December Picks

Come and check out some new and noteworthy materials at the MCS Media Center. A book is a great companion for a cold winter night! :)


Daisy Gets Lost by Chris Raschka (Grades PreK-3)

With the same emotional intensity that he brought to his New York Times bestselling, New York Times Best Illustrated, and Caldecott Medal-winning picture book A Ball for Daisy, Raschka has created a story that explores fear as only he can. Any child who has ever felt lost will relate to Daisy's despair upon finding herself in an unfamiliar part of the park after chasing a squirrel. In a nearly wordless picture book, Daisy encounters the unease of being lost and the joys of being found. Raschka's signature swirling, impressionistic illustrations and his affectionate story will particularly appeal to young dog lovers, teachers, parents and, of course, the legions of Daisy fans out there. ~Schwartz and Wade Books


A Taste of the Moon by Michael Gerjneice (Grades 1-3)

This whimsical children's story highlights cooperation and collaboration between a group of animals in their quest to reach the moon. Beautiful watercolor paintings punctuate this story that draws from classic fables and legends, while shedding light on important values, such as generosity, solidarity, and kindness. Capturing children's fascination of the night sky and the moon, this contemporary myth will engage young readers through its imaginative story and fanciful illustrations. ~Bright Connections Media



Big Snow by Jonathan Bean (Grades K-3) 

While "helping" his mother with holiday housecleaning, a boy keeps a watchful eye on the progress of a winter storm. He's hoping for a big snow. A really big snow. Inside, he is underfoot, turning sheet-changing and tub-scrubbing into imaginary whiteouts. Outside, flakes are flying. But over the course of a long day (for Mom) the clouds seem slow on delivering a serious snowfall. Then comes a dreamy naptime adventure, marking just the beginning of high hopes coming true in this irresistible seasonal story. ~Farrar Straus Giroux



Memoirs of a Hamster by Devin Scillian (Grades K-3)

Seymour the hamster has the perfect life. He has a spacious cage, a constant food supply, and a FuzzyBoy 360 exercise wheel that lets him run to his heart's content. Life could not be better. Or could it? When Pearl the cat tells Seymour of the goodies beyond the safe confines of his cage, he starts to think he's missing out. And out is the new in! It's only after Seymour is out of his cage that he begins to fully appreciate his safe and cozy home. ~Sleeping Bear Press 



Smile by Raina Telgemeier (Grades 3-6)

Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly. ~Graphix




The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas by David Almond (Grades 3-6)

Stanley Potts's uncle Ernie has developed an over-the-top fascination with canning fish in the house, and life at 69 Fish Quay Lane has turned barmy. But there's darkness in the madness, and when Uncle Ernie's obsession takes an unexpectedly cruel turn, Stan has no choice but to leave. As he journeys away from the life he's always known, he mingles with a carnival full of eccentric characters and meets the legendary Pancho Pirelli, the man who swims in a tank full of perilous piranhas. Will Stan be bold enough to dive in the churning waters himself and choose his own destiny? ~Candlewick Press 



The Real Boy by Anne Ursu (Grades 3-6)

The Real Boy, Anne Ursu's follow-up to her widely acclaimed and beloved middle-grade fantasy Breadcrumbs, is an unforgettable story of magic, faith, and friendship. On an island on the edge of an immense sea there is a city, a forest, and a boy named Oscar. Oscar is a shop boy for the most powerful magician in the village, and spends his days in a small room in the dark cellar of his master's shop grinding herbs and dreaming of the wizards who once lived on the island generations ago. Oscar's world is small, but he likes it that way. The real world is vast, strange, and unpredictable. And Oscar does not quite fit in it. But now that world is changing. Children in the city are falling ill, and something sinister lurks in the forest. Oscar has long been content to stay in his small room in the cellar, comforted in the knowledge that the magic that flows from the forest will keep his island safe. Now, even magic may not be enough to save it. ~Walden Pond Press



Brotherhood by Anne Westrick (Grades 5-6)

The year is 1867, the South has been defeated, and the American Civil War is over. But the conflict goes on. Yankees now patrol the streets of Richmond, Virginia, and its citizens, both black and white, are struggling to redefine their roles and relationships. By day, fourteen-year-old Shadrach apprentices with a tailor and sneaks off for reading lessons with Rachel, a freed slave, at her school for African-American children. By night he follows his older brother Jeremiah to the meetings of a group whose stated mission is to protect Confederate widows like their mother. But as the true murderous intentions of the group, now known as the Ku Klux Klan, are revealed, Shad finds himself trapped between old loyalties and what he knows is right.~Viking



