tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9150411194680517542024-03-18T07:00:31.822-05:00Jean Little LibraryThe Library and Reading Journal of Jennifer, LibrarianJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.comBlogger3856125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-69851910368918246612024-03-18T07:00:00.000-05:002024-03-18T07:00:00.125-05:00Browsing the beginning chapter books: The Magic School Bus Rides Again: Sink or Swim by Judy Katschke<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuw7NCjRKii5BgiBlYgNhJw1FnpQFM7nSb9bi_lyN2ZvTCP12ta3N6qLDPH4MXOwKYhzvnzbUSW-goINzA6WzflxHToyuDSD5014iJfQuEfkusUlxnQ2AYbjLHML0-GkoLPcWIJwSfp-oi/s1600/Logo+%25281%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="412" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuw7NCjRKii5BgiBlYgNhJw1FnpQFM7nSb9bi_lyN2ZvTCP12ta3N6qLDPH4MXOwKYhzvnzbUSW-goINzA6WzflxHToyuDSD5014iJfQuEfkusUlxnQ2AYbjLHML0-GkoLPcWIJwSfp-oi/s320/Logo+%25281%2529.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Genre: STEM-themed fiction</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Protagonists: Group</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Reading Level: 500s</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Series: 5 books, at least one is out of print</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Originally reviewed in 2018</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Review: Possibly because of my non-traditional upbringing, I never got into the whole Magic School Bus thing. However, I see a lot of nostalgia for it from parents, requests for the original books by teachers, and younger kids who have rediscovered it. So I was definitely interested when Branches offered a tie-in series and it turned out to be quite popular.</div>
<br />
Arnold is suffering through yet another day of winter when Ms. Frizzle suggests they take a field trip to somewhere else - like Hawaii! Wanda is disappointed, since she wants to visit the Arctic and save a rare fern, but changes her mind when she finds a cute little fish in the ocean. As Wanda tries to protect the fish, she and her classmates learn about how fish (and friends) can work together.<br />
<br />
The black and white illustrations are rather bland - I would venture that only kids who grew up on the movies and original books will recognize each kid, who has a distinctive personality. Ms. Frizzle has apparently straightened her hair, which even I noticed, and the cast is carefully diverse, although, at least in this adventure, the white kids take the main roles. A glossary, dialogue with Ms. Frizzle with additional information, and discussion questions are included at the end of the book.<br />
<br />
Honestly, I wasn't particularly impressed with this. I felt that the text was flat and bland, as was the art. The theme of the book wasn't well-defined, which left me wondering why Wanda was trying to "save" a random fish, without even researching its status. The kids are stereotyped and there's a little too much teasing of the characters for their various quirks for my taste.<br />
<br />
However, none of this bothers the kids who recognize familiar characters, enjoy the touch of science, and like the nature-themed adventures.<br />
<br />
<b>Verdict: If you purchase all the Branches series, I wouldn't leave this one out, but if you can only get a few focus on other, more popular and better-written titles.</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Revisited: This series quickly lost momentum and Scholastic doesn't include it on their list of Branches titles. At least one title appears to be out of print and others are available only in specific formats (paperback, prebound, etc.). I still own all 5 and they check out regularly, but they're not a high request item and I won't be replacing them when they fall apart or are lost.<br /></b>
<br />
ISBN: 9781338194456; Published December 2017 by Scholastic; Purchased for the library</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-5390798823863209912024-03-17T07:00:00.051-05:002024-03-17T07:00:00.133-05:00This week at the library<b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDBgl2w5vl_H1IgSL4P1KxTiuybMYmhJWiplIie4M9YlnrNBhEz5XqdbICuxtCUHCKy0U3AJV_HrFtrVKzcAfPwEgPc8lJYYRZRzNHAK4Kkkp3xeYY9gP9y6SQmESVsAmYcaPiyZiX7g_DifIcHAdEjz0JsyQbNs_70n5-wxSFks-Sx0U_YQzkjsI6hM/s2592/IMG_20240313_170820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDBgl2w5vl_H1IgSL4P1KxTiuybMYmhJWiplIie4M9YlnrNBhEz5XqdbICuxtCUHCKy0U3AJV_HrFtrVKzcAfPwEgPc8lJYYRZRzNHAK4Kkkp3xeYY9gP9y6SQmESVsAmYcaPiyZiX7g_DifIcHAdEjz0JsyQbNs_70n5-wxSFks-Sx0U_YQzkjsI6hM/s320/IMG_20240313_170820.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This kid came to Project Explore and<br />made an octopus. You can't see it, <br />but there are actual suckers on each<br />of the 8 legs. They were very<br />surprised but delighted when I<br />magically produced suction cups lol.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Programs</b><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Paws to Read</li><li>Family storytime</li><li>Outreach storytimes (3-4 sessions)</li><li>Winter Wigglers</li><li>Project Explore</li><li>Family Storytime</li><li>Library on the Go, 1st grade (3 visits)</li><li>Sewing workshop</li><li>Volunteer fun</li></ul><div><b>Meetings, outreach, etc.</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Youth Services pre-summer consortium meeting</li><li>4-H (hosting)</li><li>Youth services staff meeting</li><li>Autism parents support group (hosting)</li><li>Treehouse play therapy (hosting)</li></ul><div><b>Notes</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Our consortium doesn't really have a YS consultant right now, and some others asked me to set up a pre-summer meeting. I did so, and roped in another colleague to chair it while I took notes and my staff ran the virtual aspect. The next day, we had our own summer planning meeting, hoping to get the schedule hammered out although not everyone has their summer schedule ready yet.</li><li>Outreach storytimes</li><ul><li>The popular favorite from last time was definitely Laurie Keller's Potato Pants, followed by Croc-a-doodle-doo by Huw Lewis Jones</li><li><a href="https://flyingoffmybookshelf.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-princess-and-greedy-pea-by-leigh.html?q=greedy+pea">The princess and the (greedy) pea by Leigh Hodgkinson</a> was a universal favorite with kids and teachers alike. It even caught the attention of one student on the spectrum, who usually doesn't listen. One class was very invested in pointing out all the peeks at the cat.</li><li><a href="https://flyingoffmybookshelf.blogspot.com/2020/11/cone-cat-by-sarah-howden-illustrated-by.html?q=cone+cat">Cone Cat by Sarah Howden</a> - I had to remind the kids about Cone Dog from last time. They listened, but it wasn't really that interesting.</li><li>Mine! A story of not sharing by Klara Persson. Some kids REALLY got this and thought it was hilarious, some were kind of confused but listened closely. They all laughed when she put her mom in the wardrobe.</li><li><a href="https://jeanlittlelibrary.blogspot.com/2024/03/down-hole-by-scott-slater-illustrated.html">Down the hole by Scott Slater</a>. I loved this one but the kids were kind of meh. Only a couple of them really "got" the humor, even when I walked them through it. I think it would be better for a slightly older audience.</li><li><a href="https://flyingoffmybookshelf.blogspot.com/2024/03/fish-and-crab-by-marianna-coppo.html">Fish and Crab by Marianna Coppo</a>. I don't <i>think</i> this one was supposed to be as funny as I thought it was - but the kids agreed with me! One bright spark even pointed out that the story was a loop. I don't know how much was my funny expressions, but they all loved it.</li></ul></ul></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-59301776344714318832024-03-15T07:00:00.001-05:002024-03-15T07:00:00.442-05:00Down the hole by Scott Slater, illustrated by Adam Ming<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrrgENGCDtTJvKFr3K-NO7Px3hkv_KH_6Y-qcdqD-7wwexV_o376mQn-xjg8Eul32TYejKTsgu4V2lIlHcrqXeOxJbTQvn3pgI8AM2X5yZx6qsLkSFNpscPhKD7iIcdm-OJazmBIywH47q_9_b5cYPiJOEELzi9ceuMXe0xtLNfQSp-di-7J6DRURTbM/s360/Logo%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="294" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrrgENGCDtTJvKFr3K-NO7Px3hkv_KH_6Y-qcdqD-7wwexV_o376mQn-xjg8Eul32TYejKTsgu4V2lIlHcrqXeOxJbTQvn3pgI8AM2X5yZx6qsLkSFNpscPhKD7iIcdm-OJazmBIywH47q_9_b5cYPiJOEELzi9ceuMXe0xtLNfQSp-di-7J6DRURTbM/s320/Logo%20(1).jpg" width="261" /></a></div> Adults are way more squeamish than kids. Kids LOVE books where things get eaten, be that the main character, side characters, animals, or other kids. Of course, with adults writing the books, they often chicken out at the last minute and end up with all the animal characters living together happily ever after. Wimps.