Astronaut Handbook, Meghan McCarthy. Random House, $16.99. Fun facts about what you need to know to blast off into space.
Babar Comes To America, Laurent de Brunhoff. Abrams, $17.95. Originally published in 1965, this is a pleasingly retro look at the landmarks of the USA, as Babar’s family sightsees from the skyscrapers of NYC to the sequoias of Yosemite.
Bats At The Library, Brian Lies. Houghton, $16. Crisp rhyming text, about a group of bats who descend on the library one autumn evening, serves as backdrop for some clever laugh-out-loud illustrations.
A Cold Winter’s Good Knight, Shelley Thomas. Penguin, $15.99. Three little dragons create havoc at the Castle Ball, until the Good Knight steps in.
I Spy With My Little Eye Hockey, David Milne & Matt Napier. Sleeping Bear, $13.95. Sports enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy spotting the many differences in double page hockey montages.
Lazy Little Loafers, Susan Orlean. Abrams, $16.95. A funny tongue in cheek expose on the shocking truth about babies - as told by a mildly outraged older sibling!
The Little Yellow Leaf, Carin Berger, Harper, $16.99. Finding a friend gives an autumn leaf the courage to take a leap and let go into the unknown of winter.
Mr. Mac’s Bad Rabbits, Simon Puttock. Boxer Books, $14.95. How will the bad rabbits ever learn to behave unless Mr. Mac takes control?
Old Bear, Kevin Henkes. Harper, $17.99. As bear hibernates, his rainbow colored dreams revisit the seasons. |
The Pet Dragon, Christoph Niemann. Harper, $16.99. A journey to find a dragon cleverly incorporates the iconographic shapes of Chinese characters into the pictures of the objects they represent.
Ping Pong Pig, Caroline Church. Holiday House, $16.95. Pig is too busy trying to fly to help out around the barnyard.
Raining Cats And Dogs, Will Moses. Penguin, $17.99. Moses’ folk art style, paired with examples and explanations of idioms such as “horsing around” or “spill the beans”.
Seabiscuit The Wonder Horse, Meghan McCarthy. Simon & Schuster, $15.99. The true story of an unlikely racing horse that thrilled the country during the Depression.
10 Things I Can Do To Help My World, Melanie Walsh. Candlewick, $15.99. A lift the flap exploration of easy things to do (reuse bags) and not to do (leave the tap water running), sure to inspire young environmentalists.
That Book Woman, Heather Henson. Simon & Schuster, $16.99. David Small’s watercolors bring to life the long ago era of the Pack Horse Librarians – who delivered a lifeline to the world along with books, in 1930’s Appalachia.
Wabi Sabi, Mark Reibstein. Little Brown, $16.99. A lushly produced picture book, which can be enjoyed both for its art (elaborate textured natural material collages) and story of a Japanese cat in search of the meaning of his name. Carefully chosen haiku clarify the cat’s experiences.
Yoon And The Jade Bracelet, Helen Recorvits. FSG, $16.95. Kindhearted Yoon learns how to stand up for herself when tricked by a classmate in this true to life story of friendship dynamics |
African Critters, Robert Haas. Nat. Geog, $17.95. A wildlife photographer’s firsthand anecdotes of the excitement of up close work with large animals.
America: The Making Of A Nation, Charlie Samuels. LB, $19.99. American symbols and songs, in a browsing format with flaps and a pullout Declaration of Independence.
Cool Stuff Exploded, DK, $24.99. Get inside modern technology and find out how gadgets big (helicopters) and small (cellphones) work.
Evolving Planet, Erica Kelly & Richard Kissel. Abrams, $19.95. Four billion years of life on Earth – a clearly organized trip through time.
One Hen, Katie Milway. Kids Can, $18.95. The small loan one boy in Ghana receives is repaid time and again and results in a thriving business. Child friendly info on how microfinance can improve the world, one community at a time, is appended.
Our White House, Candlewick, $29.99. Two hundred years of American history told through a mixture of stories or real letters and speeches, with illustrations and text by 100 well-known children's authors and artists.
