|
Announcements
The next meeting will be held on Friday, February 1,
2008,
at the Neptune Public Library from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Award Winners: The 2008 Caldecott Medal was awarded to The
Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. Catherine Miller
reviewed this book and rated it an outstanding! The Newbery Medal
went to Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval
Village. The Coretta Scott King Book Award was given to Elijah
of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis. For more details, check
out www.ala.org.
Book Notes
Art
Lily Brown's Paintings
Johnson, Angela
Lewis, E. B. (illus.)
Orchard Books, 2007
K-Gr. 3, Fry 3
Vivid illustrations and lyrical text are an encouragement to
young readers to use their own imaginations. Barbara
Mason calls this a joyful book sure to inspire young artists.
Hugo & Miles in I've Painted Everything
Magoon, Scott
Houghton Mifflin, 2007
PS-Gr. 2, Fry n/a
Hugo, a blue elephant, is a very unhappy artist who feels that he
has painted everything. A timely trip to Paris with his friend
Miles, a brown dog, inspires Hugo to paint everything all over
again, differently. Recommended by Marianne
Schumann.
Bears
One Saturday Evening
Baker, Barbara
Duke, Kate (illus.)
Dutton Children's Books, 2007
K-Gr. 3, Fry 2
Michele Cooper highly recommends
this book about Saturday bath night with the bear family. Expressive
illustrations and the antics of the bear cubs will delight children.
Bad Bears Go Visiting
Pinkwater, Daniel
Pinkwater, Jill (illus.)
Houghton Mifflin, 2007
K-Gr. 3, Fry 3
The Pinkwaters do not disappoint fans of Irving and Muktuk, the
blueberry loving bears who love to escape from the zoo and make
trouble. Jenny Mischner calls this a
winner.
Dogs
Cherry Time
Bunge, Daniela
Bishop, Kathryn (trans.)
Penguin Young Readers, 2007
K-Gr. 3, Fry 5
In this German import, a shy boy learns how to make friends when
he gets a fearless dog for his birthday who teaches him how. Jenny
Mischner points out that the full page spreads with luscious
colors are simple and effective.
Ivan the Terrier
Catalanotto, Peter
Simon & Schuster, 2007
PS-Gr. 2, Fry 2
A mischievous terrier makes a shambles of some classic tales. Tara
Sullivan calls this a funny, engaging story that is the ideal
read aloud book.
May I Pet Your Dog?
Calmenson, Stephanie
Ormerod, Jan (illus.)
Clarion Books, 2007
PS-Gr. 2, Fry 2
This book is a great tool for teaching young children how to
approach and interact with unfamiliar dogs. Tara
Sullivan found it informative without being preachy.
Running the Dogs
Cochran, Thomas
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2007
Gr. 3-5, Fry 5
10-year-old Talmadge is waiting for Christmas when his father
comes home from a job on an oil rig. Then he will find out if he's
allowed to run his beagles in the woods at night alone for the first
time. Denise Geier recommends this
title that will be especially enjoyed by reluctant boy readers.
Folk and Fairy Tales
Pretty Salma
Daly, Niki
Clarion Books, 2006
K-Gr. 3, Fry 2
The story of Little Red Riding Hood is retold with an African
twist in this entertaining version of the classic folk tale. Lorri
Ann Wahlgren says the vibrantly colored illustrations, rich
with details that depict the West African culture, add to the
story's appeal.
Red Butterfly
Noyes, Deborah
Blackall, Sophie (illus.)
Candlewick, 2007
PS-Gr. 2, Fry 2
A Chinese princess must leave her homeland to marry the king of
Khotan. Her decision to smuggle out one of China's most prized
possessions, the silkworm, changes the course of history. Judy
Casagrande calls this book an exquisitely told story.
The Princess and the Pea
Isadora, Rachel
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2007
PS-Gr. 2, Fry 3
This simplified version of the classic tale is set in Africa and
the illustrations set it apart from others. Jenny
Mischner says it is refreshing to see this familiar tale in a
different context.
