This Librarian's Quick Picks: Firefly Hollow

Firefly Hollow
by Alison McGhee
illustrations by Christopher Denise
Atheneum Books (Aug. 18, 2015)
Fantasy Chapter Book

Summary:

Firefly and Cricket each have been taught that “giants” are dangerous, but when they each leave the Hollow to pursue their dreams, they end up befriending one (albeit a small one).

Why You'll Love It:

•  McGhee sensitively portrays the pains of growing up as well as themes of prejudice, death, overcoming fears, and the power of friendship.
• Illustrations reminiscent of The Wind in the Willows further enhance a wise and lovely reading adventure. One can definitely imagine a film version of the book, and it is much deserved!
• Author Alison McGhee has created a tiny world of wonder with a gentle, never heavy-handed, message. 

Who Should Read It:

For independent readers (grades 3-5) although this would be a great read aloud for younger children as well. Also check out this reader's guide for discussion questions and enrichment activities.

What Else You Should Read:

•  The works of Kate DiCamillo (especially Despereaux and Edward Tulane)
• The works of E.B. White (especially Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little)

This Librarian's Quick Picks: I'm Trying to Love Spiders

I'm Trying to Love Spiders
by Bethany Barton
Viking Books (July 7, 2015)
Nonfiction picture book

Summary:

I'm Trying to Love Spiders will help you see these amazing arachnids in a whole new light, from their awesomely excessive eight eyes, to the seventy-five pounds of bugs a spider can eat in a single year! And you're sure to feel better knowing you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than being fatally bit by a spider. 

Why You'll Love It:

• This is humorous nonfiction at its best! An unseen arachnophobe relates a series of fascinating facts about spiders  as she attempts to talk herself out of her fear after she encounters one.
• Solid material on spiders is cleverly woven into the narrative, and fun facts about different spider varieties are incorporated into the endpapers.
• Big, black brushstrokes give the illustrations and text the impact of still-wet pages, as if they'd just been completed.

Who Should Read It:

Great for K-2 as far as read alouds go, but I can see using this even in upper elementary as a mentor text for nonfiction writing.

What Else You Should Read:

• I, Fly: The Buzz About Flies and How Awesome They Are by Bridget Heos
• Behold the Beautiful Dung Beetle by Cheryl Bardoe 
• Aaaarrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks

What I've been reading for me...Best of 2015

In addition to reading lots of kidlit, I've always got an "adult" book going on as well.

Here are my 5 star reads of 2015. What made your list??

1. Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (historical fiction)
2. Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer (mystery/thriller)
3. The Guilty One by Sophie Littlefield (psychological thriller)
4. The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly by Matt McCarthy (memoir)
5. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (biography)
6. You by Caroline Kepnes (thriller)
7. Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale (memoir)
8. Defending Jacob by William Landay (mystery/thriller)
9. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (fiction)
10. Touch and Go by Lisa Gardner (mystery)
11. Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple (fiction)

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Night World

Night World
by Mordicai Gerstein
Little, Brown (June 2015)
Picture Book

Summary:

Sylvie the cat persuades her boy to go into the darkness very late at night, where they are greeted by the shadows of roses and other flowers, and by nocturnal animals who whisper, "it's almost here." 

Why You'll Love It:

•  This book will stand the test of repeated readings. The illustrations are full of seek-and-find elements that will have readers looking through the book again and again.
• Bedtime stories are perennial favorites, but this celebration of sunrise adds a new twist: could work as both a morning and nighttime read.
• Educators will see numerous science curriculum tie-ins here: animal behavior; concepts of day, night, and dawn.

Who Should Read It:

Great for PreK-2nd graders.

What Else You Should Read:

• The Dark by Lemony Snicket
• Dusk by Uri Shulevitz
• Flashlight by Lizi Boyd

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Welcome to Mars

Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet
by Buzz Aldrin & Marianne Dyson
National Geographic (Sep. 1, 2015)
Nonfiction

Summary:

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin challenges curious kids to think about Mars as not just a faraway red planet but as a possible future home for Earthlings! What will your new home be like? How will you get there? What will you eat for breakfast? 

Why You'll Love It:

•  Besides being a living legend in the aerospace field, Aldrin isn't new to writing children's books -- check out one of his other successful writing ventures below in the "What Else You Should Read" section.
• The book contains a topographical map of Mars as well as a description of tools you'd need on Mars in order to explore.
• The book incorporates real photography and digital illustrations throughout and they enhance but never overwhelm the enthusiastic writing.

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades 4-7...and here's the educator's guide!