<p></p><p>This hilarious story of a sly fox and some clever rabbits does NOT chicken out and has an extremely satisfying ending! Fox, with deliciously wicked eyebrows and a jaunty scarf, settles down by a rabbit burrow. Down in the burrow, Rabbit, a fluffy white bunny with collar and tie, waits, accompanied by the other bunnies busy with blueprints and construction tools. A cat and mouse game begins with Fox trying to coax Rabbit up from the burrow and Rabbit innocently putting him off while the other bunnies make their preparations.</p><p>In the end, it's Fox who gets trapped - and eaten - by an unexpected in habitant of the underground tunnels and the rabbits cheerfully celebrate with cake and dancing in the spring sunshine. Ming's swashy illustrations are delightful and kids will giggle along with the different perspectives shown above and below ground, as well as cheering on Rabbit as he outwits Fox.</p><p><b>Verdict: This is a little long for a toddler or preschool storytime, but I can't wait to try it out on my 1st graders and see them savor Fox getting his comeuppance. Recommended.</b></p>ISBN: 9780358683346; Published October 2023 by Clarion; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Added to my library order listJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-15271781378942769952024-03-13T07:00:00.009-05:002024-03-13T07:00:00.140-05:00There's no such thing as vegetables by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDjPYUP7fe_NwHW7eyKaggZ0dRLUEyccUjrsAz1z2IjO_RZfbWZ4-Qu_UsU5f6szIfUZS9YDn4HH-Nu3mSEckq-1rx21ZrSS3SzY_uDxyuUXjww9RF4_99rn1VfcGGx98RUvzjuBL2gAu5ohCUDnEJVwAiCrq8yhAlTsqRdwBbvKQiLhadTpPpII5Fcw/s360/Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDjPYUP7fe_NwHW7eyKaggZ0dRLUEyccUjrsAz1z2IjO_RZfbWZ4-Qu_UsU5f6szIfUZS9YDn4HH-Nu3mSEckq-1rx21ZrSS3SzY_uDxyuUXjww9RF4_99rn1VfcGGx98RUvzjuBL2gAu5ohCUDnEJVwAiCrq8yhAlTsqRdwBbvKQiLhadTpPpII5Fcw/s320/Logo.jpg" width="249" /></a></div> This book is hilarious and also warms the cockles of my fact-checking librarian heart.<p></p><p>Chester, a light-skinned Asian child, pops out to the garden with a basket to pick some vegetables. There's just one problem... well, two. First, the vegetables are talking! Secondly, they say they aren't vegetables! When he tries to investigate further, the broccoli tells him their name is Juanita, and they're a flower, not a vegetable. Potato is a root named Pietro, kale is a leaf named Beatrice, and everything else is a fruit. </p><p>This can't be right. Chester knows what a vegetable is! But the more he tries to define it, the more confused he gets. The non-vegetables point out that there are lots of things humans define that are just made up, like money or countries. Finally, Chester gives up and sets off to have a sandwich. A follow-up by the author talks about social constructs and why we put things into categories.</p><p>Tsurumi's slyly humorous illustrations are the perfect fit for Lukoff's tongue-in-cheek prose. The innocent-looking vegetables slyly avoid chomping with their semantic arguments all whilst rolling their eyes and stubbornly refusing to give in to Chester's attempts to make them conform to vegetable-ness.</p><p>This book is funny and delightfully subversive on so many levels. It's got science and semantics, plant biology and debate. Enjoy arguing with kids as to whether or not vegetables are actually real and seeing the tipping point as they start to wonder what other things are "real" and what are just things grown-ups made up. Heh heh heh.</p><p><b>Verdict: A must-have for every library and a sure-fire hit in storytimes, especially with elementary-age kids on up through middle schoolers who love to argue.</b></p>ISBN: 9781250867841; Published February 2024 by Henry Holt; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the libraryJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-65180940693595437072024-03-11T07:00:00.001-05:002024-03-11T07:00:00.122-05:00Browsing the beginning chapter books: Owl Diaries: Eva's big sleepover by Rebecca Elliott<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6KwMQ1_PKQdJ-I2IvYfXIrI6aBY1ihj5yeiyPj_xDEYYnE39SKhL7d9wZzBxO4oqI9ccu9O7avacXmi6QHXZfcAhBQr2wNF11cLtsj20-mW7KcpCxjCsOlGnpz2CSWS8o_ccyo90f4O0/s1600/Logo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="248" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6KwMQ1_PKQdJ-I2IvYfXIrI6aBY1ihj5yeiyPj_xDEYYnE39SKhL7d9wZzBxO4oqI9ccu9O7avacXmi6QHXZfcAhBQr2wNF11cLtsj20-mW7KcpCxjCsOlGnpz2CSWS8o_ccyo90f4O0/s320/Logo.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Genre: Fiction, Anthropomorphic animals</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Protagonists: Primarily female; Animals</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Reading level: 500-600s; M</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Series: Currently at 19 books with a 20th to be released fall 2024</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Originally reviewed in 2018</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Review: </div>
I am not an infallible judge of books. Evidence of this is my review of Owl Diaries when it first came out, back in 2015. I felt pretty "meh" about the first book, <b>Eva's Treetop Festival</b>. I'm here with the ninth book in the series and I freely admit that I was wrong.<br />
<br />
In Eva's latest adventure, she is excited about her first sleepover. But when she takes her hatch-day shell to school for show and tell, she's upset by a careless comment from another owlet. Now she wishes she didn't have to invite Sue - but when Sue turns down her invitation she feels differently. With the help of her friends and family, will she be friends again with Sue and will they all have fun at her sleepover?<br />
<br />
The story is in diary format on lined pages with a plethora of brightly colored illustrations. I'm sure all the kids have memorized which owl is which, but other than trying to remember that Eva is the one with the pink head and big blue circles around her eyes, I can't keep them straight. It's not as challenging as the more substantive Branches titles like Dragon Masters or Eerie Elementary, but it's a little more challenging than Boris. It is easy to follow the text and speech bubbles and the text is bold, if not large.<br />
<br />
Do I still think that it's pretty stereotyped and formulaic? Yes. Does the endless drama give me a headache? Absolutely. Do kids love this to the point of literally fighting each other for copies? Oh yeah.<br />
<br />
<b>Verdict: I am now buying at least 4 copies of each new title and separating students (and siblings) as they each want their own copy! It seems to exactly hit the sweet spot for 2nd grade girls (I haven't run into any boys willing to read them) and they eagerly await each installment.</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Revisited: Now an apple tv show, the kids, still primarily girls, still eagerly await each new title although I now only buy two copies. With more kids struggling to read, I have more 3rd and 4th graders reading the series now.<br /></b>
<b><br /></b>ISBN: 9781338163070; Published 2018 by Scholastic; Purchased 4 copies (paperback) for the library</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-12018348007090057782024-03-10T07:00:00.013-05:002024-03-10T07:00:00.142-05:00This week at the library<p><b></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQFDOHlxSHolUKJBa9SrHc8DeqX7ZsKr3iCHjYn0bL-Udf6eQULglzuVTaf97iGpW5ZAi8WW2yu6hg9KKbs9hYd59aaLKYeCE-owLv6Bsl1pHiN4ATCbh7Rya2kfQTI1AnTxih1ZOZQWVU3gFpqDuzbZX2VL6iwaibAZmblg9jiu_7G9m3Yzfc9gfbDw/s4032/PXL_20240306_215633333.MP.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQFDOHlxSHolUKJBa9SrHc8DeqX7ZsKr3iCHjYn0bL-Udf6eQULglzuVTaf97iGpW5ZAi8WW2yu6hg9KKbs9hYd59aaLKYeCE-owLv6Bsl1pHiN4ATCbh7Rya2kfQTI1AnTxih1ZOZQWVU3gFpqDuzbZX2VL6iwaibAZmblg9jiu_7G9m3Yzfc9gfbDw/s320/PXL_20240306_215633333.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a lot of very quiet programs, I had almost<br />20 at Project Explore this week!</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Programs</b><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Itty Bitty Bopping Bakers</li><li><strike>Paws to Read</strike></li><li>Family Storytime</li><li>Pokemon Club</li><li>Outreach storytimes at preschool/4K (approx. 6 sessions)</li><li>Winter Wigglers</li><li>Library on the Go at 1st grade (3 classes)</li><li>Project Explore</li><li>Family Storytime</li><li>Fact Finders</li><li>Outreach storytimes at 5K (3 classes)</li><li>Young Fiber Artists</li></ul><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"></ul><p></p><div><b>Meetings, Outreach, etc.</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Managers' meeting</li><li>Girl Scouts (hosting)</li><li>Treehouse Play Therapy (hosting)</li></ul><div><b>Notes</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I got a good start on relabeling our board books and my big nonfiction orders with Capstone and Lerner finalized. There's still plenty to do, but I'm done for the week! Oh, and Paws to Read was cancelled on Monday, but it was just as well b/c we spent that time in the basement and have been trickier with puppies. Although possibly more fun. Also finished the February <a href="https://tinyurl.com/5y3ubbhk" target="_blank">new book spotlight</a>.