The Public Library of Brookline

Just In

Fiction

• Janitors by Whitesides.  This is a fast-paced middle-grade fantasy with great characters.  In this first book, Spencer is just starting 6th grade when he discovers a secret that will change his life forever.  He and the school janitors, along with the help of his friend Daisy, go on a mission to save his school, childrens’ education and the world!
• The Lions of Little Rock by Levine.  Everything’s changing for Marlee, her brother’s gone off to college, she has her own room, AND she’s starting sixth grade.  A new friend helps her with everything, including her fear of speaking.  But then Liz leaves the school without even a goodbye to Marlee and things change again.  Set in 1958 Little Rock, what starts as a story about friendship becomes a fight for desegregation in the deep south.
• Wilma Tenderfoot: The Case of the Putrid Poison by Kennedy.  Irrepressible sleuth Wilma is back again for another adventure.  Things worked out well for Wilma at the end of her first story, but a new case has come up and with this new case comes new danger.  First her hero, Theodore Goodman, disappears then she becomes the poisoner’s next target!  Fast-paced and lighthearted, this mystery is a pleasure to read.
• The Mad Mask by Lyga.  The “Azure Avenger” is back!  Things haven’t been going well for Kyle since Mighty Mike became the town darling, and though Kyle knows his secret he can’t risk exposing Mighty Mike without exposing himself.  One night a new masked hero shows up asking for help in building the robot of all robots.  In exchange for Kyle’s help the Mad Mask promises to use the robot to defeat Mighty Mike once and for all.  Another smart adventure with my new favorite anti-hero narrator!
 

Picture Books

• A Tale of Two Mommies by Oelschlager.  A sweet little story featuring a little boy answering questions about his life with two mommies.  A multi-cultural cast and a sweet premise makes this a great picture book to read for the story alone, but it’s also a discussion starter if you want one.
• The Monster Returns by McCarty.  Jeremy’s monster is bored and wants to come back to stay, but Jeremy enlists the help of his friends for a perfect solution to his monster’s problem.  A simple picture book all about friends and friendship.  Beautifully drawn.
• Betty Bunny Wants Everything by Kaplan.  Betty Bunny’s mother takes her and her siblings to a toy store where each is allowed to pick out one item, but Betty refuses to choose just one and throws a tantrum when she learns that the alternative is to get nothing!  A great story about getting what you want…sort of…
• Ollie the Purple Elephant by Krosoczka.  Ollie the elephant is delighted to move into the McLaughlin family’s New York City apartment, but their cat, Ginger, is not pleased and comes up with a plan to send Ollie away to the circus.  With simple illustrations and witty language everyone, young and old, will love this story about friendship and acceptance.