Hoot Owl, master of disguise by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Jean Jullien

I could have sworn I had read and even reviewed this, but apparently not, as I am sure I couldn't have forgotten something so funny.

Beware night creatures! Hoot Owl is hungry and he is a master of disguise. Watch out small rabbit, here comes Hoot Owl disguised as a....carrot! Darn. Oh well, there are plenty of tasty creatures and plenty of excellent disguises. After all, Hoot Owl is a master! Maybe?

The silly twist at the end will make readers laugh out loud as Hoot Owl finally finds the perfect disguise and the perfect prey (SPOILER: It's a pizza). The big, bold illustrations, with Hoot Owl's staring eyes and very, very serious face add to the hilarity of the goofy story with just an edge of danger.

Verdict: A perfect read for a storytime, especially with a large group. This will touch off discussions of what owls eat as well as screams of laughter. Read it in a spooky, super-dramatic voice and it will make a mildly scary read for preschoolers as well. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780763675783; Published 2014 by Candlewick; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Nonfiction Monday: Bee Dance by Rick Chrustowski

There's so much great nonfiction for young listeners coming out now that I sometimes feel like just diving in and swimming around in all the glorious books!

"When sunlight warms your honeybee wings, off you go on flower patrol!" begins this story of a bee. The bee discovers flowers, communicates with a dance, and sends the forager bees out to collect pollen.

The illustrations are bold, bright, and geometrical, a perfect fit for the honeybees' venture out into the sunshine and flowers and their hive. The cut paper collages give a childlike feel to the story and additional pastel pencil details add a note of realism to the design.

A page at the end explains in more detail how the honeybee's dance works and there is a brief author note for older readers.

The bold, simple text would make both a wonderful read-aloud and a suitable easy reader for kids starting out on their own. This is a perfect book for the youngest listeners - pair it with some dancing and a honeybee song or two for best results! It's a good book for gateway learning for older readers as well - get them interested in the idea of dancing as communication and extend it from there.

Verdict: Great for storytimes, great for a school library, great all over. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9780805099195; Published 2015 by Henry Holt; Purchased for the library

Celebrating Cybils!

It's the tenth anniversary of the Cybils and we have our awesome shortlists out for your delectation!

Complete lists, with annotations, can be found at Cybils.com

My own rambling thoughts on the lists I use most are contained herein

Elementary and Middle Grade Nonfiction

  This is the category which I preside over as organizer. We had a really great group of panelists this year and I know the second round judges have a challenge ahead of them!

• Kid Presidents by David Stabler
• I have to admit this is one that I personally disliked. However, part of Cybils is taking another look at things - so I'll be taking another look at this one!
• Fatal Fever by Gail Jarrow
• I personally find Jarrow's books fascinating. I don't think the covers are as grabby as they could be, but I have high hopes for this one and purchased it for the library.
• Emmanuel's Dream by Lauren Thompson
• I enjoyed this one, even though I'm usually pretty meh about older elementary picture books. Thompson has a light touch though and keeps the story realistic and inspiring while still making it accessible to the younger audience.
• One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul
• The enthusiasm for this one got me to take a second look (no, I am not part of the judging process - at most, I moderate, so the panelists can definitely surprise me!)
• Untamed: The wild life of Jane Goodall by Anita Silvey
• We had some really great middle grade nonfiction this year and this is one that's been very popular in my library.
• I, Fly by Bridget Heos
• I'm looking forward to using this one in storytimes.
• Guts and Glory: The Vikings by Ben Thompson
• If I'd read this before nominations this would have been nominated by me! I am absolutely wowed by this new series and have been recommending it to all and sundry.

Easy Readers and Early Chapters

  I was a first round panelist in this category and it's one I always enjoy participating in.

