F ROB	The Amazing Valvano and the Mystery of the Hooded Rat (age 8-11) by Mary Robinson mystery ... school ... the arts Catalog: Maria is excited about her plans to perform a magic act in the school talent show until her pet rat, an integral part of the act, is kidnapped.
F SCI	Seen Art? (age 8-11) by Jon Scieszka humor ... the arts Publisher comments: It all started when I told my friend Art I would meet him on the corner of Fifth and Fifty-Third. I didn't see him. So I asked a lady walking up the avenue, "Have you seen Art?" "MoMA?" asked the lady. "Uh . . . no, he's just a friend." "Just down Fifty-Third Street here. In a beautiful new building. You can't miss it." When this address turns out to be the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, confusion and hilarity ensue. As the narrator continues looking for Art inside MoMA, he is introduced to well-known pieces of art such as Van Gogh's The Starry Night, Matisse's The Red Studio, as well as works by Picasso, Klee, Lichtenstein and others. In a dynamic collaboration that features comical text and playful illustrations alongside full-color reproductions of the artwork, Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith give readers the perfect companion for a visit to MoMA, and an introduction to some of the world's best works of modern art.
F MAR	Stage Fright (age 8-11) by Ann M. Martin identity ... school ... the arts Catalog: Shy Sara panics when her fourth-grade teacher announces that her class is to perform a play before the entire school, but eventually learns that stage fright can sometimes be healthy.
F VAN	The Great Googlestein Museum Mystery (age 8-11) by Jean Van Leeuwen humor ... adventure ... the arts Three adventurous mice escape from their home at Macy's department store and spend an exciting week in the Guggenheim Museum, creating a sensation in the art world.
F PIN	The Artsy Smartsy Club (age 8-11) by Daniel Pinkwater friendship ... the arts ... humor They were on their own: three kids and one giant chicken. Stuck in Hoboken for the summer, Nick Itch, Loretta Fischetti, and Bruno Ugg are really, really bored. After whiling away their time spitting in the Hudson River and trying to teach Henrietta, Nick's 266-pound chicken, how to juggle marshmallows, they're ready for something...anything...to happen. When a mysterious and brilliant chalk artist starts decorating Hoboken's streets, the three friends are blown away. They set off to explore the art world in a frenzy of adventurous drawing, screeving, and eggplant picnics.
F KNI	Charlotte in... Series (age 8-11) by Joa MacPhail Knight the arts ... letters/journal It's 1892 and Charlotte is bound for Monet's famous artist colony in Giverny, France, where painters like her father are flocking to learn the new style of painting called Impressionism. In spite of missing her best friend, Charlotte becomes enchanted with France and records her colorful experiences in her journal. She makes new friends, plants a garden, learns to speak French, and even attends the wedding of Monsieur Monet's daughter! Illustrated with beautiful museum reproductions and charming watercolor collages, Charlotte in Giverny includes a French glossary as well as biographical sketches of the featured painters. This delightful journal of a young girl's exciting year will capture readers' imaginations and leave a lasting impression. title: Charlotte in Giverny title: Charlotte in Paris title: Charlotte in New York
F GRE	Give Us a Great Big Smile, Rosy Cole (age 8-11) by Sheila Greenwald humor ... the arts ... authorship Uncle Ralph's books about Rosy's two older sisters, a dancer and an equestrian, made them famous. Now it is untalented, 10-year-old Rosy's turn, and when Uncle Ralph gets out his camera determined to make Rosy and her violin his next book, Rosy's troubles begin.
F WEN	Elizabeth's Song (age 8-11) by Michael Wenberg historical ... family ... the arts In a small yellow house by the railroad tracks in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a ten-year-old girl named Elizabeth fuels her passion for music by playing her brother's guitar--Left-handed and upside down. After her brother moves, a determined Elizabeth works at odd jobs to buy her own guitar. The first night she has it, she spends hours writing a song for her brother. She calls it "Freight Train."
F ROB	Puppet Pandemonium (age 8-11) by Diane Roberts the arts ... friendship Goodbye Seattle. Goodbye baseball buddies. Goodbye Gram & her cool puppet shows. Hello, Texas. Baker is sure there isn't anything worse than moving. Except being THE NEW KID. Sure, Gram gave him Waldo, a ventriloquist's dummy, for company-- but a puppet, no matter how funny it is, can't take the place of real friends. Baker is bummed. Until he starts school and discovers that kids in Texas (cowboy hats aside) aren't as different as he thought. And that puppets just might be the key to fitting in. Let the show begin!
