Butterfly Books Staff Picks

Savvy by Ingrid Law. Penguin. $16.99. 9780803733060.

Mibs Beaumont is about to turn 13 and get the Beaumont "savvy". One brother can cause hurricanes, another create electricity, her mother is perfect. It's only her father that has no savvy, but is in a terrible accident and Mibs believes her savvy will be to save him. A fantastical tale as well as an extraordinary adventure with this quirky family.

Peeled by Joan Bauer. Penguin. $16.99. 9780399234750. Ages 14 and up.

We love Joan Bauer and her new book is as great as her others! She always has strong feisty heroines. Hildy Biddle is a high school reporter eager to stand up for the truth. She begins to investigate a series of strange occurrences at a house rumored to be haunted. The local paper is playing on people's fears with shock headlines and Hildy is determented to discover what's really going on.

Yes We Can! By Sam McBratney. Harper. $16.99. 978-0061215155

Mouse, Rook and Duck are playing together when somehow they begin to make fun of each other. The fun quickly disintegrates into a period of every animal feeling sorry for himself and friends just sitting and feeling grumpy. Roo's mother explains that no one like to be treated that way and the importance of respecting each other. A good basic lesson.

The Wizard by Jack Prelutsky. Greenwillow. $16.99 978-0061240768

Told in Prelutsky's wonderful rhyming form and illustrated by Brandon Dorman, we are invited into the room of a wizard. A careful study of his room illustrates all kinds of wizarding mysteries. Search the room as the wizard repeats spell after spell, changing things that we see every day.

Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest by Matt Haig. Putnam. $16.99. 978-0399247392.

Tell any boy that the forest is forbidden and you know exactly where he's headed. The forest in question is in Norway and adjoins the property of Samuel's aunt. Of course Samuel and his sister go into the woods and find a whole new world full of strange creature. Professor Tanglewood has even written an entire book about these creatures. A curious boy, a curiouser book and deep dark forest add up to a great adventure.

Ain't Nobody a Stranger to Me by Ann Grifalconi. Illustrated by Jerry Pinckney. Jump at the Sun. $16.99.
978-0786818570

Pinckney's watercolors are such a treat that at first it may be difficult to concentrate on the words of this heartwarming tale. A grandfather explains his philosophy of life to his granddaughter. It is simply that no one should be a stranger to you, that with trust and love all men will get along and no one will be a stranger.

The Dangerous Book for Boys by Hal Iggulden. HarperCollins. $24.95. 9780061243585.

An excellent compendium of stuff every boy should know, try, experience and imagine. There is still a place in a boy's life for knots, tree houses and stories of incredible courage. There are stories, instructions, explanations here that we all want our boys to know in life and know we are never too old to feel the excitement of learning something new.

Brendan and Belinda and the Slam Dunk! By Anne Rockwell. HarperCollins. $15.99. 9780060284435.

An important lesson is taught in this new picture book. Being a good sport means playing the game well and having fun. Kids should play sports to have fun and learn sportsmanship and enjoy being with their friends.

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Scary Tales to Read Together. By Mary Ann Hoberman. Little, Brown. $16.99. 9780316017336

This is the fourth in the “two voices” short stories series. Spooky tales of witches, zombies, ghosts and ghouls invite young children to read along with a friend or adult.

Birthday at the Panda Palace by Stephanie Calmenson. Illustrated by Doug Cushman. Harper. $15.99. 9780060526634.

For those who enjoyed Dinner at Panda Palace this story tells what happens next at the palace. Mouse is having a birthday celebration and all the animals are invited. Each brings a gift presented in a rhyme format with the reader guessing the answer before turning the page. A very special gift is given by panda at the end of the story.

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