Recently in Children Category

The Black Rabbit, written and illustrated by Philippa Leathers
 
Rabbit woke to a beautiful sunny day. Everywhere he goes, a giant "Black Rabbit" follows him. The Black Rabbit stays right beside him when he's still, and runs just as fast as he does everywhere Rabbit goes. The watercolor and ink illustrations (combined digitally) are adorable, making this a cute story to share with little ones who will no doubt be shouting out who the "Black Rabbit" really is. 

The Dark, by Lemony Snicket ; illustrated by Jon Klassen
 
Are you afraid of the dark? Lazlo was. But the dark was not afraid of Lazlo. Cleverly written by Lemony Snicket with illustrations by Caldecott winner Jon Klassen (This is Not My Hat). Lazlo and the dark live in the same house, although the dark lives mostly in the basement, in corners, closets, and behind the shower curtain. This witty picture book for children grades K and up tells what happens when Lazlo visits the dark. It turns out that just as we need closets for shoes and shower curtains to keep the bathroom floor dry, we also need the dark.

Picture A Tree, by Barbara Reid
 
"There is more than one way to picture a tree" begins Barbara Reid's new picture book. Share this book with a little one to open their imagination and appreciation of nature. Barbara Reid uses plasticine clay that is shaped and pressed onto illustration board and painted for special effects. The result is pages of illustrations rich with color and texture. Readers discover that by using their imagination, trees can be a tunnel, a pirate ship, a clubhouse, a friend and more. Read aloud to toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners, then take a walk outside to look at the trees. What do you see? 

Children's Fiction

Hero On A Bicycle, by Shirley Hughes
 
Author Shirley Hughes presents a World War II adventure proving that in extraordinary circumstances, people are capable of extraordinary things. Italy, 1944: Florence is occupied by Nazi forces. The Italian resistance movement has not given up hope, though -- and neither have thirteen-year- old Paolo and his sister, Costanza. As their mother is pressured into harboring escaping POW's, Paolo and Costanza each find a part to play in opposing the German forces. Both are desperate to fight the occupation, but what can two siblings -- with only a bicycle to help them -- do against a whole army? Middle-grade fans of history and adventure will be riveted by the action and the vividly evoked tension of World War II. Grade 5 and up. 

Rump: the true story of Rumpelstiltskin , by Liesl Shurtliff
 
This is the story of Rump, who feels his destiny is to discover his full name. What was the name his mother whispered to him as he was born, just before she took her last breath? When Rump turns twelve, he discovers he may have a different destiny before him in this poor village, a destiny that may have something to do with his ability to turn straw....into gold. But with the magic comes a curse, and Rump will go on a quest to find his true name to break free. Grade 4 and up. 

Non-Fiction

Batter Up!: history of baseball, by Dona Herweck Rice
 
From Time for Kids, Batter Up! History of Baseball is a great introduction for second and third graders. Readers will learn (and most definitely share with their grown-ups) interesting facts about one of America's favorite pastimes, presented with very appealing photos and graphics. Includes a timeline of the changing rules, facts about famous players, a brief history of Little League and more. 

Look Up!: bird-watching in your own backyard, by Annette LeBlanc Cate
 
Though not a field guide, this is a fun introduction to bird watching and bird drawing. Cate gives great tips on how to find birds, where to search and includes funny "do" and "don't" tips among her advice including "don't sit on poison ivy". The illustrations are part graphic novel, part sketch book and are very inviting, while the layout of the book provides great information without sounding like a textbook. Look Up! might inspire a new hobby, or a fun afternoon of bird watching for the reader. Grade 3 and up. 

13 Painters Children Should Know , by Florian Heine
 
13 Painters is the new acquisition in the "Children Should Know" series of art books by Prestel Publishing. Featuring thirteen painters from a variety of historical periods and styles, this book demonstrates just how interesting and exciting art can be. Each painter is presented in double-page spreads that feature beautiful reproductions and interesting facts. Greenwich Library also has 13 Optical Illusions Children Should Know and 13 American Artists Children Should Know from the series. Grade 4 and up.

