BEAR IN LOVE by Daniel Pinkwater with illustrations by Will Hillenbrand (Candlewick 2012) is a charming story of a bear who discovers a carrot left for him near his den. He is pleased with the gift but wonders who has left it. As days pass, more gifts are left for bear by his unknown friend. Bear soon joins in the acts of giving until he meets his unseen admirer. <258>



















BEARS IN BEDS by Shirley Parenteau with illustrations by David Walker (Candlewick 2012) has a very different feel than the preceding bear book. Here we have some rambunctious bears getting ready for bed. Will they ever settle down to sleep? Wait! What was that noise? <259>

WINTERLING by Sarah Prineas (HarperCollins 2012) combines between world travel, coming of age, magic, and mythology seamlessly. Fer (short for Jennifer) loves living with her Grand-Jane, a herbalist. Fer has learned much about healing with herbs from her grandmother. However, she still longs to know more about her parents, both dead. When she attempts to rescue a shapeshifter, she tumbles into a portal to the other realm, the one where her parents died. Rook is under the command of The lady, someone who uses glamor to trick people into doing what she wants. The Lady claims to have been a close friend of Fer's mother and asks Fer for her help in bringing spring back to the land. Though Fer senses something is not quite as it seems, she agrees to work with The Lady whose glamor does not work fully on Fer. Perhaps Fer will find a way to help the people enslaved by The Lady and return the land to its fullness. Tie this to CINDER, THE FLINT HEART, and other tales of magic, lore, and nature. <257>

I love Polly Horvath and her eccentric stories and characters. So, this was a natural choice to rise to the top of my TBR stack. MR. AND MRS. BUNNY: DETECTIVES EXTRAORDINAIRE! (Random House 2012)gives readers a warm and funny story of talking animals, hippie parents, marmots, and foxes. Madeleine is in fifth grade. She needs a pair of white shoes as her class will be one visited by Prince Charles himself. However, Madeleine's parents, Mildred and Flo do not think this a necessity. Before much more can happen, though, her parents go missing. Madeleine turns for help from Mr. and Mrs. Bunny who have just decided to go into business as detectives. Madeleine has but one clue, a note card with some kind of code on it. She turns to her uncle for help but he swoons into a coma. Perhaps the marmot can help? The juxtaposition of the charm of the bunnies with the out of touch parents and the plotting foxes combines somehow (and this is Horvath's truly incredible talent at work) to create a wild romp of a mystery (which will not be much of a mystery for astute readers). My favorite: the used dental floss Mrs. Bunny manages to recycle in her craft work. <256>

Think "The Frog Prince" with a bit of a twist and you will have some idea of THE HOP by Sharelle Byars Moranville (Disney/Hyperion 2012). Dual narrators tell the story of a pond threatened by construction. Meet Tad, a young toad who has the sight. In his hibernation dreams, Tad has heard the awful noise and felt the rumblings in the ground. He must talk to the old toad and see what can be made of these disturbing dreams. Meanwhile, a girl named Taylor is determined to stop the builders who are plowing up land and knocking down trees at the perimeter of her grandmother's property. Tad heads off to Reno in search of a queen who can help him. Taylor, too, is heading to Reno with her parents for a rock and roll convention. When their paths cross, will a miracle happen? Moranville's attention to detail just might convince readers that there is indeed magic, especially magic in saving the environment. <255>

First there was DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth, a stunning debut novel about a dystopic society where people live in factions: Candor, Amity, Erudite, Abnegation, and Dauntless. Roth takes the story to its next phase in INSURGENT (HarperCollins 2012). Many times a second book in a trilogy is rather a let down. I am pleased to say that is NOT the case for INSURGENT (though the ending will leave readers screaming for the third book NOW). Tris and Four are both Divergent, humans who show talents in more than one faction. because of their abilities, they are both valued and feared. As a ressult, Tris does not know who she can truly trust, even Four, her romantic interest, might be compromised. This story of betrayal, of battle, and of belonging is a perfect accompaniment to DIVERGENT. <254>

Tom Angleberger ups the funny ante in FAKE MUSTACHE (Amulet/Abrams,May 2012). His homage to the antics of Daniel Pinkwater is subtitled HOW JODIE O'RODEO AND HER WONDER HORSE (AND SOME NERDY KID) SAVED THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FROM A MAD GENIUS CRIMINAL MASTERMIND. This wild romp introduces readers to Lenny and his best friend Casper. Casper borrows $10 from Lenny to purchase the incredibly realistic Heidelberg Handlebar #7 mustache. Before you know it, there are major crimes happening in Lenny's town, all conducted by a mustachioed mastermind. Lenny suspects Casper is somehow involved, but how could his nerdy best friend suddenly be pulling off elaborate crimes? With the help of teenaged cowgirl and former star, Jodie O'Rodeo, Lenny sets out to set the record straight. Fans of Angleberger's Origami Yoda books will love this zany caper mystery with perhaps a hint of a romance. <253>

THE FALLEN by Paul Lanagan (Scholastic 2012) is part of the popular Bluford High series. Each book is high interest with easy readability. Martin Luna is quickly running out of options. His younger brother was murdered, quite possibly by a rival gang member. He gets into a fight at school and is threatened with expulsion. Martin is not sure how he can escape bullies, fights, and threats. Who can he trust? If he does confide in someone, will he place them at risk, too? Fast paced and realistic, this is another book from the series sure to please readers. <252>

OK, it has been around for a while, but it was a much needed boost today.

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Postings here are cut and pasted (and sometimes unsuccessfully).

A KISS LIKE THIS by Mary Murphy (Candlewick Press 2012) is a lift the flap book that shows how different animals kiss. A kiss from a giraffe is gentle and tall while a kiss between bees is fuzzy and buzzy. Readers lift the flap revealing the two animals kissing along with the poetic description of the kiss. <251>