Is your young reader looking for something different to read?  Here are some graphic novels for readers in kindergarten and first grade available at the Warren Township Library.

See our other Suggested Reading book lists, including suggested fiction and non-fiction books for kindergarten and first grade students.

Visit the Warren Township Library or other Somerset County Library (SCLS) branches, or visit the online catalog, to reserve a book.

Tiny Titans: Sidekick City Elementary

by Art Balthazar & Franco Aureliani
Before they were teenagers, Robin, Kid Flash, Cyborg, Wonder Girl, and the other Super Kids were all enrolled in Sidekick Elementary, where they encountered the usual problems of school children everywhere and perhaps a bit more.

Luke on the Loose
by Harry Bliss
A young boy's fascination with pigeons soon erupts into a full-blown chase around Central Park, across the Brooklyn Bridge, through a fancy restaurant, and into the sky.

Nursery Rhyme Comics 
by Chris Duffy
Presents 50 traditional nursery rhymes in comic book format with illustrations by well-known artists.

Stinky
by Eleanor Davis
Stinky, a monster that lives in a swamp, gets upset when a boy named Nick starts hanging around his swamp, and so he tries to scare Nick away.

Benny and Penny in the Big No-No! 
by Geoffrey Hayes
Two mice meet their new neighbor and discover that she is not as scary as they feared.

Looking for some good books for the Tween in your life? Check out these recommended Tween Reads for July by the Somerset County Library System (SCLS). These books are available at Warren Township Library and other branches in the system.

Check out more book suggestions on our blog, at the Friends of Warren Library Facebook page or sign up for a newsletter.

Recent Releases

School of the Dead by Avi Horror. Tony's Uncle Charlie has always been odd -- it's one of the things he has in common with seventh-grader Tony, who shares his offbeat interest in the supernatural. After Uncle Charlie dies suddenly, Tony is so heartbroken that he's actually comforted when he starts seeing Uncle Charlie's ghost. Less comforting is Tony's new school, where students go missing, spirits haunt secret passageways, and no one is what they seem. Pairing a suspenseful plot with otherworldly chills, School of the Dead is just creepy enough to please fans of mystery and horror alike. The Underdogs by Sara Hammel Mystery. A murder at a fancy tennis club shakes up an otherwise boring summer for 12-year-old Evie and her best friend Chelsea. Both of them could use some distraction from their own troubles: Evie is bullied and treated like an outcast because of her weight, while Chelsea is still dealing with the abuse in her past. Shadowing the police detectives assigned to the case, the two girls search for hidden clues and uncover disturbing secrets, revealing a multi-layered puzzle that will keep even the most savvy mystery readers guessing all the way to the end.  Mayday by Karen Harrington Fiction. Before the crash, Wayne couldn't shut up. He'd fill in any awkward moments (and he has plenty) with bits of memorized trivia. But after surviving a plane crash on the way home from his uncle's funeral, Wayne temporarily loses his voice. This newfound silence spurs changes in his relationships with his disappointing dad, his sorta-kinda-girlfriend, and his drill sergeant grandpa (who may turn out to be an unexpected ally). Even when he can't speak, Wayne's funny, sarcastic voice comes through loud and clear in this story about "survival, heroism, and the search for strength" (School Library Journal). This Is All Your Fault, Cassie Parker by Terra Elan McVoy Fiction. It only takes one cringe-inducing incident to bring Fiona's social life to a crashing halt. When a group of mean girls read her diary out loud on the bus, Fiona is mortified, but the real sting comes later, when her best friend Cassie gives her the cold shoulder. Now, Fiona is facing a summer full of drama -- dealing with her family, her crush, and her attempts at making new friends -- without the one person she can confide in. Relatable, diverse characters add authenticity to this heartfelt companion book to Drive Me Crazy. For another earnest look at middle school friendships, try Rebecca Stead's Goodbye Stranger.

