Picture Book Round Up

Haven't done this in a while!




The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School

This Gingerbread Man story adapted for a school story is funny, charming, and a good read aloud for a school-themed story time. After Class 23 finishes baking their gingerbread man, they leave the room to focus on other activities and to let him cool. Alarmed that his class has left him, The Gingerbread Man races from place to place in search of the students: "I'm the Gingerbread Man/And I'm trying to find/The children who made me/But left me behind." The school nurse, art teacher, and principal assist him on his way to the eventual reunion. Not only is it cute (the rhymes are occasionally a little forced, but no big deal), but it includes school officials not normally seen in school-related picture books (art teacher and school nurse).




Me...Jane


I love this. I really, really, love this. If I were pressed to pick my favorite for the Caldecott, I think this would be it. Me...Jane is the story of a little girl who loved animals. She loved reading about animals, observing animals, and drawing animals. She also dreamed of going to Africa. Every night, she would tuck in her stuffed monkey, Jubilee and dream big dreams. Until one day, she woke up (we see an illustration of a grown up Jane awakening in a big tent) "to her dream come true" (we see a photograph of a young Jane Goodall reaching out to a small chimpanzee). Beautiful! The life of Dr. Goodall has been the subject of several picture books (several written by Goodall herself, who includes the education of children as a very important part of her work) but none nearly as beautiful and touching as this one.





Now We Can Have a Wedding!

I believe this came to our library through a donation, and I'm so pleased that we have it. Sallie's sister is getting married; as she visits her neighbors in her diverse apartment building, we are introduced to a variety of wedding food from different cultures. Yes! I'm a fan of cross-cultural books like this (Everybody Cooks Rice, which is similar, Bread, Bread, Bread, etc). The neighbors also teach Sallie the symbolism of the food and why they are prepared a specific way. An appendix identifies each food and its significance in its culture.




Tweak Tweak


This is just so darn cute. Cute with a capital C. But not so cute that it's overbearing. Little Elephant, like the young of every species, is curious about everything. Mama Elephant has told Little Elephant to tweak twice on her tail if he/she has a question; of course, Little Elephant is full of questions about all the creatures that come into their path. No, Little Elephant cannot jump like a frog, but he/she can stomp his/her foot and make a big sound! Little Elephant cannot climb up the acacia tree like a monkey, but he/she can scratch against the tree. And so on and so on, until it's time to go home. Does Little Elephant remember the way home? Sure he/she does!

Although the majority of the text is dialogue, I'm planning to use this in an upcoming elephant-themed story time (I don't often use dialogue-heavy books for read alouds). The dialogue is distinct, captivating, and compact, making it a fine read aloud. I'm putting this on my Caldecott shortlist; don't expect it to win, but that Little Elephant is just too adorable to ignore.




The Crossing

Also on my Caldecott shortlist is The Crossing, which tells the Lewis and Clark Expedition through the eyes of Sacagawea's baby, Jean Baptiste. Jean Baptiste, strapped to his mother's back for months as she guided the men to and through the Pacific Northwest, narrates the perilous journey and the majestic scenery of this awe-inspiring territory. Donna Jo Napoli's text and Jim Madsen's illustrations evoke the grandeur of this unspoilt territory and the grand adventures of exploration.

Awesome August Reads

We are running full steam ahead into the fall publishing season. The forthcoming months promise to bring many great reads...perhaps the next Newbery, Caldecott, or Printz winners? Or have those already been published? Online chatter about possible winners will increase with the relaunch of the Heavy Medal blog, probably in September. The Horn Book will also host its first Caldecott discussion blog, Calling Caldecott, launch date TBD. There's lots to talk about, so let's get started!




10 Little Caterpillars

Fall 2011 brings several posthumous publications from beloved children's authors (in addition to this month's Bill Martin Jr., this fall will bring a volume of newly discovered Shel Silverstein poems, Eva Ibbotson's second-to-last novel, and a volume of Dr. Seuss stories). 10 Little Caterpillars, originally published in a volume of Martin's poetry, is given a new interpretation in this picture book version illustrated by the fabulous Lois Ehlert. Ten caterpillars crawl, munch, and discover outdoor wonders. These are no generic caterpillars; each caterpillar is its own unique species, which adds a scientific flavor to this counting story.




