Cindy and Lynn’s 2012 Gift Book List

Lynn Rutan and I review books for children and teens for our online library blog, Bookends.  We get to read a LOT of books and because we know that books make terrific holiday gifts, we’ve created another annual list of some of the best kid-pleasing books for 2012. The age levels for the books are reflected in the codes after the price. E = Elementary. M = 5-7th grade. J = 7th-9th grade. S = 9-12th grade. More detailed reviews can be found for many of these books on our website: http://bookends.booklistonline.com/  Bookstore gift cards and magazine subscriptions also make great gifts for readers.  Happy Holidays! 
                –Cindy Dobrez, Librarian, Harbor Lights and Macatawa Bay Middle Schools.

Picture Books

Becker, Bonny.  The Sniffles for Bear.  2012.  Candlewick, $16.99.  (E)
   Poor Bear has a terrible cold and he is a terrible patient.  He is sure Mouse doesn’t appreciate just how miserable he is!  This sweet funny book will make everyone laugh – even those terrible patients among us.
Bingham, Kelly.  Z is for Moose.  2012.  Greenwillow, $16.99.  (E) 
   Zebra has a plan for this bright alphabet book but Moose just can’t stand to wait to the end to make his appearance.  Kids love spotting Moose’s shenanigans.  H for hilarious!
Coombs, Kate. Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems. 2012. Chronicle, $16.99. (EM)
   The beautiful watercolor art will lure you in like a siren, but the poems will delight as well. For ocean fans of all ages.
Feeney, Tatyana. Small Bunny’s Blue Blanket. 2012. Knopf, $16.99. (E)
   Do you know a child with a special blanket? This book will make a good companion. And, it’s available in Spanish too: La Manta Azul del Conejito.
Fogliano, Julie. And Then It’s Spring. 2012. Roaring Brook, $16.99. (E)
   A young boy and his dog plant seeds and then learn patience as they wait for the brown all around to turn to green, for spring to really come, and for the garden to grow. Illustrated by Michigan artist, Erin Stead, winner of the 2011 Caldecott Medal.
Grey, Mini. Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey. 2012. Knopf, $16.99. (E)
   It might be winter here in Michigan, but we can always enjoy reading about the beach—especially when it is in the hands of Mini Grey. This is book three of the delightful, slyly humorous Traction Man books. If you can splurge, buy all three but this one stands alone quite nicely.
Schaefer, Lola M. One Special Day. 2012. Hyperion, $16.99. (E)
   If you know someone who is bringing a new baby home, this is the book to buy the big brother or sister. Spencer is strong (as a bear), fast (as a horse), wild (as a tiger) and so on but he is also “…gentle, because, for the first time ever—Spencer was a brother.” This is a perfect parent/child read aloud.
Springman, I.C. More. 2012. Houghton, $16.99 (E)
   If during the holidays you are of the mind that “less is more,” this is a picture book that will help you spread the message that most of us just have too much stuff! Magpie has nothing, and then something, and then a few, and before you know it he is in need of a lesson about just what is “enough.”
Stead, Philip C. A Home for Bird. 2012. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter, $16.99. (E) 
   A sweet story of friendship and determination that will make readers smile, whether young or old. The illustrations are charming as well as Vernon the toad works to find the perfect home for his new, sad, silent friend, Bird.
Willems, Mo. Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. 2012. Harper, Balzer & Bray, $17.99. (E)
   You just think you know this story. Wait until you see what the inimitable Mo Williams does with it. Get ready to laugh.

Fiction

Kindl, Patrice. Keeping the Castle. 2012. Viking, $16.99 (MJ)
   Althea lives in near poverty in a crumbling castle and needs to find a prospective husband who can keep the castle afloat….or at least from falling off the edge of the cliff on which it is precariously perched. This witty regency romance is sure to please younger fans of Downton Abbey or Jane Austen.
Lawrence, Caroline. Case of the Deadly Desperados. 2012. Putnam, $16.99. (EMJ)
   Hang onto your slouch hat and seven-shot derringer! Historical mystery writer Caroline Lawrence gets her new Western Mysteries series off to a rip-snorting start.  Hero P.K. Pinkerton has to outsmart the ruthless Whittlin’ Walt, reclaim his deed to the silver mine, and find his father.  This one is a rip-snorter!
Nielsen, Jennifer A.  The False Prince.  2012.  Scholastic, $16.99.  (MJS)
   This one is a favorite of the year with our book club readers.  The royal prince disappeared in a shipwreck 4 years ago.  Now the kingdom is in crises and a scheming advisor plans to select one of 4 orphans to train and pass off as the missing prince.  Wheels within wheels, sword-fights and a touch of romance make this a winner for adventure fantasy lovers.
Palacio. R.J. Wonder. 2012. Random House/Knopf, $16.99 (EM) 
   A chorus of classmate and teacher voices tells the story of 10-year old Augie’s first year attending school as he faces the daily reaction to his facial deformities. You won’t want to miss meeting Augie, or in reading a story in which the theme is to strive to “be kinder than necessary.” 

