Imperial Beach Kids

 BLOOM! A Little Book About Finding Love by Maria Van Lieschout -Bloom, a pig who prefers flowers to mud puddles, falls in love with a "flying flower," but when the butterfly leaves she is brokenhearted until a friend gives her a reason to smile again.

Out of the Egg by Tina Matthews -In this version of the familiar tale, when the barnyard animals who refused to help her plant and tend a seed ask to play under the "great green whispery tree" that Little Red Hen grew, she says "no," but her chick thinks that answer is mean.

Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson -It's springtime, and Bear has just woken up from a long winter's nap--very hungry and thin! How Bear's friends help him finally satisfy his HUGE hunger in a most surprising way will delight young readers in this classic Board Book edition!

The Picture Book edition is also available now for request here!

My Last Best Friend by Julie Bowe -After her best friend moves away, fourth-grader Ida May is determined not to make another best friend, despite the efforts of a new girl in her class. 

Diary of a Would-Be Princess  by Jessica Green -In the journal her fifth-year teacher requires, Jillian records the ups and downs of her efforts to become popular as she hosts a class party, creates a school magazine, and tutors some socially misfit boys. 

How To Save Your Tail : If You Are a Rat Nabbed by Cats Who Really Like Stories About Magic Spoons, Wolves with Snout-Warts, Big, Hairy Chimney Trolls-- and Cookies Too      by Mary Hanson -When he is captured by two of the queen's cats, Bob the rat prolongs his life by sharing fresh-baked cookies and stories of his ancestors, whose escapades are remarkably similar to those of well-known fairy tale heroes.

Thora and the Green Sea-Unicorn : Another Half-Mermaid Tale by written and illustrated by Gillian Johnson -When an attempt to steal Shirley, a rare sea-unicorn, results in the sinking of their houseboat, ten-year-old Thora, her mermaid mother, and Mr. Walters stay at the estate of old friends and find a solution to the friends' financial troubles, but the would-be thief is still on their trail. 

Jack Sparrow 1 : The Coming Storm by Rob Kidd -Teenage stowaway Jack Sparrow and his band of hoodlums are on a mission to find the legendary Sword of Cortés which will grant them unimaginable power, but first they have to survive the power of the sea, vicious pirates, and ancient curses. 

A friendship for Today by Patricia C. McKissack -In 1954, when desegregation comes to Kirkland, Missouri, ten-year-old Rosemary faces many changes and challenges at school and at home as her parents separate. 

Julep O'Toole : What I Really Want To Do Is Direct by Trudi Trueit -Julep becomes assistant director for the class play and finds she is good at it. But weeks before the play opens, everything crashes and Julep must put her new found directing talents to the test.

The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming by Lemony Snicket 

Latkes are potato pancakes served at Hanukkah. Lemony Snicket is an alleged children's book author. For the first time in literary history, these two elements are combined in one book. People who are interested in either or both of these things will find this book so enjoyable it will feel as if Hanukkah is being celebrated for several years, rather than eight nights. People who are interested in neither of these things will get what they deserve.

What's So Bad About Being an Only Child? by Cari Best 

Being an only child has its pros and cons, but for Rosemary, the latter outweigh the former. Always being the center of some adult's attention ("I am the honey in their hive") wears thin. The answer seems to be for her parents to have another child, but they aren't interested in that solution. Then Rosemary comes up with her own way to stop being an only: she begins collecting other singletons. Her first is just a rock. Then she adds a turtle, followed by a rabbit, a cat, and a dog. Before long, Rosemary, though still an only, is no longer alone. 
 

You think it's easy being the tooth fairy? by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt  

You think it's easy being the tooth fairy? Think again--of stormy nights, dangerous pets, pearly whites hidden in pajama pockets or wrapped in dirty tissues, to say nothing of all those thousands of teeth falling out all over the world every single day. The tooth fairy's nights are long and hard. But she's up for it. She never misses a tooth. How does she do it? For the first time ever, she reveals everything right here!

Happy Birthday, Monster! by Scott Beck 

From the author-illustrator of Little House, Little Town comes a warm and funny tale with an unusual cast of characters. Ben the monster has planned a surprise party for Doris the dragon’s birthday. At this unforgettable monster bash, the birthday dragon blows on her candles to light them, the robot is a little too enthusiastic about hitting the birthday pinãta, and the host monster finds horns an impediment in a game of trampoline.

Dino-Hockey by Lisa Wheeler 

"The game begins at half past six, / when dinos grab their hockey sticks." Rhyming couplets set the scene for a fantastical sports event: a hockey game played between opposing dinosaur teams: the Meat-Eaters and the Veggiesaurs. Gott's action-filled paintings amplify the sports moves and the players' comically exaggerated expressions, from the scowling face off between T. Rex and Tricera to the jubilant postgame celebration, covered by eager dino newscasters.

