This Librarian's Quick Picks: Panda Pants

Panda Pants
by Jacqueline Davies
illustrated by Sydney Hanson
Knopf, 2016
Picture book

Summary:
Witness a hilarious battle of wills in which a young panda tries to convince his father that pants make perfect sense.

Why You'll Love It:

• The warm-hued, soft-textured illustrations with sweet, adorable animals only add to this touching story.
• Pairs perfectly with Paul Schmid's A Pet for Petunia for two delightfully funny tales that would be perfect for teaching persuasive writing.
• Hanson has a knack for drawing ridiculously cute, expressive animals, and she does so here, with the facial expressions reflecting the dialogue wonderfully.

Who Should Read It:
Great for PreK-2nd graders.

What Else You Should Read:

• Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie
• Puddle by Hyewon Yum
• Little One by Jo Weaver

Kid Lit Pick: Samson in the Snow by Philip Stead

Samson in the Snow
by Philip C. Stead
Roaring Brook, 2016
Picture Book

Summary:

One sunny day Samson, a large and friendly woolly mammoth, encounters a little red bird who is looking for yellow flowers for her mouse friend (whose favorite color is yellow). As she flies off with the flowers, Samson wonders what it must be like to have a friend. He wonders this for so long, in fact, that he falls asleep and wakes up to a world covered in snow. In the midst of a blizzard, Samson finds and shelters the little red bird and flower-loving mouse in a tender tale of kindness and unexpected friendship.

Why You'll Love It:

• Stead returns to themes he's made his own: friendship, acceptance, and love for small, ordinary objects that most people overlook. 
• The contrast between the very large and the very small contributes to the story's magic, and so does Samson, a hero who is tender, patient, and loyal.
• Stead has tackled the illustrations without his partner and wife, Erin, this time around, and the pictures have a sturdy feel, grounded by the mastodon's large, reddish-brown figure. 

Who Should Read It:

Great for PK-2nd grade.

What Else You Should Read:

• Buddy and Earl by Maureen Fergus
• Lenny and Lucy by Philip C. Stead
• Lost. Found. by Marsha Diane Arnold

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Mother Bruce

Mother Bruce
by Ryan T. Higgins
Disney-Hyperion (Nov. 24, 2015)
Picture Book

What It's About:

Bruce the bear likes to keep to himself. That, and eat eggs. But when his hard-boiled goose eggs turn out to be real, live goslings, he starts to lose his appetite. And even worse, the goslings are convinced he’s their mother. Bruce tries to get the geese to go south, but he can’t seem to rid himself of his new companions. What’s a bear to do?

Why You'll Love It:

• Ryan’s illustrations demonstrate a great range of movement and emotion, giving each page depth, with humorous details mixed in throughout.
• Curmudgeonly Bruce and his devoted goslings will win readers over, especially as Bruce grows to love the geese against his better judgment.  
• This book is laugh-out-loud funny, and its clever jokes will entertain adults and children alike. 
• Bonus for librarians: Ryan has visited nearly 100 elementary schools in the past year to promote his work. His genuine interest in engaging children in his books really shines through.

Who Should Read It:

Great for  PreK-1st grade.

What Else You Should Read:

• Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown
• Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
• Goodnight Already! by Jory John

What they're (really) reading: February 2016

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 simply what the kids want.

This Month's Selections:

The Incredible Life of Balto
by Meghan McCarthy
Picture book biography

Illustrations and text describe the life of Balto, the real-life, legendary sled dog that braved a deadly blizzard to bring a lifesaving serum to people in Alaska in 1925, focusing on the dog's life after his celebrity-status waned. 

 
Kali's Story: An Orphaned Polar Bear Rescue
by Jennifer Keats Curtis
Nonfiction

Follow the rescue of orphaned polar bear Kali (pronounced Cully) from the Inupiat village of Kali (Point Lay in English) to the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage to his new home at the Buffalo Zoo in New York with Luna, a female polar bear. This photographic journey beautifully captures the remarkable development of the cub, who initially drinks from a baby bottle, sucks his paw for comfort, and sleeps with a "blankie" as he rapidly grows into the largest land carnivore on earth.