--Easy Readers

• Slither Snake by Shelby Alinsky
• This was my nomination and I'm thrilled it made it to the shortlist! I hope this will inspire more libraries, especially in my consortium, to purchase National Geographic pre-readers so I can use them in my beginning reader book club...
• Ling and Ting: Twice as Silly by Grace Lin
• I rediscovered this series and remembered how much I loved it with this latest title
• Don't Throw it to Mo by David Adler
• I'm very pleased to see an easy reader featuring sports and a diverse protagonist make it to the shortlist!
• Rosa Parks by Kitson Jazynka
• This is the easy reader that made me rethink my entire stance on easy reader biographies. Stunning.
• In, Over, and On the Farm by Ethan Long
• I think Long is a worthy successor to Elephant and Piggie. My review of this hasn't posted yet, but rest assured, I loved it.
• A Pig, A Fox, and a Box by Jonathan Fenske
• I always enjoy Fenske's art.
• Sofia Martinez by Jaqueline Jules
• Love, love, love it. Can't wait to order this whole series for my library.

--Early Chapters

• Dory and the real true friend by Abby Hanlon
• I felt conflicted about the first book in the series, but this one really grabbed me. I have a review coming soon.
• My Pet Human by Yasmine Surovec
• I can't wait for there to be enough copies of this in the consortium that I can use it for my book club! Loved it.
• Magical Animal Adoption Agency: Clover's Luck by Kallie George
• All the feels for George's new book! One of the few times I wish I was a child again so I could discover this.
• Big Bad Detective Agency by Bruce Hale
• This didn't click with me, but kids do love mysteries and this will definitely have an audience.
• Ranger in time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail by Kate Messner
• This is possibly the most popular title I've had in book club all last year. It hits pretty much every point of what kids are looking to read right now.
• West Meadows Detectives: The Case of the Snack Snatcher by Liam O'Donnell
• I hadn't heard of this one at all and it really grabbed me. I can't wait to introduce this new mystery series to my library patrons! Review coming soon.
• Lulu and the Hamster in the Night by Hilary McKay
• Is this my favorite Lulu? It's so hard to decide. I love it lots though.

Graphic Novels

Another favorite category of mine, although I was not involved this year.

--Elementary/Middle Grade

• Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
• Oh yeah, this one ROCKS.
• Sunny Side Up by Jennifer Holm
• I haven't been able to read this because it's always checked out.
• Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoola
• I really enjoyed this one. Of course, I love Baba Yaga....I'll definitely be buying this, but it will probably go in teen in my library.
• Dragons Beware! by Jorge Aguirre
• I didn't get around to reading this sequel, but it's a popular title in the library.
• Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang
• I'm still not sure how I feel about this one, but I bought it and it's circulating briskly.
• The Marvels by Brian Selznick
• My only complaint is that this book does not display well at all.
• Courtney Crumin vol. 7: Tales of a Warlock by Ted Naifeh
• One last hurrah for Courtney Crumrin! I keep these in teen though.

--Teen

• Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
• I have to admit I couldn't get into this one, but I have ordered it for the library and I think it will be popular.
• Ms. Marvel vol. 1
• Ordered. Circulates briskly.
• Honor Girl by Maggie Thrash
• Still haven't decided if this will circulate or not.
• Terrorist: Gavrilo Princip the assassin who ignited World War I by Henrik Rehr
• Graphic nonfiction only circulates for my younger readers
• March Book Two by John Lewis
• Adult might have bought this - I know they have the first volume.
• Oyster War by Ben Towle
• Haven't heard of this one
• Lion of Rora by Christos Gage
• Or this one

Fiction Picture Books

I wasn't involved in this category either, but I love looking at the nominations and lists.

• Last stop on Market Street by Christian Robinson
• This had a wonderful rhythm to it.
• Blizzard by John Rocco
• I know I bought it...and I remember I liked it.
• Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson
• Lovely art
• Mango, Abuela and Me by Meg Medina
• Haven't read it because it's always checked out
• Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor
• Oh, I LOVED this one! Review coming soon.
• In a village by the sea by Muon Van
• Not owned in my consortium - shall probably change that.
• Bug in a vacuum by Melanie Watt
• This seems to be one you either get or you don't. It's....different.

Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction

I'm curious to see what came out on this list - I've bought a lot of juvenile fiction in the past year, but it was almost all filling in series.

• Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes
• I've been moving this on and off the order list for a while. Time to move it on permanently I think.
• Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge
• I enjoyed the one Hardinge book I read, but it didn't have an audience in my library.
• Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon
• MY NOMINATION ALL THE LOVE YAYYYYY!!
• Wings of Fire: Moon Rising by Tui Sutherland
• Very popular at the library. Just realized I missed the last release, darn it.
• Dungeoneers by John David Anderson
• I bought this because I liked the cover. Now you know.
• Fog Diver by Joel Ross
• Huh. Haven't heard of this at all.
• Mars Evacuees by Sophia McDougall
• Another one that's been on and off the list.

Middle Grade Fiction

I plan to use this to populate my lists for my high-level reading group.

• Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands
• We have this but somehow it ended up in teen. The cover definitely feels more middle grade. Maybe I should take it back...
• Listen, Slowly by Thanhai Lai
• Lai is one of the most popular new authors I've been promoting. Lovely covers, lovely books.
• Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly
• I bought this because I was intrigued by the description, but I'm skeptical that any of my library kids know who the Beatles are. Alas for the younger generation.
• Book Scavenger by Jennifer Bertram
• Haven't heard of this one at all!
• Footer Davis is probably crazy by Susan Vaught
• Or this one!

Young Adult Nonfiction

I'm really working on this collection and am eager to see what they selected.

• Symphony for the city of the dead by M. T. Anderson
• I haven't had time to read this and decide if it will circulate or not.
• Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsburg and the secret history of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin
• First Sheinkin book I haven't had time to read )-:) but I did purchase it and it's actually circulated.
• I will always write back by Patricia Tilton
• Haven't heard of this one
• Tommy: The gun that changed America by Karen Blumenthal
• This was fascinating.
• Courage and Defiance: Stories of Spies, Saboteurs and Survivors in World War II Denmark by Deborah Hopkinson
• Haven't had time to read it yet, but it's on order for the library
• Give me wings by Kathy Lowinger
• Not sure if it's memoir-ish enough to circulate.
• Bayard Rustin: The Invisible Activist by Jacqueline Houtman
• Haven't heard of this one

This week at the library; or, The last of 2015

new toys! these have been waiting for....a while

Only three days of work this week - and an amazing amount of work to pack into those days, since programs resume next week! We had a huge snowstorm on Monday and actually closed an HOUR EARLY! This is huge. My library never closes. I've been busy planning programs, ordering supplies, putting together end of year reports, cleaning out stuff, updating toy bags, etc.

Also, my New Year's resolution is to read more middle grade - I'm thinking about 2 a month. Note - this is not an invitation to all publishers to send me their entire frontlist for the year. I mean, you can if you want to, I won't say no to free books, but I am still cleaning out review copies from 2013 (I am determined to start the new year, or at least the new year on Monday with an empty to read shelf).

Puppy Pirates: Stowaway!, X Marks the Spot by Erin Soderberg, illustrated by Russ Cox

I'm always looking for new beginning chapter series. Sometimes I have specific things I'm looking for; more diverse characters, easier read-alikes for popular middle grade or teen series, or a specific request. Sometimes I'm just looking to see what's new and interesting, which is why I asked to preview this new series.

Farm puppy Wally is wandering around the docks, hoping to find a real home and adventure, when two pirate pugs sail through the air and land right in front of him! He immediately decides that being a puppy pirate is for him, but the other tough puppies just laugh. That night, he stows away on their ship and meets another stowaway; a scruffy boy named Henry who also wants to be a pirate. He was thinking more of people pirates, but puppies are good too. The puppy pirates are skeptical, but agree to give them a chance and they prove themselves during battle with the kitten pirates.

