"Death of an Outsider" by M.C. Beaton

Keep em coming, love Macbeth.

"Death of a Perfect Wife" by M.C. Beaton

Another great addition to the series. Love Hamish and although this mystery wasn't hard to figure out, it was worth the read.

"Edda: A Little Valkyrie's First Day of School" by Adam Auerbach

This little Valkyrie is leaving Valhalla to attend school with children her own age but she's not ready for the very different reception she receives as just one of the kids. In Valhalla, she is important and catered to but on Earth she's no more special than anyone else. Things don't seem to be going so well until Edda starts writing about her life in Valhalla, then things start to get better quite quickly as she enchants the other children with tales of life among the gods.

"The Little School Bus" by Margery Cuyler

Follow the little school bus as he travels around town on his daily trips and on his down time too. Perfect for story time.

"The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School" by Deborah Diesen

Really great book about the first day at school and it's possible frustrations. Can't wait to read this to the kids.

"The Midnight Library" by Kazuno Kohara

This special library is only open at night and only to the animals. The young girl librarian and her three owl assistants find books for everyone but sometimes they need extra attention. Come along and find out how books are the perfect answer to all problems.

"Here Comes Destructosaurus!" by Aaron Reynolds

This was HYSTERICAL. The kids and I were absolutely rolling on the floor doing voices and sounds. A monster comes to the city and starts destroying things left and right, but no one knows why. The narrator tries to restore some order with no success until he realizes why this is happening. Worth the read, a great look at taking responsibility for your behavior.

"Super Swooper Dinosaur" by Martin Waddell

A new friend has come to play, he flys, has huge wings and is completely out of his element playing with his new friend Hal and Billy. Is there anything they can do together that won't turn into a disaster?

"Elmer and the Whales" by David McKee

Elmer and his cousin follow in Grandpa's footsteps and follow the river to the ocean to meet the whales. Along the way they meet monkeys and alligators who help them build a raft. Soon they're drifting down the river to the sea and into the unknown.

"Aunt Dimity and the Witch Village (An Aunt Dimity Mystery, #17)" by Nancy Atherton

Scavenger hunt meets mystery in this book. Finch has a witch in it's history but no one knows what befell her but rumors of a woman with a bloodied hatchet scarring children have been handed down through the centuries. Could they be one and the same, and what is a well known botanical artist doing moving into the center of town with a faded scarp of paper? Lori knows she needs to get to the bottom of this mystery if she hopes to keep her quiet village intact against the invading Bowenists in search of their spiritual leader.

"The Troublemaker" by Lauren Castillo

What happens when you play pirates and kidnap your sisters Bunny? You get a time out. But what happens when he goes missing again and other strange things start to occur? How do you catch the culprit and prove your innocent? Read the book. This is a funny story that revolves around Bunny and his new friend.

"Five Trucks" by Brian Floca

This is a good book for children that are interested in airports and planes as well. It's a behind the scenes look at how five different trucks help to get planes ready to fly. From slow to fast, big to little, and up and down, this is a book that really lets you get the kids involved with hand gestures to mimic the story. Kids loved this one.

"Knuckleball Ned" by R.A. Dickey

This is a funny book, just right for any kid who's a baseball fanatic.

"My Daddy" by Julia Hubery

A great book about how cool all kinds of animal dads are but the best one of all is yours. Great illustrations.

"Humphrey's Bedtime" by Sally Hunter

Humphrey's bedtime has arrived but as he gets ready for bed his sister has too many things to do since she gets to stay up later.

"Michael Recycle and Boot Leg" by Ellie Bethel

Where have all the fish gone? When Michael goes to eat dinner out he finds that there are no fish to be had because the evil Bootleg Peg has been scooping them up. Can he safe the fish, who will help him defeat this evil pirate? Great book, kids loved the illustrations.

"Big Bad Baby" by Bruce Hale

What happens when baby goes bad? He's determined to take over the world or city at least and it looks like no one can stop him, or can they? Hysterical.

"Cat Napped" by Leeza Hernandez

Kitty goes wandering away and gets kidnapped, how will she find her way home to her family? Great read for the younger kids.

"Runaway Tomato" by Kimberly Reeder

It's raining and the water does something magical. Unfortunately, it's going to take the whole town to get this tomato out of the front door. When the tomato rolls downhill and heads for the town itself, everybody's gotta jump in to help. It's a really funny adventure that doesn't end with stopping the runaway tomato.

