This is Book 5 in the Zapato Power series. Freddie isn’t sure if his super-powered sneakers will work in the snow of the March blizzard, but he soon finds out they do. Super fast Zapato (shoe- in Spanish) power clears a path in the snow to all the apartments in his complex. Then Freddie cheerfully helps Mr. Vaslov, the apartment manager, by clearing a path in the snow to the school where the people of Building D have been evacuated to the gym because the furnace in Building D isn’t working.  Then, someone has robbed mean Erika’s abuela’s purse while they are temporarily camped out in the school gym. After the police come to investigate the missing purse, Freddie uses his ‘super sneakers’ to snoop (by bouncing high enough to look in through the windows) in 3 suspect houses near the school of the stolen purse. Then Freddie and his friend Maria set a trap for the purse thief using Maria’s giant pink purse. Maria’s pink purse is also stolen from the gym, but not before guacamole has been accidentally spilled onto it. Freddie is able to track the thief by following the green globs of guacamole in the snow. When Freddie catches up to him Freddie runs circles around him. “Just like a snowplow, I pushed enough snow to lock him into a snow jail.” (p. 80)  The police come to arrest the thief. The following morning when the children go sledding, Erika is kinder to Freddie and his friends because “” ‘ I owe you one’  she said…” for helping her abuela.

Miguel Benitez’s numerous black and white full-page, half-page, and quarter-page  illustrations help carry the text as it flows smoothly forward carrying the reader along with it.

Tallulah goes to dance school, but now her dream of being in a real ballet with a “real ballet company in  a real theater” has come true. The rehearsals take up most of her time, she lets everyone know it, and soon comes opening night. Tallulah overcomes her nervousness, but creates a domino effect on stage when she steps on another mouse’s tail. Down they fall. Later, off-stage the dance master, Clara, and the Sugar Plum Fairy all recount their own past on stage ballet mishaps. Now feeling better “the dance master, ‘in ballet, embarrassing things happen all the time, but a REAL dancer keeps right on dancing. And that’s just what you did…’ ”         Happy ending.

PJ is a 5th grader who believes his father is a private investigator away on assignment. The story is a series of PJ’s letters he writes to his father telling the events of his life. PJ decides to make a magnetic pickle for the school science experiment, hoping to win first place. However, the first place trophy turns up missing and PJ is accused of taking it. Although misfortune follows PJ wherever he goes, PJ decides he must solve the mystery. This book is written in the same style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. This book is quite silly which kids will love!

Nino, a little firefly, talks to his mom about his dream to shine as bright as the moon to earn the respect of all the other jungle animals. Well, the moon overheard this conversation and decided to help out by asking Nino if Nino could cover for him one night so he could take a break. Nino calls all the fireflies together to gather as one producing a very big, bright light as they slowly rose in the sky together. The fireflies, working as a team shone brighter than the brightest moonlight. The animals were amazed. Two morals of this story exist, follow your dreams, and together anything is possible! Beautiful illustrations increase the attraction of this book with gold foil “lights” on each firefly.

This informational book introduces the mystery of why the little brown bats were dying in large numbers. The book continues with investigations of pesticides, climate changes and virus as possibilities. White fuzz was found to grow on the infected bats’ noses. This was determined to be a fungus. Is the fungus to blame? The little brown bats start to help themselves through this issue. Great, detailed photos accompany each page spread. Each photo is related to the information found on its page. I especially am pleased with the high number of women scientist involved in the investigation as well as in the photos. This book contains a table of contents, an author’s note, bat facts page, bat help efforts page, a glossary, an index and further research page.

Sophia Grace and Rosie decide to sign up for the talent show together. Then they decided they have to make their performance a showstopper. They secretly let their classmates in on the plan. When the talent show begins and the two girls step on stage, they sing their song about lions, eagles and other animals. That is when all of the girls’ classmates enter the stage dressed as different animals. The audience loved it. The winner of the talent show was EVERYONE! The illustrations are very attractive for young readers. The authors, Sophia Grace Brownlee and Rosie McClelland, are two young British girls.

Ruby brings home a little kitten which causes Lovebird to get quite jealous. When Valentine’s Day arrives, both the kitten and Lovebird try to outdo each other to show Ruby how much they love her. Valentine’s day gets very messy until Ruby explains that there is room in her heart for two. This is a cute story about a friendship triangle that turns into love for all. Illustrations are very sweet and very pink!

A lonely little boy talks to the moon asking the moon many questions as if to find something they have in common. Soon, the boy asks the moon if it ever gets lonely and then consoles the moon telling it not to ever get lonely because he is available to to talk anytime it wants. Then they both fall  asleep. This story is very sweet with cute, colorful illustrations.

Ten years ago, I’d say this novel would not be on the shelves of my high school library.  Boyfriends with Girlfriends is the story of two sets of boy and girl friends: Sergio and Kimiko are best friends that will be juxtaposed with Allie and Lance.  Each has character flaws that make them real teenagers dealing with their sexual identity.  Even today, I’m a little hesitant to add it to the collection, but here is why I will.  Alex Sanchez created characters with such unique identities.  And I’m not talking just sexual identities.  Lance is proud of being gay but doesn’t believe someone could be bisexual.  Despite his confidence, he’s never been in a relationship…yet.  His best friend Allie is in a lengthy relationship with  her boyfriend Chip, but she is starting to feel like it doesn’t right.  Kimiko is sure she’s a lesbian, but hasn’t come out to her parents and also hasn’t been in a relationship…yet.  Finally Sergio knows he is bisexual, was tragically dumped by his previous girlfriend, and is afraid to get into a relationship again.  Yes, the sexual identity issues are a huge piece of the story, but the reality is they are for every teenager.  Should I get into a relationship?  How far am I willing to share myself both physically and emotionally?  These are questions on every teenagers mind, despite their sexuality.  Add in the pressures from parents and school and this is very much a mainstream young adult novel.  Still, librarians need to know there is tension as the teens do explore each other physically.  In particular a scene between Sergio and Lance with very heavy petting.  But Sanchez gives voice to a group of students in our schools who are not represented in literature.  American society is becoming more aware of LGBT issues of late.  If you have a LGBT group that meets in your school, then this book should be on your shelves.

Strange things are happening at Suburban High School. Celia Balustrade is a shy, “not-it” sophomore, friendless in a new school.  With inclusion in the mysterious group, The Rosary, Celia finds security and acceptance by dressing in black, acting aloof and hanging with the select group.  Dangerous accidents begin happening to girls on the day before their sixteenth birthday.  Celia questions the coincidences and uncovers a conflict between the supernatural forces of the Kind and the rising power of the Unkind. Is Celia the cause of the curse or the does she have the special power to stop the accidents?  Romance, intrigue, danger and a death occur as Celia discovers her special gifts. Imaginative powers such as being able to travel through the pages of a book are an unusual twist  in this enjoyable read from Nathan Kotecki.  Recommended for high school and public libraries.