Younger Readers
All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon, Illus by Katherine Tillotson
From deserts to the kitchen sink, the water cycle is lyrically yet economically described in Lyon’s poem emphasizing the importance of water conservation. Katherine Tillotson’s digital paintings splash, surge and drip off the page. (j551.48  Lyon)

A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
A wordless tale of an irrepressible little dog whose most prized possession is accidently destroyed. A buoyant tale of loss, recovery, and friendship. (2012 Caldecott Medal Book) ( j  Raschka)

Blackout by John Rocco
A summer power outage draws an urban family up to their building’s roof and then down to the street for an impromptu block party. (A 2012 Caldecott Honor Book) ( j  Rocco)

Bring on the Birds by Susan Stockdale
Rhyming couplets and clear, identifiable illustrations remind readers that birds vary in many ways, but all have feathers and are hatched from eggs. Colorful acrylics help provide just the right of information for preschool ornithologists. (j598  Stockdale)

The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha R. Vamos, Illus by Rafael López
Nothing is better than a delicious bowl of arroz con leche unless, of course, a host of farm animals have a hand in the preparation! (A 2012 Belpré Illustrator Honor Book) ( j  Vamos)

CHIRCHIR IS SINGING by Kelly Cunnane, Illus by Jude Daly
In this cumulative story set in Kenya, Chirchir sings as she tries to help with family chores. Acrylic folk art highlights the activities of daily life in this rural setting.

Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow? by Susan A. Shea, Illus by Tom Slaughter
This book playfully challenges children’s concepts of the growth capacity of living vs. non-living things in a fun and engaging way. ( j  Shea)

Dot by Patricia Intriago
To a child’s delight, bright dots and brief rhyming verses cleverly demonstrate antonyms and synonyms in this clever picture book. ( j  Intriago)

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker, Illus by Tom Lichtenheld
Truck-loving toddlers will be willingly tucked into bed along with the vehicles in this superbly constructed goodnight poem. ( j  Rinker)

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
Elaborate topiary sculptures give visual form to memories in a wildly fanciful garden tended by a child and his beloved great-grandfather. (A 2012 Caldecott Honor Book) ( j  Smith)

HARRY AND HOPPER by Margaret Wild, Illus by Freya Blackwood
A poignant depiction of grief and acceptance at the loss of a beloved pet is relayed in this quietly moving story whose illustrations add emotional depth.

I Broke My Trunk! by Mo Willems
Piggie is very concerned about his best friend, Gerald the Elephant, who has broken his trunk, and Gerald tells him a long, rambling story about how it happened. (A 2012 Geisel Honor Book) (E  Willems)

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
After losing his hat, Bear politely and patiently questions his fellow forest dwellers as to the whereabouts of his “red pointy hat.” (A 2012 Geisel Honor Book) ( j  Klassen)

King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently, Illus by Helen Oxenbury
Enhanced by whimsical illustrations, this story of the wonders and terrors created by a child’s imagination, shows the power of playtime and the magic of make-believe. ( j  Bently)

Little Treasures: Endearments from Around the World by Jacqueline K. Ogburn. Illus by Chris Raschka
Raschka’s pictures give distinct personalities to the subjects of these endearments and the book is a reminder of how much children are loved in every language and culture. Translations and pronunciation guides are included. (j808.882 Foreign Language  Multi-language)

Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes
Little white rabbit explores the springtime world wondering what it would be like to be different - green, tall, solid, or able to fly - but when he comes home he knows who loves him. ( j  Henkes)

Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell
Watching birds and squirrels in her yard, a young girl discovers the joy and wonder of nature. A glimpse of the childhood of renowned primatologist Jane Goodall. (A 2012 Caldecott Honor Book) (j921 G61m)

Mouse & Lion by Rand Burkert, Illus by Nancy Ekholm Burkert
Mouse is the center of this retelling of a familiar Aesop’s fable. Elegant illustrations place the story solidly in the natural world of Africa. ( j  Burkert)

Naamah and the Ark at Night by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Illus by Holly Meade
As the waters rage, this lullaby reveals Noah’s wife as a nurturer of diverse creatures aboard the ark. Watercolor and collage illustrations amplify the text, a form of lyrical Arabic poetry, called ghazal. ( j  Bartoletti)

A NEW YEAR'S REUNION: A CHINESE STORY by Yu Li-Qiong, Illus by Zhu Cheng-Liang
Vibrant illustrations highlight a young girl’s joy when her father makes his annual visit for Chinese New Year in this tender story.

