Yummy: Eight Favorite Fairy Tales by Lucy Cousins. Every child needs a book of fairy tales, and this one, by the creator of the Maisy series, is yummy! In each of the eight stories-- “The Little Red Hen,” “The Three Little Pigs,” “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” “The Musicians of Bremen,” “The Three Billy Goats Gruff,” “The Enormous Turnip,” and “Little Red Riding Hood”—food and eating plays a central role. For example, in “Little Red Riding Hood,” Red is taking a basket of goodies to her sick grandmother, and, of course, her granny is eaten by the wolf. In “The Enormous Turnip”, the turnip becomes a feast for all. Cousins’ colorful illustrations are so cheerful and bright that they ensure that the tales will not frighten even the youngest reader. Cousins writes of her book, “It’s brilliant to be able to pass on these stories like this, with all their drama, excitement, and comedy. They are such fun and they touch such deep emotions. My paintbrushes were practically dancing on the paper.” A great read aloud for ages 2 to 6. Candlewick.

Grounded by Kate Klise is an extraordinary book about family, death, grief, and the healing power of love. Twelve-year-old Daralynn is at home with her mother, grounded, when her father, brother and sister die in a plane crash. After that, everything changes. Her mother, angry and grieving, becomes the hairstylist at the local funeral home in order to make ends meet, but the arrival of a stranger named Clem, who wants to start a crematorium, threatens the funeral home’s existence as well as her mother’s job. Daralynn comes up with an idea to put the “fun” back into funeral, and the funeral home starts to offer living funerals where the honoree can participate and hear all the nice things that her friends say. Clem fires back by offering living funerals as well, and when she realizes that Clem is courting her Aunt Josie, Daralynn decides to do some research to find out whether he is a nice as he appears to be. Daralynn starts to unravel some of the mystery surrounding Clem, but no one listens to her when she tries to warn about him. In fact, no one is listening to her at all—especially her mother, who has turned inward in her grief. When Daralynn asks Josie whether her mother will be like that forever, she replies that her mother needs someone to keep her grounded—not grounded as in punishment, but “grounded like a tree.” Will Dara solve the mystery surrounding Clem? Will Dara’s mom be able to reach out and reconnect with Dara? Read this book and you will find the answers to these questions while you visit Digginsville, Missouri, population 402, and meet its quirky residents. I highly recommend this book for readers aged 9 to 12. Feiwel and Friends.

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen is a beautifully written book about a 16 year old runner who loses a leg when the school bus carrying the team home from a successful meet is hit by an uninsured motorist. The book begins 3 days after the accident. Jessica, who is just beginning to understand what has happened to her, begins the book with her statement, “My life is over.” The reader journeys with Jessica over the next year, as her family struggles with the neverending medical bills and the resulting lawsuits, Jessica learns how to walk again on her prosthetic leg and worries about whether she will ever be fully accepted by her classmates, and her coach challenges her team to raise money for a prosthetic that would enable Jessica to run again. Because of Jessica’s spirit, and the love and support of those around her, Jessica is able to achieve her running dream, and to help a new found friend accomplish hers as well. As noted by Booklist, Van Draanen’s extensive research into both running and amputees pays dividends—readers will truly feel what it’s like to walk (or run) a mile (or 10) in Jessica’s shoes. This is a great book for any young adult who loves a good sports novel or who may be coping with a disability. Ages 12+. Alfred A. Knopf