Picture Book Roundup

My blogging tends to slow down considerably at the beginning of our summer reading program. Now that I'm back in the summertime groove, my blogging productivity should have some resemblance of normalcy!




The Last Day of Kindergarten

First day of school books are nothing new, but books about the last day of school? Not so much. This sweet book takes us through the last day of school (helping teacher clean up the room, sitting in circle time for the last time, lining up for the graduation ceremony, and performing in front of parents and other honored guests) through the eyes of a little girl who's not so sure that she wants to move on to first grade. Of course, she's rarin' to go at the end of our story. This is a very cute book about the real emotions that kindergarten students may face at the end of the year. The illustrations are very multicultural (instead of just having one token minority character).




The Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families


We had our Treerific Tales program yesterday, so I'm in a tree state of mind. Wish I had read this before yesterday; I would have shared some of it with the group. I can't tell you how awesome I think this book is: it's a positive environmentalist story, it's a positive and hopeful story from Africa, and it features a Japanese-American scientist (information on prominent Asian-Americans is tough to come by in children's books). A small village in the recently independent African country of Eritrea was struggling with feeding themselves, their children, and their livestock.

By the Red Sea,
in the African country of Eritrea,
lies a little village called Hargigo.
The children play in the dust
between houses made of cloth,
tin cans, and flattened iron.
The families used to be hungry.
Their animals were hungry too.
But then things began to change...
all because of a tree.

Dr. Gordon Sato's mangrove tree project on the shores of the salty Red Sea took hard work; hard work from him in researching and designing the program, and hard work from the villagers, who were very much involved in the project.

Women planted the trees and earned money for their families. Dr. Sato figured out a diet for the livestock using the mangrove tree leaves. The livestock grew stronger and delivered healthier babies. Sea creatures found shelter in the trees, and fishermen increased their bounty. More livestock and fish mean healthier families...all because of trees. What a beautiful story!

An afterword includes photographs of the village and villagers, as well as a short biography of Dr. Sato's inspiring life story. I can't recommend this remarkable story of community work and achievement highly enough.



Energy Island

Continuing in the theme of positive environmental stories featuring communities working together to provide solutions (my favorite kind of environmental stories) is Energy Island. This lighthearted but information-packed story of the tiny Dutch island Samsø's journey to energy independence is a fascinating and awe-inspiring tale. Samsø was chosen to take part in an energy-independent experiment, to the consternation of many islanders. Due to the island's mighty wind power, the community decided to use wind energy to power their island. There are mishaps along the way, but this is a unique and powerful story of community involvement and hard work. Children were an important part of the project, which will attract young readers.




A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis

This is receiving some Caldecott predictions. No wonder; the pictures are exquisite, as can only be expected from Kadir Nelson. Matt de la Pena's picture book biography of the phenomenal Joe Louis is exceptional. It's received excellent reviews, yet some have argued with the depiction of Max Schmeling. An author's note would have helped matters a bit; oddly enough, there is no afterword about Louis or Schmeling. Schmeling, who never joined the Nazi party, much to Hitler's fury (he was drafted as a paratrooper in revenge), helped two Jewish teenagers flee Germany during the war. An author's note might have also explained that de la Pena frequently refers to Schmeling as "Hitler's German" because that was how Schmeling was referred to in the American press; this isn't something that de la Pena made up.De la Pena is reflecting the general attitude of Americans toward Schmeling and anything/anyone German at the time.


Granted, this is a biography of Louis, not Schmeling, but the lack of any further biographical information, which is fairly standard in children's nonfiction picture books, would have gone a long way in deflating the criticism. Rather a shame, for this is a masterful creation from a fantastic author and illustrator. They movingly depict Louis's difficult childhood, his determination, rise to stardom, and how he briefly united a segregated nation.




I'm looking forward to starting The Lost Crown this afternoon. The author, Sarah Miller, wrote the wonderful Miss Spitfire, so I've been eagerly anticipating her novel about the ill-fated Romanov daughters. For reasons too complex to go into here, news of a fictionalized account of the Romanov children made me rather wary, despite it being in the hands of a fine author. Fortunately, reviews have been quite good, which eases my wariness. I'm hoping to add it to my list of historical fiction recommendations.

