Saturday, November 29, 2014

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

7 Reasons to love Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan


1. Willow Chance - She’s a 12 year old girl obsessed with the number seven. She diagnoses medical conditions and wears a gardener outfit to the first day of middle school. And although she loses her adoptive parents in the first few pages, Counting by 7s is quirky and light-hearted. Willow is a wonderfully open and vulnerable character and her observations are honest to a fault and funny, too.

2. Dell Duke - From the outside, Willow’s school counselor is completely unlikable - overweight, inept, unmotivated, and probably a hoarder. “Dell Duke is not a bad person. He is just bad at being a person.” However, Dell’s actions and agreeableness make him increasingly likable as the book goes on.

3. Mai - Although fourteen years old and a high schooler, she is Willow’s first friend. She is determined, deliberate and strong willed. She is also one of the few people in this world that has true confidence, even when handling adults..

4. Quang-ha is Mai’s delinquent younger brother. Like Dell, he is immediately unlikable and angry. Very, very angry. He’s difficult to win over, but it’s worth it if you can do it. And of course Willow does.

5. Patty is Mai and Quang-ha’s mother and a Vietnamese immigrant. She’s incredibly resourceful and take-charge. Dell calls her a dictator (though not to her face), but she has Willow’s back throughout the entire novel.

6. Jairo Hernandez- He’s the only taxi driver in town who agrees to drive Willow where she needs to go... He’s caring, tender-hearted and grateful for any good fortune he receives.

7. Cheddar the Cat - He is humongous and unwanted, slightly dumb, but loving.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

El Deafo by Cece Bell

El Deafo is a graphic novel.
The title just doesn’t seem right….until you read the book.

Let me explain:

When Cece is 4 years old she gets really sick and loses her hearing.  She starts kindergarten with special hearing aids that help her to hear, but not well enough to understand everything she hears.  For example, words are blurry to her. It’s hard for her to tell the difference between 'bear' and 'pear' and other words that sound only a little bit different from one another.  So she is taught to read lips in addition to wearing her hearing aids.  This story tells what life is like for Cece as she grow up.  It’s told with humor, heart and great pictures.  Cece navigates a different world than a lot of people; because of this she has a really rich inner life that helps her get through some of its isolation.  This is where El Deafo comes in: El Deafo is Cece’s alter-ego super-hero self and can say and do things that Cece wishes she could.

Did I mention that El Deafo is funny? It is and much more.  If you liked Raina Telgemeier’s Smile, you’ll like El Deafo.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

A few months ago I reviewed Smile, Raina Telgemeier’s debut graphic novel, and loved it. So of course I was thrilled to see Telgemeier’s autobiographical character return in her latest graphic novel entitled Sisters just released in August of this year. Sisters is considered a ‘companion’ novel to Smile. So feel free to read either first.

Raina is excited when she learns she is going to be a big sister. But from a very young age Amara does not feel the same way about Raina. Amara is cranky and generally prefers to be left alone. Sisterly tension ensues. Not only do they suffer the usual sibling rivalry over possessions, pets and space, but they are also both budding artists.

The bulk of the story focuses on the summer between Raina’s middle and high school year. The family decides to embark on a 3 week road trip from San Francisco to Colorado for a family reunion. The novel is generally depicted in the present day, but is littered with flashbacks to various times in Raina’s life.

Sisters is a quick, light funny read. It’s perfect for an airplane or car ride. Find it under 741.5J/TEL.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Boom! by Mark Haddon

Boom! is a thrilling, action-packed, zany, science fiction adventure.

It all starts out simply enough: Jimbo's horrid older sister Becky tells him she overheard the teachers at school say he was going to be sent to a "special school" with windows on the bars.  Afraid that it might possibly be true, Jimbo and his best friend Charlie come up with a plan (OK, it was really Charlies idea):  they'll put a walkie-talkie in the staff lounge at school, and they'll be able to overhear what the teachers are saying.

When they don't hear anything about Jimbo being sent away, Jimbo starts to feel less worried.  But what the boys hear next launches an adventure that involves blue-eyed aliens, a trip to Scotland, exploding Brussels sprouts, and giant spiders with monkey-faces who speak in disco slang - and that's just for starters!  Along the way, Jimbo finds out maybe Becky isn't so horrid after all.  She's certainly good at bopping things with a stick.

Boom! was the book  most recently discussed by the Rolling Meadows Library Council of Book Readers.  Everyone in the group loved it, and thought it was both exciting and hilarious.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Nuts to You by Lynne Rae Perkins

When humans say "nuts to you!" it's usually meant in an insulting manner.  But when squirrels say it, it can be a warm welcome, a fond farewell, or an expression of well wishes.

That's just one of the many things I learned about squirrel culture in Nuts to You, by Lynne Rae Perkins.  The story centers around four friends: Chai, Jed, Jip, and TsTs  (TsTs is the most popluar girl name among squirrels).  When Jed is grabbed and carried away by a hawk, the adventure begins.

Jed manages to escape the talons of the hawk through his mastery of the squirrel martial art of Hai Tchree.  From far away back home, TsTs sees Jed drop from the bird's grasp, and convinces Chai to go with her to find Jed.

In the forest, far from their home grove, the friends learn of a danger that threatens the whole squirrel community.  Together, they must return home to warn the other squirrels of the impending doom - which is tricky because squirrels aren't known for their keen attention spans.