I Want a Hug by John A. Rowe 

A little hedgehog-like creature named Elvis, who just wants to be hugged. Poor Elvis is so prickly that no one wants to go near him. “Please,” he asks, “won’t someone give me a hug?” Everywhere he goes he sees hugs—in the city, in the park, in the forest—but no one anywhere will give him one. Just as he’s about to give up, he hears someone crying out, “Won’t someone give me a kiss?” It’s Colin the crocodile, and he’s so ugly that no one will kiss him. The two become instant pals, with hugs and kisses aplenty. Here is an adorable book about what it means to reach out to someone.

 It's Christmas by Tina Burke

It's that time of the year again - there's so much
to do before that special guest in the red hat arrives!
How exciting the
lead up to Christmas is... making decorations,
trimming the tree, creating the perfect gift ...
and finally, on Christmas Eve, putting out a snack
for Santa, and hanging up the stockings.
Then all that is left to do is wait... and wait...

Let it Snow by Holly Hobbie

It's Christmastime again in Woodcock Pocket, and Toot and Puddle are both wrestling with the same momentous question: what is the best present for your best friend? With a nod to previous books in the series, Holly Hobbie's latest story celebrates the endearing friendship that has delighted young readers for the past ten years.

Letter in the Wind by Sarah Marwil Lamstein 

Despite mockery and laughter from the villagers, Hayim asks the local scribe to write a letter to the Almighty. In it, Hayim prays for oil to light the town's menorahs. The poor man takes his letter to the highest hill and sends it off on the strongest breeze. Hayim's prayers are answered, and the villagers can celebrate Chanukah—but many in the town are convinced that Hayim is a thief.Sarah Marwil Lamstein's retelling of this Jewish folktale reminds readers of the first Chanukah and of Mattathias's bravery in protecting his faith.

That Pesky Dragon by Juile Sykes 

Izzy wakes to find a dragon on her dad’s farm. Soon that pesky dragon is causing chaos as its fiery breath turns the eggs to hard boiled, the wheat to toast and the cow’s milk to yoghurt.

Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones by Judy Schachnar

Holy guacamole! Skippyjon Jones is crazy-loco for dinosaurs! The kitty boy enters (via his closet) the land of dinosaurs in search of the fabled Skipposaurus. Instead he runs into his old amigos, the Chimichango gang. When a T-Mex threatens the pack, it’s El Skippito, the great sword fighter, to the rescue. With yips and yowls, he drives the big baddie away, so all the dino-dudes can rattle their bones another day.

The Prince Won't Go to Bed! by Dayle Ann Dodds

“WAA! WAA! WAA! I will not go to bed!”
the teeny-tiny, itty-bitty, little Prince said.
 
Nanny is at her wits’ end. Why won’t the Prince go to bed? Squire Frat, Lord Gerty, and others in the royal household try to help. Could he want a fluffy pillow? A softer mattress? A gentle lullaby? As the Prince’s cries get louder and louder, the castle turns topsy-turvy—until Princess Kate, woken by the ruckus, thinks to ask her brother why he won’t settle down—discovering that a simple good-night kiss is all he wants.

The Berenstain Bears Trim the Tree by Jan & Mike Berenstain

Christmas is just around the corner, and everyone in the Bear family wants to help decorate the tree! Includes thirteen flaps that open to reveal hidden holiday surprises

Click on any of these book titles to order them from SDCL. Click here for a list of December's New Items for Kids.

The Sisters Grim Book 4: Once Upon a Crime by Michael Buckley 

Ages 9-12 

Puck was seriously injured in the battle with the Jabberwocky, and Sabrina, Daphne, Granny Relda, and Mr. Canis take him to New York City to get help from Puck's family in the Faerie Kingdom. The Faerie Kingdom is full of surprises; it resembles the mob, including fairy godfathers who carry wands in violin cases. The Grimms are taken prisoner by the fairies, and then become embroiled in a murder investigation and fairy kingdom politics. Even worse in Sabrina's eyes is the discovery that her mother was involved with the Everafters; her mother's secret life threatens to destroy Sabrina's cherished memories of her "normal" life before the Everafters.

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke.

Ages 8-12 

Princess Igraine dreams of becoming a famous knight just like her great grandfather, but the truth is, life at the family castle is rather boring. Until the nephew of the baroness-next-door shows up. He's got a dastardly plan to capture the castle and claim as his own the wonderful singing spell books that belong to Igraine's magician parents. To make matters worse, at the very moment of the siege, her mom and dad botch a spell, turning themselves into pigs! Aided by a Gentle Giant and a Sorrowful Knight, it's up to Igraine to be brave and save the day--and the books!

Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist by Liz Kessler

Ever since I discovered I was part mermaid, nothing in my life has been simple. So when I spotted the gigantic diamond ring on the seabed, I should have turned tail and swum away. I most definatly shouldn't have put it on.

But how was I supposed to know that the ring was one half of the key to unlocking an ancient curse- a curse put in place by Neptune himself? And now Neptune has put a curse on me too: in a few days, I'll no longer be half-human and half-mermaid, and I'll have to say good-bye forever to one of my parents. Unless, with the help of a mysterious boy named Aaron, I can find the missing ring and break all of the curses at once...

Click on any of these book titles to order them from SDCL. Click here for a list of December's New Items for Kids.  Click here for a list of December's New Items for Teens.