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-28597275499722681282024-03-08T07:00:00.002-06:002024-03-12T16:12:41.425-05:00This little kitty; This little kitty in the garden by Karen Obuhanych<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DTFl7pYIEHmU2oBap2ulFcl27LCBVCZ0eb4Q07vBc5ej4jFL9ftIfjzVAoJuwfNhdS3OzkBJNBCwrYvlNgPKbKtyGzA-ki_mN8IntyfgzlADZ0GvoKsZ9l8YcJC54cg76ZBVS_1FlTDs6rpOIAmzNIj1Ps5uARcgeZEz2XeredkVoPe2aMw2FeJFzSM/s360/Logo%20(6).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="360" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DTFl7pYIEHmU2oBap2ulFcl27LCBVCZ0eb4Q07vBc5ej4jFL9ftIfjzVAoJuwfNhdS3OzkBJNBCwrYvlNgPKbKtyGzA-ki_mN8IntyfgzlADZ0GvoKsZ9l8YcJC54cg76ZBVS_1FlTDs6rpOIAmzNIj1Ps5uARcgeZEz2XeredkVoPe2aMw2FeJFzSM/w200-h200/Logo%20(6).jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div><b>This little kitty</b> is a fairly typical cute cat, rhyming story with charming illustrations mimic a variety of textures. A brown-footed person wakes up as do a group of cats - a yellow-eyed black cat, grey cat with flattened ears, stripy orange cat, fluffy calico, and a black and white kitten. They go through the day eating, playing, and causing havoc. "Rested and ready to/cause a bit of trouble,/this little kitty/bats at the bubbles." The story ends with brown and white hands petting (and getting bitten) by the cats, then the lights go out and it's time for bed... but not for the black kitty, who is just two shining (and very awake) yellow eyes in the darkness. The illustrations are charming although the rhymes are a little shaky.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpnde2Pyz-XBzIp8PPNqKqVXU7SZK45XaPcN3w7FHOsRX5VcCOKVSCo6ak_Xuz-4mTEEbsOp2VdABEjjt9VGN-EPyJiUX26cxuZJhvdlAaG7I2AYjaHtQWeymybX5d7QycNhl-uXUUg5ic9bsQf5Sexr11laEYayOJrkw1Y-kFeCY8bPAjogWrH2BdK4/s600/Logo%20(8).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpnde2Pyz-XBzIp8PPNqKqVXU7SZK45XaPcN3w7FHOsRX5VcCOKVSCo6ak_Xuz-4mTEEbsOp2VdABEjjt9VGN-EPyJiUX26cxuZJhvdlAaG7I2AYjaHtQWeymybX5d7QycNhl-uXUUg5ic9bsQf5Sexr11laEYayOJrkw1Y-kFeCY8bPAjogWrH2BdK4/s320/Logo%20(8).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In the second book, <b>This little kitty in the garden</b>, the five cats return for a fun day outdoors. They chase bugs, sneeze at flowers, dig up the dirt, and splash in the water. The anonymous brown and white hands of the first book are revealed as two adults, dressed in pink and blue overalls, their faces still not shown. This book shows the improvement in Obuhanych's technique, with smoother rhymes "Leafy greens prefer some shade./The peppers like it hotter./Gently tuck the seedlings in/and sprinkle them with water." There's also more subtlety in the art, with each of the cats having a more defined image and personality.<p></p><p>However, from a factual point of view, the second book really didn't work for me. Cats shouldn't be let loose outdoors - they kill large numbers of wildlife. Even if one can argue for the occasional outdoor presence of cats, carefully watched, cats are... not really an asset to gardening. Digging up a garden bed that cats have been in is... not a fun experience. Many plants are poisonous to cats as well, like the pepper plants the cats are shown lounging among.</p><p><b>Verdict: The first book is a light-hearted celebration of cats while the second book is an improvement from a literary perspective, but not from a factual perspective. I'd like to say that most people would realize it's just for fun and cats are not really ideal gardening companions, but I've worked with the public for most of my life. However, if they're going to do something stupid, they'll probably do it regardless of whether or not it's pictured in a kids' book, so you might as well get this one and have fun reading it (with perhaps a reminder that cats are not ideal gardening companions.)</b><br /><br />This little kitty<br />ISBN: 9780593435144; Published January 2023 by Alfred A. Knopf; Borrowed from another library in my consortium<br /><br />This little kitty in the garden<br />ISBN: 9780593435175; Published January 2024 by Alfred A. Knopf; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library</p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-38735132128991887262024-03-06T07:00:00.001-06:002024-03-06T07:00:00.130-06:00What's a germ, Joseph Lister? The medical mystery that forever changed the way we heal by Lori Alexander, illustrated by Daniel Duncan<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPVDAtBYkRKJEN33BSYHQKub8S5YyIZ14iNk-n0DUtSXTz_EqP6tQgluq_6Yg9Pm0OrdH-1JeT7bYbuKzWisfZHCbrgZDdjgkNhpqBwdpu6D2y7lKH1l0oT4gbuluGM2J3eYLjhcYZnXVbrkFAso_XEjW5OkdNu8WiNQ6I8yIKBtNczlWpRqaY_jOosk/s600/Logo%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="393" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPVDAtBYkRKJEN33BSYHQKub8S5YyIZ14iNk-n0DUtSXTz_EqP6tQgluq_6Yg9Pm0OrdH-1JeT7bYbuKzWisfZHCbrgZDdjgkNhpqBwdpu6D2y7lKH1l0oT4gbuluGM2J3eYLjhcYZnXVbrkFAso_XEjW5OkdNu8WiNQ6I8yIKBtNczlWpRqaY_jOosk/s320/Logo%20(1).jpg" width="210" /></a></div> In some ways, it's hard to imagine a past when doctors and hospitals were filthy, disease-ridden places. On the other hand, with the prevalence of misinformation and conspiracy theories swirling around the medical field, many aspects of this narrative sound all too sadly familiar.<p></p><p>Alexander takes the reader back barely 150 years into the past in the busy (and dirty) industrial town of Glasgow where a boy breaks his leg in a street accident. Even more horrifying, he's going to have to go to... a hospital! In brisk narrative style, punctuated with somewhat gruesome cartoons, the author takes the reader into the hospitals of the 1800s, where you were more likely to die of dirt and disease than whatever took you to the hospital in the first place. She intersperses stories of contemporary physicians and nurses, those who made medical advances and those who held medicine back, with the life of Joseph Lister. Building on the research of others and fighting against a resistant medical establishment, especially in America, Lister pioneered the concept of disinfecting before, during, and after surgeries, as well as the overall theory of germs causing illness. His work was the building block of modern, antiseptic surgeries and hospitals, as well as what are now considered the simple preventatives of washing your hands and other basic principles of cleanliness.</p><p>Alexander includes sufficient back matter to further advance concepts and pique readers' interest into further research. She emphasizes Lister's willingness not only to pioneer new methods, but to update and improve as science moved forward, and touches on the new discoveries in the science of microbiology that have been made since Lister's time.</p><p><b>Verdict: A readable and interesting exploration of a pivotal moment in Western medical history. Recommended.</b></p>ISBN: 9780358538172; Published October 2023 by Clarion; Borrowed from another library in another consortium; Purchased for the libraryJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-76431318443403552222024-03-04T07:00:00.001-06:002024-03-04T07:00:00.137-06:00Trim helps out by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Kristy Caldwell<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj130qZ130fuJDde4En4qO7R3mU1AHiU2tN3AzRw9btf10Idzbfz4KCeRaRnF2mnX3C9SXKWS_5xRz8h6eo-sG4chG4uDm6MHBempTf3OMwyR8RZhyphenhyphen83stMDVwDQ5SD5ZjebV4dZIuLzW2EhCyrLTjyuAgWH4HDYv0AR2XYcS8V5tmxypDhi16lgfm75n0/s360/Logo%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="243" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj130qZ130fuJDde4En4qO7R3mU1AHiU2tN3AzRw9btf10Idzbfz4KCeRaRnF2mnX3C9SXKWS_5xRz8h6eo-sG4chG4uDm6MHBempTf3OMwyR8RZhyphenhyphen83stMDVwDQ5SD5ZjebV4dZIuLzW2EhCyrLTjyuAgWH4HDYv0AR2XYcS8V5tmxypDhi16lgfm75n0/s320/Logo%20(5).jpg" width="216" /></a></div> Trim, a snazzy little black cat with a white cross, is excited to be on his first voyage as ship's cat. He's not sure what his job is and checks in with the other animals on board, who tell him to go patrol the ship's hold and look for rats.<p></p><p>The hold is dark and scary, but Trim bravely starts patrolling and even meets a new friend! Unfortunately, the friend tells him it's HER job to patrol the hold! When a "creepy, scary-looking" "rat" shows up, Trim is on the job, but makes a surprising discovery about what a rat really is. It turns out his new friend is a rat and he's successfully defended his friends from a scorpion that escaped from the ship's specimens.</p><p>Happily, the new friends are ready to cooperate together and Trim looks forward to being the best ship's cat every. Hopkinson explains, in an author's note, a little about what historical fiction is and how Trim's story is based on a real-life scientific expedition that included a ship's cat. The book includes five short chapters and is similar in level to classic, longer easy readers like Houndsley and Catina, Mr. Putter and Tabby, or Cork & Fuzz.