Nuts to You is a delightful tale of friendship, community and courage*.  It's also pretty gosh-darn funny.






*And nuts.


Saturday, September 13, 2014

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce


Author William Joyce is a Louisiana native and the events of Hurricane Katrina are the inspiration behind this story.


Morris Lessmore is a man who loves books. One day, the sky darkens and the wind blows and his world is turned upside down. Morris wanders and wanders until eventually he decides to look up rather than down, as had become his habit, and his life changes for the better.


“’Everyone’s story matters,’ said Morris. And all the books agreed.”

Both the book’s message and illustrations are reminiscent of the movie Up. Combined, the elements capture the beauty of a simple, quiet story. The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore has a lonely feel and a fantasy element.


The wonderful illustrations are provided by Joe Bluhm. The pictures start in color and change to black and white when the storm hits and everything Morris knows is scattered. Slowly the images move to color again as Morris rebuilds his life.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore is also the inspiration behind the 2014 Academy Award winning short film of the same name. There is also a popular interactive IPAD app available for download on iTunes. Both the short film and the app are available in Youth Services on our IPADs.

Friday, September 5, 2014

The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner

Best friends Tane Williams and Rebecca Richards are contemplating the cosmos one lazy afternoon, when they start to wonder about the possibility of time travel.  Being an accomplished teen scientist, Rebecca speculates that although physical objects can't be transported through time, perhaps data can - the secret, she postulates, lies in "quantum foam."  Sure enough, as they pursue Rebecca's idea, they start to perceive codes in the quantum foam.

What the codes turn out to be are messages from their future selves.  When the first message turns out to be the winning lottery numbers, Tane must enlist the help of his older brother Harley "Fatboy" to collect the prize money.  As the messages continue, the three realize that the future Tane and Rebecca are sending a warning, and that action must be taken to save the human race.

Eager to get more information, the kids head to a research facility in the Bay of Islands.  When they return after their initial visit, they are shocked to discover all of the inhabitants of the island have simply disappeared without a trace.  Meanwhile, a mysterious fog has enveloped the northern tip of New Zealand's North Island.  When the fog moves on, all humans in its wake are destroyed.

It is up to Tane, Rebecca and Fatboy to solve the mystery of the human-eating fog and to take action to save the world.  But can they decode the messages and implement a plan in time?  Find out in this brisk page-turner of an adventure!

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

Odd is a very unlucky boy: his father died in a Viking raid, his leg was shattered in an accident, and his step-father has no time for a crippled step-son.  Add to that the fact that Winter  - Odd's least favorite season - is slow to leave his village this year, threatening the death of animals and humans alike.
So Odd sets off into the woods, where he encounters a fox, a bear, and an eagle - who are not who they appear to be.  In fact, they are the gods Loki, Thor, and Odin, having been tricked out of their immortal bodies by the Frost Giants who have taken over the gods' realm of Asgard.  It is up to Odd to lead them back to their mythical kingdom and defeat the Frost Giants so that Spring might finally come to earth.

Odd and the Frost Giants is a fun, quick read that serves as a nice introduction to Norse mythology.  And it's ultimately a very sweet tale about being what you're meant to be.  The author, Neil Gaiman, is one of my favorite writers, whether he's writing for children or adults!

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Wonder by R.J Palacio

It’s a good read; but it’s a hard one.

10 year old August Pullman is a one in four billion. A combination of a chromosomal abnormality and an illness has caused a rare craniofacial deformity. To quote Auggie, “Whatever you’re thinking it’s probably worse.” And that’s after dozens of surgeries. Auggie’s parents have decided the time has come to enroll him in school for the first time. Though being a new kid is hard; being a new kid with a jaw dropping face is even harder.

It’s raw, brutally honest and written with a sense of humor. The short chapters and shifting point of view make reading this one a breeze. Wonder is told from a total of six of perspectives, which is one of my favorite aspects of the novel. Each one is surprisingly insightful. We read of how Auggie’s face effects his friends, his sister and his sister’s boyfriend.

One of Palacio’s continuing themes throughout Wonder is that everyone has a story. Author R.J. Palacio released a follow-up e-novella this past March entitled The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story which follows Auggie’s bully. This is available through our library via MyMediaMail. Next, on August 26th, Palacio releases 365 Days of Wonder: Mr Browne’s Book of Precepts.

Friday, August 15, 2014

The World Wars by Paul Dowswell, Ruth Brocklehurst and Henry Brook

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I.  When I heard that fact on the radio recently, I started to think about what I knew about the war originally known as "The Great War."  What I realized is that I didn't know much at all.  So I decided to do some research at the library.

Fortunately, I found The World Wars: An Introduction to the First and Second World Wars, published by Usborne.  Not only did  I learn a lot about WWI, I learned about WWII as well.  But what really makes the book outstanding is that it presents what happened after WWI that led to WWII, and how the effects of both wars are still with us today.

Most historians point to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip as the flash that started the war.  But neither of their countries even existed after the war (Franz Ferdinand was from Austria-Hungary; Princip was from Serbia)!  How the map of Europe (and indeed the world) got re-drawn after WWI - and again after WWII - is nothing short of fascinating.

