Little fox in the snow by Jonathan London, illustrated by Daniel Miyares

I will frankly admit that, along with many other librarians, teachers, and caregivers, I find the Froggy books to be... annoying. The kids want them read over and over again but... ugh. However! I am really thrilled at the nonfiction picture books London has been doing, each paired with a different, highly talented, illustrator.

This latest one is a single winter day in the life of a fox. In his den, the fox wakes to the morning light, hunts and catches a mouse and rabbit (only the mouse is shown being caught), and pauses for a drink. He smells a female fox, but then is chased by a wolverine and makes it back to safety with only inches to spare.

The text is written directly to the fox, "Little foxling, where will you go? You flow like a shadow across the fields. You leave little paw prints behind in the snow." The text is spare but lovely, presenting a realistic picture of the fox's life. Miyares' watercolors spread across the page, the fox's red coat a brilliant splash of color against the stark white and brown of the winter landscape. The sun glows in the sky, the wolverine's eyes flash. There's a great deal of beauty in the spare winter landscape of the forest and Miyares captures its beauty and harshness perfectly.

I've read this in several storytimes and while it's not the exuberant, funny type of story, it has a stark beauty that the kids actually respond very well to. Use a quiet voice and gestures to show the fox's movement and kids will be enthralled.

Verdict: A beautiful and informative nonfiction picture book. Note that it's eligible to be nominated for Cybils in 2019! I'm looking forward to adding this to my library. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780763688141; Published November 2018 by Candlewick; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

RA RA Read: Middle Grade adventures across the genres

There's nothing like a good adventure story, especially if it's got humor, villains, and possibly even a little magic. Of course, most of these require the absence of parents or other grown-ups (unless they're mad scientists or evil or both) This is a mix of titles from my library; some are popular, some have passed out of popularity but I still recommend them, some are new!

Gadgets, Villains, and Secret Societies

• 39 Clues by various authors (series)
• Hero.com; Villain.net by Andy Briggs
• Nerds by Michael Buckley (series)
• Charlie Hernandez and the league of shadows by Ryan Calejo (series)
• Masterminds by Gordon Korman (series)
• Seven Wonders by Peter Lerangis (series)
• Hitler's Secret; Winter's Bullet by William Osborne
• Accelerati Trilogy by Neal Shusterman (series)
• Explorer Academy by Trudi Trueit (series)
• Rule of Thre3 by Eric Walters

Science Fiction

• Books of Ember by Jeanne Duprau
• Missing; Shadow Children by Margaret Peterson Haddix (series)
• Sal and Gabi break the universe by Carlos Hernandez
• Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

Survival Adventures

• Authors
• Will Hobbs
• Gary Paulsen
• Titles and Series

• My side of the mountain by Jean Craighead George
• Stranded by Jeff Probst (series)

Nonfiction

• Dark game: True spy stories by Paul Janeczko
• Ghosts in the fog by Samantha Seiple
• Bomb by Steve Sheinkin
• Guts & Glory by Ben Thompson (series)
• Samurai Rising by Pamela Turner

Updated March 2019

This week at the library; or, Here comes March

Happening at the library this week

• Monday
• Discovery Playgroup
• Books for Bedtime
• Paws to Read
• Tuesday
• Toddlers 'n' Books
• Art Workshop: Dream Worlds
• OPtions Curriculum Fair
• Wednesday
• Winter Wigglers: Obstacle Course
• Book-a-librarian sewing
• Thursday
• Books 'n' Babies
• Ozobots with Girl Scouts
• Friday
• Meet Zoey and Sassafras: Magic and Science
• Anime Club
• Worked 40.5 hours; 15 hours on desk; 5 programs

Notes

• Continued working on neighborhoods - got through a couple more sections
• I was only at the curriculum fair for a few hours, but I connected with several parents, made tons of buttons with the kids, and checked out several items
• I used this post from Artful Parent for our dream worlds program
• My two book-a-librarian clients both made a project and had fun!
• Ozobots with the Girl Scouts was fun and exhausting. Not all 20 2nd graders came, but it sure felt like twice that number!

How we got to now: Six innovations that made the modern world by Steven Johnson

This is an adaptation for young readers of the adult bestseller. I'm often wary of young reader's adaptations, but even though I've never read the original I really enjoyed this one and look forward to introducing it to kids.

