You know how sometimes you get a cold phone call and the person on the other end wants to send you a box of books? "Just keep the ones you want. We will pick up any that you don't want. You'll only be charged for what you keep." In the end, you keep them all because it just seems easier that way.
A couple of years ago, one of our principals wanted to fill some holes in his school library collection (and there were many). He answered "yes" when they called. What he got was an expensive box of 6 year old books. In a school district of over 180 schools, only a handful of the books were already in the district database. Not even considering his collection needs, I can tell you that if 200 schools haven't needed those books in 6 years, his school could probably do without them too.
Now I know that not all "we'll send you a box" companies send you old books. However, I have always been of the mind that I can choose what I need by myself, "thank you very much." So, of course, I also resisted Junior Library Guild. They send you books each month, kind of like a Book of the Month Club. You pay in advance, like a magazine. One day, while visiting one of my schools, I saw really new books that I had just learned about. "How did you get these? I didn't tell you about these yet." The sheepish reply was, "I know you don't like them, but I wanted to get my money spent. I bought JLG."
Well, for Pete's sake. I looked at the titles and there was nothing there that I wouldn't have chosen. Turns out JLG has spies- library spies. They have librarians like us who get advanced copies. They sometimes see what's coming out before I do! (Publishers also send me review and advance copies.)
So where am I going with this? On Monday, ALA announced the award winning books and media. So, like many of you, I checked our library, the Instructional Media Center, to see how many we had in our collection. When I pulled the books, I noticed a pattern. Almost all of the books that we had were Junior Library Guild Selections or they were ARCs or publisher review copies. Hmm. I thought. How about that? Now why is that?
First, I haven't had money to spend on our collection since last March. Just before the money that I had was swept, I renewed our subscription to JLG. If it weren't for JLG (and the publishers who want me to know about their books), I wouldn't have any of the award winning books. It was the best decision I have made for spending money on books. The money is spent, but the new titles keep rolling in.
Too many times my money has been saved for late releases and swept before I got a chance to spend it. Do yourself a favor. After you buy your ALA award winners, spend the rest of the money on a subscription to JLG. Keep the best new books coming into your library. JLG has my blessing.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Connecting Storytelling to the Classroom: Books to Tell 2009
Tonight I am speaking at USD about using literature in your classroom. It's a storytelling class so I will talk about connecting stories with reading, writing and curriculum. You can look through the blog and see what I did last time, but this time, I will show them a family story I made on Spaghoake Night. Using Photo Story and pictures I took of my family, I created a story in just a few minutes. Here is the video I made.
Here are the books that I suggested that they use:
Picture Books to Tell
14 cows for America -- Deedy, Carmen Agra. {IL K-3, 327.676207} -- Peachtree, 2009., RL 3.7, 38p
Presents an illustrated tale of a gift of fourteen cows given by the Maasai people of Kenya to the U.S. as a gesture of comfort and friendship in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Auntie Tiger -- Yep, Laurence. {IL K-3, -E-} – HarperCollins Publishers, 2009., RL 2.7, 32p
A retelling of the classic fairy tale, "Little Red Riding Hood," in which Big Sister sets aside her differences with Little Sister to rescue her from a tiger in disguise.
The boy who invented TV : the story of Philo Farnsworth -- Krull, Kathleen. {IL K-3, 621.388} -- Alfred A. Knopf, 2009., RL 5.5, 34p
Presents a picture-book biography of Philo Farnsworth, who created the world's first television image in 1928.
Chicken and Cat clean up -- Varon, Sara. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Scholastic Press, 2009., 36p
A wordless story in which Chicken opens his own housekeeping business with Cat as his partner; but when Cat's clumsiness forces chicken to send him out, Cat listens to his inner-species and ends up saving the day.
Chicken Little -- Emberley, Rebecca. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Roaring Brook Press, 2009., RL 2.8, 32p An illustrated retelling of the story in which Chicken Little becomes convinced the sky is falling after being hit on the head by an acorn.
Crow call -- Lowry, Lois. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Scholastic Press, 2009., RL 3.5, 32p
Nine-year-old Liz accompanies the stranger who is her father, just returned from the war, when he goes hunting for crows in Pennsylvania farmland.
Epossumondas plays possum -- Salley, Coleen. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Harcourt Children's Books, 2009., RL 2.2, 34p
Forgetting his mother's warnings, Epossumondas goes into the swamp alone then must pretend to be dead time and again as he hears frightening sounds and fears they are being made by the dreaded loup garou.
Foo, the flying frog of Washtub Pond -- Yang, Belle. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Candlewick Press, 2009., RL 2.9, 24p
When Foo Frog starts to outgrow his fellow web-footed creatures, Sue-Lin Salamander and Mao-Mao Mudpuppy, his new found attitude puts their friendship to the test.
Food for thought : the stories behind the things we eat -- Robbins, Ken. {IL 3-6, 641.3} -- Flash Point/Roaring Brook Press, 2009., RL 5.3, 45p
Photographs and text explain how commonly consumed foods were introduced to the human palate, and provides brief histories on apples, oranges, corn, bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, pomegranates, grapes, and mushrooms.
Goldilocks -- Sanderson, Ruth. {IL K-3, 398.22} -- Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 2.3, 32p
After finding the bears' cottage in the woods and making a mess inside, Goldilocks helps the family clean up and enjoys a nice meal.
Goldilocks and the three bears -- Spirin, Gennadii. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Marshall Cavendish Children, 2009., RL 1.5, 32p
A simplified retelling of the adventures of a little girl walking in the woods who finds the house of the three bears and helps herself to their belongings. Includes a note on the history of the tale.
Hansel and Gretel -- Isadora, Rachel. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Putnam's, 2009., RL 2.9, 32p
An illustrated retelling of Grimm's fairy tale that depicts two children who are left in the woods by their parents, but manage to find their way home after escaping from a wicked witch and her delicious cottage.
Homework -- Yorinks, Arthur. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Walker, 2009., RL 2.8, 32p
Tony's pens, along with his pencil and eraser, come to life and begin to squabble as they try to complete Tony's neglected homework.
How many donkeys? : an Arabic counting tale -- MacDonald, Margaret Read. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Albert Whitman, 2009., RL 1.5, 32p
When Jouha counts the ten donkeys carrying his dates to market, he repeatedly forgets to count the one he is riding on, causing him great consternation. Includes numbers written out in Arabic and in English transliteration, as well as the numerals one through ten, and a note on the origins and other versions of the story.
The king who barked : real animals who ruled -- Jones, Charlotte Foltz. {IL 3-6, 636} -- Holiday House, 2009., RL 6.7, 40p
Relates the stories of fifteen animals from throughout history who were appointed to or ran for government positions.