The book is lavishly illustrated and presented in two-pages spread about each particular aspect of the war.  In that way, not only does the reader come to understand the politics behind the wars, but also gains an understanding of the experiences of the soldiers, the civilians, the commanders, and even those opposed to the wars.

If you've ever wondered how there could have been not just one but TWO world wars - and only 20 years apart - this book will tell you.  If you've ever wondered what Serbian nationalism has to do with the formation of the Soviet Union, this book will tell you.  If you've ever wondered how Hitler could have ever come to power, this book will tell you. If you've ever wondered why there's unrest in the Middle East, this book will tell you.

If you've ever had ANY question about WWI or WWII, this book will likely tell you!  An outstanding resource for anyone interested in world history.

You can find it in the Non-Fiction Section, 940.3J/DOW

Friday, August 8, 2014

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

As a survivor of “dental abuse,” I can guarantee Smile is the perfect gift for the “brace-face” in your life. I can say “brace-face” because I not only had braces as a tween in the early 90s (like Raina in Smile), but am wearing them again now as an adult.

That retainer your dentist gives you when the braces come off? Use it.

Oh, and I also had a freakish six wisdom teeth pulled. But I digress. Needless to say Smile appealed to me because Raina, like myself, is on close terms with the “dontists.”

One evening after a girl scout troop meeting, 6th grader Raina trips, falls and knocks out her two front teeth. A four-year nightmare of dentists, endodontists, periodontists and orthodontists ensues. Smile is a coming of age graphic novel based on the life of the author Raina Telgemeier. Remarkably, Telgemeier is able to make painful dental work funny. Granted, there is more to the story than just headgear and root canals. Raina has boy troubles, earthquakes and mean “friends” to come to terms with.

It’s a nice quick read with bubbly, colorful illustrations. I especially enjoyed the depictions of overzealous dentists and the San Francisco skyscape.

You can find Smile in our collection as well as Telgemeier’s second graphic novel entitled Drama under 741.5J/TEL. Raina returns with the August 26th release of Sisters.

Friday, August 1, 2014

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

This is a haunting story without ghosts ... or is it?





Cadence Sinclair Easton comes from a extended family of old-money.  Each summer she and the “Liars” spend the summer on their family’s private island vaguely off of Cape Cod.  She and her cousins and their friend Gat are inseparable, until they turn fifteen.  Something mysterious happens to Cadence .  The reader is left to figure out exactly what.  She seems to suffer from amnesia, horrible headaches and the rest of her family treat her as if she was breakable. 

The story moves back and forth in time as the reader starts to see hints of what may have happened.  This story is so suspenseful it’s hard to put down as the pieces start to fall into place and the tragedy of what happened becomes clear.  Everyone I know who’s read this book loved it—even The Fault in Our Stars author John Green!


JYA/LOC

Friday, July 25, 2014

The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire LeGrand

Victoria and Lawrence are best friends. She is a goody-two-shoes who maintains perfect grades and a perfect appearance, he is a semi-slovenly musical prodigy with prematurely (he's 12) greying hair. Their lives progress without incident -- Victoria constantly nags Lawrence to tuck in his shirt and stop humming all the time, and he genially ignores her admonitions -- until one day Lawrence goes missing. Concern for her friend leads Victoria to begin asking questions about where he might have gone and why.


To make matters worse, everyone in the town is acting odd and, after some investigation, Victoria is lead back to a place called The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls. Mrs. Cavendish has run the home for as long anyone can remember and while she seems friendly enough, Victoria is sure that something darker is afoot. When she is taken to live in the home, Victoria is confronted with horrors and challenges she couldn't have dreamed of. Will she save Lawrence before it's too late? Will the two of them escape from Mrs. Cavendish? And, most importantly, will they find out what has been happening to their town and what part The Home and Mrs. Cavendish have played?


This whole book feels like an old episode of the Twilight Zone, or an Edgar Allen Poe short story. Creepiness is well woven into the book, and the ending (which I will not ruin for you here) definitely could have been from a Twilight Zone episode. Nothing turns out quite like you think it will, and every time a character or plot point feels resolved, new complications arise. Check it out today!

Friday, July 18, 2014

Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones

Earwig's lived in the orphanage as long as she can remember.  And she likes it there - not only does she have all the other kids doing what she wants, but the grown-ups, too!  In fact, she likes living at the orphanage so much, it's her plan to never leave.  She accomplishes this by making herself as undesirable as possible when prospective parents come to look at the children.

But one day, a very odd couple come in, and - despite her best efforts - adopt Earwig.  With no other choice, Earwig goes home with her new parents.  But the strange couple turn out to be the witch Bella Yaga, and The Mandrake (Jones never explains what a Mandrake is, but it's clear he's one bad, bad demon).  Earwig has been adopted to be Bella Yaga's slave, helping her prepare the ingredients for her magical potions.

Determined to figure out a way out of her predicament - after all, Earwig is used to telling others what to do, not being told! - Earwig finds opportunities to learn some magic of her own, with the help of Bella Yaga's reluctant familiar, a talking cat named Thomas.  A fun early chapter book.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt

 
I have a soft spot for neurotic anthropomorphic animals. 
Meet Scaredy Squirrel. He never leaves his nut tree. He’s too scared. What if he met a killer bee? Or a tarantula? Or a shark? 
In the nut tree, every day is the same. Always predictable. Same great view. Same great nuts. And in case anything ever did happen, Scaredy Squirrel is prepared with an emergency kit chock full of hardhats, Band-Aids, and parachutes.


