Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Come next season by Kim Norman, illustrated by Daniel Miyares

This is the kind of beautiful picture book that used to drive me nuts when I was growing up in Texas. The assumption that of course everyone lives somewhere with four seasons, trees changing color, and snow in winter drove me crazy.

So I moved to the Midwest and now I love these books. (That's not the ONLY reason I moved to Wisconsin, but it... might have played a part.)

So if you don't live somewhere with four seasons, I'd skip this book (or consider moving...) and if you do, you will naturally want lots and lots and lots of beautiful books about places with four seasons!

Miyares' bright watercolors illustrate the joy of the seasons as Norman writes a poetic tale of seasonal fun and celebration. It begins with summer, visiting the lake whose deep blue is offset by the glow of a bright red bathing suit. Two white children with brown hair eat blueberries, devour corn, and sleep in the hot summer air, waiting for the cool winds of autumn to blow in. Fall arrives with brilliant red and yellow leaves sweeping across a deep green landscape. The children don jackets, spend every moment outdoors, and collect nuts. Trees tap the window, heralding the arrival of winter. Winter is a soft blue and pink landscape, a cozy evening on a rug with a puzzle, and playing in the snow. Eventually, green shoots begin to poke through the sun, showing that spring is on its way. Spring explodes into bloom with green grass and yellow flowers, visits to the farm, and baby animals, including one very special puppy. As the children stroke their puppy, they imagine the joys of summer and the story ends with the deep blue of the lake and green of the trees and grass.

Of course, this is an idealized vision of the Midwest; although a television is shown in the background in the winter, there are no electronics. The children appear to live in an old farmhouse and share a bedroom, but they visit the lake in the summer and everything is always perfect: No cold and soggy rain in the fall, no mosquitoes in the summer, and no school! It's somewhat nostalgic, showing a family farm, old stationwagon, and a family with plenty of land - and time - for children to roam. But ultimately it's a celebration of the beauty of seasons and a love of nature, so it's not meant to be realistic. While I would like to see more images of diverse children in rural areas, and more depiction of economic struggles, this is the type of book that many of my patrons will love, giving them a break from their day-to-day schedules and a moment to reflect on the beauty of nature.

Verdict: Not for every library, but if you live somewhere with lakes and four seasons, adults will love to look back at what they remember from their childhood and it will hopefully interest children in exploring more of the natural beauty around them.

ISBN: 9780374305987; Published October 2019 by Farrar Straus & Giroux; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library

Monday, December 30, 2019

Scientists get dressed by Deborah Lee Rose and Caroline Watkins

Why has nobody ever thought of a book like this before? It's a great idea - show the gear and clothing worn by many different scientists in their jobs - and executed beautifully by Rose, who not only includes a variety of genders and races but even a scientist in a wheelchair!

Bold text tells a simple story, beginning "From head to toe, scientists get dressed for the work they do and the places they do it!" Each individual spread focuses on a different scientist, with a smaller font explaining their gear and introducing them. Readers will meet an astronaut and see her space suit and components, a scientist studying whale sharks, and a woman who uses a climbing harness to explore treetops, coming down with her samples to return to her wheelchair and her lab.

There is extensive back matter, making this a perfect selection for classrooms and at-home study. It includes a list of questions about the photos and a suggested activity to "tell your own STEM stories," prompts for what the reader would wear as a scientist, a list of titles for the scientists included in the book, a section on being a citizen scientist, and another activity focused on experimenting with different kinds of gloves. There is a list of words, a short Q&A section with the marine biologist studying whale sharks, and a connection to science standards.

The one thing that threw me was the fold-out pages; They duplicate the page, then when you lift it up, show an extension of the page on the right. But the duplication confused me - shouldn't there be a whole different page underneath?

Verdict: A must-have for school and classroom libraries and an excellent choice for public libraries as well. Read in storytimes, especially to kids who have already gotten stuck on gender stereotypes (looking at YOU 4k class that insists on "girl things" and "boy things") and to kids interested in science. Recommend to homeschool families and teachers and use in STEM programs. There are so many ideas!

ISBN: 9781943978489; Published August 2019 by Persnickety Press; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Saturday, December 28, 2019

This week at the library; or, Holidays

My desk, all tidy and ready to move
Happening this week
  • Monday
    • Meeting with office space company
    • Teen D&D
  • Tuesday - Wednesday
    • Library closed for holiday
  • Thursday
    • Open Storyroom
  • Friday
    • Free Lego Build
  • Worked 25ish hours; 10ish hours on desk
  • 2 days holiday; worked Saturday on the desk
Notes

Friday, December 27, 2019

Scary stories for young foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker, illustrations by Junyi Wu

Seven little foxes in the Antler Wood make their way to the cave of the old fox to hear scary stories...

Readers expecting sweet, comforting animal stories will be disappointed; These are dark, frightening, often sad stories with a tinge of realism. The old fox storyteller in Bog Cavern tells a series of interconnected stories about two young foxes, Uly and Mia, to a slowly dwindling audience of fox kits, interspersed with dialogue with the young foxes and Wu's chilling black and white charcoal pictures.

Mia begins, with a terrifying encounter with her teacher Miss Vix, who comes under the influence of "the yellow," or rabies. Fleeing with her mother, she then encounters an even more terrifying menace; humans, in the shape of Beatrix Potter, taxidermist and soul-stealing artist. Meanwhile, Uly, who has a withered leg, is taunted and tormented by his cruel sisters, haunted by his own, all-too-real fears, and eventually flees his abusive and demented father. The two meet and struggle on together, both longing and searching for their mothers. They encounter the terrifying Golgathursh, the cruel and deceptive Mr. Scratch, and finally a ghostly return from the beginning of the story tests all their strength and cunning to not only survive but to save the orphaned kits they have found.

Only one fox kit remains at the end of the series of tales, as the morning sun rises and her mother calls her home. More connections are made and while there may not be a bright future ahead - the sounds of development and destruction are all around - the old fox has hope that her kind will continue to triumph over the many frightening dangers they face.

