This week at the library; or, I'm not at the library!

VACATION but library life goes on without me.

• Monday
• No programs. I hope the gerbils are still alive.
• Tuesday
• Toddlers 'n' Books (2 sessions)
• Wednesday
• We Explore Fall
• Outreach storytime: Reading is fun! (4 sessions)
• My associate is doing their first solo outreach storytimes!
• Thursday
• Books 'n' Babies
• Field trips, 1st grade (2 sessions)
• Friday
• Free Lego Build

I cut back as much as possible so staff didn't have programs to cover. I had plenty of my own work to do - I like to say it's not so much a vacation as a change of venue...

Chasma knights by Boya Sun and Kate Reed Petty

This colorful graphic novel weaves a lot of threads about bullying, diversity, consumerism, and recycling into a fun fantasy story.

In the Chasma valley, knights of different chemical properties "catalyze" or activate toys. When the toys break, they get new ones. But Neon Knights can't do anything - or can they? Neon Knight Beryl, despite the overt bullying of the Sulfur Knights and the disdain of everyone else in the valley, is determined to be a great toy maker, not just a consumer (since she can't actually catalyze anything anyways). When Beryl meets the powerful but clumsy Coro, an Oxygen Knight, the two warily work together. But when things go wrong, will their incipient friendship - and Beryl's hard work - be destroyed?

Puffy, pastel illustrations show a delightful, cotton candy-like world. Despite the cute characters, toys, and colors though, there's a lot of prejudice and meanness in this little fantasy and it will take all the hard work and goodwill of the two characters to overcome their differences and prejudices.

Kids can read this for the cute toys, fun adventures, and making/science aspects; however, it could also spark discussions about prejudice, consumerism, and how we use resources. Readers can compare the blatant hostility of the Sulfur Knights to Coro's ignorant comments and casual prejudice towards Beryl and discuss their own privilege and experiences.

Verdict: A wide range of readers will enjoy this cute and quirky graphic novel; hand it to readers who are fans of El Deafo, 5 Worlds, and all things cute and comic-related.

ISBN: 9781626726048; Published 2018 by First Second; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Beep and Bop: Too much space! by Jonathan Roth

Bob did not want to go to school in space, but here he is, with an alien/robot friend called Beep no less! Space is not fun. Space is big and scary and dark! And his teachers are absolutely nuts (my assessment).

Bob has to deal with bullies, nutty teachers who take him and his classmates on field trips to deadly planets and black holes, and worst of all, huge spiders! Will he ever make a friend besides Beep? (who totally doesn't get how crazy and dangerous this all is!) and if he does make a friend, will he have to *gulp* like her spiders too?

Goofy black and white cartoons decorate the story, showing the hapless Bob, relentlessly cheerful Beep and a handful of their kooky classmates.

Some space facts are included at the end, as well as a sneak peek at the next book in the series.

As an adult, I was both skeptical and mildly annoyed at the insanely dangerous things the adults do with the kids - cheerfully telling them there will be a test later, if they survive! But kids will love the goofy humor of this, especially if they're into science fiction. There are very, very few science fiction stories for this age group and it's nice to see a more realistic diversity in the kids shown - Bob has tanned skin on the cover and stylistic curls, Lani has dark hair and shaded skin that looks as though it might be darker. The bully and all adults shown are white.

Verdict: Hand this to fans of Space Taxi and Alien Agent, but unless you have really rabid space fans I wouldn't say this was a necessary purchase.

ISBN: 9781481488532; Published 2018 by Aladdin/Simon and Schuster; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Small Readers: Kick it, Mo! by David A. Adler, illustrated by Sam Ricks

I can't explain why, but for some reason I was absolutely sure when I saw this latest book in this easy reader series that the illustrator had changed. I have no idea why. Weird.

Anyways, Mo, the dark-skinned sports enthusiast of the previous books, has returned. He has a big soccer game coming up and is determined to practice his kicks. His parents aren't quite so thrilled, especially when he practices inside, but they take him outdoors to work on his technique. Mo needs a lot of work; he's got enthusiasm and determination, but not much else.

Out on the field, he's the smallest of his team, which includes a range of skin tones and genders, as well as one girl in a head scarf. They're up against a bigger, but equally diverse team. Their coach, a black woman, reminds them how to kick and the game begins. Mo is soon tired out from chasing the ball, but when he finally gets a chance to kick it, will he mess up again?

The simple illustrations show a diverse, both in visible race and size, group of kids facing off against an equally diverse but generally bigger team. The backgrounds are mostly simple grass green and blue sky, keeping the emphasis on the words. Text is shown primarily on light blue sky or white background. The text is simple and repetitive, listed as a level I.

Verdict: There are no other easy readers (that I can think of at the moment) that feature real kids playing sports, so this is a must-have for your library section. It will be interesting to see if Mo continues his way through less well-known sports (hockey? lacrosse?) now that he's done the big four.

