Treasure Hunters

Everyone is a treasure hunter at heart and searching the shelves at the library can lead to an unending supply of treasured reading choices.  Since the 39 Clues have been on our series spotlight it's been hard to find one on the shelf. With titles like The Viper's Nest and The Sword Thief kids are quick to grab up any of the titles when the cover directs you to "Read the books. Play the game. Win the prizes."

But treasure seekers will also want to check out Attica, by Garry Kilworth.  Aimed at grades 5-9, this adventure follows the step-siblings Alex, Chloe, and Jordy as they move into a new house and find that the attic holds more than dusty remnants of the past owners.  Entering the attic they're transported to a world that is as magical as it is dangerous.  Bizarre landscapes and Dali-type characters interact with them along their journey.  This book will have you checking your own attic for strange activity.

The Door of No Return by Sarah Mussi first attracted me because of the main character Zac has ties to Ghana.  When his grandfather tells him tales of his link to African royalty and a secret treasure Zac just assumes it's a fairy tale. 

When his grandfather is murdered Zac has no choice but to set off on a journey to find the gold and search out the reason behind his grandfather's death.  I'm hoping for more books featuring this character.

Leepike Ridge by N.D. WIlson tells the story of 11 year old Matt.  While he's lived on Leepike Ridge all his life he never would have believed he would be caught underneath it.  Worried about his home life, what kid wouldn't be if mom was dating the math teacher, Matt sets out on a late night walk and ends up being washed down a river and into a series of underground caves.  But he's not alone.  No, his troubles only get worse as his only companions are a dead man and an injured dog. 

Matt's mom presumes he's dead but a group of villianous treasure hunters are in pursuit. What could be under Leepike Ridge that would draw all this attention?

Some times just searching the shelves results in unexpected treasure.  Visit the library today and see what treasures you can find.

Dachshunds on the shelf

When someone saw me walking my mini-dachshund through town the other day and asked how old she was I mistakenly said, "Oh, I've had her about a year". I realized much later that Sid, Sid Vicious if you're being formal, actually turned two this past February. I guess because she is still rather tiny, and also the fact I can't believe I own such a small dog, I sometimes forget just how long she's been here.

Small dogs have a way of growing on you and even show up in literature from time to time. Margaret Rey may be famous along with H.A. Rey for the Curious George series but also wrote about Pretzel, the longest dachshund in the world. Across the street from Pretzel lives another dachshund named Greta who lands herself in a bit of trouble that requires Pretzel to use his strength, and length, to rescue her.

Dachshunds show up in several books by author Ezra Jack Keats. Look for Willie the dachshund in Whistle for Willie, he appears on the front and back cover. Willie also shows up in another book by that author, Pet Show.

Hank Zipzer is the popular series by Henry Winkler. Hank named his dachsund Cheerio because of how she looked when she ran in circles after her own tail. She shows up in several episodes with one of the funniest being A Tale of Two Tails.

In Mr. Dogwood goes to Washington by Leigh Anne Florence kids get a view of Washington D.C. through the eyes of two dachshunds, Woodie and Chloe. Color illustrations in this small chapter book as well as a a fun story make this a great way to learn about our nation's history and see what a dachshund might look like if he joined Nasa and the space program.

Kids aren't the only ones bringing their dogs along for fun. Look in the mystery section for The Serpents Trail: a Maxie and Stretch Mystery by Sue Henry. Maxie finds it hard to believe she's left everything to travel in her Winnebago, this time to Alaska, but her mini-dachshund Stretch is always there for company, and to sniff out clues.



Our dog Sid was a very good friend for our lab Holly. Although I don't think any household should be subjected to teenagers and dachshunds together, the mix just makes for too much defiance in one small space, the arrival of Sid was perfect timing as Holly's health declined. She was a good friend to Holly and I suppose that's why I keep her around.

Deadline to Read

Imagine what you would do if you found out you had only one year to live? For Ben Wolf, a high school senior, this was reality and what he chose to do changed the way he saw his family, his friends, and even uncovered some secrets about his small hometown of Trout, Idaho.

Ben chose to keep his eminent death a secret from his friends and even from his brother, Cody. The fear of our personal mortality keeps us all on a sort of moral leash, but undone from this boundry of fear of the unknown, Ben was able to question everything from his history teacher's blessed text book to understanding how his own death would impact those he loved.

Chris Crutcher’s books always take readers on an emotional journey, and DEADLINE is no exception.

The goal of "Choose to Read Ohio", sponsored by the State Library of Ohio, is to encourage the reading of books written by Ohio authors together across Ohio communities. The Amherst Public Library encourages Ohioans to Read Together, Read Ohio, and Read for Life.

For more information on "Choose to Read Ohio" visit their website for a full list of titles for children, teens, and adults. Find Deadline by Chris Crutcher (2007, Harper) at the Amherst Public Library in our Young Adult section (call number YA CRU).