What Else You Should Read: 

• The Mighty Mars Rovers by Elizabeth Rusch
• Reaching for the Moon by Buzz Aldrin
• You Are the First Kid on Mars by Patrick O'Brien

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Koala Hospital

Koala Hospital
by Suzi Eszterhas
Owlkids, October 13, 2015
Nonfiction

Summary:

Koala Hospital features a koala rescue center in Australia. It shows why koalas are in danger, how they come to be in the sanctuary, and the process of healing and rehabilitating koalas for return to the wild. Koala Hospital also focuses on the people who work at the rescue center and how they aid the animals. 

Why You'll Love It:

• Topic-specific spreads make it easy for kids to dip in and out of the book, but they will likely read it from cover to cover. Interesting facts are incorporated throughout, even in the back matter. For example, koalas are one of the few mammals besides primates that have fingerprints; and “the word 'koala’ comes from an old Aboriginal word meaning 'no drink.’” (Koalas get moisture from their meals of eucalyptus leaves. While the leaves are poisonous to most animals, “koalas have a special digestive system that can break down the toxins”—though they sleep eighteen hours a day to recover from this hard work!)
• Readers will enjoy learning about how hospital staff and volunteers care for the animals. For instance, a laundry basket creates a small space “like a nest that keeps koalas contained while making them feel safe,” and “a healthy joey will go to a human foster mother and live in her house full time.”
• The cute marsupials practically pop off the page. Each spread features at least two photos, one of which usually fills a full page or bleeds across the gutter. Many are close-ups, while others show koalas in the hospital setting, with their foster mothers, or in their natural environment. Some especially endearing images include a joey dribbling milk during a feeding, a koala cuddling with a stuffed likeness of itself, and a marsupial snoozing high among tree branches.

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades 2-5...and here's the koala hospital's website!

What Else You Should Read:

• Nic Bishop Marsupials by Nic Bishop
• Dolphins of Shark Bay by Pamela S. Turner
• Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins

#BookCharacterDay

Just had to share these gems from yesterday at school!

The kindergarten team channeling Pete the Cat.

Our art teacher helped out too...

Camilla Cream!

 Then Harry showed up...that's me in the Slytherin hat. Represent.

What they're (really) reading: October 2015

photo by Toby Neal

By keeping a pulse on what my kiddos are checking out and keeping a close eye on which books are circulating heavily, I feel that I can spend the small budget I have more wisely by choosing books I know will have a greater likelihood of circulating widely.

Each month I'll feature a few fiction and a few nonfiction books that are on the "heavy rotation" list at our elementary library. They're not necessarily new, shiny, or covered with awards -- they're just what the kids want.

This Month's Selections:

Never Smile at a Monkey
by Steve Jenkins
Informational Picture Book

An illustrated discussion of what not to do around various dangerous animals, with warnings about petting a platypus, touching a tang fish, or pulling a python's tail.

Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum
by Meghan McCarthy
Informational Picture Book

Gum. It's been around for centuries—from the ancient Greeks to the American Indians, everyone's chewed it. But the best kind of gum—bubble gum!—wasn't invented until 1928, when an enterprising young accountant at Fleer Gum and Candy used his spare time to experiment with different recipes.

Penguin and Pumpkin 
by Salina Yoon
Picture book

Curious about what fall is like in places that are not always white, Penguin and his friends go to a pumpkin farm and bring back a surprise for Penguin's brother, Pumpkin, who couldn't come with them.

Pumpkin Trouble
by Jan Thomas
Picture book

When Duck decides to make a jack-o-lantern, he and his friends Pig and Mouse are in for a scary adventure.






Coraline
by Neil Gaiman
Chapter book

Looking for excitement, Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a world that is similar, yet disturbingly different from her own, where she must challenge a gruesome entity in order to save herself, her parents, and the souls of three others.

No Talking
by Andrew Clements
Chapter Book

The noisy fifth grade boys of Laketon Elementary School challenge the equally loud fifth grade girls to a "no talking" contest.

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Fright Club

Fright Club
by Ethan Long
Bloomsbury (August 11, 2015)
Picture Book

Summary:

Each year, on Halloween eve, Fright Club meets to go over their plan: Operation Kiddie Scare. Only the scariest of monsters can join Fright Club-Vladimir the Vampire, Fran K. Stein, Sandy Witch, and Virginia Wolf have all made the cut. They've been practicing their ghoulish faces, their scary moves, and their chilling sounds. But when a band of cute little critters comes along asking to join in the fun, the members of Fright Club will find out who really is the scariest of all!