The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe by Roland Smith (Grades 5-6)

This is the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition as witnessed by Seaman, the massive Newfoundland dog that accompanied the two captains. Faithful to their original diaries, the novel brings to life the day-to-day challenges faced by the team charged with the task of exploring the American West and searching for the legendary Northwest Passage. Action and adventure abound: frequent attacks by grizzly bears and voracious mosquitoes, arduous crossings of nearly impassable landscapes, mutiny and desertion, and close encounters with both friendly and hostile Indians.~William McLoughlin, Library Journal 


Counting by 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloam (Grade 5-6)

In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family. Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn't kept her from leading a quietly happy life . . . until now. Suddenly Willow's world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy. This extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing, girl manages to push through her grief. Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read. ~Dial Books for Young Readers

November Picks

Below are some new books that have been added to the MCS library collection. Come and check them out!


The Tortoise and the Hare, by Jerry Pinkney (Grades PreK-3)

This companion to the Caldecott Medal-winning The Lion & the Mouse is Jerry Pinkney's most stunning masterpiece yet. Even the slowest tortoise can defeat the quickest hare, and even the proudest hare can learn a timeless lesson from the most humble tortoise: Slow and steady wins the race! Here is a superbly rendered journey from starting line to finish that embodies the bravery, perseverance, and humility we can all find inside ourselves. ~Amazon


Flood, by Alvaro Villa (Grades K-3)

Villa’s wordless picture book is a haunting look at a family whose home might be wiped out by a storm. Anyone who has lived through a hurricane will catch their breath at Villa’s unnerving watercolors, generously laid out across long, horizontal spreads. Familiar, nervous moments are found on every page: Dad preparing the windows while the kids, oblivious, play on the floor. The ominous glow of a weatherman delivering his warning soliloquies. Rain-battered volunteers surrounding the house with sandbags. And, of course, the worried family deciding to drive away, waving farewell to their brave, lonely house. The inability to know what nature has in store is quietly gut-wrenching—until a devastating spread depicts the interior of the house as storming with water, furniture being tossed like sticks. Villa’s sole, but significant, misstep is the too-quick turnaround: a single spread of house repair leads to the family enjoying a perfectly restored home. A worthwhile reminder that things are darkest before dawn, though not quite up to the visceral truths that make the rest of the book so moving. ~Daniel Kraus, Booklist


Splat the Cat: I Can Read Series, by Rob Scotton (Grades 1-3)


Splat the Cat Sings Flat
Splat the Cat with a Band and Clang
Splat the Cat: The Rain is a Pain
Splat the Cat: Good Night, Sleep Tight
Splat the Cat and the Duck with No Quack
Splat the Cat Takes the Cake
Splat the Cat: The Name of the Game


The Dark, by Lemony Snicket (Grades 1-4)

Laszlo is afraid of the dark. The dark lives in the same house as Laszlo. Mostly, though, the dark stays in the basement and doesn't come into Lazslo's room. But one night, it does. This is the story of how Laszlo stops being afraid of the dark. With emotional insight and poetic economy, two award-winning talents team up to conquer a universal childhood fear. ~Amazon




Volcano Rising, by Elizabeth Rusch (Grades 3-6)

Elizabeth Rusch explores volcanoes in their entirety, explaining how they re not all as bad as they re made out to be. Using examples of real volcanoes from around the world, Rusch explains how some volcanoes create new land, mountains, and islands where none existed before, and how the ash helps farmers fertilize their fields. Simple, straight-forward prose provides readers with the basics, while a secondary layer of text delves deeper into the science of volcanoes. Susan Swan s bright and explosive mixed-media illustrations perfectly complement the subject matter they depict volcanoes in all their destructive and creative glory. Complete with a glossary and list of further resources, Volcano Rising is a unique look at a fierce, yet valuable, scientific process. ~Amazon


Bailey School Kids Series, by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones (Grades 2-5)

15 of the best Bailey School Kids stories including:

Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots
Mermaids Don't Run Track
Leprechauns Don't Play Basketball
Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips
Genies Don't Ride Bicycles 
Cupid Doesn't Flip Hamburgers 
Bogeymen Don't Play Football
Angels Don't know Karate 
Aliens Don't Wear Braces
The Abominable Snowman Doesn't Roast Marshmallows
Unicorns Don't Give Sleigh Rides
Ogres Don't Hunt Easter Eggs
Zombies Don't Play Soccer
Werewolves Don't Run for President
Werewolves Don't Go to Summer Camp


