When Mermaids Sleep by: Ann Bonwill (9780375870613)
The Unnaturalists by: Tiffany Trent (9781442422070)
Sometimes being a prince is not all it's cracked up to be. Sure, you might live a life of luxury, but, indeed, everyone has their own trials and tribulations! The princesses each have their own particular tale of bravery and derring-do, but alas, all of the princes are mere side-notes, lumped under the single name of "charming." Imagine being the subject of scurrilous and humiliating tales bruited about by impertinent and mocking minstrels! These are the adventures of a motley crew of more (or less) charming princes who set out to prove themselves as heroes, once and for all! Hilarious and swashbuckling! 
What do you do now that you've read every single Sarah Dessen book that ever was?
In honor of the 75th anniversary of the Caldecott Medal, The Little 
Alexis: Anyone who knows Alexis knows that she has a spunky, outgoing personality. Her passion for books is evident. I wasn't the least bit surprised when she chose Where the Wild Things Are by: Maurice Sendak as one of her favorite Caldecott winners. While the movie may have given Where the Wild Things Are a popularity boost, it doesn't compare to sitting down and reading about Max's adventures.
Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem by Maya Angelou is my favourite new Christmas book this year as well as my gift of choice! I have loved Maya Angelou and her writing since I first read I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings in middle school. My respect & admiration for her has only increased over the years so I was thrilled when I saw that she was coming out with a kid's book. The illustrators, Steve Johnson, & Lou Fancher, have created such beautiful textured images to match her glorious, resonant words. This is an absolutely gorgeous book with a message of hope & community that reaches across boundaries to our common humanity. The book also comes with a CD of Maya Angelou reading the poem. The best audience for the book would be 5 & up to adult. Let's all "speak the word aloud. Peace."
Looking for a spooky read? You'll find it in the Graveyard. Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book is a deliciously chilling, yet also quirky story. Nobody Owens escaped death by a hair's breadth as a baby, saved by the denizens of the nearby graveyard. He is raised by kindly if unconventional guardians who teach him the ways of their world. The graveyard has its own dangers & pitfalls that Nobody needs to learn to navigate as he grows older. His greatest peril, however, comes from the mysterious and deadly man Jack who never quite gave up the hope that he would be able to find and deal with Nobody. Neil Gaiman, (who also wrote Coraline, Stardust, & The Anansi Boys-to name a few of my favorites) is such an incredible storyteller. His worlds are an enthralling mixture of suspense, humor, and adventure that are filled with engaging characters. This particular adventure of Nobody Owens is good for 10 & up.
Erin's pick is It's Not About the Hair by Debra Jarvis (Sasquatch Books, $16.95), which just came out in paperback this fall. Jarvis works as a chaplain in the general oncology department of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. The book tells of her experience of going through treatment for breast cancer while helping others undergoing similar experiences. Erin's Staff Recommendation card for the book in the store reads: "I read this book and passed it along to my mother, who read the first 50 pages and promptly bought 2 more copies for friends before finishing it herself. It's warm and honest, funny and heartbreaking. I'd recommend this book to anyone dealing with, affected by, or interested in a survivor's experience with breast cancer."
Rachel's favorite is Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acocella Marchetto (Random House, $22.00). It's a graphic memoir, told through cartoons, about battling breast cancer while living in New York City. Rachel's Staff Recommendation card reads, "This is a wonderful memoir, filled with biting humor and poignancy, of cartoonist Marisa Marchetto's battle with breast cancer in graphic novel form. I really loved it!" You can browse Marchetto's website by clicking here.
The Lemonade Club by Patricia Polacco (Penguin-Putnam, $16.99) is, as Kathleen writes, is "a look at how cancer affects a classroom--both students and teacher--as only Patricia Polacco can tell, with grace, sensitivity, and humor." When both a student and the teacher are diagnosed with cancer, their classroom comes together to support them. Kathleen continues: "Once again, Polacco delves into her rich history to share with us a beautiful, life-affirming tale--be sure to have Kleenex on hand!"
Hair for Mama by Kelly Tinkham (Penguin-Putnam, $16.99) is described by Rachel as being "simply lovely!". She goes on to say that "Marcus' mom doesn't want to be in the family photograph this year because she has lost her hair to chemo. Marcus' solution doesn't come out the way he thinks bus is the perfect answer!" It's a touching story about a child struggling to understand his mother's illness and to find a way to express his love.
In a shocking turn of events, Frankenstein has been found to have taken the cake! (Yes, all you Mary Shelley fans out there, I know it should really be Frankenstein's Monster-Frankenstein was the name of the doctor, not the creature. But Frankenstein's Monster just doesn't scan as well. What can you do?) In any case, Frankenstein has been caught in flagrante delicto with icing all over his hands on the cover of Frankenstein Takes the Cake by Adam Rex . Frankenstein first become known to the public eye in Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich also by Adam Rex. Alas, it would seem that Frankenstein was not content to merely create sandwiches. It is necessary for all well informed citizens to read this account in order to understand this scandalous episode and the motivations behind it. Would be readers are warned that they might be at risk of injuries resulting from falling out of their chairs laughing. Indeed, an excess of hilarity has been witnessed whenever someone has read the account. There has been much favorable comment on the variety of styles of the hilarious illustrations. The natural audience for this epic would be 5-10 year olds with wacky, Pythonesque senses of humor, although fans of any age of monster movies run a close second!
