Dewey Diva Picks H.B. Fenn and Company Ltd. Fall 2004
Picture Books
C is for Chinook: An Alberta Alphabet (1585362239) by Dawn Welykochy , Illustrated by Lorna Bennett , $24.95, September Readers young and old can trek the Rocky Mountains, canoe across beautiful Lake Louise, and still have energy to visit capital city Edmonton for an Oilers game. From Big Horn Sheep to renowned doctor Mary Percy Jackson, this book recounts the facts, faces, and features that make Alberta unique. Ages 4-10. The Gift of the Inuksuk (158536214x) by Mike Ulmer , Illustrated by Melanie Rose , $24.95, HC, September As unique and beautiful as a snowflake or footprint, an Inuksuk is one of the stone figures that can be seen dotting the Arctic region. Mike Ulmer explores the connectedness of all Arctic life in this tale about a young Inuit girl, Ukaliq, who guides her people to a successful caribou hunt with a little help from the Inuksuit. Ages 6-12. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (0786818700) by Mo Willems, $19.99, HC, September Trixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny take a trip to the neighborhood Laundromat. But the exciting adventure takes a dramatic turn when Trixie realizes somebunny was left behind… Ages 3-6
What if You Met a Pirate? (1596430079) by Jan Adkins, $22.95, HC, September Pirate ships and pirate lore, pirate treasure, pirate equipment, and pirate life-all are brought to life in this appealing book. Author/illustrator Jan Adkins is a master of combining words, pictures, and graphic design to illuminate a subject of perennial interest to children. Ages 6-9. Yoga Bear: Yoga for Youngsters (1559718978) by Karen Pierce, $22.95, HC, October Yoga Bear: Yoga For Youngsters uses rhyming word play, bright photographs and a charming, illustrated 'yoga bear' to teach twenty-two poses that imitate animals and nature. Perfect for families or groups of all ages and abilities. Modifications provided for children with special needs. Ages 2-6.
One Ted Falls Out of Bed (0333947819) by Julia Donaldson, $19.99, HC, November When Ted falls out of bed, three mice take him on the adventure of his life, zooming off in fast cars, going on a balloon ride and climbing a building block mountain. It's all very exciting, but will it get Ted back to bed? A warm, funny bedtime counting book by the award-winning author of The Gruffalo. Ages 2+. A Boy and His Bunny (1559707259) by Sean Bryan, $19.95, HC, February 2005 How would you feel if one morning you woke up with a big-eared, wet-nosed bunny on your head? This charming, fun-filled book about a boy and his special friend will delight young readers… and enchant their parents as well. Ages 3-6.
Middle Grade African Princess: The Amazing Lives of Africa’s Royal Women (0786851163) by Joyce Hansen, Illustrated by Laurie McGaw , $24.99, HC, September What was it like to live as a queen in ancient Egypt, or as an Amazon warrior in western Africa? African Princess tells the stories of six remarkable royal women and the eras in which they lived, from 1473 B.C. to the present. Richly illustrated with portraits and archival material. Ages 8 and up. The Legend of Spud Murphy (0786855010) by Eoin Colfer, $18.95, HC, September Every kid in town knows about Spud Murphy. Grown-ups think she’s the kindly old librarian, but kids have heard all about the gas-powered spud gun she keeps hidden under her desk. Make so much as a sound in her library and you could get spudded with soggy potatoes. In a major coup of parental injustice, Will and his older brother Marty have been ordered to spend their summer vacation in the library. How will they survive? Ages 7 and up. The Secret of Castle Cant (0316108480) by K.P. Bath, $23.99, HC, September Welcome to the faraway Barony of Cant...a land out of time, and so small that it is destined to be forever lost in the creases of even the best of maps. Lucy Wickwright-maidservant to the Baron of Cant's mischievous daughter, the Adored & Honorable Pauline Esmerelda Simone-Thierry von Cant- unwittingly becomes a key player in a mysterious rebellion stirring throughout the Barony. Debut novelist K.P. Bath will captivate readers with fast-paced action and adventure, a cast of unforgettable, eccentric characters, and two strong female heroines who learn that cunning and heroism are not merely words in storybooks. Ages 10-14.
So Cool (1552636135) by Dennis Lee, $19.95, HC, September Featuring 36 remarkable poems for early teen readers, So Cool is a rollicking ride down a sometimes very bumpy highway. Written with Lee’s trademark wit and insight, the poems tackle matters of concern to young readers with sensitivity and wild humour. Ages 8-12 Cover Image not available
Doctor Illuminatus (0316155756) by Martin Booth, $21.99, HC, October When Tim and Pip's family moves to an old English country estate, they accidentally awaken an alchemist's son, Sebastian, from a centuries-old slumber. But Sebastian's father's enemy, Pierre de Loudeac, has also awakened- and is relentlessly pursuing the dream of alchemists to create a homunculus, an artificial human made from dead material. A fast-paced story of alchemy and adventure, sorcery and suspense. Ages 10-14.
The Ratastrophe Catastrophe (0786851287) by David Lee Stone, $23.99, HC, October When the ancient town of Illmoor is plagued by an infestation of giant rats, Diek Wustapha offers to lead the rodents to their doom. When the dim-witted Duke of Illmoor refuses to reward him, Diek seeks revenge by kidnapping the town’s children. A team of misfit mercenaries, comprised of a buck-toothed Giant, a wise-cracking dwarf, and a washed-up sorcerer, sets out on a bumbling journey to save the children. This is the hilarious first installment of the Illmoor Chronicles, a satirical fantasy trilogy that will have readers laughing out loud and on the edge of their seats. Ages 10-14.
Young Adult Last Sam’s Cage (1552636119) by David A. Poulsen, $15.95, PB, October Already labeled as a young offender, 15-year-old Eddie runs away from his abusive step-father and takes up residence at the local zoo, a place where he feels safe. There he meets Jack, who has been coming to the zoo every day for thirtytwo years. As Eddie struggles to survive on his own against the perils of street life, he finds himself trapped by an enemy inside Last Sam’s Cage- the zoo’s only reminder of the days when animals were kept in cages. When Jack comes to Eddie’s rescue, the incident allows both to re-evaluate the choices they have made in the past, and to make some important decisions for the future.
Unexpected Development (1596430060) by Marlene Perez, $23.95, HC, September Megan knows twenty different words for 'breasts', and she can recite them alphabetically, but she can't remember the last time a guy gazed into her eyes instead of at her chest. Will Jake Darrow be different? In this funny, romantic, sardonic novel, developments take many unexpected turns. Ages 12+. Playing in Traffic (1596430052) by Gail Giles, $23.95, HC, September Skye Colby is the multi-pierced, multi-tattooed girl hanging around the cybercafes; always out at odd hours in marginal places. So why has she singled out Matt Lathrop, an almost invisible nobody, for special attention? Clearly, she has a dangerous agenda, but how can Matt resist the mystery and drama? This gripping page-turner will propel readers from one surprising revelation to the next-right to the shocking ending. Ages 14+.
Close Kin (080507497x) by Clare B. Dunkle, $23.95, HC, October For years Emily has been living happily in the underground goblin kingdom. Her childhood friend Seylin proposes and is devastated when she rebuffs him. He leaves to find his own people: the elves, but when a remorseful Emily sets out after him, they accidentally awaken hatreds and prejudices that have slumbered for hundreds of years. Ages 12+.