In Mean Moms Rule: Why Doing the Hard Stuff Now Creates Good Kids Later (Sourcebooks; $14.99) local author Denise Schipanis identifies her approach as “mean” because it’s not always the easiest path to take. She believes that being a mean mom creates good kids, and ultimately good adults and citizens. Her list of 10 principles showparents how to give kids tools to prepare them for the world.

No Regrets Parenting: Turning Long Days and Short Years into Cherished Moments with Your Kids by Harley A. Rotbart, M.D. (Andrews McMeel, $14.99) is about spending time with our kids because the years fly by and we only have so much time to participate in their growth. Dr. Rotbart talks about basic principle, simple strategies and college and beyond and how to optimize memories. 

Blackout by John Rocco (Hyperion Book, $23) is a 2012 Caldecott Honor winner for most distinguished American picture book . One hot summer night in the city, all the power goes out. The TV shuts off and a boy wails, "Mommm!" His sister can no longer use the phone, Mom can't work on her computer and Dad can't finish cooking dinner. What's a family to do? Read the book and try it for yourself. Age 4 and up. Fans of Lemony Snickett will be glad to know the author Daniel Handler has a new book, Why We Broke Up (Little, Brown, $12). Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up, like two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor and every other item collected over the course of their relationship. Ages 15 and up.

This issue Monica Powers, head of youth services at Brentwood Public Library, recommends:

Picture Book: Do you want to know cat secrets?  First, you must prove that you are a real cat.  Find out how in this colorful, interactive picture book Cat Secretsby Jef Czekaj (Balzer + Bray).  The characters speak directly to the readers, challenging them meow, purr and nap to prove they’re really cats.  Illustrations are large and cartoon-like.  This is a great book for a parent and child to read together.

Chapter Book: In Spunky Tells Allby Ann Cameron (Farrar Straus Giroux), Spunky is the beloved family dog.  He understands everything they say, but his family does not know one word of Dog.  When Fiona the cat moves in, Spunky has a hard time getting along with her.  One day he saves her life and this changes how his family thinks about him and how he thinks about himself.  Give this book to newly independent readers.

Middle Grade:  Michael, Emma and Kate have lived in orphanages all their lives.  Their greatest hope is that someday they’ll be reunited with their parents who have abandoned them to protect them. In The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens (Knopf), they discover that they’re destined to go on a quest for a magical book and that they’re specially chosen.  This is the first book in a new series and should appeal to fans of Harry Potter.