Linda’s Story Time Staff Picks

Dormia by Jake Halpern and  Peter Kujawinski

Imagine if you could only function at full efficiency while asleep. Normal sleepwalkers wake to find themselves wandering down the street or sitting in the living room. But twelve year old Alfonso Perplexon tends to wake up at the top of a huge pine tree communing with hawks! He’s descended from a wholeculture that functions best in their sleep (unfortunately he knows nothing about it). War, work, and study are all best accomplished while sleeping. Now that culture is threatened with extinction and he and his companions must get from to World’s End Minnesota to the heart of the Ural Mountains and save Dormia. This is just the beginning of wonderful fantasy tale.

Billy Bones: The Road to Nevermore by Christopher Lincoln

Available August 2009 - no cover pic available yet.

The second book in the Billy Bones series. A nice follow-up to Tales from the Secrets Closet. As in the 1st book the skeletons in the closet are up against the evil after-death bureaucracy and Billy is on the hot seat. These are nice novels for kids looking for what to read after 2nd and 3rd grade chapter books. Nice characters, fun adventures.

Max by James Patterson

This is the 2nd book of  The Protectors series and anothe fine Maximum ride novel. Max and the flock are on the run again (ain’t it always the case). Trying to save the planet while up against huge international corporations is no easy task, not even for the Flock. If the flock lives, so does the planet. An exciting adventure with a strong save the palnet theme.

Cats, Cats, Cats! by Leslea Newman

Mrs. Browwn has piles and piles of cats. She loves to wear hats with them, loves to chat with them…. she just adores them. But when she goes upstairs to bed, will their wild behavior get them in trouble? Bright watercolor illustrations by Erika Oller enhance the cats fluffiness and their expressive faces. The rhyming makes it an excellent read-aloud.

Tea for Ruby by Sarah Ferguson the Duchess of York

Clumsy disevelled Ruby is invited to have tea with The Queen. But she’ll have to learn her manners first! (I’m sure the duchess of York writes from personal experience!) Charmingly illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser of  Fancy Nancy fame.

Bella and Bean by Rebecca Kai Dotlich

Bella wants to write poems but her friend Bean wants her toes admired and wants to take a walk. A sweet, funny story about mismatched friends and the creative spirit.

Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

A very expressive llama is tucked into bed, but when Mama goes downstairs, baby llama starts to fuss and then to panic when Mama doesn’t respond quickly enough to her calling. Experience the llama drama as it builds to a crescendo! Children and thei mothers can identify with this one!

The Odd Egg by Emily Gravett

Duck can’t lay an egg, but when she finds a green speckled one, the other birds express nothing but ridicule. Then the egg hatches, and, well, they’re sorry they laughed! Cleverly designed pages make for a wonderful visual joke!

Tillie Lays an Egg by Terry Golson

An absurdly amusing photographic chronicle of a chicken who lays eggs in a different place every day. Join Tillie’s farmers in  the hunt for her eggs.

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed  by  Mo Willems

Wilbur is different from the other rats - he wears clothes! After much haranguing from his peers, the decision is made to consult Grand-pah, the oldest and wisest mole rat for a ruling. Will Wilbur’s originality be allowed? Another hot story from the creator of the Pigeon, Knufflebunny, and Elephant and Piggie books.