Taste of 2011- from Adult Services

As you can imagine, we read a lot. The following are just a few of the books we've read and really enjoyed in the last year and highly recommend for reading consumption.

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
A dark and quiet book with lots to talk about in a discussion.










Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
Uplifting immigrant story filled with the trials of being a poor immigrant, school









The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
Devoured this book. It's the first book in what will be a trilogy and is full of action, suspense, love and the powerful Sidhe or “faeries”.












Outliers: the Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
The factors that contribute to certain people's success in life. Right place, right time and hard work. Very interesting stories including the Beatles and Bill Gates. Also if you haven't anything else by Gladwell you should definitely check out The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference and Blink.











Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning
The finale of this beloved series. If you haven't read the series DO NOT start with this one. Go back and enjoy. The first one is Darkfever.












Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Loved this Young Adult novel. It's the classic story about a guy from the wrong side of town and the rich girl from the right side of town who, despite all obstacles against them, fall in love. Think West Side Story, Grease, Valley Girl etc.

New Arrivals in the Kid's Dept

We're always getting in new books at North Shelby. Stop by the library and check out some of the new arrivals in the Kid’s Dept. We've got something for everyone!

1^st and 10: Top 10 Lists of Everything in Football by Sports Illustrated Kids

Who was the greatest passer in NFL history? Who engineered the greatest team comeback? Who benefited from the strangest plays? These and other categories pop up in a Sports Illustrated Kids edition of Top 10 lists that is guaranteed to perk your interest and astonish your friends.

Wilma Tenderfoot and the Case of the Frozen Hearts by Emma Kennedy

Wilma Tenderfoot, a small but determined ten-year-old orphan, dreams of becoming a world-famous detective so she can find out who her parents are. She is very good at finding clues and making deductions, especially with the help of her dog, Pickle.

Luckily, Wilma discovers that her new neighbor is the legendary detective Theodore P. Goodman, and he has a new case. The priceless Katzin Stone has been stolen, and anyone with a connection to the stone seems to end up with a frozen heart (gasp!). Wilma’s sure she can solve the mystery - as soon as Theodore makes her his apprentice…and Pickle stops eating all the clues.

With wicked humor, dastardly villains, red herrings, and a setting that would make Sherlock Holmes proud, this adventure is funny, feisty, cheeky, and charming – just like Wilma.

For readers who enjoy Wimpy Kid and Big Nate:

Wonkenstein:the Creature from My Closet by Obert Skye

Twelve-year-old underachiever Rob has better things to do than read. His parents give him lots of books but most of them just end up in the messy pile of junk he keeps locked in his closet that once doubled as a makeshift science laboratory. One day, Rob hears weird sounds coming from behind his closet door and discovers a funny little creature that seems to be a cross between two characters from books he’s tried to ignore. He names him Wonkenstein.

Keeping track of “Wonk” is hard work. But with help from friends and a little off-the-wall magic, Rob and Wonkenstein’s crazy adventures set the stage for great laughs . . . and Rob might even read some good books along the way.

The latest book in the 39 Clues series!

Cahills vs. Vespers #2: A King’s Ransom by Jude Watson

Amy and Dan are in a race for their lives . . . and the enemy may be even closer than they think. When seven members of their family were kidnapped by a sinister organization known as the Vespers, thirteen-year-old Dan Cahill and his older sister, Amy, vowed they'd stop at nothing to bring the hostages home. But then the ransom comes in and the Vespers demand the impossible. Amy and Dan have just days to track down and steal an ancient map. The only catch? No one has seen the map for half a century.

Now Amy and Dan are on a desperate search that will lead them to the Nazis, spies, a mad king and some of history's dirtiest secrets. It's the race of their lives . . . and one misstep will mean certain death for the hostages.

Alphabet Book Collection (see what I did there?)

The beginning of a new year is a great time to get back to basics. In that spirit, here are a few of the Children’s Department’s favorite alphabet books including cherished classics and brand new releases.

Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray: When an apple pie arrives piping hot on the kitchen table, a little pup does everything from A to Z to get his paws on it. He Ogles it. He Pines for it. But will his ABC antics land him a slice? Apple Pie ABC is a delicious twist on traditional verse brought to life by Alison Murray’s simple words and whimsical illustrations. Sure to delight readers of all ages, it’s a book to savor again and again.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault, Lois Ehlert: “A told B and B told C, I’ll meet you at the top of the coconut tree.” In this lively alphabet rhyme, all the letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh, no – Chicka Chicka Boom! Boom! Now a modern classic, this rhythmic alphabet chant rolls along on waves of fun. Lois Ehlert’s rainbow of bright, bold, cheerful colors makes the merry parade of letters unforgettable.

Dr. Seuss’s ABC by Dr. Seuss: With Dr. Seuss as your guide, learning the alphabet is as easy as A, B, C. An alphabet book with zany drawings and nonsensical verse provides an entertaining way for small children to learn the letters and their sounds.

Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel: The riotous story of a cat gone berserk -- four times over an in alphabetical order each time. Kitty is not happy when she's told that her favorite foods are all gone and all that's left are Asparagus, Beets, Cauliflower, Dill...and 22 other equally unappealing vegetables. So she: Ate my homework, Bit grandma, Clawed the curtains, Damaged the dishes, and so on, through Z. Only when tastier things arrive (An Assortment of Anchovies, Buffalo Burritos, Chicken Cheesecake...) does she Apologize to Grandma.

Alpha Oops: The Day Z Went First by Alethea Kontis: Z is tired of always having to be last when the alphabet family lines up. He is demanding fair and equal treatment! The letters (more or less) agree to go backwards, but it's not long before P has some ideas of his own. And so does H, for that matter. In fact, it seems as if almost every letter has a different opinion about how the alphabet should be arranged. It's chaos! It's pandemonium! And it's definitely not as easy as A-B-C! Filled with visually humorous details, Bob Kolar's colorful illustrations are the perfect foil for Alethea Kontis's snappy story about the comic confusion that comes when the letters of the alphabet, like a class of unruly children, step out of order and show that each one has a mind of its own.

Other titles to check out include:

• Alligators All Around by Maurice Sendak
• Click Clack, Quackity-Quack: An Alphabetical Adventure by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin  
• Alphabet Under Construction by Denise Fleming
• Alphabet City by Stephen T. Johnson
• E-mergency! by Tom Lichtenheld
• LMNO Peas by Keith Baker
• Z was Zapped: A Play in Twenty-Six Acts by Chris Van Allsburg
• Animalia by Graeme Base
• Alphabatics by Suse MacDonald