CLOUD AND WALLFISH By: Anne Nesbet

CLOUD AND WALLFISH  By: Anne Nesbet

Historical fiction at its best.

 Noah Keller lives in Virginia and has a tortured life as a stutterer. But one day everything comes crashing down on Noah. His parents pick him up at school and tell him he has to have a new name and he is now called Jonah Brown. He also has to have a new birthday and be six months younger. Then they whisk him off to East Berlin behind the Iron Curtain. The year is 1989 and he isn't allowed to talk about normal things in the apartment, for it is being monitored. The only time he is allowed to ask questions is outside and only with a smile on his face. Then he meets the girl downstairs, Claudia. But that relationship isn't allowed by her grandmother. With a lot of sneaking around Cloud-Claudia and Jonah become friends. Tucked in every chapter is the information about about Germany and the wall. A great history lesson with a wonderful story. Ages 12 on up, or a really good reader. $16.99  Candlewick Press

THE SNURTCH By: Sean Ferrell

THE SNURTCH  By: Sean Ferrell
Ruthie has big problems at school. It isn't the other children, teacher, reading, writing or math. It isn't even the classroom. It is the Snurtch. He is a rude monster who shares her desk and gets her in a lot of trouble. Will she ever be able to rid herself of this pest. Read and find out. Ages 4-8  $17.99  Antheneum

IS THAT WISE, PIG? By: Jan Thomas

IS THAT WISE, PIG?  By: Jan Thomas
Pig is making soup and he is counting what he puts in the soup. One onion, two cabbages and here are three umbrellas. The other animals ask if that is wise to put in the soup. So he goes and gets something else. The children will want to read this over and over again. It is so silly. Ages 3 up. $14.99  Simon and Schuster

CLICK, CLACK, SURPRISE! By: Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin

CLICK, CLACK, SURPRISE!  By: Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
Little Duck is having a birthday and Farmer Brown is making a cake. As little duck watches all his fiends get ready for the party her has to follow what they do. So when "sheep snippity-clip" and "chickens shimmy-shake" so does duck. It is a riot when he finally appears for his first birthday. 
Ages 3 up. $17.99  Atheneum for Young Readers

WHERE, OH WHERE, IS ROSIE'S CHICK? By: Pat Hutchins

WHERE, OH WHERE, IS ROSIE'S CHICK?  By: Pat Hutchins
Rosie's Walk was our favorite picture book when my children were little. We read it over and over again to see if the fox would get Rosie and that would be her end. But Rosie just kept on walking. Now the sequel to this simple classic is back. 
Rosie has a chick and she just can't find him. The children will delight in seeing Rosie's chick covered with a shell on top of her head. There is a fox and his little kit. But Rosie keeps looking and so will your children. The book says ages 4-8, but I feel it's 2 on up. I think my little 17 month old granddaughter would love it. $17.99  Simon & Schuster

POND By: Jim LaMarche

POND  By: Jim LaMarche
Here is a wonderful author who also does astounding illustrations. Pond is a simple premise of  a boy named Matt who finds a small, but littered junk pit where there is some water. So with the help of his sister and his friend Pablo they clean up the mess and water begins to flow. As the seasons change so do the animals that come to inhabit this beautiful new body of water. Ages 4-8  $17.99 Simon and Schuster

THE PROS & CONS OF BEING A FROG By: Sue deGennaro

THE PROS & CONS OF BEING A FROG  By: Sue deGennaro
When you have a friend who decides to dress up in as a cat and is frequently chased by other animals you have to step in and help him out, so another costume is in order. After trying a giraffe without much success a frog seems to be the perfect choice. But when your friends thinks you also need to be a frog and the only thing you really love is numbers will your friendship prevail? Ages 4-8 $17.99  Simon and Schuster