ISBN: 9780425289815; Published 2018 by Penguin; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Bear's Scare by Jacob Grant

Bear, a large purple-brown rectangle with staring eyes, is definitely a neatnik. He likes everything just so and he doesn't like sharing his space with anyone except his stuffed toy, Ursa. When Bear finds a spider web... and then another... and another, he freaks out! He goes on a cleaning tear, searching for the spider he is sure is causing rampant destruction in his house. Meanwhile, the spider is quietly pursuing her own business. When Bear's panic causes him to damage his beloved toy, can anyone help him fix Ursa?

Muted colors and bold, broadly drawn shapes remind me of Chris Haughton's artwork, but this has a distinctive, almost modernist flair. Lots of pink and orange hues, and a tidy little spider with a button beret and an affinity for knitting add charm to this story about making new friends - and being flexible.

While I dislike many of the books that suggest solitary and/or introverted characters should change to accommodate their livelier "friends", I didn't get that feel from this at all. While the spider did leave a few webs about, most of the mess comes from Bear's panicked brain and when he slows down a little, he realizes the spider is just like him, enjoying a quiet life, books, and music. The spider also contributes, mending Bear's friend Ursa, instead of their contribution being to "improve" Bear's life by making him change his personality.

Verdict: This quiet story will make children chuckle and adults take a moment to think about how they help children with different personalities interact - as well as remind people to appreciate spiders!

ISBN: 9781681197203; Published June 2018 by Bloomsbury; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

The Ultimate Book of Sharks by Brian Skerry with Elizabeth Carney and Sarah Wassner Flynn; Face to Face with Sharks by David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes

Yes, I am aware it is no longer Shark Week or anywhere in the vicinity thereof. But really, shouldn't we celebrate sharks all the time? Yes, yes, we should (although I personally am more of a hyena fan).

What could be better for young shark fans than National Geographic shark books, full of exciting pictures, interesting facts, and real-life shark encounters? Not much! The Ultimate Book of Sharks was created primarily with the photographs of Brian Skerry and the text is scattered with his own experiences, encounters, and quotes regarding sharks. The bulk of the book is divided up into the facts that National Geographic does so well. There are chapters on the unique anatomy of sharks, well-known sharks like the great white and the hammerhead and lesser-known, smaller sharks, and more prolific sharks. A chapter on shark myths addresses the dreaded shark attack, another covers the fascinating world of prehistoric sharks and their fossils. The last two chapters address the superlatives - the biggest, fastest, smallest, deepest, and more and the plight of sharks in the world today and how kids can be involved in helping them. Back matter includes an index, credits, and acknowledgements.

I also received a paperback copy of Face to Face with sharks. The Face to Face with... series was originally published several years ago but is being republished in paperback. To the best of my knowledge, this is just a new printing; the books are not being updated. However, they are aimed at a slightly younger audience, with larger, simpler text and as such include few things like dates or specific current research that would become outdated.

This series covers the basic facts about sharks' anatomy and behavior and their conservation. There is no table of contents, but there is a glossary, questions, find out more and a few other back matter elements.

Verdict: For all your shark fans, The Ultimate Book of Sharks is a must-have. It's full of interesting facts and photos, personal encounters, and is sure to interest kids whether they read straight through or dip in and browse. I really like the Face to Face series, but I rarely purchase popular nonfiction, like animals, in paperback so this probably isn't one I'd use on the shelf. However, if you purchase paperback nonfiction it's a great opportunity to get new copies of this popular series.

The Ultimate Book of Sharks
ISBN: 9781426330711; Published May 2018
Face to face with sharks
ISBN: 9781426332593; This edition published April 2018

Titles published by National Geographic; Review copies provided by publisher; Donated to the library (previously purchased an additional copy of both titles)

This week at the library; or, I am busy

This week at the library

• Monday
• Worked at home 12-4, worked 4-8
• Tuesday
• Toddlers 'n' Books (2 sessions)
• STEM Challenge: Build a structure
• Youth Services Meeting
• Worked 10-6:30
• Wednesday
• We Explore Preschool Adventures
• We Explore Outdoors: Harvest
• Play spaces meeting
• Worked 9:15-4:45
• Thursday
• Books 'n' Babies
• LotG: OPtions
• Book Explosion: Pokemon
• Worked 11-6:30
• Friday
• Outreach storytime (3 sessions)
• LotG: Tibbets (2 sessions)
• Free Lego Build
• Anime Club
• Worked 8:30-12:45
• Saturday
• Princess in Black party
• Worked 9-12:30

I had a dentist appointment on Monday. That pretty much characterizes the week with an extra side of plugged toilets. Next week, vacation!

Projects

• We Explore resource list: seeds/planting (under construction)
• Outreach Storytime: Cats (under construction)

Professional Development

• Programming for 'Tweens by Amanda Struckmeyer, online class at UW-Madison, week 1
• ALSC Webinar: Managing Children's Services: Program Evaluation by Laura Koenig and Amanda Yother
• ALSC Webinar: Managing Children's Services: Employee Engagement by Krissy Wick and Sarah Wethern

Gods and Heroes: Mythology around the world by Korwin Briggs

I was skeptical when I received this - so many "global" mythology or history books are anything but. However, this encyclopedia truly includes a wide range of mythology, as well as amusing pictures, and a voice that's both light-hearted and respectful of various traditions.

