Book Buddies

A lonely doll helps a child adjust to a blended family in the first of a charming series about library toys and the children who borrow them, written by Newbery Honoree Cynthia Lord. Ivy was Anne the librarian's doll when she was a young girl. But now she has moved to Anne's library to be its newest Book Buddy--a toy that can be checked out just like a book. Ivy isn't sure she wants to be borrowed, though. She'd rather go back to just being Anne's favorite toy. Fern, a child who visits the library with her stepfamily, also wishes things could go back to the way they were, when Fern had her dad all to herself. When Fern takes Ivy home, an unexpected outdoor adventure helps both of them find confidence and belonging in their changing worlds. This heartwarming story by Cynthia Lord, with a classic feel and gentle illustrations by Stephanie Graegin, is the first in a chapter-book series that pairs friendly toys with child characters who need them.

Marco Polo is a mouse Christmas ornament that the librarian thought was too cute to be put away. Marco Polo pretends he's a brave adventurer because he often finds himself in tight spaces, like behind the refrigerator. But really, he's afraid of being lost. He's borrowed by Seth, who has been invited to his first sleepover at a friend's house. Seth is excited, but also afraid of spending the whole night away from home. They face their fears together when Marco Polo comes on the sleepover and gets lost.

Dazzle is a unicorn with a twisty horn and sparkly pink tail. On his tag, it says that unicorns can grant wishes. Dazzle isn't sure if he can grant a wish for himself, but what he wishes for is a child and a home of his own. Instead he gets sold at a yard sale and becomes one of the Book Buddies. Maya has just moved and hopes Dazzle can grant her wish for a new friend. When a playdate with Isabelle doesn't go as well as Maya had hoped, she's worried they won't be friends after all. But maybe Dazzle and Maya can help each other make their wishes come true. From Newbery Honor winner Cynthia Lord, the Book Buddies is a heartwarming series about a group of friendly toys at the library and the children who borrow them.

Olive the hen never goes anywhere without her little daredevil chick, Roger. But when Roger is left behind at the airport, who knows where he might go? After some adventures with the moving sidewalks and nearly getting run over by a rolling suitcase, Roger ends up in the Lost and Found where he meets a toy penguin chick who was lost months ago. Olive and Roger are borrowed by Liam. Liam is excited to see his grandpa who has come for a visit, but Grandpa remembers Liam as a preschooler, like his little sister, Lily. After insisting he's grown up, Liam is afraid to admit that he lost Roger. Both Roger and Liam learn that making mistakes and admitting to them is part of growing up. When the family takes Grandpa back to the airport, Liam finds Roger at the Lost and Found. Olive adopts the penguin chick as her own, too.