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Story Time
Secret Santa
By Sabrina James
Having a Secret Santa sounds like a good idea, right? Everyone picks a name out of a hat or a box and then buys a gift for the person they choose. No one knows who chose who, which is why it’s called Secret Santa. But what if you just can’t leave the mystery alone, and you start to wonder who on Earth gave you that surprisingly romantic gift — is it someone you might like? And who is giving your boyfriend such a mushy present!?! That’s the sort of trouble that’s stirred up at North Ridge High School when Principal Hicks encourages all of the students to take part in a puzzling gift exchange.
Ouch! How Your Body Makes it Through a Very Bad Day
By Richard Walker
You may have seen books about your body before, but probably not a book that focuses on all the things that go wrong with your body and the ways your system reacts to fix the problems. This book starts by introducing you to the Nanocam, a tiny little camera that is sent through the body and reports back on all the physical problems you may face in just one day (a broken bone, a pimple, a cut). But don’t worry, the Nanocam also shows you how your body springs into action to mend those injuries. Plus, the book comes with a CD featuring short animations that take you inside yourself, showing you what it looks like internally when you sneeze, pee or cut your skin.
The Arrival
By Shaun Tan
There are no words in this graphic novel, and yet it tells a most detailed story. With hundreds of beautiful black and white drawings, we follow one man as he packs his bags and leaves his beloved family to start a new life in a different country. You’ll be surprised how clearly you understand each little thing that happens to the man, from a goodbye hug, to his boat trip to a new world, to standing in line to get into his new country. And once he’s in his new home, the drawings suddenly become a little bit odd, representing how foreign and strange everything appears to the newcomer. Plus, the fact that there are no words really helps you understand what it would be like to live somewhere where you didn’t speak the language.