New books for kids: skeletons, zombies, and pirates

Here are some great new books for kids full of thills and fun! Look for them on BookBag using the Amazon and World Catalog search boxes -- and get ready for some brand new adventures!

Bones: Skeletons and How They Work, by Steve Jenkins (Scholastic Press) Nonfiction. Most people don't think about their own bones much, but if you do--or if you're curious about how human bones compare with those of other animals--you should definitely take a look at Bones. Artist and author Steve Jenkins, known for his amazingly realistic cut-paper illustrations and his many fascinating and easy-to-understand books on science, compares human bones with those of spider monkeys, elephants, snakes, sloths, and many other animals. And, in addition to showing size differences between various species' bones, Jenkins also explains why other differences have evolved.

The Zombie Chasers, by John Kloepfer; illustrated by Steve Wolfhard (Harper) Humorous Horror. Zack Clarke thinks he's unlucky when his older sister and her friends ambush him, duct-tape him to a chair, and make him the subject of a YouTube video called Hostage Makeover--but then zombies attack! Zack's big sister (along with most everyone else in Phoenix, Arizona) is transformed into a shuffling, moaning, brain-craving menace, and it's up to Zack, his geeky buddy Rice, and super-popular Madison to save the city. Fans of silly yet totally disgusting books will love this gory story and look forward to the next volume, Undead Ahead.


Emily's Fortune, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor; illustrated by Ross Collins (Delacorte Press) Historical Fiction. Bashful young Emily Wiggins, suddenly orphaned at the age of eight, has chosen to go and live with her sweet Aunt Hilda out West. But during her stagecoach journey to her aunt's home, Emily discovers that she's inherited a fortune--and that her horrible Uncle Victor has hired Miss Catchum of Catchum Child-Catching Services to apprehend Emily and deliver her to him. Luckily, Emily meets a fellow orphan named Jackson, who helps her keep just ahead of those pursuing her. Combining action, suspense, humor, and adventure, this rootin'-tootin' Wild West yarn will keep you turning the pages.


The Ball Hogs, by Rich Wallace; illustrated by Jimmy Holder (Alfred A. Knopf) Sports Fiction. Ben has never played on a real soccer team before, but he likes everything about being a Bobcat--except for his teammate Mark, who acts like a big shot but doesn't know any more about soccer than Ben. And with Mark and Ben at odds, the Bobcats can't seem to win a game. Combining great on-the-field, play-by-play action with a realistic story about friends (and enemies), this 1st volume in the Kickers series is a fun read that ends with a list of useful tips for soccer players. Fake Out is next.

The Unsinkable Walker Bean, by Aaron Renier (First Second) Graphic Novel. Mild-mannered budding inventor Walker Bean is not the adventurous type. But after his grandfather steals a cursed skull from a pair of evil sea-witch sisters and becomes deathly ill, Walker must make a dangerous voyage to return the skull and save Grandpa. Featuring deadly peril, pirates, fantastic twists, and a dash of comic relief, this imaginatively illustrated, suspenseful swashbuckling adventure is a rip-roaring read. For more action-packed fantasy adventure that involves pirates and works in a good bit of humor, try Judith Rossell's Jack Jones and the Pirate Curse.

As Simple as It Seems, by Sarah Weeks (Laura Geringer Books) Realistic Fiction. Verbena Colter has had a rough fifth-grade year: she's had a hard time with her schoolwork and can't seem to stop being mean to her parents. Then the revelation of some disturbing family secrets makes Verbie wish that she could be somebody else. So, when a gullible boy named Pooch and his mom rent the house next door for the summer, Verbie pretends that she IS someone else...and Pooch believes her. If you like dramatic, emotional stories that end on a hopeful note, be sure not to miss As Simple as it Seems.