to the lushness of the Chilean rainforest. Illustrations. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate Contributor(s): Kelly, Jacqueline (Author); Ross, Natalie (Performed by) As 11-year-old Callie Tate explores the natural world around her in 1899 Texas, she develops a close relationship with her grandfather, navigates living with six brothers, and comes up against just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here Comes Jack Frost Contributor(s): Kohara, Kazuno (Author) One cold morning a lonely boy wishes for something to do. His animal friends are hibernating, and he has nobody to play with-even all the birds have flown south. When he meets Jack Frost, the last thing he expects is to make a new friend... or to discover how enchanting winter can be! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? Contributor(s): Yolen, Jane (Author); Teague, Mark (Illustrator) This brilliantly illustrated board book is packed with rhymes that will teach children that "playing nice" can be easy and fun. Perfect for parents to read aloud with their children, this book is as humorous as it is instructive. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I Am Going! Contributor(s): Willems, Mo (Author); Willems, Mo (Illustrator) Piggie ruins a perfectly good day by telling Gerald she's going. If Piggie goes, who will Gerald skip with, play Ping-Pong with, and wear silly hats with? Willem's Geisel Award-winning duo continues to delight readers with silly shenanigans. Full color. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leprechaun in Late Winter Contributor(s): Osborne, Mary Pope (Author); Murdocca, Sal (Illustrator) Jack and Annie meet an Irish girl and go on a magical adventure that changes the girl's life--she grows up to be Lady Gregory, who helps to bring back the Irish legends, starts a theater, and helps her people regain both their heritage and their pride. Illustrations. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Little Dump Truck Contributor(s): Cuyler, Margery (Author); Kolar, Bob (Illustrator) Preschool children are sure to revel in the day-to-day activities of this mighty little dump truck. The lyrical text, bright pictures, and sturdy pages are just right for budding truck enthusiasts. Full color. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge Contributor(s): Cole, Joanna (Author); Degen, Bruce (Illustrator) Like it or not, global warming is a hot topic, and it will affect the younger generation the most. So why not turn to the teacher kids like the most, Ms. Frizzle. Only the Friz can boil all the hoopla down to the scientific facts in a fun and informative way. Full color. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mockingjay (the Final Book of the Hunger Games) Contributor(s): Collins, Suzanne (Author) Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking "The Hunger Games" trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg Contributor(s): Philbrick, Rodman (Author); Dufris, William (Read by) Although he is underage, Homer P. Figg's beloved older brother, Harold, is illegally sold into the Union Army by their ruthless guardian. Now Homer must run away from Pine Swamp, Maine, and his wretched home to find his brother and save him from the war, before it's too late. In a story filled with adventure, humor, and danger, award-winning novelist Rodman Philbrick tells of the turbulent, passionate times-from rural Maine to the Battle of Gettysburg--in the Civil War. Here is historical fiction at its most engaging, portraying the 1860s through the observant eyes of a backwoods boy who is both courageous and funny-and always willing to stretch the truth to his own advantage. A master of plot twists and vivid characters, Philbrick sweeps readers into the unpredictable events--both colorful and tragic--of this powerful turning point in American history. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My Garden Contributor(s): Henkes, Kevin (Author); Henkes, Kevin (Illustrator) Illustrated with heavenly full-color paintings that are among the artist's very best, this picture book for young children pays tribute to a child's imagination and independence and features an inquisitive and humorous text, making it an ideal read-aloud to treasure. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not Last Night But the Night Before Contributor(s): McNaughton, Colin (Author); Clark, Emma Chichester (Illustrator) A little boy's unexpected guests look oddly familiar, in this fanciful ode to birthdays and big imaginations. Full color. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs Contributor(s): Koertge, Ron (Author) Fielding his social life is a bigger challenge for Kevin than hitting a fastball in Koertge's funny, insightful sequel to "Shakespeare Bats Cleanup." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sophie Peterman Tells the Truth! Contributor(s): Weeks, Sarah (Author); Neubecker, Robert (Illustrator) Sophie Peterman is an expert on younger siblings, and she offers a step-by-step guide to dealing with the little terrors. Her smart, sassy, and surprisingly sweet story is certain to strike a chord with exasperated big brothers and sisters everywhere. Full color. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Viper's Nest Contributor(s): Lerangis, Peter (Author) Shaken by a shocking loss, Amy and Dan flee to an exotic land and trace the footsteps of their most formidable ancestor yet: a military leader of mythic proportions. Includes game cards. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What's Wrong with My Hair? Contributor(s): Kitamura, Satoshi (Author) Lionel must do something about his bad hair. He finds a barber who has lots of crazy suggestions for hairstyles. Will Lionel find a style that suits him? A head-sized hole in each page allows children to try out Lionel's hairstyles for themselves. Full color. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Contributor(s): Lin, Grace (Author) The author of the beloved "The Year of the Dog" returns with a wondrous story of adventure, faith, and friendship--an enchanting fantasy adventure reminiscent of "The Wizard of Oz." Full color. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Woods Runner Contributor(s): Paulsen, Gary (Author) Samuel, 13, spends his days in the forest, hunting for food for his family. He has grown up on the frontier of a British colony, America. Far from any town, or news of the war against the King that American patriots have begun near Boston. But the war comes to them. British soldiers and Iroquois attack. Samuel's parents are taken away, prisoners. Samuel follows, hiding, moving silently, determined to find a way to rescue them. Each day he confronts the enemy, and the tragedy and horror of this war. But he also discovers allies, men and women working secretly for the patriot cause. And he learns that he must go deep into enemy territory to find his parents: all the way to the British headquarters, New York City. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------