In their second adventure, the puppy pirates have gotten their paws on the treasure map of Growlin' Grace and they're off to search for treasure! It will take all of Henry's pirate knowledge and Wally's courage to save the day and find the treasure. SPOILER the treasure is, of course, the promise of more adventures.

The black and white illustrations sprinkled throughout the stories remind me of an 80s cartoon featuring anthropomorphic dogs. Not that it's a bad thing, and no I can't remember exactly what it was, but they do. The illustrations are cute enough, although they contradict the story (not that it's super logical anyways) as when Henry mentions that he'll be useful because he has thumbs, but the illustrations show anthropomorphic dogs swinging on vines, holding maps, etc. with thumbs.

Although Wally and Henry, the heroes of the stories, are of course boys, there is a fairly diverse cast of both male and female puppies. The series isn't as sententious as it could be, although it does get close sometimes with the wise advice of Old Salt and the "treasure" of the second book.

Verdict: Kids who like mild adventures and cute dogs will happily devour this series. It's certainly a unique premise, although the characters and plot aren't particularly unusual. If you have pirate fans in your community, this would definitely be a fun purchase.

Published 2015 by Stepping Stone/Random House: Review copies provided by publisher; Donated to the library for prizes

Stowaway!
ISBN: 9780553511673

X Marks the Spot
ISBN: 9780553511703

Read, Read, Read said the Baby: A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman

A Pocket for Corduroy is one of my favorite childhood books and I was interested to see how it looked as a board book.

It was...kind of disappointing to be honest. If you haven't read it before, it's the second book in the Corduroy series. Having finally found a home with Lisa, Corduroy accompanies Lisa and her mom to the laundromat. There he gets the idea to go hunting for a pocket - and ends up going through the washing machine! After being left behind and having some adventures at the laundromat, he's greatly relieved when Lisa comes back to get him. Happily, he also gets his pocket and his name in it, so he won't get lost again!

Freeman's classic illustrations are instantly recognizable, with glowing colors, lots of sketchy lines, and interesting characters and settings. This was probably one of the first books I read as a child that featured African-American characters in a normal, every day setting.

So, this is a classic and one that definitely stands the test of time. What's not to like? Well....it's just really not a good book for a board book edition. Freeman's illustrations lose much of their charm and detail when they're squashed into a 4x7 inch book and the text is far too dense for a board book audience. That's not to say that parents won't enjoy introducing this classic to their little ones, who may also enjoy picking out the colors, the bear, and hearing part of the story, but this is one that would be better off kept as a picture book.

Verdict: This might make a nice gift to a Corduroy or Freeman fan, but if your library needs more Freeman, update the picture book collection, not the board books.

ISBN: 9780451471130; Board book edition published 2015 by Viking/Penguin; Review copy provided by publisher

Tiptoe Tapirs by Hanmin Kim

I bought this title primarily because nobody else in my consortium had it and I wanted to read it, because I like tapirs, and because I wanted to play a joke on a colleague from the adult department who was subbing for me for a book club and told the kids tapirs were giant rodents (no, I am NEVER letting you live that down Chad. Heh heh heh). Of course, it's more a folktale than a factual tale and so it confused my cataloger who was trying to figure out what animal neighborhood it went in, especially as she's not so strong on animal identification either. Heh. If you're interested, tapirs are ungulates.

So, moving on! "This story took place long ago in a jungle where many animals lived." The animals make quite a ruckus, booming, trumpeting, stomping and just generally raising the canopy. All except the tapirs, who quietly mind their own business. But one day they are found by a jaguar. They run and run but it's not enough and they're just about to get caught when BANG! It's the hunter! The tapirs have pity on the jaguar and teach him their secret and they all....tiptoe...away together. And all the animals learn to tiptoe and the hunter goes away.

