Staff Picks Youth

The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their own Soccer Field

by Scott Riley

Young Prasit Hemmin and his friends loved soccer but because their small island home of Koh Panyee, off the coast in Thailand had so little land there was no room for even a small field. The boys played on sandbars at low tide, but as soon as the tide came in, the game was over. Set in 1986, this inspiring true story of determination and teamwork tells of Prasit and his friends’ wild plan to use scrap lumber to build a floating soccer field.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Youth Nonfiction

The Elephants Come Home: A True Story of Seven Elephants, Two People, and One Extraordinary Friendship

by Kim Tomsic

This touching true story portrays conservationist Lawrence Anthony’s relationship with a frightened, hunted elephant herd that found a home at his reserve in South Africa, Thula Thula. Anthony and his wife, Françoise, had a no-hunting rule at Thula Thula, but still the uneasy rescued elephants broke out of their enclosure. When they came back, a gentle Anthony carefully reassured the animals that they were safe, and they came to love their new home and him.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Youth Nonfiction

Opening the Road: Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book

by Keila Dawson

In the late 1930s when segregation was legal and Black Americans couldn’t visit every establishment or travel everywhere they wanted to safely, a New Yorker named Victor Hugo Green decided to do something about it. Green wrote and published a guide that listed places where his fellow Black Americans could be safe in New York City. Soon customers started asking Green to make a guide to help them travel and vacation safely across the nation too.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Youth Biographies

Tomorrow is a Brand-New Day

by Davina Bell

This is an uplifting and heartwarming picture book about growing up.  It shows children how to learn from their experiences both good and bad. From the bright and sunny illustrations to the hopeful message, it is filled with positivity! I also love the rhyming words and how it describes feelings.  This feel good book is just what kids need on a bad day!

Recommend by: Lenore Garoufalis, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Ask Mr. Bear

by Marjorie Flack

This children’s classic book was published in 1931.  I first discovered it when I was researching books for a preschool birthday storytime that I was presenting at my library.   

The gentle tale tells the story of Danny who is in search of the perfect birthday gift for his mother.  Through a series of meetings with some farm animals, Danny tell them of his dilemma and each offers a gift:  The Hen offers Danny a fresh egg; the Goose offers feathers so Danny can make a pillow for his mother; the Goat suggest his milk so they can have cheese.  Danny thanks them all but tells the animals that his mother has all of those things.  Finally, Danny and the animals come across a Cow who tells Danny that he should visit Mr. Bear who lives in the woods on the other side of the hill.  Danny heads off and reaches Mr. Bear, and asks Mr. Bear what he has for Danny to give to his mother for her birthday.  Mr. Bear tells Danny he doesn’t have anything for Danny’s mother’s birthday but he whispers something that Danny can give her himself. 

I don’t want to give away the ending, but to me this soothing story tells little ones and grown-ups too, that the best presents are the giving of yourself by showing love. 

 Recommended by: Mary G. Adamowski, Library Director

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins!

by Karina Evans

When puberty hits for Tahlia Wilkins, the hits just keep on coming! School’s out for the summer, she has the best friend a girl could ask for, and she has a foolproof plan to become popular this summer before eighth grade, so what could go wrong? Everything. Literally, everything that could go wrong is going wrong in this hilarious middle grade novel by Karina Evans. Tahlia and her best friend, Lily, spend days dealing with one disaster after another, until the biggest disaster of all threatens their friendship. If you’ve ever felt some serious growing pains, this book reminds you you’re not the only one. Fans of Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. Ever. by Betsy Bird will find this story just as entertaining.

Recommended by: Erin Cady, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Youth Fiction

We Are Wolves

by Katrina Nannestad

Liesl, Otto and Mia are siblings living in Germany in 1944 with their mother, father and grandparents. The war affects them only in small ways until their father is forced to join the army and then they are told to leave their home as the Russian army is coming. They struggle to survive but one by one they get separated from their group. Fortunately, there are good people everywhere and the three children use all their wits just to survive. 

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Honestly Elliott

by Gillian McDunn

Elliott is having a rough year. His best friend moved away, his parents got divorced, he’s having trouble transitioning to middle school AND his ADHD is hard for him to keep under control. When his ‘friends’ don’t want him to join their group for a school project, Elliott is feeling pretty low. Luckily one of the smartest girls in his class, Maribel, is willing to work with him on the project. As Elliott and Maribel learn more about each other, Elliott’s year begins to get better.  

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Winterborne Home for Vengeance & Valor

by Ally Carter

This action packed book caught my attention right away! The story revolves around five orphans who are brought to live at the Winterborne home. Little do they know, they will become immersed in a mystery of a missing family heir. Great read aloud for middle school. It has you thinking and guessing the whole way through!

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and eaudiobook

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Hilde on the Record: Memoir of a Kid Crime Reporter

by Hilde Lysiak

When she was 4 years old Lysiak managed to go with her journalist father to the scene of a murder. That was when she knew journalism was for her. The family moved to Pennsylvania and she started her own neighborhood newspaper. When she was 9 years old she covered a murder and it went viral for getting the information out before any traditional news sources. There were a variety of reactions to that as people spoke from their perspectives as to whether she should be covering murder at her age. By 14, she had published a book series, Hilde Cracks the Case, and she was the inspiration for the TV series, Home Before Dark. In spite of her many awards and accomplishments, such as being youngest person to give a college commencement address, she suffers from issues with food, loss of self-esteem, and emotional turmoil as a teenager. This is the scoop from the perspective of a teen reporter.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Youth Biographies