An introduction talks about the origin of myths and how they are researched - and how little we sometimes know. There's a legend of designs that show what tradition the characters come from, as well as markers for gods, heroes, and creatures. There's also a quick glossary.

Back matter includes an index by type (god, goddess, etc.) and by tradition (Slavic, Sumerian, etc.) and a map.

The entries' content varies. Some retell stories of the various characters, some include research into the myth, others include how it affected the tradition or religion. Some sample stories include Hera's revenge on Semele and Io, Kintu's trip to heaven for a wife, and Nu Gua rides a gourd.

Greek/Roman mythology has 10 entries, Indian/Hindu, Egyptian, and Norse each have 8, China has 6. Other traditions included are the Americas, including North American Great Plains, Inuit, Inca, and Mesoamerican, Japanese/Shinto, Sumerican/Mesopotamian, Australian, Maori, Persian, West African, and Slavic.

The art fits in well with the tone of the stories; respectful but humorous. The characters are shown with the appropriate color of skin, artifacts, and against their native background. While the author glosses over some of the more egregiously sexual and violent aspects of the myths and throws in humorous pop-culture references, he does so in a way that feels to me like he's taking the myths seriously as a part of the various cultures and not using them to titilate or shock. One reviewer mentioned the complete lack of Judeo-Christian characters and I.... actually prefer that. Whether you consider that tradition to be mythological or not, in my community an encyclopedia that treated them as mythological would be extremely controversial, especially if directed towards children. Not to mention, it would have made the book waaaay too long.

Verdict: A great choice to get kids into exploring different mythologies; recommend to mythology and comic fans.

ISBN: 9781523503780; Published August 2018 by Workman; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Humphrey's big birthday bash by Betty G. Birney, illustrated by Priscilla Burris

Humphrey is back in a special birthday surprise. Along with his new friend, Og the Frog, Humphrey is excited about the upcoming birthday party for student Kirk. He's really excited when he gets to go along! As the kids discuss Kirk's birthday celebration in the classroom and his upcoming party at home on Saturday, some of them notice that some birthdays are missing - Humphrey's, Og's, and Mrs. Brisbane's. Humphrey thoroughly enjoys Kirk's backwards birthday bash and even puts on a show for the kids. When he gets back to class, he tells Og all about it (even though they can't understand each other) and the two of them cook up a surprise for Mrs. Brisbane. But who will get the surprise in the end?

This is the eighth book in the series "Humphrey's Tiny Tales" an easier version of the popular "The World According to Humphrey" series which is now being extended with a new chapter book series starring the Og the Frog. I have really, really tried with these books and I'm just going to say it - I find them unutterably boring. They're just so.... bland. There are no real conflicts, no real plot, and the students are all reduced to stereotypes like "Please-don't-complain-Mandy-Payne". The introduction of Og the Frog is just exasperating - if Humphrey and Og can both understand the students, why on earth can't they understand each other?

Verdict: The line drawings are cute and these do have a steady, if not wildly enthusiastic audience, but they're definitely filler books.

ISBN: 9781524737207; Published September 2018 by Putnam; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Small Readers: Fox the tiger; Fox is late by Corey R. Tabor

I really liked Tabor's Fox picture books, although some of the plot lines felt a little weak. Turns out, they translate really well into easy readers and I can't wait to add this set to my library!

Fox tries out what it's like to be somebody else in Fox the Tiger. A tiger book with a looooong fold-out page makes him think it must be cool to be a tiger and with a little black paint he gets to try out his wish! After all, tigers are the best - they are big, fast, and sneaky! When the other animals see Fox the Tiger out on the prowl, they get into the fun with Turtle becoming Race Car, Rabbit becoming Robot, and so on. But when the rain washes away their disguises, how will Fox feel about being Fox again? The cheerfully colored illustrations are set against generous white space with lots of textured greens, oranges, and soft blues. This title comes in at a reading level of E, which is a nice intermediate level and kids will appreciate the humor and relative comparisons in the book as Fox realizes that while he admires tigers, somebody else might think he is the coolest!

Fox is late shows Fox's more mischievous side. He's late for a mysterious event and as he races to his destination he acquires a team of enraged animals. He's flipped his skateboard over Rabbit, used Turtle as a ramp, done a nose slide on Elephant, and so on. The animals finally catch up to Fox at his house - where it turns out he was late for the lunch he was fixing for his friends! All ends happily around the table. There are concept words and multiple repeated sentence with one additional word, for example, "Fox gets food. Fox gets fast food." The simpler text brings this in at a level D and it's a good introduction to the character's sly humor and naughty personality.

Verdict: This is a fun new series to add to your easy readers. With a light amount of humor, attractive illustrations, and a memorable character, it's sure to attract young readers.

Fox the tiger
ISBN: 9780062398697

Fox is late
ISBN: 9780062398710

Published 2018 by Balzer + Bray; Borrowed from another library in my consortium