Why You'll Love It:

• I read this to a few classes one day last week and the book immediately had a hold list. 'Nuff said.
• The monsters make pathetic attempts at ghoulish faces and goofy dance moves. Kids will enjoy laughing at the delightfully not scary creatures, especially when the Fright Club is shown up by the cute little animals.
• Punchy dialogue and a range of characters offer opportunities for lively read alouds: “Awwwwwww, look! An adorable little bunny!” coos Vladimir, a vampire.
• Ethan Long’s illustrations, primarily in moody gray tones with washes of color, will appeal to those looking for a spooky book, while the humorous details, such as the bunny’s innocent, wide eyes, will make readers giggle. 

Who Should Read It:

Great for PreK-2, but even some of my fourth graders said it caught their eye on the bookshelf and requested it...also, here's the book trailer.

What Else You Should Read: 

• Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds
• Peanut Butter & Brains by Joe McGee
• Click, Clack, Boo! by Doreen Cronin

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Fable Comics

Fable Comics
Edited by Chris Duffy
First Second (Sep. 22, 2015)
Graphic Novel

Summary: 

From classics like "The Tortoise and the Hare" and "The Grasshopper and the Ants" to obscure gems like "The Frogs Who Desired a King," Fable Comics has something to offer every reader. Twenty-eight fables from different cultures and traditions are wonderfully adapted and illustrated in comics format by twenty-six different cartoonists.

Why You'll Love It:

•  These fables are so sharply drawn and snappily dialogued that returning to their original texts might be a bit of a letdown! 
• Kids will love flipping through the pages and recognizing the trademark styles of their favorite graphic novelists and illustrators. 
• Although most of the fables are of the Aesop variety, a few are pulled from other countries such as Russia and India.

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades 3 and up...and here's an awesome lesson plan from the publisher!

What Else You Should Read:

•  Nursery Rhyme Comics: 50 Timeless Rhymes from 50 Celebrated Cartoonists by Chris Duffy
• You Read to Me, I 'll Read to You: Very Short Fables to Read Together by Mary Ann Hoberman 
• Fairy Tale Comics: Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists by Chris Duffy
  
  

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation

Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation
by Peggy Thomas; illustrated by Stacy Innerst
Calkins Creek (Sep. 8, 2015)
Narrative nonfiction/biography/picture book

Summary:

Examines the life and career of Thomas Jefferson, who in addition to his accomplishments as a politician and president was also talented in the field of agriculture.

Why You'll Love It:

• Illustrator Innerst actually used a quill to hand letter all the quotes. Cool!
• This illustrated biography sheds light on the lesser known episodes of Jefferson's life and presidency, such as his efforts to stimulate European demand for American produce and his concerns about an agricultural pest.
• The final section, "Thomas Today," wisely invites readers to ponder Jefferson's slave ownership. 

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades 3-6 (and up!) and here's the educator's guide.

What Else You Should Read:

• Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Everything by Maira Kalman
• Those Rebels, John & Tom by Barbara Kerley
• Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library by Barb Rosenstock

This Librarian's Quick Picks: A Handful of Stars

A Handful of Stars
by Cynthia Lord
Scholastic (May 26, 2015)
Realistic Fiction Chapter Book

Summary:

Lily’s lost dog leads to her friendship with Salma, a young migrant who works in the blueberry barrens near Lily’s home. Lily worries Salma will challenge conventions when she enters a local pageant.

Why You'll Love It:

•  Seriously. The cover. This will be a great attention-grabber for kiddos; it will move off the library shelves without too much prodding :)
• This book is also a perfect read-aloud for upper elementary classroom teachers. 
• Lord conveys a great message without being over the top or preachy. The characters embrace each other's differences and really practice empathy.

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades 4-6...and here's the book trailer!

What Else You Should Read:

• Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
• Until I Find Julian by Patricia Reilly Giff
• Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Hamster Princess

Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible
by Ursula Vernon
Dial Books (August 18, 2015)
Graphic/fantasy hybrid chapter book

Summary:

Never a conventional princess, Harriet becomes an adventurer after learning she is cursed to fall into a deep sleep on her twelfth birthday, but after two years of slaying ogres, cliff-diving, and more with her riding quail, Mumfrey, things go awry at home and she must seek a prince to set things right. 

Why You'll Love It:

•  Vernon already has a following in our library with the Dragonbreath series, and those kiddos will love Harriet! Also a ready-made booktalk for lovers of Holm's Babymouse graphic novel series. 
• Shifting between prose passages and indigo-tinted cartoon sequences, Vernon upends fairy-tale conventions and gender stereotypes left and right.
• Harriet breaks all the "princess" rules. She's cursed from birth to prick her finger when she's 12 and decides she's got to make the best of it 'till then. There's a great twist that leaves Harriet scrambling to find a prince--not to kiss HER awake, but everyone else in the castle.  

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades 3-5...and here's the book trailer.

What Else You Should Read:

• The Dragonbreath series (also by Ursula Vernon)
• Half Upon a Time by James Riley
• The Babymouse series by Jennifer Holm 

What they're (really) reading: September 2015

photo by Toby Neal

By keeping a pulse on what my kiddos are checking out and keeping a close eye on which books are circulating heavily, I feel that I can spend the small budget I have more wisely by choosing books I know will have a greater likelihood of circulating widely.

Each month I'll feature a few fiction and a few nonfiction books that are on the "heavy rotation" list at our elementary library. They're not necessarily new, shiny, or covered with awards -- they're just what the kids want.

This Month's Selections:

A Big Guy Took My Ball!
by Mo Willems
Early Reader Picture Book

Piggie is upset because a whale took the ball she found, but Gerald finds a solution that pleases all of them. 





Million Dollar Throw
by Mike Lupica
Sports Fiction Chapter Book

Eighth-grade star quarterback Nate Brodie's family is feeling the stress of the troubled economy, and Nate is frantic because his best friend Abby is going blind, so when he gets a chance to win a million dollars if he can complete a pass during the halftime of a New England Patriot's game, he is nearly overwhelmed by the pressure to succeed. 


Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life
by Rachel Renee Russell
Realistic Fiction Chapter Book

Fourteen-year-old Nikki Maxwell writes and sketches in her diary about her struggle to be popular at her exclusive new private school, and about giving up on being part of the elite group, before figuring out a way to simply be herself. 



Amelia's longest, biggest, most-fights-ever family reunion
by Marissa Moss
Realistic Fiction Chapter Book

A fictional, illustrated journal in which eleven-year-old Amelia records her hopes, fears, and impressions while attending a family reunion with her long-estranged dad, and meeting many of his relatives for the first time. 



Greatest rivalries in sports
by Tony Lee
Nonfiction

Sports are unpredictable. They're wacky. They can be totally off-the-wall! This book highlights some of the most memorable tales and traditions from sports history and is brought to life with exciting detail. Informative sidebars offer even more stories.




Fairy Tale Comics
edited by Chris Duffy 
Graphic Novel

From favorites like "Puss in Boots" and "Goldilocks" to obscure gems like "The Boy Who Drew Cats," Fairy Tale Comics has something to offer every reader. Seventeen fairy tales are wonderfully adapted and illustrated in comics format by seventeen different cartoonists, including Raina Telgemeier, Brett Helquist, Cherise Harper, and more.

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Lillian's Right To Vote

Lillian's Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
by Jonah Winter
illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Schwartz & Wade (July 14, 2015)
Historical fiction picture book

Summary:

As Lillian, one-hundred-years old, walks to the polls, she remembers “the long haul up that steep hill” that her African American ancestors climbed to achieve U.S. voting rights.

Why You'll Love It:

• This powerful historical picture book dovetails very nicely with social studies standards, making it a great pick for both librarians and teachers. 
• An author’s note provides historical context, including information about the woman who inspired Lillian (Lillian Allen, who in 2008 at age 100 voted for Barack Obama).
•  Although the book is a celebration of how far we have come, it also ends with a warning that rights are threatened by a 2013 Supreme Court decision.

Who Should Read It:

Grades 2 and up.

What Else You Should Read:

• Grandaddy's Turn by Michael S. Bandy
• I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh

What They're (Really) Reading: August 2015

photo by Toby Neal

By keeping a pulse on what my kiddos are checking out and keeping a close eye on which books are circulating heavily, I feel that I can spend the small budget I have more wisely by choosing books I know will have a greater likelihood of circulating widely.

Each month I'll feature a few fiction and a few nonfiction books that are on the "heavy rotation" list at our elementary library. They're not necessarily new, shiny, or covered with awards -- they're just what the kids want.

This Month's Selections:

Michael Jackson (Big Buddy Biographies)
by Sarah Tieck
Nonfiction

Highlights the life and career of Michael Jackson, discussing his family, childhood, success while singing in the Jackson 5, solo career, and other related topics.



Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World
by Steve Jenkins
Nonfiction

Profiles a series of animals with unusual eyes, and explains how such animals use their uniquely evolved eyes to gain essential information about the biological world. It makes me so giddy that kiddos continue to love Steve Jenkins' fabulous books.


