New Board Books
101 Dinosaurs : and other prehistoric reptiles by April Jones
Kids will learn about 101 dinosaurs and reptiles in this colorful romp through prehistoric times! Long-necked dinosaurs were huge and heavy. They munched the tallest trees. They filled their big bellies. These dinosaurs ate plants all day. Every dino has a name. No two dinos were the same! Meet the long-necks, flyers, boneheads, duckbills, swimmers, armored, horned, plated, and sharp-toothed creatures of prehistoric times in this oversized board book with 101 creatures for kids to name and sound out!
Good Night, Wisconsin by Adam Gamble Good Night Wisconsin highlights Madison, Milwaukee County Zoo, Door County, Great Lakes, Wisconsin State Fair, Milwaukee Art Museum, Lambeau Field, the Mississippi River, Milwaukee Brewers, cranberry bogs, and more. Welcome, Cheeseheads! This adorable board book delights young readers as they tour the state’s most treasured landmarks and attractions.
Night -Night Wisconsin : a sleepy bedtime rhyme by Katherine Sully Goodnight Wisconsin, it’s bedtime in the Badger State! Wisconsin parents who want goodnight books for toddlers will love helping their kids say goodnight to all their favorite places in America’s Dairyland, including:
- Lambeau Field
- Discovery World
- Miller Park
- Henry Vilas Zoo
- Tenney Park
- Wisconsin State Fair
- Milwaukee City Hall
- Milwaukee Art Museum
- Bascom Hall, University of Wisconsin
- Wisconsin State Fair
- Sturgeon Bay Lighthouse
- Bray’s Point Lighthouse
- Milwaukee Public Museum
Everyone loves to say good night America, and this makes a great Wisconsin gift for Wisconsin families and anyone who loves B is for Badger!
New Fiction: Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game by Chris Grabenstein Go back to the START and meet thirteen-year-old, PUZZLE-obsessed Luigi Lemoncello!
Luigi has a knack for games and puzzles. But sometimes it feels like the cards are stacked against him. UNTIL a carnival arrives in town and Luigi gets the CHANCE OF A LIFETIME—the opportunity to work for the world famous Professor Marvelmous–a dazzling, banana-hat-wearing barker who puts the SHOW in SHOWMAN! When the carnival closes, Professor Marvelmous leaves behind a mysterious puzzle box along with a clue. A clue that will lead Luigi and his friends on a fantastical treasure hunt to a prize beyond anything they could imagine–if they can find it!
Can Luigi crack the codes and unlock the box’s secrets? Will there be puzzles? Of course! Balloons? You bet! Will it be fun? Hello! It’s a Lemon-cello! BONUS! Can YOU crack the hidden puzzle inside?!
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle In A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle, a companion to the Newbery Award winner A Wrinkle in Time and A Wind in the Door, fifteen-year-old Charles Wallace and the unicorn Gaudior undertake a perilous journey through time in a desperate attempt to stop the destruction of the world by the mad dictator Madog Branzillo.
They are not alone in their quest. Charles Wallace’s sister, Meg–grown and expecting her first child, but still able to enter her brother’s thoughts and emotions by “kything”–goes with him in spirit.
Charles Wallace must face the ultimate test of his faith and his will as he is sent within four people from another time, there to search for a way to avert the tragedy threatening them all.
Katt Vs. Dogg by James Patterson and Chris Gabenstein
Oscar is a happy dogg—a rambunctious kid who loves being a Dogg Scout. Thanks to his family, he knows that snobby katts are good for nothing but chasing up trees.
Molly is a clever katt who just knows she’s destined for fame and fortune as an actress. She comes from a family of well-bred katts who despise drooly, disgusting doggs!
For their whole lives, Oscar and Molly have been told that katts and dogs hate each other. One day, they each get hopelessly lost in the woods, but those lifelong prejudices flare up when they cross paths. Slowly, they realize that the only way to survive and find their way home is to…work together?! Yeah, that’s not going to happen!
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
From New York Times best-selling and acclaimed author Traci Chee comes We Are Not Free, the collective account of a tight-knit group of young Nisei, second-generation Japanese American citizens, whose lives are irrevocably changed by the mass U.S. incarcerations of World War II.
Fourteen teens who have grown up together in Japantown, San Francisco.
Fourteen teens who form a community and a family, as interconnected as they are conflicted.
Fourteen teens whose lives are turned upside down when over 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry are removed from their homes and forced into desolate incarceration camps.
In a world that seems determined to hate them, these young Nisei must rally together as racism and injustice threaten to pull them apart.
