Best Children's Books of 2013

Here are links to sites that list the best of 2013 for kids and teens.

Best Children's Books from Kirkus Reviews

Horn Book Magazine Fanfare

Best Books from School Library Journal

Best Nonfiction Books of 2013

You can always stop in and ask the staff in the Youth Services Department. We really do keep up with what's current.

Missing on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach

Happy New Year!

I am so happy that we are getting to the mid-point of January for it means the days are getting longer by the second. I can appreciate how having the cold and dark benefits the natural world, but for me longer days and cold temperatures leave me with little motivation. I can see why so many animals hibernate. On the plus side, I tend to read more during this time of year. (I do not own a television) I do enjoy, and so do my kitties, sitting in my comfy chair all wrapped up in a warm blanket with a good book.

Here is one of the books I read over vacation.

Missing on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach 

Mysterious deaths, a lost gold mine, and the promise of hidden treasure make up this delightful story just perfect for those who have the ability to keep track of several plots lines at once. Brothers Simon, Henry, and Jack are still adjusting to their recent move with their parents to Arizona. As they are getting used to living in a desert climate and making new friends, they are irresistibly drawn to explore the aptly named Superstition Mountain, in spite of warnings that it is not safe. There is lots of action, great writing, and, most importantly… suspense.  Because the book talks about the California Gold rush,  you may also want to check out What Was the Gold Rush? By Joan Holub or How To Get Rich in the California Gold Rush by Tod Olson.

New picture books!

One of the most exciting things about working in a library is days when new books arrive! We received a shipment today, so I wanted to let you know about four of the new picture books we have here at the library.

Big Snow by Jonathan Bean
It’s that time of year where people young and old sit around, sick of the cold and ready for it to snow! In this book a young boy tries to help his mom with chores around the house but is so excited about the possibility of a snow storm that day, he has a hard time focusing. Who doesn’t remember the feeling of staring out the window waiting for the snow? It’s a delightful book with great illustrations, a perfect treat while waiting for snow to fall.

Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story by Hena Khan
This book is a fun way to chat with kids about different kinds of holidays. Although this book discusses the month of Ramadan which doesn’t occur until June 2014, it’s a good time of year to introduce traditions that other people celebrate to youngsters. This book has simple, informative text and beautiful illustrations.

Duck Sock Hop by Jane Kohuth
This book is all fun. It has bright silly illustrations and silly text that matches! It’s a fun read aloud book with its easy to read rhyming phrases. This book will have you giggling until your own socks fall off!

Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome by Clarabelle van Niekerk & Liezl Venter, MA CCC-SLP
This book tells the story of Sam, a young boy with Asperger Syndrome. When the book

begins, Sam is undiagnosed but throughout the book we get to see how Sam is different and are eventually introduced to Asperber Syndrome. This is a great book for anyone to read—and a wonderful way to introduce kids to this subject. The illustrations are beautiful and text is not too challenging, a good book to read and discuss together. 

Posted by Meredith, our intern.

Winter Books Already!?

It sure is feeling like winter outside and winter is such a great time to snuggle up inside with a good book. We have some fabulous winter non-fiction books here at the library—everything from folk tales, to poems, to winter crafts and games. The non-fiction section is always a great stop for fun relaxed learning and “cold-day-stuck-inside” ideas. Here are just a few of the titles we have:

Winter: An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur
This is a beautiful book that goes through the alphabet with acrostic poems. Each poem describes a different wintertime theme or occurrence. The poems are short and the illustrations are beautiful. This would be a great book for younger and older children to read together—young kids will appreciate the alphabet and older kids will likely get a kick out of the fun acrostic poems.

Rabbit’s Snow Dance by James & Joseph BruchacHave you ever wondered why rabbit runs

so fast and has a short fluffy tail? Search no more! In Rabbit’s Snow Dance, a traditional Iroquois story, you can learn both! Plus, it never hurts to read a story that highlights the importance of patience and listening to your friends.

Winter Day Play! by Nancy F. Castaldo
This is a book full of activities, crafts, and games to enjoy indoors and out! There are tons of ideas in here to make any snowed-in day lots of fun.

Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart
This is a beautiful book about what animals in nature are doing in the winter while we’re all out playing in the snow.  It is wonderfully illustrated and shows lots of animals from ladybugs napping in rock walls to wood frogs frozen solid in scattered leaves on the forest floor. This would be a great book to read before a hike in the woods on a snowy day.