Thrillers The Rig by Joe Ducie Thriller. Located in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, the Rig is an international high-security prison for dangerous juvenile offenders. It's also the new home of 15-year-old Will Drake, who's already managed to break out of three prisons…soon to be four, if he has his way. While figuring out how to get past the armed guards and tracking devices, Will begins to suspect that the Rig may be more than just a prison. How else can he explain the missing inmates or his new friend Irene's strange powers (not to mention the mutated sharks)? Action-movie pacing and intriguing characters make this science fiction thriller a standout. Thirteen by Tom Hoyle Thriller. Although he doesn't know it at first, ordinary British 13-year-old Adam is the only thing stopping a crazed cult's rise to power. "The People" believe that they'll be rewarded if they kill 13 boys born on New Year's Day, 2000. They've already murdered 12 boys, and Adam is meant to be the 13th -- a fact he discovers only after the cult starts gunning for him. With his parents, friends, and all of London in the line of fire, Adam frantically fights to stay alive and take down The People. Older readers who crave violent, plot-driven action won't want to miss Thirteen (and may also enjoy Pittacus Lore's I Am Number Four).  I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest Thriller. Princess X, the sword-swinging, sneaker-clad comic book superheroine created by fifth-grade friends May and Libby, died on the day that Libby was killed in a car crash. So why is May, now 16, suddenly seeing stickers and graffiti featuring Princess X? It all leads back to a recent underground webcomic about the princess – a webcomic full of cryptic details which indicate that Libby might be alive, in danger, and purposefully leaving clues for May to find. Alternating between Princess X's illustrated exploits and May's investigation (both on the internet and in real-life Seattle), this techno-thriller is short, smart, and satisfying.   The One Safe Place by Tania Unsworth Dystopian Thriller. In a bleak, dusty future ravaged by climate change, Devin is lucky to grow up on one of the world's few remaining farms. But after his grandfather's death, Devin is unable to survive on his own. He winds up in the Gabriel H. Penn Home for Childhood, a luxurious orphanage where everything seems perfect...too perfect. Richly descriptive writing and steady pacing ramp up the tension as Devin uncovers the home's chilling secrets. This dark, gripping read is a solid choice for dystopian fiction fans and mystery readers alike. Older readers looking for a more horrific twist on a similar tale should try Clive Barker's The Thief of Always.

Steam Punk Books for Young Adults at Warren Township Library and SCLS

Is your middle schooler or high school student looking for some great Steampunk reads? Check out this list of books available at Warren Township Library and other libraries in the Somerset County Library System (SCLS).

Stop by one of the libraries or reserve a copy online.

Visit the Friends of Warren Township Library Facebook page or our blog for more book suggestions.

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger - In an alternate England of 1851, 14-year-old Sophronia is enrolled in a finishing school where lessons include not only the fine arts of dance, dress and etiquette, but also diversion, deceit and espionage. (Middle School, High School; also available as an ebook)

Airman by Eoin Colfer - Falsely accused of murdering the king and sent off to an island prison, royal bodyguard Conor starts building a flying machine so that he can fly to the mainland, clear his good name, and seek revenge on the real culprit. (Middle School, High School; also available as an ebook)

Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell - A retelling of Cinderella about an indomitable inventor-mechanic who finds her prince but realizes she doesn't want a fairy tale happy ending after all. (Middle School, High School)

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross- Finley, who has a beastly alter ego inside of her, joins Duke Griffin's army of misfits to help stop the Machinist from carrying out a plan to kill Queen Victoria during the Jubilee. (High School)

The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason - Roped into respective family business when two society girls go missing, Evaline, the sister of Bram Stoker, and Mina, the niece of Sherlock Holmes, overcome a fierce rivalry to investigate three mysterious gentlemen and a strange Egyptian relic. (High School)

Steampunk!: An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories edited by Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant - A collection of 14 fantasy stories by well-known authors, set in the age of steam engines and featuring automatons, clockworks, calculating machines, and other marvels that never existed. (Middle School; also available as an ebook)

