If You Were Me and Lived On...Mars (If You Were Me and Lived) by Carole P. Roman, Mateya Arkova (Illustrations

Title: If You Were Me and Lived on Mars...

Author: Carole P. Roman

Illustrator: Mateya Arkova

Pages: 45

Published: Feb. 20, 2017

Publisher: Chelshire Inc.

Review: Paperback received by author

Genre: Children ages 8 on up

Buy Links: Amazon, Amazon.uk 

Learn about how life would be living on the Red Planet. Travel to Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system. Look into the sky and watch Phobos and Deimos, Mars' two moons. Discover what you would wear, and how the seasons change. See Mars through the eyes of an adventurous youngster like you and understand what life is like in a trip of a lifetime. Don't forget to look at the other books in the series so that you can be an armchair traveler.

The Teachers' Night Before Christmas (Night Before Christmas) by Steven L. Layne (Illustrations), Clement C. Moore

Title: The Teachers' Night Before Christmas

Author: Steven L. Layne

Illustrator: Clement C. Moore

Published: Sept. 30, 2001

Publisher: Pelican Press

Pages: 32

Review: library book

Genre: Children ages 5 on up

Buy Links: Amazon, Amazon.uk

What do excited students, craft projects, room mothers, nursing home visits, harried shopping, and near-disastrous pageants have in common? They are all a part of a teacher's pre-Christmas experience. In this energetic romp through a school's last days before the Christmas break, the students are full of energy and are up to all manners of mischief. The teachers are pulling out their hair trying to keep the students busy, while they despair over their own Christmas preparations.
Who should come to the rescue? Santa himself, of course! He arrives at the helm of a flying school bus, with presents for all the teachers and a promise to take care of their shopping for them. The fantastic illustrations work with the text to make this a fast-paced, high-energy comedic interpretation of Clement C. Moore's classic poem. The book is sure to be a read-aloud favorite at Christmas parties in schools everywhere.

The Spirit of Christmas: A Giving Tradition by Nicky Benson, Jason Cockcroft (Illustrations)

Title: The Spirit of Christmas: A Giving Tradition

Author: Nicky Benson

Illustrator: Jason Crockcoft

Published: Sept. 1, 2014

Publisher: Little Tiger Press

Pages: 32

Genre: Children ages 5 on up 

Review: library book

Buy Links: Amazon, Amazon.uk 

It's Christmas! There will be carols and candy canes and sparkling presents under the tree! But what about children whose families have no presents to give? Kind-hearted Drew wants to help them-but how? A magical story of how one little boy received a very special Giving Bag from Santa-and how his Christmas wish came true.

The Secret of Santa's Island by Steve Breen

Title: The Secret of Santa's Island

Author: Steve Breen

Published: Oct. 1, 2009

Publisher: Dial Books

Genre: Children ages 5 on up

Review: library book

Buy Links: Amazon, Amazon.uk

How do Santa and the elves relax after they've delivered all of the Christmas Eve gifts? When Sam McGuffin hears the sound of reindeer hooves on Christmas Eve, he can?t resist sneaking out the window and into the back of Santa?s sleigh. He wants to see what the North Pole is really like. But the sleigh isn?t headed to the North Pole that night. It?s destined for Santa?s Island, a top-secret, out-of-this-world vacation paradise. And now Sam is about to receive the ultimate gift from Santa?a day of unforgettable amusements with Santa and his elves?all because he?ll say something to Santa that no other kid has ever thought to utter: ?Thank you.?

Librarian's Night Before Christmas by David Davis, Jim Harris (Illustrator)

Title: Librarian's Night Before Christmas

Author: David Davis

Illustrator: Jim Harris

Published: Feb. 28, 2007

Publisher: Pelican Publishing

Pages: 32

Genre: Children 5 on up

Review: library book

Buy Links: Amazon, Amazon.uk 

Due to low staffing, a librarian must spend her Christmas Eve stacking the shelves at a library in desperate need of renovations. After the strain of a long night that has left her feeling "like Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol," she is pleasantly surprised to see Santa and his elves coming to her rescue in a red bookmobile.

Who Let the Ghosts Out? (Mostly Ghostly #1) by R.L. Stine

Title: Mostly Ghostly: Who Let the Ghosts Out

Author: R.L. Stine

Published: Aug. 24, 2004

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Pages: 144

Genre: Children ages 8 on up

Review: library book

Buy Links: Amazon, Amazon.uk 

Max’s life wasn’t going so well even before two ghosts moved into his closet. But when Nicky and Tara show up, claiming that they used to live in his room, everything changes for Max! Soon they’re following him to school, using their invisibility to embarrass him in front of the girl of his dreams. And to make matters worse, there’s some other totally evil spirit named Phears following him around turning animals inside out!

Oh Susannah: Things That Go Bump by Carole P. Roman Illustrated by: Mateya Arkova

Title: Oh Susannah: Things That Go Bump

Author: Carole P. Roman

Illustrations: Mateya Arkova

Published: July 19, 2017

Pages: 64

Genre: Children ages 8 on up

Review: Paperback received by author

Buy Links: Amazon, Amazon.uk 

Susannah Maya Logan is not having a good day. She doesn't want to go to her best friend, Lola's sleepover. Susannah thinks the house is big and spooky, not to mention the ghost that is said to live there. Lola's big brother, Kai, loves to tease Susannah with scary stories.

Throughout her day, she sees people deal with things that scare them. Her sight-impaired friend, Macy, is terrified of unicorns, of all things. She sees a boy at a party who's frightened of clowns. Her teacher is afraid of getting a cold. Susannah realizes everybody is scared of something. She wishes she was more like Lola, who is not afraid of anything, or so it seems.

Susannah discovers people have different ideas of what is scary and what is not, and only they can determine the difference.

Join Susannah as she learns to confront her fears and not let her imagination prevent her from having fun.

Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak

Title: Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter

Author: Kenard Pak

Published: Sept. 5, 2017

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Pages: 32

Review: library book

Genre: Children ages 4 on up

Buy Links: Amazon, Amazon.uk 

As leaves fall from their trees, animals huddle against the cold, and frost creeps across windows, everyone knows--winter is on its way!
Join a brother and sister as they explore nature and take a stroll through their twinkling town, greeting all the signs of the coming season. In a series of conversations with everything from the setting sun to curious deer, they say goodbye to autumn and welcome the glorious first snow of winter.