As an adult, I found the section on Beatrix Potter annoying - yes, she did practice taxidermy and was not sentimental about animals, but she was also responsible for the preservation of the Lake District - the home of the foxes - and I am doubtful that, since she was so unsentimental about animals, that she would have had the viewpoints of foxes being "bad" that were espoused here. But kids aren't likely to even know who she is, so that's really a personal quibble. Many of the stories focus on betrayal and abuse by family and friends and the terror comes from the sudden change from familiar and loving to strange and cruel. Sensitive children will absolutely not want to read this, not even kids who have made it through books like One and Only Ivan. This is one for fans of Scary Stories to tell in the dark and readers who like the dark and gruesome with a healthy dose of atmospheric terror.

Verdict: Hand to readers who love chilling stories and are also strong readers, as the build-up to the fear can be slow going. If you could get the audience together, it would be cool to read it aloud leading up to Halloween, although you're just as likely to get complaints that it's too scary! This is the natural successor to Watership Down. You have been warned.

ISBN: 9781250181428; Published July 2019 by Henry Holt Books; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Witch for a week by Kaye Umansky, illustrated by Ashley King

One thing I think British authors do really well is younger middle grade. Fun, light-hearted, magical stories for kids about 7 to 9 who aren't ready for the hefty, intense middle grade doorstoppers but have moved beyond beginning chapters. One of my favorite authors for this level is Kaye Umansky and I especially love this series I've just discovered.

Elsie Pickles lives a happy, if crowded, life in her town of Smallbridge. Her family runs the local shop, Pickles' Emporium, and it's, well, not much good. Elsie is minding the shop one day, wishing a customer would show up who wanted to buy lots of cheap, boring things so her family will have enough to eat, and maybe even enough for just one pair of special shoes, when Magenta Sharp, the Red Witch, blows in. Literally.

Several of my favorite books by Umansky feature young girls, in boring jobs, who are practical souls and handle unexpected events well. Elsie is the epitome of this, as, after some hesitation, she decides to house-sit for Magenta Sharp for a week. After all, she says she doesn't HAVE to do magic and she'll pay her twenty-one gold pieces! Armed with her common sense, the Pickles' rules for customer service, and eagerly anticipating a week of reading, Elsie sets out into the woods and arrives at the Red Witch's tower.

Of course, things don't work out that way! Between self-absorbed woodcutters, a very odd lady pretending to be a wood nymph, the light-fingered Howler sisters, and a stray dog, Elsie has a very exciting week indeed! By the time the story ends, she's not only discovered a lot more self-confidence and a knack for magic, she's well on her way to a possible new profession.

Verdict: This is just perfect for young readers who want a fun, magical story that's not too involved or intense. I enjoyed it immensely and purchased the rest of the series to read and donate to the library.

ISBN: 9781471160905; Published in the UK October 2017 by Simon and Schuster; Purchased myself and donated to the library

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

A wild child's guide to endangered animals by Millie Marotta

This is not specifically a children's book, per say, Baker and Taylor categorizes it as adult and the text is fairly dense and complex. However, the beautiful illustrations will make this one that adults and children alike can enjoy poring over.

Marotta, after an introduction explaining her own interest in endangered wildlife, divides the books into habitats and creates a spread on each strange, rare creature. Each animal is shown in her beautiful, stylized art, and various interesting facts, sometimes including its current status, are included in the text. The animals include the tiny tiger tail seahorse, shown in brilliant yellows amid a forest of green and orange, the wandering albatross, a symphony of gray and black patterns against a gray sky, and the Tasmanian giant freshwater lobster, rich in jewel-toned patterns. An okapi stretches across the page to reach leaves above, a komodo dragon stares out from amid patterned scales and vegetation, and the Nilgiri Tahr stands alone against a blue and white sky, on a patchwork of stones and rocks.

Each portrait includes a brief, sometimes humorous caption and there is a map of the animals at the end of the book. A final spread explains the threats to each animal, known numbers, and status. A final page lists ways people can help reduce pollution and a list of websites. I am generally opposed to these kind of lists, (and I don't believe that "Small changes like turning the tap off while you brush your teeth can make a huge difference.") but since this book is not specifically aimed at children I will pass it this time.

There are no sources for the information on the animals, but Marotta explains in the introduce how she researched them and where she got the information included.

Verdict: This is definitely a browsing book and the gorgeous pictures make it worth the slightly higher price. Not surprisingly, Marotta is an extremely popular creator of coloring books for adults. A great present for children or adults who love animals or a nice addition to your general animal collection for kids to pore over. Pair with Brown's Lesser Spotted Animals to highlight some less-known animals who are endangered.

ISBN: 9781452176864; Published October 2019 by Chronicle; Review copy provided by LT Early Reviewers; Donated to the library


Tuesday, December 24, 2019

The Invention Hunters discover how machines work by Korwin Briggs

How did I miss this series? How? Well, I have found it now. I first encountered Korwin Briggs in a book of world mythologies, and enjoyed his cartoon and writing style. Now he returns in a goofy series that explains how things work, especially inventions.

The series debuted in July 2019 with a book on machines and electricity - coming in 2020 are titles on sound and light. I'm looking at the machines title today. The framing story starts with a red-headed kid wandering outside and looking at the construction site next door... when a weird giant house on rockets makes a crash landing! It's the Museum of Inventionology and this group of wacky scientists are ready to explore! They make their way into the construction site (not listening to warnings from the kid that they shouldn't be in there!) and start discovering inventions like jackhammers, dump trucks, cranes, and even toilets! Each one is accompanied by their hilarious and goofy suggestions of what it's for and the kid's careful explanations of what the invention is really for and how it works. Finally, leaving a dramatic mess, they take off with their exhibits, but they haven't done a really good job of listening, as readers can see in the picture of their museum at the end!

Briggs' light-hearted cartoons not only show clear explanations of how simple (and complex) machines work, they will also give kids a serious case of the giggles, especially when the Invention Hunters imagine different uses for the toilet! The red-headed kid is never given a gender and the adults are shown with a variety of body types and skin colors. Although Briggs' has his own unique style, this reminded me a lot of Eaton's Truth About... series, which combines humor and nonfiction to great effect.