Newbery 2012 Watch

Two more books to add to my Newbery 2012 watch:




The Friendship Doll

I read The Friendship Doll in one sitting. Of course, I was sitting at my car repair shop, but details, details! I'm decidedly not a fan of talking doll/toy books, so I was a bit apprehensive. However, I can't very well pass up a book by the marvelous Kirby Larson. In 1927, Japan sent 57 dolls to the US as a token of friendship. Miss Kanagawa (one of the dolls) travels across the country during the Depression; throughout her journeys, she touches the lives of the people and children she meets. I'm cringing right now because that sounds so treacly and sentimental, but I have to tell you that it's not over the top. It's an excellent read, and a unique historical fiction book, too.






The Trouble With May Amelia


Oh, Jennifer Holm. What does she have to do to get the shiny gold medal? She has three (despite what this cover picture says) of the silver kind (Newbery Honor), including one for her very first published book, Our Only May Amelia. She's also the co-creator (with brother Matthew) of the hugely popular graphic novel series, Babymouse. So, you know, don't cry for her, Argentina. But, STILL. Unfortunately, Newbery committees traditionally shy away from sequels, and there's already one book that seems to be The One That Everyone Is Predicting Will Win. Of course, you only need to think back one year to remember that The One That Everyone Is Predicting Will Win is sometimes passed over for The One That Catches Us By Surprise. You never know.

The Trouble With May Amelia continues the story of May Amelia, the only daughter in a family of seven sons. Pappa (the family is Finnish) doesn't think girls amount to much, but as the best English speaker in her family, May Amelia earns her father's admiration when she translates for a man who offers her father a land deal too good to be true. Of course, it does end up being too good to be true, for Pappa is swindled out of his money, as are the neighbors that he convinced to get in on the deal. Pappa blames May Amelia and the situation threatens their family's stability; will they ever recover?

Although Pappa is not a sympathetic character, this is a warmly rich and deeply felt novel. The Finnish immigrant community of rural Washington sparks with humor and pride. It's not necessary to read Our Only May Amelia before reading The Trouble With May Amelia, but I recommend doing so.

More Hot Reads For Summer

The False Princess

Publishers Weekly recommends this for Shannon Hale fans. Oh, hello. That would be me. Nalia is sixteen years old when she discovers that she is not the true princess of Thorvaldor. She is actually Sinda, a poor peasant girl used as a decoy in order to protect the real princess. But where is the real princess? This romantic fantasy sounds like a hit.




Flip

Things have turned very weird for 14 year old Alex. He went to bed one December night, and woke up to a June morning. The family at the breakfast table are complete strangers. And he's in a totally different body. This is getting lots of praise for its suspense and sensitively-written characters.




How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend

David's father, a noted therapist, is treating a very unusual patient: Zelda insists that she is a warrior woman from the planet Vahalal. Her mission on earth is to find Johnny Depp and bring him back to her home planet. VOYA recommends this for "fans of humorous or satirical science fiction."




Imaginary Girls

I've been hearing buzz about Imaginary Girls for several months. Two years after Chloe finds London's drowned body, she discovers that her sister may have, in fact, brought London back to life. Publishers Weekly says that this is "not your average paranormal novel."




The Lost Crown

Oh, hold up. Can I tell you that I've been waiting to read this for about a year, ever since I read a mention about it on Sarah Miller's blog? This is the story of the four grand duchess daughters of Nicholas II, the last tsar of Russia. It's received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Booklist. Kirkus calls The Lost Crown "[A] fascinating, moving exploration." Cannot wait to read it.

There are more books that I could mention, but I'd be here all day. Looking forward to some great summer reading!

Doggone Good Books

I am a sucker for dog books. Doesn't matter if it's written for children or adults-I'll read them. Imagine my delight when I recently read two lovely dog-related children's nonfiction books!





Well, lovely is perhaps not the right word to use for Saving Audie. Little Audie's early life was anything but lovely at Michael Vicks's Bad News dogfighting ranch. Saving Audie chronicles the pit bull puppy's remarkable rehabilitation from a scared puppy to therapy dog. Information about pit bulls and a timeline of the entire case, from the discovery of the fighting ring to Vick's reinstatement into the NFL, is included. The emphasis is not on the conditions of the fighting ring, but on Audie's rehabilitation and successful recovery. Fantastic story about patience, love, and persistence.






Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm

Jon Katz is known for his adult nonfiction books about his farm dogs; Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm is his first book for children. We meet Rose (herds the sheep), Izzy (visits sick people in the hospital), Frieda (guards the farm), and Lenore: all have important jobs on the farm, yet Lenore's seems not as easily defined as the others. We learn that Lenore has helped workaholic Rose learn how to play, was Izzy's first friend when he came to the farm, and helps Frieda not feel lonely. "What is Lenore's job?" is asked throughout the book, which is eventually answered at the end of this darling book perfect for reading aloud.

Both books are perfect for young dog fans.

Hot Reads For Summer

Oh, wow. I just sent my June/end of the fiscal year order. Folks, we have a ton of awesome books coming our way. Beat the summer heat (our second heat wave already, and it's just the first week of June...uh oh) by visiting your local Fauquier County branch, signing up for the summer reading program, and checking out some fantastic reads (before or after attending one of our many terrific summer programs).




First Garden: The White House Garden and How It Grew

While its main focus is on the creation of Mrs. Obama's garden, First Garden also takes a look at how previous Presidents, First Ladies, and their children have used the outdoor space at the White House. Readers will also learn basic gardening and healthy eating tips.



The Absolute Value of Mike

Fourteen year old Mike is sent to live with relatives while his father works abroad in Romania. Mike's father, a math professor, demands that he work on an engineering project in order to increase his chances at being accepted into a magnet school, despite the fact that Mike has learning problems related to math. Although Mike will never be a math whiz, important lessons learned during his stay will linger long after the summer is over. Publishers Weekly, although not an outright rave, praises its "...wacky cast, rewarding character growth, and ample humor" that makes Charlottesville author Kathryn Erskine's latest novel "an effortless read."





Anya's Ghost

When Neil Gaiman's calls something "a masterpiece," people pay attention (and if you're a publisher, you put that smack dab on the cover so that no one misses it). Anya is routinely embarrassed by her Russian immigrant parents. She feels awkward about her body, and doesn't feel like she fits in at school. To top it all off, she falls down a well. And ends up making friends with the ghost who lives at the bottom of the well....what? This graphic novel has already received a starred review from The Horn Book Magazine.



Are You Awake?

Young Edward is wide-eyed and bushy tailed before the crack of dawn. Naturally, Mom isn't quite there yet. Why? Because it's still nighttime. Regardless, Edward is still full of questions, through which we learn that his favorite color is yellow and that his dad is a pilot. Finally, just as the sun is rising and Edward's father is returning, Edward falls asleep. Kirkus Reviews calls it "sweet" and School Library Journal calls it "small in size and big in tenderness," I call it a must-order. Nice to have a book that shows a parent working nontraditional hours, too.




Astronaut Academy 1: Zero Gravity

Hakata Soy is only a new student at Astronaut Academy, but he already has a robot lookalike out to kill him. Don't you hate it when that happens? Kirkus Review says, "...it's hard not to like a book where Wearing Cute Hats is on the lesson plan." Can't really argue with that.




Bad Kitty Meets the Baby

Whoo hoo! A new Bad Kitty book. Bad Kitty has made her peace with Puppy, but then the humans bring home a stinky, drooling thing that always wants to play. Kitty's sure it must be a dog. Her friends are convinced that it's another Kitty (not good). Will Bad Kitty be a good kitty with the baby? We'll have to find out. And keep your eye out for a Bad Kitty Christmas book later in the fall!




The Berlin Boxing Club

After a gang of Nazi bullies beat him up, a friend of Karl's father offers to give him boxing lessons. Karl is the Jewish son of atheist/agnostic parents, his friend's father is the boxing champion Max Schmeling, and it is the dawn of the Third Reich in Germany. School Library Journal calls this "an unusual story with well-drawn, complex characters, gripping history, and intense emotion."




Big Brothers Don't Take Naps

I'm picky about the "new baby" books that I like and recommend. I dislike the ones that are persistently negative and bratty. Yes, it's absolutely normal for a young child to be apprehensive, nervous, or bewildered about a new sibling, and it's important to acknowledge those feelings. However, I've read too many new baby books that are just negative, negative, negative until the very end. Many new baby books just feature a family growing from one child to two children; very rarely is there an older sibling in the picture. Big Brothers Don't Take Naps seems to be a welcome addition to the "new baby" field. Like most little brothers, Nicholas hero-worships big brother James. Not hard to see why; James is a patient and loving older brother. Nicholas isn't sure what to make of the news that a baby sister (!) is on the way, but big brother James is ready to tell him all the great stuff that happens once you become a big brother. Awesome. Reviews have been very positive.




