Tag: January New Releases

BOOK NEWS: January 2, 2018

BOOK NEWS: January 2, 2018

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy New Year! Hope your New Year’s holiday was restful for you and your family! Today we are kicking off a new year of Book News. Here are some of the new books coming out this week:

Books for Kids

  

The Easter Story – The Easter story, told in Lego bricks.
Fancy Nancy: Oodles of Kittens – A new full-sized hardcover story from Fancy Nancy. Nancy and Bree find oodles of kittens. But Nancy isn’t sure the one she keeps will be able to get along with her dog, Frenchy.
Let the Children March – A book about the 1963 Children’s March for Civil Rights.
The Littlest Viking – The smallest viking (with the loudest voice) meets his match in a smaller, louder warrior princess.
Magnolia Mudd and the Super Jumptastic Launcher Deluxe – A science-minded kid doesn’t think she wants anything to do with being a flower girl in her favorite uncle’s wedding. I’m excited about this one, just because Magnolia sounds like a great kid!
Batgirl on the Case – Batgirl relives a night of crime finding to backtrack in order to find her father’s birthday gift. I love Batgirl! This would be fun to read.
Fast as the Flash – An early reader for Flash fans
Leia Chronicles – Part of the Forces of Destiny series of early readers
Pete the Cat and the Cool Caterpillar – Pete’s new caterpillar friend goes missing. Pete the Cat books are great fun for kids.
Bad Kitty Camp Daze – After an accident, Kitty starts to think she is a dog. This stresses out Puppy, so he goes away to dog camp. And Kitty sneaks off with him. These early chapter books are a lot of fun!
The Major Eights: Battle of the Bands AND Scarlet’s Big Break – This new early chapter book series kicks off with two new books, one about a Battle of the Bands and another is about one of the kids going solo.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

   

Betty Before X – Explores the childhood of civil rights activist Dr. Betty Shabazz, the widow of Malcolm X. I’m eager to read this one. I don’t know anything about the life of Betty Shabazz.
Black Panther: The Young Prince – Our whole family is looking forward to the Black Panther movie next month. In this book, T’Challa is a boy in Wakanda. He and his best friend are sent to school in Chicago where T’Challa starts on his path to becoming the Black Panther.
Bodyguard: Target AND Traitor – Books 7 and 8 in the Bodyguard series. I enjoyed books 1 and 2 (originally one whole novel); there’s tons of action. These two books focus on a different bodyguard, this time guarding a young rock star.
Escape from Aleppo – This story centers on a girl turning 12 just as Syria enters a civil war and bombs fall on her home city of Aleppo. A timely story.
Eternity Elixir – First in the new Potion Masters trilogy. Gordy has been training to be a potion master, but now a dangerous potion has fallen into his hands. Can Gordy and his family and friends keep it safe? This sounds like a story I will love!
Just Like Jackie – A girl is struggling with her caretaker’s failing memory and a bully at school. This one sounds fantastic!
Snow Lane – The youngest of 9 children, Annie longs to make her mark but plenty of things, including family secrets, are stacked against her. Looking forward to this one too!
Super Gifted – Sequel to the book Ungifted.  I love Gordon Korman’s books, and I have added both of these books to my library wish list!
Wings of Fire Graphic Novel – The Dragonet Prophecy – Graphic Novel version of the first Wings of Fire book. I really enjoyed this. The artwork is beautiful (although if you don’t know the story, it can be hard to know which dragon is which when they are all from the same tribe). This streamlines the first book nicely. I’m eager to see what they do with the other books in the series.
Winterhouse – First book in a new urban fantasy series about an orphan, an old hotel with an amazing library, and a magical book. I’ll be reviewing this one later today. Be sure you come back and check out my review.
As You Wish – A teen lives in a town that grants each kid one wish on their 18th birthday. I reviewed this one last week. You can read it here.
Batman: Nightwalker – This is the top book on my list for this week! I have already pre-ordered this one. This is an original story of Bruce Wayne as a teen. I can’t wait to get my eyes on this one!
Don’t Cosplay with my Heart – A struggling teen finds strength in her cosplay character and community. I’m really looking forward to reading this one.
The Forgotten Book – A teen who finds everything going her way in life stumbles onto a magic book. Everything she writes comes true. But someone else knows about this book and is determined to take it away from her. Looking forward to this one, too.
Love & Other Train Wrecks – A stalled train in a snowstorm puts two teens together and sets them on a course to change their thoughts about love.
Turn it Up – The co-captains of an a cappella group are at odds over a guy – the guy who leads a rival group. How can the girls’ group hope to compete if their leaders are at odds? Their only hope is the new girl who has an amazing voice – and unbelievable stage fright. This sounds like a YA version of the Pitch Perfect movies. I am so excited to read this one. I have enjoyed the author’s other work, and I am looking forward to this one.
You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone – A set of ambitious twins at odds take another hit when one tests positive for Huntington’s while the other does not.