F PER	Rickshaw Girl (age 8-11) by Mitali Perkins the arts ... enterprise Naima is a talented painter of traditional alpana patterns, which Bangladeshi women and girls paint on their houses for special celebrations. But Naima is not satisfied just painting alpana. She wants to help earn money for her family, like her best friend, Saleem, does for his family. When Naima's rash effort to help puts her family deeper in debt, she draws on her resourceful nature and her talents to bravely save the day. Naima is a talented painter of traditional alpana patterns, which Bangladeshi women and girls paint on their houses for special celebrations. But Naima is not satisfied just painting alpana. She wants to help earn money for her family, like her best friend, Saleem, does for his family. When Naima's rash effort to help puts her family deeper in debt, she draws on her resourceful nature and her talents to bravely save the day.
F AND	The Great American Mousical (age 8-11) by Julie Andrews adventure ... humor ... the arts In the heart of the great metropolis of New York City, the bright lights of Broadway shine. And down, down, down, beneath a theater known as the Sovereign, there sits a long-forgotten architect's model ... the Sovereign's miniature replica. In this secret space, a troupe of theater mice busily prepare to stage their own show, "Broadway Airs." Among the cast and crew are Emil, the director; Harold, the character actor; Adelaide, the diva; and young Pippin, the intern. Rehearsals are in their usual state of chaos when suddenly the production is threatened by the imminent demolition of the theater and the devastating disappearance of Adelaide. As the clock ticks toward opening night, everyone is worried ... will the little Sovereign survive? How can they pull off the most important night in mouse theater without their star? Somehow, the show must go on!
F WRI	Rosie and the Dance of the Dinosaurs (age 8-11) by Betty Ren Wright mystery ... the arts ... family Catalog: Rosie discovers that having nine fingers can be an asset as she faces the challenges of an upcoming piano recital and the absence of her father who moved away to find a new job.
F LOV	Bess's Log Cabin Quilt (age 8-11) by D. Anne Love family ... historical ... the arts With her father away and her mother ill with fever, ten-year-old Bess works hard on a log cabin quilt to save the family farm.
F HUT	The Mona Lisa Mystery (age 8-11) by Pat Hutchins the arts ... mystery Class 3 of Hampstead Primary School takes a school trip to Paris and lands right into the middle of a mystery.
F GIF	Poopsie Pomerantz, Pick Up Your Feet (age 8-11) by Patricia Reilly Giff growing up ... sports ... the arts Poopsie Pomerantz is sure that ballet lessons will make her slim and graceful. But her friend Tracy Matson makes fun of Poopsie's efforts, saying there's no hope for chubby Poopsie. Tracy is surprised when Poopsie announces she's getting the starring role in her dance school's ballet. And Poopsie's surprised, too, because it's not true! She didn't mean to say that. Now she has to pray that Tracy doesn't come to the ballet, because guess which part Poopsie really has?
F ENG	Holding On (age 8-11) by Diana Engel family ... nature ... the arts Twelve-year-old Thomas, who likes to draw, is dismayed when his mother leaves him with his eccentric great-uncle Tano for an extended visit, until the two of them explore the natural world around the isolated house and work together on a stained glass panel.
F LOV	The Puppeteer's Apprentice (age 8-11) by D. Anne Love adventure ... the arts ... historical Mouse, a timid orphan growing up in medieval England, has little happiness in the world. But then, when she comes across a puppeteer so talented that he can make the puppets talk and dance as if they were little humans, Mouse realizes that true happiness is within reach ... and the key is learning how to make the puppets dance! What she doesn't realize, however, is just how much she and her prospective mentor have in common and how much, one day, they will share.
F MAS	Libby Bloom (age 8-11) by Susan Rowan Masters school ... the arts When Libby, a fourth-grader who envies the accomplishments of her older sister, begins tuba lesson with a perceptive band teacher, she discovers that she has hidden talents of her own.
F STR	Skating Shoes (age 8-11) by Noel Streatfeild friendship ... sports ... identity ... school ... the arts Publisher comments: It's a stroke of great luck when Harriet Johnsons doctor prescribes skating after an illness that has left her feeling frail and listless. For on her very first day at the rink, Harriet meets orphaned Lalla Moore, who is being brought up by her wealthy aunt Claudia to be a skating champion. Although they have little in common, the girls form a fast friendship. Harriet is energized by talented, funny Lalla, and Lalla in turn blossoms under the affection of openhearted Harriet. The girls skate together more and more. But just as Lallas interest in skating starts to fade, Harriets natural talent begins to emerge. Suddenly Lalla and Harriet seem headed in two very different directions. Can their friendship survive?
F STR	Party Shoes (age 8-11) by Noel Streatfeild identity ... school ... the arts Publisher comments: Set during and after the second World War, this classic novel tells the story of Selina, who has been sent to live with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in the country. When Selina receives a parcel from her godmother in America it causes much excitement among her and her cousins, and, to Selina's delight, the parcel contains a beautiful party dress and a pair of party shoes. But delight turns to dismay when she realizes that she may never have an occasion to wear such a wonderful outfit - until, that is, she and her cousins come up with an idea of organizing a pageant...