I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg, by Lauren Tarshish (Grades 4-6)

Lauren Tarshis presents a highly personalized narrative of the Battle of Gettysburg. The story follows former slave Thomas and his little sister Birdie as they fall in with Union forces and make their way north. The Union army rolls toward its epic clash in a small Pennsylvania town, and Thomas becomes a unwitting participant in one of the most formative events in American history. Tarshis writes with sharp, clear, emotional language: “There they were, rebel soldiers ready to charge. There were thousands of them—men in front on horseback, waving gleaming swords.” Back matter includes common questions and answers about the Civil War, along with the text of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Others in the I Survived series include high-interest topics such as Pearl Harbor and September 11. ~Erin Anderson, Booklist 


The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail, by Richard Peck (Grades 4-6) 

There is a basic philosophy underlying this sweet mouse-out-in-the-world story: “For every human on earth, there is a mouse doing the same job, and doing it better.” A tiny, unnamed mouse, with notched ears and a tail that falls naturally into the shape of a question mark, attends the Royal Mews Mouse Academy, taught by toothy headmaster B. Chiroptera. But after being bullied by other mice and driven by the essential question of his identity, the mouse leaves the academy and hatches a rather unformed plan to visit ancient Queen Victoria, awaiting her Diamond Jubilee, in the hopes that the all-knowing monarch can tell him who he is. Along the way to Buckingham Palace, he rides in the ear of a horse named Peg (it’s very waxy), falls into a punch bowl (it’s very pink), and meets a cast of mice—and bats—who serve the queen. Murphy’s black-and-white illustrations, with pulled quote captions, add charm in spades, and there’s one tipped-in full-color illustration in each of the book’s three main parts. ~Anne Kelley, Booklist


True Stories of the Revolutionary War, by Elizabeth Raum (Grades 4-6)

Step back in time and experience the Revolutionary War through the stories of the people who lived through it. Witness the first reading of the Declaration of Independence. Experience the horror of a sneak attack. Watch a mother risk her life by spying for the colonists. True Stories of the Revolutionary War doesn't just tell you the tales of war. It drops you into the thick of combat. ~Amazon

October Picks

Happy October! I had the fortune of bringing in fall by attending the National Book Festival in Washington D.C. the weekend of the Autum Solctice. What an amazing experience! Below is a link to the Library of Congress website, the organization that ran the event, where you can watch video speeches of all the authors who visit the festival. I was rather gidddy to come face-to-face with famous authors such as Jon Klassen, Oliver Jeffers, Grace Lin and, even though he writes for adults, Don DeLillo. Other authors who were giving speeches included Kevin Henkes, Lisa McMann, Suzy Lee and Holly Black plus many, many more! Check out the National Book Festival website for more information and videos. 

Click here to visit the National Book Festival website.

Below are some new books I have recently added the library collections. Please feel free to share them with your students. 


The First Drawing, by Mordicai Gerstein (K-3)

“Imagine you were born before the invention of drawing more than thirty thousand years ago.” A boy with shaggy red hair dressed in

jeans, his back to the viewer, becomes a boy with shaggy red hair dressed in animal skins on the next page. He lives in a cave with a large multigenerational family and spends his time watching deer and bears and looking at clouds. He alone sees shapes where others see, for instance, just a stone. A stare down with a woolly mammoth pushes the boy to recreate its massive shape on the cave wall. And though his family at first fears the drawing’s magic, before long they’re drawing, too. An author’s note introduces French cave drawings, and notes no one knows who made the world’s first drawing. ~Ilene Cooper, Booklist 



Baby Bear Counts One, by Ashley Wolff (Grades PreK-2)

First seen in Baby Bear Sees Blue (S & S, 2012), the curious cub returns in this fall-themed counting book. Mama Bear gently answers Baby Bear's questions about who is making a noise as he counts different animals gathering food, migrating, or dashing through the woods and fields in preparation for winter. Each spread includes onomatopoeic words to suggest the animal to both children and the bear. Wolff's stunning linoleum block and watercolor illustrations are suffused with autumn light and color, and the creatures appear to swim, fly, and jump off the pages. Extreme close-ups are juxtaposed with larger framing illustrations that celebrate the season, the creatures portrayed, and the playful bear. Successful as a counting book, an autumnal celebration, and a cozy book to share either one-on-one or in a group, this title will be warmly welcomed in all libraries. ~Marge Loch-Wouter, School Library Journal 



