The Grizzly Sisters by Cathy Bellows

This is a wonderful picture book for young readers. The Grizzly sisters are very full of life and love adventure! Their cheer is "We're big! We're bad! We're the Grizzly sisters!" Thus they go scampering through the woods scaring many other forest animals. The story takes a sudden turn when the sisters come upon humans!

Both the story and delightful illustrations are created by Cathy Bellows.

There are so many great books in our picture books section. Take some time to browse and select some favorites!

Janitor's Boy by Andrew Clements

Jack is going to a different school this year. The problem is Jack's dad is the school's janitor, a fact that Jack is trying desperately to hide from his friends. Jack is so embarrassed, he begins trying to make his dad's job more difficult.

This story has a little adventure, mystery, and tells a good family story.

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes

This book is set during Hurricane Katrina. 12 year old Lanesha is an orphan who has been taken in by an old lady everyone calls Mama Ya-Ya. She and Mama Ya-Ya share a special bond because they both can see ghosts. This book becomes an adventure story about the survival of Lanesha and a friend during Hurricane Katrina. I listened to this story on CD which made the characters come more alive in my mind.

If you haven't tried listening to a book on CD or one of our Play Aways, you are missing a great way to read a book.

Best Friend Emma by Sally Warner

A new girl, Kry, has moved into Emma's third grade class. Emma is determined to be Kry's best friend. The problem is that Emma already has a best friend, Annie Pat. A second problem is that Cynthia wants Kry as a best friend too.This book is a fun read about friendship. If you like this book, we have several other Emma stories, found in our J Fiction section. (I particularly liked the fact that this book has some pictures scattered throughout the book.)

Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls Stage Fright

Allie's class is going to put on a play about recycling. Allie knows she is the perfect person to play Princess Penelope. Much to Allie's surprise, when her teacher announces the cast, Allie is given the role of the evil queen.

Sahara Special by Esme Raji Codell

Sahara is a fifth grader who has struggled in school. Her mother decides Sahara will not be placed in a "special class" this year. Sahara has a secret ambition to become a writer. With the encouragement of her teacher and some classmates, this is going to be Sahara's year to blossom.

Doing Time Online by Jan Siebold

After joining in a neighborhood practical joke on an older neighbor lady, Mitch is given a punishment that his Dad hopes Mitch will learn a lesson from. Mitch will spend one month at the police department chatting online with an elderly resident from a nursing home. Mitch wonders what he and an old lady could possibly have to talk about for 30 minutes once a week for a month. The outcome is positive for both Mitch and his new elderly friend.