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Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Friday, April
7, 2006,
at the Neptune Public Library from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Announcements
Future meeting dates are June 2 and August 4, 2006. Mark your calendars
now!
Awards
The Caldecott Medal
went to The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton
Juster; illustrated by Chris Raschka.
Winner of the Newbery Medal
is Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins.
Julius Lester's Day
of Tears won the Coretta Scott King
Award; along with Nikki Giovanni's
Rosa for the illustrations by Bryan
Collier.
The John Steptoe New Talent
Author is Jamie Adoff who
wrote Jimi & Me.
The Michael L. Printz Award
was given to Looking for Alaska by John
Green.
The Margaret A. Edwards
Award honoring an author's lifetime achievement was given
to Jacqueline Woodson.
Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas by Cynthia
Rylant, illustrated by Sucie Stevenson,
was the recipient of the new Theodor Seuss
Geisel Award.
Locally, the Garden State
Children's Book Awards were given to T-Rex is Missing!
by Tomie dePaola; Henry and Mudge
and the Tall Tree House by Cynthia Rylant;
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate
DiCamillo; and What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?
by Steve Jenkins and Robin
Page.
Book Notes
New Jersey
Mermaid Park
Mayall, Beth
Penguin Group, 2005
Gr. 8+, Fry 8
On an early summer vacation in Wildwood, New Jersey, 16-year-old
Amy discovers an eerily beautiful mermaid-themed park. She convinces
her mother to let her spend the rest of the summer in Wildwood while
she gets a job at the park. Cecelia Ruegsegger
calls this a good read dealing with real coming-of-age issues.
Alphabet Books
Q is for Duck: An Alphabet Guessing Game
Elting, Mary &
Folsom, Michael
Kent, Jack (illus.)
Clarion Books, 2005
K-Gr. 2, Fry 2
Bold bright illustrations complement this alphabet book with a
different twist. Denise Geier feels
this book will appeal to emergent readers.
Little Bird's ABC
Grobler, Piet
Front Street, 2005
K-Gr. 3, Fry 1
A little alphabet book with whimsy to help youngsters explore
letter sound relationships. Recommended by Darwin
Page.
Zoopa: An Animal Alphabet
Marino, Gianna
Chronicle, 2005
PS-Gr. 1, Fry n/a
In this book, letters are introduced by showing up in a bowl of
tomato soup. Dianne Smith recommends
this title.
Civic & Current
Events
My Red Balloon
Bunting, Eve
Life, Kay (illus.)
Boyds Mills Press, 2005
PS-Gr. 3, Fry 2
A little boy's Navy Dad comes home from sea, but his
"Welcome Home" red balloon tied to his wrist so his father
can see him loosens and floats away. Of course, his dad finds him
anyway in this gently told story. This is a sensitive book for our
service families and those who care about them according to Frances
O'Brien.
Taxes, Taxes: Where the Money Goes
Loewen, Nancy
Fitzpatrick, Brad (illus.)
Picture Window Books, 2006
K-Gr. 3, Fry 4
Darwin Page says that teachers will
find this book very useful for civics lessons about taxes that
Americans pay and how they benefit the public with goods and
services.
My Name Is Bilal
Mobin-Uddin, Asma
Kiwak, Barbara (illus.)
Boyds Mills Press, 2005
Gr. 2-4, Fry 3
When a Muslim brother and sister attend their new school, they
are confronted by the insensitivity of some of their peers. The
difficult topics of religious and cultural prejudice are handled
with straightforward honesty and emotion. Lorri
Ann Wahlgren feels this book will serve well as a discussion
starter.
Being a Good Citizen: A Book About Citizenship
Small, Mary
Previn, Stacey (illus.)
Picture Window Books, 2006
K-Gr. 3, Fry 4
This is a much needed book on the topic of citizenship as it is
neither too wordy nor too preachy, as many offerings on this topic
tend to be. Karen Stuppi says this book
will appeal to children as well as show them simple ways that they
can show good citizenship.
Horses
Panda: A Guide Horse for Ann
Hansen, Rosanna
Soderstrom, Neil (photog.)
Boyds Mills Press, 2005
PS+, Fry 3
This is an engaging and informative work about a miniature horse
that has been trained to help a blind woman. Jennifer
Salt rates this book an outstanding.