The Peculiar, by Stefan Bachmann
 
After humans win the faery wars in England, a half-human, half-faery child, scorned by both races, finds himself at the center of a web of intrigue and danger when he is stalked by a sinister faery. Reviled by both his human mother and faery father's cultures, changeling Bartholomew Kettle endures a life of isolation and fear before witnessing a kidnapping that enmeshes him in a sinister faery's web of intrigue and danger.

Starry River of the Sky, by Grace Lin
 
The moon is missing from the remote Village of Clear Sky, but only a young boy named Rendi seems to notice. Rendi has run away from home and is now working as a chore boy at the village inn. He can't help but notice the village's peculiar inhabitants and their problems. But one day, a mysterious lady arrives at the Inn with the gift of storytelling, and slowly transforms the villagers and Rendi himself. As she tells more stories and the days pass in the Village of Clear Sky, Rendi begins to realize that perhaps it is his own story that holds the answers to all those questions.

Who Could that be at this Hour, by Lemony Snicket
 
In a fading town, far from anyone he knew or trusted, a young Lemony Snicket began his apprenticeship in an organization nobody knows about. He started by asking questions that shouldn't have been on his mind. Now he has written an account that should not be published, in four volumes that shouldn't be read. This is the first entry in a planned four-part series.

It's Raining Fish and Spiders, by Bill Evans
 
It's Raining Fish and Spiders covers everything, from tornadoes and hurricanes to lightning and the different kinds of snowflakes. The author, an Emmy winning meteorologist, addresses weather myths and facts, from "Can it really rain fish?" to "Will opening a window save my house during a tornado?" The author also tells his most exciting personal weather stories: flying with the Hurricane Hunters, riding pell-mell through Tornado Alley with storm chasers, and visiting the coldest place on Earth. The book includes simple weather experiments that can be performed at home without expensive equipment.

National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry : 200 poems with photographs that squeak, soar, and roar!, edited by J. Patrick Lewis
 
Combines sumptuous photography with lyrical text celebrating the animal world, in a dynamic compilation selected by the U.S. Children's Poet Laureate that includes works by such poets as Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost and Rudyard Kipling.

Picture Books

Bear has a Story to Tell, by Philip Christian Stead
 
Bear found his friend Mouse, but Mouse was busy gathering seeds and didn't have time to listen to a story. Then Bear saw his friend Duck, but Duck was getting ready to fly south. What about his friend Toad? He was busy looking for a warm place to sleep. By the time Bear was through helping his friends get ready for winter, would anyone still be awake to hear his story? This endearing story of friendship and patience is a worthy companion to Philip and Erin Stead's last collaboration, A Sick Day for Amos McGee, winner of the 2011 Caldecott Medal.

Each Kindness, by Jacqueline Woodson
 
Chloe and her friends won't play with the new girl, Maya. Maya is different--she wears hand-me-downs and plays with old-fashioned toys. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her gang, they reject her. Eventually, Maya plays alone, and then stops coming to school altogether. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it could have been if she'd shown a little kindness toward Maya.

It's Duffy Time, by Audrey Wood
 
Loving, playful, and outgoing, Duffy makes it clear why pug dogs are one of America's most popular and beloved pets. In addition, as we follow Duffy through his gentle adventures, a clock is cleverly tucked into each illustration, showing children the time of day-and helping them learn how to tell time! Like most pugs, Duffy loves to sleep, and from the time he wakes for breakfast to the time he prepares for bed, Duffy's day is punctuated by delicious naps: the Before Breakfast Nap; the After Breakfast Nap; the Late Morning Nap; and so on. When his best friend, a playful girl, comes home from school, Duffy helps her with her homework, followed by his Early Evening Nap.

Jangles: a Big Fish Story, by David Shannon
 
A father relates to his son the tale of his encounter--and friendship--with a gigantic trout whose enormous jaw is covered with so many lures and fish hooks that he jangles when he swims, but who has never been caught. From the author of No, David!