The lion & the mouse -- Pinkney, Jerry. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Little, Brown and Co. Books for Young Readers, 2009., 34p
In this wordless retelling of an Aesop fable, an adventuresome mouse proves that even small creatures are capable of great deeds when he rescues the King of the Jungle.
Lousy rotten stinkin' grapes -- Palatini, Margie. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 1.9, 31p
Retells the fable of a frustrated fox that, after many tries to reach a high bunch of grapes, decides they must be sour anyway.
The mitten -- Aylesworth, Jim. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Scholastic Press, 2009., RL 2.9, 32p
A retelling of the traditional tale of how a boy's lost mitten becomes a refuge from the cold for an increasing number of animals.
New Year at the pier : a Rosh Hashanah story -- Wayland, April Halprin. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Dial Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 2.7, 32p
On Rosh Hashanah, Izzy and his family make lists of the wrongs they have committed over the past year, and after they have apologized, they throw pieces of bread into the water to "clean their hearts" in a ceremony called tashlich.
One fine trade -- Miller, Bobbi. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Holiday House, 2009., RL 2.3, 32p
Georgy Piney Woods, the best peddler who ever lived, makes several trades so his daughter can buy a wedding dress.
Otis -- Long, Loren. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Philomel Books, 2009., RL 3.4, 40p
When a big new yellow tractor arrives, Otis the friendly little tractor is cast away behind the barn, but when trouble occurs Otis is the only one who can help.
Pig-Boy : a trickster tale from Hawai'i -- McDermott, Gerald. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Hougton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009., RL 1.8, 32p
Pig-Boy, a dirty, hairy trickster, uses his shape-shifting talents to get out of all sorts of troublesome situations.
Pigling : a Cinderella story : a Korean tale -- Jolley, Dan. {IL 5-8, 398.2} -- Graphic Universe, 2009., RL 3.3, 48p
A Korean adaptation of the Cinderella story told in graphic novel format, featuring Pigling, a young girl whose stepmother and stepsister treat her badly.
Rapunzel : the graphic novel -- Peters, Stephanie True. {IL 5-8, 398.2} -- Stone Arch Books, 2009., RL 2.5, 33p
A graphic novel adaptation of the classic fairy tale of "Rapunzel."
The snow day -- Sakai, Komako. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009., RL 1.7, 32p
A little rabbit enjoys having a day off from kindergarten and spending time with his mother during a snowstorm, but his father's flight home is cancelled until the snow stops falling.
Sparrow girl -- Pennypacker, Sara. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Disney/Hyperion Books, 2009., RL 3.5
Ming-Li vows to save as many sparrows as she can after her village tries to kill them all.
Tsunami! -- Kajikawa, Kimiko. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Philomel Books, 2009., RL 2.9, 32p
A wealthy man in a Japanese village, who everyone calls Ojiisan, which means grandfather, sets fire to his rice fields to warn the innocent people of an approaching tsunami.
The twelve dancing princesses -- Cech, John. {IL K-3, 398.22} -- Sterling, 20
09., RL 5.7, 22p
Every day twelve princesses mysteriously wear out their shoes, but neither the king nor their suitors can figure out why, until one simple soldier tries.
The underground gators -- Casey, Tina. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Dutton Children's Books, 2009., RL 3.3, 32p
Humorous illustrations and text describe what is really living in the New York City sewer system.
When I wore my sailor suit -- Shulevitz, Uri. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Farrar Straus Giroux, 2009., RL 1.7, 32p
A young child spends the day imagining himself to be a sailor on a grand adventure.
Word builder -- Paul, Ann Whitford. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 1.6, 31p
Text explains how putting letters into words, words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, and paragraphs into chapters ends up creating a book.
You never heard of Sandy Koufax?! -- Winter, Jonah. {IL K-3, 796.357} -- Schwartz & Wade Books, 2009., RL 3.7, 32p
Offers a brief overview of the life of Sandy Koufax, discussing the obstacles and physical challenges he faced, his successful career, his retirement, and other related topics.
Yours truly, Louisa -- Puttock, Simon. {IL K-3, -E-} – HarperCollins Publishers, 2009., RL 3.2, 32p
Louisa the pig, unhappy with conditions on the farm, starts an anonymous letter writing campaign to get Farmer Joe to fix things up, but when she goes too far she gets a letter of her own.
Yummy : eight favorite fairy tales -- Cousins, Lucy. {IL K-3, 398.21} -- Candlewick Press, 2009., RL 2.1, 121p
Simple text and bold illustrations tell eight classic fairy tales, including "The Three Little Pigs" and "Little Red Riding Hood."
Longer Works to Share
Also known as Harper -- Leal, Ann Haywood. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Henry Holt, 2009., RL 4, 246p
Writing poetry helps fifth-grader Harper Lee Morgan cope with her father's absence, being evicted, and having to skip school to care for her brother while their mother works, and things look even brighter after she befriends a mute girl and a kindly disabled woman.
Born to write : the remarkable lives of six famous authors -- Cotter, Charis. {IL 5-8, 809} -- Annick Press, 2008., RL 5.7, 167p
Looks at the childhoods of six celebrated authors, including Madeleine L'Engle, E. B. White, L. M. Montgomery, Philip Pullman, Christopher Paul Curtis, and C. S. Lewis, and discusses how their youthful experiences influenced their writing.
Dying to meet you -- Klise, Kate. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Harcourt, 2009., RL 4.4, 147p
In this story told mostly through letters, children's book author, I. B. Grumply, gets more than he bargained for when he rents a quiet place to write for the summer.
The giant-slayer -- Lawrence, Iain. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Delacorte Press, 2009., RL 5.4, 292p
When her eight-year-old neighbor is stricken with polio in 1955, eleven-year-old Laurie discovers that there is power in her imagination as she weaves a story during her visits with him and other patients confined to iron lung machines.
Over my dead body -- Klise, Kate. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009., RL 5.1, 116p
A story told mostly through letters in which busybody Dick Tater tries to ban Halloween and ghost stories, as well as to break up the popular writing team of I. B. Grumply, ghost Olive C. Spence, and eleven-year-old illustrator Seymour Hope.
Serendipity Market -- Blubaugh, Penny. {IL YA, -Fic-} -- Laura Geringer Books/HarperTeen, 2009., 268p
When the world begins to seem unbalanced, Mama Inez calls ten storytellers to the Serendipity Market and, through the power of their magical tales, the balance of the world is corrected once again.
Singing for Mrs. Pettigrew : stories and essays from a writing life -- Morpurgo, Michael. {IL 5-8, 828} -- Candlewick Press, 2009, 2006., RL 5.7, 263p
Collects various stories by English author Michael Morpurgo, including "The Giant's Necklace," "My One and Only Great Escape," and "Singing for Mrs. Pettigrew," with essays in which the author discusses his inspiration for each and details of his craft.