Verdict: Give these to young readers who want to know how and why things work, to fans of McElligott's Mad Scientist Academy, and to everybody who loves science and a good laugh. Buy extra copies and use them in book clubs! Recommend them to teachers! They are just that awesome!

ISBN: 9780316436793; Published July 2019 by Little Brown and Co.; Borrowed from another library in my consortium (just until I order our own!)

Monday, December 23, 2019

Did you burp? How to ask questions... or not! by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Leeza Hernandez

Anyone who works with kindergarteners should have this book. You know that point, where you ask "does anyone have any questions?" and you get three displays of injuries, a story of a pet dog, two kids start yelling about who can burp the loudest, and the smart aleck of the class wants to know if you're done talking? Yeah, that.

Sayre starts about by explaining exactly what a question is and why we ask them. To get information, to get things we need, because we are curious, and to learn new things. She shows all the different things questions can do, show that you care about someone and help you try again. On the other side of the coin are answers and kids learn exactly how the exchange works. How to ask a question and what shows that it's a question - punctuation, voice cues, and question words. She also addresses manners; there is a right and wrong time to ask questions, and some questions are only appropriate in certain situations. Sayre reinforces that it's ok to make mistakes and sometimes, especially when we ask the wrong person, the answer will be "I don't know."

Then the part that all teachers will want! Explaining how a question is not a statement, comment, or story! Sayre shows a casual conversation, a mix of questions and comments, and readers end up back at the beginning scene, ready to go out and ask questions!

Each spread illustrates the concept of the text, showing a diverse group of students, in Hernandez' cheerful art style, asking questions. Kids demonstrate the wrong questions at the wrong time - asking the president if her tummy hurts! - and at the right time, the doctor asking how a patient feels. On a zoo tour, the kids learn the difference between telling a story or making a comment and asking a question. Throughout the students demonstrate empathy and kindness to each other. Even when they make mistakes, they can fix things and keep going, asking questions to learn about what's happening, their fellow students, and their world.

Verdict: Every teacher needs this. Possibly every librarian. Make that everyone - have you ever been at a conference when they open it up for questions and people clearly have no idea of what a question is? That. Read it aloud and read it often!

ISBN: 9781580897372; Published August 2019 by Charlesbridge; Purchased for the library

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Looking ahead to next year: Collection Development

Having spent all the money )-: and added all the books, it's time to start thinking about next year. I've reorganized the budgeting, although it's never completely set in stone, and laid out priorities and what I'm focusing on next year.

Picture Books ($5,350)

  • The focus in picture books is popular sections; machines, dinosaurs, animals, and funny books
  • I will also be replacing classics and popular authors with new copies - Eric Carle, Pete the Cat, etc. I am also going to buy some more picture book biographies, which have been requested by several teachers.
  • This section includes holiday books, although they are located in a different area of the library, because they are almost all picture books. I plan to weed these heavily, especially the very outdated Thanksgiving books, and do some relabeling of the smaller holidays so they are easier to find.
  • This section also includes the tub books, 8x8 and easy reader paperbacks of tv tie-ins. I'm going to lean more towards buying multiple copies of popular titles (Frozen and other Disney properties especially).
Easy Readers ($1,500)
  • The focus in easy readers this year is additional and new copies of pre-readers (levels A-D) and replacing nonfiction, especially National Geographic, that I weeded over this past year.
Board Books ($250)
  • I may put more funds in this collection later - mostly I just want to keep weeding the damaged/gross stuff gradually and focus on adding new titles with a minimum of replacements.
Juvenile Series ($1,000)
  • A big change in juvenile series, which are our beginning chapter books in paperback (Magic Tree House etc.) was switching to bins which can be easily relabeled and moved. This makes it easier to add/remove juvenile series. I moved a big series to juvenile - the Who Was books and related titles - and I plan to spend a lot of budget filling in and expanding this and other popular series.
Juvenile Fiction ($5,000)
  • Every year I tell myself THIS is the year I'm going to fill in all the series... I never quite manage it. Dratted series! However, I will have another try, starting by updating the series list, weeding, and then focusing on filling in or weeding series and buying multiple copies of popular titles.
Juvenile Nonfiction ($5,500)
  • I have finished weeding the nonfiction up to 796 (sports) so the first project next year will be to complete the weeding through the end of the 900s.
  • Once the weeding is finished, I'll be able to see which areas to expand. I am building a list of specific subjects and areas I need to fill in, but there are some general sections that I know need expansion. Weather and sports are priorities, there are always areas in animals to fill in, and I'm going to get a lot of paperback National Geographic factoid books.
YA Fiction ($1,500)
  • We were disappointed that we didn't get more circ last year; this year I have cut this budget way back and am going to focus on books that appeal to middle schoolers and less fantasy and what, for lack of a better term, I think of as "young adult fiction for adult women."
YA Nonfiction ($500)
  • The most popular titles in this section are history, memoirs, self-help, and crafts, so I'll continue to focus on these areas.
YA Graphic Novels and Manga ($1,700)
  • This includes superheroes, regular graphic novels, and, of course, manga. I put most of the YA budget towards this section this year and plan to add a lot of manga, filling in series and adding new series, get more general graphic novels and see if I can increase circ in this section, and try to buy superheroes in some organized fashion, although this is something like being in serials which is guaranteed to drive you insane.
Other ($600)
  • This includes the parenting collection, juvenile Spanish, and professional collection. I want to expand our storytime collection, add a collection of items for our maker spaces that will be non-circulating, and I have several professional resources to order to support our outdoor and movement program. I do have a grant (in addition to this budget) for some of the maker space titles.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