</p><p>Caldwell's pictures are cute and friendly, showing a perky black cat, scuttling scorpion, and friendly rat with a cloak. Images of the various scientists and artists on board, drawing a rare flower and sorting specimens are shown mostly as legs and hands. Some liberties are taken with the real story, like portraying the artist, "Will" as a young boy with dark skin (he was actually 19 and white). There are lots of pictures of Trim running, pouncing, and exploring and some pretty vistas of the sea and sailing ship.</p><p><b>Verdict: While not particularly historically accurate, this is a sweet and gentle series that will please young readers who like similar stories. I have a wide audience for Cynthia Rylant-type gentle readers and this will definitely find a place in my transitional chapters.</b></p>ISBN: 9781682632918; Published October 2023 by Peachtree; Borrowed from another library in my consortiumJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-29239384942947622932024-03-03T07:00:00.024-06:002024-03-03T07:00:00.140-06:00This week at the library<b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5138B4YyXu9r3iBBPj55FY37z4GLROdxMx98G9SXkU_B4opDOdV-TQkmbDrt1JMpmyHzH0bDqNONjJV8iOW-hfiLsmyU2i25L67Se8ShGmB8xmcQmxEeyTuCj2Nj7QuwJrR70S9Eeik0LGUROZ-EGUqcqMr0aKhwJNURJzhKWLrG0kep_aFWH3X1dBY/s2592/IMG_20240229_165439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5138B4YyXu9r3iBBPj55FY37z4GLROdxMx98G9SXkU_B4opDOdV-TQkmbDrt1JMpmyHzH0bDqNONjJV8iOW-hfiLsmyU2i25L67Se8ShGmB8xmcQmxEeyTuCj2Nj7QuwJrR70S9Eeik0LGUROZ-EGUqcqMr0aKhwJNURJzhKWLrG0kep_aFWH3X1dBY/s320/IMG_20240229_165439.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My staff shifting board books, <br />after I got the first section set up.<br />People are already pretty happy<br />with the new arrangement - I just have<br />to relabel everything now!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Programs</b><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Homeschool hangout</li><li>Paws to Read</li><li>Family Storytime</li><li>Winter Wigglers</li><li>Bookaneers</li><li>Family Storytime</li><li>TAB</li></ul><div><b>Meetings, Outreach, Etc.</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Friends of the library meeting</li><li>School art show opening</li><li>Treehouse play therapy (hosting)</li><li>Book cafe materials for schools</li><li>Shifting board books into new shelving</li></ul><div><b>Notes</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Don't hate me, but my teachers usually ask at least several weeks ahead for large projects and this one in particular they sent in almost a month ago for an event in March. I am delighted that all our elementary schools are getting on the book tasting/book cafe train, as the first school to do it has been very successful.</li></ul></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-40854600175676664542024-03-01T07:00:00.004-06:002024-03-01T07:00:00.131-06:00Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Where's the Bunny? by Ingela P. Arrhenius<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD4s-I8cIRDA7Q8xs27ojoFxa57Fxow-vad_N3fpr8_j0xFewU_J9b2Cu6T2o9YQZD6_YRXsit13Qu_KZ0b2R75imep3Tsr8piexBqBQTUPUX7ISzhTPi0fc6PL2lF71xT4cHJs14JfmFnguJGbwPQyD_bm2AawnDiJ1FHwx8bk0HNxGjbLJHNKibJ8k/s600/Logo%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD4s-I8cIRDA7Q8xs27ojoFxa57Fxow-vad_N3fpr8_j0xFewU_J9b2Cu6T2o9YQZD6_YRXsit13Qu_KZ0b2R75imep3Tsr8piexBqBQTUPUX7ISzhTPi0fc6PL2lF71xT4cHJs14JfmFnguJGbwPQyD_bm2AawnDiJ1FHwx8bk0HNxGjbLJHNKibJ8k/s320/Logo%20(4).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> This is the latest entry in a long-running, popular board book series. The themes are generally focused on animals, although there are holiday and vehicle titles as well. This particular title includes various baby animals, although there aren't really any differences between them and adult animals.<p></p><p>The covers are paper over board and the pages are thin cardboard. Each spread features a simple landscape with the text "Where's the ___?" and a felt flap to pull down showing the animal. This title includes a puppy, mouse, duckling, and bunny. The last spread asks "And where are you?" and the felt flap reveals a small mirror. The art includes simple patterns and bright colors.</p><p><b>Verdict: There's nothing particularly stand-out about this particular volume, but it's worth noting when new titles in this series are released - they are not particularly sturdy, so need to frequently be replaced with new titles. However, they are so popular and suited to infants and toddlers that they are worth purchasing. Make sure to add this and other recent releases from the series to brighten your board book collection for spring.</b></p>ISBN: 9781536232004; Published January 2024 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisherJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-43641690318626484612024-02-28T07:00:00.001-06:002024-02-28T07:00:00.134-06:00What a map can do by Gabrielle Balkan, illustrated by Alberto Lot<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnRDPQIi-ZK7duomh1vGyKG079RAbxDFavAV1GW-nczP2noHPnJSejgZkESophm5c7ywOABFT0tY7b4C1jKEXUdfjTfarNiSffe9GyCc78gD9mXVq7MCPJiWoTlZwn1pDHdQbr1eWvkFUATuQXUlTJkCXnN4v1kD3lmWCmVdlfO6GbUFtyfdI7dJ7vzM/s600/Logo%20(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="600" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnRDPQIi-ZK7duomh1vGyKG079RAbxDFavAV1GW-nczP2noHPnJSejgZkESophm5c7ywOABFT0tY7b4C1jKEXUdfjTfarNiSffe9GyCc78gD9mXVq7MCPJiWoTlZwn1pDHdQbr1eWvkFUATuQXUlTJkCXnN4v1kD3lmWCmVdlfO6GbUFtyfdI7dJ7vzM/s320/Logo%20(8).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> I'm always fascinated by picture books about maps, despite the fact that not only have I never really figured out how to read maps, I consistently get lost pretty much everywhere I go and have no sense of direction. Maybe it's just a dream of what could have been!<p></p><p>This is a fun addition to the genre, featuring a smiling raccoon, who introduces the readers to the concept of maps. It starts with a map of a bedroom, then expands outwards to a neighborhood and city. Specific types of maps, like bus routes and museum guides are included here, before the journey widens once more to road maps, trail routes, weather maps, and star maps. The last few pages provide an index, with thumbnails, of all the different types of maps included in the book.</p><p>The art is simple and cheerfully colored, with large, well-illustrated keys to the different maps. The explanatory text is fairly lengthy, but this is an informational, rather than read-aloud, book.</p><p><b>Verdict: Pair this with other stories exploring maps like Mapping Sam by Joyce Hesselberth or Julie Dillemuth's titles to introduce young children to reading, understanding, and creating their own maps. This covers slightly different territory than the other titles so is worth purchasing for a complete introduction to the concept.</b></p>ISBN: 9780593519981; Published July 2023 by Rise X Penguin Workshop; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the libraryJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-56238120901570384132024-02-26T07:00:00.001-06:002024-02-26T07:00:00.124-06:00Browsing the beginning chapter books: Binder of Doom: Brute-Cake by Troy Cummings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggz2MT3zInUz_YGvm8tsF3Syqo4355knjuIfovHinMBza9OmtXvoIHMd2Se2RUjtnGwGz7vkNtcOGNnga9D5DjA5vmSHRR6pbkrHU9OGJXsaUQ_bSMbOP_hxqNq7hNAHOwC7RalQnUhR4/s1600/Logo+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="248" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggz2MT3zInUz_YGvm8tsF3Syqo4355knjuIfovHinMBza9OmtXvoIHMd2Se2RUjtnGwGz7vkNtcOGNnga9D5DjA5vmSHRR6pbkrHU9OGJXsaUQ_bSMbOP_hxqNq7hNAHOwC7RalQnUhR4/s320/Logo+%25282%2529.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Genre: Humor; Creepy</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Protagonists: Male, Black</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Reading Level: 400s</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Series: Complete with 4 titles</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Originally reviewed in August, 2019</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Review: Long ago I read and reviewed the first book in the "Notebook of Doom" series, <b>Rise of the balloon goons</b>. Unlike some Branches series *cough* Owl Diaries *cough* where I was totally wrong that they would be popular, I knew right away that this one would fly off the shelf. This series has certainly followed through on its promise, producing book after book of mildly creepy, funny, and wacky monsters. The format and reading level have attracted readers of all ages - I even have middle schoolers who love to read it, as well as parents reading it with their kids!</div>
<br />
