EARWIG AND THE WITCH

Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones. Earwig was left on the orphanage's doorstep when she was a baby. She likes it it there and never wants to leave. Earwig is an unusual little girl who has a way of making everyone do exactly likes she wants at the orphange and her best friend Custard is there, so she makes sure that no one ever picks her for adoption. When a very strange couple comes to the orphange and chooses Earwig out from all the other children she is in for an unpleasant surprise. For the first time in her life Earwig can't control what is happeneing to her because the couple turn out to be a witch and a demon, but they might be in for a surprise, too, when Earwig makes friends with the witch's cat. A funny, magical fun read for grades 3rd and up.

by Judy Griggs

THE COW BUZZED by Andrea Griffing Zimmerman

As an odd virus spreads its way across the barnyard, the farm animals discover they are left with some cumbersome side effects courtesy of the animals that gave them the cold. The cow begins to buzz, the pig begins to moo, and all animals are feeling grumpy! Children of all ages will enjoy reading and acting out this silly tale. Author Andrea Zimmerman also adds in a few cautionary lines of advice about proper sneeze and cough etiquette that fit seamlessly into the story. This book, along with other works by this author, can be found in the Easy section under E ZIM.

YUM! YUM! WHAT FUN! by Mara Bergman

Katie, James, and their little dog Harry are making a delicious mess in their kitchen. Unbeknownst to them, creatures from the zoo across the street are slithering, crawling, and trotting through their window in an effort to take part in the baking fun. What will happen when a hungry bear comes crashing through? Readers of all ages will find out as they take part in this silly, rhyming tale and make friends with all the crazy zoo animals. Yum!Yum! What Fun! can be found in the Easy section under E BER.

AMELIA LOST by Candace Fleming

While nonfiction books aren’t often what kids are drawn to, Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart is an excellent nonfiction choice for anyone curious about the life of Amelia Earhart. The book tells about her childhood, her path to becoming a pilot, and the mysteries surrounding her disappearance. The pages are divided in color to tell different stories: the white pages tell of Amelia’s life, while the gray pages discuss the events of her disappearance and the individual stories of those who believed they had heard her radioing for help. The pages are punctuated with photos of Amelia throughout her life, along with facts about the time period’s technologies, Amelia’s awards, and other information regarding Amelia’s life and its events. To check out this book, you’ll find it in the juvenile nonfiction section under J 629.13 FLE.

A SICK DAY FOR AMOS MCGEE by Philip C. Stead

Readers will journey to the zoo with Amos McGee as he visits with his friends: a shy penguin, an allergy-ridden rhinoceros, an owl afraid of the dark, a race-winning tortoise, and a chess-playing elephant. However, when Amos finds himself sick in bed, it is all of his animal friends who travel across town to help him feel a little better. Philip C. Stead writes this refreshingly simple tale by incorporating classic illustrations and clear text as he shows just how important good friends can be. The woodblock and pencil techniques used by illustrator Erin Stead allow for the full depth of each character’s emotions and eccentricities to shine through. There is no doubt that this sweet story, and Caldecott winner, will become a family classic. A Sick Day for Amos McGee can be found in the Easy section under E STE and is appropriate for families with children ages 3-8.