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, Illus by Christopher Silas Neal
While skiing cross-country with her father, a girl envisions the “secret kingdom” under the snow, where small forest animals shelter in winter. Neal’s bright, snowy landscapes contrast with his depictions of shadowed, subterranean nests. (j591.543  Messner)

Prudence Wants a Pet by Cathleen Daly, Illus by Stephen Michael King
In this quietly humorous picture book illustrated in soft colors, Prudence tries out a branch, a twig, a shoe, her little brother, a tire, and sea buddies until her parents finally give her a kitten as a pet. ( j  Daly)

See Me Run by Paul Meisel
Dogs and more dogs are everywhere: running, sliding, jumping, splashing, and having fun. (A 2012 Geisel Honor Book) (E  Meisel)

Should I Share My Ice Cream? By Mo Willems
A common human problem is posed and solved with Willems’ minimal illustration and graceful humor. (E  Willems)

Stars by Mary Lyn Ray, Illus by Marla Frazee
A duet of spare, poetic observations and ethereal illustrations explore the realities and possibilities of many kinds of stars, embracing the immediacy of a child’s experiences. A great read aloud. ( j  Ray)

Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider
Five chapters recount James’ refusal to eat yet another disgusting, smelly, repulsive, lumpy, or slimy food. (2012 Geisel Medal Book) (E  Schneider)

Tell Me the Day Backwards by Albert Lamb, Illus by David McPhail
Mama bear and child reflect on the day, recounting its events in reverse order. Gentle and reassuring, this book wonderfully illustrates a sometimes difficult concept: the flow of time. ( j  Lamb)

Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin, Jr., Illus by Lois Ehler
Ten different caterpillars inch their ways across vibrantly-illustrated environs in this newly-illustrated, rhyming story. Supplemental facts widen the book’s appeal and usefulness. Ehlert’s watercolor collages are remarkably entomologically accurate. ( j  Martin)

These Hands by Margaret H. Mason, Illus by Floyd Cooper
Both an affirmation of a nurturing relationship between grandfather and grandson and an explanation of one reason labor unions fought for workers’ rights, the brief text and warm illustrations tell an uplifting American story. ( j  Mason)

Tìa Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina, Illus by Claudio Muñoz
Using a cheerful positive tone, Medina depicts a warm relationship between Tia Isa and her niece and shows the strength of community as a life-long dream is realized. ( j  Medina)

Where's Walrus? by Stephen Savage
Walrus escapes from the zoo and cleverly disguises himself around the city; the zoopkeeper and the children reading the book search for him on each bold, bright page of this wordless book. ( j  Savage)

Who Has What?: All About Girls' Bodies and Boys' Bodies by Robie H. Harris, Illus by Nadine Bernard Westcot
In a cheerful, easy tone, Harris explains who’s got what body parts, their similarities of differences. Girls, boys and adults of many ethnicities – even animals – are included in the loose-lined illustrations depicting the “bare” facts. (j612.6  Harris)

Middle Readers
America is Under Attack: September 11, 2001: The Day the Towers Fell by Don Brown
A straightforward account of the September 11th tragedy, Brown’s restrained watercolors and sensitive text focuses on small stories of those who were in the Towers and the people who responded to the disaster. (j973.931  Brown)

Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet
This story of Tony Sarg, the artistic inventor who conceived the huge balloons that float through New York City each Thanksgiving, joyously celebrates his life’s creative process. (2012 Sibert Medal Book) (j921 Sa73s)

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin
On the eve of his induction into the Young Pioneers, Sasha’s world is overturned when his father is arrested by Stalin’s guard. (A 2012 Newbery Honor Book) (Juv Fic  Yelchin)

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright, Illus by Barry Moser
Alley-cat Skilley finds a perfect home, gets help from a friend to return an injured raven to the Tower of London and saves all the Cheshire Cheese Inn mice from the evil Pinch. (Juv Fic  Deedy)

Diego Rivera: His World and Ours by Duncan Tonatiuh
The accomplishments of Mexican painter, activist, and muralist Diego Rivera are highlighted in stylized illustrations. (2012 Belpré Illustrator Medal Book) (j759.972  Tonatiuh)

DREAM SOMETHING BIG: THE STORY OF THE WATTS TOWERS by Dianna Hutts Aston, Illus by Susan L. Roth
The human desire to make a mark is celebrated in this fictionalized account of Simon Rodia’s process in building the Watts Towers – a singular, eccentric, artistic creation now recognized as a National Landmark.

