STAFF PICKS

This book is very special. It has the mythical qualities of a story that transcends the ordinary. Jack's parents plant an apple tree to honor his birth and Jack loves the tree like a friend, in fact, it is as though "they are one". Not since "The Giving Tree" has a mere tree held such power; to comfort, to shelter, and to ultimately convey truth. Powerful in its simplicity, the story is complimented by the extraordinary illustrations of Barry Root. A perfect fable to read in a month when we celebrate our green earth. -Michele

It was the Reverend Charles Dodgson, more familiarly known as Lewis Carroll, who wrote Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland. The Looking Glass Wars proposes that Dodgson's story is a twisted account of real events from another world. Beddor follows Alyss Heart from the day that her mother, Queen Genevieve of Wonderland, is killed by her Aunt Redd through Alyss's exile on Earth to her return to Wonderland and the dynastic wars that follow. Filled with the magic of Imagination, card warriors, and people with odd abilities, The Looking Glass Wars is an ingenious spin-off of Alice in Wonderland. Recommended for early teen readers. - Nick