The swirling art is funny and intriguing. It's certainly not accurate - crocodiles, elephants, rhinos and apes don't live in the South American jungles with tapirs and jaguars - but it's fun just the same. The tiptoeing animals are a hoot and the swirling, splashy pictures are eye-catching.

Verdict: While not a required purchase, this story has a fun, folktale-feel to it and lots of fun sounds and actions. It would make a fun read-aloud in storytime and fills a niche for interactive stories about an unusual animal.

ISBN: 9780823433957; Published 2015 by Holiday House; Purchased for the library

Nonfiction Monday: Guts & Glory: The Vikings by Ben Thompson

I don't remember where I first saw this series or what inspired me to purchase it, but I bought Civil War and then Vikings. I picked Vikings to read when it was nominated for Cybils and, well, the cover advertises "100% Not Boring" and I can personally attest that not only is it not boring, it is hilarious, informative, well-researched, and altogether awesome.

This is a comprehensive look at three hundred years of Viking history, including religion, contextual history of Europe, effect on history right down to present-day pop culture, language, and more. And it's not boring. Chapters cover subjects like "Kievan Rus: The amazing true tale of how the Vikings inadvertently found modern-day Russia." and "The Siege of Paris: When the heathens come knocking on the gates of the City of Love, a defiant Frankish count responds by dumping a vat of boiling-hot oil on their heads."

There are black and white illustrations at strategic points, frequent sidebars and profiles of famous Vikings and other personages from history. Each chapter ends with a "Know your Vikings" profile of the main character from the preceding chapter. An intensely detailed bibliography and index show the meticulous research that went into the book and give serious readers a chance to continue learning about the subject.

It's awesome how Thompson explains the difference between substantiated historical fact and legend, the way he weaves complex threads of history together, and his readable, accessible style. You can grab readers by telling them it's the true history behind films like How to Train Your Dragon (these people didn't need dragons to make them tough!) and the inspiration for Lord of the Rings (read about the real-life Eowyn!) or by reading a few chapter subtitles. Possibly mention that this is the best history of three hundred years of blood, war, mayhem, and people swinging giant axes. Or read a few excerpts:

"Sigfrid made his demand: "You open the path for us to travel down the Seine, and we promise we totally won't double-cross you and sack Paris. You have my word as a bloodthirsty, utterly untrustworthy Viking marauder who wants nothing more than to chop off your head and decorate my living room with it.""

Egil Skallagrimsson "He did battle with armies of might warriors, cut his enemies apart with an axe, and once killed a wolf with his bare hands and ate it raw. Oh, right, and he also wrote two of the most famous poems in the history of medieval Iceland and is believed to be one of the best literary minds of the Viking Age. Wait, what? ... some modern doctors [believe] he suffered from Paget's disease, an incredibly painful disorder in which the bones continually change shape. Egil did not have a sense of humor about this."

Verdict: A must buy for your nonfiction section, a top pick for booktalking, and a great selection for book clubs. In short, it's amazing and you must have it as soon as possible. Adults and kids alike will enjoy the combination of research, legend, fact, and witty writing.

ISBN: 9780316320566; Published 2015 by Little Brown and Company; Purchased for the library

The Awards: A "putting my money where my mouth is" retrospective for 2015

This is the awards hibiscus.
Like the statistics octopus.
It's a thing.

So, every year, more or less, I post one of my "putting my money where my mouth is" lists of which award titles I purchased. This year I suddenly realized that, although I make a lot of guesses about what will and won't circulate, I never really follow up. So, here is how the award books I purchased did this year in my library. Of course, there are a lot of other factors - how long have we owned them, did I push them at pre-summer school booktalks, average circulation in those areas (easy readers circulate more than teen fiction) the books I forgot to put on this list, etc. but this gives you a rough idea.

I've highlighted titles that had really good circulation, compared to the average circ of their location.

