Animals Christopher Columbus Saw: An Adventure in the New World
By Sandra Markle
Illus by Jamel Akib
On August 3, 1492 Christopher Columbus and his crew set sail on a long journey aboard the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria that would take him into the New World and make him famous all over the world. Explorers often went in search of new land and sea routes, but have you ever wondered about the animals they encountered along the way. This book shows the many sea creatures and land animals Columbus and his crew ran into on their journey. From birds and fish to mammals and mermaids, this informative illustrated book gives kids an inside look into Columbus's voyage and the creatures he saw. (Ages 4-8)

Gallery Ghost: Find the ghost who paints the most!
By Anna Nilsen and Betsy Franco
Illus by Richard Sala
There's something strange going on in the art gallery! By day it's a regular museum, but at night it gets spooky. The ghosts of 24 famous painters including Renoir, Rousseau, Homer, and Cassatt, come out to be mischevious. They spend the dark hours of the night making changes to other artists' pictures by adding details from their own paintings. An art student named Sarah cleans the gallery at night, and she needs your help in finding out which artist made the most changes. As you study the original paintings from the National Gallery of Art, see how many changes you can spot in the haunted paintings. The answers are in the back of the book, but don't peek until you've taken tally of the changes and tried to discover the ghost who made the most changes. A fun way to learn about art! (Ages 9-12)

The Independent Publisher Book Awards just named "Gallery Ghost" as a 2008 semi-finalist for the "Children's Interactive Books" category!

Moon: Jump Into Science
By Steve Tomecek
Illus by Liisa Chauncy Guida
Have you ever wondered if there really is a man in the moon, or that the moon is made of cheese? Do you wonder why the moon seems to change size or what it's really made of? This Jump Into Science book answers those questions and more. This fact-filled book explains what the moon is made of, what it looks like, how far it is from the earth and sun, how big it is, what the first men to land on the moon found and much more. You'll also find instructions on making craters. A great scientific book for curious young minds. (Ages 4-8)

Runaway (Starlight Animal Rescue)
By Dandi Daley Mackall
Sixteen-year-old Dakota Brown is on her way to the next foster family, but she doesn't plan on staying long. Her friend Neil is planning a trip to LA, on Dakota's birthday, July 4th, and she intends to go with him. On the farm there's also a Starlight Animal Rescue center, where they rescue stray animals. Dakota thinks there's just too much love on the farm, and everyone is too happy. But when an abused horse on the farm, Blackfire, takes a liking to Dakota, can she really leave this place, or will she realize she's finally found a home? A great story about love, family, and acceptance. (Ages 9-12)

Sea Queens: Women Pirates Around the World
By Jane Yolen
Illus by Christine Joy Pratt
There have been many different types of pirates throughout history. Some were unusually cruel. Many would thieve, plunder and murder. Some roamed the open seas and some scaled the rivers. Some pirates, called privateers, robbed only the enemies of their country with permission from the king or queen. Throughout history most pirates have been men, but there were some women who turned to a life of pirating. "Sea Queens" delves into the fearful and fascinating lives of thirteen female pirates, and some did just as much thieving, plundering and murdering as their male counterparts. Young readers will enjoy discovering these swashbuckling female pirates from around the world. (Young Adult)

Starlight Goes to Town
By Harry Allard
Illus by George Booth
Starlight LaPoule is not a happy chicken, because she lives on a poultry farm in Tennessee and knows she does not belong there. She has dreams of being a model and when her fairy godmother shows up, Starlight thinks her dreams are about to come true. Now all Starlight has to do is make a wish and lay an egg, and whatever she wishes for will be inside. But what happens when Starlight's fairy godmother decides to go on vacation? You don't always get what you wish for! A fun and zany tale young readers will enjoy. (Ages 4-8)

The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance
By Josh Waitzkin
At the young age of six, Josh Waitzkin learned the fundamentals of chess from a rough group of men in Washington Square Park, and where his love of learning began. Josh, the subject of the book and movie, "Searching for Bobby Fischer," writes about his journey as a chess champion before and after the release of the movie. As a teen Josh began learning tai chi, a form of martial arts, and discovered how to apply chess and tai chi to a broader level of learning. "The Art of Learning is essential reading for those who want to reach the highest levels of achievement." (Young Adult-Adult)