Children’s books to keep kids reading

Maybe spring is really on its way. But that doesn’t mean you should stop reading. Here are a handful of children’s books to keep your kids reading even when the weather’s nice.
Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell received the 2007 Minnesota Book Award for Children’s Literature. Emmy discovers her family is being drugged with rat potions by her horrid nanny and seeks with her animals friends to foil the dastardly plot. This one might take a bit of work to get a kid to read. The cover art isn’t very appealing but the story is a lot of fun.
Sam is dreading turning 11 and he doesn’t know why. Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff is a fascinating story about Sam and his past. Can he figure out what happened and why he is so scared about the number 11? Who hasn’t wanted a sibling to just go away? Norma Fox Mazer has written a delightful story about growing up and finding out siblings aren’t all bad in Ten Ways to Make My Sister Disappear. Sprig is 10 and her older sister, Dakota, already has or has done everything she wants. And if Sprig even thinks about complaining Dakota just grins at her and calls her a baby. This is a great look at sibling rivalry and sibling support when the chips are down.
The library is always on the look out for good children’s mysteries and here are a few titles that are part of larger series. The Possum Always Rings Twice by Bruce Hale is “From the Tattered Casebook of Chet Gecko, Private Eye.” Chet is accompanied by Natalie Attired as they try to discover who is sending threatening notes to Viola Fuss, candidate for student council president. “Mysteries in Our National Parks” by Gloria Skursynski and Alane Ferguson include such settings as Yellowstone, Mesa Verde and the Grand Canyon. Try Black Bear set in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Or perhaps you’d prefer to travel through time in the “Crime Through Time” series by Bill Doyle. Travel back to 1925 in Nabbed and read along in the journal of G. Codd Fitzmorgan to follow the clues and solve the crime.
And while you are traveling through time you might want to check out the “Young Founders” series by Elizabeth Massie. 1863: A House Divided stars a brother and sister separated by war as a nation fights for its survival.
And finally we have found a new paperback series for horse fans. Lady’s Big Surprise is the first book in the Lucky Foot Stable series by JoAnn S. Dawson. Star of Wonder is the second book. Mary and Jody are more than best friends and they love caring for their ponies more than anything else.
The junior room is open Tuesday evenings until 8 p.m. to allow families time to come to the library after dinner. = The junior room is also open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through May 17th.