Johnson takes readers through six major innovations that changed the world. Not the wheel, fire, or computers and engines - think more modern and more generally. His six categories are Glass, Cold, Sound, Clean, Time, and Light. Each chapter explains the evolution of these things and how they affected the modern world. Glass includes the original uses of glass for ornament, into the creation of windows, lenses, and a powerful scientific and industrial tool in the shape of fiberglass. Cold seems like a convenience, until you think about the preservation of food and how it has radically changed life expectancy and the ability to move away from an agragarian society. Sound. From the first inventions of phonograph and telephone to sophisticated uses of sound waves today, here is another invention that has radically changed safety, survival, and our way of life.
Personally, I don't find most historical romances enjoyable because all I can think about is how dirty everything is. Being dirty isn't just a personal dislike; it's a huge aspect of health. Clean water, the ability to bathe and clean your clothing and home, clean food - it all depends on a series of complex medical and engineering advances. Modern society wouldn't be possible without advances in cleanliness and how it has affected health and life in general, as well as industry. Time is a more abstract concept; before clocks and mathematical equations, how did people know what time it was? Why did it matter? How has the invention of time-keeping systems and the standardization of time affected how we live today (well, how some people live. I personally have never quite grasped math+time). The final chapter on light addresses not just the practical aspects of creating light - candles, oil, and the whaling industry, the creation of the electric bulb and the ability to create light during the darkest of days and nights, but also the use of lasers, barcodes, and other scientific tools of light.

The book is amply illustrated with photographs, and includes copious back matter.

Verdict: Hand this to middle grade and middle school readers who are interested in science and history or to anyone who wants to think a little more deeply about how we got to where we are today - and where we're headed in the future.

ISBN: 9780425287781; Published October 16, 2018 by Viking; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Leaves by Carol Lawrence, illustrated by Francesco Zito

I was really excited when I saw this board book series, Baby Explorer, and even bought one, Water, but now that I've actually read one I'm torn.

The first spread is a simple invitation to look and listen in the forest. But immediately on the following page, the book dives into a complex discussion of deciduous trees, how leaves are formed, types of leaves, chlorophyll, and the function of leaves.

The art is bright and simple with clearly labeled diagrams and patterns. Friendly-looking squirrels, colorful leaves with clear veins, and cute bugs fill the pages.

On the one hand, I do love introducing children to nonfiction concepts and vocabulary. The text is simple and clearly explained. On the other hand, I'm really doubtful that the average baby or toddler is going to sit still for (or grasp) the complex concepts and vocabulary.

Verdict: Textually, this is too advanced for a baby or toddler. However, the pictures are attractive and sometimes caregivers and parents do want board books for older children who can't handle the more delicate pages of picture books. I think on the whole I'll buy them, but I probably won't use them in storytime or recommend them as read-alouds.

ISBN: 9780807505168; Published October 1, 2018 by Albert Whitman; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Stop that yawn! by Caron Levis, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

This wild ride of a bedtime story is an homage to one of my favorite books, In the Night Kitchen, features the awesome art of LeUyen Pham, and basically was designed for me (and many others) to fall in love immediately.

Gabby Wild is tired of bedtime and living in Sleepytown. So her Granny packs them up into Gabby's bed and they set out on an exciting journey to... Never Sleeping City! In this exciting place, populated by anthropomorphous animals, flashing neon signs, and a variety of humans, there's always something going on. Opera, carnival, ice cream, it's wonderful! But then, as they're riding the ferris wheel Granny lets a yawn escape! Despite Gabby's desperate efforts to contain the yawn, "Grit your teeth, seal your lips, we have to stop that...YAWN" the yawn quickly spreads across Never Sleeping City and even to the readers! Finally, even Gabby succumbs and finds herself back in her bed, fast asleep and dreaming of new adventures.

Although the story delivers a nod to Sendak, it's wholly new and its own. The brisk text has a contemporary beat and mixes in the current trend of interactive books. Pham's art shows a bustling city, peopled with Sendak-like animals in elaborate costumes, but she also adds her own sweet touches from Gabby's beaded hair to Granny's tennis shoes and the old radiator in their small apartment. This is a much more diverse and contemporary world than Sendak's, but it still has all the charm of an imaginary city.

Verdict: Read this at storytime, to reluctant kids at bedtime, or just for fun any time of the day! I hope this will become a modern classic; it certainly deserves it.

ISBN: 9781481441797; Published October 16, 2018 by Atheneum; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk

Anyone who knows me knows I am not a fan of picture book biographies. My objections are many - they focus more on the artistic side than the informational side, they don't provide enough context for the age and knowledge of the assumed reader, they don't circulate... but every once in a while I find an exception and this is absolutely a book I will happily purchase for the library!

In simple, brisk language Becker tells the story of Johnson's youth as a math prodigy, the many barriers she faced, and the support of her family and her own enthusiasm and determination that helped her move past them to become an integral part of NASA. The science behind the rockets and Johnson's math is explained in easy metaphors and illustrations and Katherine's refrain, "count on me" keeps readers following and connecting the story to the end.

An author's note explains more details about Katherine Johnson's life and work and gives a brief list of sources. The endpages are covered in mathematical calculations, many of them accessible to young readers "Find the volume of an ice cream cone" and the cheerful, bright illustrations personify Johnson's determination to follow her dreams despite many barriers. This is an authorized biography, for which Becker interviewed Katherine Johnson and her family.

