Grade: 2

Jack had destroyed the giant along with the beanstalk, so you would think that he, his mother, and the hen that lays the golden eggs would be home free. And that was the case until the giant’s brother (bigger, nastier, and uglier) showed up. He’d heard about what Jack had done, was hopping mad, and was determined to get back his brother’s possessions. Will Jack’s quick wit get him out of trouble again?

This is a heartwarming story based on the real-life relationship between Sarah, a busy teacher, dancer, and musician, and Perry, her guide dog. Through Perry’s eyes, young readers follow this pair through a typical day — watching them waking up, shopping, visiting a class of school children, playing in the park, and going to bed. Through illustrations with bold shapes and rich colors and a simple, warm text, children will learn about the ways a guide dog helps a blind person and the deep bond that develops between the two.

“UNLESS someone like you… cares a whole awful lot… nothing is going to get better… It’s not.”
Long before saving the earth became a global concern, Dr. Seuss, speaking through his character the Lorax, warned against mindless progress and the danger it posed to the earth’s natural beauty.

“I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, As long as I’m living, My baby you’ll be.” Since Love You Forever was first published in 1986, millions of parents have lulled their children to sleep with these affectionate words. This picture book will widen the influence of this soothing message.

Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi’s three adventurous Grace children are back — and learning more about Arthur Spiderwick’s field guide from Aunt Lucinda and a band of elves — in the third installment of the popular Spiderwick Chronicles. With mystery and supernatural suspense in every page turn, this entry has Mallory, Simon, and Jared learning more than expected about their book. When they visit Aunt Lucy in the nursing home, she tells them that in her youth, she was wrongly accused of having the field guide and warns them to leave the house and get rid of the book, lest they become harassed and charmed like she has been. The Grace kids suddenly realize that their treasured book has been stolen, and after they find a map in Uncle Arthur’s library, they come face to face with elves who almost capture Jared and hint that Uncle Arthur may still be alive.

Madlenka, based on Sís’s own daughter, is a pure delight. Madlenka has discovered that her tooth is loose and wants the whole neighborhood to know. Once down the stairs of her apartment building, Madlenka shares her news with everyone on her colorful and diverse New York City block. She takes a turn around the world as she visits Mr. Gaston at his patisserie, Mr. Singh at his newspaper stand, and various other neighbors. Sís’s art delights as you peek through die-cut windows and find surprises.

An equally silly and satisfying tale is the latest work in the popular series about Martha, a dog who learns to speak after eating alphabet soup. What does Martha do when she comes upon a crotchety canine whose owner utters harsh words instead of kindness? Martha teaches a parrot how to encourage the grumpy puppy and transform it into a lovable pet.

This playful anthology of poems introduces math language and concepts. Poets Janet Wong, Karla Kuskin, David McCord, and others take a look at how math affects our daily lives. Topics from counting and measuring to percentages and fractions are covered. Bright, color illustrations and a healthy scoop of humor add to this math experience.