Houston Family Book List

[2]HCPL's Book Bites [3] column appears monthly in Houston Family Magazine [2]. Each column features suggested books for toddlers through teens. Get the new list every month in the magazine, available at all of our branches. Previous columns [4].

Toddlers (Ages 1-3)
[5]	Super Babies On the Move [5] by Salina Yoon After following baby Mia as she sneaks out during naptime to go to the playground, turn the book upside down and watch baby Max skip bathtime to join in a backyard animal chase.
[6]	Flip, Flap, Fly! [6] by Phyllis Root and David Walker Little readers are invited to join these baby animals as they fly, swim, wiggle and slide, all with the help of their mamas. But what these babies like best, of course, is spotting other baby animals.
[7]	When Papa Comes Home Tonight [7] by Eileen Spinelli and David McPhail A young boy describes the small, joyful things that he and Papa do together at the end of the day. Sure to be a bedtime favorite.
Picture Books (Pre K-K)
[8]	Mouse Was Mad [8] by Linda Urban Mouse gets advice from other animals, Hare, Bear, Hedgehog and Bobcat, to figure out how to be mad. In the end, he discovers that his own way is the best way of all.
[9]	Tacky Goes to Camp [9] by Helen Lester Our old friend Tacky the Penguin and his pals head to Camp Whoopihaha, where they hear scary campfire stories and are saved from a real bear by Tacky’s gooey s’mores.
[10]	Green Wilma, Frog in Space [10] by Tedd Arnold Green Wilma the frog is mistaken for an alien child while chasing a fly and taken on board a spaceship.
Early Readers (Grades 1-3)
[11]	Keesha’s Bright Idea [11] by Eleanor May Keesha’s plans to save energy in her household conflict with her brother’s band rehearsals, until they find a way to work together.
[12]	Follow That Map! A First Look of Mapping Skills [12] by Scot Ritchie A fanciful story about a missing dog and cat introduces mapping concepts to children and assists them in mastering this essential skill.
[13]	Young Cam Jansen and the 100th Day of School Mystery [13] by David A. Adler Cam and Eric’s class party has snacks that start with the letter “P.” When the pizza goes missing, Cam’s photographic memory saves the day.
Children's Fiction (Grades 4-6)
[14]	The Magician’s Elephant [14] by Kate DiCamillo Young orphan Peter Augustus Duchene asks a fortune- teller to help him find his lost sister and learns that an elephant will lead him to her, in this tale of magic and miracles by the Newbery Award-winning author.
[15]	The Genie Scheme [15] by Kimberly K. Jones When twelve-year-old Janna, who lives in a small house with her single mother, helps a homeless woman who turns out to be a genie, she discovers how interconnected the world really is.
[16]	Bettina Valentino and the Picasso Club [16] by Niki Daly A controversial new teacher at Bayside Preparatory School introduces the exciting world of art to aspiring artist Bettina Valentino and her fifth grade classmates, encouraging them to see everyday life in a different way.
Teen Fiction (Ages 12 & Up)
[17]	Along for the Ride [17]by Sarah Dessen When Auden impulsively goes to stay with her father, stepmother and new baby sister the summer before she starts college, all the trauma of her parents’ divorce is revived, even as she is making new friends and having new experiences, such as learning to ride a bike.
[18]	The Forest of Hands and Teeth [18] by Carrie Ryan Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where you’ll find the aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.
[19]	Days of Little Texas [19] by R.A. Nelson Sixteen-year-old Ronald Earl King, who has been a charismatic evangelist since he was ten years old, is about to preach at a huge revival meeting on the grounds of an old plantation, where he becomes engaged in an epic battle between good and evil, with help from the ghost of a girl he couldn’t heal.

Houston Family Book List - October 2009