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