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Biscuit in the Garden
Paperback and Hardcover
by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Biscuit, the loveable puppy belonging to the I Can Read! My First Shared Reading series, provides a new spring adventure for young readers. As in previous titles, Biscuit continues to personify the innocent inquisitiveness of a young child. This time he explores the backyard garden where he discovers many forms of nature. Graceful butterflies, chirping birds, wiggly worms, and sweet smelling flowers and plants of all kinds intrigue him. But it’s the big bag of bird seed that really grabs his attention until he’s covered from head to paw in seed, much to the delight of the birds that then have a feast. Large, easy-to-read font, frequent word repetition, and full-color, pastel illustrations providing vocabulary clues make this an ideal selection for the youngest emergent readers. Highly recommended for ages 5 to 6.
--Jeannine Wiese, BS Ed, Collection Development
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Penny and Her Marble
Hardcover and Library Binding
by Kevin Henkes
One afternoon while walking her doll, Rose, charming Penny finds a bright blue marble near the sidewalk in front her neighbor’s house. Oh it’s so beautiful to look at, so smooth, so blue just like the sky, and so fast! Later that afternoon she sees Mrs. Goodwin in her front yard probably looking for the marble. She begins to think she shouldn’t have taken the marble. The more she thinks the more she worries. The more she worries the less she eats at supper and the worse she sleeps that night. The next day determined to set things right, she puts the marble back only to be discovered by Mrs. Goodwin who can’t understand why she doesn’t want such a pretty marble. Penny explains how she found it, kept it, and returned it, and with a smile Mrs Goodwin gives it to Penny. Oh what a glorious morning it’s become for Penny and what an appetite she’s developed! Kevin’s characteristic soft pastel illustrations add to the gentleness of the lesson learned leaving early readers content and happy just as Penny is. Highly recommended for beginning readers ages 6 to 7
--Jeannine Wiese, BS Ed, Collection Development |
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Jobs if You Like...Animals
by Charlotte Guillain
In the early primary grades career titles are usually focused on jobs found in the community which is all well and good. I like this series as it branches out from these standard careers and introduces young readers to the many diverse and upcoming careers connected to the subject matter they excel in. Jobs if You Like… zeroes in on the areas of music, art, computers, science, sports as well as other areas. Each title includes an introduction and conclusion discussing its particular interest area guiding the reader to decide if this is a match for them. Enhancing each career section are the action photos highlighting the workers as they go about their jobs. One such photo found in the animal title features a zookeeper on his hands and knees atop an elephant lying on its side allowing the caretaker to cleanse his front leg! Animal lovers will be thoroughly engrossed in learning about such engaging jobs as a wildlife biologist, entomologist, assistance dog trainer and animal welfare inspector. A simple job chart providing more information about each career rounds out each title. It is never too early to make children aware of the new and emerging occupations of the 21st century in order to pique their interest in a certain career field. After all, I knew teaching would be my career when I was seven years old and so did my niece who always had to be my student. This is a great introductory career series to have in your library or classroom (paperback version available). Recommended for ages 6 to 8.
--Jeanne Martin, MED, Collection Development
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A Green Kid’s Guide to Gardening! (Magic Wagon)
Ages 6 to 9
An upcoming series from Abdo’s Magic Wagon division quickly grabbed my attention this month. Publishing in January 2013, this series of titles on how to garden in an environmentally appropriate manner will be popular among today’s organic, locavore, sustainable crowd. Bright illustrations featuring a multicultural crowd are throughout the books and each chapter provides enough information to feel confident about the subject. With titles on the following aspects of green gardening: composting, pest removal, fertilizers, diseases, soil preparation, and watering, your young gardeners will be anxiously awaiting spring and the chance to get their hands dirty! Includes Table of Contents, Projects, Glossary, Web Sites, and Index. Recommended for ages 6 to 9.
--Tracy Gallagher, MLIS, Collection Development |
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The Price of Freedom: How One Town Stood Up to Slavery
by Judith Bloom Fradin and Dennis Brindell Fradin, Illustrated by Eric Velasquez
Oberlin, Ohio is the home of Oberlin College known for being the first American college to regularly admit female and black students. It also was a key stop along the Underground Railroad and the site for the controversial rescue of a fugitive slave, the subject of Judith and Dennis Fradir’s title, The Price of Freedom: How One Town Stood Up to Slavery. The husband and wife team tell the story of John Price, a Kentucky slave, who escaped over the ice-covered Ohio River to the free state of Ohio. Such an event was usually cause for celebration, but this was not the case because of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 allowing slave owners to follow and capture their runaways. John, therefore, headed for Canada, but first stopped at an underground station in the town of Oberlin. This town had over four hundred slaves and believed that everyone deserved to be free. John decided to make Oberlin his home, but his newfound peace didn’t last as he was captured by slave hunters for a reward of $500. History was in the making as the townspeople of Oberlin surrounded the hotel where John was held and demanded his freedom. By that evening John was safely hidden in a professor’s home. Alas, this is not the end of the story, what about the townspeople who broke the law? Thirty-seven men were charged with aiding John Price’s escape and were found guilty and placed in jail until later released. The Oberlin rescue is one of the many dramatic historical events which led to the War Between the States. This riveting picture book with its detailed illustrations portraying the action taking place in each scene is an intriguing title to be read to children aiding in the explanation of the abolitionist movement happening in the United States at that time. Recommended for ages 7 to 10.