"The Lonely Book" by Kate Bernheimer

This is a fantastic little story about a book that has seen better days at the library and doesn't get taken out so much anymore. Then one day, a little girl finds it and brings it home where she reads it everyday and falls in love. They are accidentally torn apart and the book is left forgotten in the library basement. But though other titles come and go, the little girl always looks for her lost friend. The story ends happily with the two being reunited. Just right. The illustrations also are just right; the illustrator also did the cover for "Because of Winn-Dixie".

"Lola at the Library" by Anna McQuinn

Take a trip with this little girl and her mom as they get themselves ready to spend an exciting day at the beach doing all sorts of cool things. Perfect introduction read about going to the beach for little ones.

"At the Beach" by Anne F. Rockwell

Take a trip with this little girl and her mom as they get themselves ready to spend an exciting day at the beach doing all sorts of cool things. Perfect introduction read about going to the beach for little ones.

"I Like Myself!" by Karen Beaumont

This is a great book period. I read it to the kids at story time and they were so excited to learn that they are special because they are each unique and that is just fine. I'm definitely going to read this again sometime soon for story time. The little girl in the story is just so confident in how she acts and is that the kids can't help but get caught up in the story.

"The Tree House that Jack Built" by Bonnie Verburg

This is a great story full of laughs and with a hats off to rhyme time prose. From cats to monkeys to lizards and flies, this story has it all. The illustrations are bright and cheerful and full of quirky things like frogs with fishing nets and squirrels scurrying around hoisting tropical fruit. Laugh riot.

"Paddington" by Michael Bond

The little bear from darkest Peru joins the Brown family and hilarity ensues. A sweet first look at a beloved classic.

"Rufus Goes to School" by Kim T. Griswell

Rufus loves to read but he doesn't know how to. There's only one thing to do, go to school, but the principal just can't let him stay since pigs are so disorderly. Rufus will have to prove that he has what it takes to stay beside a pack back, lunchbox, and blanket. Great story time choice.

"Sleepytime Me" by Eith Hope Fine

This book just oozes bedtime comfort. The illustrations are beautifully done, and the story itself is set to a delightful rhythm. This is sure to wind up being a treasured part of a child's own bookshelf.

"All-of-a-Kind Family (All-of-a-Kind Family, #1)" by Sydney Taylor

This is a great little book. It took me back to the late 1800's east side of New York where the melting pot of Jews and other nationalities made New York so exciting and vibrant. Full of anecdotes which showcase the beautiful simplicity of this Jewish family as they try to make ends meet and celebrate their family's beliefs and the diversity that makes up their world, this book is a gem that has been lost. It is definitely a dated piece but is full of everyday information from the era that has largely been lost to us, but for the right child, this is just a treasure trove of fun. Intend to pass this on.

"The Girl Who Wouldn't Brush Her Hair" by Kate Bernheimer

This is about the cutest story I've ever read. The title just starts the story about a little girl who has the incredible fortune of being able to confidently say that she does things her way which leads to some interesting developments. Not brushing her hair is the reason that she befriends a mouse with a suitcase full of fairy tales. Hair condos are the latest craze and baths become a thing of the past. The kids had a real hoot with this one lol.

"Mistress of the Wind" by Michelle Diener

This was a great Nordic love story laced with imagination and mythology. A quick read not laden down with sex. Reminded me of fairy tales I used to read when I was younger but updated for an adult.

"The Stories Life of A.J. Fikry" by Gabrielle Zevin

If you pick up a book and still fell the thrill of the weight of it, the smell of the pages, the feel of the text. If you think of bookstores as a place of wonder and enchantment, read this book. If you want to be reminded of why we spread the love of books to others, why we reach out and connect with someone on so intimate a level, READ THIS BOOK. Serious readers, add this to your bookshelf and treat yourself now and again to a literary hug. Comes out May of 2014.

"Speaking from Among the Bones (Flavia de Luce, #5)" by Alan Bradley

Another great book in the Flavia De Luce series. This one centers around how the organist of the local church winds up buried upon the crypt of St. Tancred and why is the saint's face crying tears of blood? And will Buckshaw be lost for ever? This can be read as a standalone and I highly recommend it. Flavia will have you laughing as she sets about her unusual ways of solving crimes that even the police are baffled by. Think Dexter meets Hercule Poirot with a dash of 12 year preteen who finds the people around her starring in her rather deadly daydreams.

"Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree (Aunt Dimity, #16)" by Nancy Atherton

These mysteries are a good read when you are getting tired of finding dead bodies in the library. The mysterious is imbued in the regular everyday activities in the little known village of Finch. Think Ms. Marple without any actual blood shed. Mix one newly restored Georgian manor, one handsome retired, single American lawyer, and you have the beginning steps to a tango of confusion. Throw in a group of old biddies known as the Handmaidens, and sprinkle lightly with a summer romance a la golden age and you build towards a climax in which who steps on whose toes is truly a mystery. It'll take Lori and Aunt Dimity to figure out what exactly is going on; at least the ghostly music is Benny Goodman.

"Shadow of Night (All Souls Trilogy, #2)" by Deborah Harkness

I was pretty sure that I would like this story when I found out it takes place primarily in Elizabethan England, after all, that was bound to push all my pleasure buttons. What I got was a total immersion into a continuing story that if I wasn't such a rational person, I would swear to you was a biographical sketch of Harkness' time actually spent in that time period. You don't read this story, you breathe it in. I lost almost two nights of sleep so that I could walk beside Diana and Matthew and the School of Night while they travel through Europe searching for the knowledge they need to help them survive and face their adversaries. Harkness has weaved a story that will enchant you with the sheer beauty of its design and demand that you use your senses to do so. An EXCELLENT continuation to her first book and I CANNOT wait for the next installment. I may have to take a vacation afterwards to rest from the demands of reading it, but I look forward to the afterglow.

"The Corpse Rat-King" by Lee Battersby

This book was original and full of hysterical moments that just make you want to read and read. I don't think in all the years I've been reading sci-fi I've ever run across anything quite like it. Crossing my fingers that the author keeps writing just like this.

"The Undead Pool (The Hollows, #12)" by Kim Harrison

There is wild magic loose in the Hollows and it's gunning for Rachel. Why? No one knows, but when a Goddess loses her thoughts, they have to go somewhere. Living vampires fighting for their right to choose death or not, master vampires unexpectedly falling into an endless sleep causing chaos, magic spells misfiring with deadly consequences, elves and demons still fighting over a past history which cannot be forgotten. Just another day for Rachel. When you throw in an undeniable attraction to a man who is off limits and could be the love of her life, things could get complicated. In case there's anytime to take a breath lace it all with little voices that come and go; but these voices aren't just visiting, they wanna stay. What's a girl to do? Simple. Do what the only demon day walker can, her job.

"The Skin Game (The Dresden Files, #15)" by Jim Butcher

Harry Dresden does not disappoint in this latest title. We have graduated kids to a whole new level of awesome and I'm practically salivating at the enjoyment I got out of reading this book. Denarians, Mab, parasites, parkour, new enemies, old enemies; it's all twisted into a bloody fantastic installment that has me convinced that if Jim Butcher ever tries ending Dresden the uproar will make Doyle's fracas over Holmes look like a tea party. 

Butcher/Dresden fans unite! Spread the word! Skin Game is the Sci Fi novel of the year and needs to be read ASAP!

By the by, gave it a five stars but if I could, there would be a hell of a lot more, oops, hell ..... should I worry I gave something away there? GO READ!

"The Memory of Trees" by F.G. Cottam

This was a great book to read if you're a fan of epics like the tales of Camelot or mythology of the celtic isles, stories of the Druids and their ancient knowledge of nature, especially trees. Was well written and has made me want to read the author's other titles. Could be classified as fantasy/horror. Does not rely heavily on gore which is a nice change. Enjoy!

"The Fear Institute (Johannes Cabal, #3)" by Johnathan L. Howard

This was well worth the wait. As usual Howard is a master at bringing the unexpected to life and continues to create Cabal's development into the genuine article, an enchanting anti hero. Read these if you want originality and engrossing stories.

"The Princess Bride" by William Goldman

I never thought I'd say this but if you've seen the movie then you really don't need to read the book, although having said that, there were several places in the book that were made that much more vivid in the retelling so to speak. This is a great book to get your kids to read before viewing the movie with them since it basically only gets better with time.