March is a month long reading holiday! Along with Dr. Suess's birthday, March includes Read Across America day and is also named as National Reading Month. So get ready to READ!
Here are some new materials to get you and your students excited about reading. Come and check one out today!
How Big Were the Dinosaurs by Lita Judge (Grades 1-3)
From a cowering Microraptor, who "would barely be able to look a chicken
in the eye," to an Argentinosaurus towering over a squirming pile of
surprised-looking elephants (17, all told), Judge poses 12 prehistoric
creatures with modern people or animals in compelling support of the
observation that dinos came in a great range of sizes. In her lively,
engaging watercolors, the extinct exemplars also display great ranges of
colors and patterns in their feathers or scales, plus distinct
dispositions: a quartet of shy Leaellynasaura, for instance, anxiously
tries to blend in among a flock of same-sized emperor penguins, while
Ankylosaurus, plainly in a bad mood, scowls as it batters whole cars out
of its way with its clubbed tail. Along with identification for each
dinosaur, the author adds brief but memorable verbal comparisons
(Torosaurus "had a 10-foot skull and horns that grew as tall as a first
grader"). She closes with a rousing double gatefold group portrait and
leads to further print and web resources. ~John Peters, School Library Journal
Building Our House by Jonathan Bean (Grades K-3)
An author’s note reveals that this picture book is based on personal
experience, as Bean’s parents built their own house when he was a young
child. Here we follow a mother, father, two children (and, eventually, a
new baby) over the course of a year and a half—through a harsh winter
and plenty of lumber pickups—all the way to move-in day at their new
abode. Told from the point of view of the oldest child, a girl, the
challenges and rewards involved in constructing from scratch become
clear. The kids are not exempt from the do-it-yourself action, and they
happily help “fill the loud mixing machine.” Bean makes
use of every inch of the tall trim size here, filling his pages to the
brim with heavily lined illustrations of bustling people and
activity—often as a series of four vignettes across a spread. What’s
heartwarming throughout is the depiction of a tight-knit family (“My
family makes up a strong crew of four”). The author’s concluding
personal photos add to the loving feel. ~Ann Kelley, Booklist
The Black Dog by Levi Pinfold (Grades K-4)
This fable about confronting and conquering fear should hook anyone who
sees Pinfold’s cover illustration, which depicts a Gothic-looking house,
a tiny child, and a paw print the size of a tank. The story begins one
snowy morning when Mr. Hope looks outside to see a dog the size of a
tiger. That assessment is upgraded to the size of an elephant when Mrs.
Hope sees it, and the size of a Tyrannosaurus rex when little Adeline
sees it. (A huge golden eye stares through the window next to where
Adeline brushes her teeth.) The family’s solution? Turn out the lights,
close the curtains, and hide beneath the covers. Thankfully, the
youngest, Small, goes outside to meet the towering dog, whose big wet
nose covers a full two-page spread. She gets the dog to chase her, using
rhymes to convince the animal to get progressively smaller to fit
through various obstacles: You can’t follow where I go, / unless you
shrink, or don’t you know? Pinfold’s lavish, Van Allsburglike
illustrations, which juxtapose tiny black-and-white sketches with big,
detailed, frozen-in-time paintings, are quirky, funny, and often
heart-stopping. Part David and Goliath, part Gingerbread Man, this UK
import is a shot of courage for those who need it most. ~Connie Fletcher, Booklist
I'm a Frog! by Mo Willems (Grades PreK-2)
Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
In I'm a Frog! Piggie has some ribbiting news! Can Gerald make the leap required to accept Piggie's new identity? ~Amazon
The Adventures of a South Pole Pig by Chris Kurtz (Grades 1-4)
Her name is Flora, and she's a pig. She's curious and longs to explore
beyond the perimeters of the pigpen. She dreams of going to Antarctica
with the sled dogs on the farm and becoming a sled pig. When she is put
in a crate on board a ship, she sees the expedition as an opportunity
while the crew views her as potential pork chops. Then they are
shipwrecked and readers will root for spunky Flora as she discovers just
how brave and needed she can be. Simple black-line drawings add a
welcoming charm. Told in the voice of a seasoned storyteller, this novel
has chapters that will work perfectly for sharing aloud with younger
children or as a read-alone for more competent readers. Flora will
encourage every listener to dream of being their best self. Move over
Wilbur and Babe, there's a new pig in town. ~Helen Foster James, School Library Journal
The Adbomniables by Eva Ibbotson (Grades 1-4)
It all began a century ago in the Himalayan Mountains. Lady Agatha, an
English girl, is abducted by a yeti father who needs someone to raise
his motherless children. Portrayed as lovable innocents, the yetis are
compassionate by nature and willing to learn the essentials of civilized
behavior that Agatha is equipped to teach, from table manners to hymns.