This week at the library

Happening this week
  • Monday
    • Manager's mtng
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
    • Gingerbread Playgroup
  • Thursday
    • Open Storyroom
  • Friday
    • Free Lego Build
  • Worked 25ish hours; 9 hours on desk
  • 16 hours PTO
Notes
  • This week we had to finish cleaning up from life-size candyland; we couldn't open the storyroom until this was done. But to do this, I had to have everything wrapped in plastic, pallets put into the basement, and then everything arranged down there. We haven't gotten to the arrangement part yet.
  • This week we also worked on finishing publicity and I got back to my weeding projects. I also got a lot of last-minute memorials and donations, which is great! But does take time for selection. Fortunately, I have no shortage of backlists and carts to choose from.
  • Wednesday I wrote the newsletter and sent out all the reminders for institutional cards and remote collections. I am DONE. Ok, I probably will work on the reading bookmarks some at home. 
Also, getting my first irate patron of the season asking for tax forms (not the first for the library, just my first) reminded me that it is time for my annual declaration that the post office should be in charge of tax forms and libraries should have nothing to do with it.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Girls Survive: Charlotte spies for justice: A Civil War survival story by Nikki Shannon Smith, illustrated by Alessia Trunfio

This is part of a new, historical fiction series from Capstone's Stone Arch imprint. It features girls in different historical disasters, wars, and other major events. The first titles, published in January 2019, included the Underground Railroad, Titanic, Chicago Fire, and Pearl Harbor. The second set, released in August, includes the title I'm looking at today, which is set during the Civil War.

Charlotte is twelve years old and lives on a plantation in Virginia. She was a slave in Maryland, but Miss Van Lew, who hated slavery, freed her father's slaves and all their relatives. She bought Charlotte and gave her her freedom and a job, but Charlotte has no family besides her cousin Mary. The Civil War has been raging for three years and Charlotte knows what it's like to be a slave, what it's like to be afraid, hungry, and hurt. But she never imagined she'd have the courage to be a spy.

When Charlotte discovers that Miss Van Lew and the friendly baker are passing secret messages, she's determined to do her part, even if it's dangerous. But she never expected she'd have to visit a prison or just how dangerous would be the tasks she was asked to do. Charlotte finally has her freedom; will she risk everything, even her life, to aid the Union cause?

There is a lengthy note from the author at the end of the book, explaining the true stories behind the books events, including the real-life Elizabeth Van Lew, and how she chose to write the story. There is also a glossary, discussion questions, and a brief biography of the author included.

Smith does a great job being honest and presenting the horrors of war and slavery without being either too graphic or whitewashing the true history. I'm excited to see a new series that looks like emphasizing the often overlooked or forgotten voices of girls, especially minorities, during disasters.

Verdict: This seems to be an excellent series from what I've seen of this title and I think it will be worth paying the additional money for library bound copies to diversify the survival genre (have you ever noticed that the I Survived books have primarily male main characters?). However, it is also available in paperbacks and Stone Arch's paperback bindings are pretty sturdy. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781496583840; Published August 2019 by Stone Arch/Capstone; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Thursday, December 19, 2019

So Cute! Pandas; So Cool! Sharks by Crispin Boyer

I am really torn over this series. It's inexpensive, has National Geographic's trademark photos and humorous asides, but it's also a really weird size and format. I borrowed two titles from other libraries in my consortium to review.

Pandas shows lots of cute pictures of, naturally, pandas, accompanied by speech bubbles and little jokes. It starts with the narrator asking the pandas to wake up and the panda wanting "just five more minutes" along with a photo of a snoozing panda on a branch. After about 10 pages of this kind of dialogue, the book switches to a more nonfiction focus, with basic facts about pandas in bold text and more detailed information in a slightly smaller font on some pages. The back page includes photo credits and links to National Geographic.

Sharks is very similar, with the first few pages showing photos of sharks with commentary and speech bubbles and then basic facts and more detailed factoids. Both books have the text and commentary on brightly colored pages (blue, purple, green) with patterns in black and white around them, as you can see on the covers. The fonts, both large and small, are thin and have a hand-written flair to them.

The main things that are bothering me about these books are the size/layout and the reading level. So, they are very small books - about 7x7 inches and 31 pages long. They would certainly be lost on a shelf with the average picture book or juvenile nonfiction book. They're not quite the right format for an easy reader, but closer - but the text level is way too complex for an easy reader. So, where would one put them? I looked at where the other libraries who purchased them had shelved them, and it looks like they put them in juvenile nonfiction. I do purchase paperbacks for nonfiction, which one could argue are just as likely to disappear on the shelves, but these are just so small!

Verdict: Tellingly the publisher's description calls them "collectible" and ultimately I think that's what they are - cute little animal books that kids would buy at a book fair or collect in a series. I think they would make good prizes if you give away books as well.

So Cute! Pandas
ISBN: 9781426333644

So Cool! Sharks
ISBN: 9781426333613

Published April 2019 by National Geographic; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Megabugs and other prehistoric critters that roamed the planet by Helaine Becker, illustrated by John Bindon

When I wrote this I was currently weeding the nonfiction and uneasily eyeing the 567s, knowing that it was time to weed, weed, weed, and replace. It's one of the sections that tends to get outdated fast, surpassed only by celebrity biographies and books on the government (the modern Congress in the Vietnam war? Did you know President Clinton is planning to reform health care?). Dinosaurs and fossils are tricky, because I really have to depend on reviews for accuracy - it's not a subject I personally am competent to judge.

So, when I find a book that my librarian instincts say "this will circulate!" and all the reviews give a thumbs up for accuracy, I am right there with my budget at the ready! Becker has written a large number of children's books, primarily nonfiction, and the illustrator, John Bindon, specializes in prehistoric life art for museums as well as movies and television. Warning: If you have any kind of bug phobias, this book is not for you.

After an introduction, explaining what an arthropod is and the eras of the earth, Becker profiles seven giant creatures that once roamed the earth. There's an illustration that runs across half the spread, a dramatic name "The Pincher," and various facts about about its adaptations, size, and probable diet and behavior. Readers will see a two-foot scorpion, eight-foot millipede and more! The book discusses the most likely reasons these creatures grew so large (oxygen) and then jumps into a spread of giant arthropods today, like the Japanese spider crab or giant burrowing cockroach. The final pages include speculation on "megabugs of the future" and a note on how the illustrations were created. I really appreciated this, as I'm always wondering, in prehistoric nonfiction, how they knew or guessed what they looked like? Back matter includes a glossary, further reading, and index.