Splat the Cat
by Rob Scotton
Picture book

It's Splat's first day of school and he's worried. What if he doesn't make any new friends? Just in case, Splat decides to bring along his pet mouse, Seymour, and hides him in his lunchbox. The teacher, Mrs. Wimpydimple, introduces Splat to the class and he soon starts learning all his important cat lessons. But when Seymour escapes and the cats do what cats do (they chase mice!), Splat's worried again.

Pete the Cat: A Pet for Pete
by James Dean
Picture book

When Pete the Cat gets a goldfish, he decides to paint a picture of his new pet. But what will Pete do when everyone wants one of his paintings?


A Snicker of Magic
by Natalie Lloyd
Fantasy chapter book

The Pickles are new to Midnight Gulch, Tennessee, a town which legend says was once magic--but Felicity is convinced the magic is still there, and with the help of her new friend Jonah the Beedle she hopes to bring the magic back.

 

Tales from a not-so-dorky drama queen
by Rachel Renee Russell
Realistic fiction chapter book

A certain member of the CCP girls Dork fans know all about has gotten her hands on Nikki's diary and has decided to share some thoughts of her own…Find out what happens when Nikki's worst nightmare becomes a reality.

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Quickest Kid in Clarksville

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville
by Pat Zietlow Miller
illustrations by Frank Morrison
Chronicle Books (Feb. 9, 2016)
Historical fiction picture book

Summary:

Growing up in the segregated town of Clarksville, Tennessee, in the 1960s, Alta's family cannot afford to buy her new sneakers--but she still plans to attend the parade celebrating her hero Wilma Rudolph's three Olympic gold medals. 

Why You'll Love It:

• As a native Tennessean, I was thrilled when I came across this local little gem in our state's history. Using Olympic runner Wilma Rudolph’s 1960 homecoming parade as a backdrop, the story is a lively look at the rivalry between two of Wilma’s young fans—narrator Alta and Charmaine. 
• Frank Morrison’s vibrant illustrations are expressive and charming. Elongated limbs and exaggerated movements put an emphasis on the girls’ athleticism.  
• An author’s note provides further information about Wilma Rudolph’s life and accomplishments, as well as segregation in the South. Reading about Wilma’s insistence that her homecoming parade be integrated is inspiring.

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades K-2...and here's a link to some great discussion questions.

What Else You Should Read:

• Izzy Barr, Running Star by Claudia Mills
• Happy Like Soccer by Maribeth Boelts
• The Hula-Hoopin' Queen by Thelma Lynne Godin

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Aaron and Alexander

Aaron and Alexander: The Most Famous Duel in American History
by Don Brown
Roaring Brook (Oct. 13, 2015)
Informational picture book

Summary:

The story of Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, whose politics put these Founding Founders in constant conflict which led to the most famous duel in American history.

Why You'll Love It:

•  This picture-book dual biography does a thorough job of tracing the lives of Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton and accentuating the many parallel aspects of their upbringings, as well as
  conveying the nuances and personalities of major players.
•  The strong compare/contrast pattern introduces youngsters to founding fathers Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton.
• There is almost nothing on this piece of history for this age group, making it a very useful as well as entertaining writing on this time in history.

Who Should Read It:

Great for  grades 3-5...and here's some mentor text possibilities with the book.

 

What Else You Should Read:

• Worst of Friends by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain
• He Has Shot the President! by Don Brown
• Henry and the Cannons by Don Brown

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: 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

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: 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

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Glamourpuss

Glamourpuss
by Sarah Weeks; illustrations by David Small
Scholastic (Feb. 24, 2015)
Picture Book

Summary:

A cat named Glamourpuss who likes being the center of attention fears she might fall out of fashion when Bluebelle the dog arrives.


