Great Reads: Consider these books for young and teen readers

Greetings once again to all my fellow readers in Maricopa who always are on the look out for a great new read. I usually write about new books for adult readers and rarely venture into books for children and teens.

However, with this special edition of Great Reads, the focus is on books for Maricopa’s youth.

I’ve long been a fan of Marc Brown’s “Arthur” books featuring that lovable aardvark who has through his books taught America’s children a lot about growing up. There’s another character becoming a favorite of mine as well and he’s Skippyjon Jones. He’s always dreaming of new ways to play with the Chihuahuas and he has a new adventure in “Skippyjon Jones Cirque de Ole” by Judy Schachner.

“Llama Llama, Time to Share” by Anna Dewdney is a great read to help little ones understand the meaning of sharing featuring the adorable little Llama Llama.

Lemony Snicket has a new book to please his fans entitled “Who Could That Be at This Hour? (All the Wrong Questions).” This is the first book of what will be a four-volume series about his mysterious apprenticeship in a small town.

Fans of “The Magic Treehouse” books have a new holiday adventure to read by Mary Pope Osborne featuring time travelers Jack and Annie in “A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time.” Jack and Annie travel to Victorian England to help none other than Charles Dickens, one of the era’s most famous writers.

The kids from the “Black Lagoon” are back in a variety of adventures written by Mike Thaler and the Maricopa Public Library has some new titles to offer young readers:

• “The Class Trip from the Black Lagoon”
•  “The Little League Team from the Black Lagoon”
•  “The Class Election from the Black Lagoon”
•  “The Field Day from the Black Lagoon”
•  “Back to School Fright from the Black Lagoon”
•  “April Fool’s Day from the Black Lagoon”
•  “The School Carnival from the Black Lagoon”
•  “The Spring Dance from the Black Lagoon”
•  “The School Bus Driver from the Black Lagoon”

The American Girl series has introduced young women to remarkable young ladies and American history. In the latest addition to the series is “Meet Caroline: An American Girl” takes place in 1812 and America’s second war with England. Other titles in the series featuring Caroline include:

•  “Changes for Caroline”
•  “Caroline’s Secret Message”
•  “A Surprise for Caroline”
•  “Caroline’s Battle”

Young adults who have enjoyed the Maximum Ride adventures by James Patterson can read the last installment in the series entitled “Nevermore: The Final Maximum Ride Adventure” featuring Maximum Ride, Dylan and the return of Fang.