E-mergency! by Tom Lichtenheld, Illus by Ezra Fields-Meyer
When the letter ‘E’ falls down the stairs and hurts her leg, the rest of the alphabet must do the best it can to limp along without its most-used letter. Puns aplenty pack every page. (Juv Fic  Lichtenheld)

EMMA DILEMMA: BIG SISTER POEMS by Kristine O'Connell George, Illus by Nancy Carpenter
Sisterhood is complicated: partly embarrassing, partly affectionate, partly competitive, partly supportive, partly confining, partly empowering. The many facets of the relationship are deftly described by George’s poems and Carpenter’s pen and ink drawings.

The Great Migration: Journey to the North by Eloise Greenfield, Illus by Jan Spivey Gilchris
Muted mixed media illustrations set the tone for somber yet hopeful free verse honoring the author's family as they journeyed north from the Jim Crow South. A haunting view of a pivotal moment in U.S. history. (A 2012 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book) (j811.54  Greenfield)

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Hà and her family flee war-torn Vietnam for the American South. In spare, vivid verse, she chronicles her struggle to find her place in a new world. (A 2012 Newbery Honor Book) (Juv Fic  Lai)

Junonia by Kevin Henkes
Alice knows just how her vacation on Sanibel Island should be: the same as the previous nine, except that this year she hopes to find a rare junonia shell. Alice's tenth birthday, however, brings unexpected changes. (Juv Fic  Henkes)

Lemonade, and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word by Bob Raczka, Illus by Nancy Doniger
Think of a word, then compose a poem using only the letters in that word. Amusing challenges for poet and reader alike, these poem-puzzles are illustrated with similarly playful brush-paintings. Great fun for classroom or budding poets. (j811.6  Raczka)

The Lily Pond by Annika Thor
This sequel to A Faraway Island continues the story of thirteen-year-old Stephie Steiner, a Jewish refugee whose parents have sent her from Nazi-occupied Vienna to Sweden. (2012 Batchelder Honor Book) (Juv Fic  Thor)

The Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore, Illus by Susan L. Roth
Through a “This is the House That Jack Built” formula, the story of an ecological and environmental triumph is told so that even very young children can understand the interrelationships between plants, animals and people. (j574.52636  Roth)

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match /Marisol McDonald no combina by Monica Brown, Illus by Sara Palacios
Bright, vivacious Marisol, a Peruvian-Scottish-American girl, loves peanut butter and jelly burritos and speaks both English and Spanish, but her teacher and classmates do not appreciate Marisol’s mashing of cultures. (A 2012 Belpré Illustrator Honor Book) (Spanish j )

Maximilian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller by Xavier Garza
Eleven-year-old Max discovers that his favorite Lucha Libre wrestler is coming to town and might have a strange connection with his own family. (A 2012 Belpré Author Honor Book) (Spanish Juv Fic)

Migrant by Maxine Trottier, Illus by Isabelle Arsenault
This unique story about a group of migrant workers – Mennonites – is told through the eyes of young Anna, who reflects upon their peripatetic life and the hardships it creates. ( j  Trottier)

Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic by Robert Burleigh, Illus by Wendell Minor
Sit with Amelia Earhart in her red Vega as she flies across the Atlantic and startles a farmer in Northern Ireland by landing in his field. (j921 Ea72bu2)

No Ordinary Day by Deborah Ellis
Valli, a resourceful homeless nine-year-old, learns she has leprosy. An encounter with a kind doctor gives her the chance to heal and find a home. Illuminates harsh realities in contemporary India. (YA Fic  Ellis)

Nursery Rhyme Comics: 50 Timeless Rhymes from 50 Celebrated Cartoonists. Ed by Chris Duffy, Illus by various artists
A lively compilation of 50 nursery rhymes interpreted and illustrated in diverse and distinctive styles by a different cartoonist or graphic artists. The introduction by Leonard Marcus puts it all in focus. (j398.8  Nursery)

Soldier Bear by Bibi Dumon Tak, Illus by Philip Hopman
Based on a true story and set during World War II, the novel follows the journey of refugee Polish soldiers and the mischievous young bear they acquire in the Iranian desert. (2012 Batchelder Award Book) (Juv Fic  Tak)

THE THIRD GIFT by Linda Sue Park, Illus by Bagram Ibatoulline
Ibatoulline’s sumptuous, highly finished gouaches invite the reader into a distant time and landscape where a young Arab boy and his father harvest myrrh for three mysterious strangers.

