Recommendations
See what La Grange Public Library staff members have to recommend.
-
Frankie & Bug
-
by Gayle Forman
This book has everything a summer story should have: ice cream, lemonade, roller skating, time at the beach, new friends and...a serial killer. Set in 1987 Venice, California, we meet 10-year old Bug, her family and her neighbors as summer begins. Bug is frustrated that her plans for a perfect summer are being changed, but this summer and meeting Frankie will open her eyes to a much wider world.… Continue
-
My Two Border Towns
-
by David Bowles
A picture book debut by an award-winning author about a boy's life on the U.S./Mexico border, visiting his favorite places on The Other Side with his father, spending time with family and friends and sharing in the responsibility of community care. My Two Border Towns by David Bowles, with stunning watercolor illustrations by Erika Meza, is the loving story of a father and son's weekend ritual, a… Continue
-
Treasury of Magical Tales from Around the World
-
by Donna Jo Napoli
Have you ever read a story about the moon that has its roots in the Russian Arctic? How about a magic frog from Sri Lanka? Or a magic bowl in Palestine? Donna Jo Napoli has collected and adapted these oral stories and others from around the world. The stories are all connected by the “thread of magic” and illustrated beautifully by Christina Balit (who also illustrated Napoli’s… Continue
-
The Sea in Winter
-
by Christine Day
It's been a hard year for Maisie Cannon ever since she tore her ACL and her dreams of dancing ballet professionally were put on hold. Her blended family is loving and supportive, but Maisie knows they just can't understand how hopeless she feels. She is not excited for their family midwinter road trip near the Makah community where her mother grew up. Soon, Maisie's anxieties and dark moods start… Continue
-
Marcus Makes a Movie
-
by Kevin Hart
Comedian Kevin Hart makes his writing debut with this middle-grade novel. Marcus is a middle school student who joins the video club because nothing else is open. He loves to draw comic strips and has created a hero named Toothpick. Once he commits to making this movie, he is all in. Marcus is sure he is the greatest filmmaker of all time. But he quickly discovers that making a movie is WAY… Continue
-
Asha and the Spirit Bird
-
by Jasbinder Bilan
This is the story of Asha, a girl living in the foothills of the Himalayas. Money is tight, so her father works far away from their small-town home. When he suddenly stops sending his wages, a ruthless moneylender ransacks their farm. Asha makes a pact with her best friend, Jeevan, to find her father and make things right. The journey is dangerous; they must cross the world's highest mountains… Continue
-
A Black Hole is Not a Hole
-
by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano
This is a great introduction to the extremely complex concept of black holes. The author not only explains what they are, but how they form, where they are located and what would happen if a person were to visit one. It also gives the historic timeline of scientific theories and discoveries regarding black holes. This beautifully illustrated book is highly informative, but it also makes the… Continue
-
Unbound: The Life + Art of Judith Scott
-
by Joyce Scott
In this picture book biography, Joyce Scott tells the story of her twin sister Judy, a remarkable fiber artist with Down syndrome. Born at a time when people with disabilities were largely misunderstood, Judy was sent to live at an institution for over 30 years. When Joyce and Judy can finally live together as adults, Judy thrives at the Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland, California, where… Continue
-
Ways to Make Sunshine
-
by Renee Watson
Ryan Hart’s name means “king” and she is determined to keep growing into the name her parents gave her—to be a leader, to see the best in people, to be a good daughter, sister and friend. But Ryan has a lot on her mind: fourth grade, self-image, and especially her family. Her dad finally has a new job but money is still tight. That means changes like moving into a new… Continue
-
Ahmed Aziz's Epic Year
-
by Nina Hamza
After his dad gets sick, Ahmed and his family move from Hawaii to Minnesota. Ahmed cannot imagine a worse place to live. To top it off, he's one of the only brown kids in his school. Not one to excel at school, Ahmed surprises himself by reading all the books assigned to him in class, and he doesn't hate them. Then Ahmed starts to learn about his family's past, particularly his uncle. Getting… Continue
-
Invented by Animals: Meet the Creatures Who Inspired Our Everyday Technology
-
by Christiane Dorion and Gosia Herba
Did you ever wonder where the idea to make paper from wood pulp came from? Or whether someone could design a real invisibility cloak someday? Or how cool it could be to be able to crawl across a ceiling? All these ideas and more came from scientists, inventors and other curious folks studying animals and insects! Think about it... Animals and insects have been finding amazing ways to adapt their… Continue
-
Prairie Lotus
-
by Linda Sue Park
This wonderful historical novel is set in 1880 Dakota Territory. Hanna and her father arrive in the town of LaForge to begin a new life. Not only do they face the usual issues of life in a newly established town, far from bigger cities, but they will face racism as well. Hanna is half-Chinese, the only Asian person most people in LaForge have ever met. Will this friendly, smart and talented girl… Continue