Out of the Egg
Matthews, Tina
Houghton Mifflin, 2007
K-Gr. 3, Fry 2
This new take on The Little Red Hen shows the children teaching
the parents a lesson. The woodcut illustrations are enjoyable and
show the characters too busy to help because they are watching TV,
using the computer or talking on their cell phone. Recommended by Karen
Stuppi.
Friendship
Ivy & Bean Break the Fossil Record
Barrows, Annie
Blackall, Sophie (illus.)
Chronicle Books, 2007
K-Gr. 3, Fry 3
This is the third adventure of Ivy and Bean who are perfect
friends and compliment each other. Bean wants to set a world record
and Ivy helps her to do that. Michele Cooper thinks
there should be an Ivy and Bean in every neighborhood.
The Girlfriend Project
Friedman, Robin
Walker, 2007
Gr. 8-10, Fry 8
Having finally finished with his braces and gotten contacts, Reed
is a different guy for his senior year, but he doesn't know how to
make this work for him. His friends step up to help him creating a
website telling him all he needs to know to get a girlfriend. Catherine
Miller feels this Jersey guy will definitely find an
audience.
Squirrel's World
Moser, Lisa
Gorbachev, Valeri (illus.)
Candlewick, 2007
K-Gr. 3, Fry 2
This beginning chapter book tells four separate stories about a
friendly and helpful, yet overzealous squirrel. While each of
Squirrel's friends would have had an easier time with their tasks
had Squirrel not "helped," they all appreciate his
friendship. Karen Stuppi calls this a
perfect size for beginning readers.
Keep Your Ear on the Ball
Petrillo, Genevieve
Lyon, Lea (illus.)
Tilbury House, 2007
Gr. 3-6, Fry 4
This is a well-written story about how a blind boy named Davey
adjusts to his new classroom and school. More significantly, it
shows how his classmates adjust to him. Davey understands that
sometimes it is ok to let his friends help him. Karen
Stuppi recommends this title.
School
Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf
Castaldi, Elicia
Atheneum, 2007
Gr. 3-6, Fry 5
Middle school girls will love the story of Ginny's 7th grade
year. This book is colorful and filled with fun on each page
according to Alice Burnett.
What Happens on Wednesdays
Jenkins, Emily
Castillo, Lauren (illus.)
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2007
K-Gr. 3
This is the story of a day in the life of a little girl in
pre-school not neglecting any detail. Children will identify with
the schedule as it is quite typical and comfortable. Norah
Magrini calls the chalk drawings very detailed.
Gooney the Fabulous
Lowry, Lois
Thomas, Middy (illus.)
Houghton Mifflin, 2007
Gr. 3-6, Fry 4
Mrs. Pidgeon has read her second grade class an Aesop's fable,
when student Gooney Bird Green suggests a class project where each
student writes a fable. Sharon Ward
says this book will teach children about morals in addition to
building vocabulary and writing skills.
Siblings
What's So Bad About Being An Only Child?
Best, Cari
Blackall, Sophie (illus.)
Melanie Kroupa Books, 2007
PS-Gr. 2, Fry 2
As an only child with a seemingly perfect life, Rosemary wants
desperately to be a big sister so she can have what her friends
have. Taking matters into her own hands, Rosemary finds a way to add
to her family and make the excitement she desires. Janet
Hauge says this story has appeal for all children.
My Heart is a Magic House
Jacobs, Julie
Pons, Bernadette (illus.)
Albert Whitman & Co., 2007
K-Gr. 3, Fry 2
This is a sweet story for young children who are expecting a new
sibling and fear being left out. The author provides a new approach
to this issue by having the mother explain to her child that her
heart is a magic house filled with many rooms. A welcome addition to
parenting collections according to Karen
Stuppi.
