Best New Books for Elementary Students of 2014

You might think a book with no pictures seems boring and serious. Except . . . here’s how books work.

Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud.

Even if the words say… BLORK. Or BLUURF.

Cleverly irreverent and irresistibly silly, The Book with No Pictures is one that kids will beg to hear again and again. (And parents will be happy to oblige.)

In this seventh installment of the New York Times–bestselling series, Kitty encounters what may be her most formidable foe yet: her creator!

Kitty soon learns that feline manipulation works both ways — especially when you’re at the wrong end of your author’s pencil.

Along the way, Nick shows kids how a book is created, despite the frequent interruptions from you-know-who.

Saddle up for the first in a spin-off series starring favorite characters from Kate DiCamillo’s New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson books.

Join Leroy, Maybelline, and a cast of familiar characters — Stella, Frank, Mrs. Watson, and everyone’s favorite porcine wonder, Mercy — for some hilarious and heartfelt horsing around on Deckawoo Drive.

In her debut picture book, Misty Copeland tells the story of a young girl — an every girl — whose confidence is fragile and who is questioning her own ability to reach the heights that Misty has reached.

Misty encourages this young girl’s faith in herself and shows her exactly how, through hard work and dedication, she too can become Firebird.

Lyrical and affecting text paired with bold, striking illustrations that are some of Caldecott Honoree Christopher Myers’s best work, makes Firebird perfect for aspiring ballerinas everywhere.

A fun, fact-filled text by Kathryn Gibbs Davis combines with Gilbert Ford’s dazzling full-color illustrations to transport readers to the 1893 World’s Fair, where George Ferris and his big, wonderful wheel lifted passengers to the skies for the first time.

Capturing an engineer’s creative vision and mind for detail, this fully illustrated picture book biography sheds light on how the American inventor George Ferris defied gravity and seemingly impossible odds to invent the world’s most iconic amusement park attraction, the Ferris wheel.

After Tom rescued Frankie the goldfish from his big brother Mark’s toxic science experiment by zapping him back to life with a battery, Frankie somehow became a big fat zombie goldfish with dangerous hypnotic powers.

Fortunately, Frankie has appointed himself Tom’s bodyguard, and together, with a little help from their friends, they thwart Mark’s Evil Scientist plans.

Fourth grade was supposed to be a fresh start, but Mike’s already back in the principal’s office.

He’s not a bad kid. He just can’t sit still.

And now, his parents won’t let him play soccer anymore; instead he has to hang out with his new neighbor Nora, who is good at everything!

Then, Mike and Nora discover the White Rabbit.

It’s an odd shop — with a special secret inside.

Its owner, Mr. Zerlin, is a magician, and, amazingly, he believes Mike could be a magician, too. Has Mike finally found something he’s good at?

Author Kate Egan and Magician Mike Lane’s The Vanishing Coin features illustrations by Eric Wight.

Speaking in front of an audience terrifies Trisha. Ending up in Mr. Wayne’s drama class is the last thing she wants!

But Mr. Wayne gives her a backstage role painting scenery for the winter play.

As she paints, she listens to the cast rehearse, memorizing their lines without even realizing it. Then, days before opening night, the lead actress suddenly moves away, and Trisha is the only other person who knows her part.

Will the play have to be canceled? It won’t be an easy road — when Trisha tries to recite the lines in front of the cast, nothing comes out!

But Mr. Wayne won’t let her give up, and with his coaching, Trisha is able to become one of his true masterpieces.

From award-winning writing team of Shannon and Dean Hale and illustrator LeUyen Pham, here is the first in a humorous and action-packed chapter book series for young readers who like their princesses not only prim and perfect, but also dressed in black.

A big blue monster is threatening the goats! Stopping monsters is no job for dainty Princess Magnolia.

Luckily Princess Magnolia has a secret — she’s also the Princess in Black, and stopping monsters is the perfect job for her!

Can the princess sneak away, transform into her alter ego, and defeat the monster before the nosy duchess discovers her secret?

Will the real Judy Moody please stand up? In honor of Backwards Day, Judy Moody decides to turn that frown upside down, make lemonade out of lemons, and be nice to stinky little brothers.

In fact, Judy becomes a NOT moody, cool-as-a-cucumber neat freak for one whole entire day.

But when her combed hair, matching outfits, and good moods hang around for days after, her friends begin to worry.

Could this smiley Judy be an imposter?