One hundred years later, Agatha’s happy family of yetis faces discovery
by sensation-seeking reporters. Two English children come to the rescue
and, with the help of a friendly truck driver, make a difficult,
dangerous trip to deliver their yeti friends to Agatha’s stately home in
England. The children’s initial relief turns to horror when they
comprehend the imminent new danger threatening the yetis. Who can save
them now? Striking a fine balance between comedy and adventure, this
imaginative story features a rich cast of idiosyncratic good guys, both
yeti and human, and a number of truly hateful villains (all human, all
inhumane). Expressive ink drawings appear throughout the book. An
appended note comments that following Ibbotson’s death, in 2010, the
novel was completed by her son and her longtime editor. Easy to
booktalk, this captivating story is also terrific for reading aloud. ~ Carolyn Phelan, Booklist
Wolf and Dog by Sylvia Vanden Heede (Grades 1-4)
The wild clashes with the civilized in this quirky book of interrelated
stories about a decidedly odd couple. Wolf and Dog are cousins, but they
lead very different lives. The former lives in the woods and has no
loyalty to anyone. The latter lives in a house with a master and takes
pride in being responsible and orderly. These creatures share an
ambivalent friendship that is chronicled in a series of scenes in which
the two interact. At times their relationship is less friendly and leads
to tricks and one-upmanship, but they manage to work things out in the
end. Ranging from small inserts to full page, the color and line
illustrations capture the differing natures of Dog and Wolf perfectly. ~Stephanie Whelan, School Library Journal
The Windy City: Book 5 in the IQ series by Rowland Smith (Grades 5-6)
After Q and Angela help foil a Ghost Cell plot in San Antonio, they head
to Chicago, the next stop on the Match tour. Since they've been busy
fighting international terrorism, they're behind on their school
assignments. Their parents tell them if they don't get caught up, it's
off to boarding school. But who can concentrate on homework when there
is a mystery to solve and international terrorism to thwart? Angela is
obsessed with finding out more about the mysterious Boone. Q is more
interested in not going to boarding school. But when Boone and his SOS
crew are ambushed on their way to Chicago, it becomes abundantly clear.
Someone inside their inner circle is feeding the Ghost Cell information.
As they dig ever deeper to learn the identity of the mole, Angela and Q
uncover the Ghost Cell's next plot. And it's much, much worse than a
car bomb. They plan to unleash a chemical weapon over the skies of
Chicago. And it's up to Angela and Q, along with Boone and Croc, to stop
them. ~Amazon
Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman (Grades 3-6)
A tale of the bravery and selflessness exhibited by a father taking care
of his children while his wife is away. Despite Mom's advance warning,
the family finds itself ready for breakfast but without milk for cereal
and tea, so Dad takes a trip to the store to get some. Upon his
long-awaited return, he gives the children a fantastical and descriptive
explanation of the adventures he faced while trying to make it back
home. Not only did he embark on a time-traveling hot-air balloon ride
with a stegosaurus, but he also confronted pirates, aliens, wumpires,
and a volcano god, never losing possession of the milk. Gaiman knocks it
out of the park again with this imaginative story. His outrageous plot
is perfectly paced to keep advanced and reluctant readers enthralled,
and his use of onomatopoeia and humorous descriptions will make the book
hard to put down. Reminiscent of Roald Dahl's titles, it will sweep
children away into an unimagined world and make them wonder if their own
parents have ever had any secret adventures. Young's frequent
black-and-white cartoons add to the wackiness of this tall tale.-Amy
Shepherd, School Library Journal
Deep Down Popular by Phoebe Stone (Grades 5-6)
Sixth-grader Jesse Lou is consumed by thoughts of Conrad Smith, but in
the small Virginia town where they live, Conrad is popular, while tomboy
Jesse Lou has only “maybe-when-I-feel-like-it” friends. Then Conrad
starts wearing a leg brace, which translates into loss of his popularity
and gives Jesse Lou an opening. Soon she, Conrad, and quirky
fourth-grader Quentin form a triumvirate and become involved in an
outlandish plot to save Bailey Hardware from big-box store competition.
