<a href="http://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/2013-summer-newsletter"><img src="http://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/files/santacruz/2013SummerNewsletterCov... align="right" width="100" height="129" hspace="5"></a>These recommendations were published in our <a href="http://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/2013-summer-newsletter">2013 Summer Newsletter</a>. <br><br> These pages are just a sampling of this year’s many wonderful new books. Visit our children’s and young adults’ sections and we will help you choose just the right book.
Little mouse-girl Penny has a song in her heart. Well, it’s not just in her heart, because she likes to belt it out. Henkes understands the way families make memories in his first easy reader, an adorable opener to the Penny series. —Booklist. Grades K–2.
This memorable second easy reader about mouse Penny explores the universal childhood experience of naming things, with Penny pondering what to call the new doll Gram has sent her. Henkes skillfully develops his
characters and story using three brief chapters,
accessible language, intentional repetition, subtle clues, and expressive illustrations to great effect. —Horn Book. Grades K–2.
Cousins Lulu and Mellie are best friends. In this modern-day, seaside adventure, the girls are vacationing with Lulu’s parents and their beloved old dog, Sam. Having rented a cottage from a persnickety owner, the family hopes for the perfect week full of reading, kite-building, and marathon-training. However, a wayward stray bounds into their lives and turns their plans upside down (along with a few trash cans along the way). McKay hits the nail on the head in this beginning chapter book. Children will delight in the story of how this thieving menace turns into a brave hero and loyal friend, wiggling its way into the hearts of the characters and readers alike. This book is just right for youngsters ready for chapters, with cheerful black-and-white illustrations on almost every other page. Younger children will also enjoy this story as a read-aloud. The plot is universal and the vocabulary hints of a European setting. Family members sticking together to overcome obstacles is the prevalent theme and the happy ending is hoped for, if not expected. This title should be a staple in any early-chapter-book
collection. —School Library Journal. Grades 1–3.
Marlee only speaks to a tiny handful of people. She’s terrified of giving a presentation in class, of standing up to her bullying best friend, and of talking to strangers. But she’s also terrified of being voiceless in a family pulling itself apart. When a new girl moves to town, Marlee takes a chance and speaks to her. What unfolds is a friendship that challenges the social fabric of the town of Little Rock in the year 1958, just after the Little Rock Nine have desegregated the schools. Against this tumultuous backdrop, Marlee discovers that finding her voice will mean speaking up about what she knows is right. Grades 5–8.“This is my absolute favorite book of the year.” —Eileen