Mercer Island, WA 98040 
What We are Reading
Little Wolf's Song, by Britta Teckentrup
Even though Little Wolf's mom, dad, sister, and brothers all have their own special song, he can only manage a poor, pitiful squeak. His siblings tease him: "A wolf who can't howl is no wolf at all!" But one snowy day, Little Wolf finds himself lost and alone in the woods-and underneath a glistening, perfect full moon, he discovers his own special, beautiful voice. Best-selling author and artist Britta Teckentrup has created a magical, heart-warming story that children will love to read again and again. Ages 3 to 7.
Mr. Putney's Quacking Dog, by Jon Agee
From a master of wordplay and comic illustration comes this marvelous collection of punning animal riddles. "Which friend of Mr. Putney's has cold feet? A socktopus." "What do you call Mr. Putney's messy lunch companion? A slobster." Your groans can't help but turn into laughter. Ages 4 to 8.
Flora's Very Windy Day, by Jeanne Birdsall
When Flora and her pesky little brother, Crispin, are whisked away by a swirling and swooping wind, she gets the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to give her brother away. With tempting offers from a dragonfly, the man in the moon, and even the wind itself, she will find it difficult to choose. But Flora would do anything to get rid of Crispin, wouldn't she? Jeanne Birdsall's utterly charming picture book debut takes flight in Matt Phelan's twisting, twirling watercolors, brimming with wit and whimsy. Ages 5 to 8.
The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, by Dav Pilkey
The creator of the wildly popular Captain Underpants presents this all-new graphic novel, the sensational saga of two silly caveboys named Ook and Gluk. Ook and Gluk have a pretty awesome life growing up together in Caveland, Ohio, in 500,001 BC. But Ook and Gluk's idyllic life takes a turn for the terrible when an evil corporation from the future invades their quiet, prehistoric town. When Ook, Gluk, and their little dinosaur pal, Lily, are pulled through a time portal to the year 2222 AD, they discover that the world of the future is far worse than the one they came from. Fortunately, they find a friend in Master Wong, a martial arts instructor who trains them in the ways of kung fu, so that they may one day return home and make things right again. And, like the other Captain Underpants books, The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future features the world's cheesiest animation technology, "Flip-O-Rama," in every chapter. Ages 7 to 10.
Smells Like Dog, by Suzanne Selfors
Meet Homer Pudding, an ordinary farm boy who's got big dreams—to follow in the footsteps of his famous treasure-hunting uncle. But when Uncle Drake mysteriously disappears, Homer inherits two things: a lazy, droopy dog with no sense of smell, and a mystery. Why would his uncle call this clumsy dog his "most treasured possession?" And why did he put a gold coin on the dog's collar? And who will continue Uncle Drake's quest-to find the most coveted pirate treasure in the world? Join Homer, his sister Gwendolyn, and Dog on an adventure that will test their wits and courage as they leave their peaceful farm and head into a world where ruthless treasure hunters hide around every corner. Ages 8 to 12.
For the Win, by Cory Doctorow
At any hour of the day or night, millions of people around the globe are engrossed in multiplayer online games, questing and battling to win virtual "gold," jewels, and precious artifacts. Meanwhile, others seek to exploit this vast shadow economy, running electronic sweatshops in the world's poorest countries, where countless "gold farmers," bound to their work by abusive contracts and physical threats, harvest virtual treasure for their employers to sell to First World gamers who are willing to spend real money to skip straight to higher-level gameplay. Mala is a brilliant 15-year-old from rural India whose leadership skills in virtual combat have earned her the title of "General Robotwalla." In Shenzen, heart of China's industrial boom, Matthew is defying his former bosses to build his own successful gold-farming team. Leonard, who calls himself Wei-Dong, lives in Southern California, but spends his nights fighting virtual battles alongside his buddies in Asia, a world away. All of these young people, and more, will become entangled with the mysterious young woman called Big Sister Nor, who will use her experience, her knowledge of history, and her connections with real-world organizers to build them into a movement that can challenge the status quo.
Imbued with a lively, subversive spirit and thrilling storytelling, For the Win is a prophetic and inspiring call-to-arms for a new generation. Ages 12 to 17.
The Fool's Girl, by Celia Rees
Young and beautiful Violetta may be of royal blood, but her kingdom is in shambles when she arrives in London on a mysterious mission. Her journey has been long and her adventures many, but it is not until she meets the playwright William Shakespeare that she gets to tell the entire story from beginning to end. Violetta and her comic companion, Feste, have come in search of an ancient holy relic that the evil Malvolio has stolen from their kingdom. In classic Celia Rees style, it is an engrossing journey, full of political intrigue, danger, and romance. This wholly original story is spun from Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," and includes both folly and suspense that would make the Bard proud. Ages 12 to 17.
Fat Vampire, by Adam Rex
Doug Lee is undead quite by accident—attacked by a desperate vampire, he finds himself cursed with being fat and fifteen forever. When he has no luck finding some goth chick with a vampire fetish, he resorts to sucking the blood of cows under cover of the night. But it's just not the same. Then he meets the new Indian exchange student and falls for her—hard. Yeah, he wants to bite her, but he also wants to prove himself to her. But like the laws of life, love, and high school, the laws of vampire existence are complicated—especially when the star of "Vampire Hunters" is hot on your trail in an attempt to boost ratings. Searing, hilarious, and always unexpected, Fat Vampire is a satirical tour de force that does a lot more than exploit the curent vampire craze. Ages 14 to 17.
