Materials from Europe
Marcia Williams retells nine favorite Chaucerian tales in her witty, engaging comic-strip style. Step back into the Middle Ages for a boisterous, bawdy storytelling session led by the one and only Chaucer. Marcia Williams uses her signature comic-strip format to animate nine Canterbury classics, including “The Clerk’s Tale,” “The Miller’s Tale,” and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale.”
Laika was the abandoned puppy destined to become Earth’s first space traveler. This is her journey. Along with Laika, there is Korolev, once a political prisoner, now a driven engineer at the top of the Soviet space program, and Yelena, the lab technician responsible for Laika’s health and life. Abadzis gives life to a pivotal moment in modern history, casting light on the hidden moments of deep humanity behind history. This graphic novel is a blend of fact and fiction dealing with the first animal to be sent into space. He was on the Russian Sputnik 2 in November 1957. Laika would die on that trip.
In ancient Greece lived a little girl called Medusa Jones. Medusa was a Gorgon, but apart from that, pretty normal. So she has snakes for hair instead of gorgeous blond ringlets like Cassandra. So her best friend is half horse. Is that any reason for the popular kids to be SO mean? Medusa’s sure the school camping trip is going to be a nightmare. But a rock fall puts the popular kids in peril, and Medusa’s the only one who can help. Will she be a hero — or is her monster side finally going to come out?
One day, a kindly neighbor gave Snipp, Snapp and Snurr some money to spend. They went straight to the bakery to buy some gingerbread–and fell right into the batter!
In her long-awaited new novel, Newbery medalist Karen Cushman assembles a cast of unforgettable characters in a fascinating and pungent setting: the medical quarter of a medieval English village. To Blood and Bone Alley, home of leech, barber-surgeon, and apothecary, comes Matilda, raised by a priest to be pious and learned, and now destined to assist Red Peg the Bonesetter. To Matilda’s dismay, her work will not involve Latin or writing, but lighting the fire, going to market, mixing plasters and poultices, and helping Peg treat patients. Matilda is appalled by the worldliness of her new surroundings and yearns for the days at the manor when all she did was study and pray. Lonely and misunderstood, she seems destined for a fate as tragic as that of any of the sharp-tongued saints she turns to for advice.Filled with the witty dialogue and richly authentic detail that Karen Cushman’s work is known for, Matilda Bone is a compelling comic novel about a girl who learns to see herself and others clearly, to laugh, and to live contentedly in this world.
Cushman’s second book, The Midwife’s Apprentice, was awarded the Newbery Medal.
With unmitigated honesty, a touch of humor, and sensitive illustrations by Quentin Blake, Michael Rosen explores the experience of sadness in a way that resonates with everyone. “Sometimes I’m sad and I don’t know why. It’s just a cloud that comes along and covers me up. Sad things happen to everyone, and sometimes people feel sad for no reason at all.” What makes Michael Rosen sad is thinking about his son, Eddie, who died suddenly at the age of eighteen. In this book the author writes about his sadness, how it affects him, and some of the things he does to cope with it—like telling himself that everyone has sad stuff (not just him) and trying every day to do something he can be proud of. Expressively illustrated by the extraordinary Quentin Blake, this is a very personal story that speaks to everyone, from children to parents to grandparents, teachers to grief counselors. Whether or not you have known what it’s like to feel deeply sad, the truth of this book will surely touch you.
Boston Globe-Horn Book Honors
Have you ever noticed how being with your best friend makes your day brighter? Mousse and Nut have! They love walking together, playing together, and laughing together.Everything is wonderful—until they start to notice there are some things they just can’t do together. Can Mousse and Nut really be friends when they’re so different?Of course they can!These endearing, floppy dogs will wag their way into the hearts of children as they teach a gentle lesson about friendship.
This book discusses the geography, history, government, economy, and customs of Luxembourg, the smallest of the Benelux countries.
Max and Maddy Twist have a flair for solving crimes.Their parents once ran a thriving detective agency—until the notorious Professor Claude Sardine shut them down. But now Max and Maddy are ready to pick up where their parents left off. When an eccentric balloonist enlists their help in finding out who is sabotaging a hot air balloon race, Max and Maddy not only take the case—they take to the air! But will they be able to find the culprit before their balloon becomes the next target?
Sequel to Shadowmancer. Kate and Thomas have barely escaped the evil sorcerer Demurral, and are sailing to London to make a fresh start. But someone knows they are coming, and is lying in wait to lure them into the darkest heart of the city. Meanwhile, Raphah, who has had a narrow escape of his own, sets out on a terrifying journey to find his friends, all the time haunted by a shadowy beast. Eventually, the friends’ paths meet on a cursed street, hidden from the world–a place where fates are decided and old enemies seek revenge. They thought it was over . . . but can evil ever be destroyed?