Why You'll Love It:

•  What a personality! Glamourpuss doesn't lie down, she reclines! She doesn't stretch, she extends!
• I see myself using this book as a mentor text for vivid verbs and word choice. 
• The book jacket is pink and sparkly. Duh.
• This book is a great read-aloud and best introduced by an expressive reader. Even more fun would be introducing students to some of the influences behind the characters in the book -- Scarlett O'Hara & Carmen Miranda.

Who Should Read It:

A great read-aloud for K-3rd grade; even older for a minilesson on word choice/vivid verbs.

What Else You Should Read:

• Mr. Putter and Tabby Turn the Page by Cynthia Rylant
• Fancy Nancy series by Jane O'Connor
• Bow-Wow's Nightmare Neighbors by Mark Newgarden

This Librarian's Quick Picks: I Don't Like Koala

I Don't Like Koala

by Sean Ferrell
Atheneum Book (April 14, 2015)
Picture Book

Summary:

What's not to love about a cute, cuddly...creepy toy koala? This is the story of a boy and the stuffed animal he just can't seem to shake.

Why You'll Love It:

•  Everyone experienced a doll, painting, or stuffed animal whose eyes seemed to follow them around the room. Readers will relate to Adam's complete creeped-outedness by the new koala.
• Ferrell wraps it up with a great twist ending.
• The book is just the right mixture of funny and kind of spooky. You'll never look at a stuffed animal the same way again.

Who Should Read It:

Great for PreK-grade 1...and here's a video!

What Else You Should Read:

• Princess Sparkle-Heart Gets a Makeover by Josh Schneider
• I Want My Hat  Back by Jon Klassen
• Found by Salina Yoon

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Egg -- Nature's Perfect Package

Egg: Nature's Perfect Package
by Steve Jenkins
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (March 3, 2015)
Nonfiction/Informational Picture Book

Summary:

Explore how a simple, often colorful, sometimes surprisingly shaped package, reveals nature's life cycle, unusual animal defensive strategies, parenting behavior, evolution, and more, in this illustrated non-fiction picture book.

Why You'll Love It:

•  Jenkins' signature torn paper and collage illustrations are featured against white backgrounds, really making the images pop. 
• Jenkins explores 54 creatures and why they lay eggs the way they do -- for example, the black-spotted sticky frog lays eggs in a carnivorous pitcher plant. Hello, booktalk hook!!!
• The final pages illustrate the cycles of a chicken and alligator as each creature develops over time, in five stages from embryo to hatchling, which lends itself nicely to compare and contrast lessons.

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades K-3...and here's the educator's guide (scroll down to p. 7)

What Else You Should Read:

•  Have You Heard the Nesting Bird? by Rita Gray
• Creature Features by Steve Jenkins
• The Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins 

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Take Away the A

Take Away the A
by Michaël Escoffier
Enchanted Lion (Sep. 9, 2014)
Picture Book

Summary:

Text and illustrations look at how subtracting a single letter from a word can make an entirely different word.

Why You'll Love It:

• Kris Di Giacomo’s illustrations add another level of wit and whimsy to Michaël Escoffier’s word shenanigans. For instance, dice, as ice, chill poker players’ drinks. For G, a glove falls in love—and scurries to a crosswalk after his paramour, an octopus.
• The silly situations and fun details (almost all the characters are either animals or inanimate objects, and a mouse reappears in many of the illustrations), invite readers to linger over the artwork.
• Sure to inspire children to craft their own word pairings: craft and raft? Pair and air? The possibilities are endless. I can't wait to have students make a class book using this as a mentor text.

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades 1-3...and here's the book trailer:




What Else You Should Read:

• E-mergency! by Tom Lichtenheld
• A is for Musk Ox by  Erin Cabatingan
• Mr. Putney's Quacking Dog by Jon Agee

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Sam and Dave Dig a Hole

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole
by Mac Barnett; illustrations by Jon Klassen
Candlewick (Oct. 14, 2014)
Picture Book

Summary:

“We won’t stop digging until we find something spectacular,” Dave says to Sam. They dig their hole deeper—and even sideways—but they keep just missing what they’re looking for.