F STR	Theatre Shoes (age 8-11) by Noel Streatfeild identity ... school ... the arts Publisher comments: Three orphans are forced to enter a theater school by their grandmother, a famous actress. Unable to pay the tuition, they are given scholarships from the now-grown orphans from Ballet Shoes. Will they be able to live up to their patrons' legacies? The children are ready to run away until they discover their hidden talents.
F STR	Ballet Shoes (age 8-11) by Noel Streatfeild identity ... the arts Publisher comments: In this story, three orphan girls vow to make a name for themselves and find their own special talents. With hard work, fame just may be in the stars!
F STR	Dancing Shoes (age 8-11) by Noel Streatfeild identity ... the arts Publisher comments: Aunt Cora is determined to turn two orphans, perky Hilary and sullen Rachel, into members of her dance troupe. But Rachel wants to keep Hilary from being one of Wintle's Little Wonders ... is it selfishness or something else? Misunderstandings create a tale full of high drama.
F COL	Rich and Famous: the Further Adventures of George Stable (age 8-11) by James Lincoln Collier enterprise ... the arts Catalog: George suddenly finds himself the darling of a New York television company where plans are made to turn him into a singing, guitar-playing teen-age idol.
F COA	The Cat Who Went to Heaven (age 8-11) by Elizabeth Jane Coatsworth animals ... folklore ... the arts Catalog: A little cat comes to the home of a poor Japanese artist and, by humility and devotion, helps to bring about a miracle.
F CLE	The Last Holiday Concert (age 8-11) by Andrew Clements enterprise ... the arts ... school Publisher comments: It all started when Hart Evans zinged a rubber band that hit Mr. Meinert, the chorus director. Actually, it started before that, when Mr. Meinert learned he was out of a job because the town budget couldn't afford music and art teachers. Mr. Meinert got so mad at Hart that he told the sixth graders he'd had it ... they could produce the big holiday concert on their own. Or not. It was all up to them. What happens when a teacher steps aside and lets the kids run the show? Not what Mr. Meinert would have predicted. And not what Hart Evans would have guessed, not at all.
F WHI	The Trumpet of the Swan (age 8-11) by E. B. White friendship ... growing up ... the arts A voiceless trumpeter swan named Louis, attempting to win the love of a beautiful swan named Serena, learns to play a trumpet stolen for him by his father, and then finds himself far from his wilderness home when he sets out to become a trumpeter and pay his father back.
F ROS	The Rose Horse (age 8-11) by Deborah Lee Rose the arts ... historical When Lily goes to Coney Island in 1909 to visit her newborn sister, she learns about the art and traditions of the Jewish woodcarvers who make the carousel animals there.
F NIC	Beethoven Lives Upstairs (age 8-11) by Barbara Nichol historical ... friendship ... letters/journal ... the arts The letters that ten-year-old Christoph and his uncle exchange show how Christoph's feelings for Mr. Beethoven, the eccentric boarder that shares his house, change from anger and embarrassment to compassion and admiration.
F GOF	Goldie, the Dollmaker (age 8-11) by M. B. Goffstein enterprise ... the arts Goldie, the dollmaker, created each doll with great love and sincerity, and the pleasure from this and her acquisition of a lamp whose maker was equally careful made her poverty and loneliness bearable.
F CLE	Ellen Tebbits (age 8-11) by Beverly Cleary the arts ... school ... realistic ... friendship Ellen was eight years old and wore bands on her teeth. Her best friend had just moved away and she missed her. Still, as she walked to the Spofford School of the Dance one Saturday, she was almost glad she had no best friend. Best friends do not have secrets from each other, and Ellen had a secret she did not want to share with anyone. But by the time the dancing lesson was over (surely the most devastating dancing lesson on record), Ellen had found a best friend and shared her secret. The best friend was Austine, and the secret was that Ellen was wearing woolen underwear. So was Austine!
F PAT	A Simple Gift (age 8-11) by Nancy Patterson authorship ... family ... the arts A small-town community theater production based on one of her mother's books brings Carrie a glimpse of her mother's past and a new understanding of giving to others.
F GIF	Pictures of Hollis Woods (age 8-11) by Patricia Reilly Giff the arts ... friendship ... family A troublesome twelve-year-old orphan, staying with an elderly artist who needs her, remembers the only other time she was happy in a foster home, with a family that truly seemed to care about her.
F KIN	A Mouse Called Wolf (age 8-11) by Dick King-Smith adventure ... enterprise ... the arts Wolfgang Amadeus Mouse (``Wolf,'' for short) has a big name for such a little mouse. But the name fits. His favorite pastime is listening to Mrs. Honeybee, the lady of the house, play the piano. If only he could sing along to the music! One day, to his surprise, out of his mouth comes a perfect melody. It's not long before Wolf is singing everything he can imagine, all to Mrs. Honeybee's accompaniment. Then an accident leaves Mrs. Honeybee in danger, and it's up to Wolf to save her...the only way he knows how.

Sat Aug 25 11:55:25 2012 Other themes and genres