Mrs. Malecha Reads!

by Linda Sue Park Lexile:  640 Genre:  Mystery The Vespers still have Amy and Dan's family members locked in a secret location.  Amy and Dan are still traveling around the world, trying to meet the endless demands of the Vespers.  Things don't seem to be going their way and when they discover that there is a mole in their midst, they will have to turn on someone in their inner circle whom they have trusted.  Getting rid of the mole will help, but will they be able to meet the increasing demands of the Vespers in time to save their loved ones?

by Michelle Weber Hurwitz Lexile:  700 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Award:  2015-16 Maud Hart Lovelace Award Nomniee Eleven year old Calli Gold is trying to find her place in her family.  Her older brother is a superstar basketball player and her older sister is a competitive figure skater.  Calli spends a lot of her time waiting in the car or at the gym or at the skating rink as her stressed out parents try to figure out how to get their kids to the right place at the right time.  But what about Calli?  What is she good at?  Will anyone in her family give her the time and space to figure it out?

by Ian Schoenherr Lexile: 270 Genre:  Informational What are your responsibilities when you check a book out from the library?  This book explains the importance of keeping food and drinks away from it, not turning down the pages, and keeping the book away from little siblings or pets.  If you are ready to think about taking home a library book, check out this story first to see if you know how to take great care of your book!

by Vashanti Rahaman Illustrated by Lori McElrath-Eslick Lexile:  540 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Joseph's favorite day of the week is Thursday because on Thursdays he gets to go to the library.  Each time he goes to the library, he is allowed to pick out two books, an easy book that he can read and a harder book that he needs someone to help him read.  He takes his harder book to the laundromat where an older student helps him read it.  But one day, he learns that the student has moved away.  He knows his mama is busy working her job and taking care of him, but Joseph wonders if maybe she could help him read the harder book?  Joseph asks and asks, but Mama keeps making excuses, until one day when she finally tells him the truth.

by David LaRochelle Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka Genre:  Fantasy One word.  One cow.  One adventure.  What else could you moo possibly moo need to moo know? Moo?

Written and Illustrated by Catherine Rayner Genre:  Fantasy Ernest is a very large moose.  Ernest is so large that he has a problem.  His problem is that he can't fit inside of the book!  Fortunately, Ernest has a friend who is willing to help.  Together the two of them come up with a fun solution that you will discover on the book's last page!

Notes From a Colorful Life Written and Illustrated by Lois Ehlert Lexile:  640 Genre:  Memoir Lois Ehlert shares the story behind the art in her many award winning books.  She takes the reader on a journey that begins when she was a small child whose parents filled their house with colorful scraps of fabric, paints and other art supplies.  Lois was always creating...and she shares the story of where she got all of her ideas and inspiration that turned into the books that millions of children have read.

Written and Illustrated by Richard Byrne Lexile:  220 Genre:  Fantasy Bella is just taking her dog for a stroll across the page of her book when all of a sudden, her dog disappears.  She tries tugging on his leash, but it doesn't help.  Then her friend Ben wanders over to help and suddenly he disappears into the crease of the book too.  What is going on with this book? Will Bella ever see her dog and her friend again?

Written and Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail Genre:  Realistic Fiction Fred the dog does not want to go to bed and he is willing to do just about anything to avoid it.  Fred hides, he splashes in the mud, and runs around the yard.  If you're trying to convince your parents that you should have a dog, this is not the book you want to read with them.  Fred makes having a dog look like it would really be a lot of work!

Written and Illustrated by Lizi Boyd Genre:  Fantasy Have you ever wondered what goes on in the forest when it was dark?  What would happen if you took a flashlight and went for a walk?  What might you see?  Come along with the child in this book and see what is discovered...there are no words; only the light of the flashlight to guide you through.

Ballerina Misty Copeland Shows a Young Girl How to Dance Like the Firebird by Misty Copeland Illustrated by Christopher Myers Genre:  Memoir Misty Copeland explains to a young girl what it takes to be a ballerina.  She draws on her childhood experiences when she felt shy and quiet.  Misty encourages this young girl to become more confident through hard work and dedication to her dreams.  If you love ballet, then this book will speak to you.

Written and Illustrated by Peter McCarty Lexile:  310 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Pedro has never seen snow before and he is not sure if he is going to like being cold.  When he arrives to spend time with his cousins, it snows!  Pedro doesn't want to go outside and make snow angels or catch snowflakes on his tongue.  But when his cousins' friends bring out the sleds, he is suddenly interested in taking a chance.  Maybe this cold weather thing isn't so bad...

by Susan Stevens Crummel Illustrated by Dorothy Donohue Lexile:  460 Genre:  Mystery What is that horrible smell?  Well, it comes from a great big Cowabunga cheese that has suddenly gone missing from the Dell.  No one knows what to do except to call for Sherlock Bones.  Surely is super sleuthing abilities will be able to solve the mystery of the missing cheese!

Written and Illustrated by Molly Idle Genre:  Fantasy Flora and her penguin friend are skating partners.  All is going well until her penguin spots a hole in the ice and decides to go for a swim.  He returns a bit later with a new friend - a fish!  Flora is jealous and tosses the fish back...and now her penguin is unhappy.  The two must work together to repair their friendship.  This book is told without words...but you can lift the flaps to help you understand this unlikely friendship.

by Eileen Rosenthal Illustrated by Marc Rosenthal Genre:  Realistic Fiction The boy wakes up one morning and his beloved Bobo is missing. Where or where can Bobo be?  The boy does everything with Bobo and his cat, Earl.  Could Earl somehow have to do with Bobo's disappearance?

by Angela Johnson Illustrated by E.B. Lewis Lexile: 830 Genre:  Historical Fiction President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, but it wasn't until 1865 that the decree was respected in Texas which is where Angela Johnson chose to set her story about one family's Juneteenth celebration in which they celebrated their freedom.  They were finally able to stop working and go on a picnic and listen to the ocean waves.  They were finally free.

by Julie Gassman Lexile:  560 Genre:  Fantasy A dragon in the library?  What could possibly go wrong?  Dragons should be allowed to check out books and read them too, right?  Or is there a better way to get this book loving dragon the books he wants to read?

by Judy Danneberg Lexile:  210 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Who gets nervous on the first day of school?  Who wants to stay in bed and not go meet her new class?  Who is scared that no one at her new school will like her?  The answers to these questions might surprise you...