Houston Family Book List -- July 2012

Toddlers (Ages 1-3)

Stay Close to Mama by Toni Buzzeo

Preschoolers are sure to relate to Twiga's desire for independence in this gorgeously illustrated picture book about baby giraffe that keeps wandering away from his mother to explore the interesting sights and smells that surround them.

If All the Animals Came Inside by Eric Pinder

Illustrations and rhyming text explore the fun and mayhem that could ensue if elephants, kangaroos, bats, and more were to come inside a little boy's house.

Dini Dinosaur by Karen Beaumont

This energetic and silly picture book, by the author of such preschool bestsellers as "I Ain't Going to Paint No More," is ideal for toddlers who love to get messy and the moms who get them clean again.

Picture Books (Pre K-K)

Isabella: Girl on the Go by Jennifer Fosberry

While playing in the backyard, Isabella imagines herself all over the world as a warrior, an archeologist, a queen, and an astronomer, then ends the day in her own home-sweet-home, the most wonderful place to be.

The House at the End of Ladybug Lane by Elise Primavera

Angelina Neatolini came from a long line of neat and tidy people. But Angelina liked to roll in the dirt whenever she could. Like most kids, Angelina wanted a pet, but pets are messy and the Neatolini parents did not allow mess in their new house. Enter a hard-of-hearing and very daffy fairy godmother ladybug-and magic, mess, and mayhem ensued in the house at the end of Ladybug Lane, which became anything but neat. 

More by I.C. Springman

Little Fox and his father look at other woodland animals' homes, then make a new den for themselves.

Early Readers (Grades 1-3)

The Boy Who Cried Alien by Marilyn Singer

Larry the Liar must help some friendly extra-terrestrials refuel their ship so they can get back home. But will the townspeople believe his intergalactic tale of glory? This hilarious reimagining uses meticulously composed verse, alternating points of view, and comic book elements to give the story loads of color, humor and visual interest.

The Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins

The beetle world is vast: one out of every four living things on earth is a beetle. There are over 350,000 different species named so far and scientists suspect there may be as many as a million. With carefully crafted illustrations, this book presents a fascinating array of these intriguing insects and the many amazing adaptations they have made to survive.

A Poor Excuse for a Dragon by Geoffery Hayes

When Fred the dragon leaves home he learns that he is not very good at roaring or breathing fire and swallowing people only makes him ill, but with help from a witch, a giant, and a wise boy he finds his true calling.

Children's Fiction (Grades 4-6)

Popular Clone by M.E. Castle

Twelve-year-old Fisher Bas, a science-loving bully magnet, creates a clone of himself named Fisher-2 to avoid going to school, only to discover that Fisher-2 is infinitely cooler than Fisher, and gets himself into much more trouble.  

The Last of the Gullivers  by Carter Crocker

After orphaned twelve-year-old Michael Pine, who seems headed for trouble, meets old Lem Gulliver, he finds new purpose as protector of the Lilliputians who live in Lem's back garden, even if that means saving them from one another.

One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson

When lonely, ten-year-old Hal learns that his wealthy but neglectful parents only rented Fleck, the dog he always wanted, he and new friend Pippa take Fleck and four other dogs from the rental agency on a trek from London to Scotland, where Hal's grandparents live.

Teen Fiction (Ages 12 & Up)

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

It isn't easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday's only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true. When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland-and a man Sunday's family despises

The Absolute Value of Mike by Kathryn Erskine

Fourteen-year-old Mike, whose father is a brilliant mathematician but who has no math aptitude himself, spends the summer in rural Pennsylvania with his elderly and eccentric relatives Moo and Poppy, helping the townspeople raise money to adopt a Romanian orphan.

Partials by Dan Wells

In a post-apocalyptic eastern seaboard ravaged by disease and war with a manmade race of people called Partials, the chance at a future rests in the hands of Kira Walker, a sixteen-year-old medic in training.