Chance of a Lifetime
Kent, Deborah
Kingfisher, 2005
Gr. 3-5, Fry 6
Girl horse-lovers will enjoy this historical fiction book that
focuses on saving the horses from a plantation during the Civil War.
Jacquetta relies on former slaves to help her in her quest. This
book is recommended by Denise Geier.
My Pony Jack at Riding Lessons
Meister, Carl
Young, Amy (illus.)
Viking, 2005
K-Gr. 3, Fry, 2
Lacey and her pony, Jack, walk, trot and canter through their
riding lessons with their trainer Annie. Karen
L. Enggren believes that with accurate depictions of learning
how to ride, young readers will keep this book in circulation.
Chico
O'Connor, Sandra Day
Andreasen, Dan (illus.)
Dutton, 2005
Gr. 1-3, Fry 2
Supreme Court Justice O'Connor writes an autobiographical sketch
from her own childhood which tells how, in listening to her parents'
instructions about life in the Arizona desert, she saved the life of
her horse, Chico, when they encountered a rattlesnake. Alice
DiNizo calls this a nice addition.
Library Titles
Max Goes to the Library
Klein, Adria F.
Gallagher-Cole, Mernie
Picture Window Books, 2006
K-Gr. 3, Fry 2
Max, who loves to read, visits the library where he meets the
friendly librarian who shows him the children's books. Jean
MacMillan calls this a sweet story just right for first-time
readers.
My Librarian is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children
Around the World
Ruurs, Margriet
Boyds Mills Press, 2005
Gr. 2-5, Fry 8
From the camels of the title in Kenya and Mongolia, to elephants
in Thailand, to donkeys, wheelbarrows, boats, bicycles and human
volunteers, this book tells about getting books to kids in some of
the most remote parts of our world. These fascinating stories of
extreme outreach should make both kids and librarians appreciate
their facilities more, according to Elaine
Pollak.
Holidays
Groundhog Stays Up Late
Cuyler, Margery
Cassels, Jean (illus.)
Walker & Company, 2005
PS-Gr. 3, Fry 4
Groundhog didn't like to hibernate and instead of preparing for
winter, he played. Maggie Hanley calls
this a fun read aloud especially for Groundhog Day.
Valentine's Day Is?...
Gibbons, Gail
Holiday House, 2006
K-Gr. 2, Fry 4
This book begins with the origins of the holiday and traces the
history right on down to the present day with the classroom box of
Valentines. Denise Geier says the
holiday is explored in a colorful and creative fashion.
Happy Valentine's Day, Dolores
Samuels, Barbara
Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 2006
PS-Gr. 2, Fry 2
After finding a Valentine frog necklace in her sister's bureau
and subsequently losing it, Dolores embarks on an amusing adventure
to solve the problem before Faye discovers the loss. Lorri
Ann Wahlgren calls this a terrific addition to a Valentine's
Day collection.
Groundhog Gets A Say
Swallow, Pamela Curtis
Brunkus, Denise (illus.)
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2005
PS-Gr. 3, Fry 3
Groundhog has decided that his holiday should be longer than a
day and argues in favor of Groundhog Appreciation Month. This is a
humorous, remarkably informative update to Groundhog Day collections
according to Frances O'Brien.
Thrillers
Raven's Gate: Book One of the Gatekeepers
Horowitz, Anthony
Scholastic Press, 2005
Gr. 7-10, Fry 7
Set in England, 14-year-old Matt is wrongly accused of a crime.
Faced with a choice of going to jail or live with foster parents in
a rural area, Matt chooses the latter only to realize that there is
something evil about his foster parent and the locals. Terrie
Katz says that the chapters end with cliffhangers as the
struggle of good over evil keeps you riveted to your seat.
Traitor
McNab, Andy
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2005
YA, Fry 8
Danny, an orphan, sets off to find his grandfather after being
rejected from the military based on his grandfather's past. In the
process, he gets in the middle of a cover-up and goes on the run.
This is a thriller that the YA audience will finish raves Alice
Burnett.
Jack's Run
Smith, Roland
Hyperion, 2005
Gr. 5-9, Fry 4
In this fast-paced sequel to Jack's Lie, Jack returns with
a new identity when his family goes into hiding under the witness
protection program. Rachael Binz calls
this nonstop action and captivating.
