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 Throwby 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 Lifeby 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 reunionby 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 sportsby 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 Comicsedited 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.
