Books: Best picks for April

Books: Best picks for April Books: Best picks for April Madame Badobedah Author: Sophie Dahl An imagination is a wild thing; and sometimes it gets the best of even the youngest among us. In this tale by Sophie Dahl, little Mable thinks the worst of the newest guest at the Mermaid Hotel. Madame Badobedah leaves a lasting impression in this adventurous romp you'll want to read over-and-over. William Shakespeare's The Tempest Retold by: Georghia Ellinas The Bard's story is anything but winded with this beautiful retelling by Georghia Ellinas, illustrated by Jane Ray. Travel with Ariel, the spirit of the air, back to Naples, Italy to a mystical library full of books of magic. Discover the adventures of Prospero, at the mercy of his jealous brother, and his baby daughter Miranda. This wonderful version will give adults new insight into the play as well! Bones: An Inside Look at the Animal Kingdom Author: Jules Howard Not your average reference book, author Jules Howard presents a thorough investigation of the wonder of bones in this hardcover volume with insanely-amazing illustrations by Chervelle Fryer, who manages to be both scientifically accurate and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. Seriously, you'll wish you could frame this whole book. The added bonus? Kids will learn all about bones and skeletons, from horses to flying foxes to penguins. The book is arranged by "type" of animal: jumping, flying, running, swimming, etc. A must-buy for any kid's reference library. My Pet Slime: Cosmo to the Rescue Author: Courtney Sheinmel Think slime is just for sticking to stuff? What if your slime actually was alive, friendly and basically a mystery-solving, semi-hero sidekick? That's exactly what Piper has: magical slime named Cosmo that came to life thanks to some spacedust. Cool, right?? In this second adventure in the series, Piper and Cosmo are on a mission to find her missing (space-exploring) Grandma! Book includes a new slime recipe and fun STEM facts. Ways to Make Sunshine Author: Renee Watson Ramona Quimby gets a modern update with Ryan Hart and her middle-class family. Newberry Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award winner Renée Watson starts a new chapter book series for budding readers with Ways to Make Sunshine. The intro novel follows Ryan as she navigates a family that includes her dad finding a job after a long period of unemployment, school and self-image. No matter what she faces, Ryan knows how to make sunshine out of any situation. The Space Between Lost and Found Author: Sandy Stark-McGinnis Sandy Stark-McGinnis' second middle school novel offers a hopeful yet heart wrenching story of a young girl dealing with her mother's early onset Alzheimer's diagnosis. Cassie and her dad are handling all the new changes quite well until Mom forgets Cassie's name, and she struggles to stay connected to friends and her art. Tough topics abound in this middle grade story that follows Cassie as she decides to break one of her dad's rules to make her mom happy. Diary of a 5th Grade Outlaw: The Friend Thief Book 2 Author: Gina Loveless Head back to Nottingham Elementary for another adventure! Robin is happy to be "back together" with her BFF after "winning" her back from the schoolyard bully, Nadia. But Nadia starts to win over the other kids including Robin's bestie. What happens next is for you to find out.