Small Sister
Meserve, Jessica
Houghton Mifflin, 2007
K-Gr. 2, Fry 3
The author captures the large feelings that a little sister has
about living in the shadow of her big sister in pictures and words. Jenny
Mischner feels that small and big siblings will relate to the
story which is never overbearing.
Disappointments of the
Day
Tomas de Torquemada
Goldberg, Enid A.
Scholastic/Franklin Watts, 2008
YA
This title in the new series "A Wicked History" leaves
much to be desired. The reading is dry and the graphics don't add to
the reading experience. Meg Rosenblum
had a teen reader review it as well and neither one recommend this
title.
Jewelry Making for Fun!
Koontz, Robin
Compass Point Books, 2008
Gr. 3-5, Fry 6
This book provides an introduction to jewelry's history and
jewelry making. What makes this title disappointing, according to Denise
Geier, is that the activities are not age appropriate for the
intended audience.
The Fog Moundz
Schade, Susan
Buller, Jon (illus.)
Simon & Schuster, 2007
Interest level 0 (zero), Fry 2
Can you imagine a boring graphic novel? Carolyn
Gishlick says this is it!
When the Wizzy Foot Goes Walking
Schotter, Roni
Wohnoutka, Mike (illus.)
Dutton, 2007
K-Gr. 3, Fry 3
The Wizzy Foot is actually a toddler who wakes his family up
first thing in the morning and goes stomping about the house all
day, creating noise and chaos everywhere. The parents simply smile
and laugh at his antics. Karen Stuppi found
no redeeming qualities in this title of an undisciplined,
misbehaving child.
The Getaway
Vere, Ed
Simon & Schuster, 2007
K-Gr. 2, Fry 2
A reprint from Great Britain, the reader must help the notorious
thief Fingers McGraw escape with his stolen cheese. Although a good
concept, Sara Imranyi feels that the
book is hard to follow and could have used more polishing.
Rave Reviews
The Magic Rabbit
Cate, Annette LeBlanc
Candlewick, 2007
K-Gr. 3, Fry 2
Magician Ray and his rabbit perform sidewalk magic. One day a
disturbance scares Bunny away into the big bad streets of the city.
The last pages have no text and this works very effectively in
bringing the story to a poignant conclusion. Judy
Casagrande highly recommends this wonderful picture book.
Ain't Nobody a Stranger to Me
Grifalconi, Ann
Pinkney, Jerry (illus.)
Hyperion, 2007
K-Gr. 3, Fry 2
The familiar style of Pinkney's illustrations give a warm
familiarity to this picture book; while the endearing story of a
grandfather telling his granddaughter about her heritage, allows the
reader insight into an important historical period in America's
history - slavery. Janet Hauge calls
this story a link to the past with a promise of the future.
Fawn Braun's Big City Blues
Healy, Nick
Erkocak, Sahin (illus.)
Picture Window Books, 2008
K-Gr. 3, Fry 3
Fawn doesn't like the dusty roads, far reaching neighbors, and
flat fields of her small town farm. Determined to live as if she is
in the city she has only seen in the movies, Faun brings the city to
town. Norah Magrini calls the pictures
beautiful and notes the friendship theme is well reinforced.
Glass
Hopkins, Ellen
M. K. McElderry Books, 2007
YA
Kristina's story of addiction and loss continue in this
gut-wrenching sequel to Crank. The author does an amazing job of
demonstrating addiction's power to destroy family, hope and love.
Even though this is an outstanding novel, Rachael
Binz wants librarians to be aware of the mature content.
Freak
Pixley, Marcella Fleischman
Melanie Kroupa Books, 2007
Gr. 7-10, Fry 5
In the author's debut novel, we are given a gripping story of a
7th grade girl, Miriam, who is decidedly different from her middle
school classmates. This first person narrative paints a picture of a
young teen who is so determined, mature yet naïve. Terrie
Katz feels she is a character you will never forget.
|