Robot, Go Bot!, by Dana Meachen Rau (Grades K-2)

A little girl assembles her own robot and speaks to him in short, rhyming phrases, beginning with “Bubble blow, Bot?” as she blows bubbles for him to chase, and “Throw, Bot” as they play catch. Gradually, she becomes more imperious, ordering him to hoe the garden, mow the grass, and tow her in a wagon. After Bot storms off, she leads him back and makes amends by pushing him on the backyard swing. Beginning readers will appreciate the brevity of the text and the predictability of the rhyming phrases. An appealing choice for young readers and robot fans. ~Carolyn Phelan, Booklist


The Year of Billy Miller, by Kevin Henkes (Grades 2-5)

Billy Miller is starting second grade, and though his teacher, Mrs. Silver, tells the class it is the Year of the Rabbit, Billy’s father tells him it will be the Year of Billy Miller. Billy isn’t sure. He’s even more worried when he gets off on the wrong foot his first day, but as the months go on, Billy begins to shine. There are some wonderful moments here: when Billy brings his teacher silver items—coins, a paper clip, a little rabbit—to show her he’s a nice boy; when he agonizes over how to tell his father that Papa is a babyish name; and a triumphant ending when poetry and self-confidence intertwine. But the school year also seems rushed, and some intriguing characters, like the annoying Emma, are barely touched. Harkening back to writers of an earlier era, like Eleanor Estes, Henkes never compromises his language. Words like replicated, diligently, and frustrated appear—and that’s on just one page. Since this is so age specific, older readers might pass it by. That would be too bad, because this is a story with a lot of heart and sweet insights into growing up. ~Ilene Cooper, Booklist 


Beryl: A Pigs Tale, by Jane Simmons (Grades 2-5)

Beryl's adventuresome spirit blossoms when she escapes from a truck on its way to market. Though initially befriended by a wild pig and her relatives, the pink porker is quickly ostracized from their wilderness community. Accompanied by her new found family, she goes on a series of travels that eventually lead them to a more accepting home. Beryl demonstrates significant growth as she challenges her assumptions along her perilous journey. Simmons interjects humorous episodes through her colorful cast of animal characters, providing a rich contrast to the serious topics she explores. ~Meg Smith, School Library Journal 
  

The Cup and the Crown, by Diane Stanley (Grades 4-6) 

When Molly’s friend, young King Alaric, sends her on a quest to find an enchanted “loving cup,” she discovers a hidden city, Harrowsgode, where magic is common and where she will find links to her own past and perhaps threats of a forbidding future. As in the first novel of Molly’s adventures, the well-received The Silver Bowl (2011), the former scullery maid is reluctant to reveal her own powers, which might prove her undoing or perhaps her salvation. Molly and her best friend Tobias continue to be thoroughly engaging characters. An open ending promises a third volume of Molly’s adventures, which will surely delight Stanley fans. ~Michael Cart, Booklist

Starry River of the Sky, by Grace Lin (Grades 3-6) **Autographed copy! :) 

This mesmerizing companion to the Newbery Honor Book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (2009) does not disappoint. Rendi has run away from home, stowed in the back of a merchant’s cart, until he is discovered and left stranded in the scarcely populated Village of Clear Sky. There he becomes the innkeeper’s chore boy and is

introduced to a cast of characters, including Mr. Shan, a wise older man; Madame Chang, a mysterious out-of-town guest with a gift for storytelling; and a toad whom Mr. Shan calls Rabbit. All the while, the moon is missing, and it seems only Rendi is tormented by the sky’s sad wailing noises at night. Madame Chang insists that for each story she tells—including one about ruler Wang Yi’s wife, who transformed into a toad and lived out the rest of her days on the moon—Rendi must tell one of his own. Unlike its predecessor, this novel is stationary in setting, but it offers up similar stories based on Chinese folklore that interweave with and advance the main narrative. Each of the tales reveals something important about the teller, and most offer a key piece of the mysterious puzzle: what happened to the moon? A few characters from Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, including Magistrate Tiger, appear on the periphery of the action. Lin’s writing is clear and lyrical, her plotting complex, and her illustrations magical, all of which make this a book to be savored. ~Anne Kelly, Booklist  

***********APP OF THE MONTH***********

Wet, Dry, Try (updated!)