Verdict: Sure to fly off your shelves, this is a great addition to your dinosaur and other prehistoric life sections. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781771388115; Published October 2019 by Kids Can Press; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Vroom! by Barbara McClintock

Racing fans will be delighted with this new book by Barbara McClintock. I often think of her picture books as tending towards historical fiction and more Victorian-esque design, but the clean lines and brisk story of this book jumps right out at the reader.

Red hair exploding in curls, Annie puts on a white racing helmet with a red stripe and a white jumpsuit and hops into a shiny race car. She's off! Annie races out the window and across the country, through the desert, the city and finally on to a race track. A little tired after all that fast driving, she turns onto a familiar street and zooms into bed for a story before sleep.

The simple, rhythmic text is classic in the best sense, creating a story that's perfect for soothing bedtime reading or a car-themed storytime. Annie, shown throughout most of the book as a bundle of bright red curls hunched over her wheel, is clearly a racing fan, as seen in her black checkered curtains and the decor of her room, not to mention her choice of bedtime reading.

Verdict: Read this to all genders, showing that everyone can like going fast, fast, fast! A great read-aloud and bedtime story. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781626722170; Published July 2019 by Farrar Straus Giroux; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library

Monday, December 16, 2019

Clever Cogz: The book of cars and trucks by Neil Clark

There are lots of picture books for children featuring cars and trucks, from talking vehicles to racing vehicles, photographs to drawings. This is the first I've seen that shows how these vehicles work in a way that's simple enough for kindergarteners to understand!

Clever Cogz is a robot and along with their sidekicks, mice Nutty and Bolt, they take the reader on a trip to learn all about different kinds of cars and trucks. There is a table of contents, which is more like an index than a list of chapters, since each section is only one or two pages. The first page shows a cut-away picture of a car and labels the different parts - wheels, engine, license plate. The next page shows how the wheels connect on the axle, then how the tires are made to grip the road. The book continues through the controls, how the engine and battery work, and how the car is designed for safety and efficiency.

The second half of the book profiles some different vehicles, a racing car, camper, truck, dump truck, and fire engine. The last page has a quiz on some of the facts in the book. The book itself is a trim size, about 8x8, and the pictures are bright and cheerful, showing Cogz and their sidekicks driving, investigating, and exploring vehicles. This was originally a British series and includes books on "flying machines," "rocket ships," and more.

Verdict: It's not as complete as, say, Science Comic's Cars, but it's a great introduction for young children, even if they don't grasp all the words. Sure to fly off your shelves for the little ones who love vehicles and big readers who want the basics!

ISBN: 9781786036308; Published May 2019 by QED Publications; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Librarian's Picks; or, Did I manage to add anything that was NOT a series?

Kids (and adults) love series. I myself enjoy many series (although I tend to lose interest in kids' series after the first book or two). There's something very comforting about revisiting a favorite world or characters and knowing, generally, what to expect in a book. But sometimes, I feel like all I do in the juvenile fiction section is buy series! Replacements for damaged series, fill-in titles that I've forgotten, and endless sequels. So, I'm looking at the juvenile fiction I added that was NOT a series, just for fun and to prove that sometimes I do buy stand-alones!
Realistic Fiction
  • Stand on the sky by Erin Bow
  • Maybe a mermaid by Josephine Cameron
  • Lety out loud by Angela Cervantes
  • Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech
  • Running on empty by S. E. Durrant
  • Far away by Lisa Graff (donation)
  • Becket list by Adele Griffin
  • Dog Driven by Terry Johnson
  • Song for a whale by Lynne Kelly
  • Pie in the sky by Remy Lai
  • Sand Dog by Sarah Lean (donation)
  • Because of the rabbit by Cynthia Lord
  • Not if I can help it by Carolyn Mackler
  • Caterpillar summer by Gillian McDunn
  • Merci Suarez changes gears by Meg Medina
  • Wolf called Wander by Rosanne Parry
  • Good kind of trouble by Lisa Moore Ramee
  • Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
  • Roll with it by Jamie Sumner
  • Bridge home by Padma Venkatraman
Historical Fiction
  • Stolen Girl by Marsha Skrypuch
Fantasy and Science Fiction
  • Spark by Sarah Beth Durst
  • Phantom Tower by Keir Graff (donation)
  • Midsummer's mayhem by Rajani Larocca
  • Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
  • Gamer Army by Trent Reedy
  • Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao

Saturday, December 14, 2019

This week at the library; or, The culmination of all our labors, i.e. Candyland

Happening this week
  • Monday
    • Books for Bedtime
    • Girl Scouts
  • Tuesday
    • Toddler Holiday Cookie Party (including Head Start)
    • VIP volunteers
    • Girl Scouts
  • Wednesday - Friday
    • Storyroom closed for Candyland prep
  • Saturday
  • Worked 42+ hours; about 11 hours on desk; 1 (major) program
Notes
  • I had to finish a number of urgent projects - staff schedule, updated marketing, updated STEAM and early literacy calendars, more scheduling issues, emails and emails and emails, etc. and then Candyland. The prep was easier this year because I had more staff and so many things have been done previously and just had to be updated.
Collection Development Notes
  • Haunted hotels - apparently I had exactly the right book and hadn't weeded it, so that was good
  • Rube Goldberg machines - for a school assignment. They wanted to get ideas. 

Friday, December 13, 2019

Could you escape Alcatraz? An interactive survival adventure by Eric Braun

Lauren Tarshis' I Survive series continues to be popular, with new titles and a graphic novel version coming out in 2020. I'm often busy recommending read-alikes and one of the series I turn to most often is Capstone's You Choose titles. You Choose covers history, myth, and general survival in a Choose Your Own Adventure format. Rather than the fantasy stories in the original CYOA, Capstone focuses on nonfiction, basing the stories on true historical events or places and including a final chapter explaining the true story, and, in the case of this title, real escape attempts, discussion questions, suggestions for further reading, and internet links.

Personally, the CYOA format gives me the heebie-jeebies. I can't stand flipping back and forth and end up just reading straight through, which doesn't work very well either. However, most readers really enjoy this format and combining the two things, survival and CYOA, is pretty genius.

