Houston Family Book List -- May 2010

Toddlers (Ages 1-3)

I'm the Best by Lucy Cousins

A boastful dogs gets a taste of his own medicine when his friends help him to see how his bragging makes them fell sad.

Jump! by Scott M. Fischer
Building on repetition that's fun to read and to listen to, Jump! is a rip-roaring read-aloud with simple rhymes and illustrations that leap off the page.

The Little Dump Truck  by Margery Cuyler
A happy little dump truck, driven by Hard Hat pete, hauls stones, rocks, and debris from a construction site to a landfill.

Picture Books (Pre K-K)

The Barefooted, Bad-Tempered Baby Brigade by Deborah Diesen
Fed up with tootsie tickling, peek-a-boo games and belly raspberries, a group of babies organize a protest to get their parents to listen to their demands.

Millie Wants to Play! by Janet Pedersen

Millie is waiting for the rest of the farm to awaken so that she can have some fun.  Even as the lamb, the pig and the pony try to get her to play, Millie listens for the special "rise-and-shine sound."

Hot Rod Hamster  by Cynthia Lord
A hamster creates a sizzling hot rod with the help of his newfound friends, a junkyard dog and his mice assistants.

Early Readers (Grades 1-3)

Cork & Fuzz:  Good Sports  by Dori Chaconas
Short-legged Cork is upset when tall Fuzz wins every game they play, until he learns that their friendship is more important than winning.

Daisy Dawson and the Secret Pond  by Steve Voake
Daisy Dawson, who can listen and talk to animals, wants to take a picture of some shy otters for her school project.  When a storm moves in, Daisy worries that she might not get her project done on time.

Star of the Week  by Barney Saltzberg
Excited about being "Star of the Week" at school, Stanley spends a lot of time choosing and preparing his favorite things to share, but becomes discouraged when his classmates make fun of what he likes.

Children's Fiction (Grades 4-6)

The Secret of Zoom  by Lynne Jonell
Ten-year-old Christina lives a sheltered life until she discovers a secret tunnel, an evil plot to enslave orphans, and a mysterious source of energy known as zoom.

How to Be a Genius:  Your Brain and How to Train It by John Woodward
Explores the working of the brain, the potential of the mind, adn how the brain makes each person unique.  Includes puzzles, games and optical illusions designed to sharpen your wit.

The Doom Machine by Mark Teague
With surprises around every corner, follow Jack Creedle and Isadora Shumway on a funny, outrageous adventure as the small, sleepy town of Vern Hollow is invaded by a flying saucer filled with ridiculously inept aliens.

Teen Fiction (Ages 12 & Up)

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
In a small South Carolina town, where it seems like little has changed since the Civil War, sixteen-year-old Ethan is powerfully drawn to Lena, a new classmate with whom he shares a psychic connection and whose family hides a dark secret that may be revealed on her sixteenth birthday.

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn
Sixteen-year-old Princess Talia persuades seventeen-year-old Jack, the modern-day American who kissed her awake after a 300-year sleep, to take her to his Miami home, where she hopes to win his love before the witch who cursed her can spirit her away.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Rick Yancey
Through a series of dangerous and violent misadventures, teenage loser Alfred Kropp rescues King Arthur's legendary sword Excalibur from the forces of evil.