Heading West
Blackwater Creek
Kent, Deborah
Kingfisher, 2005
Gr. 3-6, Fry 4
Part of a series entitled Saddles, Stars and Stripes, this
book takes place in California during the Gold Rush. Erica and her
family leave Hungary to pursue the dream of owning their own land. Penelope
Conway recommends this title.
The Gold Rush: Buried Treasure
Somervill, Barbara A.
Scholastic, 2005
Gr. 1-4, Fry 7
Part of the Trailblazers of the West series, this book
explains the Gold Rush clearly and concisely. Sara
Imranyi feels that this book is perfect for reports.
Women of the American West
Sonneborn, Liz
Watts Library, 2005
Gr. 5-8, Fry 7
This is a good introduction to the lives of women during the
westward expansion movement of the United States from the years 1836
- 1890. Karen L. Enggren recommends
this book, despite the treatment of saloon girls which skirts the
issue of prostitution.
Disappointments of the
Day
Gifted
Evangelista, Beth
Walker, 2005
Gr. 5-8, Fry 7
George, an 8th grade genius, is self centered and a snob. This is
a slow first novel about an unlikable main character in an unlikely
situation according to Barbara Mason.
King of the Pygmies
Fuqua, Jonathon Scott
Candlewick Press, 2005
Gr. 7+, Fry 7
15-year-old Penn believes the voices he is hearing are really the
thoughts of others close to him. He must come to terms with the
realization that he is showing signs of schizophrenia. Marianne
Kerrigan felt that while the book alluded to symptoms of
mental illness, it was very confusing and the author's note was too
little, too late.
The King in the Window
Gopnik, Adam
Miramax Books, 2005
Gr. 5-8, Fry 7
Oliver, 11, is a lonely American boy living in Paris with his
parents. He discovers little people trapped in windows who consider
him King. Linda Mattison says that the
novel is so full of twists and turns, French history and culture
that it will be meaningless to the average 11-year-old and just
plain unbelievable.
What Does My Teddy Bear Do All Night?
Hachler, Bruno
Muller, Birte (illus.)
Penguin Young Readers Group, 2005
K-Gr. 2, Fry 2
A young girl and her teddy bear get ready for bed. As she drifts
off to sleep, she wonders what her bear will do all night. Penelope
Conway found the book disconcerting due to the switch from
rhyme to prose as well as the teddy bear wearing a dress, but being
referred to as "he".
My Hero
Schubert, Ingrid & Dieter
Front Street, 2004
K-Gr. 3, Fry 2
Mouse tells Mousegirl how much he loves her. As Mousegirl thinks
of one obstacle after another, Mouse describes how he would overcome
it. Karen Stuppi found that the book
did not hold her interest and it was lacking.
Rave Reviews
Where the Great Hawk Flies
Ketchum, Liza
Clarion, 2005
Gr. 5+, Fry 4
In 1782 Vermont, two boys must overcome fear and prejudice to
help each other. Sara Imranyi calls
this a thought provoking and timeless book that will be useful for
any library.
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
Nelson, Kadir (illus.)
Dial Books, 2005
PS-Gr. 3, Fry 1
The simple lyrics of the old spiritual find new life in this
vibrant picture book reviewed by Lorri Ann
Wahlgren. Nelson's powerful illustrations depict a young
African-American child rejoicing in the beauty of his family and the
world around him.
John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth
Partridge, Elizabeth
Penguin Young Readers Group, 2005
Gr. 8+, Fry 13
The author takes us into the life of the famous Beatle beginning
with his birth and including the impact of his death. This is a
well-researched photo-biography which was rated outstanding by Terrie
Katz.
Amazing Grace
Shull, Megan
Hyperion, 2005
Gr. 6-12, Fry 4
Life in an Alaskan village is nothing like life as a tennis
champion, and that's fine with Grace who's fed up with the paparazzi
and advertising agencies. Rachael Binz
says this mostly-romantic novel is perfect for teen girls and is a
tiny gem.
Poison
Wooding, Chris
Orchard Books, 2005
YA
In this electrifying YA novel, the world of fantasy comes to
life. Poison, a 16-year-old human girl, must travel to the realm of
the phaeries to gain the freedom of her sister from the evil Phaerie
Lord. Alice Burnett gives this book an
outstanding. |