Uncrashable Dakota by Andy Marino - In 1912, an airship on its maiden flight is hijacked and young Hollis Dakota, his friend Delia, and stepbrother Rob, become embroiled in a family feud that could send the ship crashing from the sky. (Middle School, High School)

Airborn by Kennel Oppel - Matt, a cabin boy aboard an airship, and Kate, a wealthy girl traveling with her chaperone, team up to search for the existence of winged creatures reportedly living hundreds of feet above the Earth's surface. (Middle School, High School; also available as an ebook)

Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve - In future London, orphan Fever Crumb has been raised by an engineer, but leaves her sheltered world and begins to learn startling truths about her past while facing danger in the present. (Middle School, High School)

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson - As Wild Chalklings threaten the American Isles and Rithmatists are humanity's only defense, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students learn the magical art that he would do anything to practice. (Middle School, High School; also available as an ebook)

The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade - In Victorian London, a 14-year-old Modo, a shape-changing hunchback, becomes a secret agent for the Permanent Association, which strives to protect the world from the Clockwork Guild. (Middle School, High School)

The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent - Cataloging the Unnatural creatures in her father's museum, Vespa Nyx, a girl from an alternate-universe London, is pressured to become a lady and marry before finding her fate tied to that of Syrus Reed. (Middle School, High School)

The Steampunk Bible: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Imaginary Airships, Corsets and Goggles, Mad Scientists, and Strange Literature by Jeff VanderMeer - Discusses the steampunk movement in fiction, film, art, music and fashion, tracing its history from Victorian science fiction novels and detailing its evolution into modern popular culture. (High School)

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld - In an alternate 1914 Europe, Austrian Prince Alek forms an alliance with Deryn, who is learning to fly genetically engineered beasts. (High School)

If you haven't already, sign up for our Summer Reading program with awards and chances to win great prizes for all age groups.

"Guy" Books for Teen Readers in High School

Check out these great "Guy" reads recommended for Teens, available at the Warren Township Library in the Somerset County Library system. There also is a "Guy Reads" list for middle school readers.

Try one of the following books for readers in high school:

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson - Having just finished a summer of community service for tagging his school, former geek Tyler Miller starts his senior year with a new pumped up body and bad boy image but quickly learns there's more to being a man than just physical strength and a bad reputation.

This humorous, compelling first-person narrative traces how Tyler's newfound happiness as a gutsy tough-guy soon turns to agony; he starts to wish that he could go back to being "invisible."

Bucking the Sarge by Christopher Paul Curtis - Deeply involved in his cold and manipulative mother's (Sarge) shady business dealings in Flint, Michigan, fourteen-year-old Luther keeps a sense of humor while running the Happy Neighbor Group Home for Men, all the while dreaming of going to college and becoming a philosopher.

Happiness and independence seem out of Luther's reach until he devises a way to "buck" the Sarge the same way she has "bucked" the system.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green - Having been recently dumped for the nineteenth time by a girl named Katherine, recent high school graduate and former child prodigy Colin sets off on a road trip with his best friend to try and find some new direction in life while also trying to create a mathematical formula to explain his relationships.

Godless by Pete Hautman - sixteen-year-old Jason Bock and his friends create their own religion, the Chutengodians, to worship  the "Ten-legged God"  - the town's water tower. They discover that what started out as a joke begins to take on a power of its own.

Publishers Weekly called this book "provocative."

Dunk by David Lubar -  From the first moment soon-to-be-11th-grader Chad hears the boardwalk clown hurling insults, the teen is mesmerized. The "bozo," whose witty barbs lure passersby at an amusement park dunk tank on the New Jersey shore, represents all that Chad is not. The boy adds working as a bozo to his list of goals for the summer, along with seeing a certain girl again-for what he hopes will be "the greatest summer of his life." But plans go awry when a rival beats him to the romance punch, his best friend is struck with a life-threatening illness, and Chad has run-ins not only with the police but also with the bozo himself, a troubled man who sublets a room in Chad's house.