This particular title is part of a four-volume set of escapes and includes escaping a deserted island, Paris catacombs, and the Tower of London. I think the other titles might be better than this one. It's exciting and interesting - it offers readers the choice to be smart, strong, or clever, giving sample back stories of prisoners, and then testing different, real-life escape methods. But it's... troubling. One of the discussion questions does ask if it's harder to root for escapees from Alcatraz because they were all "violent criminals." But some of the back stories portray the men sympathetically - and it's hard to see a good reason to suggest readers imagine themselves as hardened and violent criminals anyways. As is traditional, most of the options end with you, as the main character recaptured and sentenced to solitary imprisonment or dead.

Verdict: This particular volume isn't my favorite, but I think in general kids will enjoy the set, especially those who like survival stories and history. I have some reservations about this particular title, and I'm definitely planning to move most of this series into fiction, but overall it's worth adding.

ISBN: 9781543573923; Published August 2019 by Capstone; Review copy provided by publisher, donated to the library

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Small Readers: Little Penguin's New Friend by Laura Driscoll, illustrated by Tadgh Bentley

This is less a review than a "why aren't there more cool easy readers?" meandering complaint. So, this is part of a series, there are picture books, board books, and easy reader adaptations. Laura Driscoll is one of those easy reader authors that turns out a nice, steady stream of competent titles. Bentley debuted the "Little Penguin" character in 2015 and although I'd never heard of it before, it seems to be fairly popular.

In this particular story, Little Penguin tells the readers that he is waiting for a polar bear to visit. He's never met a polar bear before, but his friends all tell him that they are scary, have sharp teeth and loud roars, and they tell bad jokes! When the polar bear arrives, she doesn't seem so bad at first, but then she starts telling jokes... In the end, Little Penguin realizes you can't believe everything you hear and to give new friends a chance.

The art is washed out, muddy watercolors. This may be just in the easy reader versions, since I've seen Bentley's art in picture books and it's brighter, clearer, and more sharply defined, but this looked as though it had washes of gray over most of the picture. The animals are kind of oddly shaped and the polar bear has the typical "female" long eyelashes. The book is a level "K" so for intermediate readers, with typical bold text on a white background.

There's nothing "wrong" with this exactly, it just felt meh to me. Typical story, bland art, etc. Nostalgia of course, but I remember with longing the quirky easy readers of my childhood, Morris the Moose, Ellen Blance's Monster, and the classics like Little Bear and Frog and Toad. There are plenty of awesome easy readers, but it seems like there's a lot more blah titles. And maybe that's ok - kids have to read a lot just to build fluency and I'm probably forgetting all the meh titles of my childhood, not to mention I was a quick reader and started reading more challenging titles very soon.

Verdict: This is filler - books you add to keep your shelves filled in and to provide extra reading material for kids to practice. There's nothing particularly outstanding, good or bad, about it and it's not the first choice, but when you need more it's there to fill in the corners.

ISBN: 9780062699954; Published October 2019 by Balzer and Bray; Purchased for the library

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Where's the giraffe? by Ingela P. Arrhenius

This delightful series has quickly become a favorite at our library, and a top choice for me when recommending books as gifts for new babies.

Each brightly-colored page plays peek-a-boo with the reader, showing animals that are generally related hidden behind flaps. This titles features jungle animals, lion, crocodile, elephant, and giraffe. The final page asks "And where are you?" and readers lift the flap to see a small mirror. One of the things that sets this series apart is that the flaps are felt, rather than paper, inserted into the page. They are cut in different shapes and are a variety of colors, hot pink, burgundy, green, neon orange, etc.

Arrhenius' illustrations have a classic, minimalist look. She uses a lot of simple forms, circles, ovals, and curved shapes in her animals and plants and tends towards bright but not glaring shades in her colors.

The binding on these tends to give way before the flaps do; Like most of Nosy Crow's titles, they are made with a pretty light cardboard binding and the outside hinge quickly gets puncture marks. However, they are so popular and I generally consider board books ephemeral collections anyways.

Verdict: Unless you only purchase board books that last for many years, these are a must-have in your board book section; caregivers and children alike love them.

ISBN: 9780763693343; Published 2017 by Nosy Crow; Purchased for the library

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Wait, Rest, Pause: Dormancy in Nature by Marcie Flinchum Atkins

A new seasonal word to teach the kids! We've learned hibernate and migration, but we haven't tackled dormant!

Spare, poetic language describes the behaviors of a number of plants and animals, not just during winter, but also during droughts. Trees coated in ice wrap their buds in "tiny leaf blankets" to wait for spring. Ladybugs crowd together, waiting for the warmer days to come. A chickadee, on a cold winter night, tucks itself into a little ball "For just a few hours, you would pause." Then it zips across the page, warmed by the morning sun. Earthworms seal themselves in mucus, waiting for the rain, alligators burrow into the mud on cold days. Each phase is illustrated with gorgeous photographs, showing trees frozen in ice and bursting into bloom, animals curled up in cozy balls and playing in the fresh air and sun.

Back matter explains dormancy in detail, from plant dormancy to estivation. The last page includes further reading, websites, and photo acknowledgements.

This would be a great storytime book, encouraging kids to sit still then jump up as they come out of their "dormant" phase. The additional back matter would be useful for teachers and parents to encourage further research into animal and plant behavior, or to use this as an introduction to dormancy and hibernation (both very popular topics here in the Midwest). The gorgeous photographs are the icing on the cake, and don't forget to do a nature poetry unit, asking school-age kids to write their own poems based on the photos!

Verdict: Not an absolutely necessary purchase, but with many uses for both preschool and school-age kids, this is definitely one to consider if you have the funds.

ISBN: 9781541561922; Published September 2019 by Milbrook/Lerner; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Monday, December 9, 2019

The incredible yet true adventures of Alexander von Humboldt, the greatest inventory, naturalist, scientist, explorer who ever lived by Volker Mehnert, illustrated by Claudia Lieb

Hyperbole much? My conclusion is that, while von Humboldt was a pretty cool guy, he was not All That.