The storm in the barn -- Phelan, Matt. {IL 5-8, 741.5} -- Candlewick, 2009., RL 3.3, 201p
Eleven-year-old Jack Clark struggles with everyday obstacles while his family and community contend with the challenges brought on by the Dust Bowl in 1937 Kansas.
Walking backward -- Austen, Catherine. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Orca Book Publishers, 2009., RL 4.5, 167p
After twelve-year-old Josh's mother dies in a car crash he is prescribed to start writing in a journal, but he reaches a better understanding about loss when he chooses death as his research topic for school and begins to research and experiments with the mourning practices of various religions.
Professional Title
Literacy development in the storytelling classroom -- {IL PF, 372.67} -- Libraries Unlimited, 2009., 342p
Presents plans and activities for enchancing literacy development, with articles that focus on curriculum storytelling techniques and experiences in preschool, kindergarten, primary and elementary grades, middle school, and beyond.
Here are the books that I suggested that they use:
Picture Books to Tell
14 cows for America -- Deedy, Carmen Agra. {IL K-3, 327.676207} -- Peachtree, 2009., RL 3.7, 38pPresents an illustrated tale of a gift of fourteen cows given by the Maasai people of Kenya to the U.S. as a gesture of comfort and friendship in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Auntie Tiger -- Yep, Laurence. {IL K-3, -E-} – HarperCollins Publishers, 2009., RL 2.7, 32p
A retelling of the classic fairy tale, "Little Red Riding Hood," in which Big Sister sets aside her differences with Little Sister to rescue her from a tiger in disguise.
The boy who invented TV : the story of Philo Farnsworth -- Krull, Kathleen. {IL K-3, 621.388} -- Alfred A. Knopf, 2009., RL 5.5, 34p
Presents a picture-book biography of Philo Farnsworth, who created the world's first television image in 1928.
Chicken and Cat clean up -- Varon, Sara. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Scholastic Press, 2009., 36p
A wordless story in which Chicken opens his own housekeeping business with Cat as his partner; but when Cat's clumsiness forces chicken to send him out, Cat listens to his inner-species and ends up saving the day.
Chicken Little -- Emberley, Rebecca. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Roaring Brook Press, 2009., RL 2.8, 32p An illustrated retelling of the story in which Chicken Little becomes convinced the sky is falling after being hit on the head by an acorn.
Crow call -- Lowry, Lois. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Scholastic Press, 2009., RL 3.5, 32p
Nine-year-old Liz accompanies the stranger who is her father, just returned from the war, when he goes hunting for crows in Pennsylvania farmland.
Epossumondas plays possum -- Salley, Coleen. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Harcourt Children's Books, 2009., RL 2.2, 34p
Forgetting his mother's warnings, Epossumondas goes into the swamp alone then must pretend to be dead time and again as he hears frightening sounds and fears they are being made by the dreaded loup garou.
Foo, the flying frog of Washtub Pond -- Yang, Belle. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Candlewick Press, 2009., RL 2.9, 24p
When Foo Frog starts to outgrow his fellow web-footed creatures, Sue-Lin Salamander and Mao-Mao Mudpuppy, his new found attitude puts their friendship to the test.
Food for thought : the stories behind the things we eat -- Robbins, Ken. {IL 3-6, 641.3} -- Flash Point/Roaring Brook Press, 2009., RL 5.3, 45p
Photographs and text explain how commonly consumed foods were introduced to the human palate, and provides brief histories on apples, oranges, corn, bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, pomegranates, grapes, and mushrooms.
Goldilocks -- Sanderson, Ruth. {IL K-3, 398.22} -- Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 2.3, 32p
After finding the bears' cottage in the woods and making a mess inside, Goldilocks helps the family clean up and enjoys a nice meal.
Goldilocks and the three bears -- Spirin, Gennadii. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Marshall Cavendish Children, 2009., RL 1.5, 32p
A simplified retelling of the adventures of a little girl walking in the woods who finds the house of the three bears and helps herself to their belongings. Includes a note on the history of the tale.
Hansel and Gretel -- Isadora, Rachel. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Putnam's, 2009., RL 2.9, 32p
An illustrated retelling of Grimm's fairy tale that depicts two children who are left in the woods by their parents, but manage to find their way home after escaping from a wicked witch and her delicious cottage.
Homework -- Yorinks, Arthur. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Walker, 2009., RL 2.8, 32p
Tony's pens, along with his pencil and eraser, come to life and begin to squabble as they try to complete Tony's neglected homework.
How many donkeys? : an Arabic counting tale -- MacDonald, Margaret Read. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Albert Whitman, 2009., RL 1.5, 32p
When Jouha counts the ten donkeys carrying his dates to market, he repeatedly forgets to count the one he is riding on, causing him great consternation. Includes numbers written out in Arabic and in English transliteration, as well as the numerals one through ten, and a note on the origins and other versions of the story.
The king who barked : real animals who ruled -- Jones, Charlotte Foltz. {IL 3-6, 636} -- Holiday House, 2009., RL 6.7, 40p
Relates the stories of fifteen animals from throughout history who were appointed to or ran for government positions.
The lion & the mouse -- Pinkney, Jerry. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Little, Brown and Co. Books for Young Readers, 2009., 34p
In this wordless retelling of an Aesop fable, an adventuresome mouse proves that even small creatures are capable of great deeds when he rescues the King of the Jungle.
Lousy rotten stinkin' grapes -- Palatini, Margie. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 1.9, 31p
Retells the fable of a frustrated fox that, after many tries to reach a high bunch of grapes, decides they must be sour anyway.
The mitten -- Aylesworth, Jim. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Scholastic Press, 2009., RL 2.9, 32p
A retelling of the traditional tale of how a boy's lost mitten becomes a refuge from the cold for an increasing number of animals.
New Year at the pier : a Rosh Hashanah story -- Wayland, April Halprin. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Dial Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 2.7, 32p
On Rosh Hashanah, Izzy and his family make lists of the wrongs they have committed over the past year, and after they have apologized, they throw pieces of bread into the water to "clean their hearts" in a ceremony called tashlich.
One fine trade -- Miller, Bobbi. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Holiday House, 2009., RL 2.3, 32p
Georgy Piney Woods, the best peddler who ever lived, makes several trades so his daughter can buy a wedding dress.
Otis -- Long, Loren. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Philomel Books, 2009., RL 3.4, 40p
When a big new yellow tractor arrives, Otis the friendly little tractor is cast away behind the barn, but when trouble occurs Otis is the only one who can help.
Pig-Boy : a trickster tale from Hawai'i -- McDermott, Gerald. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Hougton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009., RL 1.8, 32p
Pig-Boy, a dirty, hairy trickster, uses his shape-shifting talents to get out of all sorts of troublesome situations.
Pigling : a Cinderella story : a Korean tale -- Jolley, Dan. {IL 5-8, 398.2} -- Graphic Universe, 2009., RL 3.3, 48p
A Korean adaptation of the Cinderella story told in graphic novel format, featuring Pigling, a young girl whose stepmother and stepsister treat her badly.
Rapunzel : the graphic novel -- Peters, Stephanie True. {IL 5-8, 398.2} -- Stone Arch Books, 2009., RL 2.5, 33p
A graphic novel adaptation of the classic fairy tale of "Rapunzel."
The snow day -- Sakai, Komako. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009., RL 1.7, 32p
A little rabbit enjoys having a day off from kindergarten and spending time with his mother during a snowstorm, but his father's flight home is cancelled until the snow stops falling.
Sparrow girl -- Pennypacker, Sara. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Disney/Hyperion Books, 2009., RL 3.5
Ming-Li vows to save as many sparrows as she can after her village tries to kill them all.
Tsunami! -- Kajikawa, Kimiko. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Philomel Books, 2009., RL 2.9, 32p
A wealthy man in a Japanese village, who everyone calls Ojiisan, which means grandfather, sets fire to his rice fields to warn the innocent people of an approaching tsunami.
The twelve dancing princesses -- Cech, John. {IL K-3, 398.22} -- Sterling, 20
09., RL 5.7, 22p
Every day twelve princesses mysteriously wear out their shoes, but neither the king nor their suitors can figure out why, until one simple soldier tries.
The underground gators -- Casey, Tina. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Dutton Children's Books, 2009., RL 3.3, 32p
Humorous illustrations and text describe what is really living in the New York City sewer system.
When I wore my sailor suit -- Shulevitz, Uri. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Farrar Straus Giroux, 2009., RL 1.7, 32p
A young child spends the day imagining himself to be a sailor on a grand adventure.
Word builder -- Paul, Ann Whitford. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 1.6, 31p
Text explains how putting letters into words, words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, and paragraphs into chapters ends up creating a book.
You never heard of Sandy Koufax?! -- Winter, Jonah. {IL K-3, 796.357} -- Schwartz & Wade Books, 2009., RL 3.7, 32p
Offers a brief overview of the life of Sandy Koufax, discussing the obstacles and physical challenges he faced, his successful career, his retirement, and other related topics.
Yours truly, Louisa -- Puttock, Simon. {IL K-3, -E-} – HarperCollins Publishers, 2009., RL 3.2, 32p
Louisa the pig, unhappy with conditions on the farm, starts an anonymous letter writing campaign to get Farmer Joe to fix things up, but when she goes too far she gets a letter of her own.
Yummy : eight favorite fairy tales -- Cousins, Lucy. {IL K-3, 398.21} -- Candlewick Press, 2009., RL 2.1, 121p
Simple text and bold illustrations tell eight classic fairy tales, including "The Three Little Pigs" and "Little Red Riding Hood."
Longer Works to Share
Also known as Harper -- Leal, Ann Haywood. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Henry Holt, 2009., RL 4, 246p
Writing poetry helps fifth-grader Harper Lee Morgan cope with her father's absence, being evicted, and having to skip school to care for her brother while their mother works, and things look even brighter after she befriends a mute girl and a kindly disabled woman.
Born to write : the remarkable lives of six famous authors -- Cotter, Charis. {IL 5-8, 809} -- Annick Press, 2008., RL 5.7, 167p
Looks at the childhoods of six celebrated authors, including Madeleine L'Engle, E. B. White, L. M. Montgomery, Philip Pullman, Christopher Paul Curtis, and C. S. Lewis, and discusses how their youthful experiences influenced their writing.
Dying to meet you -- Klise, Kate. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Harcourt, 2009., RL 4.4, 147p
In this story told mostly through letters, children's book author, I. B. Grumply, gets more than he bargained for when he rents a quiet place to write for the summer.
The giant-slayer -- Lawrence, Iain. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Delacorte Press, 2009., RL 5.4, 292p
When her eight-year-old neighbor is stricken with polio in 1955, eleven-year-old Laurie discovers that there is power in her imagination as she weaves a story during her visits with him and other patients confined to iron lung machines.
Over my dead body -- Klise, Kate. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009., RL 5.1, 116p
A story told mostly through letters in which busybody Dick Tater tries to ban Halloween and ghost stories, as well as to break up the popular writing team of I. B. Grumply, ghost Olive C. Spence, and eleven-year-old illustrator Seymour Hope.
Serendipity Market -- Blubaugh, Penny. {IL YA, -Fic-} -- Laura Geringer Books/HarperTeen, 2009., 268p
When the world begins to seem unbalanced, Mama Inez calls ten storytellers to the Serendipity Market and, through the power of their magical tales, the balance of the world is corrected once again.
Singing for Mrs. Pettigrew : stories and essays from a writing life -- Morpurgo, Michael. {IL 5-8, 828} -- Candlewick Press, 2009, 2006., RL 5.7, 263p
Collects various stories by English author Michael Morpurgo, including "The Giant's Necklace," "My One and Only Great Escape," and "Singing for Mrs. Pettigrew," with essays in which the author discusses his inspiration for each and details of his craft.
The storm in the barn -- Phelan, Matt. {IL 5-8, 741.5} -- Candlewick, 2009., RL 3.3, 201p
Eleven-year-old Jack Clark struggles with everyday obstacles while his family and community contend with the challenges brought on by the Dust Bowl in 1937 Kansas.
Walking backward -- Austen, Catherine. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Orca Book Publishers, 2009., RL 4.5, 167p
After twelve-year-old Josh's mother dies in a car crash he is prescribed to start writing in a journal, but he reaches a better understanding about loss when he chooses death as his research topic for school and begins to research and experiments with the mourning practices of various religions.
Professional Title
Literacy development in the storytelling classroom -- {IL PF, 372.67} -- Libraries Unlimited, 2009., 342p
Presents plans and activities for enchancing literacy development, with articles that focus on curriculum storytelling techniques and experiences in preschool, kindergarten, primary and elementary grades, middle school, and beyond.
Friday, November 20, 2009
What's New in Children's Books 2009?
This week I am at CLSA Annual Conference in Ontario, CA. (That's California, not Canada!) In the morning I will speak about my favorite books (so far) of 2009. The list was over way 100 titles, but I narrowed it down to the one hour I have to speak. Is your favorite missing? Post a comment. And don't despair. The year isn't over; stay tuned for my final favorites to be posted in January. And the (current) winners are...
14 cows for America -- Deedy, Carmen Agra. {IL K-3, 327.676207} -- Peachtree, 2009., RL 2.5, 38p
Presents an illustrated tale of a gift of fourteen cows given by the Maasai people of Kenya to the U.S. as a gesture of comfort and friendship in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Al Capone shines my shoes -- Choldenko, Gennifer. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Dial Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 4.6, 274p
Moose Flanagan, who lives on Alcatraz along with his family and the families of the other prison guards, is frightened when he discovers that noted gangster Al Capone, a prisoner there, wants a favor in return for the help that he secretly gave Moose.
All the broken pieces : a novel in verse -- Burg, Ann E. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Scholastic Press, 2009., RL 5.6, 218p
Two years after being airlifted out of Vietnam in 1975, Matt Pin is haunted by the terrible secret he left behind and, now, in a loving adoptive home in the United States, a series of profound events forces him to confront his past.
Anything but typical -- Baskin, Nora Raleigh. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 5.3, 195p
Jason, a twelve-year-old autistic boy who wants to become a writer, relates what his life is like as he tries to make sense of his world.
Ashley Bryan : words to my life's song -- Bryan, Ashley. {IL 3-6, 818} -- Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 6.5, 58p
An illustrated biography in which African-American author Ashley Bryan describes his life.
Birds -- Henkes, Kevin. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Greenwillow Books, 2009., RL 2.1, 32p
Fascinated by the colors, shapes, sounds, and movements of the many different birds she sees through her window, a little girl is happy to discover that she and they have something in common.
Burn my heart -- Naidoo, Beverley. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Amistad, 2009, c2007., RL 5.1, 209p
While the Mau Mau rebellion threatens the British settlers living in Kenya during the 1950s, Mathew and Mugo maintain their friendship, despite their different races, but during these tense times, a single act of betrayal could alter everything.
Button up! : wrinkled rhymes -- Schertle, Alice. {IL K-3, 811} -- Harcourt Children's Books, 2009., RL 2.1, 33p
A collection of poems about clothes and animals wearing them.
Charles and Emma : the Darwins' leap of faith -- Heiligman, Deborah. {IL YA, 576.8} -- Holt, 2009., 268p
A biography of English naturalist Charles Darwin that provides an account of the personality behind evolutionary theory and the affect of his work on his personal life, such as his relationship with his religious wife.
Chicken Little -- Emberley, Rebecca. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Roaring Brook Press, 2009., RL 2.8, 32p An illustrated retelling of the story in which Chicken Little becomes convinced the sky is falling after being hit on the head by an acorn.
Claudette Colvin : twice toward justice -- Hoose, Phillip M. {IL YA, 323} -- Melanie Kroupa Books, 2009., RL 7, 133p
Presents an account of fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin, an African-American girl who refused to give up her seat to a white woman on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, nine months before Rosa Parks, and covers her role in a crucial civil rights case. National Book Award Winner
Coretta Scott -- Shange, Ntozake. {IL K-3, 323} -- Amistad/Katherine Tegen Books, 2009., RL 4.4, 32p
An illustrated biography of Coretta Scott King, describing her childhood in the segregated South, her marriage to Martin Luther King, Jr., and her civil rights work.
Dinothesaurus : prehistoric poems and paintings -- Florian, Douglas. {IL K-3, 811} -- Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 3.9, 43p
Presents illustrated verse about various carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs, including the Iguanodon, Spinosaurus, and long-necked plesiosaurs.
Duck! Rabbit! -- Rosenthal, Amy Krouse. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Chronicle Books, 2009., RL 1.4, 34p
Two unseen characters argue about whether the creature they are looking at is a rabbit or a duck.
The evolution of Calpurnia Tate -- Kelly, Jacqueline. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Henry Holt, 2009., RL 7.5, 340p
In central Texas in 1899, eleven-year-old Callie Vee Tate is instructed to be a lady by her mother, learns about love from the older three of her six brothers, and studies the natural world with her grandfather, the latter of which leads to an important discovery.
Fire -- Cashore, Kristin. {IL YA, -Fic-} -- Dial Books, 2009., 461p
In a kingdom called the Dells, Fire is the last human-shaped monster, with unimaginable beauty and the ability to control the minds of those around her, but even with these gifts she cannot escape the strife that overcomes her world.
A foot in the mouth : poems to speak, sing, and shout -- {IL 3-6, 811} -- Candlewick Press, 2009., RL 4, 61p
Collects over three dozen illustrated rhyming poems, with tongue twisters and bilingual pieces, drawn from contemporary and classic literary sources and anonymous authors.
The forest of hands and teeth -- Ryan, Carrie {IL YA, -Fic-} -- Delacorte Press, 2009.
Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the Unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.
The frog scientist -- Turner, Pamela S. {IL 5-8, 597.8} -- Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009., RL 6.9, 58p
Discusses the work of Tyrone Hayes and his efforts to study and protect frogs, and follows Hayes into the field with his students to perform experiments with various types of frogs.
Heroes of the valley -- Stroud, Jonathan. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Disney/Hyperion Books, 2009., RL 6.4, 483p
Halli Sveinsson, a mischievous young man who does not fit in with his peers and siblings, plays a trick on Ragnor that goes too far, forcing him to embark on a hero's quest in which he will face highway robbers, monsters, an intriguing girl, and truths about his family and the legends he grew up with.
Hurry up and slow down -- Marlow, Layn. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Holiday House, 2009, c2008., RL 2.7, 24p
Hare likes to hurry through the day, unlike Tortoise, but manages to slow down for his favorite bedtime story.
If I stay : a novel -- Forman, Gayle. {IL YA, -Fic-} -- Dutton Books, 2009., 201p
While in a coma following an automobile accident that killed her parents and younger brother, seventeen-year-old Mia, a gifted cellist, weights whether to live with her grief or join her family in death.
The lion & the mouse -- Pinkney, Jerry. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Little, Brown and Co. Books for Young Readers, 2009., 34p
In this wordless retelling of an Aesop fable, an adventuresome mouse proves that even small creatures are capable of great deeds when he rescues the King of the Jungle.
The magician's elephant -- DiCamillo, Kate. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Candlewick Press, 2009., RL 5.8, 201p
When ten-year-old orphan Peter Augustus Duchene encounters a fortune teller in the marketplace one day who tells him that his sister, who is presumed dead, is in fact alive, he embarks on a remarkable series of adventures in an attempt to find her.
Marcelo in the real world -- Stork, Francisco X. {IL YA, -Fic-} -- Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009., 312p
Marcelo Sandoval, a seventeen-year-old boy on the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum, faces new challenges, including romance and injustice, when he goes to work for his father in the mailroom of a corporate law firm.
The negro speaks of rivers -- Hughes, Langston. {IL K-3, 811} -- Disney/Jump at the Sun Books, 2009., RL 3.2, 32p
Watercolor illustrations by E.B. Lewis accompany Langston Hughes' classic poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers."