Naturally, when I saw the series was set to continue, I had to pick up the first book in the new series. The story opens with Alexander Bopp, (black) hero of the Super Secret Monster Patrol, feeling down in the dumps. They've fought off all the monsters (well, except for the members of the patrol themselves...) and now his friends are busy for the summer and he feels lonely. His dad signs him up for a summer class at the library and there he starts encountering strange occurrences which lead him to discover... a whole new set of monsters! He starts a new binder and gets back with his friends, but will they be able to defeat the Brute-Cake?<br />
<br />
I love that Alexander is still the leader, not the sidekick or the "friend" of the white kids. I love the positive image of the library - although I don't know of any libraries around here that offer "summer camp" type experiences where you can drop off your kids, there are many libraries that do this, so it's not unrealistic to include. The book is full of silly monsters, just the right amount of peril, and lots of black and white images. Of course, there are also the monster stat pages, goofy jokes, and clueless parents.<br />
<br />
<b>Verdict: Sure to fly off the shelves just like the Notebook, make sure you've got plenty of copies of the Binder - and maybe think about trying some of those library activities!</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Revisited: I was disappointed that this series never went past four volumes, but it and the original series both continue to circulate briskly and are worth purchasing if you missed out on them when they were released.<br /></b>
<br />
ISBN: 9781338314670; Published May 2019 by Scholastic; Borrowed from another library in my consortium (all my copies are checked out!); Purchased two copies for the library</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-19514351345062788922024-02-25T07:00:00.034-06:002024-02-25T07:00:00.124-06:00This week at the library<b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMj4V6DMoabtgWOXm4-XcUVIfAPEgcckMciPEc9S4tM05b3yZfflGktaSMlyfelvFLo1M4p-MYIiozzsF9atg9nakxuOIhmit5HWsumTh-_PfiZEjjn6S_o-ShYM4fkRYtsTXeGWgBEOI1TNSc7g_vNYuq8Y73FOzV7pW8HGT7Csl0jX16aYhHmX_zsA/s2592/IMG_20240219_163400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMj4V6DMoabtgWOXm4-XcUVIfAPEgcckMciPEc9S4tM05b3yZfflGktaSMlyfelvFLo1M4p-MYIiozzsF9atg9nakxuOIhmit5HWsumTh-_PfiZEjjn6S_o-ShYM4fkRYtsTXeGWgBEOI1TNSc7g_vNYuq8Y73FOzV7pW8HGT7Csl0jX16aYhHmX_zsA/s320/IMG_20240219_163400.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This handsome gentleman came to <br />Paws to Read. He is my SOULMATE.<br />Unfortunately, we cannot be together.<br />I am hoping somebody I know adopts<br />him so I can visit...</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Programs</b><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Paws to Read</li><li>Family Storytime</li><li>Teens make it</li><li>Winter Wigglers</li><li>Lakeland School field trip</li><li>Dungeons & Dragons</li><li>Family Storytime</li><li>Sewing Workshop</li><li>Volunteer Fun</li></ul><div><b>Meetings, projects, etc.</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>What's Next (hosted)</li><li>Publisher rep.</li><li>Girl Scouts (hosted)</li><li>Managers' meeting</li><li>Homeschool book club (hosted)</li><li>YouthAstroNet grant</li><li>Putting together new storytime kits</li><li>Requesting sets of book club books</li><li>Friends presentation</li><li>Massive donation from the school book swap - big thanks to my colleagues and volunteers who helped sort and recycle most of it.</li></ul><div><b>Notes</b></div></div><div> There's always something else to do and I'm tired. I took Friday off to catch up on my writing and reading. Also to give my staff a break from me being grouchy, tbh.</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-17873099435040049612024-02-23T07:00:00.001-06:002024-02-23T07:00:00.127-06:00Night market rescue by Charlotte Cheng, illustrated by Amber Ren<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3w3GJZ1ZFJrFRj8ft53L3U3KFqK1DWlDCQlg2mN8tk6ijGX9jwgaqBEvZZMCFg_KKvbTuH57U-EPDnpPKEtHtr9SUE9oJ3AMXVqaQ2Sg93BQxyPKsTeifvOIi00ZD3QOVDZ7e7OLyVu9r4m_b50rDPhPkOejgPQxyYArgAIrnpp9XK2E69GdcZ0kqlWU/s600/Logo%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="600" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3w3GJZ1ZFJrFRj8ft53L3U3KFqK1DWlDCQlg2mN8tk6ijGX9jwgaqBEvZZMCFg_KKvbTuH57U-EPDnpPKEtHtr9SUE9oJ3AMXVqaQ2Sg93BQxyPKsTeifvOIi00ZD3QOVDZ7e7OLyVu9r4m_b50rDPhPkOejgPQxyYArgAIrnpp9XK2E69GdcZ0kqlWU/s320/Logo%20(6).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> This delightful debut picture book combines the familiar story of a stray dog finding a home with the specific cultural experience of a night market in Taiwan.<p></p><p>GoGo, a medium-sized black dog with perky ears, ventures out to follow the sweet smells on a swirl of pink sparkles and ends up at a night market. Cheerful red lanterns fill the sky and booths with tasty food line the streets. GoGo sniffs and tastes and explores until he finds a little girl, all alone, under a tree with a cloud of blossoms like pink moonlight. The two explore the market together, enjoying the sights, tastes, and sounds until she is reunited with her parents. GoGo starts to leave with sad eyes, but to his delight the family calls him and he too has found a home.</p><p>Ren, the illustrator of Mo Willems' <b>Because</b> has art that sparkles and lights up the night, perfect for this magical trip into a night market. There are delightful details to find and tastes and scents to imagine in all the delicacies pictured. A comforting story of found family and a beautiful depiction of a community experience.</p><p><b>Verdict: This isn't necessarily a must-have for most collections, but if you have the budget to expand a little it would make a great storytime choice to go along with trying some different foods or exploring markets around the world.</b></p>ISBN: 9780593531723; Published May 2023 by Rocky Pond Press; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the libraryJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-25746262121689795452024-02-21T07:00:00.001-06:002024-02-21T07:00:00.142-06:00Don't trust cats (Life lessons from Chip the Dog) by Dev Petty, illustrated by Mike Boldt<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbmgAyINP4T1vH1OnJkDzeSDMOl7wNrbFThw7ZJHjab2sreWGh06I862AsqtT0dRPzUyfe4bSybwxkX0av52SOBcgS6yqdV0T3qBU5bw8ABDeeIv70L7-V3doGEu1BUTaS2AZjCJxg6xrzSdCvbIx0Vk9tnDkU5tlauu8PM5HOg0B3_sZE_lW3y1vVWM/s360/Logo%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbmgAyINP4T1vH1OnJkDzeSDMOl7wNrbFThw7ZJHjab2sreWGh06I862AsqtT0dRPzUyfe4bSybwxkX0av52SOBcgS6yqdV0T3qBU5bw8ABDeeIv70L7-V3doGEu1BUTaS2AZjCJxg6xrzSdCvbIx0Vk9tnDkU5tlauu8PM5HOg0B3_sZE_lW3y1vVWM/s320/Logo%20(7).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> It seems to be inevitable that sequels are never quite as good as the first book, and while this is true in this case, the sequel is still pretty funny!<p></p><p>I love reading Petty's <b><a href="https://flyingoffmybookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/05/i-dont-want-to-be-frog-by-dev-petty.html?q=dev+petty">I don't want to be a frog</a></b> to audiences (although the factual inaccuracies drive me nuts) and my staff and I all thought the first Chip the Dog book was <i>hilarious</i>, as he solemnly imparts his wisdom about what is, and is not, edible. In his second book, the humor is more subtle, but still there as Chip trots onto the page, watched by a smirking gray tabby. </p><p>Chip is a good dog! He has learned many things! The most important thing is DON'T TRUST CATS. Fortunately, there are many things you, as a dog, can trust, like squirrels, porcupines, and, of course, your persons! Then there is the park, full of "trustastic" things like big friendly dogs and fire hydrants. Watch out for the vacuum, cacti, visitors and, of course cats. Unless they introduce you to new friends or seem very sorry and share treats....</p><p>Boldt's art shows a round-bellied, enthusiastic, but not too bright pup who bounces through life with boundless enthusiasm , watched by the smirking gray tabby. The text is a little longer than I usually like in a read-aloud, but it's in a big font and kids won't mind a little longer story when it's told in the cheery tones of Chip! Kids love feeling like they're in on the joke and are sure to laugh from beginning to end, yelling out warnings to Chip as he imparts his "life lessons."</p><p><b>Verdict: If you can only purchase one, go with the first title, but try not to miss out on this sequel as kids will definitely want to see more adventures of Chip - and don't forget to share them with your colleagues for a good laugh as well!</b></p>ISBN: 9780593706787; Published January 2024 by Doubleday; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the libraryJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-82876086787649465542024-02-19T07:00:00.000-06:002024-02-19T07:00:00.124-06:00Browsing the beginning chapter books: Time Jumpers: Stealing the Sword by Wendy Mass, illustrated by Oriol Vidal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHhxMw4CQBS5lmSxdxktfqMSCHAIkGoYedlA0clH0LF0gHBWNCu7FTB0Mqyl7x3lYrzt9D6rRsG8598q9WIfgZrp_KKItIPgyoxW_iYnDll-MzZaQPTtnQfnzxLM3gGrtrE5utZeRGDE/s1600/Logo+%25288%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="248" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHhxMw4CQBS5lmSxdxktfqMSCHAIkGoYedlA0clH0LF0gHBWNCu7FTB0Mqyl7x3lYrzt9D6rRsG8598q9WIfgZrp_KKItIPgyoxW_iYnDll-MzZaQPTtnQfnzxLM3gGrtrE5utZeRGDE/s320/Logo+%25288%2529.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Genre: Fantasy/Historical fiction</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Protagonists: White; Male/Female</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Reading Level: Level O (lexile 570-640)</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Series: Currently stopped at four books</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Originally reviewed in August, 2019</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div>