 
He is happy. Until one day, a killer bee appears in Scaredy Squirrel’s nut tree. He jumps in panic and knocks his emergency kit out of the tree, which was NOT part of the plan.  What follows inspires Scaredy Squirrel to make drastic changes to his daily routine.
The illustrations are adorable and the book’s format is fun and unique. The flow of the story is sprinkled with Squirrel’s own diagrams, maps, schedules and lists. 
Scaredy Squirrel is the first in a series books including Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping, Scaredy Squirrel has a Birthday Party, and Scaredy Squirrel at Night.  The books are geared towards children 4-8.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Ben and Me and Mr. Revere and I by Robert Lawson



Heading out into the world of colonial Philadelphia, Amos the Mouse leaves the church where he was born and finds a fur cap to curl up in for a nap.   As it happens, the fur cap belongs to none other than Benjamin Franklin, one of the USA's greatest and most famous Patriots.  Many books have been written about Franklin's life and achievements, but only Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos tells the story from the point-of-view of his closest friend and companion.



 




Ben and Me is a classic that has been delighting readers for generations. Robert Lawson wroteMr. Revere and I: Being an Account of Certain Episodes in the Career of Paul Revere, Esq. as Revealed by His Horse.   Celebrate the nation's independence with these great books!
another book about a great American Patriot told from an animal's perspective:

Saturday, June 28, 2014

I Represent Sean Rosen by Jeff Baron

Sean Rosen is 13-years-old and full of great ideas.  In fact, he's got one SUPER-BIG idea that could change the entertainment industry forever.  All he has to do is get his idea in front of a major Hollywood studio, and he'll be set for life!  First problem: Sean lives nowhere near a major Hollywood studio.  Second problem: major Hollywood studios don't take ideas from just anybody, let alone 13-year-old kids!

It's a good thing for Sean he's as smart as he is.  And it's not true that he doesn't have any show-business experience.  He publishes a podcast every week - he even does all the editing himself! (One thing that's really fun about the book, is that even though Sean Rosen is a fictional character, you can go online and check out his podcasts!)  But what Sean really needs is someone to represent him - someone like an agent or a manager.

That's about all I can tell you without giving too much away.  As the title suggests, Sean does have someone to represent him - I just can't tell you who.  And he does contact a major Hollywood studio - I just can't tell you how.  But believe me when I tell you, you'll eagerly follow along with Sean's exploits as he tries to break into the "big time."  Along the way, he learns A LOT about how show business really works behind the scenes.  He  learns a bit about personal integrity, as well.

A really fun read for any creative person who yearns to reach a wider audience, but just doesn't know how.  Recommended for grades 6-8.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green


Fifteen seconds into the movie preview for The Fault in Our Stars, my eyes were brimming with tears. I knew I needed to read the book before I watched the movie, or I would be a bawling, blubbering mess for two hours. Not too say I still won’t be. But I will at least be LESS of a bawling, blubbering mess.

Sixteen year old Hazel Grace was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 13. Her life has been extended somewhat by a tumor shrinking miracle drug, but she is still terminal. Hazel thought she knew how the remainder of her life would unfold until she meets Augustus Waters, a one legged survivor in the Cancer Kid Support Group.

“I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” - Hazel Grace


Despite the depressing subject, The Fault in Our Stars is positive, lighthearted and funny. You’ll cry. You’ll laugh. You’ll anger. Author John Green ensures you feel ALL the feels. You’ll contemplate death and consequently life and how to live it. How to love it. How to make the most of your short time here on Earth. What’s more feel-y than that? We’re all born with an expiration date. The Fault in Our Stars will inspire you (at least for a little while) to face fear of rejection, of being hurt, and to love unabashedly.  


"I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you.” - Augustus Waters

In addition to The Fault in Our Stars, we also have This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl. John Green writes the foreword and even dedicated The Fault in our Stars to Esther. You will find both of these works in our collection.

Friday, June 13, 2014

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six Word Memoirs by Teens Famous and Obscure edited by Smith Magazine


Could you tell your life story in just six words?  That's the premise behind I Can't Keep My Own Secrets.   The editors of Smith magazine challenged over 600 kids, ages 13-19, to write a memoir about their lives using only six words.

The results are astonishing.  Only the authors' first names are given, and in some cases that anonymity allows for the sharing of very personal, often touching, details:

"Called me stupid.
I'm only dyslexic."

"I have accepted your abandonment, Dad."




Others are inspiring!

"I draw my dreams in crayon"

"Chose happiness over anger and hate."

Still others are thought-provoking, and kind of funny:

"Because the chicken is a nonconformist."

"He only knew one word: meh."

It's a great collection to browse through, or read in any order you like.  You're sure to recognize bits and pieces of yourself in these pages, but would you contribute to the anthology?  What is YOUR six-word memoir?

Mine is:

"Always up for adventure and fun."

You can find I Can't Keep My Own Secrets in the JYA non-fiction section (for older readers).

Friday, June 6, 2014

The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin and Rosana Faría

I cannot stop gushing to everyone about this book. It’s poetic, original and unlike anything I’ve ever read.

