Reads to Wrap 2014
December 2014
Holiday gift book recommendations and Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season from the Youth Services Committee of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System!
Board Books
The Bunny Rabbit Show! by Sandra Boynton
This ebullient board book will have the littlest ones hopping! The rabbits in this book delight in performing a song and dance number celebrating bunny rabbits in all their glory. (Ages 2-4)
My Busy Day
Introduce children to all different things in their busy worlds with this sturdy board book! (Ages 6 mos-3 years)
My first trucks and diggers: let's get driving! by Marie Greenwood
This book is filled with familiar rough-and-tough vehicles waiting to be discovered. (Ages 6 mos-3 years)
Picture Books
The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight by Toni DiTerlizzi
Retells Luke Skywalker's journey from a Tatooine farm boy to a Jedi Knight, as he learns how to use the Force in the battle against the Empire. (Ages 6-8)
The Animals' Santa by Jan Brett
Every Christmas, the animals in the forest receive hand-made gifts from Santa, but no one has ever seen him. On Christmas Eve, the animals begin to speculate as to who Santa is. At midnight, they find their answer. (Ages 3-5)
The Book with No Pictures by BJ Novak
This unconventional read-aloud is just as the title suggests: a book with no pictures. However it is also a book with one important rule--each word on the page must be read aloud no matter how silly or outrageous. This book is guaranteed to give a case of the giggles to anyone lucky enough to have it read to them. (Ages 4-8)
The Boy Who Loved Math: the improbable life of Paul Erdos by Deborah Heiligman
Paul Erdos loved numbers and thought about them all the time. He became friends with other mathematicians all over the world. (Ages 3-9)
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
When Duncan arrives at school one morning, he finds a stack of letters, one from each of his crayons, complaining about how he uses them. (Ages 3-7)
Firebird by Misty Copeland
Lyrical and affecting text paired with bold, striking illustrations makes Firebird perfect for aspiring ballerinas. A young girl whose confidence is fragile is shown that through faith in herself, hard work, and dedication she can become Firebird. (Ages 6-10)
Flora and the Penguin by Molly Idle
In this wordless, lift-the-flap picture book, Flora and her new friend the penguin dance on the ice together and learn to treat each other with respect and kindness. (Ages 3-5)
Frozen Sing-along Storybook by Lisa Ann Marsoli
Anything Frozen is incredibly popular! You can’t go wrong with this book that includes a CD with 3 songs from the movie and the lyrics to the songs. (Ages 6-8)
Here Comes Santa Cat by Deborah Underwood
Cat wants off Santa's naughty list and makes several valiant attempts, but this 'being nice' business is trickier than he thought. (Ages 3-6)
Herman and Rosie by Gus Gordon
Set on a very busy street in New York City, in two very tiny apartments, two neighbors who don't know each other go about their daily business all alone without any help, until one night jazz music brings them together. (Ages 5-8)
How to Babysit a Grandma by Jean Reagan
A spunky little girl gives detailed instructions on how best to keep a grandma occupied during an overnight visit. Each page resonates with the warmth and the love this little girl and her grandma share, and the “how-to” format is sure to engage children and caregivers alike. (Ages 5-8)
Look Up! Bird-watching in your own backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate
Explains how to identify various birds by color, shape, behavior, birdcall, and other characteristics. (Ages 7-9)
Mix It Up! by Hervé Tullet
Using no special effects other than the reader's imagination, simple directions lead the reader to experiment with mixing and changing colors on the printed page. (Ages 3-5)
My Teacher is a Monster! (no I am not) by Peter Brown
Bobby thinks his teacher, Ms. Kirby, is horrible, but when he sees her outside of school and they spend a day in the park together, he discovers she might not be so bad after all. (Ages 4-8)
The Numberlys by William Joyce
Five friends live in a black and white world filled with only numbers. These numbers provide a sense of order, but the friends want something more. Soon, they invent letters, and their surroundings begin to fill with color and excitement. (Ages 5-6)
Rabbi Benjamin's Buttons by Alice B. McGinty
Rabbi Benjamin's congregation presents him with a special holiday vest--and cooks him so much food that soon its buttons pop off! Includes glossary, notes on Jewish holidays, and recipes. (Ages 4-8)
Santa Clauses: Short poems from the North Pole by Bob Raczka
Quiet haikus written by Santa Claus are gift-wrapped in lovely folk-inspired, jewel-toned spreads. From December 1 to December 25, he shares seasonal selections that capture the spirit of the holidays and the activities at the North Pole. (Ages 5-9)
When a Grandpa Says "I Love You" by Douglas Wood
Explores some of the many and varied ways a grandfather can express his love, even without saying the words. (Ages 3-7)
Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors: the story of Elizabeth Blackwell by Tanya Lee Stone
This picture-book biography of America's first woman doctor takes readers back to the 1840’s when girls were only supposed to become wives and mothers, or maybe teachers, or seamstresses. Stone presents the story of a girl who is sure to inspire aspiring young female doctors. (Ages 6-7)
Early Readers (Grades K-2)
Fly Guy presents: Dinosaurs! by Tedd Arnold
Everyone’s favorite fly tackles everyone’s favorite extinct creatures! During a visit to a natural history museum, Fly Guy and Buzz learn all about dinosaurs.
