Staff Book Picks - Info Guides at Winnipeg Public Library

Are you a fan of figuring things out? Do you like to follow clues and decipher puzzles? Then this is the list for you! Each of these books is guaranteed to test your solving skills. Can you figure out whodunit before the end of the story? Check out one of these great titles to find out. These books are best enjoyed by ages 9 - 11 but everyone can join in the fun.

Cover Art Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang; Mike Holmes (Illustrator)

ISBN: 9781626720756

Welcome to Stately Academy, a school which is just crawling with mysteries to be solved! The founder of the school left many clues and puzzles to challenge his enterprising students. Using their wits and their growing prowess with coding, Hopper and her friend Eni are going to solve the mystery of Stately Academy no matter what it takes!

Unicorn Power! by Mariko Tamaki; Brooklyn Allen (Illustrator); BOOM! Studios Staff (Illustrator)

ISBN: 9781419727252

Welcome to Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. The five scouts of Roanoke cabin--Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley--love their summers at camp. They get to hang out with their best friends, earn Lumberjane scout badges, annoy their no-nonsense counselor Jen . . . and go on supernatural adventures. That last one? A pretty normal occurrence at Miss Qiunzella's, where the woods contain endless mysteries. Today is no exception. When challenge-loving April leads the girls on a hike up the TALLEST mountain they've ever seen, things don't go quite as planned. For one, they didn't expect to trespass into the lands of the ancient Cloud People, and did anyone happen to read those ominous signs some unknown person posted at the bottom of the mountain? Also, unicorns.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

ISBN: 9780375870897

Kyle Keeley is the class clown and a huge fan of all games--board games, word games, and particularly video games. His hero, Luigi Lemoncello, the most notorious and creative gamemaker in the world, just so happens to be the genius behind the construction of the new town library. Lucky Kyle wins a coveted spot as one of twelve kids invited for an overnight sleepover in the library, hosted by Mr. Lemoncello and riddled with lots and lots of games. But when morning comes, the doors stay locked. Kyle and the other kids must solve every clue and figure out every secret puzzle to find the hidden escape route!

Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

ISBN: 9781627791151

For twelve-year-old Emily, the best thing about moving to San Francisco is that it's the home city of her literary idol: Garrison Griswold, book publisher and creator of the online sensation Book Scavenger (a game where books are hidden in cities all over the country and clues to find them are revealed through puzzles). Upon her arrival, however, Emily learns that Griswold has been attacked and is now in a coma, and no one knows anything about the epic new game he had been poised to launch. Then Emily and her new friend James discover an odd book, which they come to believe is from Griswold himself, and might contain the only copy of his mysterious new game. Racing against time, Emily and James rush from clue to clue, desperate to figure out the secret at the heart of Griswold's new game--before those who attacked Griswold come after them too.

Greenglass House by Kate Milford; Jaime Zollars (Illustrator)

ISBN: 9780544052703

It's wintertime at Greenglass House. The creaky smuggler's inn is always quiet during this season, and twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers' adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But on the first icy night of vacation, out of nowhere, the guest bell rings. Then rings again. And again. Soon Milo's home is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each one bearing a strange story that is somehow connected to the rambling old house. As objects go missing and tempers flare, Milo and Meddy, the cook's daughter, must decipher clues and untangle the web of deepening mysteries to discover the truth about Greenglass House--and themselves.

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Love is all around in February!

