Emily’s Picks - September 2010
J Fiction: The Books of Elsewhere: Book 1, The Shadows by Jacqueline West. For ages 9 - 12. This first book in a promising-looking new series (and first novel for the author) sets the stage for an intriguing combination of time travel and magic centered around the character of Olive Dunwoody, the 11-year-old daughter of two mathematicians who have just moved into an old, creepy Victorian house. Olive, who is left on her own a lot, quickly discovers that an old pair of spectacles that she finds allows her to enter into the worlds contained in the many paintings hung throughout the house. The suspenseful and fast-moving plot will have readers clamoring for Book 2!
J Picture Book: The Village Garage by G. Brian Karas. For ages 4 - 7. This delightful look at a small-town garage and the tasks at hand through the seasons has just the right amount of action, humor and simplicity to capture the imagination and attention of this age group. A young boy and his dog observe the action throughout. One can almost hear the machinery humming…
J Non-fiction: Super Stars: The Biggest, Hottest, Bright
est, Most Explosive Stars in the Milky Way (Plus Black Holes, Brown Dwarfs, Constellations, and More!)by David G. Aguilar. For ages 7 - 11. The pictures alone make this book worth browsing, but there is far more here. Fascinating information for stargazers is presented in an upbeat, punchy writing style, with lots of sidebars and interesting factoids along the way. Includes sky charts, a glossary, further resources and a class stars-to-scale project. A great companion to Aguilar’s 11 Planets.