Although Thomas is blind and cannot “see” colors, he senses them in other ways. Colors are touches and tastes and smells. “Brown crunches under his feet like fall leaves. Sometimes it smells like chocolate and other times it stinks.” Water is colorless and therefore has “no taste, no smell.” Black is the “king of all colors” and is “soft as silk.”

The Black Book of Colors is a journey into the blind person’s world. The book is nearly all black and written in both Braille and a white font on black background. Illustrations are raised black lines on black paper and are designed to be touched. They can only be “seen” through the fingers, or if you tilt the page into the light.

The book was first published in Mexico in 2007 and won the New Horizons prize at the Bologna Children's Book Fair in 2007. It was also a New York Times Book Review choice as one of the 10 Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2008.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

For young Jack Gantos, Summer is just getting started. It is 1962 and change is in the air. Even the ever-shrinking town of Norvelt, PA is hearing strange rumblings from the outside world, but Jack is looking forward to the most boring summer ever. After a mishap with an old Japanese rifle, and a misunderstanding about a bomb shelter, Jack finds himself grounded. Not allowed to play with his friends, his only relief is helping write obituaries for the town paper.
As the original residents of the town start dying off, and the town itself begins to shrink, Jack buries himself in history books, and finds that the past and the present have a funny way of blending. Strange omens, and wild suspicions spread. Will the Gantos family be the next to leave town? Will Jack every be ungrounded? And, most pressing of all, are all of the original residents dying of natural causes? Mystery and history collide to provide more questions than answers.

This book won the
Newberry Award in 2011, and has been met with widespread praise and critical acclaim. There is also a sequel, From Norvelt to Nowhere which is available here at the library. See what you think, and let us know!

Friday, May 23, 2014

Gully's Travels by Tor Seidler

Gulliver is one pampered Lhasa Apso.  He lives with his professor on the 17th floor of a Manhattan high-rise, and spends his summer in Paris.  He is quite to used to the finer things in life, and spends the better part of his walks trying to one-up his similarly pampered friend, Rodney the Schnauzer.

But when Gulliver's professor proposes to a woman who is allergic to long-haired dogs, Gulliver's world is turned upside down.  Unceremoniously handed off to the doorman, Gulliver (or "Gully" as his new leash-holder calls him) suddenly finds himself living in chaos way out in Queens.  He now shares his quarters with three mutts who don't even eat real dog-food --- they eat kibble!

Certain that his professor must be in dire trouble, Gully escapes and miraculously finds his way back to his Manhattan high-rise.  When the professor rebukes him, Gully is devastated.

While spending the day at the beach with his new family, an unfortunate incident sends Gully on yet another adventure - this time all the way across the Atlantic Ocean.  Realizing that he is in Paris, he seeks out his lady-Maltese friend, Chloe.  When he is also rejected by Chloe - and with nowhere to go - Gully is at his wit's end.  When he is finally gets back to Queens, he learns a valuable lesson about the meaning of 'home.'  This is a very, very sweet book,with delightful illustrations by Brock Cole.

J/SEI
Grades 4-6

Friday, May 16, 2014

Ivy + Bean by Annie Barrows

Have you met Ivy and Bean?  Before Bean met Ivy, she didn’t like her.  When Bean’s mother encouraged her to play with her new neighbor, Ivy, Bean thought her polite “no thank you” was a good answer.

“All aboard!  Next train for Boring is leaving now!” yelled Bean.

WRONG!  Ivy is NOT boring at all.  See how the seemingly opposites become best friends.  If you like Ramona the Pest, Junie B. Jones or Clementine, try Ivy and Bean.  This is a series, and great for readers who are just getting into chapter books.


J/Bar

Friday, May 9, 2014

Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg

Beautiful Oops! is an interactive board book suitable for all ages, even adults. The paper-engineering is fun, fresh and diverse. There are pop-ups, bends, tears, lift-the flaps (upon flaps upon flaps), holes, overlays, splashes and splotches.

Author Barney Saltzberg's message is strong: “It’s OK to make a mistake.” Beautiful Oops! illustrates how many wonderful creations often start with an accident. A torn piece of paper becomes the mouth of an alligator. A bent page turns into a penguin’s beak. Drops of paint transform into a pig and the wheels of a car. Mistakes are not an end, but a beginning. The possibilities are endless if you use your imagination.

Like mistakes, Beautiful Oops! is worth exploring so have fun playing with this book and discovering all it has to offer. You’ll find it with the board books.

Friday, April 25, 2014

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and pictures by Oliver Jeffers

Debut author Drew Daywalt and New York Times bestselling author/illustrator Oliver Jeffers team up
in this unique picture book.

One day Duncan reaches for his crayons, but finds a stack of letters from them instead. The crayons have quit! Each crayon writes its grievances in a letter in its crayon color. Red Crayon is overworked and tired of working holidays. What with all the hearts on Valentine’s and Santas on Christmas! Beige Crayon is never used unless Duncan is coloring wheat which is essentially never. Gray Crayon is tired, so tired. He needs a break from coloring elephants, rhinos and humpback whales. White Crayon feels neglected, invisible and empty inside, while Blue Crayon is the favorite crayon year in and year out, but oh so short and stubby. Pink Crayon feels discriminated against because Duncan is biased towards using such a “girly” color, and poor Peach Crayon is naked without his wrapping and too embarrassed to leave the box.

