How to Get Married

Written and illustrated by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Sue Heap
Ages: Ages 4-8 (and their parents)

Take it from the six year old bride there are just certain things that you should do if you want to get married. This book gives advice on how to choose the perfect person to marry, pop the question, and plan the ceremony and reception. Taking place in the narrator's daycare, this book is charming and so funny.  Some sage advice includes: you should definitely brush your hair so that it doesn't look like a bird's nest back there. And according to the narrator, who is wearing a paper crown, "you can marry anyone you like!" and advises the reader not to forget to "throw a big bunch of flowers at people's heads." The illustrations alone would certainly keep readers busy and engaged-no pun (entirely) intended!

We all enjoyed this book and laughed out loud! This would be a perfect book for your preschooler, early grade schooler, or a bride to-be. This book is the second from the creative team that wrote the NY Times Bestseller How to Be a Baby...by Me, the Big Sister. There is also a third installment in the series, How to Get a Job...by Me, the Boss. We will be getting both of those titles as soon as possible. Enjoy!

Matched

Matched
by Ally Condie
Ages: 12+

Finally, Cassia is the age to be matched.  She has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, to watch, and to believe. She is matched with someone from her area- Xander, but when she watches her microchip about her match another face appears, Ky Markham.  A society official claims it was a rare malfunction because Ky is Abberation.  She should focus on her future happy life. 
Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky and slowly falls in love and doubts the Society.  She has to chose a path between Xander and Ky, life has she's known and a path no one else has to dared to follow.   

I am in the teen fiction genre and I am loving it.  I love the different future societies/government and young people beginning to realize the government is not correct.  They are no longer blinded by the lies the government provided.  It is like Hunger Games, Maze Runner, The Giver, Cinder, and Birthmarked.  Of course, this is book one of a trilogy. Crossed is book 2 and Reached which will be released November 2012 (this year).     

Sloppy Joe

written by David Keane
illustrated by Denise Brunkus

Joe has always been good at being sloppy. His room is sloppy, his manners are sloppy, even his attempts at helping around the house are sloppy. When Joe decides to become Neat Joe, his attempts are fun and heartfelt. And he learns that being messy is just a wonderful part of who he is.

This is the perfect book for anyone in your life who is a little less than neat. Fun illustrations and charming situations make this book just plain fun. Try this book out with your own Sloppy Joe.

Cinder

Book One in the Lunar Chronicles
by Marissa Meyer
Ages: 12+

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg.  She is considered a second-class citizen in New Beijing.  Her stepmother blames her when the stepsister gets the mysterious plague.  Her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai and finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle between humans and the ruthless lunar people.  She uncovers her mysterious past which leads her into making difficult choices in order to protect her world's future.   

I was very hesitant to read this book at first because it seemed like another Cinderella story remake.  I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book and had to finishing reading.  I was drawn into the world of humans and androids.  I felt torn when Cinder's past was slowly revealed and she had to make some difficult decisions. I can't wait until Book 2 Scarlet comes out.  It will be featuring Cinder meeting Little Red Riding Hood in France.  There will be four books in the series.