Biographies Henry Morgan : Feared Buccaneer by B. A. Hoena
For decades, Spanish colonists in the Caribbean lived in fear of one man: Henry Morgan. Attacking towns that others would not think to attack, Morgan quickly made a name for himself, and piles of gold as well! In this graphic narrative, reluctant readers will learn about the real-life exploits of this bold buccaneer through detailed illustrations and engaging dialogue. Quotes, a timeline, and a map provide historical context for this high-interest title.
Marching to Freedom the Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Joyce Milton A biography of the Baptist minister and civil rights leader whose practice of nonviolent civil disobedience helped African Americans win many battles for equal rights
Walt Disney : The Magical Innovator by Mark Shulman From his early upbringing in the Midwest to finding success in Hollywood, Walt Disney: The Magical Innovator! tells the story of the man who transformed the film and entertainment industry with animated characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Snow White. In this full-color illustrated biography presented in graphic novel format, key moments in Walt Disney’s career are brought to life, including his first forays into illustration as a teenager, his bold decision to produce the world’s first full-length animated film, and his vision of Disneyland. Historically accurate text that informs readers of Disney’s upbringing and long road to becoming a prominent entrepreneur makes this book not only entertaining but educational as well.
Albert Einstein : Genius of Space and Time by James Buckley Jr. “By any measure, Albert Einstein changed the ways we understand–and measure–space and time. At first his ideas were ridiculed, but soon they were idolized. Prior to World War II, Einstein was a celebrated figure in Germany, but when the Nazi Party rose to power in the 1930s, he fled for his life and eventually settled in the United States. This proved to be a crucial decision, as his knowledge of physics helped the United States develop the atomic bomb and win the war. This book recounts the life of the world’s most famous scientist–from his youth in Germany to his final years in the United States”
Alexander Hamilton : the Fighting Founding Father by Mark Shulman … Tells the story of one of the most ambitious and controversial figures in American history in a graphic novel format. From a rough childhood on the Caribbean island of Nevis to the highest levels of American politics, Alexander Hamilton’s life was filled with adventure, conflict, and controversy. Full-color illustrations and an entertaining narrative make this graphical biography of America’s first Secretary of the Treasury accessible for readers of all ages.
25 Women Who Dared to Create by Rebecca Stanborough Discover 25 women who designed their own futures. From dancers to musicians to artists, these women drew from their imaginations and dreamed of the impossible.
Anne Frank : Witness to History! by Mark Shulman Few stories are as moving as that of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl who became known to the world only when her diary was published posthumously after the end of World War II. Anne Frank: Witness to History! is the biography—in graphic novel format—of the courageous girl who hid with her family from Nazi occupants in Amsterdam, living for two years in a secret annex behind a bookcase. The story begins with the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany and chronicles the events of the 1930s and 1940s that led to World War II and the Holocaust. Every day spent in hiding brought new anxieties to Anne and her family, until the day they were discovered and sent to concentration camps. Full-color illustrations and historically accurate text make this biography an educational and inspiring read for those who enjoy history and graphic novels.
Hey Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka
The powerful, unforgettable graphic memoir from Jarrett Krosoczka, about growing up with a drug-addicted mother, a missing father, and two unforgettably opinionated grandparents.In kindergarten, Jarrett Krosoczka’s teacher asks him to draw his family, with a mommy and a daddy. But Jarrett’s family is much more complicated than that. His mom is an addict, in and out of rehab, and in and out of Jarrett’s life. His father is a mystery — Jarrett doesn’t know where to find him, or even what his name is. Jarrett lives with his grandparents — two very loud, very loving, very opinionated people who had thought they were through with raising children until Jarrett came along.Jarrett goes through his childhood trying to make his non-normal life as normal as possible, finding a way to express himself through drawing even as so little is being said to him about what’s going on. Only as a teenager can Jarrett begin to piece together the truth of his family, reckoning with his mother and tracking down his father. Hey, Kiddo is a profoundly important memoir about growing up in a family grappling with addiction, and finding the art that helps you survive.
Neil Armstrong : First Man on the Moon! By James Buckley, Jr. Neil Armstrong: First Man on the Moon! is a biography of the astronaut who became the first person to walk on the Moon in 1969. From earning a pilot’s certificate at age 16 to being a test pilot for supersonic jets, Armstrong spent most of the early part of his life perfecting the skills he would need for the historic Moon landing. Calm and collected under pressure, he was an ideal candidate for NASA’s astronaut program, and is remembered for his famous words, spoken after he set foot on the Moon: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” Full-color illustrations and historically accurate text make this biography an entertaining, educational, and inspiring read for those who enjoy history and graphic novels.