Books for Adults

Another One Bites the Crust – Book 7 in the Bakeshop mystery series. I’ll be reviewing this one here next week.
Death Below Stairs – The first book in the Below Stairs mystery series. A cook in a mansion tries to figure out who killed the kitchen maid. This sounds SO fun! I’m requesting this one from the library for certain.
Dial M For Mousse – Book 3 in the Emergency Dessert Squad. I am a book behind on this series, but I hope to catch up soon. I really enjoyed book one.
Every Dog Has His Day – Book 3 in the Bluff Point Romance series. I enjoyed the first book, and I thought the second was even better! I’ll be reviewing this one here tomorrow.
Black Panther Ultimate Guide – This looks like a gorgeous collection of history on the character of Black Panther. Our family will be checking this book out for sure.
Jefferson’s Daughters: Three Sisters, White and Black, in a Young America –  This nonfiction book looks at the daughters of Thomas Jefferson – white and black – and their lives in America. One of my goals in 2018 is to read more nonfiction. This could be on my list!
Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals – Michael Hyatt is known for his organizational tips both for your personal life and also for building your business and your platform. Here he compiles his best information on goal setting and productivity.

BOOK NEWS: January 31, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

Lots of great books for kids coming out this week! Which of these look good to you?!

Books for Kids

Always Watch Out for the Flying Potato Salad! – Book 9 in the Here’s Hank series starring a young Hank Zipzer (from Winkler’s original series.)
Away Game – Book 5 in the Little Rhino baseball series for young readers by Ryan Howard
Bird and Squirrel on Fire – Book 4 in this fun graphic novel series! I have really enjoyed the earlier books in this series.
Bubbles and Boo – Book 44 in this dog-focused series! My students loved these books when I was teaching.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

 

Journey Through Ash and Smoke – Book 5 in the Ranger in Time series. I describe this series as Magic Tree House with a dog. Ranger is a trained search and rescue dog who travels through time. Great series!!
Light Up New York – Book 4 in the Glimmer Girls series from Faithgirlz by Christian singer, Natalie Grant. I haven’t gotten to read any of these, but they look darling!
Lost in Time – Geronimo Stilton’s Journey Through Time series, book 4
Newsprints – Graphic novel of a girl who pretends she’s a boy to get a job as a newsie
Harlem Charade – Three kids band together to solve a crime which leads them to an artist whose work might save their neighborhood. This looks terrific!
Short – A new book from the author of Counting by Sevens. This one is on the top of my list for this week!
The Wizards War – Book 4 in the Key Hunters series about a set of dangerous books. I’m bumping book one of this series up on my list!
Yours Truly – The second book in the Pumpkin Falls Mystery series after Absolutely Truly. This time the kids are solving a case of sabotage and the secret of an old diary. I haven’t read book one, but these mysteries sound like books I would love.
Wrath of the Storm – Mark of the Thief, book 3, from the amazing Jennifer Nielsen! Looks like an terrific action/fantasy series!
Playing Cupid – A girl starts a matchmaking business for a school project.
Me and Marvin Gardens – A boy who seems to be losing everything because of a new development in his community makes an important environmental discovery.
The Crooked Sixpence – Book one in the new Uncommoners series about a secret underground city under London.
The Prince Warriors and the Swords of Rhema – Third and final book in the Prince Warriors series  in this Christian fiction series of good and evil.
Exo – A new science fiction book for teens about an Earth that has been colonized by an alien race.
Silver Stars – Book 2 in the alternate history series, Soldier Girls, a series about World War II with girls fighting on the front lines.
Wires and Nerve – Graphic novel from author Marissa Meyer that takes place in her world of the Lunar Chronicles. I enjoyed the Lunar Chronicles series and I’m looking forward to checking out Iko’s story in this graphic novel.
Lost in a Book – An original Beauty and the Beast story. Belle finds an enchanted book in Beast’s library.

Books for Adults

Murder in an Irish Village – The first book in a new mystery series centered around a bistro in Ireland
Murder Wears White – Book 2 in the Wedding Planner mystery series
Some Kind of Magic – Put together a scientist, a  rock star and a chemical experiment and sparks fly!
Star Trek TNG Headlong Flight – The latest story starring the cast of Star Trek The Next Generation.
Adam and the Genome – One of my reading goals for 2017 is to read a book that combines faith and science. This might be the one I read. What does genomic science have to say about the Biblical record of human history?
Dream with Me – A Christian memoir of race in America

BOOK NEWS: January 24, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

Not a lot of new books on my list this week, so I will just cover them all in one section. New books on the horizon this week include the following:

