page33

October

Happy Horrible Halloween
Short Story
by Valerie Allen
Amazon.com/dp/B0BNQDFG2V

Oh, the drama of it all! The classroom Halloween Party goes in the wrong direction for seven-year-old Aubree. Frustrated, overwhelmed, and indignant, chaos ensues. It should be baboons to zebras! Leave it to Grandma to get things in order and restore calm with her kind words and gentle ways.

The Hawaiian Bat
Middle Grades
by Marion Coste
Amazon.com/dp/082482797X

Shy and solitary, the Hawaiian hoary bat is so rare most people have never seen one. If you are in the right place (the edge of a forest) at the right time (around sunset), you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one heading out to hunt for beetles and moths, its favorite foods. These and other fascinating details about the Islands' only native land mammal and bats in general can be found in this book. The more we know about this mysterious and misunderstood animal, the greater our chances of protecting it and its fragile habitat.

Pets of Elsewhere:
Ghost Dog
Middle Grades
by Jaimie Engle
Amazon.com/dp/1732878692

Haunted by four-legged ghosts in St. Augustine, a 12-year-old must help vengeful shadow-pets find rest or watch them pick off his family one-by-one. Colten never wanted to leave Satellite Beach. After Dad retired from Space Force, his parents moved him and his sister to St. Augustine to open a bed and breakfast in a gorgeous Victorian house once owned by a world-renowned veterinarian. Only, Colten sees and hears things that don't make sense, and his sister almost dies-twice! Animal ghosts reaching out from the other side hint the doctor hid skeletons behind the closed Victorian closet doors, leaving Colten with two choices: help the pets from elsewhere or watch them kill his family.

Hayley the Halloween Cat
The Search for Bitty the Bat
Easy Reader
by Wanda Luthman
Amazon.com/dp/0998195820

Hayley, the Halloween Cat, and The Search for Bitty the Bat is about two friends preparing to celebrate Halloween only Bitty has gone missing. Hayley asks everyone if they know where her friend is hiding.
Pretty soon everyone has joined in the search. But Bitty has a wonderful surprise! Come join in the fun, character-filled hunt with Hayley.

November

The Ad Hoc Committee
Short Story
by Valerie Allen
Amazon.com/dp/B07TLDXGHW

Project negotiation by a woman, in a man's world, requires more than brains and talent. Even a dog
would agree!

Nene: The Hawaiian Goose
Middle Grades
by Marion Coste
Amazon.com/dp/0824813898

This book entertains and educates readers about the Hawaiian goose, an endangered species, and about the fragile ecology of Hawaii. In a fictionalized account of a year in the life of a Nene family, the author evokes a vivid picture of the environment, life cycle, and natural history of Hawaii's state bird.

Colorful illustrations enhance the words. The scientifically accurate information enables children to understand how this bird has been brought back from the brink of extinction and reestablished in the wild.

Friends of a Different Feather
Middle Grades
by Cindy Foley
Amazon.com/dp/B0CM19QYYP

Southern Lubbers destroying Bling. Kittens disappearing. What more could go wrong? Somehow, a pretty calico and a pesky parrot are involved. As usual, trouble leads to Farmer Hudson's barn. Anyone
who goes there knows the black cloud of disappearances that darken that place.
Can Clawed and his unusual group of friends come to the rescue in time, or will their differences create even more danger for all involved? When predator meets prey, it might be magic that saves the day.

The Calico Cat
Easy Reader
by Sarah Mamika
Amazon.com/dp/1612252559

Carmen - a rather mean, demanding calico cat is not happy at all when a new addition to the family arrives, and even more upset when a very active kitten joins the household. "What?!" thought Carmen.

"This is totally wrong. She definitely, no way, just doesn't belong!" A wonderfully illustrated story in rhymed text that shows the rewards achieved by treating pets with love and patience.

December

Holiday House Rules
Short Story
by Valerie Allen
Amazon.com/dp/B07XQHFBTG

Holiday traditions create things we should do. Holiday house rules create things we shouldn't do.
Which one will be the most meaningful to children (and their pets!) in their adult lives?

Sophia, The Christmas Eve Snow Bunny
Picture Book
by Wanda Luthman
Amazon.com/dp/B07LH644F8

Sophia the Christmas Eve Snow Bunny & the Real Gift is about a bunny who knows what it's like to not have a present for Christmas. Santa asks her to help him in the gift giving for animals. Join Sophia
on her Christmas Eve mission as she circles the globe bringing joy to all the animals that would otherwise not have presents.

Dragonflies
Middle Grades
by Marta Magellan
Amazon.com/dp/1632332590

Dragonflies might be one of the most ancient of all insects--their ancestors were here before the dinosaurs. But what do we know about them? Why are they called dragonflies? What's up with those funny-looking eyes? Can they really fly backwards? What does it mean to be a bioindicator? The answers are inside, with photos of these beautiful insects and friendly cartoons.
Marta Magellan and Mauro Magellan are an author/illustrator team who started to work together after having published separately for many years. Marta Magellan's interest in wildlife and nature has led her to write many nonfiction books about animals for children.

The Tooting Rabbit: Christmas in the Big Apple
Picture Book
by Chez Wendling
Amazon.com/dp/B0DK4XWX6Q

Hold your nose and hop into a hilarious Christmas adventure as Toots the rabbit in back! An uproarious sequel to The Tooting Rabbit and the Enchanted Forest.
Toots is bringing his special brand of stinky shenanigans to the Big Apple as our gassy hero trades in forest frolics for city hijinks. Don't miss out on this gas-tastic tale that proves sometimes the best gifts come in small, furry, and smelly packages.
(Warning: May cause uncontrollable giggles and temporary nose-pinching)

Rescued Heroes
by Carol Lalla
Easy Reader
Amazon.com/dp/B0BMF3VHKM

Rescued Heroes is the third book of A Wiggles and Wags Tale series. This book is composed of several stories about how many rescued animals have emotionally and physically changed the lives of those who rescued them. Wiggles and Wags and their friends are at the park, all have stories to share about their experiences or that of others they can relay about rescues, adoptions and helping people. It's a fun read, heart-felt and endearing. Rescued Heroes also illustrates many of the service animals that are trained to help people in everyday life and those in need of their special services to save lives. Whether they are trained or not, the pets in this book are all heroes.

Bee Catastrophe
Easy Reader
by Marta Magellan
Amazon.com/dp/1632333600

Not long ago, fields buzzed with the sound of bees. People and other animals ate their honey. Some animals even ate the bees. And all types of bees, like bumble bees and solitary bees, did their part to help plants grow. But bees are in danger, and you wouldn't want to live in a world without them! Is there anything you can do? Read this book so that you can help avert the bee catastrophe.