America Is Under Attack

Several months ago, I began looking for recent children's/YA books about the tragic events of September 11, 2001, in anticipation of next month's 10th anniversary. I was gratified to find early positive buzz about America is Under Attack from online blogs and early reviews. Booklist informs readers that Don Brown "brings things to many an uncomfortable point--that cannot be avoided--without going too far." I've seen digital images of the book (sorry, cannot remember where!); one of the most striking illustrations is that of New Yorkers looking up in horror (or shielding their eyes) at the Twin Towers.




Bear's Loose Tooth

On a much lighter note, we turn to Karma Wilson's latest entry in her adorable bear picture books. Children will definitely relate to Bear's issues over a loose tooth. His friends assure him that it will fall out and another will replace it, but how will Bear eat in the meantime? Of course, the tooth falls out, all is well, and the tooth fairy even brings blueberries.




Bestest.Ramadan.Ever

Fifteen year old Almira is determined that she's going to do Ramadan right this year (last year's fast was foiled by the temptation of Oreos). She reveals her Ramadan experience "in a breezy banter that progresses from the shallow to the insightful as she learns humility, patience, and the importance of faith," according to Kirkus Reviews. Looking forward to this one; most YA fiction that I've read were centered around a Muslim girl wearing the hijab and issues with immigrant parents; this strikes me as a bit different.




Beyond Lucky

Can we make our own "luck?" What does it mean to really be a hero? Those are the questions central to Sarah Aronson's debut novel. Twelve year old Ari is sure, absolutely sure, that the priceless soccer training card that he discovered has changed the luck of his soccer team. That is, until the card is stolen. Accusations are hurled, friendships are threatened, and the soccer team's games are pitiful. What can be done? Kirkus calls Beyond Lucky "solid," Publishers Weekly praises the "graceful storytelling," and School Library Journal notes that "[T]he soccer action will make the story extra appealing to seasoned players, but does not exclude those who are unfamiliar with the sport." Excellent.




Bumble-ardy

Maurice Sendak has not had a solo work published since 1981 (he's collaborated on several projects since then, but nothing that's his creation only). Bumble-ardy, based on his 1970 Sesame Street short film, marks a welcomed return for the picture book master. Poor Bumble-ardy has never had a party! His lucky day comes on his ninth birthday, when a pile of partying pigs surprises him. Those familiar with Sendak's work will not be surprised to find that Bumble-ardy is a bit strange and a little dark. The story has been changed slightly from its original film plot (no more pigs drinking wine at the party).




The Drop


Four teens in training for British Columbia's snowboarding Backcountry Patrollers (rescuing people lost in the mountains) put their skills to the test when a friend goes missing. School Library Journal acclaims Jeff Ross's vivid descriptions of snowboarding and mountain climbing and recommends The Drop to readers who "like sports adventure novels that move at a downhill pace." Cool.




Ghetto Cowboy

Cole's mother has had it with his behavior; hoping that a change in environment will shape him up, she sends him to live with his father in Philadelphia. Cole's father is part of an urban cowboy community dating back to the Civil War that mentors at-risk kids. Cole bonds with a horse named Boo and changes his attitude about his new life. G. Neri based Ghetto Cowboy on the actual urban cowboy communities in Philadelphia and Brooklyn. Cannot wait to read this!




The Haunted Hamburger and Other Ghostly Stories

Father Ghost's children just can't go to sleep! What to do? If you're a daddy ghost, you tell your little ghostlings scary stories until they fall asleep. What kind of stories do ghosts find scary? Well, there once was a scary BABY...and one time, a really scary HAMBURGER...and finally....a terrifying GRANDMOTHER. Perfect for young children who want a "ghost story" around Halloween (or any time), but really can't tolerate anything too shivery.





It's the First Day of School--Forever!

Oh, the horror! The king of middle-grade horror returns with a truly frightening prospect: reliving the first day of school over and over again. School Library Journal promises that "kids will love the twist at the end." Can't imagine that this will stay on the shelves long.