I hope you head to the library and check out some of the great non-fiction (and fiction!) winter books! There’s lots of choose from and winter is the perfect time to stalk up, snuggle in, and read.


Posted by Meredith, Library Intern

Dorrie the little witch

We’re doing some weeding here at the library and are stumbling across some really great, seemingly forgotten books.

It’s well known that kids love books that are part of a series—that way you don’t have to leave the characters you know and love; you just get to know them better!

One character worth getting to know is Dorrie the little witch. We have a bunch of Dorrie books, written by Patricia Coombs.

These books would be great as a read aloud book for youngsters making the transition from picture books to chapter or early reader books. There are beautiful, fun and lively illustrations that document Dorrie and her cat Gink in all of her adventures living in Glumglen with all the other witches.  Dorrie has adventures that range from getting turned into a frog to “teaching herself” how to fly to troubles with a mysterious houseguest to more! There is lots of fun to be had when you’re a little witch whose hat is always crooked and socks never match.

Just because Halloween is over doesn’t mean it’s time to give up on witches, ghosts and ghouls! They’re fun all year long.

Pick up a Dorrie book today and enjoy getting to know this spunky little witch.

Posted by Meredith, Library intern

Celebrate the Sox with some good books!

It’s no secret that the Red Sox won the World Series, why not celebrate by picking up some great Red Sox books at the library? We have several that cover different topics related to the Sox: famous players, kids’ experiences at games, and even a Fenway  alphabet! Here are a few of the titles:

There goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived 
By Matt Tavares
This is a biography of legendary hitter Ted Williams. It has large beautiful full page pictures and is easy to read aloud or independently. Plus, Matt Tavares is a local author/illustrator living in Ogunquit, Maine—so that doubles the fun!

Zachary’s Ball 
By Matt Tavares
This is a picture book about a child’s experience at a baseball game and even involves a magic baseball! It’s sure to be a hit with any young (or not as young!) baseball enthusiasts in your household. 

Ballpark Mysteries: The Fenway Foul-Up
By David A. Kelly, Illustrated by Mark Meyers

This is a short chapter book for baseball fans. It is the first in a series of ballpark mysteries—each taking place at a different famous stadium. This is a great mystery for younger readers and has illustrations scattered throughout the story. 

F is for Fenway Park: America’s oldest major league ballpark
By Jerry Pallotta, Illustrated by John Dykes

Explore Fenway Park with your young readers with this alphabet book! It has rhyming poems and information on topics that range from the green monster to Kenmore Square! What better way to meet baseball in Boston? 

I hope baseball fans of all ages will enjoy these titles and come check them out at the library! 

Posted by Meredith
Library Intern

ABC at the Library

The selection of alphabet books available has really changed since I was young. I remember alphabet books with simple illustrations and one or two words about a subject—“A is for Apple” “B is for Bumblebee.”  We have a great collection of creative and exciting alphabet books that explore the topic from a variety of angles.

Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray

This books follows a cute puppy’s plot to devour a delicious and freshly made apple pie. The illustrations and words are simple and great for young readers or as a read aloud book. What’s more appropriate for the season than apple pie? Yum.

Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham

This book is a hoot. We begin the story with Zebra trying to keep all animals and objects in line to be photographed for his alphabet book. Everything is going great through letter “C” and then Moose comes along. Moose is so excited to be in an alphabet book that he shows up in the strangest of places and causes quite a ruckus. This is a quick and very funny read with a wonderful twist at the end.

D is for Dancing Dragon: A China Alphabet by Carol Crane (Non-Fiction)

This is a great alphabet book for older readers. It explores China through the alphabet and has both short rhyming text that accompanies the beautiful pictures and longer paragraphs that discuss the topics in more depth.  This could easily function as a resource for a paper or project about China for school.

A is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet by Stephen T. Johnson (Non-Fiction)

This is also an alphabet book that could draw in older readers. It shows abstract art images and then has crazy –rhyming- tongue-twisting text to go along with each. This would be a lot of fun to read aloud and see
who could conquer the word aerobics present on each page. This book could also function as a “Look and Find” book, an example would be—“on the B page, find the broken bowl.” Most pages lend themselves well to this and some “Look and Find” challenges are even written into the text.


So before you dismiss alphabet books or think they are just for very young readers—come see all the alphabet books available here at the library, you might be surprised! 







Posted by Meredith, Library Intern