Make handwriting practice fun! With the Wet-Dry-Try App, children learn and practice correct formation habits for writing capitals, numbers, and lowercase letters. The app simulates our Slate Chalkboard and Blackboard with Double Lines and helps children learn handwriting skills in the easiest, most efficient way. The result truly is handwriting without tears! 

September Picks

Welcome back! Here are some new books that have recently been added to the library collection. Come and check them out!


NON - FICTION 

 Jr. Graphic Novel Series

Founding Fathers

Colonial America 

Kids Can Series

Simple Machines Series 

What You Didn't Know About History Series 

FICTION

99 Frogs Wake Up, by Ken Kimura (Grades K-3)

It’s pretty darn difficult to find a more charming book than 999 Tadpoles. Kimura kindly updates us on the oversize family’s status, beginning with the little frogs poking their heads out of the dirt to awaken on a lovely morning. Mother Frog’s head count, though, only reaches 998. Who is missing? Ah, it’s their big brother, who is not only literally big but also leads the charge to rouse other slumbering animals from beneath rocks and leaves so that they too might enjoy the blossoming spring. A turtle, a lizard, some ladybugs—all are thankful for the wake-up call. And then there’s the hole. Better wake up whoever is in there too, eh? Bad idea: a snake, rather like the one in 999 Tadpoles, awaits to give the family more grief. Murakami’s big-eyed, kelly-green amphibians, set against large white backdrops, are just as cute now as they were as newborns, and their heedless groupthink as they race around being gee-whiz about everything remains downright ­adorable.  ~Daniel Kraus (Booklist)

I Wish I Had, by Giovanna Zoboli (Grades K-3)

*Starred Review* Books inviting children to imagine themselves as animals are ubiquitous and a playful way to encourage imagination, but most don’t have the scope of this beautiful Italian import. There is a dignified eloquence at work here, and the narrator’s wishes are not merely the desire of a child to be like an animal, but a longing for a tangible connection to an often intangible universe. Zoboli offers some rather everyday wishes, such as to become the wings of a wild goose or the tail of a lemur—who hasn’t wished to fly through the air or swing through trees? But longing for “the happy hunger of a bear in the orchard” or “the contentment of a dog in winter when the snow falls outside” transcends daydreaming to feel quite spiritual. The painterly illustrations in this oversize picture book (the works of Henri Rousseau come to mind) have a grandeur about them that matches the majestic ideas expressed throughout. Repeated motifs within the pictures—some of the animals are clutching a flower in their mouths, and the larger animals appear to be tattooed with images of other animals, plants, and flowers—create a sense of universality. This is a book of big ideas, sparingly told, and full of wonder. ~Kara Dean (Booklist) 


Double Dutch, by Sharon M. Draper (Grades 5-6)

Delia loves Double Dutch. And she's good at it. Really good. So good that her team has a chance to win the World Double Dutch Championships this year -- Delia is sure of it. What she is less sure of is her chance of passing the school's state exam, because Delia has been using her success at Double Dutch to mask a secret that could jeopardize her place on the team, and also her future. Delia's not the only one with a secret. Her potential boyfriend, Randy, has one too -- his dad has been missing for weeks, and Randy hasn't told anyone for fear he'll be put in a foster home. But he is running out of money and getting scared. The one thing that isn't a secret is that their classmates, the Tolliver twins, are out to cause trouble. With their skull caps, angry demeanors, and hints of violence emanating from even the way they stalk down the school halls, they seem to enjoy intimidating the other kids. But will they cross the line from intimidation to violence? With consummate skill and an uncanny ability to capture how real kids think, act, and feel, Tears of a Tiger author Sharon M. Draper weaves these three stories tighter and tighter, creating a novel that tingles with suspense and emotion. ~ Amazon


Survivors #1: The Empty City, by Erin Hunter (Grades 4-6)

From the author of the bestselling Warriors and Seekers books comes a thrilling new animal fantasy series. In Survivors, Erin Hunter shows readers the world through the eyes of dogs, as she did with cats and bears in her earlier series. The Empty City begins with the Big Growl, a devastating earthquake that changes Lucky’s world forever. Lucky has always been a Lone Dog, but now he needs a Pack in order to stay alive, so he teams up with a group of Leashed Dogs who have been separated from their owners. Lucky’s vivid point of view and the pulse-pounding action make for the start of an addictive series. The time has come for dogs to rule the wild! ~ Amazon