He lived during the turn of the century; the 17th/18th century that is! Born a wealthy man in Prussia, after his parents were gone and he had full control of his money he spent several years in exploring South America. He also traveled to North American and Siberia and never lost his curiosity and fascination with science and the natural world. He was trained as a mining engineer and eventually used his entire fortune in support of his scientific pursuits. Unusually for the time, he spoke out against slavery, the Spanish exploitation of the indigenous populations of South America, and he considered himself a "citizen of the world."

The book is fully illustrated, with colorful images of South American flora and fauna, as well as the mountains and volcanoes von Humboldt explored. The text is fairly dense, and also frequently veers into narrative/fictionalized dialogue, with seemed odd to me. There are some further reading and resource lists, but no index or comprehensive source notes. Ultimately, this is the kind of book readers would browse and then go to find more definite information on the subject.

However, I have a hard time seeing any of my young readers picking this up. The text is very dense and the pictures have an old-fashioned feel to them. Explorers from the 1800s are not exactly a topic in high demand, and I found it frustrating that the other people of the time were completely overlooked in the exaltation of von Humboldt. There is a brief chapter on his companion, who was imprisoned for years in South America and did basically all the same research as Humboldt, he just wasn't as charismatic (or wealthy).

Verdict: I found this personally interesting, and plan to locate and read some of von Humboldt's own works, but I don't think this would circulate much, if at all, in the average public library collection.

ISBN: 9781615196319; Published September 2019 by Experiment; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Librarian's Picks: Manga

I cut way back on manga and young adult graphic novels this year, since I was putting a lot of money towards young adult fiction. My selector worked hard, but, sadly, we didn't see any gains in circulation and our graphic circulation suffered. So, next year I have promised the teens to buy LOTS more manga and graphic novels!

These are the new manga series I did add this year:
  • Delicious in Dungeon (7 volumes currently available)
    • This ties into our community's current love of all things D&D! They're trapped in a dungeon and end up eating the monsters.
  • Dragonquest Monsters+ (4 volumes currently available)
  • Isolator (I think this is complete with 4 volumes)
  • Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts (7 volumes currently available)
  • Snow White with the red hair (4 volumes currently available)
These are series I continued
  • Anne Happy
  • Astra lost in space (complete at 5 volumes)
  • Attack on Titan
  • Black Clover
  • Blue Exorcist
  • Boy and the Beast (complete at 4 volumes)
  • Children of the Whales
  • Flying Witch
  • My Hero Academia
  • One-Punch Man
  • Twin Star Exorcists

Saturday, December 7, 2019

This week at the library; or, Planning

Happening this week
  • Monday
    • Dungeons & Dragons
    • Managers' Meeting
  • Tuesday
    • Toddlers 'n' Books (2 sessions)
  • Wednesday
    • Open Storyroom
  • Thursday
    • Books 'n' Babies
    • Bookaneers
    • Grandparents Support Group
  • Friday
    • Free Lego Build
  • Worked 40ish hours; 10 hours on desk; 1 program
  • A couple hours of collection development and planning work at home
Notes
  • Finished weeding up to 796 (sports)
  • Wrote reports and budget requests for next year, involving lots of measuring and cursing the architects who made that one corner so weird-shaped that it's basically one inch too small for any corner desks to be put in there. Also freaked out staff and patrons by knocking on walls randomly to see if I could mount cabinets there.
  • Staff schedule (almost) done through February!
Collection notes
  • What is the likelihood of a kid coming in asking for a bowling book if I weed our (one) bowling book from the 80s? High, probably.
  • Minecraft the lost journals by Morgan Winter - took a while to figure out what minecraft series this 1st grader wanted - promised her to buy them for the next time she comes in.
  • Battle of the Books - I totally forgot about this, they've changed things this year and I don't know how high participation will be. I'm going to try not pulling the books this year and I am also missing several from the list, especially older nonfiction that I weeded. It is available in the consortium though. We'll see what happens.
  • Popular book club pics - Hamster Holmes, Remy Sneakers, and funny picture books as always.
  • Historical fiction requests for school - noticed that I need a LOT more copies of I survived.
Professional Development
  • Scholastic Spring 2020 Online Preview
  • Imagine your story: Summer library program and early literacy

Friday, December 6, 2019

Roll with it by Jamie Sumner

I will just say straight out that I am not a fan of Wonder, although I know it's extremely beloved and we own a ridiculous number of copies. So it wasn't a draw for me that Palacio had blurbed this book - is every book with a disabled character going to have to have the mark of approval of an abled person? Ahem. However. This is a really, really good book!

The story opens with a typical day for Ellie. She's eating freezer food while watching a baking show and hoping her aide doesn't call her mom. The thing is, she just needed a break and zipped out during lunch at school. But kids in wheelchairs who have CP (Cerebral Palsy) are a "health risk" and are absolutely NOT supposed to skip. Luckily for Ellie, her mom has other things to think about. Ellie's gotten her long-awaited appointment with the dr. and has finally been seizure-free long enough to go off her medication. Meanwhile, Ellie's grandfather's dementia is getting worse and her grandmother is not able to cope with him. Ellie and her mom decide to extend their Christmas vacation and stay with their grandparents until things calm down a little.

Life in the trailer park is better and worse than Ellie expects. To her surprise, she makes friends - Coralee, whose mother has left her with an elderly relative and who dreams of getting out by winning talent contests. Bert, who lives along with his dad and is a bit (ok a lot) weird. Ellie figures he's probably on the spectrum. School is a whole 'nother can of worms. The kids (and staff) treat Ellie like some kind of weird freak one moment, then ignore her the next. Nothing is set up or accessible, and the only bright spot if the gym coach who has a background in physical therapy and rehabilitation.