Wendy Mass' contribution to Scholastic's Branches series launched in 2018 and there are currently four titles in this time-traveling series.<br />
<br />
Siblings Chase and Ava (white) are selling their parents' junk sculptures at the flea market and, after their work is done, get some money to fund their own purchases. They find an old suitcase and at first the woman at the booth refuses to sell it - then she pushes it on them when Chase tells her how interested he is in history and science. Inside the suitcase are a number of strange artifacts. The two are exploring their find when a mysterious stranger starts yelling about his missing suitcase.<br />
<br />
Chase and Ava take off on their bikes, but when they stop in the park, a weird dragon doorknob flies out of the suitcase and the next thing they know, they've been thrown back in time to the reign of King Arthur! The dragon doorknob is the hilt of Excalibur and only they can keep history from being destroyed. But what does the strange, threatening man have to do with the suitcase? How does it work? Are all the artifacts stolen? Only time will tell!<br />
<br />
Black and white sketches show a predominantly white, male cast. The story is written in third person and an odd tense - I'm too far from my literature study days to define it, but here's a sample, "They're both breathing hard when they reach a dead end. Light peeks through the edges of the stones. They wedge their hands into the tiny gaps." While this is the starter book for a series, it feels very disjointed and doesn't really give much information or set-up for the series, other than defining the "magic" object. There isn't much effort put into historical accuracy either.<br />
<br />
<b>Verdict: This checks out, due to being part of the popular Branches imprint, but, as Kirkus says, it's really just a "riff on the Magic Treehouse series." An additional purchase only.</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Revisited: This seemingly ended in 2019 with four books, but the story was not completely wrapped up, so it could potentially be continued. There are better read-alikes for Magic Tree House, including Secret Explorers (which is a little more challenging in reading level and length), so this remains an additional purchase. It's still available in paperback and circulates enough for me that I'd replace it if lost, but I wouldn't purchase it outright.<br /></b>
<br />
ISBN: 9781338217360; Published 2018 by Scholastic; Purchased for the library</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-56751177797726374382024-02-18T07:00:00.010-06:002024-02-18T07:00:00.127-06:00This week at the library<b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEwOp9xLM4M7ryKOw6vF6XIlRCRCdy9HOeqTJeKJYfBqxVsMPsVlcj6ljPBwGM3IuAmYKS9GqyIwPBl_wS0fgV6t_AS0pPWhbZoej1r1mbvMH-AcLeCO0Jfy2e0Ac6RCS1FoHNoJ4vlFD3ddJ4BPgZS39LCy7wuVSxhxDQ3zPYgCESKUa1jMz_f6IFZk/s4032/PXL_20240206_223722569.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEwOp9xLM4M7ryKOw6vF6XIlRCRCdy9HOeqTJeKJYfBqxVsMPsVlcj6ljPBwGM3IuAmYKS9GqyIwPBl_wS0fgV6t_AS0pPWhbZoej1r1mbvMH-AcLeCO0Jfy2e0Ac6RCS1FoHNoJ4vlFD3ddJ4BPgZS39LCy7wuVSxhxDQ3zPYgCESKUa1jMz_f6IFZk/s320/PXL_20240206_223722569.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We all have those programs that are super<br />successful but utterly exhausting. Pokemon Club<br />is it for my poor staff. I did change it so she<br />only has to do it once a month this year though!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Programs</b><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Paws to Read</li><li>Family Storytime</li><li>Outreach storytimes (3 sessions)</li><li>Art with Heart (1 storytime, 1 drop-in session)</li><li>Family Storytime</li><li>Open Storyroom</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div><b>Meetings, outreach, etc.</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>YS Unboxing Social</li><li>SRP activity kits meeting</li><li>New staff training</li><li>Maker Faire</li></ul><div><b>Notes</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This week was complicated and weird. I took Thursday off for some medical appointments which ended up going over onto Friday morning. At one point I just told the other staff to expect me and my staff when they saw us, we couldn't keep up with the changes. Only 3 actual participants came to the afternoon session of Art with Heart, but they definitely enjoyed themselves. I was also very grateful that our school colleague, who comes in for storytime, came in on Thursday evening though it was a partial no-school day, as that would have really put the lid on this week. The Maker Faire felt endless with only a couple people really stopping at our table - I think this will be the last year my department does this outreach. Another library department can take it over (and I'm not just saying that b/c there was a booth that was GIVING OUT WHISTLES).</li></ul></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-65402616326982875352024-02-16T07:00:00.001-06:002024-02-16T07:00:00.132-06:00Taxi, Go! by Patricia Toht, illustrated by Maria Karipidou<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGQa-1pKW2EFOa92kosnfew4ouKQeNf3pO3kgiYqAdAOQTve0boQBh4zDXv2U9d2hGoCDf4vnPOyXCeOX-IWswHlqk0n-bJiuoPkM9S5JCKDVgasRG_v9ctNL_mor6Gv3eSikBZPaKD1-XwlehBtSo1ck0LsQLW6ZWycRKFJUfk-vjXFz3HNNgMVkrSI/s360/Logo%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="360" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGQa-1pKW2EFOa92kosnfew4ouKQeNf3pO3kgiYqAdAOQTve0boQBh4zDXv2U9d2hGoCDf4vnPOyXCeOX-IWswHlqk0n-bJiuoPkM9S5JCKDVgasRG_v9ctNL_mor6Gv3eSikBZPaKD1-XwlehBtSo1ck0LsQLW6ZWycRKFJUfk-vjXFz3HNNgMVkrSI/s320/Logo%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />There are never enough books about cars, or good read-alouds for younger toddlers and preschoolers. There are always gaps in publishing, but this is one that you'd really think would be filled, considering how popular and prolific vehicle books are supposed to be!<p></p><p>Taxi, a bright red car with front windows that double as big eyes, wakes up and starts zipping through the city. As it picks up passengers, Taxi passes a diverse group of people with a variety of body types. It picks up a white woman in a pink business suit with tiny feet and sturdy thighs, passes a pickup truck full of watermelons with two brown-skinned drivers, stops for a brown-skinned child with curly dark hair and skinny legs and arms who is accompanied by an adult in loose pants and a sweater curved over a rounded belly, stops for firefighters rescuing a cat, watched by a white-haired woman with a walker, passes a game of soccer with a female coach with a full bust and a young player with one leg and forearm crutches, and so on. After a day of picking up and driving around passengers, Taxi finally gets to go home and say good night.</p><p>The brisk rhymes are punctuated with several STOP and GO sequences, and although the rhymes are a little shaky, this is a great spot to have children join in with the refrain as well as teach them simple self-regulation, following Taxi's example of waiting before they GO.</p><p><b>Verdict: Cheerful rhymes, a friendly vehicle and streets on which to track its progress, and a truly diverse cast make this a top choice for read-alouds and sure to be a favorite with vehicle-loving little ones. Recommended.</b></p>ISBN: 9781536231533; Published February 2024 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the libraryJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-82817728071878032022024-02-14T07:00:00.001-06:002024-02-14T07:00:00.255-06:00Saving H'non: Chang and the elephant by Trang Nguyen and Jeet Zdung<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ll0Hp62rq_kxkecEJQk9xdq_T5177hV0096Bh8T3F16IDl75P_g8-5mtKJN_3nc815oiBVyKFAsvCyFT7HKVGAheQGhHndFXtbBvlvIyrvY2R07hKD0z7z174vjVl_JkmRBRSZuBfS34qc7wBTgp9y5bjL8-6xcd9rVe_b2Z2hyxK0zByopyn2s_DSg/s600/Logo%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="600" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ll0Hp62rq_kxkecEJQk9xdq_T5177hV0096Bh8T3F16IDl75P_g8-5mtKJN_3nc815oiBVyKFAsvCyFT7HKVGAheQGhHndFXtbBvlvIyrvY2R07hKD0z7z174vjVl_JkmRBRSZuBfS34qc7wBTgp9y5bjL8-6xcd9rVe_b2Z2hyxK0zByopyn2s_DSg/s320/Logo%20(4).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Chang, the intrepid young student and conservationist of <b>Saving Sorya</b>, returns and this time she's involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of H'non, an abused and elderly elephant. The journey of Chang - and H'non - is a complex one, ranging from Chang's research into the evolution of elephants to an honest look at the complexities of using elephants for labor and as tourist attractions. There are graphic images of the abuse H'non suffers and the cruelties of her owners, but also a realistic appraisal of the struggles of the local families to support themselves and the relationship between them and the elephants. Chang faces her own prejudices and feelings as she is put in charge of supervising a local trainee to care for H'non and the story ends in a joyful and upbeat moment as H'non is fully returned to the wild.<p></p><p>The art is meant to be Chang's notebook and it is very similar to a nature journal with lots of individual illustrations, little asides, facts, and more. In general, it's a watercolor wash of sandy browns and pale greens. Every page is a beautiful surprise, from a reflective view of a starry night to an explosion of green vegetables at the market. The intricate art matches the story, exploring the emotions, heartbreaks, and challenges the conservationists face as well as the feelings and struggles of the local townspeople and their relationship with the elephants.</p><p>I loved <a href="https://jeanlittlelibrary.blogspot.com/2022/01/saving-sorya-chang-and-sun-bear-by.html">Saving Sorya</a>, but I was sad that it didn't fly off the shelves as I'd confidently expected. However, it did circulate reasonably well and I still think the unique collaboration of these creators is worth adding to library shelves and promoting to readers as well as their new creation. It's worth considering that it might find more readers in the nonfiction area (and by nonfiction circulation standards, it has circulated very well) and I'll also make it a point to promote these books more in the near future.</p><p><b>Verdict: If you can purchase only one of these titles, I think the newest one is more accessible, featuring a more familiar animal, the elephant, instead of the sun bear. Promote to readers who love animals and graphic novels, to those interested in animal welfare, and to teachers introducing their students to global issues and wanting to use high-quality graphic novels in classroom study units.</b></p>ISBN: 9780593406724; Published October 2023 by Dial Books for Young Readers; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the libraryJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-58229089331489518892024-02-12T07:00:00.003-06:002024-02-14T12:44:16.964-06:00Everything you know about dinosaurs is wrong by Dr. Nick Crumpton, illustrated by Gavin Scott<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcUjTfLJJMPgdYNLtacbjxECZhACAzPeHX1ipvWLGXsWjce17bnFQODJldT1E6N04wZCtcdnjvSUniyvhKwQdWk_qAP0nSNqQBIpnEIRT51AukEzLgpdXuimvVTpNllL8Fto2uGEtTIOLzUzVmTKtoNhg09iSzugDcUbMaFEoRFrYNoAeAmQcdIIg5jA/s600/Logo%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="518" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcUjTfLJJMPgdYNLtacbjxECZhACAzPeHX1ipvWLGXsWjce17bnFQODJldT1E6N04wZCtcdnjvSUniyvhKwQdWk_qAP0nSNqQBIpnEIRT51AukEzLgpdXuimvVTpNllL8Fto2uGEtTIOLzUzVmTKtoNhg09iSzugDcUbMaFEoRFrYNoAeAmQcdIIg5jA/s320/Logo%20(5).jpg" width="276" /></a></div><br />People have been fascinated by dinosaurs since they were first discovered and identified and they have been a popular interest for young children since roughly the 1960s (I base that on random Googling, feel free to suggest better sources). At the present time, there is a proliferation of books trying to keep up with the rapid changes in paleontology as well as, on the other end of the spectrum, imaginative fiction featuring dinosaurs. I found this to be an extremely accessible introduction to paleontology, written in such a way as to be relevant for many years.<div><br /></div><div>The list of contents labels each spread, which features a different fact about dinosaurs. The introduction talks about how science changes and how we are constantly learning new things. The spreads are titled with well-known "facts" that have turned out to be wrong, or just not the whole story. These include things like Dinosaurs could roar, Dinosaurs only lived on land, Theropods only ate meat, and Dinosaurs are extinct. Each heading is accompanied by a stamped image of the word "WRONG!" and then explores the concept in more detail. How and why people thought this, new science that disproves it or adds to it, and possible future researches are all touched on lightly.</div><div><br /></div><div>The art is light and colorful, with most of the backgrounds being white with speckled dots and a few darker spreads. Some of the text on the darker backgrounds is difficult to read, being in a fairly small font. Back matter includes a glossary, index, and brief biographies of the author and illustrator. Like many titles originally published in Europe, there are no sources or factual back matter included.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Verdict: This has a layout that looks like a picture book, but it's really directed at elementary-age children, and perhaps the occasional smaller child who is fascinated by dinosaurs and science and has the focus to sit through and discuss lengthier text. It's simply and clearly written and the focus on the changing methods and discoveries of paleontology will make it relevant for many years to come. Recommended.</b></div><div><br /></div>ISBN: 9798887770147; Published October 2023 by Nosy Crow; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the libraryJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-47979103753388434942024-02-11T07:00:00.017-06:002024-02-11T07:00:00.132-06:00This week at the library<p><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhsc1Vq6hrxpeR674d7ixp8UylzLODinVO3VgZsk6Q8o4HaZAHTkbrBJWb1XPmdlmDMQLFfm6aGhqPAlAYSREwtS09axAJO1_IpapJm9tppKWgzxH2DRvp_HjnSGBHZtYgSc2PVBwXQd-VNGu4vt5G0gCfxqufssZwI-yPW3vSh0zFM9dx_JVCXjmkTU/s4608/MakeIt10-12-23a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhsc1Vq6hrxpeR674d7ixp8UylzLODinVO3VgZsk6Q8o4HaZAHTkbrBJWb1XPmdlmDMQLFfm6aGhqPAlAYSREwtS09axAJO1_IpapJm9tppKWgzxH2DRvp_HjnSGBHZtYgSc2PVBwXQd-VNGu4vt5G0gCfxqufssZwI-yPW3vSh0zFM9dx_JVCXjmkTU/s320/MakeIt10-12-23a.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is from last year, but these bright sparks<br />were back at Sewing Workshop this week<br />and made some great projects!</td></tr></tbody></table>Programs</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Paws to Read</li><li>Family Storytime</li><li>Pokemon Club</li><li>Outreach storytimes (5 sessions)</li><li>Winter Wigglers</li><li>Library on the Go outreach (3 sessions)</li><li>Project Explore</li><li>Family Storytime</li><li>Sewing Workshop</li><li>TAB</li></ul><div><b>Projects</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Hiring a new aide</li><li>Reports</li><li>Manager's meeting</li></ul><b>Notes</b></div><div> I took Friday off to catch up with various projects and work at home. We had a very strong turn-out for the Sewing Workshop and I am super grateful for my competent and flexible staff this week, especially Jess, who covered afternoon programs for me while I had meetings, interviews, etc.</div><p></p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-48592489254045061852024-02-09T07:00:00.001-06:002024-02-09T07:00:00.153-06:00The most delicious soup and other stories by Mariana Ruiz Johnson, translated by Rosalind Harvey<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-DWPwNauECjSrM9DAdigSTJOGAyRkj-fk3cZqohpRe7xpDv2hYbnMfKR03Aqghy2YK2xAF3kprZFmiy1CZV9x2bwErD9Os68CEPZTB_P0YH8dX9MZZQdUguwGm7UC3rpyZ1QonbNpkpGb89VjEjWfAl0QDlHpZEiFfAsrSvVgfDmB6668_F9-kMJuCE/s360/Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-DWPwNauECjSrM9DAdigSTJOGAyRkj-fk3cZqohpRe7xpDv2hYbnMfKR03Aqghy2YK2xAF3kprZFmiy1CZV9x2bwErD9Os68CEPZTB_P0YH8dX9MZZQdUguwGm7UC3rpyZ1QonbNpkpGb89VjEjWfAl0QDlHpZEiFfAsrSvVgfDmB6668_F9-kMJuCE/s320/Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> A key difference between American and European picture books is that European titles are more likely to leave stories open-ended or do slice-of-life style tales while American books tend to be very cut-and-dried, with a definitely conclusion and often a moral. Generally speaking, the open-ended European style isn't very popular in my library, but sometimes, usually because of the illustrations, I'll come across one that I know I will be able to interest families in and this is that book.<p></p><p>I was personally attracted to it because I like detailed illustrations and things in the miniature style, and the description of little stories in a small village was intriguing. The book turned out to be just as delightful as advertised, reminding me a little of some of the stories of my childhood with a modern feel and quirky openings for discussion.