Children's Books
Welcome to the Youth Services Children's Books blog. We encourage you to give feedback and share.
I really enjoyed this one! This is the first book in the Children of the Red King series, where 11-year-old Charlie Bone attends Bloor's Academy "for gifted children." He has recently learned that he has the gift of hearing people in photographs, which delights his sour grandmother since she might be able to use it to her advantage. There are several subplots (Charlie's missing father, little Emilia Moon who has been kidnapped, and Manfred Floor, the sinister head boy who can hypnotize anyone who looks into his eyes) but the fantasy series follows the chosen "endowed" children who all have various gifts and, ultimately, leads to a great battle that was started long ago by descendants of a powerful king. Harry Potter fans will enjoy this series, as well as middle school fantasy fans. This series is wonderful to listen to on tape as well. 
If you have a brother, or would like to know what it is like to have a brother, this is the book for you. Jennifer just wants to be included with her brother, Matt, and his friends. She is told to "go away. She is too young and a girl!" After some unacceptable attempts, Jennifer finally wins the approval of the big boys and her brother. This book is a great transitional chapter book for first grade readers particularly girls, coming into the juvenile chapter book section. It is short (only 3 chapters) but a "super" book for sisters. Let me know what you think. 
This is by the same author who wrote the Artemis Fowl books as well as "The Supernaturalist" and "The Wish List" which are extremely popular with the middle school crowd. 12-year-old Fletcher Moon, known as Half-Moon because of his short stature, has earned his detective badge making him the youngest detective in his Irish hometown, if not the world. He is hired by 10-year-old April Deveraux to find out who has stolen a lock of a rock star's hair she had bought on E-bay. The investigation points toward Red Sharkey from the Sharkey family notorious for thievery, but through a series of twists and turns, Fletcher finds himself implicated in a much grander crime including arson. This mystery has much humor and kids will enjoy following the clues to try to solve the case themselves. There is sure to be a sequel. Recommended for both girls and boys in grades 4-8. 
This book is the first book in a series that features all species of owls as the primary characters. The reader is first introduced to the Barn Owl Soren who lives in a nest with his brother, sister and parents. The owlets learn about the legends of Ga'Hoole and enjoy special owl ceremonies like "First Meat" and "First Fur". When Soren falls out of the nest while his parents are hunting, he is snatched by the evil owls of St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls and taken there. The chicks there are "moonblinked" (brainwashed) and serve some mysterious purpose for which Soren and his friend, the Elf Owl Gylfie, try to decipher as they wait for their feathers to come in which may allow them to escape and warn others. The reading of this book on CD is wonderful. Reader Pamela Garelick is able to switch voices between characters effortlessly and each is unique and distinguishable. I would recommend listening to this one in the car! This series of now 11 titles would be suitable for both girls and boys in grades 4-8 who enjoy fantastical adventures. Chock full of owl behaviour as well, owl enthusiasts would also enjoy to follow this original tale. 
The Black Canary was a very good book about a young boy, by the name of James Parrett. He is the product of a biracial marriage and often feels as if he is the outsider. He doesn't fit in with the black crowd, and he doesn't fit in with the white crowd. His parents, are accomplished musicians who are often on tour, and do not always pay as much attention to James as they should. When this story takes place, it is in the 21st century, and James and his parents are staying in London while his mother goes on a European singing tour. While staying at his uncle's house in Clerkenwell, James disovers an odd, cloudy form, that takes him back in time. James is lucky that he can come back to his own time. However, during a tour of the Thames River with his father, James falls in the river, and when he is pulled out of the river, it turns out that he is still in London, but in the year 1600! James is very confused, and not sure what to do. Being that he is a black boy, the people in the year 1600, find him to be an oddity. James tries to get back to the 21st century, but in trying he ends up being part of a boys' choir/acting troupe, performing the acts of plays of the likes of William Shakespeare and Ben Johnson. This group of boys is named: "The Children of the Royal Chapel." James learns a lot about himself, and discovers that he can sing, and enjoys performing in front of people. James likes this life, however he misses his parents, and wonders how can he get back? Read this book to see if James makes it back to his family, and what changes may occur in his relationship with his parents. A very well-written book that gives great insight into the life and times of 1600 London. I would recommend this book to grades 5-8, and I feel that both boys and girls would enjoy this book. 
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