Why You'll Love It:

•  There is a clever play between words and picture in which readers are in on a joke to which the characters are oblivious.
• Klassen’s cross-section illustrations give readers a mole’s-eye view of the underground proceedings, extending the spare text with visual humor.
• Barnett’s well-chosen words and plentiful white space support readers.

Who Should Read It:

Great for PreK-1st grade...and here's the book trailer:



What Else You Should Read:

• Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett
• This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Shh! We Have A Plan

Shh! We Have a Plan!
by Chris Haughton
Candlewick (Sep. 9, 2014)
Picture Book

Summary:

Four friends stalk a bird through the forest. The smallest one waves and says hello. “SHH! We have a plan!” say the other three. But will their plan actually work?

Why You'll Love It:

• Chris Haughton limits the palette of his retro-looking illustrations to shades of blue, with the exception of the orange and magenta bird. Flitting from page to page, the bird is as eye-catching to the reader as it is to the friends chasing it.
• Children will relate to the smallest of the four friends. While his larger peers want to capture the bird, he wants to befriend it. His approach eventually proves the right one, attracting multitudes of birds in a pay-off of explosive color.
• A great choice for read alouds, with plenty of possibilities for funny voices and dramatic pauses.

Who Should Read It:

Perfect for PreK-grade 2...and here's the book trailer:



What Else You Should Read:

•  Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett
• The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak

This Librarian's Quick Picks: My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I Am Not) by Peter Brown

My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I Am Not)
by Peter Brown
Little, Brown (July 1, 2014)
Picture Book

Summary in a Sentence:

Bobby thinks his teacher, Ms. Kirby, is horrible, but when he sees her outside of school and they spend a day in the park together, he discovers she might not be so bad after all.

Why You'll Love It:

• Brown uses a cartoon-type format with panels and speech bubbles, varying the pace with full-page art, in a story that students and teachers will enjoy equally
• At the heart of the awkward-pause-filled humor are Bobby and Ms. Kirby’s marvelous facial expressions.
• Brown makes it clear that teachers are people too-even the "mean" ones.

Who should read it:

Great for grades K-2...and here's the activity kit.

What else you should read:

• My Teacher's Secret Life by Stephen Krensky
• Mostly Monsterly by Tammi Sauer
• Library Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Mister Bud Wears the Cone!

Ah, Mister Bud...I've been a fan from the beginning.

Mister Bud Wears the Cone!
by Carter Goodrich
Simon & Schuster (June 3, 2014)
Picture Book

Summary: 

Wearing the cone is no fun; Mister Bud can’t reach the biscuits or drink from his water dish. And Zorro? He can’t help but have some fun at Mister Bud’s expense.

 Why You'll Love It:

• Goodrich’s watercolors excel at squat doggie bodies, especially the abstract shape of Bud’s faceless conehead.
• A succinct, masterfully paced text is filled with humorous taunts from Zorro and hilarious descriptions of Mister Bud's misery.
• A great addition for kids looking for a story about dogs and for a canine-centered read-aloud.
• Pug. Need I say more???

 

Who should read it:

Great for grades K-2.

What you should read next:

• Definitely the other books in the series! (Say Hello to Zorro & Zorro Gets an Outfit)

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Mix It Up!

Mix It Up!
by Hervé Tullet
Chronicle Books (Sep. 16, 2014)
Picture Book

Summary:

“Tap that gray spot. Just a little, to see what happens.” Follow the directions and tap, rub, smudge, and shake to learn how different colors combine.

Why you'll love it:

• the book’s design is effective and even intricate in the details: spatters of paint adorn the sides and corners of each white spread, adding an authenticity that readers will love
• the text is spare yet inviting 
• an effective presentation of basic color mixing, and great fun for paint lovers in places where paints can't be used
• While the participatory nature may recall an app, nothing feels digital here; in fact, Tullet's paintings show paint texture so lusciously it's hard to remember that these are dry illustrations. 

Who should read it:

Great for grades PreK-1...and here's the activity kit!

What you should read next:

• Press Here by Herve Tullet
• The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt