This Librarian's Quick Picks: The Key to Extraordinary

The Key to Extraordinary
by Natalie Lloyd
Scholastic (Feb. 23, 2016)
Fantasy Chapter Book

“Some books are so special that you never forget where you were the first time you read them.”

 Summary:

Twelve-year old orphan Emma Casey lives by a haunted graveyard in her Tennessee town, giving tours, and helping her brother and Granny Blue with the family bakery, and waiting for the destiny dream of her ancestors--but when it comes it shows her only a key, and she finds that she must solve a ghostly mystery that has haunted her town for generations.

Why You'll Love It:

• The book's evocative setting and cast of eccentric minor characters will draw readers into Emma's world-one warmed by friendship, love, and hope-to share in her discovery that the most valuable treasures lie within.
• Despite ghosts and graves, the story avoids the macabre and instead focuses on the relationships among memory, sadness, and joy, especially as Emma's still recovering from her mother's death.
• This novel will be appreciated by younger middle grade readers who enjoy mysteries with an ample dose of magic and whimsy.

Who Should Read It:

Great for 3rd-6th graders...and here's the book trailer from Scholastic.



What Else You Should Read:

• A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd
• A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff
• Savvy by Ingrid Law

This Librarian's Quick Picks: When Green Becomes Tomatoes

When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons 
by Julie Fogliano
Roaring Brook (Mar. 1, 2016)
Nonfiction Poetry

Summary:

Flowers blooming in sheets of snow make way for happy frogs dancing in the rain. Summer swims move over for autumn sweaters until the snow comes back again. In Julie Fogliano's skilled hand and illustrated by Julie Morstad's charming pictures, the seasons come to life in this gorgeous and comprehensive book of poetry.

Why You'll Love It:

• The artwork has a cozy, inviting feel. The height of each time of year is encapsulated in universal images: children playing on the beach in August, for example, and playing in the snow in December. Full-spread illustrations are particularly striking, such as one of a boy and girl sitting on a hill and gazing up at a starry sky.
• Featuring forty-eight poems broken into four sections, the collection is ideal for dipping into throughout the year and will reward multiple reads. 
• This is a perfect arrival for both the changing of the seasons here in Tennessee and a celebration of poetry month!

Who Should Read It:

Great for 1st-4th graders.

What Else You Should Read:

• Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems by Paul B. Janeczko
• Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman
• Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons by Jon Muth