Fly Guy presents: Firefighters by Tedd Arnold
In this book Buzz and Fly Guy visit the firehouse, where they learn facts about firefighters, fire trucks, and fire safety.
My new friend is so fun! By Mo Willems
Gerald the Elephant and Snake fear that Piggie and Brian Bat will have so much fun together they will no longer need their best friends.
Chapter Books (Grades 3-6)
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Written in verse, this collection of childhood memories provides insight into the Newbery Honor author's perspective of America during the turbulent 1960s.
El Deafo by Cece Bell
This graphic novel recounts the author’s experiences with hearing loss at a young age, including using a bulky hearing aid, learning how to lip read, and determining her "superpower."
Escape from Lucien by Kazu Kibuishi
Fans of Amulet have been eagerly awaiting volume 6! Navin and his classmates journey to Lucien, a city ravaged by war and plagued by mysterious creatures, where they search for a beacon essential to their fight against the Elf King. (Amulet Book 6)
The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming
History comes to life in this sweeping story of the dramatic decline and fall of the House of Romanov in an exciting narrative that is full of intriguing personalities.
Lego Star Wars: the visual dictionary by Simon Beecroft and Jason Fry
The combination of Lego and Star Wars is a sure crowd pleaser! This book shows how each Lego Star Wars play set connects to the events in the Star Wars films.
Saving Lucas Biggs by Marisa de los Santos
Margaret O'Malley's father has just been sentenced to death for a murder he didn't commit. In the same town 70 years earlier, a miners' strike led to another murder and another falsely accused man. The O'Malleys' forbidden ability to time travel might save everyone or no one, but Margaret is desperate enough to try.
Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
This graphic novel, a companion to Smile, tells the story about the relationship between sisters during a summer cross-country trip.
Who Was Gandhi? by Dana Meachen Rau
Gandhi is internationally recognized as a symbol of hope, peace, and freedom. Other titles in this tremendously popular series include: Who Was Elvis? Who Was Nelson Mandela? Who Was Clara Barton? Who is Dolly Parton? Who is Muhammand Ali? and many more.
Young Adult (Grades 7-12)
Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg
Macallan and Levi are best friends from the first day they meet in seventh grade, but over the years their close friendship keeps interfering with their dating life because everyone else regards them as a couple.
Egg & Spoon by Gregory Maguire
An impoverished Russian country girl Elena Rudina and the aristocratic Ekatrina meet and set in motion an escapade that includes mistaken identity, a monk locked in a tower, a prince traveling incognito, and the witch Baba Yaga.
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Isla has had a crush on classmate Josh since their freshman year at the School of America in Paris, but after a chance encounter over the summer in Manhattan they return to France for their senior year where they are forced to confront challenges every young couple in love must face.
Jackaby by William Ritter
Ghosts? Monsters? Murderers? Looks like it’s a case for R.F. Jackaby, turn-of-the-century paranormal investigator! When Abigail Rook signs on to be Jackaby’s assistant, she has no idea what kind of strange things she and her eccentric boss will stumble upon as they track down a gruesome serial killer in this witty, creepy story.
The Living by Matt de la Peña
Shy feels guilty leaving his family alone by taking a summer job aboard a cruise ship, but he gets great tips from the rich passengers and knows his family can use the money. Then the deadly Romero Disease spreads to California and a tsunami destroys the cruise ship, leaving Shy stranded. If he can get home, will there be anything to go home to?
My True Love Gave to Me: 12 holiday stories, edited and with a story by Stephanie Perkins
If you love holiday anthologies, you're going to fall in love with My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by twelve bestselling young adult writers.
The Rule of Three by Eric Walters
In this post-apocalyptic novel, an unknown event renders all computers inoperable, leading to the shutdown of most technology and the collapse of civilization.
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Quiet Emily's sociable and daring best friend, Sloane, has disappeared leaving nothing but a random list of bizarre tasks for her to complete, and with unexpected help from popular classmate Frank Porter, Emily gives them a try.
Skink- No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen
With the help of an eccentric ex-governor, a teenaged boy searches for his missing cousin in the Florida wilds.
Taking Flight by Michaela DePrince
The extraordinary memoir of Michaela DePrince, an orphaned young girl who escaped war-torn Sierra Leone, and who reached the rarefied heights of American ballet.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Lara Jean writes love letters to all the boys she has loved and then hides them in a hatbox until one day those letters are accidentally sent.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Spending the summers on her family's private island off the coast of Massachusetts with her cousins and a special boy named Gat, teenaged Cadence struggles to remember what happened during her fifteenth summer.
The Young Elites by Marie Lu
Adelina Amouteru survived the blood fever, a deadly illness that killed many, but left others with strange markings and supernatural powers. Cast out by her family, Adelina joins the secret society of the Young Elites and discovers her own dangerous abilities.
List created by:
2014 BCCLS Youth Services Committee