Meanwhile, refreshingly honest Jesse Lou hopes that Conrad keeps
limping. This is an ode to love in many forms. Jessie Lou has loved
Conrad since second grade, and she learns someone has been in love with
her, as well. There is also a sweet relationship between Jessie Lou and
her grandfather, who knows how to turn a southern phrase, and between
Granddaddy and his daughter, Jessie Lou’s mama. Jessie Lou tells her
tale with the strong, rough-edged purity of a young poet, which she is;
equally strong are the story’s underpinnings, longing and laughter, and a
willingness to believe in something despite the facts, which tangibly
manifests itself in a field of flowers that were never supposed to bloom. ~Ilene Cooper, Booklist
On February 18th MCS welcomes Ryan T. Higgins, an author/illustrator residing in Southern Maine. He lives with his three dogs, three cats, two geckos, one tortoise, one son, and one wife. As a child, he lived on a diet of cartoons, cheese sandwiches, and climbing trees. At the age of four he decided to become a cartoonist and he’s been making his own cartoons ever since. In 2008 Ryan wrote, illustrated, and published his first book, Twaddleton’s Cheese. Last year he shared this story as well as his 2012 published book, Roger Goes Up, with MCS students. His latest book, This Book Does Not Have Words, will be the focus of his presentation to the students about self-publication and life as an author. Ryan will give a presentation, including an interactive art activity, to students in grades K-4 in the MCS Media Center. Students will have an extraordinary experience hearing about all the amazing things Ryan has been up to since he decided to publish his first book.
To visit Ryan's website, click here: http://ryanthiggins.com/
In order to share this new story with students, I have created a video of This Book Does Not Have Words, by Ryan T. Higgins. Read by the famous Mrs. Greenbaum! :) Enjoy!
This month I would like to highlight some new eBooks and Audiobooks we have in our digital collection. These resources can be accessed from the Follett Shelf, which is linked to the Media Center homepage. Please come see me if you have any questions about how to read or listen to these digital resources.
eBooks:
These books can be read by all your students at the same time (on iPads or computers), and can also be used on Smartboards. Below are detailed descriptions of 5 of them...we have 31! Check them out!
A Butterfly's Life, by Ellen Lawrence (Grades 1-3)
Life Cycles series, this book chronicles the mysterious and colorful
sequence of a butterfly’s maturation. Formatted as a series of
late-summer diary entries written by an inquisitive young boy, the book
describes events from two butterflies mating in his backyard through
their fall migration south and eventual return the following summer.
Photographs combine with kid-friendly maps and illustrations to display
migration patterns and metamorphosis in a vibrant manner. The text,
though written from the point of view of a child, is insightful and
straightforward while still maintaining an age-appropriate reading
level. Also included is a science lab that explains the process of
growing butterfly-friendly plants like verbena and milkweed in window
pots and transplanting them outdoors to provide food and nectar to
growing insects. A list of science terms is explained through an
illustrated glossary. This book explains a complicated process in a
factual, understandable, and attractive style. ~Erin
Anderson, Booklist
Can You Tell a Frog From a Toad, by Buffy Silverman (Grades 1-3)
Something small and green hops through the wet grass. It watches with
big, round eyes. Then its long tongue shoots out from its mouth. It
caught an insect! Did you just see a frog? Or was it a toad?
These animals look very similar, but they are different. Read this book
to become an expert at telling these look-alikes apart! Learn the
fascinating differences between similar animals in the Animal
Look-Alikes series--part of the Lightning Bolt Books collection.
With high-energy designs, exciting photos, and fun text, Lightning Bolt
Books bring nonfiction topics to life! ~Amazon
Meet the Planets, by John McGranaghan (Grades 2-4)
Soar into the Solar System to witness the first Favorite Planet
Competition, emceed by none other than the former-ninth planet, now
known as dwarf planet Pluto. The readers become the judges after the sun
can't pick a favorite and the meteors leave for a shower. Who will the
lucky winning planet be? Could it be speedy-messenger Mercury,
light-on-his-feet Saturn, or smoking-hot Venus? Readers learn all about
each planet as Pluto announces them with short, tongue-in-cheek facts.