Planting The Trees Of Kenya, Claire Nivola. FSG, $16.95. The story of the life of Wangari Maathai,winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. Delicate watercolors and a direct text make this inspiring story of the difference an individual can make "tree by tree, person by person" accessible even to young listeners. |
Predators, Lucio & Meera Santoro. S&S, $27.99 A 3-D pop-up book in which the world’s dangerous animals seem to come right at you.
The Raucous Royals, Carlyn Beccia. HM $17. Did King Richard III murder his nephews? Did Marie Antoinette say ‘Let them eat cake?’ Be a history detective and find the truth behind rumors and legends.
Sea Queens, Jane Yolen. Charlesbridge, $18.95. From ancient Persia to 19th century China; the adventures of real women pirates around the world.
Swords, Ben Boos. Candlewick. $24.99. An artistic appreciation of the decorative aspects of weapons used by Vikings, knights, samurai and other warriors through time.
Thirty Days Has September, Chris Stevens. Scholastic, $9.99. Cool ways to remember rules for punctuation and spelling, dates in history, math formulas and more.
The Way We Work, David Macaulay. HM, $35. A fantastic detailed look at how the human body works. |
Allie Finkle’s Rules For Girls: The New Girl, Meg Cabot. Scholastic, $15.99. A new school, a new kitten, and a mean classmate – Allie has her hands full!
A Bear Called Paddington, Michael Bond. Houghton, $20. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of this famous bear with this edition including new color plates by the original illustrator Peggy Fortnum.
If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late, Pseudonymous Bosch. LB, $16.99. Readers will know they are in for fun when they see the ‘Binding Contract’ the author wants them to sign before turning the page for more of Cass & Max’s escapades with secret societies and a Museum of Magic.
The Invasion Of Sandy Bay, Anita Sanchez. Calkins, $16.95. Told through the eyes of 12 year old Lemuel, a fictional account of an event in local history. Did you know a British warship and crew tangled with the people and fishing fleet of Rockport during the War of 1812?
Just Grace Walks The Dog, Charisse Harper. Houghton, $15. Grace, with her uniquely entertaining take on the world, tells us how she tried to convince her parents that she is responsible enough to own a dog. |
The Last Cowboys, Harry Horse. Peachtree, $12.95. Roo the dog and Grandfather hitchhike through the Wild West in search of Roo’s relative, a former canine movie star.
The Leanin’ Dog, K.A. Nuzum. Harper, $15.99. A stray dog appears at a lonesome mountain cabin, and helps Dessa find joy again the first Christmas after her mother dies.
Little Leap Forward, Gue Yue. Barefoot, $16.99. The author’s childhood adventures in Beijing in the 1960’s. Lyrically written, and with lovely art by Clare Farrow, a nice choice as a read aloud.
Ottoline And The Yellow Cat, Chris Riddell. Harper, $10.99. Ottoline loves to solve tricky problems and work out clever plans, so she's the perfect person to uncover the mystery behind a rash of missing lapdogs.
The Runaway Dolls, Ann Martin & Laura Godwin. Hyperion, $16.99. Old-fashioned Annabelle Doll and plastic Tiffany Funcraft return in the long awaited addition to the wildly popular Doll People series.
Snake And Lizard, Joy Cowley. Kane Miller, $14.95. Short chapter adventures of two friends with quirky personalities: the Frog and Toad of the desert world.
Theodosia And The Staff Of Osiris, R.L. LaFevers. HM, $16. Ancient mummies are on the move in London museums. Can Theo sneak away from her new governess and cast the right spells to end the mayhem? |
Chains, Laurie Anderson. S&S, $16.99. A fascinating look at the early days of the Revolutionary War in colonial New York City, through the eyes of Isabel, a young slave owned by a Loyalist family, who wonders why liberty and freedom are only for white Patriots.
The Dragonfly Pool, Eva Ibbotson. Penguin, $17.99. On a trip to Europe in the months before WW II, Tally and her British schoolmates befriend Karil, the heir to a small kingdom, in this tale of courageous friendship and loyalty overcoming all odds.
Every Soul A Star, Wendy Maas. LB, $16.99. A total eclipse of the sun brings together three teens, who under normal circumstances would never have become friends.
Found, Margaret Haddix. S&S, $15.99. When they receive notes saying “You are one of the missing” Jonah and his friend are plunged into a 13 year old unsolved mystery involving an airplane which appeared out of nowhere.