Not only is Valentines Day in February, but we celebrate I love to Read month as well. So what could be better than reading about love with your little ones. Here is a fun selection for Valentines Day or any other love..ly day. Love by Stacy McAnulty; Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (Illustrator) From award-winning author Stacy McAnulty comes a sweet story about love and what it's really all about. What is love? Can you only express it in fancy meals, greeting cards, and heart-shaped chocolates? Kids will find love everywhere in this delightful book. It can be found in everyday moments such as baking cookies with grandma, notes from Mom in your lunchbox, or a family singing together on a car trip, and it isn't always what you expect! With delightful illustrations by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff and sweetly simple prose by award-winning author Stacy McAnulty, this is the perfect book to teach children what love means, why it's important, and how they can spread the love in their daily lives. The Littlest Things Give the Loveliest Hugs by Mark Sperring; Maddie Frost (Illustrator) A delightful picture book celebrating love and hugs in all kinds of animal families--perfect for Valentine's Day and year-round love, too! From ducklings to seal pups, from bunnies to cubs, the littlest things give the loveliest hugs. In this tender celebration of love, you'll find the sweetest bug hug, the cutest fox cuddle, and the gentlest elephant embrace you've ever seen. Playful poetry and bright illustrations of adorable baby animals will inspire cozy time from morning to night, all the way to bedtime. Valensteins by Ethan Long Something strange is in the air on this dark, cold night. The members of Fright Club are always ready to scare, but tonight Fran K. Stein has something else on his mind. He's busy making something, and the other monsters want to know what it is. Could it be a mask with fangs? A big pink nose? Or maybe a paper butt? No . . . it's a Valentine! That means one thing . . . EEEEK!! Is Fran in love? What could be scarier than falling in love?!? In this hilariously spooky story by Geisel Award-winning author and illustrator Ethan Long, even the scariest of monsters have true feelings. Click, Clack, Moo I Love You! by Doreen Cronin; Betsy Lewin (Illustrator) Little Duck and all of her friends on the farm celebrate Valentine's Day by inviting a newcomer to join in the fun in this charming addition to the award-winning Click, Clack series from the New York Times bestselling and Caldecott winning team who brought you Click, Clack, Moo and Click, Clack, Surprise! It's Valentine's Day and on the farm that means a Valentine's party. Little Duck is wildly excited. She hangs balloons, streamers, sparkling lights, and hearts everywhere, and hand-makes a valentine for everyone. On top of a hill, a little fox hears the music from the party and follows Little Duck's many decorations to the barn...but foxes are not at all welcome on farms. The chickens stop dancing. The sheep stop dancing. The pigs stop dancing. The mice hustle off to hide. Will Little Fox ruin the dance? Or, perhaps, she's just what the party needs! Groundhug Day by Anne Marie Pace; Christopher Denise (Illustrator) Moose is having a Valentine's Day party, and all his friends are so excited! Everyone except Groundhog, that is. If Groundhog sees his shadow outside, he'll hide in his hole for six more weeks and miss the party! Determined to help their friend join them, Moose, Squirrel, Bunny, and Porcupine put their heads together and come up with a plan. But will it be enough to get Groundhog out to play? This heartwarming picturebook by the author of Vampirina Ballerina, with adorable illustrations by Christopher Denise, is sure to be a hit, whether readers are bursting for spring or snuggling up for six more weeks of winter....