An Amazing Snowman (Frozen)
by Barbara Jean Hicks
Picture Book

Featuring Olaf, the happy-go-lucky comic relief of Disney's Frozen, this humorous tale of what it means to dream is told in verse and features charming illustrations. Frozen. Duh.




Sweet Tooth
by Margie Palatini
Picture Book

Stewart's loud, obnoxious sweet tooth constantly gets him into trouble, until Stewart uses a healthy diet to take control of the situation. This is absolutely hands down my favorite book to read aloud.

The Mouse With the Question Mark Tail
by Richard Peck
Chapter Book

A very small mouse of unknown origins runs away from school in the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace shortly before the celebration of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, celebrating her sixty years on the British throne. Ah, the power of booktalking...



Splendors and Glooms
by Laura Amy Schlitz
Chapter Book

When Clara vanishes after the puppeteer Grisini and two orphaned assistants were at her twelfth birthday party, suspicion of kidnapping chases the trio away from London and soon the two orphans are caught in a trap set by Grisini's ancient rival, a witch with a deadly inheritance to shed before it is too late.

This Librarian's Quick Picks: The Day the Crayons Came Home

The Day the Crayons Came Home
by Drew Daywalt
illustrations by Oliver Jeffers
Philomel Books (August 18, 2015)
Picture Book

Summary:

In this sequel to the fabulous The Day the Crayons Quit, instead of letters, Duncan receives a stack of postcards from crayons that have been misplaced or maligned, or are ready for adventure.

Why You'll Love It:

•  Oh happy day, another book featuring the crayons! There's so much you can do with this book as a mentor text, just like its predecessor. This time the mode of writing is postcards instead of letters, but it's still a great model for writer's workshop. 
• One of the pages glows in the dark. Nuff said...
• These postcards are sure to please the kiddos. Each crayon is in need of some sort of help: for example, the tan crayon was eaten by a dog and puked back up. Sure to entertain any young reading audience (and most older ones, too).

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades 1-4...and don't forget to check out the website that goes along with the Crayon books!

What Else You Should Read:

• The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
• Mix It Up by Herve Tullet
• Draw! by Raul Colon

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Dory and the Real True Friend

Dory and the Real True Friend
by Abby Hanlon
Dial Books (July 7, 2015)
Early Chapter Book

Summary:

Dory, a highly imaginative youngest child, makes a new friend at school but her brother and sister are sure Rosabelle is imaginary, just like all of Dory's other friends. 

Why You'll Love It:

• Dory’s lively first-person narrative is illustrated with similarly expressive line drawings, which take up about as much space as the text in this appealing early chapter book.
• The humor and familiar school setting will invite new fans. Old friends and new will hope this highly successful sequel will not be the last starring this inventive, original child.
• Fans of Annie Barrows's "Ivy and Bean", Barbara Park's "Junie B. Jones", and books with a little bit of humor and fantasy mixed into a school setting will enjoy reading this second installment in the "Dory" series.  

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades 2-4.

What Else You Should Read:

• Princess in Black by Shannon Hale
• Violet Mackerel series by Anna Branford
• Ivy and Bean books by Annie Barrows

This Librarian's Quick Picks: First Grade Dropout

First Grade Dropout
by Audrey Vernick
illustrations by Matthew Cordell
Clarion Books (July 7, 2015)
Picture Book

Summary:

Everyone laughs when a boy does something embarrassing in class. He considers his options: magic, time travel, disguise. Or maybe he can just quit school. . . . 

Why You'll Love It:

•  Readers will sympathize with this first grader as he describes being laughed at by a “big marching band“ of classmates (including his best friend!) after he accidentally calls his teacher “Mommy.“
• From the opening lines, the narrator’s voice stands out (“I’ve been lots of things. Hungry. Four years old. Crazy-bored. Soaking wet.“) and makes for an amusing read. For example, after he decides he has no choice but to drop out of school, he says, “It’ll be fine. I’ll stay at home for a bunch of years, no big deal, work on my jump shot, and maybe when I’m a teenager, I’ll get a job.“
• The story concludes in an entertaining and satisfying way: at soccer (the first grader is ready to drop out of that, too), his best friend, Tyler, doesn’t remember—or care about—the narrator’s mistake earlier in the day. And then Tyler makes his own verbal faux pas, providing some gentle and valuable perspective.

Who Should Read It:

Great for K-grade 2.

What Else You Should Read: 

• My Teacher is a Monster by Peter Brown
• The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
• Ben Draws Trouble by Matt Davies