</p><p>Coco and his mom, both crocodiles, adopt a beetle named Thunder. Coco loves Thunder dearly, but the beetle is sometimes destructive and after leaving a big poop on the floor Mom sends the beetle outside. Fortunately, Thunder is not far away and Mom peeks in to see the two best friends playing a wild game on Coco's bed at night.</p><p>Luis spends time with Grandma after school every day. When it's raining, the turtle duo can't make their usual trip to the lake and go to the library instead, where they experience the wonder of a number of classic stories. When they get home, they make banana bread and play video games. Grandma wins!</p><p>Gina and her dad, with a younger duckling in a sling, are out shopping and Gina wants a lot of things. She throws a temper tantrum when she can't get everything she wants, but eventually calms down and is ready to move on.</p><p>Coco returns with friends Paco, a rabbit, and Tiana, a frog. They set up camp in the backyard, but right in the middle of a scary story it starts raining! They take shelter inside where the story can continue, but it's cut short with the appearance of a monster... who turns out to be Tiana's grownup with a chocolate cake.</p><p>The final story brings everyone in Villa Verde together in a version of Stone Soup, where the whole community contributes to delicious soup, no trickery needed, which forms the focal point of a lovely evening event. With a stern reminder from the cook, Mrs. Bear, they all help to clean up and drift home to bed - but the kids are still wide-awake!</p><p>The quirky stories, animal characters, and little details are not conducive to a typical storytime, but in small groups or one-on-one this will be a fun book to read and discuss. Younger children will quite happily take the stories at face value without needing a conclusive ending and find the final community gathering a comforting and peaceful end while older, elementary-age students will easily slip into discussions of the stories and behavior of the different characters.</p><p><b>Verdict: This won't be for everyone, but if you have a large audience of older listeners and readers and plenty of families who read one-on-one, it's likely to be very appealing.</b></p>ISBN: 9781922610614; Published February 2024 by Berbay; Review copy provided by Publisher's Spotlight; Donated to the libraryJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-39407037728151134512024-02-07T07:00:00.001-06:002024-02-07T07:00:00.133-06:00Giant-Sized butterflies on my first day of school by Justin Roberts, illustrated by Paola Escobar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuaIIJJkNytMCgoYenDErfUoww0tyQOyb8EMXhDbppV_T0ylARyGe1NSXdtNBL6hl7BH6z_hk6iRAlGzzjgjbeA5pTT3C6sLDkPB7lRPUsoxQLNXsewroQX2D48hycliFUE0pwlQNjT8X0w-vQWx1CxElW-G3yPC7iQ2xt0uA0MXY_hWoV5B3H1oskRs/s360/Logo%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="293" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuaIIJJkNytMCgoYenDErfUoww0tyQOyb8EMXhDbppV_T0ylARyGe1NSXdtNBL6hl7BH6z_hk6iRAlGzzjgjbeA5pTT3C6sLDkPB7lRPUsoxQLNXsewroQX2D48hycliFUE0pwlQNjT8X0w-vQWx1CxElW-G3yPC7iQ2xt0uA0MXY_hWoV5B3H1oskRs/s320/Logo%20(1).jpg" width="260" /></a></div>I would have thought that all the possible "first day of school jitters" aspects had been covered, but this picture book from a song by children's songwriter Justin Roberts is a new perspective.<div><br /></div><div>The rhyming lyrics follow a sad-looking little girl with light brown skin and fluffy dark brown hair as she battles "butterflies in her stomach" on her first day. Her mom and dad try to help her calm down, but nothing helps, until her mother encourages her to embrace the butterflies and be excited about trying something new. Tiny, glowing butterflies erupt into a jungle of color and light in and around the child until the last page shows her happily settled in at school with clouds of butterflies around her and her classmates.</div><div><br /></div><div>The text is loosely rhyming, but clearly taken from the lyrics of a song. There is a lot of white space in the illustrations, with a rather bare house, wide roads, and spacious sidewalks. There is a diversity of skin tones but not of body shapes - the few people scattered around in the community and school scenes are all the same, varying only in height, and there are no visible disabilities. As in most books in a school setting, only a few children are pictured.</div><div><br /></div><div>The colors are fresh and bright and the story focuses closely on the unnamed little girl who is the center of the story, with her stylish mother as her guide - the father appears only briefly in the morning and it is her mother who is taking her to school and giving her advice. I was a little surprised there was no link to the original song, but it's easily discoverable online.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Verdict: Although it's not perfect - I would have liked to see more variation in body types, a more realistic (i.e. crowded) school and community setting, and more involvement of the father, this is a very positive way for kids to rethink their worries about starting something new, not just first days at school. A strong addition to any library collection with books featuring social-emotional learning.</b></div><div><br /></div>ISBN: 9780525516439; Published May 2023 by Putnam; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the libraryJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-915041119468051754.post-34741621801175111532024-02-05T07:00:00.001-06:002024-02-05T07:00:00.136-06:00Browsing the beginning chapter books: The best of Iggy by Annie Barrows, illustrated by Sam Ricks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8tHTqLiOjCZQQQaLdpOap8zQpdNct0XUydV0pmJ1uNmQVRYTHmrVfj5THYlZEeQH6lkYXjby32rw1KAI3YzC4xa9pjGOOorvNuW3P9Mt90mA_0SanDaAXMpWmkytR_t2t2q1y3OXQb2C/s1600/Logo+%25286%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="239" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8tHTqLiOjCZQQQaLdpOap8zQpdNct0XUydV0pmJ1uNmQVRYTHmrVfj5THYlZEeQH6lkYXjby32rw1KAI3YzC4xa9pjGOOorvNuW3P9Mt90mA_0SanDaAXMpWmkytR_t2t2q1y3OXQb2C/s320/Logo+%25286%2529.jpg" width="212" /></a>Genre: Realistic fiction, Humor</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Protagonists: Male, White</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Reading Level: 500s; Intermediate chapter book</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Series: Complete with 5 books</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Originally reviewed in March, 2020</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Review: I never really got into Ivy + Bean, but I have plenty of kids who love them. Even more impressive, although there was a long gap between the penultimate and final? book, kids still knew about the series and were excited about a new book!</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
I was interested to see how Barrows handled a new character. The first thing to be aware of, is that the Iggy series is a much higher reading level than Ivy + Bean. There are still illustrations and it's a short book, at the end it congratulates readers on making it through 20 chapters, but some of the chapters are only a page long. However, the font is smaller and more dense, more like a chapter book than a beginning chapter book.<br />
<br />
Iggy is the kind of kid who <i>means</i> well, but... yeah. Definitely a slightly more naughty version of Melonhead, a literary kid for whom I have always had a deep affection. Iggy and the narrator, who have several spirited exchanges throughout the book, explain that this book is about "three types of things we wish we hadn't done." Of course, there are degrees in this. The first thing, convincing the goody-two-shoes Jeremy Greerson to jump off the shed roof, Iggy doesn't really regret, just that he got into trouble for it. Also, there were extenuating circumstances. The second thing Iggy just... went too far. As the narrator explains, there are no extenuating circumstances. "The truth is Iggy was bored and lonely, so he went into the bathroom, and while he was there, he lost his mind."<br />
<br />
The third thing... well, Iggy wishes he'd never done it. He wishes he'd never even THOUGHT about it. But he did. And he's very, very, very sorry.<br />
<br />
<b>Verdict: Sure to tickle the funny bone of your readers with a thoughtful, surprisingly subtle discussion of making choices and mistakes. Recommended.</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Revisited: This has had mixed circulation over the years. I promote the first book and it checks out frequently, but the subsequent books don't go out much. I think it might circulate better if moved back to the juvenile fiction, instead of the beginning chapter books, and I also should promote them to the schools. I would recommend purchasing just the first book (which is still in print in hardcover and paperback) and see how your audience reacts.<br /></b>
<br />
ISBN: 9781984813305; Published January 2020 by Putnam; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library; Purchased the rest of the series.</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com0