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

June Picks

As the year starts to wind down, I wanted to share some Audio/Visual materials that I have purchased for the media center. These DVDs will be available through June and, of course, next year!


Non-Fiction

Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower

From their self-imposed exile in Holland and perilous Atlantic crossing in the Mayflower to unimaginable hardships encountered in their new land, this is the definitive story of the Pilgrims and how they came to live--and ultimately prosper--in the harsh climate of an unfamiliar world. 


Liberty Kids: Complete Series 

History comes alive in this excellent Emmy Award-nominated 40-episode, animated series about the experiences of two young teens during the American Revolution. Far more than a simple chronicle of the battles and major events of the American Revolution, Liberty’s Kids tells the story of the cultural, scientific, political, and social forces that helped shape America’s fight for independence from the perspective of two young teens from very different backgrounds.


Modern Marvels: Mad Electricity

From wireless energy to remote controls to green power nineteenth-century inventor Nikola Tesla had an unprecedented impact on the way the modern world works. In this electrifying program get inside the complex mind of a man who amassed hundreds of patents in his lifetime--many of which affect our lives on a daily basis. Travel to Niagara Falls where in 1893 Tesla installed his new system of alternating electrical current (AC)--a revolutionary form of power that is now the global standard. At an abandoned site on Long Island Sound take a private tour of the forgotten ruins of Tesla's dream experiment--a huge tower he hoped would play a role in wirelessly powering the world. Finally learn how Tesla anticipated the possibilities of renewable forms of energy including geothermal and solar power more than a century ago.


Inventions that Shook the World 

From the airplane to the DNA fingerprint, science, history and pop culture come under the spotlight in this thrilling chronicle of the 20th Century's greatest inventions. Go on a decade-by-decade voyage of discovery through life-changing inventions; like the radio that made the world smaller; the machine gun that made it more dangerous; or the parking meter that made it more expensive. Meet the brilliant, often quirky minds that brought the inventions to life, including the smartest man on the planet and the high school dropout everyone took for a fool. Witness the discovery and creation of billion-dollar inventions and financial disasters - all players in the most innovative century the world has ever known. 


The Music of Williamsburg 

Music of Williamsburg (1960, 40 minutes) Music in eighteenth-century Williamsburg was a ritual of everyday life the accompaniment to everything from children's games to slave labors to marching militia. Even the simple sounds of an ordinary day seemed to mesh into a musical rhythm the beat of horses hooves, the rustling of the wind, the clinking of tavern glasses. The architecture, furnishings, costumes, and settings of this era stimulate the senses, putting you in tune with another time in American history. Extra Feature The Musical Instrument Maker of Williamsburg (1976, 54 minutes) Experience the pride and precision that went into every eighteenth-century instrument made in colonial America. Each part is handmade and carefully fitted by craftsmen as they create a small harpsichord, known as a spinet, and the period-popular violin. The instruments take shape under deft, steady hands that turn raw materials into works of art. 


Life in the Freezer

Life in the Freezer is a startling portrait of Antarctica as a dramatic, violent, yet ultimately poetic ecosystem. It's also a miraculously beautiful documentary that can stir an armchair adventurer, make one wish to be standing alongside host David Attenborough as he gazes at the dream-like enormity of glaciers ("glass-yeers," as Attenborough pronounces it) or visits one of the pristine, Georgian islands where seabirds flock during Antarctica's version of spring and summer. With its frozen mass subject to cyclical expansions and retractions, Antarctica's changes determine the feeding, mating, and habitat patterns of a wide variety of wildlife. Life in the Freezer's multi-episode format allows each of those changes to be explored in rich detail.


Nature Penguins: Penguins of the Arctic/ The World of Penguins 

There is much more to penuins than Happy Feet. Well-loved and well-dressed, the penguin is popularly known as awkward and comical. But the complete story is not so black and white. The closer you get to penguins in two fascinating episodes of NATURE, the more these "strange birds" will surprise you!. In "Penguins of the Antarctic," remarkable footage captures penguins as they cope with some of the harshest weather on the planet. "The World of Penguins" explores the unexpected places you'll find penguins, from the scorching deserts of South America and the forests of New Zealand to suburban streets. 


Liberty! The American Revolution 

"Liberty! The American Revolution" is a dramatic documentary about the birth of the American Republic and the struggle of a loosely connected group of states to become a nation. The George Foster Peabody award-winning series brings the people, events, and ideas of the revolution to life through dramatic reenactments performed by a distinguished cast.  



Biography: Henry Ford

He made the automobile accessible to the common man. The common man made him rich.Henry Ford was one of the great innovators of our time. When the car he invented became so popular he couldn't build them fast enough he came up with the modern assembly plant to meet demand. The rest is history. BIOGRAPHY profiles the life of the industrial giant who earned notoriety for his intolerance as well as his inventiveness. Interviews with former workers and family members point out his genius and eccentricities while automotive historians trace his monumental career from his first handbuilt car to saving his company with the introduction of the V-8 at an age when most men are long retired.This is the fascinating story of the driven man who changed the way we all live ironically spelling an end to the America he loved. 


The Magic School Bus: The Complete Series 

Seatbelts everyone! Sparks of discovery fly with this 8-DVD set containing all 52 episodes of the Emmy Award-winning animated science-adventure series. Based on the bestselling books, kids everywhere can get charged up about science with this collectible, first-ever THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS COMPLETE SERIES. Ride with Ms. Frizzle, teacher extraordinaire, and her enthusiastic, inquisitive students as their Magic School Bus takes them on cliff-hanging field trips inside the human body, back to prehistoric times, far out into space, and everywhere else in between! Grab a seat and hang on for all four seasons of the longest-running kids science series ever! Inside find a full list of episodes, science topics, experiments and more!


 Fiction

Iron Will 

This snowy adventure about a boy and his dogs is charming, and entices the kids. Charismatic MacKenzie Astin plays a teenager trying to save the family farm by entering a 522-mile sled-dog marathon. Set against a lusciously scenic background, this films includes rousing scenes in the 1917 Winnipeg-to-St.-Paul sled race. 


Roald Dahl's The BFG

One moonlit night, little Sophie is snatched from her bed at Mrs. Clonkers’ orphanage by an awesome giant who whisks her away on a magical, thrilling and funny adventure. Roald Dahl’s enchanting, best-selling children’s book comes to life in this classic, animated musical feature by the award-winning Cosgrove Hall Studio, makers of Danger Mouse and The Wind in the Willows.  The BFG shows the most tender and dreamlike side of celebrated author Roald Dahl as he depicts the amazing friendship that grows between a little girl and a big-hearted Giant.


Sarah Plain and Tall

Set in 1910, the story follows Sarah's trial run as stepmother to the children of the widowed Jacob Witting (Christopher Walken). The tough part of the experiment is the conflicting expectations the would-be couple have over Sarah's role in the household. The kids, too, have their doubts about a substitute for their mother, and Jacob isn't ready, emotionally, for a new beginning. But in short order the strong-willed Sarah brings happiness and vitality into the house, and love and understanding eventually blossom between the two lonely adults. Everything is right about this Hallmark production, from a bright script cowritten by MacLachlan to Glenn Jordan's sensitive direction and a pair of first-rate leads making every moment worth watching. A wholesome tale from the heartland, this is a good movie for any viewing situation, from an audience of one to an entire family.