Thunder Birds: Nature's Flying Predators by Jim Arnosky
Arnosky describes and illustrates the qualities of magnificent raptors. Distinctive acrylic and chalk paintings depict birds gazing at readers from their natural environments. Four large fold out pages shows some birds in actual size. (j598.91  Arnosky)

Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters by Donna Jo Napoli, Illus by Christina Balit
From the chaos that spawned Gaia to the horrors of the Trojan War, this is the most comprehensive and lavishly illustrated compendium of Greek mythology since the D’Aulaires’ offering. Timeline, cast of characters, map appended. (j292.13  Napoli)

The Trouble with May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm
May Amelia is always in trouble but never more than when she translates an offer from a con man for her father. A companion to My Only May Amelia, it stands sturdily on its own. (Juv Fic  Holm)

Underground by Shane Evans
Spare text describes a long dangerous night time journey on the Underground Railroad. The striking illustrations with their dark palette burst into light as the travelers reach freedom. (The 2012 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Medal Book) ( j  Evans)

http://catalog.duluth.lib.mn.us/polaris/view.aspx?isbn= by Frank Cottrell Boyce, Illus by Carl Hunter, and Clare Heney
Julie recalls her sixth year classmates Chingis and Nergui, two Mongolian brothers, their strange polaroid photographs, sketchy descriptions of Mongolia, and their very real fear of demons in this offbeat, haunting story.

The Watcher: Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps by Jeanette Wintee
Winter presents inquisitive and independent Goodall from girlhood to the Gombe Stream and beyond in her search to understand chimpanzees. Stylized acrylics show scientist and animals in the abundant foliage of Africa. (j921 G61w)

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Two parallel stories set 50 years apart converge in this textual and visual story of adventurous Ben and Rose as it explores topics of deafness, silence, wolves, and museums. (A 2012 Schneider Family Award Book) (Juv Fic M  Selznick)

Won-Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw, Illus by Eugene Yelchin
From animal shelter cage to a loving home, Won Ton’s experience is told from his point of view in senryu, a form of Japanese poetry similar to Haiku. ( j  Wardlaw)

Young Fredle by Cynthia Voigt, Illus by Louise Yates
Exiled from his home in the pantry, Fredle, a mouse with a sweet tooth and unusual curiosity, discovers the wonders and dangers of the outside world. He learns to question the rules and returns home a changed mouse. (Juv Fic  Voigt)

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
When a little red button crashes to earth any self-respecting graphic novel character would push it. When Joseph is whisked through an inter-dimensional portal to an alien planet, Zita follows to rescue him. (j741.5  Hatke)

Older Readers
Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming
In her clear, readable style, Fleming shows how Earhart captured the public imagination. Chapters of background information alternate with the chilling account of her final flight. Enhanced with maps, archival documents, news photos, and other contemporary sources. (j921 Ea72f)

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
This graphic novel tells the story of Anya, a Russian immigrant, whose lack of self-esteem changes when her life is almost taken over by a determined ghost. (YA 741.5  Brosgol)

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Stalin’s deportation and imprisonment of Lithuanian families in Siberia is brought to vivid life in Sepetys’ searing novel, narrated by Lina, a 15-year-old who writes, “They took me in my nightgown.” (A YALSA Morris Award Finalist) (YA Fic  Sepetys)

Billions of Years, Amazing Changes: The Story of Evolution by Laurence Pringle, Illus by Steve Jenkins
Pringle looks at the evidence from geology, biology, botany, and scientific reason to explain evolution. Readable text, pertinent illustrations matter of factly clarify concepts and the meaning of theory. (j575  Pringle)

Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene 'Bull' Connor by Larry Dane Brimner
This powerful examination of a crucial dichotomy in the civil rights movement focuses on two polar opposites—one man committed to ending segregation, and one just as determined to see it maintained. (A 2012 Sibert Honor Book) (j323.1  Brimner)

Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917 by Sally M. Walker
Clear and compelling description and analysis of scientific evidence and historic events brings this little-known tragedy to life, a history made personal by its focus on five families, some who survived, some who perished. (j971.6225  Walker)

Bluefish by Pat Schmatz
The significance of reading is personified by two eighth graders, functionally illiterate Travis and feisty, starved-for-affection Velveeta, who come together in a tenuous, prickly relationship. (YA Fic Schmatz)

Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition by Karen Blumenthal
Lively prose and interesting anecdotes make the history of Prohibition accessible while the examination of unintended consequences make this chronicle relevant to today's political world. (A 2012 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist) (j363.41  Blumenthal)

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
An achingly funny romp through a dying New Deal town. While mopping up epic nose bleeds, Jack narrates this screw-ball mystery in an endearing and believable voice. (2012 Newbery Medal Book) (Juv Fic  Gantos)

Drawing from Memory by Allen Say
Say, an esteemed children’s book creator, engagingly relates his early training, including the influences of his family and his artistic sensei. (A 2012 Sibert Honor Book) (j921 Sa99AAd)

The Elephant Scientist by Caitlin O'Connell and Donna M. Jackson, Illus by Caitlin O'Connell and Timothy Rodwell
Power-packed photos and prose transport readers to the dusty world of African elephants and a woman who studies them. (A 2012 Sibert Honor Book) (j599.61  O'Connell)

The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman by Meg Wolitzer
Three 12-year-olds from different parts of the country participate in the national Youth Scrabble Tournament in Florida. Their discoveries about themselves, their friends and families turn out to be more important than winning in this perceptive story. (Juv Fic Wolitzer)

Flyaway by Lucy Christopher
While Isla’s father is in the hospital, she befriends another patient, Harry. In this touching story, Isla tries to help Harry, her father and a swan, all of whom are struggling to survive. (YA Fic  Christopher)

Hidden by Helen Frost
Six years have passed since Darra's father stole a car in which Wren was hiding. Now 14, Darra and Wren, once again cross paths. A suspenseful verse novel, told in two distinct voices. (YA Fic  Frost)

The House Baba Built: An Artist's Childhood in China by Ed Young and Libby Koponen
With multimedia scrapbook images that intrigue, astonish, and surprise, Ed Young recalls his childhood in war-torn Shanghai, introduces his extended family, and describes their life in the house his father designed. (j921 Y84AAh)

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg, Illus by Kevin O'Malley
A wildly humorous collective biography featuring horrifying medical treatments and deaths of nineteen famous men and women, this surprisingly heavily researched compendium is terrific book bait for reluctant readers. (j920  Bragg)

Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck by Margarita Engle
This historical novel in verse is the story of Quebrado, son of a Taíno Indian mother and a Spanish father, who is kidnapped in 1510 from his island village (present-day Cuba) and enslaved on a pirate’s ship. (A 2012 Belpré Author Honor Book) (YA Fic  Engle)

Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea, and Air by Stuart Ross, Illus by Stephen Biesty
How did those great explorers travel? What did they wear? Where did they pee? And what did they find on their journeys? Much is revealed in the text and unfolding cross-sections of this fascinating volume. (j910.9  Ross)

Jefferson's Sons: A Founding Father's Secret Children by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Told from the point of view of three young slaves, two of them fathered by Thomas Jefferson, this well-researched and moving novel provides insight into their lives as it raises important and difficult questions. (YA Fic  Bradley)

LOST & FOUND by Shaun Tan
By turns mysterious, dreamlike, nightmarish, goofily endearing, and spookily surreal, these stories by Shaun Tan seemingly transport us to three very different worlds. Each page is a work of art.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Thirteen-year-old Conor deals with a monster who tells him three stories in exchange for facing his greatest fear. (YA Fic M Ness)

Music Was It: Young Leonard Bernstein by Susan Goldman Rubin
This exemplary, inspiring biography chronicles the life of Leonard Bernstein from early childhood to his triumphant debut at age twenty-five, as conductor of the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall. Engaging social history with appeal beyond music students. (A 2012 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist) (j780.92  Rubin)

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
Unable to read and abused by his father, 13-year-old Doug befriends spunky Lili and a sensitive librarian who shows him how to draw Audubon’s birds. Both make a difference in his previously limited world. (YA Fic  Schmidt)

QUEEN OF HEARTS by Martha Brooks
In 1941 Manitoba, Marie-Claire tells the moving story of her coming-of-age as a 16-year-old in a tuberculosis sanitorium.