Children will spend hours searching the art for all the references to
famous scientists and people of history, space technology,
constellations, art, and classic literature. ~Amazon
Disaster on the 100th Day, by Jean Robertson (Grades K-2)
In this early reader animals bring 100 things to celebrate the 100th day of school. Someone spills 100 marbles! ~Amazon
What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story, by Suzanne Slade (Grades 1-3)
Similar in format to its companion book What's New at the Zoo? An Animal
Adding Adventure (2009), this picture book introduces a dozen
endangered, threatened, and recovered species while offering practice in
subtraction. Each double-page spread includes a simple subtraction
problem (“6 - 1 = ?”); a related rhymed couplet about a group of animals
(“Six silly prairie dogs / frolic most the day. / One guards the
colony. / How many dogs at play?”); and a paragraph of information about
threats to the species and its current status of endangerment. An
intriguing feature on the appended pages is a chart showing what happens
to an ocean habitat when one species, sea otters, disappears from the
area's food chain. The paintings clearly depict the animals and
settings, although there is occasional awkwardness in figure drawing as
well as the scale. Though not a necessary purchase, this blend of math
practice and science facts may be useful to supplement classroom units
in either area. ~Carolyn Phelan, Booklist
Here are the covers of a few more digital resources on our Follett Shelf.
Audiobooks:
These audiobooks are hosted through Catalist Digital. They can be listened to on the iPads and on computers. Each audiobook has 1 copy available and can be "checked out" by the student for two weeks. After those two weeks it will automatically returned and the student can renew it if needed. I tried to purchase a variety of audiobooks at a multitude of levels to accommodate for all our students. These are just 5 of the titles...we have 38!
Owl Moon, by Jane Yolen (Grades K-3)
A girl and her father go owling on a moonlit winter night near the farm
where they live. Bundled tight in wool clothes, they trudge through snow
"whiter than the milk in a cereal bowl"; here and there, hidden in
ink-blue shadows, a fox, raccoon, fieldmouse and deer watch them pass.
An air of expectancy builds as Pa imitates the Great Horned Owl's call
once without answer, then again. From out of the darkness "an echo/ came
threading its way/ through the trees." Schoenherr's watercolor washes
depict a New England few readers see: the bold stare of a nocturnal owl,
a bird's-eye view of a farmhouse. In harmony with the art, the
melodious text brings to life an unusual countryside adventure. ~Publishers Weekly
The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo (Grades 3-6)
A charming story of unlikely heroes whose destinies entwine to bring
about a joyful resolution. Foremost is Despereaux, a diminutive mouse
who, as depicted in Ering's pencil drawings, is one of the most
endearing of his ink ever to appear in children's books. His mother, who
is French, declares him to be "such the disappointment" at his birth
and the rest of his family seems to agree that he is very odd: his ears
are too big and his eyes open far too soon and they all expect him to
die quickly. Of course, he doesn't. Then there is the human Princess
Pea, with whom Despereaux falls deeply (one might say desperately) in
love. She appreciates him despite her father's prejudice against
rodents. Next is Roscuro, a rat with an uncharacteristic love of light
and soup. Both these predilections get him into trouble. And finally,
there is Miggery Sow, a peasant girl so dim that she believes she can
become a princess. With a masterful hand, DiCamillo weaves four story
lines together in a witty, suspenseful narrative that begs to be read
aloud. ~Miriam Lang Budin, School Library Journal
Extra Credit, by Andrew Clements (Grades 4-6)
A forced pen-pal exchange turns into an opportunity for real
communication between Illinois sixth-grader Abby Carson and Sadeed
Bayat, the best English-language student in his Afghan village. When
Abby's first letter arrives in Bahar-Lan, 11-year-old Sadeed is asked by
the elders to compose his sister Amira's reply; it isn't proper for a
boy and girl to correspond with one another. But soon Sadeed can't
resist telling Abby that it is he who has been writing to her. The
third-person narrative alternates points of view, allowing for inclusion
of intriguing details of both lives. Never a scholar, Abby prefers the
woods behind her family's farm and the climbing wall in her school; in
the afternoons, Sadeed works in his father's grain shop. In spite of
their differences, Abby and Sadeed connect through their imaginations,
and their earlier readings of Frog and Toad Are Friends. They learn, as Abby reports, that "people are simple, but the stuff going on around them can get complicated." ~Kathleen Isaacs, School Library Journal
Spirit Animals: Book 1-Wild Born, by Brandon Mull (Grades 4-6)
In the world of Erdas, when children turn 11, they drink Nectar in order
to see if they will have a spirit animal. Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and
Rollan are chosen, and, with their spirit animals-a wolf, a leopard, a
panda, and a falcon-they must summon the Four Fallen, Great Beasts that
gave their lives many years earlier to defeat the Devourer. Now the
Devourer is back, and the children have to use their animal powers to
defeat it. Minions of the Devourer are hot on their trail and will do
anything to stop them from succeeding. ~Kira Moody, School Library Journal
Navigating Early, by Clare Vanderpool (Grades 5-6) *Now a Printz Honor winner!*
When his mother unexpectedly passes away and his father returns from
serving in World War II, Jack Baker's life is turned upside down. He's
moved from his home in Kansas to a boy's boarding school in Maine. He
meets a unique boy named Early Auden who has an obsession with pi,
seeing an unending story in the mathematically significant number.