-
Outside, Inside
-
by LeUyen Pham
This picture book does a beautiful job of explaining the last year without mentioning the word ‘pandemic’. It celebrates essential workers who could not go inside because some needed to protect us, and others made sure that we had what we needed. Even though we stayed inside we continued to learn and grow, and nature thrived on the outside. The text captures so many emotions from 2020… Continue
-
Too Bright To See
-
by Kyle Lukoff
Ever since Uncle Roderick passed away, Bug's house in rural Vermont has been creepier than usual. Bug has always heard strange noises and felt gusts of cold air, but now, sometimes, Bug sees another kid's face in the mirror. Meanwhile, the start of middle school is around the corner and Bug's best friend Moira wants to practice makeovers, which makes Bug uncomfortable for reasons that are hard to… Continue
-
Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away
-
by Meg Medina
Available in our catalog (English) (Spanish) Evelyn Del Rey is Daniela's best friend. They do everything together and even live in twin apartments across the street from each other: Daniela with her mami and hamster, and Evelyn with her mami, papi, and cat. But not after today--not after Evelyn moves away. Until then, they play amid the moving boxes until it's time to say goodbye, making… Continue
-
Mindy Kim, Class President
-
by Lyla Lee
Mindy Kim is running for class president and she's basing her whole campaign on being kind and snacks. Who wouldn't want her to win? But Mindy must conquer her biggest fear: making a speech to the class about why she would be the best pick for president. Can Mindy overcome her biggest obstacle and prove to herself and others that she is the best choice for class president? This book is the fourth… Continue
-
Wolfboy
-
by Andy Harkness
What’s a big, blue, HUNGRY, HUFFY, GROWLY Wolfboy to do when he can’t find any rabbits? As he climbs, stomps, sploshes and slogs along, searching through the forest, creek, bog and ravine he uncovers no rabbits—or any other food for that matter! Will he ever be satisfied, or will his hanger get the best of him? And, will the cute rabbits be part of the surprise ending? Readers… Continue
-
Katie the Catsitter
-
by Colleen AF Venable; Illustrated by Stephanie Yue
Katie takes a summer job as a catsitter to raise money for camp, but these aren't normal cats. There are 217 of them and each one has a special skill, like Jolie the computer hacker and Gracie the language expert who can meow in 82 languages. Their owner might not be normal either. In fact, Katie starts to suspect that she might be a notorious supervillain that has been prowling New York City.… Continue
-
Sky Gazing
-
by Meg Thacher
Who hasn’t stared up at the sky and wondered about the stars, the sun, the moon and the planets? Readers are given a tour of the solar system and deep space with no telescope or binoculars required. Kids will learn how to spot and observe planets, identify constellations throughout the seasons, how the Earth’s moon was formed and why there are phenomena such as eclipses, meteor… Continue
-
The Van Gogh Deception
-
by Deron Hicks
This mystery novel for middle-grade readers, a 2021 Bluestem Award nominee, will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story focuses on a boy with amnesia who recalls all kinds of information about art, but doesn't remember his name or how he came to be sitting in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. all alone. The boy and his new friend race across the city to solve both the mystery… Continue
-
Bedtime for Sweet Creatures
-
by Nikki Grimes, Pictures by Elizabeth Zunon
This sweet, beautifully illustrated story imagines the ordinary routine of bedtime as an animal-filled journey. When the red-pajama clad child isn't sleepy, they delay bedtime by growling like a bear, questioning like an owl and hunting for water like a sly wolf. From tigers, to squirrels, to snakes, the little child dodges around bedtime until they are finally tired enough to sleep, curling up… Continue
-
Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story)
-
by Daniel Nayeri
Daniel tells stories. As a middle schooler from Iran, he fills his time in his new classroom in Oklahoma sharing stories about what it was like living in Iran and what it's like being "the refugee kid in the back of the class." This beautiful tale illustrates how we are all connected, and how when we listen to one another's stories, we can no longer be enemies. Highly recommended for older… Continue
-
Genesis Begins Again
-
by Alicia Williams
Genesis has an awful lot to handle for a 13-year-old. She and her family have been evicted several times because her father’s paycheck goes toward alcohol and gambling and her mom’s pay doesn’t cover the rest. Dad’s words hurt when he’s drunk; the most hurtful of them that Genesis is too black, like him, and not enough like her light-skinned mom. Even her black… Continue
-
Measuring Up
-
by Lily LaMotte
When Cici and her family emigrate from Taiwan to Seattle, Cici misses her grandmother, A-má, more than anything. Determined to buy A-má a plane ticket to visit for her birthday, Cici signs up for a six-week cooking competition. She must decide whether she should cook the delicious Taiwanese dishes A-má taught her, or learn new recipes to please the American judges. Readers… Continue