--Jeanne Martin, MED, Collection Development
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Everything You Need to Know about Snakes and Other Reptiles
by John Woodward
Although the snake is the star of the show in Woodward’s book, as the title promises, other reptiles are covered, too. Just about every aspect of snakes you could imagine is briefly addressed in about the first two-thirds of the book: babies, hibernation, scales, movement, physiology, senses, camouflage, fangs, and methods of catching and killing prey: venom vs. constriction. The rest of the book looks at other reptiles, such as sea turtles, geckos, iguanas, and komodo dragons. Of course, since this is a DK production, you can expect the photos to almost steal the show. The colors and clarity of the photography are excellent; the picture of the American red-sided garter snakes emerging from hibernation made me feel I could almost reach out and stroke their cute little heads! This is an eye-catching treat for kids fascinated with reptiles. Perfect for a display, this highly browseable book could be combined with Nic Bishop’s Snakes and Cindy Blobaum's Awesome Snake Science! Recommended for ages 8 to 11.
-- Becky Walton, MLIS, Collection Development
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The Darkest Minds
by Alexandra Bracken
Bracken's second novel is a thrilling and thoughtful dystopian tale, standing out from the crowd with tight plotting and sharp narrative voice, as well as a couple of shocking opening scenes so compelling you couldn't possibly put it down. The curtain raises on Ruby, sometime in the near future, in a detention/work camp with hundreds of other teens that have unusual mental abilities. All of the inmates are color-coded according to how dangerous to society their gifts are deemed by the government. As terrified of herself as the adults in power are, Ruby never tries to escape in the seven years she is held; until she wakes up in the infirmary and finds a note from the doctor that they soldiers will execute her tomorrow if she doesn't leave with the doctor tonight. Thus begins the wild ride in search of a haven for terrified and persecuted, though powerful, kids like Ruby. I ripped through this book, with most every scene immensely satisfying; the best part is it's the start of a series. Highly recommended for ages 13 and up.
--Jill M. Barton, MLIS, Collection Development
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Scowler
Hardcover and Library Binding
by Daniel Kraus
It’s about time! The scarcity of serious teen dark/horror fiction may be coming to an end; and with the writing of Daniel Kraus, it’s easy to see why. Kraus has produced a story of fear, pain, vulnerability, and compassion. Ry is nineteen years old and living at home, losing the battle to keep the family farm alive. Ten years ago, his cruel, hateful father committed dreadful acts of violence against Ry and his mother, almost killing Ry in the process. Ry survived that night of horror thanks to hallucinations resulting from his head wound: three of his childhood toys came to life – with wildly disparate personalities, voices, and intentions – to offer life-saving advice. After months in therapy, Ry was able to suppress the toys’ voices, until the night his father escapes from his decade-long imprisonment and returns to the farm to finish what he started. This second period of violence and fear takes place during a meteor shower. When a meteorite crashes to the farm, it exerts influence over the family members in different ways. Kraus’s imagery grabs the reader’s hand and drags him into Ry’s bleak world: a bloody tooth falling to the dry brown earth, deformed hands, a dead but decorated Christmas tree, a tired aged dog, a pristine hidden white dress. This very human tale tragically fits into the horror genre because there really is a monster; sadly, it’s a man. Recommended for ages 14 and up.
-- Becky Walton, MLIS, Collection Development
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Tune Book 1:Vanishing Point
by Derek Kirk Kim
Kim (Same Difference, The Eternal Smile) gives us a peek into the life of Andy, a Korean-American art school drop-out, who, after waiting for his career to take off, must find a job to pacify his parents who are threatening to kick him out. Most of the story is a flashback to points from Andy’s time in art school, his friends, and Yumi, for whom he has a longtime secret crush. Yumi accidentally leaves her sketchpad/diary with Andy from which he learns that Yumi likes him too. Andy later walks into what he thinks is a normal interview at a zoo, but ends up taking a job as a museum exhibit in another dimension. We’ll have to wait for Book 2 to find out what happens next. Kim’s pen-and-ink panels are fun with some manga-style playfulness. This comedy/romance/science-fiction adventure graphic novel is highly recommended for ages 14 to 17.
--Jenny McCluskey, MSIS, Collection Development
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