Read it, don't eat it! -- Schoenherr, Ian. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Greenwillow Books, 2009., RL 1.8, 32p
Rhyming text and illustrations of animals reading offer advice on how to take care of a library book.
Red sings from treetops : a year in colors -- Sidman, Joyce. {IL K-3, 535.6} -- Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009., RL 2.4, 32p
Illustrations and simple text combine the senses of sight, sound, smell, and taste to describe the colors of the seasons.
Redwoods -- Chin, Jason. {IL K-3, 585} -- Flash Point, 2009., RL 4.8, 36p
While reading a book about redwood trees on the subway, a young boy travels as he learns, all the way to the forests of California.
A savage thunder : Antietam and the bloody road to freedom -- Murphy, Jim.{IL 5-8, 973.7} -- Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009., RL 6.7, 103p
Discusses the bloody battle of Antietam, in which General George B. McClellan faced off against General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in Maryland in September of 1862.
A season of gifts -- Peck, Richard. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Dial Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 4.9, 164p
Relates the surprising gifts bestowed on twelve-year-old Bob Barnhart and his family, who have recently moved to a small Illinois town in 1958, by their larger-than-life neighbor, Mrs. Dowdel.
The snow day -- Sakai, Komako. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009., RL 1.7, 32p
A little rabbit enjoys having a day off from kindergarten and spending time with his mother during a snowstorm, but his father's flight home is cancelled until the snow stops falling.
Sparrow girl -- Pennypacker, Sara. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Disney/Hyperion Books, 2009., RL 2.1
Ming-Li vows to save as many sparrows as she can after her village tries to destroy them.
Stitches : a memoir-- -- Small, David. {IL AD, 818} -- W.W. Norton, 2009., 329p
A graphic novel that chronicles the life of American author and illustrator David Small, detailing his sickly childhood and teenage years, relationship with his parents, his cancer, and more.
The storm in the barn -- Phelan, Matt. {IL 5-8, 741.5} -- Candlewick, 2009., RL 3.3, 201p
Eleven-year-old Jack Clark struggles with everyday obstacles while his family and community contend with the challenges brought on by the Dust Bowl in 1937 Kansas.
Tales from outer suburbia -- Tan, Shaun. {IL YA, -Fic-} -- Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009, 2008., 92p
Contains fifteen illustrated short stories, some humorous and some haunting, set in the Australian suburbs.
Thunder-boomer! -- Crum, Shutta. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Clarion Books, 2009., RL 2.1, 32p
A farm family scurries for shelter from a violent thunderstorm that brings welcome relief from the heat and also an unexpected surprise.
Tsunami! -- Kajikawa, Kimiko. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Philomel Books, 2009., RL 2.9, 32p
A wealthy man in a Japanese village, who everyone calls Ojiisan, which means grandfather, sets fire to his rice fields to warn the innocent people of an approaching tsunami.
When you reach me -- Stead, Rebecca. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Wendy Lamb Books, 2009., RL 5.6, 199p
As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1980s television game show, "The $20,000 Pyramid," a twelve-year-old New York City girl tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of time and space.
Where the mountain meets the moon -- Lin, Grace. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Little, Brown and Co. Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 5.7, 278p
Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.
A whiff of pine, a hint of skunk : a forest of poems -- Ruddell, Deborah. {IL K-3, 811} -- Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009., RL 4.8, 33p
An illustrated collection of whimsical poems about life in the forest through the seasons.
Wintergirls -- Anderson, Laurie Halse. {IL YA, -Fic-} -- Viking, 2009., 278p
Eighteen-year-old Lia comes to terms with her best friend's death from anorexia as she struggles with the same disorder.
Written in bone : buried lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland -- Walker, Sally M. {IL 5-8, 614} -- Carolrhoda Books, 2009., RL 8.3, 144p
Reports on the work of forensic scientists who are excavating grave sites in James Fort, in Jamestown, Virginia, to understand who lived in the Chesapeake Bay area in the 1600s and 1700s; and uncovers the lives of a teenage boy, a ship's captain, a colonial officer, an African slave girl, and others.
The year the swallows came early -- Fitzmaurice, Kathryn. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Bowen Press, 2009., RL 5.9, 277p
After her father is sent to jail, eleven-year-old Groovy Robinson must decide if she can forgive the failings of someone she loves.
14 cows for America -- Deedy, Carmen Agra. {IL K-3, 327.676207} -- Peachtree, 2009., RL 2.5, 38p
Presents an illustrated tale of a gift of fourteen cows given by the Maasai people of Kenya to the U.S. as a gesture of comfort and friendship in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Al Capone shines my shoes -- Choldenko, Gennifer. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Dial Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 4.6, 274p
Moose Flanagan, who lives on Alcatraz along with his family and the families of the other prison guards, is frightened when he discovers that noted gangster Al Capone, a prisoner there, wants a favor in return for the help that he secretly gave Moose.
All the broken pieces : a novel in verse -- Burg, Ann E. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Scholastic Press, 2009., RL 5.6, 218p
Two years after being airlifted out of Vietnam in 1975, Matt Pin is haunted by the terrible secret he left behind and, now, in a loving adoptive home in the United States, a series of profound events forces him to confront his past.
Anything but typical -- Baskin, Nora Raleigh. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 5.3, 195p
Jason, a twelve-year-old autistic boy who wants to become a writer, relates what his life is like as he tries to make sense of his world.
Ashley Bryan : words to my life's song -- Bryan, Ashley. {IL 3-6, 818} -- Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 6.5, 58p
An illustrated biography in which African-American author Ashley Bryan describes his life.
Birds -- Henkes, Kevin. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Greenwillow Books, 2009., RL 2.1, 32p
Fascinated by the colors, shapes, sounds, and movements of the many different birds she sees through her window, a little girl is happy to discover that she and they have something in common.
Burn my heart -- Naidoo, Beverley. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Amistad, 2009, c2007., RL 5.1, 209p
While the Mau Mau rebellion threatens the British settlers living in Kenya during the 1950s, Mathew and Mugo maintain their friendship, despite their different races, but during these tense times, a single act of betrayal could alter everything.
Button up! : wrinkled rhymes -- Schertle, Alice. {IL K-3, 811} -- Harcourt Children's Books, 2009., RL 2.1, 33p
A collection of poems about clothes and animals wearing them.
Charles and Emma : the Darwins' leap of faith -- Heiligman, Deborah. {IL YA, 576.8} -- Holt, 2009., 268p
A biography of English naturalist Charles Darwin that provides an account of the personality behind evolutionary theory and the affect of his work on his personal life, such as his relationship with his religious wife.
Chicken Little -- Emberley, Rebecca. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Roaring Brook Press, 2009., RL 2.8, 32p An illustrated retelling of the story in which Chicken Little becomes convinced the sky is falling after being hit on the head by an acorn.
Claudette Colvin : twice toward justice -- Hoose, Phillip M. {IL YA, 323} -- Melanie Kroupa Books, 2009., RL 7, 133p
Presents an account of fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin, an African-American girl who refused to give up her seat to a white woman on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, nine months before Rosa Parks, and covers her role in a crucial civil rights case. National Book Award Winner
Coretta Scott -- Shange, Ntozake. {IL K-3, 323} -- Amistad/Katherine Tegen Books, 2009., RL 4.4, 32p
An illustrated biography of Coretta Scott King, describing her childhood in the segregated South, her marriage to Martin Luther King, Jr., and her civil rights work.
Dinothesaurus : prehistoric poems and paintings -- Florian, Douglas. {IL K-3, 811} -- Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 3.9, 43p
Presents illustrated verse about various carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs, including the Iguanodon, Spinosaurus, and long-necked plesiosaurs.
Duck! Rabbit! -- Rosenthal, Amy Krouse. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Chronicle Books, 2009., RL 1.4, 34p
Two unseen characters argue about whether the creature they are looking at is a rabbit or a duck.
The evolution of Calpurnia Tate -- Kelly, Jacqueline. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Henry Holt, 2009., RL 7.5, 340p
In central Texas in 1899, eleven-year-old Callie Vee Tate is instructed to be a lady by her mother, learns about love from the older three of her six brothers, and studies the natural world with her grandfather, the latter of which leads to an important discovery.
Fire -- Cashore, Kristin. {IL YA, -Fic-} -- Dial Books, 2009., 461p
In a kingdom called the Dells, Fire is the last human-shaped monster, with unimaginable beauty and the ability to control the minds of those around her, but even with these gifts she cannot escape the strife that overcomes her world.
A foot in the mouth : poems to speak, sing, and shout -- {IL 3-6, 811} -- Candlewick Press, 2009., RL 4, 61p
Collects over three dozen illustrated rhyming poems, with tongue twisters and bilingual pieces, drawn from contemporary and classic literary sources and anonymous authors.
The forest of hands and teeth -- Ryan, Carrie {IL YA, -Fic-} -- Delacorte Press, 2009.
Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the Unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.
The frog scientist -- Turner, Pamela S. {IL 5-8, 597.8} -- Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009., RL 6.9, 58p
Discusses the work of Tyrone Hayes and his efforts to study and protect frogs, and follows Hayes into the field with his students to perform experiments with various types of frogs.
Heroes of the valley -- Stroud, Jonathan. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Disney/Hyperion Books, 2009., RL 6.4, 483p
Halli Sveinsson, a mischievous young man who does not fit in with his peers and siblings, plays a trick on Ragnor that goes too far, forcing him to embark on a hero's quest in which he will face highway robbers, monsters, an intriguing girl, and truths about his family and the legends he grew up with.
Hurry up and slow down -- Marlow, Layn. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Holiday House, 2009, c2008., RL 2.7, 24p
Hare likes to hurry through the day, unlike Tortoise, but manages to slow down for his favorite bedtime story.
If I stay : a novel -- Forman, Gayle. {IL YA, -Fic-} -- Dutton Books, 2009., 201p
While in a coma following an automobile accident that killed her parents and younger brother, seventeen-year-old Mia, a gifted cellist, weights whether to live with her grief or join her family in death.
The lion & the mouse -- Pinkney, Jerry. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Little, Brown and Co. Books for Young Readers, 2009., 34p
In this wordless retelling of an Aesop fable, an adventuresome mouse proves that even small creatures are capable of great deeds when he rescues the King of the Jungle.
The magician's elephant -- DiCamillo, Kate. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Candlewick Press, 2009., RL 5.8, 201p
When ten-year-old orphan Peter Augustus Duchene encounters a fortune teller in the marketplace one day who tells him that his sister, who is presumed dead, is in fact alive, he embarks on a remarkable series of adventures in an attempt to find her.
Marcelo in the real world -- Stork, Francisco X. {IL YA, -Fic-} -- Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009., 312p
Marcelo Sandoval, a seventeen-year-old boy on the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum, faces new challenges, including romance and injustice, when he goes to work for his father in the mailroom of a corporate law firm.
The negro speaks of rivers -- Hughes, Langston. {IL K-3, 811} -- Disney/Jump at the Sun Books, 2009., RL 3.2, 32p
Watercolor illustrations by E.B. Lewis accompany Langston Hughes' classic poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers."
Read it, don't eat it! -- Schoenherr, Ian. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Greenwillow Books, 2009., RL 1.8, 32p
Rhyming text and illustrations of animals reading offer advice on how to take care of a library book.
Red sings from treetops : a year in colors -- Sidman, Joyce. {IL K-3, 535.6} -- Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009., RL 2.4, 32p
Illustrations and simple text combine the senses of sight, sound, smell, and taste to describe the colors of the seasons.
Redwoods -- Chin, Jason. {IL K-3, 585} -- Flash Point, 2009., RL 4.8, 36p
While reading a book about redwood trees on the subway, a young boy travels as he learns, all the way to the forests of California.
A savage thunder : Antietam and the bloody road to freedom -- Murphy, Jim.{IL 5-8, 973.7} -- Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009., RL 6.7, 103p
Discusses the bloody battle of Antietam, in which General George B. McClellan faced off against General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in Maryland in September of 1862.
A season of gifts -- Peck, Richard. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Dial Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 4.9, 164p
Relates the surprising gifts bestowed on twelve-year-old Bob Barnhart and his family, who have recently moved to a small Illinois town in 1958, by their larger-than-life neighbor, Mrs. Dowdel.
The snow day -- Sakai, Komako. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009., RL 1.7, 32p
A little rabbit enjoys having a day off from kindergarten and spending time with his mother during a snowstorm, but his father's flight home is cancelled until the snow stops falling.
Sparrow girl -- Pennypacker, Sara. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Disney/Hyperion Books, 2009., RL 2.1
Ming-Li vows to save as many sparrows as she can after her village tries to destroy them.
Stitches : a memoir-- -- Small, David. {IL AD, 818} -- W.W. Norton, 2009., 329p
A graphic novel that chronicles the life of American author and illustrator David Small, detailing his sickly childhood and teenage years, relationship with his parents, his cancer, and more.
The storm in the barn -- Phelan, Matt. {IL 5-8, 741.5} -- Candlewick, 2009., RL 3.3, 201p
Eleven-year-old Jack Clark struggles with everyday obstacles while his family and community contend with the challenges brought on by the Dust Bowl in 1937 Kansas.