The mixed media illustrations are one of the book’s the strongest draws. Each page has a lot to look at. The real world, ie the letters on which the crayons write, are photographs and each page features a crayon accompanied by things that Duncan has colored with it. Both the crayon’s handwritten letters and the drawings “Duncan” makes are appropriately child-like.

The Day the Crayons Quit is an ALA Notable Children’s Book for 2014 and a Goodreads Choice Awards winner for Best Picture Book of 2013. Take a look under PIC/DAY.


Friday, April 18, 2014

Constable and Toop by Gareth P. Jones

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I have to admit, the cover of Constable and Toop has intrigued me ever since we added it to the collection.  I'm glad I finally decided to give it a read - I LOVED it!!

Part Victorian ghost-story, part mystery, part adventure, Constable and Toop tells the story of London in crisis.  Something is happening to the haunted houses: their ghosts are disappearing!  If it keeps up, soon all the ghosts of England will be gone.

The story is told from many view-points.  Lapsewood is a ghost who works an office job in "The Bureau" (rather hilariously, the ghost-world is run by a huge, bloated bureaucracy).  When he is transferred to another department AND sent to the living world to investigate, he knows he's in over his head.  But when he discovers the truth behind what's plaguing London's ghosts - and the dire consequences implied - he finds help from a young "rogue ghost" with street smarts and a fondness for dogs.

Meanwhile, Sam Toop is the son of an undertaker who has "the Gift:" he is able to talk to ghosts.  Usually, they approach him to help with unfinished business - relaying a final message to a loved one, delivering a last will and testament - but it isn't long before he gets involved in the mystery.

Constable and Toop is at times hilarious, at other times spine-tingling.  The twists and turns - not to mention the dizzying array of ghost characters - will keep you on the edge of your seat.  But be warned: in true Victorian fashion, the author doesn't shy away from the blood and guts and gore.  But if you can handle it, you won't regret unearthing what's plaguing the ghosts of London.

Such a fun read!

Friday, April 11, 2014

Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great by Bob Shea


Librarian Brooke thinks this book is pretty great.


As the title suggests, Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great is funny and silly. According to Goat, Unicorn is always showing off by making it rain cupcakes and turning anything and everything into gold. Plus he can fly. Oh, and dance-prance.

Dopey Unicorn.

But as it turns out Unicorn thinks Goat is pretty great, too! After all, Goat has cloven hooves so he can stand on mountain tops while Unicorn just has “stupid regular hooves.”


Author and Illustrator Bob Shea covers the jealousy issue in a humorous way and without being preachy. His drawings are childlike and detailed. Even the title page depicts sad colorless Goat laying in the wake of Unicorn’s flowery, candy and rainbow ridden path.


For Shea, no detail is too small. Goat talks in a typewriter font, while Unicorn talks in rainbows. Each letter of Unicorn’s exclamations is a different color and surrounded by sparkles. Which makes sense, because unicorns can only eat glitter and rainbows. How FABULOUS is that?

Check it out under PIC/SHE.  

Friday, April 4, 2014

The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe by Theodore Gray

There's a book we recently added to the collection that I'm just crazy about.  What's it about?  EVERYTHING.  Really!

The elements are the raw ingredients that everything in the universe is made from.  Theodore Gray decided to start collecting samples of all them a little over 10 years ago.  The result is the stunningly beautiful and fascinating The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Know Atom in the Universe.

Each element is given its own two-page spread and, where possible, a photograph of the element is included.  There are also examples of ways in which each element is utilized (you might not have heard of Bismuth, but what about Pepto Bismol?  Bismuth is one of its key elements!).  Just browsing the photographs makes for fascinating reading.

But the book also contains an in-depth explanation of the Periodic Table.  If you don't know your Noble Gasses from your Ordinary Metals, this book can help you sort them out - it's a great introduction to the fundamentals of chemistry and the wonders of the sub-atomic world.


In short, The Elements is both visually gorgeous and informative.  Whether you read it cover-to-cover, or just browse around, this book's a winner!

 Find it under 546J/GRA.



Friday, March 28, 2014

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo


Kate DiCamillo can do no wrong. This three time Newbery Award winning author has written another extraordinary novel.

Flora and Ulysses is the story of an ordinary squirrel "born anew" after being traumatically sucked into a vacuum; and not just any vacuum--the Ulysses Super-Suction, Multi-Terrain 2000X. Flora Belle Buckman, a self proclaimed cynic and comic book lover, resuscitates the squirrel and names him Ulysses. But Ulysses is not the same squirrel. His brush with death has changed him. He is now capable of flight and super-strength. And perhaps best of all, he can write poetry...or something. 

   Squirtel. 
   I am.    Ulysses.    Born anew. 

In typical superhero fashion, Ulysses inevitably gains an arch-nemesis.  “George..." says the arch-nemesis. "We have a problem. Your daughter has become emotionally attached to a diseased squirrel.” 

Flora and Ulysses is quirky and sweet. The oftentimes silly and ridiculous plot twists are softened with subtle meaning. In addition, the novel is sprinkled with lovely full-paged illustrations and comic style action sequences by KG Campbell.

It will leave you wishing you had a Ulysses in your life.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federle

Nate the Great is back!


As you might re-call, I was a HUGE fan of Tim Federle's first novel, Better Nate Than Ever, and I'm just as big a fan of the sequel, Five, Six, Seven, Nate!

