Books: Your picks for this month

Dragonslayer: Wings of Fire Author: Tui T. Sutherland Publisher: Scholastic Press Ivy doesn't trust the Dragonslayer. He may be her father and the beloved ruler of Valor, but she knows he's hiding more than the treasure from the sand dragon he killed two decades ago. Leaf doesn't trust dragons. They're the reason his favorite sister, Wren, is dead, and now he'll do whatever it takes to slay even one. Wren doesn't trust anyone. She swore off humans after her village tried to sacrifice her to the dragons. She only has one friend, a small, wonderful mountain dragon named Sky, and they don't need anyone else. In a world of dragons, the humans who scramble around underfoot are easy to overlook. But Ivy, Leaf, and Wren will each cross paths with dragons in ways that could shape the destiny of both species. Is a new future possible for all of them… one in which humans can look to the skies with hope instead of fear? The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read Author: Rita Lorraine Hubbard, Oge Mora Publisher: Schwartz & Wade In 1848, Mary Walker was born into slavery. At age 15, she was freed, and by age 20, she was married and had her first child. By age 68, she had worked numerous jobs, including cooking, cleaning, babysitting, and selling sandwiches to raise money for her church. At 114, she was the last remaining member of her family. And at 116, she learned to read. From Rita Lorraine Hubbard and Oge Mora comes the inspirational story of Mary Walker, a woman whose long life spanned from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, and who with perseverance and dedication proved that you're never too old to learn. Just Like Me Author: Vanessa Brantley-Newton Publisher: Knopf Books This is a collection of poetry filled with engaging mini-stories about girls of all kinds: girls who feel happy, sad, scared, powerful; girls who love their bodies and girls who don't; country girls, city girls; girls who love their mother and girls who wish they had a father. With bright portraits in Vanessa's signature style of vibrant colors and unique patterns and fabrics, this book invites readers to find themselves and each other within its pages. Future of the Time Dragon: A Branches Book Author: Tracey West Publisher: Scholastic Eko is in trouble! The dark wizard Maldred has trapped her with a powerful spell. To free her, Drake and Rori must find the Time Dragon. But a sneaky imp sends Drake traveling back in time! Will Drake be able to save Eko... or will he be stuck in the past forever? The Runaway Princess Author: Johan Troïanowski Publisher: Random House Graphic Adventures await when Robin (bored of princess-ing all the time) embarks on the best adventure of her life--meeting friends along the way as she travels through the magical landscape of her country. But her parents aren't so pleased--and they're coming to find her and bring her back to the castle, no matter how she feels about it! The Boy Who Fooled the World Author: Lisa Thompson Publisher: Scholastic Cole is the odd one out at school: the other kids have the latest gadgets and trainers while his family struggles to make ends meet. Until the day one of his paintings is talent-spotted and sells for thousands of pounds at a posh London gallery. Suddenly, Cole is the toast of the international art world, the star guest on TV shows, rich beyond his wildest dreams, hailed as a boy genius! Being famous is FANTASTIC ... but Cole has a guilty secret that if exposed will bring everything crashing down around him.