Smith, Jennifer E. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. 2012. Little, Brown, $17.99         (S)
   Who knew that 4 minutes could change your life? When Hadley misses her flight to London by 4 minutes she ends up on a later flight seated next to Oliver. And that made all the difference.  Here’s a romance that’s sweet, swoon-worthy and smart.

Snickett, Lemony. Who Could That Be at This Hour? 2012. Little, Brown, $15.99. (M)
   What, a new series by the author of The Series of Unfortunate Events? Yes, indeedy. This series is called All the Wrong Questions. You’ve been warned.

Stiefvater, Maggie. Raven Boys. 2012. Scholastic, $18.99 (S)
    Stiefvater’s previous books have been HUGE favorites with our fantasy fans.  This is the start of a new series that promises to be red hot.  Celtic mythology, American folklore, feisty girls, inquisitive boys and a threatening evil.  Who could resist? 

Volponi, Paul. Final Four. 2012. Viking, $16.99 (S)
   Do you have a Michigan State fan in your house? In this basketball novel MSU is playing in the Final Four against a Cinderella team and as the tension mounts on the court in great play-by-play scenes, several players expose some of the underbelly of the high-stakes, big-money game that is college basketball today.

Nonfiction
Lewis, J. Patrick. Book of Animal Poetry. 2012. National Geographic, $24.95. (EMJ)
   Gorgeous animal photography accompanied by a wide variety of classic and contemporary poems. This makes a beautiful browsing gift book for all ages.
Pasternak, Carole. How to Raise Monarch Butterflies. 2012. Firefly, $8.95. (EM)
   Essential reading for every family with nature loving kids who hope to watch caterpillars turn into beautiful monarch butterflies!  Helpful tips and practical details from how to keep spare milkweed leaves fresh to salvaging fallen chrysalis!  Gorgeous photographs too.
Rusch, Elizabeth. Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity. 2012. Houghton, $18.99. (EMJS)
   Originally designed to last 3 months, Mars robots Spirit and Opportunity kept on rolling for more than 8 years, in fact one is still going.  This fascinating book profiles the innovative scientists who created them, the endearing little robots themselves and their amazing feats.     
Sheinkin, Steve. Bomb: The Race to Build – and Steal – the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon. 2012. Roaring Brook, $19.99 (JS)
An NBA finalist, this stellar book combines an historical examination of a pivotal time, the science behind a world-altering discovery, the mind-blowing story of a heroic national effort and a true spy story every bit as tense as anything Robert Ludlum ever wrote.  One of the best of 2012.
Witherspoon, Jack. Twist it Up: More Than 60 Delicious Recipes from an Inspiring Young Chef. 2011. Chronicle, $19.99. (EMJ)
   Young cancer survivor Jack Witherspoon got through his treatments watching the Food Network and became passionate about cooking in a healthy kid-friendly way.  This wonderful cookbook features 12-year-old Jack’s innovative recipes and step-by-step instructions.  A real winner for budding foodies and families who just want to eat better.
Graphic Novels
Burke, James. Bird & Squirrel: On the Run. 2012. Scholastic/Graphix, $10.99. (EM) 
   If you have tired of Angry Birds, follow the exploits of an exuberant, consistently optimistic bird and his paranoid squirrel friend. The two stars of this graphic novel will keep young readers laughing as one disaster after another befalls them on their journey south for the winter.
Fearing, Mark. Earthling! 2012. Chronicle, $12.99. (EM)
   9-year-old Bud faces two of every kid’s nightmares:  starting a new school and missing the bus on the first day!  But wait – it gets worse!  The bus Bud does get on is a school bus filled with aliens headed to Cosmos Academy and something fishy is going on.  Bud and his new friends play some weightless hoops and solve the mystery.

http://bookends.booklistonline.com
Visit our blog for new reviews of books for children and teens every week.
Lynn Rutan lynnrutan@charter.net Member of the 2013 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Jury
Cindy Dobrez dobrezc@westottawa.net WOPS Middle School Librarian