Sojourner Truth : ain’t I a woman? by Pat McKissack Published to coincide with African-American History Month, here is the stirring, award-winning biography of Sojourner Truth–preacher, abolitionist, and activist for the rights of African-Americans and women.
Graphic Novels
Bad Guys Series by Aaron Blabey This hilarious, illustrated chapter book series about misfit bad guys doing good deeds will have children of all ages laughing out loud.
Bad guys in the Furball Strikes Back
Bad Guys in the Baddest Day Ever
Bad guys in Superbad
Bad guys in Mission Unpluckable
Bad Guys in Intergalactic Gas
Bad Guys in Dawn of the Underlord
Bad Guys in Cut to the Chase
Bad guys in Attack of the Kittens
Bad guys and the Big Bad Wolf
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Series: by Araki Hirohiko Phantom Blood Part 1 Battle Tendency Part 2
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a groundbreaking manga series famous for its outlandish characters, wild humor and frenetic battles. This is a starred series to be checked out only by 6-8 grade.
The STEM Files graphic novel series focuses on the hilarious, top secret stories of ambitious, but inept, would-be evil villains. Each book in the series focuses on a key STEM concept. Includes educational callouts, sidebars, and backmatter material. Supplemental activity also included.
Top Secret : Hackster by D. C. London. Top Secret: Hackster focuses on the blundering would-be evil villain Hank Sterns, aka Hackster, as he tries his hardest to hack into The City Bank. But he fails miserably due to his lack of understanding how to code. It’s hard to hack a bank using computer programming if you don’t know basic coding!
Top Secret: Crypto by D. C. London. Top Secret: Crypto focuses on the blundering would-be evil villain Crystal P. Toyama, aka Crypto, as she attempts to seek revenge using blockchain. But he fails miserably due to her lack of knowledge about how blockchain technology works. It’s hard to take over a city and own all its land using blockchain technology if you don’t understand it!
Top Secret : MechnaNix by D. C. London. Top Secret: MechaNix focuses on the blundering would-be evil villain Megan Nicks, aka MechaNix, as she attempts to seek revenge by building a larger-than-life robot kitty. But she fails miserably due to her lack of knowledge about robotics. It’s hard to unleash your robot if you don’t know how to properly build one!
Top Secret : Dyna by D. C. London. Top Secret: Dyna focuses on the blundering would-be evil villain Blaire Stope, aka Dyna, as she attempts to seek revenge by blowing up a bridge. But she fails miserably due to her lack of knowledge about controlled demolitions and bridges. It’s hard to blow up a bridge if you don’t know the science behind it!
Top Secret : Pharmer by D. C. London. Top Secret: Pharmer focuses on the blundering would-be evil villian Dr. Phineas, Armour, aka Pharmer, as he attempts to infect the residents of The City with the common cold and charge all the citizens for the cure. But he fails miserably due to his lack of knowledge about bacteria, viruses, and medicine. It’s hard to infect people if you don’t know how infections and medications work!
Top Secret : Zoolu by D. C. London. Top Secret: ZooLu focuses on the blundering would-be evil villain Lulu Zielinski, aka ZooLu, as she attempts to create an evil plant-animal hybrid. But she fails miserably due to her lack of knowledge about basic plant biology. It’s hard to create a new plant-animal hybrid if you don’t know basic biology!
New Books in the X section or Everybody Section
Mermaid Days, The Sunken Ship by Kyle Lukoff. Swim along with mermaid Vera and octo-kid Beaker! In these three stories, Vera and Beaker go on adventures in their town of Tidal Grove. They explore a sunken ship, and Vera helps Beaker with an unusual octopus problem. With text from Stonewall award-winning author Kyle Lukoff, and bright, colorful artwork from artist Kat Uno, Mermaid Days is sure to be every young reader’s favorite new series. Balancing easy-to-read-text, endless humor and charm, light nonfiction, and a loveable cast of underwater creatures, these laugh-out-loud stories are the perfect fit for new readers!
Wonderful You : with the grouchy ladybug by Eric Carle.
Celebrate exactly what makes you YOU in this new book that champions self-expression and self-love. Whether silly, curious, sad, or glad, Wonderful You! reminds kids to be proud to be themselves, and to embrace the many faces of YOU.
With beautiful artwork featuring an array of kids and lovely text, this book will encourage the youngest of readers to celebrate what makes them unique every single day.
Ann's Book Talks 