Picture Perfect - Photo Illustration Favorites

Photo Illustrations in books for Children hold a special place in my heart. From my early childhood (a very long time ago!) I still remember the gorgeous and enchanting photos in "Holiday for Edith and the Bears" by Dare Wright. If you'd like to build wonderful memories, with books that will make a deep impression on your own children, we have some lovely titles in stock for you to explore together. Some of the following books are true stories, and some are fiction, but they are all creatively illustrated with sumptuous photographs. What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night by Refe Tuma; Susan Tuma ISBN: 9780316294591 Publication Date: 2014-10-28 From the creative parents who brought the world the web sensation "Dinovember" comes photographic proof of what toys get up to when the rest of the house is asleep. You might have noticed weird things happening in your house. Unexplainable messes. Food all over the kitchen floor. Who could the culprits be? Dinosaurs! Boasting bright and hilarious photographs, along with a story written from the point of view of an older, wiser sibling, Refe and Susan Tuma's picture book documents a very messy adventure that shows just what the dinosaurs did last night. Peanut Butter and Cupcake by Terry Border (Illustrator) ISBN: 9780399167737 Publication Date: 2014-07-29 For fans of The Day the Crayons Quit, Little Pea, or How Are You Peeling? What's a little piece of bread to do when he's feeling lonely? Find a friend, of course! And that's exactly what Peanut Butter tries to do. But sometimes friends are hard to come by, especially when Hamburger has to walk his (hot) dogs, Cupcake is too busy building castles in her sprinkle box, and Egg laughs so hard he starts to crack up! Does Peanut Butter have a soulmate? Young readers will know the answer long before Peanut Butter does and laugh along with each mismatched pairing. In a story that pairs silliness with poignancy, and friendship with anthropomorphic food, Terry Border, the photography mastermind behind the Bent Objects project, makes a triumphant entrance into the children's book world. Complete with a rhyming refrain, this is sure to be a favorite family read-aloud-and laugh-aloud. Praise for PEANUT BUTTER & CUPCAKE "Border’s witty food comedy will lure children who are hungry for clever visual entertainment."--Publishers Weekly "[T]he creatively zany photographs...will make this a read-aloud hit."--School Library Journal "This book would be a great read-aloud on friendship and food."--Library Media Connection The Hen Who Sailed Around the World by Guirec Soudée ISBN: 9780316448840 Publication Date: 2018-10-02 Meet Monique! In this true story, online phenomenon Guirec Soudée shares his adventures both unbelievable and heartwarming, sailing around the world with his brave, affectionate red hen, Monique. Monique is a highly accomplished chicken: she surfs, she skateboards, and she just crossed the world on a tiny boat with her human companion, Guirec, who helped steer. On their three-year journey, together they were unstoppable. When they became stranded in the ice off Greenland for four months, Monique, unruffled as always, kept Guirec alive with her eggs-- and they both made it home. Guirec and Monique are irresistible as unlikely comrades and friends taking on the world, and Guirec documented their journey with his remarkable, comical photographs. A deeply touching portrait of the real-life bond between animals and the humans who love them as well as a thrilling survival story, The Hen Who Sailed Around the World is an adventure for the ages. The True Story of Ten Dogs - Stay by Michaela Muntean; K. C. Bailey (Illustrator); Stephen Kazmierski (Photographer) ISBN: 9780545234979 Publication Date: 2012-04-01 Meet Luciano Anastasini, a man who calls the circus home. Meet ten dogs that have no home. When fate brings man and dogs together, a remarkable story of belief and second chances unfolds. So step right up, and prepare to be amazed! Tarra and Bella by Carol Buckley (Photographer) ISBN: 9780399254437 Publication Date: 2009-09-08 Best friends come in all shapes and sizes! After retiring from the circus, Tarra became the first resident of the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. When other elephants moved in and developed close friendships, only Tarra remained independent? until the day she met a stray mixed-breed dog named Bella. It was love at first sight as this unlikely duo became inseparable. They ate together, slept together, and even understood each other's language. And when Bella suffered a severe spinal injury, Tarra stayed by her side and was there for her until Bella regained her health. Brilliant color photographs of Tarra and Bella at home in the Elephant Sanctuary deftly illustrate this inspiring story of companionship, and an informative note about the Sanctuary provides a great resource for parents and teachers. ...

Warm tales for Cold nights

With the deep freeze of January upon us, what could be better than reading with your pre-schooler. Stories to delight! Tallulah's Ice Skates by Marilyn Singer; Alexandra Boiger (Illustrator) Tallulah heads out into a winter wonderland to go ice skating and finds out that having fun is sometimes more important than being the best in this new, snowy addition to the popular Tallulah series. Tallulah is an accomplished ballerina, but she also loves to skate. After all, skating's a lot like ballet--challenging, graceful, and glamorous. Tallulah is positive that with some hard work, she and her friend Kacie will be just as good on the ice as they are at dance. They'll be Super Skaters! But Kacie doesn't want to rehearse fancy moves; she wants to have fun. So Tallulah practices by herself. That is, until an encounter with a talented boy, which ends with an embarrassing mishap. Then Tallulah begins to realize that sometimes having fun is more important than being the best, a needed message for today's goal-oriented, busy kids. Giraffe Problems by Jory John; Lane Smith (Illustrator) Penguins aren't the only animals with problems. . . . A second hilarious collaboration from picture-book superstars Lane Smith and Jory John! Can you guess what's making this giraffe self-conscious? Could it be . . . HIS ENORMOUS NECK?? Yes, it's exactly that--how on earth did you figure it out? Edward the giraffe can't understand why his neck is as long and bendy and, well, ridiculous as it is. No other animal has a neck this absurd. He's tried disguising it, dressing it up, strategically hiding it behind bushes--honestly, anything you can think of, he's tried. Just when he has exhausted his neck-hiding options and is about to throw in the towel, a turtle swoops in (well, ambles in, very slowly) and helps him understand that his neck has a purpose, and looks excellent in a bow tie. Jory John and Lane Smith have truly outdone themselves in this companion book to Penguin Problems. Breaking News by David Biedrzycki When a UFO beams up Baby Bear and abducts the family, the human world goes crazy. Hilarity and chaos ensue as scouts, scientists, street vendors, and the mayor try to put their own spin on the story. Intrepid but bumbling reporter Chad Newsworthy covers it all, searching for the truth- Why did aliens snatch up these animals? (Hint- It's someone special's birthday!) My Pet Wants a Pet by Elise Broach; Eric Barclay (Illustrator) Once there was a boy who wanted something to take care of. Something of his very own. He begged his mother for a puppy. Until she said YES!The boy loved his puppy. He fed him and played with him and cuddled him. But soon, the dog wanted something to take care of--something of his very own. So the dog gets a pet cat; then the cat gets a pet bird; the bird gets a pet worm; the worm gets a pet flea . . . and on and on it goes as utter chaos ensues.This charming picture book cleverly captures a universal wish--to love and care for something--and shows that you're never too little to share in that dream.A Christy Ottaviano Book Did You Eat the Parakeet? by Mark Iacolina A little girl is convinced that her cat ate her parakeet. Where else would it be? She shouts, she accuses, and she laments her loss. "He was singing a tune just an hour ago. Did you eat him? I want to know!" In the end, her cat shows her that the bird has been on her head the whole time. But wait . . . now where's her pet mouse? This sweet and silly picture book, with rhyming text and adorable art, will have children laughing through the final page. ...