Pete the Cat:Five Little Ducks – A new picture book starring kid-favorite, Pete the Cat!
I Do Not Like Al’s Hat – Al’s rabbit is tired of being pulled out of the magician’s hat, so he goes off to find a new job.
Frederick Douglass: The Lion Who Wrote History – A picture book biography of Frederick Douglass
The Case of the Counterfeit Criminals – Book 3 in the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency series. I loved the first book in this series! I need to catch up. In this book, the girls take on a case of blackmail.
The Someday Birds – This story about an autistic boy and his wild family  traveling across the country while his father pursues treatment for injuries sustained in Afghanistan sounds fantastic! This is high on my list for this week.
The Ethan I Was Before – Two kids wrestle with secrets in their past as they hope for new adventures and a friendship that will support them both when they need it most. This also sounds fantastic! Middle grade books are some of the best stories being written today, in my opinion
Where Is the Colosseum? AND Where is the TajMahal? – New additions to this fantastic non-fiction series!
Control Girl – (releases January 27th) – Hope for me and my fellow control freaks in this Bible study!

Did any of these wind up on your wish list?

BOOK NEWS: January 17, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! I hope you and your family have an opportunity to think about Dr King’s impact on our country and ways that you can honor his work, not only today but all year long. My family is hoping to check out a special event at local college today for our “celebration.”

Here are some of the books coming out this week:

Books for Kids

 

Nope – A mother bird says it’s time to learn to fly but the baby bird says, “Nope.”
The Youngest Marcher – The story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, the youngest marcher in Birmingham in 1963
Fancy Party Gowns – A biography of Ann Cole Lowe, fashion designer
Star Wars Fight in the Forest – A new early reader from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
You Should Meet Jesse Owens – Early reader biography of Jesse Owens
Stef Soto Taco Queen – A young girl has a love/hate relationship with her family’s food truck and her reputation as the “Taco Queen” in this chapter book for elementary-age readers.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Big Trouble – Book 3 in the awesome Friday Barnes mystery series. This is the top book on my wish list this week!
Secret Origins – Book 3 in the Story Thieves series. I have been itching to read this series and this superhero-themed story might be just the push I need to dive in! It looks great.
The Wizard’s Dog – I am curious to check out this story about a dog and his missing master, Merlin. One description I read compares this to the Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom series, which I adore.
An Eagle in the Snow – An historical fiction story about Adolf Hitler, war, and the ethics of our choices. This is not my usual genre, but the concept is intriguing and I want to know what happens in this story.
Planet Football: Greatest Stadiums – Perfect for the soccer fans in your life!
Carve the Mark – A new Young Adult book by the author of Divergent. Personally, I still have a bad “taste” in my reader’s heart over Allegiant, which might push this book farther down my reading list until I hear from some folks who have read it.

Books for Adults


A Puzzle to be Named Later – Book 18 in this long-running crossword puzzle mystery series.
Reclaiming Hope – I don’t know what the author’s perspective is – pro-Obama or not – but I am curious to read this book about faith and the White House under President Obama. Faith and politics is a timely topic. I think this could lead to some fascinating, open conversations.
When Christ Appears – Dr. David Jeremiah looks at the Book of Revelation.

BOOK NEWS: January 10, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

How’s your reading going so far in 2017? Mine is slow going. I have several non-fiction books going now, and it always takes me longer to read those than fiction. Of course, with more books releasing every week, I’ll never be “caught up” anyway, so no guilt!

Here are some of the books coming out this week:

Books for Kids

I Am Jim Henson – I love this biography series for kids! The focus is on each person’s character rather than personal accomplishments. I can’t wait to read this one.
I Don’t Know What to Call My Cat – This story about choosing a pet name looks cute
One Proud Penny – The history of the penny
The Dragonsitter’s Party – Book 5 in this cute early chapter book series
The Goat Who Chewed too Much – Book 3 in this new series from the author of the Origami Yoda series.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

  

New Leash on Life & Bone to Pick – Books 5 & 6 in the Roxbury Park Dog Club series
Rolf – Book 10 in the Dog Diaries series, this one focusing on a therapy dog
Crushing It – A Cyrano DeBergerac- like story about a girl who helps her cousin get the attention of the boy she likes.
The Jolly Regina – Two girls are kidnapped by a band of female pirates
Matchstick Castle – A summer adventure for two kids who stumble on an amazing castle
The Runaway – Book 2 in the Valkyrie series by the author of the Pegasus mythology series
Hideout – A kid in a fishing boat discovers a boy living alone in a swamp
Spy on History: Mary Bowswer and the Civil War Spy Ring – A non-fiction book about an African-American spy who infiltrates the Confederate side of the Civil War.
Basher Engineering – The latest in this cool non-fiction series for kids
Mission to Pluto – Images of Pluto and its 5 moons from the robotic spacecraft, New Horizons
List of Cages – A teen working for the school psychologist tries to track down his missing former foster brother.
You Don’t Know My Name – A girl trained to be a spy falls in love and has to decide which of her two lives she wants to keep.