Graceling, Kristin Cashore. Harcourt, $17. Cashore’s fantasy kingdom and dynamic heroine have a fresh feel from start to finish. A romance developed with wit and respect, a mystery which uncovers an evil at the heart of a kingdom, and a page turning journey for survival; all around, a fabulous novel for older teens.
The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman. Harper, $17.99. This unique book, eerie and loving by turns, tells the story of an orphaned boy raised by ghosts and a mysterious guardian. Bod has been safe and happy in his graveyard community until he begins to long for human companionship.
FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Christmas Cookies, Amy Rosenthal & Jane Dyer. Harper, $12.99. The team behind the bestselling “Cookies” returns with child-friendly bite size holiday lessons on topics from reciprocate to tradition.
Hanukkah Haiku, Harriet Ziefert. Blue Apple, $16.95. This attractively designed book has pages cut to emphasize the addition of each candle to a menorah.
Ten Little Christmas Presents, Jean Marzollo. Scholastic, $9.99. Forest animals receive specially wrapped gifts in this little charmer which includes a ‘memory game’ at the end.
Urso Brunov And The White Emperor, Brian Jacques. Penguin, $17.99. A tiny brown bear guides two lost polar bears back to their home at the top of the world.
Winter Trees, Carole Gerber. Charlesbridge, $15.95. A walk through snowy woods is a perfect time to identify 7 common trees by their shapes.
ONE-STOP BOOK SHOPPING
Banbury Cross has a small but interesting selection of adult books, many recommended by our well-read customers. And of course we can order any ‘grown-up’ books you need, as well as any children’s titles.
Do you have a relative or friend who would like to give your child a book? We accept phone orders for gift certificates or books, and will charge the order to a Visa or Mastercard account. |
House Of Many Ways, Diana Wynne Jones, Harper, $17.99. Keeping an eye on a wizard’s house is no easy task, as Charmain and her Uncle’s apprentice discover. Seems the single interior door can open to all sorts of places, and times.
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins. Scholastic, $17.99. A thrilling survival story, set in a harsh future where the public is kept subdued by forcing each of 12 districts to send two teens to participate in an elaborate televised competition – from which only one winner is allowed to come out alive.
The Juvie Three, Gordon Korman. Hyperion, $15.99. Fans of “Monster” by Myers or Sachar’s “Holes” will enjoy this fast paced story of 3 boys given a last chance to turn their lives around in an experimental halfway house in NYC.
My One Hundred Adventures, Polly Horvath. RH. $16.99. Life seems full of exciting possibilities the summer Jane is 12.
Nation, Terry Pratchett. Harper, $16.99. A tidal wave in the Great Pelagic Ocean brings islander Mau and shipwreck survivor Daphne together, in a fantasy world with many similarities to ours.
The Other Side Of The Island, Allegra Goodman. Penguin, $16.99. Fans of Pfeffer’s “Life As We Knew It” or Westerfeld’s “Uglies” will be captivated by this alternate vision of the Earth after a cataclysmic natural disaster. Honor slowly becomes aware of the price of non-conformity in an orderly society ruled by the all powerful Corporation.
FAIRY TALES,
COLLECTIONS & LEGENDS
Arthur Of Albion, John Matthews. Barefoot, $24.99. Gold and silver toned illustrations and background info on magical beasts, knights and the Grail add detail to retellings of 10 King Arthur legends.
Hansel And Gretel. Cynthia Rylant. Hyperion, $16.99. Rylant’s restrained text emphasizes the courage and cleverness it took for the brother and sister to triumph. The soft palette of the pictures also makes this a good read aloud choice for younger children.
The Hinky Pink, Megan McDonald. S&S, $16.99. In old Italy a young seamstress must soothe a restless sprite before she can finish sewing a gown for a princess.
The Kingfisher Book Of Classic Animal Stories, chosen by Sally Grindley. $19.95. From Aesop’s Fables and Brer Fox to Dick King-Smith; 16 favorite animal stories in an illustrated format appealing for bedtime reading.
Singing To The Sun, Vivian French. Kane Miller, $16.95 A surprise ending is in store for this Noble’s son, who travels with his wise court jester in search of a bride.
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