The Crossing

Donna Jo Napoli doesn't normally write picture books, so I'm eager to read The Crossing. It tells the tale of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, through the eyes of Sacagawea's infant son, Jean Baptiste.




The Daily Comet: Boy Saves Earth From Giant Octopus!

Not many picture books about the son of a tabloid journalist, are there? I guess Bat Boy doesn't make an appearance, though. School Library Journal warns us to "[M]ake room for this on your shelves, but it won't stay there long." All right, then!




Department 19

Oh, look, another vampire book! This draws on the legend of that most famous vampire, Count Dracula (who did not sparkle and was not really tortured about being a vampire. From what I remember, he was pretty cool with the whole deal.). 16 year old Jamie is inducted into Department 19, created by the men who conquered Dracula. "What follows is plenty of high-octane action, groovy specialized vampire-fighting equipment, buckets of gore, intriguing historical side trips and even a little romance between Jamie and a sexy teen vampire" says Kirkus Reviews. (Vampires. The ultimate bad boyfriend/girlfriend.) There's also nods to other famous literary and cinematic monsters and allusions to Star Wars. Sounds like a Darran Shan fan's dream come true!




Eliza's Cherry Trees: Japan's Gift to America

Wish I had known about this in time for the blooming of the cherry trees this spring, but no matter. This is the biography of Eliza Scidmore, who was instrumental in bringing the Japanese cherry trees to Washington.




EllRay Jakes is Not a Chicken

Very excited about Ellray. Male African-American characters in children's books other than historical fiction are hard to find.

I think that's a good stopping point. I'll continue this post later this week. Enjoy!

I'm Seeing Stars

...because I'm reading the June 2011 reviews in the recent School Library Journal. Very happy to report that we already have several of these special books:




The Queen of Water

I am THRILLED that this received a starred review in SLJ. It debuted quietly, and I would very much like it to have a wider audience. Based on the true story of Maria Virginia Farinango, author Laura Resau beautifully and sensitively chronicles Maria's indentured servitude with an abusive mestizo family in Ecuador. Taken from her home and made to feel ashamed of her indigenous heritage, Virginia adopts mestizo customs and speaks Spanish instead of her native Quechua dialect. Despite her seemingly insurmountable circumstances, Virginia manages to earn an education and discover a pride in her heritage. This is a difficult book to read at times due to its subject matter, but it's such an inspirational and hopeful story (the ending is spectacular) that it may be one of the most memorable and powerful books you'll read all year. I have a feeling that it will be so for me. An amazing story.




The Emerald Atlas

This is in my to-be-read pile. It's received terrific reviews, a prominent display in Borders, and a steady stream of checkouts from our patrons. This is the first in a series about three orphaned kids with special powers to change history.




The Throne of Fire

This is the second in Rick Riordan's Egyptian-themed Kane Chronicles series. Super popular.




Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake

You'll love this story about a chocolate-cake obsessed bunny. I promise you.

I'm currently reading Beauty Queens. Libba Bray is awesome.

Picture Book Read Alouds for the Elementary School Crowd

My monthly blog topic on the ALSC blog is all about read alouds for the elementary school crowd. Youth services staff is often asked to be guest readers at school literacy nights or other school functions. Finding picture book read alouds that a large age range can enjoy can be tricky. In addition to the ones I noted on the ALSC blog, here are a few others that I love:




Miss Nelson is Missing

I remember many chapter books from my childhood, but few picture books. Miss Nelson is an exception.




How My Parents Learned to Eat

Although it contains a bit more dialogue than what I normally like for read alouds, this charmer about a Japanese woman and an American sailor falling in love and learning about each others eating customs is too irresistible to not share with older children. The title alone piques their interest.




Shrek

Shrek is a little longer than the other books in this post and on the ALSC post, but I use it because many children (and parents) don't know that the (awesome) movie is loosely (very, very, very) loosely based on this book (awesome too).

Thanks to my car deciding to overheat in traffic on Memorial Day, I spent some quality time at the car repair shop yesterday and read The Friendship Doll in its entirety (and finished The Queen of Water). More on that later.