Savvy by Ingrid Law

Law, Ingrid. Savvy. New York, NY : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2008. ISBN 978-0-8037-3306-0

The Beaumont Family is special. The people in their town can't quite put their finger on what it is that makes the Beaumont's special. On their 13th birthday each Beaumont gets a special gift- a Savvy. Nobody can predict what their savvy will be, or how powerful it will be. Rocket creates electricity and Fish creates storms and now it is Mibs' turn to get a special savvy. A few days before Mibs' birthday, her father is in a terrible accident and now lies unconscious in the hospital. Mibs knows deep in her heart that her new savvy will help her father wake up from his coma- if she can just get to the hospital. When Mibs sees an opportunity for a ride by sneaking onto a salesman's truck, she takes it. But when other children follow her and they all get stuck on the truck going the wrong way they are in for quite the adventure.

Official Savvy Website

Check out the author's site

Boston Globe Children's Book Festival

Saturday September 6, 2008 11am-5pm
Parade Grounds, Boston Common
Admission is FREE!
Learn more here.

Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks

Weeks, Sarah. Oggie Cooder. New York : Scholastic Press, 2008. ISBN 0439927919

Have you ever charved? What?! You have never even heard of charving? Well- charving is a combination of chewing and carving slices of cheese into shapes, and fourth grader Oggie Cooder happens to be an expert charver. At school everybody picks on Oggie, just because he dresses and acts a little differently. After he wins a spot on a popular television talent show for his charving ability everyone wants to be just like him. However, when his manager, popular classmate Donnica Perfecto, begins trying to change Oggie to make him even more of a hit with potential viewers, charving and popularity starts to lose their appeal.

Recommended for grades 4 and up.

Author's Website

Check out these cool cheese carvings....

Cheese on the cob!

Photo from http://www.onmilwaukee.com/

This Cheesosaurus didn't go extinct...he melted!

Photo from www.fooddesigns.blogspot.com

Do you think a princess made of cheese lives in this Cheese Castle?

Photo from www.icewonder.com

Children's author Jane Yolen to speak at Watertown Free Public Library

Award winning children's author Jane Yolen will speak Friday, September 19, 2008 at 3pm at the Watertown Free Public Library (Watertown Savings Bank Room). Yolen has written nearly 300 stories for children, teens and adults. Yolen has been the recipient of several awards throughout her writing career, including the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, two Christopher Medals, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards, the Golden Kite Award, the Jewish Book Award, and the Association of Jewish Libraries Award. Yolen will be speaking about her highly praised new book, Sea Queens : Women Pirates Around the World (Charlesbridge, 2008). A book signing will immediately follow. No registration is recquired for this event, but be advised parking is limited.

Jane Yolen's website

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. New York : Miramax Books, 2005. ISBN 0-78683565-5

Percy Jackson has always experienced weird things, but he always figured it was either his dyslexia, or maybe even is ADHD. Bullied and outcast, he bounces from school to school until he gets to Yancy Academy, and for the first time makes a real friend, Grover. He even has a teacher, Mr. Brunner, who truly believes in him. Until one day when he overhears Grover and Mr. Brunner talking about him, and about how they must make sure he stays alive until next fall. Could the reason Percy is excelling in Greek mythology be linked to his father that he has never met? Could Percy be someone special after all?

Recommended grades 5 and up.

Author's website