“With a great sense of place–Chicago, no less, and relatable characters, this is an enjoyable read about following your passions and finding your voice.” – Lora, Kids Room

With her two best friends in a different 5th-grade class, Maya figures it’s going to be a bummer of a school year. But her discovery of a robot named Ralph might help change that.

“Every kid desperately wants to fit in. It’s even harder when your parents make you move! In this graphic novel, Cici, a 12-year-old who has recently moved to Seattle from Taiwan, has so much going for her: a family who cares, a cooking hobby that she’s really great at, even new BFFs who will stand up for her at the drop of a hat. By sidestepping the usual kid-who-moved storylines, author Lily LaMotte presents to us a much more delicious story: a cooking competition! And to spice it up even more, illustrator Ann Xu draws all the dishes for us to see- and wish that we could taste.” – DG Library Staff

Cici, who has recently moved to Seattle from Taiwan, deeply misses her grandmother back home. She enters a cooking competition hoping to win enough money to invite A-ma over for a birthday visit! Torn between being true to her heritage and trying to fit in (and also obeying her parents and learning to stand up for herself), will she be able to find her place and win against her new friend/archenemy Miranda- whose family OWNS a restaurant?

“If you enjoyed Alan Gratz’s book Prisoner B-3087 you will enjoy Out of Hiding because in real life Ruth Gruener married Jack Gruener! Both are mentioned in their respective books. I also enjoyed that this book is a great introduction for young readers looking to read about the Holocaust. While Ruth tells her story of survival it is mostly about her journey to America and finding her way.” – Miss Traci, Kids Room

This is the story of Ruth Gruener who survived the Holocaust as a young girl with her parents and how they immigrate to New York after the war.

This quote hooked me immediately! “Out of the darkness, no more light, now it comes to steal your life. On this day you’ve sealed your fate, by playing what it loves to hate. Once you’re tagged, then you’ll know, the mark appears, it’s your time to go. Now you’re in the final count, it’s closer to the set amount.” – Traci, Kids Room

A simple game of hide and seek turns into a horrible nightmare for Justin and his friends!

“This book is a family read-together win. The photos are large and clear enough to catch even a baby’s eye. Toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy pointing out the different foods they see and can practice identifying facial expressions as well as learn a couple of new vocabulary words for ways they may feel. School-aged kids may be inspired to create (and hopefully eat) their own foodie faces, and adults can sit back and giggle at the clever compositions!” – DG Library Staff

Bill Wurtzel plays with his food, and after the photoshoot, Claire Wurtzel eats it! This book showcases large, clear photos of their breakfast plates turned into faces showing different emotions.

“Stand Up, Yumi Chung! is a feel-good, laugh-out-loud story for middle-grade readers that has plenty of appeal for older readers as well. Anyone who has struggled with finding their voice, especially without their family’s support, can identify with the story’s message. The writing features tender and humorous moments between Yumi and her parents without veering into stereotypes or caricatures. Readers are touchingly reminded that we must overcome our fear of failure, not failure itself.” – Van, Adult & Teen Services

Readers follow Yumi, a shy young Korean girl who loves stand-up comedy but her immigrant parents would rather she concentrate on school.

“Brown has this mostly realistic but slightly magical, totally mundane but kind of absurd feeling to it, that reminds me of Roald Dahl’s stories!” – Lisa, Kids Room

Rusty is having a tough time. His family moved, his grandfather died, and now the local bullies are wrecking his fort! He finds some paint, gathers an all-brown outfit, and becomes BROWN, a superhero who… paints things brown. Can Brown and the other Guardians of the Fort get even, without getting in trouble?

“It is VERY funny—the audiobook is fantastic, with amusing accents” – DGPL Staff

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a Viking boy whose father is head of his tribe. During his tribe’s initiation, he proves himself to be a brave risk-taker! Hiccup’s dragon Toothless, adds much comedy to the novel.

“This book is fun, action-packed, filled with adventure, sweet, and a little creepy…just like middle-grade boys. Perfect for those of us who still get worried about those monsters under the bed.” – Gracie, Kids Room

Clark just finished 4th Grade but he still sleeps with stuffed animals every night, a lot of them, and always arranged in a particular way. He thinks of them as his protectors and as it turns out…he’s absolutely right. His MDA (monster defense army) comes into play in a big way after a mysterious package arrives for his father. It’s all up to Clark to protect his dad despite his mom’s attempt to break him of his stuffed animal obsession.

“I happened upon this book, thought “well, this looks weird”, and set it aside to look at later. It turns out that the entire thing is a brain game, and I love puzzles! It’s clever and unique and totally new to me, and the code even follows a format similar to actual Chinese writing.” – DGPL Staff

At first glance, this book is filled with fancy Chinese calligraphy strangely accompanied by artistic images of traditionally American themes (baseball games, apple trees, and cowboys?). But look closer, and it turns out it’s all written in code, and in English!

“Flora is an adorable character, who is brave and kind. There are many funny situations, and themes of loyalty and friendship are explored.” – DGPL Staff

Flora is a plucky pig who dreams of becoming a sled-pig. (sled-dog) Miraculously, she fulfills this dream and saves the day when her ship gets stuck in the ice.

“The accident notwithstanding, this is unexpected and fun. It’s filled with riddles and is laugh out loud funny. Wed Wabbit is seriously evil and the Wembly Woos are drippingly sweet. Lissa Evans does not disappoint and I rooted for Graham and Fidge as they saved the day (and the Wembly Woos).” – Sharon, Kids Room 

Fidge reads to her sister, Midge, every night the rhyming tales of the Wembly Woos. Midge tells Fidge about her stuffed toy, Wed Wabbit. When a terrible accident happens to Midge, Fidge is sent to stay with her aunt and annoying cousin Graham. When Graham and Fidge get into an argument, they fall downstairs and tumble into an unknown world. They realize they’re actually in the land of the Wembly Woos and must save the rhyming bundles of fluff from the evil Wed Wabbit. Midge’s own Wed Wabbit.