Duck, Death and the Tulip by Wolf Erlbruch

Following Jack's quirky selection from last week, I present to you the very quirky Duck, Death and the Tulip, by Wolf Erlbruch.

This book tackles a profound topic: death (especially bold for a picture book!).  It is the story of Duck's friendship with Death, a companion he's only recently discovered.  What transpires is a series of conversations about life, death, mourning, and loss.

The illustrations work particularly well with the subject matter.  Death as a smiling, walking skull is both friendly and creepy.  The spareness of the pages reflects the starkness of the reality: Death comes to us all, it is part of Life.




When we first acquired Death, Duck and the Tulip, it elicited a lot of discussion among staff members.  Some found it frightening, some found it comforting, many didn't know quite what to make of it.  Whatever your reaction, it's bound to be a conversation starter.

Duck, Death and the Tulip, by Wolf Erlbruch can be found in our J/PIC section ("Picture Books for Sophisticated Readers").  Give it a look and let us know what you think of it.

That Night's Train by Ahmad Akbarpour

This curious little book tells the story of a young girl and the teacher she meets one fateful night on a train. The little girl is in search of a mother and the teacher, who is also a children's book author, is in search of a story. After their chance meeting, the teacher vows to contact the girl. When she fails to do so, the girl becomes sad and angry. Many stories are told, and many endings are imagined before fate, chance, and circumstance prevail. Fact, fiction, storytelling, and reality all blend together to create this one-of-a-kind tale.

I enjoyed the twisting, turning though elegantly simple story of this book. The writing is almost dream-like, and time moves fluidly as the parallel stories progress. The simplicity of the writing is such that this book could be for ages 9 and up, but I tend to agree with the Kirkus review that younger readers might be put off by the unconventional narrative. Either way, audiences who engage with this book will learn a great deal about writing, writers, and the nature of stories.

A more extensive review from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.

Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice by Phillip Hoose

Every once in a while, a book comes along that sheds an entirely new light on something you thought you already knew all about.  Such is the case with the remarkable story of Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice. 

You may have heard of the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-56 that was a pivotal episode in the struggle for Civil Rights for black Americans.  You may have even heard of Rosa Parks, the black seamstress who sparked the boycott by refusing to give up her seat on the bus for a white man.  (At the time, black people where required to sit at the back of the bus and to give up their seat if a white person wanted it.)

But you probably never heard of Claudette Colvin, and she did the exact same thing several months before Rosa Parks did!  While Rosa Parks' acts of civil disobedience had actually been planned in advance (another historical fact I didn't know before reading this book!), Claudette - sixteen-years-old at the time - spontaneously decided that she was just as American as any white person, and she wasn't going to move.  And, unlike Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin went to jail for it!

So how come most of us have never heard of Claudette Colvin?  Part of the answer I just revealed to you: she was sixteen-years-old.  Have you ever not been taken seriously because of your age?  Have you been told you're "too young to understand?"  That's part of what Claudette faced.  Additionally, Claudette was the unmarried mother of an infant boy - not the image Civil Rights attorneys wanted to present to the nation.  Although Claudette's testimony was key in the court case that ultimately ended segregation on Alabama's buses, her name is all but lost to history.

Fortunately, Phillip Hoose has  helped to correct that situation.  In a fascinating look at life in America in the 1950s, and the politics of social change, the amazing and unsung Claudette Colvin finally gets her due.  An inspirational story of a true American hero.

With lots of archival photos and well-organized information, Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice would be a great pick for any history buff!

The Dictionary of Ordinary Extraordinary Animals by Lisa McGuinness and Leslie Jonath

Succinct descriptions and beautiful illustrations of over one hundred animals make up this elegant book. From Aardvark to Zigzag Salamander, this book provides information about animals both entirely ordinary, and wonderfully fantastical. Each page features a paragraph or two, an artistic rendering, and a "fun fact" about a different animal. This book serves as an introduction to the natural world for readers aged 4 and up. Younger readers will respond to the illustrations, and the older ones will love the writing and the facts.

The art is spectacular, and the descriptions of the animals are top notch. The inclusion of a "fun fact" about each animal helps underscore how an ordinary animal is actually extraordinary, and makes this book effortlessly informative. Some of the vocabulary used is a little upper level for it's intended age range which makes this book a great choice for a parent looking for something to read/look at/talk about with their child. If you have a few minutes (and it isn't already checked out by some other lucky patron) I highly recommend at least leafing through this title. Informative text, exquisite illustrations -- what more could you ask for from one book?

Also, the illustrator, Lisa Congdon, keeps a neat blog on her website. Also, also, check out her work on the cover of The Whale: In Search of the Giants of the Sea by Philip Hoare. I am a sucker for all things whale, but that's some great art.


This book can be found in the non fiction section, call number 590J. As always, if you need help finding anything, just ask a librarian!

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle

Hands down, my favorite new book of 2013 is the laugh-out-loud funny Better Nate Than Ever, by Tim Federle. 

Nate Foster is 13-years-old and pretty miserable.  While his brother the jock gets nothing but accolades, all Nate gets is picked on.  He's short, a little overweight, and his love of Broadway musicals puts his "cool" factor in a deep, deep deficit.

Fortunately, he has a kindred soul in his best friend Libby.  Together they act out their favorite shows and dream of getting out of dull, grey Jankburg, PA to the exciting world of Broadway.  When Libby gets word there's an open-call audition for the upcoming "E.T. The Musical," together they concoct a plan for Nate to run-away to New York and audition for the role of Elliot.  After all, Nate's a "boy soprano with a ballsy chest voice" - perfect!


Once in Manhattan, Nate discovers a world he never dreamed existed: a place where there are entire stores that sell just cupcakes, and where grown men can enjoy musicals without anyone wanting to stuff their heads in the toilet.  Nate knows he's found a place that calls to him, but can he survive the audition process to get his shot at life in the city?

Nate's adventures in navigating the city are hilarious.  Not only will you laugh at his escapades, you'll be cheering for him the whole time, too!


(P.S. I loved Better Nate Than Ever so much I wrote to the author to tell him so.  He wrote back, and now we're friends!  Have you ever been so moved by a book that you wrote to the author?  What would you like to say to the person who wrote a book that you love?)