Jim Henson: The Guy Who Played With Puppets

Regular blog readers know that I am a huge Muppets fan, so you can imagine how happy I was when I learned that Kathleen Krull had written a biography on Jim Henson. Krull is a master of picture book biographies, and Jim Henson's life story is a natural fit for her talents. A new Muppets movie is set to be released come Thanksgiving time (their first movie since 1999), which will hopefully, along with this book, create a new generation of Muppets fans.




Labracadabra

I have a fondness for early chapter books/independent reading books. With a bloated market of 400+ paged chapter books (many of them series), it sometimes seems that short chapter books for the emerging reader are neglected. Thankfully, we have books like Labracadabra. Zach wanted a dog more than anything, but he's rather disappointed with the dog his parents bring home. You see, Labracadabra is no puppy; he's fully-grown, of indeterminate ancestry, is a "used dog" from the shelter, and has a weird name. Zach has an unusual tail, though. A very unusual tail. He and Zach have many adventures in five chapters, which should delight young dog owners and hopeful dog owners.





Lottie Paris Lives Here


A sweet relationship between a spirited young girl and her father or grandfather (we never really find out) is highlighted in this tale of an outing to the park. Looks very cute.


Megan's Year: An Irish Traveler's Story


My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding has definitely sparked interest in the Irish Travelers community, so I am very curious about this book! Gloria Whelan is one of my favorite authors; although she's best known for her historical fiction novels, she is the author of one of my all-time favorite picture books. I was initially disappointed that this wasn't a novel, but I'm still eager to read it.




Sweetly

Jackson Pearce continues his series of reimagined fairy tales (Sisters Red was his first, and his follow-up to Sweetly will be a retelling of The Little Mermaid) in this Hansel and Gretel-ish story involving witches, werewolves, and candy. Sounds awesome.





This Dark Endeavor, Book 1: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein


*Happy dance* I've been waiting forever for this! Kenneth Oppel is one of my go-to recs for YA literature, and the fact that he has a new series out makes me doubly happy. This Dark Endeavor series is centered around a teenaged Victor Frankenstein. Publishers Weekly hails it as being "melodramatic, exciting, disquieting, and intentionally over the top."




Trapped: How the World Rescued 33 Miners From 2,000 Feet Below the Desert


Chi! Chi! Chi! Le! Le! Le! Marc Aronson captures the dramas, fear, and exhilarion of the Chilean mine rescue nearly one year after the collapse and miraculous ending. It's already received numerous positive reviews.

Whoa! I even intentionally left off some titles that I really wanted to tell you about (in anticipation of reviewing them). August-October is a busy publishing month in children's/YA literature; hope you can keep up!

Imaginary Girls

I don't know about you, but I'm really, really over YA paranormal novels. Vampires, mermaids, Other Worlds.....enough! Please! Stop! Same thing goes for you, Hunger Games wannabes. I'll admit that despite paranormal and dystopian novels not normally being my cup of tea, I've discovered some fondly remembered favorites in those genres (Shiver, The Roar, Matched, The Dead and the Gone). I know that paranormal and dystopian fiction weren't created yesterday, but the lesser novels are really starting to run together in my mind.


I knew Imaginary Girls had a dead person mystery aspect to the story, but it wasn't until I was already beyond hooked that I found out that OH WHADDYA KNOW...IT'S A PARANORMAL NOVEL. Thanks a lot, Nova Ren Suma. Thanks.A.Lot. Sneaky!

Other than discovering the dead body of a classmate, it was a fairly normal night of hanging out at the resevoir for Chloe. Naturally, this shakes up Chloe quite a bit (!), so she's sent away to live with her father in Pennsylvania (her mother is eccentric and older sister does most of the caretaking). Several years pass; Ruby, Chloe's wildly popular and offbeat sister, shows up to bring Chloe back home, where she encounters...well, the very last person she'd expect to encounter.


Let me tell you--this book is *freaky*. (It's also for more mature YA readers.) I still have some unanswered questions about some plot elements. But it is absolutely deserving of the reviews and attention it's received (including three starred reviews). Ruby is quite an astonishing character. Once you start it, it's very hard to put it down. It's quite a surreal read.