Caught up in their own sorrows, the boys take a chance during a school
break to head off on a quest along the Appalachian Trail. Early's
telling of the pi story seems to oddly mirror the strange characters and
happenings that the boys encounter in their journey. This is a journey
of loss, discovery, and deep-rooted friendship and love. ~Deanna Romriell, School Library Journal
Here are a few more covers of the books in the current digital audiobook collection.
Every year I enjoy predicting what children and young adult books may be winners of the Caldecott and Newbery awards. The winners will be announced at the American Library Association on January 27th, but before then feel free to come to the MCS library and check out some books that COULD be winners! Also, learn about some new audio books that have been added to the collection, in both MP3 and Catalist Digital format.
CALDECOTT:
Locomotive by Brian Floca
All aboard! From the creator of the “stunning” (Booklist) Moonshot, a rich and detailed sensory exploration of America’s early railroads. It
is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and family are traveling
together, riding America’s brand-new transcontinental railroad. These
pages come alive with the details of the trip and the sounds, speed, and
strength of the mighty locomotives; the work that keeps them moving;
and the thrill of travel from plains to mountain to ocean. Come
hear the hiss of the steam, feel the heat of the engine, watch the
landscape race by. Come ride the rails, come cross the young country! ~Amazon
The Dark by Lemony Snicket
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
Journey by Aaron Becker
A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it
escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red
marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that
carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When she
is captured by a sinister emperor, only an act of tremendous courage
and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her
heart’s desire? With supple line, luminous color, and nimble flights of
fancy, author-illustrator Aaron Becker launches an ordinary child on an
extraordinary journey toward her greatest and most exciting adventure of
all. ~Amazon
If You Want to See a Whale by Erin E. Stead
If you want to see a whale, you will need to know what not to look at. Pink roses, pelicans, possible pirates . . . If you want to see a whale, you have to keep your eyes on the sea, and wait . . . and wait . . . and wait . . .~Amazon
NEWBERY:
Doll Bones by Holly Black
Black's tale of friendship and the
trials of growing up is set against the backdrop of a spooky ghost
story. Zach Barlow loves to make things up. He and his friends Poppy and
Alice spend every afternoon concocting new adventures for their dolls
and action figures. However, Zach's recently returned father is less
than thrilled about his son spending his time playing with dolls instead
of taking part in more age-appropriate activities, such as
basketball. When he commits a drastic act to force Zach to give up his
play-acting, it precipitates a series of events that send Zach, Poppy,
and Alice on a midnight quest to lay to rest the soul of a murdered
girl, a soul that now inhabits a bone china doll. Along the way, the
trio uncovers secrets about the past and one another, and discovers that
they are capable of more than they ever realized. Nick Podehl expertly
voices the three friends as well as the unforgettable characters
Tin-Shoe Joe and the pink-haired librarian, Miss Katherine. Black has
written an adventurous ghost tale that fans of Mary Downing Hahn and Peg
Kehret and devotees of the author's previous novels will love.–Michaela
Schied
The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
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
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
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
Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
In her first book since the Newbery Medal winner, Moon Over Manifest, Clare Vanderpool delivers another contender in Navigating Early.
Jack and Early, outsiders at their boarding school in Maine, form a
friendship that sets them on an epic quest across land, sea, and the
depths of their own hearts looking for Pi—the young seeker whose tale
Early reads in the numbers following 3.14, convinced that he is lost.
On their adventure they find pirates, a ferocious black bear, and
finally, resolution and connection in the aftermath of a haunting loss.
Vanderpool works magic in this multilayered novel of two stories —that
of the boys, and that of Pi--and they dovetail beautifully throughout,
culminating in an incredibly touching and gratifying ending. --Seira Wilson
The Real Boy by Anne Ursu
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
NEW AUDIO BOOKS
Chapter Books
Big Nate Series, by Lincoln Peirce
Big Nate: In a Class by Himself
Big Nate Flips Out
Big Nate Goes for Broke
Big Nate on a Roll
Big Nate Strikes Again
Ghost Knight by Oliver Latsch (GSF list)
Island of Silence by Lisa McMann
Murder at Midnight by Avi
Midnight Magic by Avi
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin
Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck
Picture Books
Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
Make Way for Duckilings by Robert McCloskey
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
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
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