The Karma Club, by Jessica Brody

Rating: Recommended

Farrar Straus Giroux, 2010, $16.99

ISBN: 978-0-374-33979-1

Age/Grade Level: YA

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After a romantic setback, three teens discover the concept of karma and decide it's their job to make the universe right. Their plans for revenge, I mean, karmic retribution are creative, if at times only marginally legal, and often hilarious. But playing with karma leads to unexpected and mostly unpleasant consequences. In other words, don't try this at home! The girls are sympathetic and the Northern California setting rings true. A fun summer read teenage girls are bound to enjoy.

Reviewer: Linda McLaughlin, Fullerton Public Library

The Naming of Tishkin Silk, by Glenda Millard

Illustrated by Patrice Barton
Rating: Very Good
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009, $15.99
ISBN: 99780374354817
Age/Grade Level: Grades 3-5

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Griffin Silk is the youngest member of the Silk family, an almost ethereal family in a small town. He is attending real school for the first time because his mother has "gone away," and though he draws quite a bit of attention because of his rather eccentric family, he makes a friend in Layla, a sweet classmate who wears a daisy-chain crown. As the two become friends, Layla breaks Griffin's fragile shell and learns the details of his family's silence as to why their mom lives somewhere else and why there was once a baby sister whose crib lays empty. At only 100 pages with large margins and pictures, this is a quiet and sweet story of grief, forgiveness and family. A great pick for parent and child to read together and discuss.

Reviewer: Jacqueline Overlid, OCPL/Villa Park

My Garden, by Kevin Henkes

Greenwillow, 2010, $17.99
ISBN: 978-0-06-171518-1
Age/Grade Level: Preschool/Kindergarten
Rating: Very Good

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Mother has a garden, but this unique garden is the product of a young girl's imagination. This one would have no weeds and the flowers would never die. There would be chocolate rabbits, birds and sea shells. "What are you doing?" asks mother. "Oh, nothing," I say. "Just working in my garden." Simple text is a strong match to the corresponding illustrations.

I read this to a preschooler the other day, and she was animated and all smiles.

Reviewer: Jane Yarborough, Library consultant

Higgledy-Piggledy Chicks, by Barbara Joose

Illustrated by Rick Chrustowski
Greenwillow, 2010, $16.99

ISBN: 978-0-06-075043-5

Age/Grade Level: 2-5 years

Rating: Very Good

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Mama stays very busy keeping her seven new chicks from getting into trouble in a very busy barnyard. The reader will delight in all the "animal sounds" that punctuate this delightful tale. In the end pages, the illustrator shares her experiences raising young chicks, and the inspiration for trying a new art form -- collage. It also provides a great model for a fun art activity.

Reviewer: Jane Yarbrough, Library consultant

Who Would Like a Christmas Tree? by Ellen Bryan Obed

Illustrated by Anne Hunter
Houghton Mifflin, 2009, $16.00
ISBN: 978-0-547-04625-9
Age/Grade Level: K-3rd grade
Rating: Recommended



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A Christmas tree farm is home to all kinds of animals. It depends upon which month of the year, from January to December, that you visit the farm. You will catch sight of these wonderful woodland creatures feasting on the roots and pine nuts, feeding their young and spinning webs. We learn about the habits of bucks and fawns, woodchucks and wild turkeys. But, "Who would like a Christmas tree in December?" "We would!" answer the happy children and their parents.


At the end of the book, a month-by-month plan describes how a Christmas tree farmer takes care of her farm. Bright and bold colored illustrations greatly enhance the theme of the story.


Reviewer: Jane Yarbrough, Library consultant

The Inside Tree, by Linda Smith

Illustrated by David Parkins

HarperCollins, 2010, $16.99

ISBN 98-0-06-029818-0

Grade/Age: 4-8 years
Rating: Very Good

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A fanciful tale about Mr. Potter, his dog, and what happens when he brings the lone tree from his yard into his house. when it grows and grows, Mr. Potter decides to make some changes in his living quarters. The colorful and "busy" illustrations give the reader many opportunities to identify the numerous happy "winged visitors" that find a home in Mr. Potter's house.

Reviewer: Jane Yarbrough, Educational Consultant

The Last Polar Bear, by Jean Craighead George

Illustrated by Wendell Minor

Rating: Additional

Harpercollins, 2009, $16.99

ISBN: 9780061240676

Age/Grade Level: Kindergarten and up

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Beautiful illustrations. Mini-lesson on the results of global warming and pollution. A little bit preachy for the adult readers, it manages to touch on endangered species, gender stereotypes, pollution, the theory of global warming and its ultimate impact. Aka, the young Native American, and his grandmother take in an orphaned polar bear cub to teach it how to "survive in a changing world." Good intentions, but are they doing the bear any favors by bringing him nto contact with the people and living with them? Would he be able to return to the wild and survive after that? All sorts of questions about the real value of taking in a wild animal to have humans teach him how to survive in the new world are raised, and not really addressed.

Reviewer: Cathy Gillette, OCPL/La Habra

Big George: How a shy boy became President Washington, by Anne F. Rockwell

Illustrated by Matt Phelan

Rating: Recommended

Harcourt, 2009, $17.00

ISBN: 9780152165833

Age/Grade level: Kindergarten and up

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Great illustrations and a very accessible telling of the important events in the life of young George Washington, leading to his growing up to become the Commander of the American Revolutionary Army, and the first President of the United States. Makes George an interestng person, and young readers and listeners will remember his story of service and patriotism. A rare readable book that can be used for Presidents' Day and on other special occasions.

Reviewer: Cathy Gillette, OCPL/La Habra

Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps, by Linda Chapman and Steve Cole

Rating: Very Good

Harper, 2009, $16.99

ISBN: 9780061252198

Age/Grade Level: 4th Grade and up

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A fun, old-fashioned story about four chidlren in a new combined family becoming a family, as they deal with relocation from London to a small English village and they find a magical book. In that book is an enchanted bookworm, who guides them through the steps and rules of being a real genie. While the children show real aptitude, they have to deal with the moral and ethical aspects about granting worthy wishes and how to select the best way to do it. No Harry Potter, but a good read with a satisfactory conclusion that gives the reader something to think about!

Reviewer: Cathy Gillette, OCPL/La Habra

Day-Glo Brothers: The true story of Bob and Joe Switzer's bright ideas and brand-new colors, by Chris Barton

Illustrated by Tony Persiani

Rating: Recommended

Charlesbridge, 2009, $18.95

ISBN: 978-1-57091673-1

Age/Grade Level: grades 2-5

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This book is hard to ignore. Not only is it about the development of fluorescent pigments, but the eye-popping tones are liberally used in the book design and illustrations. Chris Barton's clever text chronicles how an interest in ultraviolet light led Bob and Joe Switzer to what they called "Day-Glo" paint in 1938. It took years, but as Joe would say, "If just one experiment out of a thousand succeeds, then you're ahead of the game." Tony Persiani's cartoonish illustrations have just the right retro feel for this light-hearted but inspiring story.

Reviewer: Mary Smith, OCPL/El Toro