Recent Reads, Listens, and Current Reads

Quick updates.

Recent Reads:




Okay For Now

This has received quite a bit of Newbery buzz; of course, I can name any number of books that had significant Newbery buzz that either received the Honor or nothing at all, so I'm keeping that in mind.

Okay For Now reintroduces us to Doug, a character in Gary Schmidt's Newbery Honor book, The Wednesday Wars. Doug's father has taken a new job in upstate New York; a rather dull and depressed town where nothing much goes on. Right from the start, Doug unfairly receives a bad reputation due to the police's suspicions about his older brother, Christopher. His refuges are in Lily, a girl he meets at the library (and daughter of his store keeper boss) and in drawing lessons he receives from one of the librarians.

Doug's home life isn't much better. His father and brother are both physically abusive, which makes this story difficult to read. There's one instance of abuse that's literally breathtaking. His older brother returns from Vietnam, physically and emotionally damaged. It's quite a lot to take in, so this might not get a wide readership.

Although there's a multitude of issues swirling about, Schmidt manages them quite fine until Doug and Lily get involved in a Broadway show. This was completely unbelievable to me. Actors on Broadway belong to a union (Actors Equity) that, even in the 1960s, would never have allowed a non-union and inexperienced girl take a chorus part, much less the significant child role of Helen Burns in an adaptation of Jane Eyre. No way. Preteen/teen actors would give their eyeteeth to play such a meaty role. And the role of Helen Burns would definitely have an understudy. If Schmidt had set this plot segment at a nearby community theater, it would have been totally understandable. But not a Broadway show. Not to mention that the kids are apparently traveling to Manhattan to perform on the weekends? What happens to the weekday performances; who's taking care of that? Or did I miss something?

That being said, I can understand why this is getting Newbery buzz. It's a powerful read. It's on my shortlist (I'll confess that I wish that a book for younger children would win; the reading/maturity level for recent Newbery winners has been at the high end of the eligibility requirements), but let's keep in mind that we still have many fall books that haven't been published yet!





Mindset Lists of American History

If you enjoy reading the annual Mindset Lists or social history in general, you'll enjoy this very much. Starting with 1880 and ending with the class of 2009, Tom McBride creates lists for nine generations of Americans, followed by extensive chapters detailing the social and political norms for each generation. It's an amusing read, but keep in mind that, for the most part, the experiences described are largely those of Caucasian middle-class students (save for the Depression generation). Not a major criticism-just an observation.




Recent Listens:


A Garland For Girls

Finally finished listening to A Garland For Girls, and it turned out to be more enjoyable than I expected it to be (especially after the initial story of the young Lady Bountifuls and the great unwashed masses). I particularly enjoyed the stories of Rosamund/Button Rose and the impoverished sisters who used to be rich, but are now invalid or teaching dance to little rich girls. The narrator, C.M. Hebert, recorded other Alcott stories, and I just may have to listen to them. She's an exceptional reader.


Current Reads:





The Peach Keeper


Part of my ongoing quest to read more adult fiction books. I'm enjoying this very much. A Southern historic house has been renovated, bringing together old acquaintances. It may also be haunted. When I left our heroes and heroines this morning, they had just discovered a skull. Oooh.




Department 19

A teenage boy joins the super secret Department 19, Britain's vampire fighting agency. I'm not much for vampire reads, but this is quite the page turner. Perfect for those who prefer their vampires scary rather than sexy (I think a teenage vampire vamp turns up somewhere in the book, but these are hardcore vampires).


Current Listens:





The War to End All Wars

This is another absorbing book from Russell Freedman; it doesn't flinch from the realities of World War I battles. I think a narrator with more gravitas would have worked better, though. He has a singsongy aspect to his voice that jars with the text, in my opinion. It's still a worthwhile listen.

We just ordered some terrific new books for August; stay tuned!

ALSC blog: Back to School

My monthly ALSC blog post is about back to school books.