RAGGIN', JAZZIN', ROCKIN': A HISTORY OF AMERICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS by Susan VanHecke
Steinway on pianos, Zildjian on cymbals, Martin and Fender on guitars...we meet these people and their iconic instruments in this intriguing introduction. Generously illustrated with photographs of the instruments, musicians, and more.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Deadly horses emerge from the sea and collide with island inhabitants in a bloody annual race for prize money and the fulfillment of dreams. Rich language portrays characters, action, and setting leading to an intoxicating climax. (A 2012 YALSA Printz Honor Book) (YA Fic SF  Stiefvater)

Sita's Ramayana by Samhita Arni, Illus by Moyna Chitrakar
Using a graphic novel format, this powerful saga of Rama is told from his abducted and mistrusted wife Sita’s point of view. (YA 891.2  Arni)

Space, Stars, and the Beginning of Time: What the Hubble Telescope Saw by Elaine Scott
An intriguing look at the creation and scientific revelations of the Hubble telescope. Complex science, clearly explained and beautifully illustrated with Hubble images. (j522.2919  Scott)

STONES FOR MY FATHER by Trilby Kent
In evocative prose, Kent creates a compelling survival story of young Corlie Roux, a Boer girl in South Africa during the Anglo-Boer War at the turn of the last century.

TALL STORY by Candy Gourlay
Andi’s half brother is finally joining the family from the Philippines. Eight feet tall, it’s obvious that Bernardo is going to have trouble fitting in. A poignant and humorous novel.

Terezin: Voices from the Holocaust by Ruth Thomson
Secret diary entries, excerpts from memoirs, and inmate artwork illuminate the dark story of the Nazi's transit camp Terezin. Young readers will appreciate the oversized, magazine type layout. (j940.53  Thomson)

Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
The story of fourteen-year-old Lupita, growing up in a bicultural community in Texas and dealing with her mother’s terminal illness, is told in emotionally riveting free verse. (2012 Belpré Author Medal Book and a YALSA Morris Award Finalist) (YA Fic  McCall)

Witches! The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem by Rosalyn Schanzer
Readers will be stunned by the research and accusations in this pivotal drama of American history. This work of art presents an account of our past and asks questions of our future. (A 2012 Sibert Honor Book) (j974.45  Schanzer)

All Ages
Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins, Illus by Vicky White
White’s cover illustration of a regal tiger pulls readers into a balanced discussion of human interaction with nature and how we affect endangered species. Handsome pencil illustrations make readers care about creatures large and small. (j591.529  Jenkins)

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson
In just 100 pages, Nelson's narrator tells the story of American history through the eyes of African-Americans. Forty-six luminous oil paintings portray iconic and ordinary images and make the history accessible for younger students; older students will find it equally intriguing. (The 2012 Coretta Scott King Author Medal Book and Illustrator Honor Book) (j973.0496  Nelson)

If Rocks Could Sing: A Discovered Alphabet by Leslie McGuirk
Children and teachers will be inspired by this quirky concept book that uses shaped rocks as letters and objects. An alphabet book like no other. ( j  McGuirk)

Never Forgotten by Patricia McKissack, Illus by Leo and Diane Dillon
A boy captured by slave traders in 18th Century Africa is brought to the Americas. This verse novel answers the question, “Were we missed?” asked by the descendants of slaves stolen from Africa. (A 2012 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book) (Juv Fic  McKissack)

Press Here by Hervé Tullet
A whimsical, interactive picture book that draws readers through its pages by having them tap, clap, and follow other simple but enticing instructions. ( j  Tullet)

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman, Illus by Beth Krommes
A poem about spirals in nature invites close contemplation of the versatile, expansive shape beautifully portrayed from simple snail to coiled snake, or snuggling woodchuck to swimming nautilus in Krommes’ scratchboard illustrations. ( j  Sidman)

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8/14/12
Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802