Having been cast in an actual Broadway show: E.T. The Musical (OK, he's E.T.'s second understudy, but still....it's a Broadway musical!), 13-year-old Nate Foster feels like his life is finally about to begin.  He's leaving dull, grey Jankburg, PA behind for more hilarious adventures in New York City as he tries to learn his way around the often-times crazy world of professional theater.


Self-conscious that he's much less experienced than the rest of the cast (in fact, Nate has NO experience with any theater beyond his school's nutrition play [he played the broccoli]), Nate's just hoping not to mess things up too badly, and maybe make a friend or two along the way.

But that's no easy task.  Professional theater is a whole new ball of wax for small-town Nate to get used to, especially since they expect him to dance.  "Graceful" isn't a word Nate would ever choose to describe himself.  And as Nate suffers one humiliation after another, he gets cut from most of the show's scenes.

Even worse, Nate's nemesis - the super-talented and good-looking Jordan Rylance (who IS graceful, wouldn't you know) has been cast as the show's star.  Jordan from the wealthy family.  Jordan with the fancy-pants theatrical training.  Jordan with the professional head-shots.  Jordan with the perfect skin and perfectly proportionate nose.  How can Nate not feel intimidated?

As the big opening night draws nearer, Nate feels sad that the thing he always wanted - to be in a Broadway musical - is turning out to be more than a disappointing experience.  But when the show's future starts to look uncertain, Nate just might get his chance to shine!  And what really makes the book shine is Federle's insider-view of the drama, work, and just plain luck that goes into launching a big-budget Broadway show (Federle himself has been a dancer on Broadway).

There's no way I'm going to give away what happens, but let's just say that there's no better Nate Foster on Earth than Nate Foster.  And that's the message Tim Federle has for his lucky readers. In his own words, "The coolest thing you can become is yourself!" 


Friday, March 14, 2014

Matilda by Roald Dahl

I vividly remember reading Matilda for the first time in one sitting while my dad shopped a plant sale for hours. Even at 9 years old, I appreciated its absurdity and dark humor. Roald Dahl is a popular author because he frequently writes stories where the children triumph over the brutish, inattentive adults in their lives and Matilda is no exception.

Matilda is a modern fairy tale and its title character is the perfect heroine. Matilda Wormwood is kind and brilliant and unassuming. Her parents are a combination of the "Dursleys" from Harry Potter and the stepsisters from Cinderella. At the age of 1 1/2, Matilda has the vocabulary of an adult, though her parents refer to her as a "noisy chatterbox" and tell her that children should be "seen and not heard." When Matilda reads The Secret Garden, Great Expectations and Jane Eyre at the age of 4, her parents encourage her to watch more TV. “There's nothin' you can get from a book that you can't get from a television fastah!" says Mr. Wormwood.

Because Matilda never fully harnesses her extreme intellect she develops telekinetic abilities. She then uses this new-found ability to redeem her sweet teacher Miss Honey by terrifying the nightmarish headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Miss Trunchbull is a former hammer-throwing champion, able to hurl a child across the playground in a single throw. Illustrator, Quentin Blake captures this moment marvelously.

Matilda is available at our library in a variety of formats and adaptations including: paperback (J/DAH), Spanish (SPANISH/J/DAH) and audio book (J/DAH/YS/DISC ). There is also a 1996 movie starring Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman (ARTS&LIT/MATIL/YS) and a musical called "Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical" (MUSICALS/MATILDA).

Friday, March 7, 2014

The Name Game: A Look Behind the Labels by Donna M. Jackson


Names are really interesting.  We've all have one or two or three or more, but where do they come from and what do they mean?  Why would a celebrity name their child Apple or Moxie Crimefighter?  What name would you choose for yourself if you had the chance?  Learn where your name might have come from and explore what's behind it.  Read a few "Name Nibbles" included in the book which explains where names name like Jona Jonsdottir  and Yao Ming come from. The Name Game also gives interesting information regarding brand names and surprising changes the names went through....would you rather drink a Brad's Drink or a Pepsi?  Have you ever heard of the Marufuku Company?  Maybe you have heard of Nintendo, one of the most successful Name-Change stories.

Check it out!
929.97J/JAC

Friday, February 28, 2014

Independence Hall (I, Q Book 1) by Roland Smith



Spies and rock and roll. This unlikely combination is at the heart of Independence Hall the first book in the I, Q series. Quest Munoz, “Q” to his friends, loves magic and has until recently lived on a boat with his songwriter mother, Blaze. When his mom meets (and marries) a rock and roll guitarist, Roger, with a child of his own, sparks fly, and the couple’s new group "Match" lands a hit single on the top of the charts. Roger and Blaze hit the road and bring along their kids along for the ride. As Angela and Quest get to know each other, they begin to notice that all is not as it seems on tour. When an old roadie with a love of James Bond novels shows up out of nowhere, events quickly spiral out of control. Secrets, lies, family history, spy literature, music, and current events quickly blend together to create a riveting cross-continental adventure story. 





If you like this book, you’re in luck, because there are more in the I, Q series. Just look on the shelf under J/SMI. If you have trouble finding a book, remember, you can always head to the Ask Me Desk and a librarian will be happy to help you!

Friday, February 21, 2014

The Picture Books of Nicholas Oldland



 Meet Moose, Bear and Beaver, three unlikely friends.  You won't be able to get enough of them.