Wowbrary Wednesday

I'm starting a new feature on my blog: on Wednesdays, I'll discuss the books that I've discovered through Wowbrary. Don't know what Wowbrary is? Look here. It is fabulous. Click "sign up" if you're a Fauquier County library patron so that you can be among the first to know what new books, CDs, and DVDs have been added to the collection. This probably won't be every Wednesday; I'll post when I have a few titles to discuss. These will typically not be children's/YA books, since I post about them in my new books posts.




Pearl Jam Twenty

Ohwowohwowohwow. This is a companion to the upcoming Pearl Jam documentary. Had no clue that a Pearl Jam documentary was in the works, but I am so there. This is a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most popular and influential alternative/grunge/Seattle sound groups ever. So excited. I cannot even tell you.







Tension City


Jim Lehrer has moderated 11 presidential and vice-presidential debates over the past 40 years. In Tension City (which is how President George W. Bush described the debates to Lehrer), Lehrer looks back at the triumphs, failures, mishaps, and surprises of these debates. Starting with the Kennedy-Nixon debate and concluding with the Obama-McCain debate, features his insights on the "Major Moments" and "Killer Questions" that framed each debate. Really looking forward to his insights.




The Puppy Diaries

Squeee! Oh, is there anything cuter (and more exasperating!) than a Labrador Retriever puppy? Look at that little baby. Friends, that's a cover that's gonna sell books. This is New York Times managing editor Jill Abramson's account of her puppy Scout's first year, which she chronicled in her online column. Readers from across the nation sent in tips, encouragement, and pictures of their own dogs. Abramson delves deeper into Scout's first year and addresses controversies and debates within the canine community, such as adoption vs. buying from a breeder, theories of puppy training, and diet.





I'm Feeling Lucky: The Confessions of Google Employee Number 59

Google is not just a search engine anymore. It's way, way, beyond that. People don't say that we searched for information on the Internet. People say they "Googled" it. Unless you work for Yahoo, I guess. Or Microsoft. Or Facebook. Amazon, too, probably.


I remember watching a video of Conan O'Brien talking to an audience of Google employees (shortly after the Tonight Show debacle). It's a great video if you have the chance to watch it (you can find it on Youtube). I can't remember exactly what he was talking about, but he was goofing around (of course) and talking about something that would constitute a really big moment of opportunity. Well, Conan decided to equate this to "writing code for Bill Gates." Ooooooh, the audience murmured. I laughed, because moments before, he had talked about his visit to Twitter headquarters, and he asked if Google "hates" Twitter (well,not at the moment). I don't think Conan could have picked an unlikelier example, unless he did the interview right now and said Facebook. Google has ambition beyond being just a widely popular search engine, and in I'm Feeling Lucky, we'll read about the creation of Google, its unique workplace, and its plans for world domination. Not so much the last part, perhaps, but you get the idea.






Wonder Girl: The Magnificent Sporting Life of Babe Didrikson Zaharias

I never heard of Babe Didrikson Zaharias until I moved to Texas. When I took I-10 past Beaumont on my way to visit family in Louisiana, I would always pass the sign for the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum. Unfortunately, I never stopped, which is why I'm looking forward to reading this upcoming biography on one of the greatest athletes of our time. Zaharias conquered golf, track and field, tennis, and for a time, cancer. She also battled the stereotypes of female athletes during the early years of the 20th century. I'm pleased that there are a number of holds on this already; Zaharias's story is one of a kind.




The Emperor of Lies

This is the tale of Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski, appointed by the Nazis to lead the Jewish ghetto of Lodz (Poland). Rumkowski sought to make the ghetto indispensable to the Nazis, using methods that irrevocably changed his life and the lives of the people living in the ghetto. This won the highest literary award in Sweden and is set to be published in over 25 languages. Sounds like a challenging yet worthwhile novel.






The Girl in the Blue Beret

When World War II pilot Marshall Stone returns to France decades after the war's end, he searches for the members of the French Resistance who saved his life, especially the teenage girl who guided him through Paris. This sounds promising.

I'm telling you, Wowbrary does some serious damage to your holds list. You may never recover if you sign up. The bad thing is that you may get a batch of requests that come in at the same time (I just received four books at once-uh oh!).