Skylar by Mary Cuffe-Perez, Renata Liwska (Illustrator) Skylar, who claims he was once wild, leads four pond geese in their first attempt at migration when an injured heron asks their help in reaching Lost Pond, where the annual Before the Migration Convention is about to be held.
Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel Takes a humorous look at the normal way cats bathe, why it is inappropriate for humans to bathe that way, and the challenges of trying to give a cat a real bath with soap and water. Includes fun facts, glossary, and other information.
The Secret of Laurel Oaks by Lois Ruby While staying with her family in Louisiana's Laurel Oaks Plantation, purported to be one of the most haunted places in America, thirteen-year-old Lila is contacted by the ghost of a slave girl unjustly convicted of murder.
The Blacker the Berry: Poems by Joyce Carol Thomas, Floyd Cooper (Illustrator) Black is dazzling and distinctive, like toasted wheat berry bread; snowberries in the fall; rich, red cranberries; and the bronzed last leaves of summer. A collection of poems, including "Golden Goodness," "Cranberry Red," and "Biscuit Brown," celebrating individuality and Afro-American identity.
The Great Wide Sea by M.H. Herlong Still mourning the death of their mother, three brothers go with their father on an extended sailing trip off the Florida Keys and have a harrowing adventure at sea. Visit the companion website for The Great Wide Sea. Here you will find information about the Byron family's adventure as well as information about sailboats and sailing, the sea and the sky, the poems and the books.
The Tygrine Cat by Inbali Iserles Lost and alone, Mati seeks acceptance from a pack of feral cats at Cressida Lock, but in order to defeat the assassin on his trail, Mati must unlock the secret of his true identity and learn to harness an ancient and deadly feline power.
My So-Called Family by Courtney Sheinmel Leah, who was conceived through a donor bank, decides that even though she loves her mother, stepfather, and stepbrother, she wants to find out if she has any other siblings, and sets out to investigate without telling anyone what she is doing.
The Ghost's Child by Sonya Hartnett When a mysterious child appears in her living room one day, the elderly Maddy tells him the story of her love for the wild and free-spirited Feather, who tried but failed to live a conventional life with her, and her search for him on a fantastical voyage across the seas.
Steel Town by Jonah Winter, Terry Widener (Illustrator) In Steel Town, it's always raining, freight trains come and go, the big furnace roars, and the steel mill never sleeps. This is a portrait of an imaginary town derived from the very real American steel towns of the 1930s, when the sky was often black as night all day and the cavernous mills belched out fire and smoke.
The Night of the Spadefoot Toads by Bill Harley When his family moves from Tucson, Arizona to Massachusetts, fifth-grader Ben has a hard time leaving the desert he loves, but when he finds a kindred spirit in his science teacher and ends up trying to help her with some of her problems, he finally begins to feel at home.
One Small Step by P.B. Kerr In 1969 Houston, Texas, thirteen-year-old Scott learns to fly from his father, an Air Force flight instructor, but when NASA needs him for a secret space mission, Scott's elation is tempered by concern that his mother, who has moved to Florida, will find out.
Samuel Blink and the Runaway Troll by Matt Haig Having been careful to heed his Aunt Eda's warnings to not enter the dangerous Shadow Forest , twelve-year-old Samuel Blink finds himself in a difficult situation when Troll-Son runs away from his Shadow Forest home to come and live with Samuel, his human hero.
Bronze Dragon Codex (Dragon Codices) by R.D. Henham When Simle--a bronze dragon who hates humans--and Tatelyn--a human who distrusts dragons--are linked sympathetically by a pendant, they realize they must work together which brings them a better understanding of each other.
In Mozart's Shadow: His Sister's Story by Carolyn Meyer In eighteenth-century Europe, Anna "Nannerl" Mozart, a musician whose talent and dedication is overshadowed by that of her gifted younger brother, Wolfgang, struggles to win the notice of her father and patrons who might further her career, despite her gender.
New Hours at Anoka County Libraries Begin May 3, 2009
Monday 12-8 Tuesday 10-6 Wednesday 12-8 Thursday 10-6 Saturday 10-5 Sunday 1-5 (All branches CLOSED Sundays for the summer; only Northtown will be open on Sundays from September through April)
4U@ACL
What is Anokaberry Annotated?
Anokaberry posted the Best Books of 2008 for Middle Grade Readers on January 9, 2009. Anokaberry is now Anokaberry Annotated. This new aspect of the blog means an accent, a tone, a personal, distinct voice may surface. This blog continues to present books published in the current year for middle grade readers but will also have editorial comment and attitude. Look for more ordered labeling for the coming year -- most obviously labeling that denotes genre: realistic fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, biography, poetry and verse, folklore/folktale and fantasy. Next January's list will honor books of excellence by genre.
Skylar by Mary Cuffe-Perez, Renata Liwska (Illustrator)
George Washington Carver by Tonya Bolden, Published in Association with the Field Museum, Chicago
Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel
Told in an ancient poetic form known as the renga, which means "linked verse," this visually stunning picture book paints a vivid portrait of a day in the life of an American village. Read about one of this book's authors, Paul B. Janeczko, here. Paul says--Got poems? Read one a day. Think of it as a vitamin for your spirit.
The Secret of Laurel Oaks by Lois Ruby
The Blacker the Berry: Poems by Joyce Carol Thomas, Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)
Steel Drumming at the Apollo: The Road to Super Top Dog by Trish Marx, Ellen B. Senisi (Photographer)
Plum Fantastic: Sugar Plum Ballerinas by Whoopi Goldberg, Maryn Roos (Illustrator)
three brothers go with their father on an extended sailing trip off the Florida Keys and have a harrowing adventure at sea. Visit the companion website for The Great Wide Sea. Here you will find information about the Byron family's adventure as well as information about sailboats and sailing, the sea and the sky, the poems and the books.
The Tygrine Cat by Inbali Iserles
My So-Called Family by Courtney Sheinmel
The Ghost's Child by Sonya Hartnett
Steel Town by Jonah Winter, Terry Widener (Illustrator)
Rita tries to improve her times and flip turns as she struggles to decide whether to remain the best swimmer on the Dolphins team or the worst on the Sharks team, where she could be with her friends. Does this art look familiar? The illustrator of this series has illustrated other books for young people, check this out.
The Night of the Spadefoot Toads by Bill Harley
One Small Step by P.B. Kerr
The trip to Chicago for Griffith, Ruby, and Graham becomes an adventure in itself after they realize their Uncle Owen has gone missing and the Chancellor has set his sights on the money the Travelin' Nine have been trying to raise. Loren Long's illustrations are marvelous! On his website you can roll the cursor over Loren’s pencil sketches to see the finished paintings.
Samuel Blink and the Runaway Troll by Matt Haig
Mogo, the Third Warthog by Donna Jo Napoli, Lita Judge, Lita Judge (Illustrator)
Attack of the Growling Eyeballs (Who Shrunk Daniel Funk? Series) by Lin Oliver, Stephen Gilpin (Illustrator) 
The Smell of Old Lady Perfume by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez
Bronze Dragon Codex (Dragon Codices) by R.D. Henham
In Mozart's Shadow: His Sister's Story by Carolyn Meyer
There were people who didn't think she could do it, but she believed in herself. And Hillary has been making history ever since. This is the inspiring story of a girl with dreams as big as the open sky.
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