Canadian Titles

A Christmas for Bear by Bonny Becker; Kady MacDonald Denton (Illustrator) Bear's minimalist holiday celebration has an eager Mouse feeling a bit anxious in this humorous and heartwarming story about the unlikely, lovable pair. One frosty night, Bear hears a tap, tap, tapping on his front door. "Merry Christmas!" cries Mouse. Mouse is there for a Christmas party, and Bear has never had one before, but he's certain that pickles (preferably from France) must be an essential component, along with the reading of a long and difficult poem. The problem is, whenever Bear comes back from the kitchen with more treats, Mouse has vanished -- only to be found, small and gray and guilty-eyed, scurrying under the bed or rifling through the closet. Will there be even a tiny present involved? "Hogwash!" scolds Bear. Get ready for holiday anticipation and the best kind of surprises. A porcupine in a pine tree : a Canadian 12 days of Christmas by Becker, Helaine. A hilarious cast of distinctively Canadian characters populate these Twelve Days of Christmas! Christmas, as only Canadians can celebrate! Where else do Mounties frolic, squirrels enjoy a fine game of curling, and hockey players mark the season as lords-a-leaping? This hilarious, tongue-in-cheek re-setting of the popular Christmas carol is the perfect gift for Canadians new and old, young and young-at-heart. Waltz of the Snowflakes by Elly MacKay It is a cold and rainy evening when Gran gives her granddaughter something special: tickets to the ballet. Her granddaughter is reluctant to go. The weather is terrible and they have to wear fancy, uncomfortable clothes. But as the curtains rise on The Nutcracker, the girl's eyes light up as she's introduced to the magic of the theater. The bright costumes, the intricate dances, the magical music, and a new friend all combine to captivate the girl and to bring color to an otherwise dreary evening. Waltz of the Snowflakes is Elly MacKay at her finest, mixing her acclaimed paper-cut artwork with vibrant colors in this whimsical, dreamlike, and inspiring wordless picture book. A must-have for any ballet- and theater-obsessed reader and the perfect gift to be shared during the holidays or any time of year when the world outside needs a little bit of color and vibrancy. The Boy and the Giant by David Litchfield There is a Secret Giant in Gableview who has hands the size of tabletops, legs as long as drainpipes, and feet as big as rowing boats. But little Billy thinks the Giant is just a tall tale that his grandad likes to tell. According to Grandad, the Giant keeps the bears away when they go camping and rescues Billy's favorite kite when it gets tangled up in the tallest tree. Grandad swears the Giant is real, but Billy's not buying it. Why has he never seen the giant before? Why does the Giant stay hidden? Grandad knows why: People are afraid of things that look different. When Billy suddenly finds himself face-to-face with the Giant, he runs away in fear--and hurts the Giant's feelings. But now he's got an opportunity to make it up to him, and, just maybe, to be friends with the nicest guy in town. They say blue by Tamaki Jillian Caldecott and Printz Honor-winning illustrator Jillian Tamaki brings us a poetic exploration of colour and nature from a young child's point of view. They Say Blue follows a young girl as she contemplates colours in the known and the unknown, in the immediate world and the world beyond what she can see. The sea looks blue, yet water cupped in her hands is as clear as glass. Is a blue whale blue? She doesn't know -- she hasn't seen one. Stunningly beautiful illustrations flow from one spread to the next, as time passes and the imagination takes hold. The world is full of colour, and mystery too, in this first picture book from a highly acclaimed artist. ...

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