Cybils Awards (* were also ALA awards)

• Here comes the Easter cat by Deborah Underwood
• Added March 2014
• Circulation: 10
• Maple by Lori Nichols
• Added May 2014
• Personally recommended to multiple parents
• Circulation: 21
• Shhh! We have a plan by Chris Haughton
• Added May 2015
• Circulation: 15
• This is a moose by Richard Morris
• Added May 2014
• Booktalked at pre-summer visits to great acclaim
• Circulation: 21
• Chasing Cheetahs by Sy Montgomery
• Added June 2015
• Used in book club
• Circulation: 15
• Feathers by Melissa Stewart
• Added February 2014
• Used in birdwatching station display; Used in outreach visit storytimes
• Circulation: 22
• When lunch fights back by Rebecca Johnson
• Added September 2014
• Booktalked at pre-summer visits; On staff picks display
• Circulation: 14
• Extraordinary Warren by Sarah Dillard
• Added February 2014
• Booktalked at pre-summer visits
• Circulation: 13
• Like carrot juice on a cupcake by Julie Sternberg
• Added May 2014
• Circulation: 6
• Lulu and the rabbit next door by Hilary McKay
• Added February 2014
• Circulation: 11
• My new friend is so fun by Mo Willems
• Added 2 copies July 2014
• Circulation: 41/34
• Okay Andy by Maxwell Eaton
• Added July 2014
• Circulation: 22
• Pigsticks and Harold and the incredible journey by Alex Milway
• Added April 2015
• Booktalked at pre-summer visits, used in book club
• Circulation: 10
• Chicken Squad the first misadventure by Doreen Cronin
• Added May 2014
• Circulation: 14
• Violet Mackerel's possible friend by Anna Branford
• Added June 2014
• Circulation: 12
• Bird and squirrel on ice by James Burk
• Added November 2014
• Circulation: 17
• *El Deafo by Cece Bell
• Added September 2014
• Booktalked at pre-summer visits, Used in book club
• Circulation: 12
• Death by Toilet Paper by Donna Gephart
• Added August 2014
• Circulation: 9
• Ice dogs by Terry Lynn Johnson
• Added May 2014
• Booktalked at pre-summer visits
• Circulation: 18
• *Crossover by Kwame Alexander
• Added March 2015
• Circulation: 9
• Meaning of Maggie by Megan Sovern
• Added May 2014
• Circulation: 10
• Castle behind thorns by Merrie Haskell
• Added July 2014
• Circulation: 9
• Jupiter Pirates: Hunt for the Hydra by Jason Fry
• Added January 2015 (donated by the author)
• Booktalked at pre-summer visits
• Circulation: 5
• *Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Wilson
• Added October 2014
• Booktalked at pre-summer visits
• Circulation: 17
• Hi Koo by Jon Muth
• Added March 2014
• Circulation: 21
• Be a changemaker by Laurie Ann Thompson
• Added December 2014
• Circulation: 3
• Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin
• Added February 2014
• Circulation: 10

ALA Awards

• Beekle by Dan Santat
• Added May 2014
• Circulation: 20
• Nana in the city by Lauren Castillo
• Added March 2015
• Circulation: 20
• Sam and Dave dig a hole by Jon Klassen
• Added October 2014
• Circulation: 21
• You are (not) small by Anna Kang
• Added July 2014
• Circulation: 25
• Neighborhood sharks by Katherine Roy
• Added October 2014
• Booktalked at pre-summer visits
• Circulation: 9
• Little Roja Riding Hood by Susan Elya
• Added April 2015
• Circulation: 7
• Green is a chile pepper by Roseanne Thong
• Added February 2014
• Circulation: 12
• Boy and a jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz
• Added March 2015
• Circulation: 14
• I'll give you the sun by Nelson Jandy
• Added September 2014
• Circulation: 14
• And we stay by Jenny Hubbard
• Added March 2015
• Circulation: 7

This day at the library

Yep. I took the whole week off except for today. I expected a busy four hours and it was certainly hopping. Busy.