Tales from outer suburbia -- Tan, Shaun. {IL YA, -Fic-} -- Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009, 2008., 92p
Contains fifteen illustrated short stories, some humorous and some haunting, set in the Australian suburbs.
Thunder-boomer! -- Crum, Shutta. {IL K-3, -E-} -- Clarion Books, 2009., RL 2.1, 32p
A farm family scurries for shelter from a violent thunderstorm that brings welcome relief from the heat and also an unexpected surprise.
Tsunami! -- Kajikawa, Kimiko. {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Philomel Books, 2009., RL 2.9, 32p
A wealthy man in a Japanese village, who everyone calls Ojiisan, which means grandfather, sets fire to his rice fields to warn the innocent people of an approaching tsunami.
When you reach me -- Stead, Rebecca. {IL 5-8, -Fic-} -- Wendy Lamb Books, 2009., RL 5.6, 199p
As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1980s television game show, "The $20,000 Pyramid," a twelve-year-old New York City girl tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of time and space.
Where the mountain meets the moon -- Lin, Grace. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Little, Brown and Co. Books for Young Readers, 2009., RL 5.7, 278p
Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.
A whiff of pine, a hint of skunk : a forest of poems -- Ruddell, Deborah. {IL K-3, 811} -- Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009., RL 4.8, 33p
An illustrated collection of whimsical poems about life in the forest through the seasons.
Wintergirls -- Anderson, Laurie Halse. {IL YA, -Fic-} -- Viking, 2009., 278p
Eighteen-year-old Lia comes to terms with her best friend's death from anorexia as she struggles with the same disorder.
Written in bone : buried lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland -- Walker, Sally M. {IL 5-8, 614} -- Carolrhoda Books, 2009., RL 8.3, 144p
Reports on the work of forensic scientists who are excavating grave sites in James Fort, in Jamestown, Virginia, to understand who lived in the Chesapeake Bay area in the 1600s and 1700s; and uncovers the lives of a teenage boy, a ship's captain, a colonial officer, an African slave girl, and others.
The year the swallows came early -- Fitzmaurice, Kathryn. {IL 3-6, -Fic-} -- Bowen Press, 2009., RL 5.9, 277p
After her father is sent to jail, eleven-year-old Groovy Robinson must decide if she can forgive the failings of someone she loves.
Monday, August 10, 2009
It Is What It Is
One of the most overused expressions these days is “It is what it is.” But after reading the new book, Thunder-Boomer! by Shutta Crum, that’s exactly what I thought. The story of a thunderstorm in the Midwest is full of onomatopoeia. A perfect book to teach “it is what it is.” Full of description, a family rushes to safety during a surprise storm. Sounds from the storm are highlighted in the beautiful watercolor illustrations. From the ping pang of the hail to the bawk squawk of Maizey the chicken, the storm comes to life as we see a family hunker down (might as well use another overused phrase) for the brief shower. Even if you don’t live where storms like these are familiar, the perfect pairing of story and illustration will take you there.
And speaking of chickens, I read another book this morning, Tillie Lays an Egg by Terry Golson, illustrated with photographs by Ben Fink. Almost “I Spy” in feeling, this story of a hen that lays her egg wherever she wants is a charming story that uses days of the week and a search and find technique to show where eggs come from. Surprise! It’s not the Winn-Dixie. Where will Tillie lay her next egg? Read it and find out.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Those Darn Squirrels
Most people have something that they love more than anything else. Maybe it’s anything pink or it’s shoes. Maybe it is the fall or maybe it is the beach. Old Man Fookwire loves birds. He loves to paint birds too. He hates everything else- puppies, pie. How can you hate pie? I love pie!! Birds were the only thing he liked. So he built beautiful birdfeeders for his beloved birds and filled them with delicious seeds and berries. The birds loved them. So did the squirrels.Old Man Fookwire was not happy. He shook his fist and yelled,”Those darn squirrels.” Something must be done. He builds higher feeders, but those squirrels are clever. In one of the cutest books I have seen this year, Adam Rubin has created a wonderful story to read over and over. Check out Those Darn Squirrels. You will laugh out loud. Who doesn’t need a good laugh?
If you haven't read Melanie Watt's series about Scaredy Squirrel. He, too, will make you laugh out loud. Thursday, July 30, 2009
Read It, Don't Eat It!
Looking for a just right book to share with the Littles at Storytime or during the first week of school? I just finished a wonderful new story by Ian Schoenherr, Read It, Don’t Eat It!Simply told in rhyming couplets, adorable animals tell the “book care rules.” On the title page, a bear gently holds and looks at a book. On page one he holds the book close to his chest, closes his eyes and smells. Turn the page. “Read it, don’t eat it!” it says. Bear has the book in the corner of his mouth.
The story goes on to show the reader how to care for a book. Charming illustrations and easy rhyming couplets make this book a winner and a classic in the making. Read it to your class or with your grandchildren. As my mother would say, “ a good time will be had by all.”
Look for other ideas about library orientation to follow in future blogs.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Where in the World is Deborah 2009?
It’s that time of year again. Show season! Every year I pull myself off the road and do something for myself. (A lesson we could all learn.) Surprise for you newbies: I do theater. This year I took a back seat and stayed on the production crew side of Bye Bye Birdie. I was Costume Mistress for a cast of 45. Begging from the cast, borrowing from Junior Theatre and stealing from my own stash, we put on an almost sold out run of 10 shows which closed on Sunday night. Vanguard has been doing shows at Westminster for more than 40 years, drawing families together and building new friendships within the community.In the last few years, I have taken the opportunity to encourage storytelling and reading with the Littles, Middles, and Young at Hearts during the run of the show. I lug in a suitcase of mostly picture books and do booktalks, read stories and tell original stories to the cast before the director gives notes and the musical director does warm ups. The Littles and Middles can read the books in between scenes. We talk about their favorites. It’s a nice gathering time that eases nerves and gives me an audience to test out my favorites.
This morning I read a book, Celestine Drama Queen by Penny Ives, that I wished I had read before closing night. I hope that they will read about it here instead. (And then of course, rush out to the library to read the entire book.)
Celestine is a Drama Queen. Complete with tiara, Celestine prepares for her big part in the school play. Never lacking in ego (she is a princess after all!), she learns that even stars have much to learn.As the costume mistress in this year’s show, I learned several lessons myself. You don’t have to be on the stage to be part of the family. It takes a team of people to pull off a big production. There are no small parts. If everyone does his part, we all win. One of our cast members tore his Achilles tendon during the run. Down to one leg, he could no longer pitch in like he had with set moving. This theater family that I love so much, just jumped right in and delegated. He, on the other hand, still came to the show and stood when he could. Many parts and helpful hands created a show that brought joy to hundreds of people- even if we did have to sing “We Love You Conrad” 4,723 times.
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