Books for Adults

Dead Cold Brew – Book 16 in the Coffeehouse mystery series
She Stopped for Death – Book 2 in the Little Library mystery series
You Carried Me – A memoir about a woman who lived after an abortion attempt
Craving Connection – 30 challenges for “real-life engagement” with real-life stories and Scriptural application.

BOOK NEWS: January 3, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy New Year!! I hope your holiday season was delightful! Personally, I enjoyed time with family and friends, and did lots of reading. There are a LOT of new books coming in the new year, and January is chock full of reading goodness. Here are some of the books coming out this week:

Books for Kids

A Greyhound, A Groundhog – Fun wordplay in this picture book! I imagine this would be fun – and tricky – to read out loud.
Pen Pals – An octopus and an ant exchange letters
XO, Ox – Another letter-based story. Both of these would be great for classrooms that work on letter writing skills
Egg – The latest picture book from prolific author, Kevin Henkes in a graphic novel format about four eggs.
Cold Caper – Story and sticker book about DC superheroes like Wonder Woman and Batgirl
Wolf in the Snow – A girl and a wolf cub are lost in the snow.
No More Bows – How cute is that cover!? Hugo the dog loves his owner Milly, but he hates the bows she puts on him.
Adrift – Two very different polar bears star in this new picture book.
Surprise Teacher – Pete the Cat gets a surprise at school.
Fly Guy, Castles – I love these non-fiction books staring Fly Guy. Check out this one about castles!
Tricky Trouble – An early reader starring Marvel heroes your kids already know and love!
Bad Kitty Takes the Test – I am so looking forward to reading this new book from Nick Bruel starring Bad Kitty! I heard him give an interview about this book and his take on the standardized testing  push in our country. This should be a great addition to the series!
Anna Takes Charge – Book 9 in this series of chapter books staring Anna and Elsa from Frozen in original stories. When I was teaching, my students couldn’t read these fast enough!
Secret Spell – Book 4 in a similar series starting Merida from Brave.
Belle’s Discovery – Disney is calling these books a “new chapter book series” with Disney Princesses as young girls.
Cinderella Takes the Stage – Belle and Cinderella get the first books in this series.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Batgirl at Super Hero High – Book 3 in this series about your favorite DC super heroes as high school students. I am really eager to read this one!
The Impossible Clue – A new mystery starring a young math whiz
Flying Lessons – A short story collection from award-winning children’s authors
Midnight without a Moon – This story, set in the south in 1955, addresses life for African Americans in America by combining the story of a fictional family with facts about real-life events.
One Last Word – A poetry collection from the author of Garvey’s Choice
Riverboat Roulette – Book 14 in the Nancy Drew Diaries series
Scar Island – The boys at a reform school find themselves without adult supervision
Star Wars Adventures in Wild Space: The Snare – First in a six-book series that takes place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
The Sweetest Sound – A shy girl with a musical gift looks for a way to muster the courage to share her gift with others.
Jax vs Saxophone of Doom – A sixth grade hockey player takes on a new challenge – the saxophone
The Warden’s Daughter – A prison warden’s daughter comes of age in this story set in 1959.
Pathfinders: The Journeys of 16 Extraordinary Black Souls – Biographies of 16 African Americans from the 18th to 20th centuries and their impact on our history. Could be a great resource for preparing to celebrating MLK Jr’s birthday and Black History Month.
Book Jumper – A girl can jump into the story in any book she reads.
Freeks – A girl in a traveling circus falls in love with a local boy and has to use powers she didn’t know she had to fight an unknown evil.
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett – Hawthorn has her own theory about what happened to Lizzie Lovett. This sounds like a terrific mystery!
Life in a Fishbowl – Jackie’s dying father puts his life up for auction on Ebay
Whenever I’m with You – Gabi and Hunter head into the Alaskan wild in search of Hunter’s missing twin brother

Books for Adults

Agent of Chaos – Seventeen-year-old Fox Mulder gets pulled into a missing persons case that might give him some information on his sister’s disappearance.
Devil’s Advocate – Fifteen-year-old Dana Scully is haunted by dark visions pushing her to investigate suspicious deaths in her new community
Assault and Beret – Book 5 in the Hat Shop cozy mystery series
Fudge and Jury – Book 5 in the Bakeshop cozy mystery series
Pop Goes the Murder – Book 2 in the Popcorn Shop cozy mystery series
Telling Tales – Book 4 in the Second Chance Cat cozy mystery series
Third Time’s a Crime – Book 3 in the Love or Money cozy mystery series
Love Unending: Rediscovering Your Marriage in the Midst of Motherhood – A 21 day challenge for wives and mothers looking to reconnect in their marriages.