So far  there are four books about them. The latest is Up the Creek.





They're funny and not what you'd expect.



 You'll love them.











 In the picture books under Oldland.

Friday, February 14, 2014

The Buck Stops Here: The Presidents of the United States by Alice Provensen

This non-partisan primer to the presidents is essential reading for any historically-minded child. Alice Provensen, a long-time author and illustrator of children's books, dedicates a page (or two) to each of the forty-four presidents. In addition to a drawing of the president, each page is filled with images drawn from the historical events of each man's presidency, and at the bottom is a couplet that describes the man and his times (i.e. Teddy Roosevelt, Twenty six/Whisper softly, wave big sticks.).

This book is a gem because it works on different levels for readers of different ages, and is a particularly good book for reading with a parent. The well-crafted images and simple text are easily accessible to younger readers and the mentions of historical events will entrance older readers. In the back of the book, Provensen provides more detailed, written accounts of each of the presidents where she expands upon what is shown within the book. This 20th anniversary edition adds pages for Bill Clinton (42), George W. Bush (43), and Barack Obama (44).

Friday, February 7, 2014

The 9 Lives of Alexander Baddenfield by John Bemelmans Maricano

Alexander Baddenfield is the last of a long line of Baddenfields.  And the Baddenfields are bad people.  They are mean, spiteful, cranky, rude, bullying jerks.  As the last of the Baddenfields, Alexander has incredible wealth with which to be as bad as he wants to be.

But there's one problem Alexander would like to overcome: because they are so bad, the Baddenfields always die grisly deaths at an early age, despite the efforts of their traditional protectors, the Winterbottoms (you can read more about them for yourself in the book).  So Alexander comes up with a plan: he'll have his cat's nine lives transplanted into himself - that'll give him lots of opportunities to be bad!

After finding a doctor to perform the operation, does Alexander become more cautious?  NO! He becomes more reckless!!  Despite the pleas of his faithful Winterbottom, Alexander cooks up scheme after scheme, each of which results in his untimely demise.  You can read about his nine lives (and his nine deaths) in The 9 Lives of Alexander Baddenfield, by John Bemelmans Marciano (the grandson of the author of the original Madeline stories).

The book is full of dark humor, and the illustrations by Sophie Blackall are a great complement to the text.  This isn't a feel-good book about a bad boy learning the error of his ways and becoming a better person.  This is about a bad boy getting what's coming to him - nine times!  A really fun read.

Friday, January 31, 2014

The Last Dragonslayer: The Chronicle of Kazam by Jasper Fforde



Magic is real in the Ununited Kingdom.  Only it’s become pathetic and weak.  Once powerful wizards now hope to gain employment magically unclogging drains or rewiring electricity for homes.  If that isn’t lame enough 15 year old foundling, Jennifer Strange is running the Kazam Mystcal Arts Management Agency herself.  Magic is tied to dragons and when rumors surface that the last known dragon is about to be slain, the future of magic is nearly hopeless.  That is, until the last dragonslayer is revealed to be the most unlikely person in all of the Ununited Kingdom.
For fans like me, still longing for the next Harry Potter or Artemis Fowl installment this book is a good bet.   Funny and unpredictable with clever plot twists and great characters The Last Dragonslayer provides a good dose of magic.


Friday, January 24, 2014

Drama and Smile by Raina Telgemeier.



Two books for the price of one in this post! Both of these graphic novels are fun, fast reads with great stories and great art. These books have one other thing in common -- they are both written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier. Telgemeier has won a lot of awards for her writing and illustrations. Her distinctive style might look familiar from the graphic adaptations of the Baby-Sitter's Club books for which she is the artist.

Drama (2012)
Middle-schooler Callie is having some trouble. She is a hardworking member of the school's stage crew, but, when the Spring production comes around and she decides she might want to be on stage instead of behind the scenes, life gets complicated. This new desire to perform, the introduction of two cute brothers, and a challenging stage prop combine to create...drama


As Callie learns more about the brothers and the production draws nearer, a new world of boys and adolescent uncertainty rears its head. Callie is determined to create the best Spring show the school has ever put on. Will she make all of the props in time? Can she figure out how to create the showstopping moment she can see clearly in her mind? Will she find love on and/or off stage? Check this book out, see what you think, and let us know!

http://kaymcgriff.edublogs.org/files/2011/12/smile-1xzc6xp.jpg Smile (2010)
An autobiographical tale of (almost unimaginable) dental escapades. As Telgelmeier herself says in her author's note, "I've been telling people about what happened to my teeth ever since I knocked them out in sixth grade...and I found myself saying 'Wait, it gets worse!' a lot." This book traces the four-and-a-half years from when young Raina first goes to the orthodontist during sixth grade, to her final dental adjustment during her freshman year of high school.

One night while heading home from a Girl Scout meeting, Raina trips on the sidewalk, falls, and knocks out two of her teeth. As though the transition into teenager-hood wasn't enough to deal with, Raina also needs a lot of work done on her mouth. What was going to be a routine set of braces turns into a dental adventure of epic proportions. Will her teeth ever be normal again? Will the braces ever come off? Will Raina make friends when she has to go to high school? See what you think, and let us know!

NOTE: Both of these books (and the rest of our graphic novels) can be found in the non fiction section under 741.5973.