This picture book biography works because it explains Johnson's life in a way that kids can grasp - her love of math, her involvement in the space program, and offers enough context for them to have an understanding of the time period - her family having to move to a different town for her to attend high school and the discrimination she faced, "They were given the tasks that men thought were boring and unimportant."

Verdict: Hand this to young readers who are interested in space and science and recommend to teachers presenting lessons on the space race, biographies, and looking to diversify their classrooms.

ISBN: 978125013524; Published 2018 by Christy Ottaviano/Henry Holt; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

This week at the library; or, More snow?

Happenings at the library this week

• Monday
• Craft-o-rama
• Paws to Read
• Manager's Meeting
• Tuesday
• Toddlers 'n' Books (2 sessions)
• STEM Challenge: Speed Racers (2nd session for What's Next families)
• OPtions board meeting
• Wednesday
• Outreach Storytime (3 sessions)
• Library on the Go (2 sessions)
• Winter Wigglers: Fit Kids (2 sessions)
• Thursday
• Books 'n' Babies
• Book Explosion: Notebook Novels
• Friday
• 4K outreach: Rainforest night
• Worked 32.5 hours (8 hours PTO); 13 hours on desk; 7 programs

Notes

• I used an old program of Amy Koester's for Speed Racers. We didn't have the right size of washers and ended up grabbing buttons and using a lot of hot glue, but the kids had fun anyways. About 20 for the first session and 5? for the second.
• I forgot to tell my associate doing Fit Kids that Head Start was coming! However, thankfully it all worked out fine and the group was a nice size - about 20 - and everyone had a great time. She had a really detailed workout scheduled for the kids; I saw/listened to the afternoon session and the kids really got into it.
• The rainforest program was rescheduled, but I'd already taken the day off. I packed up all the books, resources, etc. for my associate and I hope she had fun with all the four year olds! (Yes, she was hired to work with teens but she's flexible...)

Projects this week

• Paperwork and publicity for Walmart grant
• Update newsletter (need by Thursday)
• Lost paperwork
• Three sections of the neighborhoods weeded and updated

The secrets of Tutankhamun: Egypt's boy king and his incredible tomb by Patricia Cleveland-Peck, illustrated by Isabel Greenberg

This isn't exactly a graphic novel and it's not really a picture book. Illustrated nonfiction? We can go with that.

The book is divided into three parts; the life and death of Tutankhamun, the discovery of his grave by Howard Carter, and some final pages about continuing archeological research.

The book begins with an overview of the protagonists; the complicated family and ruling structure of Tutankhamun and the white archeologists who discovered his tomb. The first part gives a brief overview of the complex political structure of the time and then covers mummification as well as some Egyptian beliefs.

The largest part is the second section, which details the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. Cleveland-Peck discusses the rivalry of various archeologists, the stormy relationship of Carter and his patron, the Earl of Carnarvon, and the world-changing discovery of the tomb. There are some brief notes that things like selling and keeping artifacts are no longer done, but there is little to no mention of the local Egyptians and their perspective on having their history dug up and sold.

The art is bright and stylized, mimicking the look of hieroglyphics. The Egyptians are shown with dark skin (I've seen some ridiculously white Egyptians, which is why I mention it).

Verdict: While this is certainly not a comprehensive discussion of ancient Egyptian history, or of the complex politics surrounding the extreme cultural appropriation and the Western craze with ancient Egypt, it's a light introduction for kids with plenty of illustrations and interesting writing. A good additional resource or starter book to get kids into Egyptian history.

ISBN: 9781681197128; Published August 2018 by Bloomsbury Children's Books; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Kitty's magic: Misty the scared kitten by Ella Moonheart

Koemi Kimura just loves cats. She loves them so much she's been nicknamed Kitty! While staying with her grandmother, while her parents are on a trip to Japan, Kitty's best friend gets an adorable kitten named Misty. Kitty begs to spend the night, even though she's allergic to cats. She gets permission - and a special locket - but later that night she just can't keep from sneezing! When she does sneeze a surprising thing happens - she turns into a cat!

Kitty discovers a whole new world, both fun and dangerous, as a cat. She makes new feline friends, takes on important responsibilities, and has a number of adventures.

Black and white pictures show a cute little girl and lots and lots of fluffy kittens and sleek, stripy, naughty, friendly cats. The book ends with a recap of the characters and some facts about cats. It's just a little over 100 pages and a good level for intermediate readers. Originally a UK series, it has that slightly twee feel - think the Rainbow Magic books - but is just fine for those voracious readers who power through a large stack of their favorite series every week.

Verdict: Hand this one to fans of Dr. Kitty Cat, cat fans, and those who like endless series of magic animals. I'll be adding it to our series collection and I expect it to start popping off the shelves soon.

ISBN: 9781681193854; This edition published 2018 by Bloomsbury; Borrowed from another library in my consortium