A DUCKLING CALLED BUTTON: JASMINE GREEN RESCUES, By Helen Peters, Illustrated by Ellie Snowdon, Walker Books US, Candlewick Press

The second title in a fantastic series of animal stories for younger readers by Waterstones Children's Book Prize-shortlisted author Helen Peters, with beautiful black-and-white illustrations by Ellie Snowdon. When a nesting duck is killed in a terrible accident, Jasmine and her best friend Tom rescue the eggs and try to hatch them in an incubator. … Continue reading A DUCKLING CALLED BUTTON: JASMINE GREEN RESCUES, By Helen Peters, Illustrated by Ellie Snowdon, Walker Books US, Candlewick Press

THE DOG WHO LOST HIS BARK, by Eoin Colfer, Illustrated by P.J. Lynch, Candlewick Press

A warm, uplifting story about a boy, his dog, and the healing power of music marks a first-time collaboration between two former Irish Children's Laureates, Eoin Colfer and P.J. Lynch. Patrick has been desperate for a dog of his own for as long as he can remember, and this summer, with his father away, he … Continue reading THE DOG WHO LOST HIS BARK, by Eoin Colfer, Illustrated by P.J. Lynch, Candlewick Press

MY LIFE IN SMILEY: SAVE ME! By Anne Kalicky, Andrews McMeel Universal

Max is off to summer camp and ready to fill his journal with hilarious middle-school wisdom in this third installment of the My Life in Smiley series that is illustrated with the internationally recognized emoticons of the SmileyWorld brand. Age Level: 8-12 Grade Level: 3rd and up Max is in trouble, SOS trouble, he's a … Continue reading MY LIFE IN SMILEY: SAVE ME! By Anne Kalicky, Andrews McMeel Universal

THE MAGIC MISFITS, by Neil Patrick Harris, Little, Brown/Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  From beloved award-winning actor, Neil Patrick Harris, comes the magical first book in a new series with plenty of tricks up its sleeve. When street magician Carter runs away, he never expects to find friends and magic in a sleepy New England town. But like any good trick, things change instantly as greedy B.B. … Continue reading THE MAGIC MISFITS, by Neil Patrick Harris, Little, Brown/Hachette Book Group, Inc.

PHILIPPA FISHER’S FAIRY GODSISTER, by Liz Kessler, Orion, UK

Philippa Fisher tries and fails to summon a fairy, but is taken aback when Daisy, the new girl at school, announces that she is her fairy godmother - or godsister, since they are the same age. Daisy is not best pleased with Philippa, but she has a mission to fulfil and is obliged to stick … Continue reading PHILIPPA FISHER’S FAIRY GODSISTER, by Liz Kessler, Orion, UK