Traitor by Andrew McNab - Danny Watts, an orphan who lives in a hostel in southeast London, always wanted to be a soldier. However, the traitorous past of his grandfather is preventing this, so he vows to find the old man and make him suffer. As he tries to track down his grandfather, whom he's never met, someone is tracking Danny.


This is the first book in the Watts Family Adventures.

Fiction and Non-Fiction Books for Kids in K-1 Grades

Try these great fiction and non-fiction books for kids in kindergarten and first grade, available at the Warren Township Library. For more suggested reading, check out our suggested reading lists here or visit the Somerset County Library Kids' Page.

Fiction

The Fairy Godmother Takes a Break (Series: After Happily Ever After)
by Tony Bradman

Fair Godmother, the one that helps everyone out with their "happy ever after" has had enough. Can a fairy godmother quit her job? She will try and find out!

Flat Stanley (series)
by Jeff Brown

Stanley is a perfectly normal boy, except that a bulletin board fell on him and now he is flat as a pancake. He finds that being flat has its advantages.

Also available as an ebook.

Miss Daisy Is Crazy! (My Weird School Series)
by Dan Gutman

Miss Daisy, who teaches second grade, doesn't know how to add or subtract. Not only that, she doesn't know how to read or write either. In fact, all the grown-ups at A.J.'s school seem to have something wrong with them. What's going on here?

Also available as an ebook.

Amy and the Missing Puppy (The Critter Club Series)
by Callie Barkley

During Spring Break, mystery lover Amy looks for clues to the disappearance of wealthy Ms. Sullivan's Saint Bernard puppy.

Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid (Series)
by Megan McDonald

The shortest kid in the second grade, James Moody, also known as Stink, learns all about the shortest president of the United States, James Madison, when they celebrate Presidents' Day at school.

Dinosaurs Before Dark (The Magic Tree House Series)

by Mary Pope Osborne

Eight-year-old Jack and his younger sister Annie find a magic treehouse, which whisks them back to an ancient time where they see live dinosaurs. In the series, they have many adventures traveling through time and history.

Also available as an ebook.

Captain Awesome to the Rescue (series: Captain Awesome)
by Stan Kirby

When second-grader Eugene and his family move to a new neighborhood and he starts at a new school, he has a chance to bring out his superhero alter ego, Captain Awesome, to find the kidnapped class hamster. 

Non-Fiction

One Grain Of Rice

A reward of one grain of rice doubles day by day into millions of grains of rice when a selfish raja is outwitted by a clever village girl.

A Million Dots
by Andrew Clements

In this one-of-a-kind picture book, readers actually see what one million of something looks like as this book contains one million dots and 46 amazing facts, including how many shoeboxes it takes to make a stack as high as Mount Everest.

Digging Up Dinosaurs
by Aliki
Briefly introduces various types of dinosaurs whose skeletons and reconstructions are seen in museums and explains how scientists uncover, preserve, and study fossilized dinosaur bones.




Over the Hills and Far Away: Treasure of Nursery Rhymes  
collected by Elizabeth Hammill

A collection of 150 rhymes across the globe, illustrated by 77 world-renowned artists.

Actual Size
by Steve Jenkins

Discusses and gives examples of the size and weight of various animals and parts of animals.

The Worm (series: Disgusting Critters)
by Elise Gravel

Traces the extensive history of the earthworm as well as its habitats, anatomy and behaviors.

The High Score and Lowdown on Video Games (series: History of Fun Stuff)
by Stephen Kerensky

An introduction to the history of video games, it profiles such classics as Pong and Pac-Man, while illuminating the technologies that inspired the games of today.

The Shape Game
by Anthony Browne

The author/illustrator describes how his mother's wish to spend her birthday visiting an art museum with her family changed the course of his life forever.

The Magic School Bus

Jenkins, Steve
Dogs and Cats
Here is an amazing book filled with great information, visual facts, and lots of animal history along with incredibly realistic illustrations on both dogs and cats.