As Ellie makes it through bad days - her grandfather's episodes - and good days - experimenting with baking - she comes to realize that, as Coralee says, this is her new family. Ellie is a refreshing and realistic character. She's aware of her limitations, hates having to have help to go to the bathroom because the trailer is too small and inaccessible, and gets snarky and tells people off when they get on her nerves. But she's also growing as a person, becoming aware of the issues faced by other people and of the challenges in and around her family. She sees her mom from a mature, almost adult viewpoint, understanding how much she's sacrificed to care for her and how difficult it is for her to handle her grandfather's decline, while still having moments as a kid. She secretly fears being put in an institution, like the nursing home her grandfather will eventually have to go to, and even when she understands why her mother is stressed she sometimes just can't let go of her own plans and problems. In other words, Ellie is a typical middle schooler; she's full of potential, has plenty of additional challenges to handle, and does her best to deal with what she's got.

In the end, there's no perfect ending; everyone still has problems they have to deal with and that affect their daily life. There's no moment when an all-school assembly realizes how Ellie has changed all their lives and inspired them all to be better people (yes, this me being extremely sarcastic). But Ellie has hope for the future, friends, and feels part of a community in a way she never has before. Sumner has a son with cerebral palsy and also consulted children with disabilities in writing this book. The main feedback was that they loved the character of Ellie, who "tells it like it is."

Verdict: An absolute must-have for every library. Aside from the rarity of a main protagonist with a disability, written realistically! this is a funny, touching, and strong middle grade novel that any kid who loves realistic fiction will devour. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781534442559; Published October 2019 by Atheneum; Review copy provided by publisher and donated to the library; 2nd copy purchased for the library

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Small Readers: Frank and Bean by Jamie Michalak, illustrated by Bob Kolar

Jamie Michalak, author of the funny Sparky and Joe easy reader series, returns with another oddball couple. This time, though, they're not animals but food!

Frank, a very quiet and studious hot dog (or frankfurter) in a tidy bun and with a hat is going camping. Frank is not the sharing kind and he is looking for peace and quiet to write. He has his tent, spork, and writing equipment and is all set to go. But first he's disturbed by a lot of animals who don't understand that his writing is secret. At night, he says goodnight to himself. He's alone and that's how he likes it!

Chapter two introduces Bean. Bean is, well, a bean. He's short and oval and has a bus, trumpet, motorcycle... clearly, Bean does not value quiet. Bean is loud and messy and he and Frank do NOT get along. Bean is looking for words for his one-man band, but he can't find any. Frank suggests peace and quiet to let the words flow, but Bean just can't handle that! He annoys Frank and even tries to read his secret notebook! Finally, Frank gives in and tries one jelly doughnut (of the non-sentient variety, presumably) but they are still not friends! Not until a disturbed night encourages them both to confide in each other do they realize that they are exactly what the other needs. Frank has words for Bean and Bean has friendship for Frank. They join together and the last page shows them rocking out in their new band, the Chili Dogs.

Kolar's illustrations are simple and cheerful, not detracting from the text but adding a nice accompaniment. The reading level is fairly high; this is not an introductory easy reader, rather one that is right on the bridge to chapter books. The odd couple theme is a bit tired, in my opinion, and I personally dislike the trope where a quiet character realizes they really need an extrovert as a friend, especially when the extrovert doesn't reciprocate with some appreciation of quiet time, but we seem to be stuck with it at this point.

Verdict: This breaks no new ground (or wind ha ha) but it's a solid intermediate level easy reader with a humorous touch. Purchase where easy readers at this level are needed.

ISBN: 9780763695590: Published October 2019 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by LT Early Reviewers; Donated to the library

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: A little book about colors by Leo Lionni and Jan Gerardi

This board book is part of a series called Leo Lionni's Friends, which uses Lionni's art and is inspired by his work to create new titles. There is no author listed.

Each spread features a different color and shows that color "in action" with one of Lionni's familiar grey mice. The layout alternates; The first page on the left has the color, slightly darker, against a background. So RED is a dark red against a bright red background. On the right, there is a simple sentence using the color, in this case a mouse with "a bright red balloon," walking along green grass with a little red ladybug and two red flowers. The second layout and spread features blue, with the art stretching across the page, focusing on a blue pool. The layouts alternate this way through yellow, green, pink, black, purple, gray, white, brown, and orange. The second to last page shows all the things from the book with the legend "Colors are beautiful" and the final spread shows a little gray mouse painting a rainbow.

Some stand-out spreads include the gray one, which shows a little mouse running with a flag and the word "ME!" and a love spread of white "fluffy dandelions floating in the air" against a light yellow background.

Verdict: This is a loving homage to a powerful author and illustrator, one is too little-known today, as well as a delightful early concept book. Sure to please little ones, this is a definitely a must-have for your shelves.

ISBN: 9780525582298; Published May 2019 by Random House; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Snow Leopard: Ghost of the Mountains by Justin Anderson, illustrated by Patrick Benson

Periodically, Candlewick releases gorgeous natural science picture books. Some of the original British editions are labeled "Nature Storybooks" but I've never found a complete list of them. I wish they'd label them as a series so I could make sure I had them all! The latest book features a favorite animal of mine (and many others), the rare and beautiful snow leopard.

Justin Anderson, a zoologist and filmmaker, tells the story of his experiences researching snow leopards in the Himalayas, combining months spent filming in the mountains into a beautifully written story. Joining a local guide, he travels into the mountains and is stunned to see a snow leopard, gazing peacefully back at him out of the landscape. They follow her on a hunt, see her reuniting with her almost-grown cubs, and finally have one last glimpse of her, standing alone on a peak and yowling into the sunset.

Like other books in the series, there are more facts set into the illustrations in most pages and an author's afterword that expands on the nonfiction elements, in this case talking about the conservation of the snow leopards. There is also a brief index and two websites.

Benson, illustrator of the beloved classic Owl Babies covers the pages in soft, dusty browns and grays, the golden-eyed snow leopard peering out boldly at the reader. Her luxurious fur glows with the light off the mountains and she's clearly an integral part of her harsh environment.

Verdict: This beautiful picture book introduces the harsh beauty of the Himalayas and the snow leopard that makes its home there in simple but lovely prose. A must-have for your nonfiction picture book collections.

ISBN: 9781536205404; This edition published October 2019 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Monday, December 2, 2019

The Book of Kings and The Book of Queens by Caleb Magyar and Stephanie Warren Drimmer

These two books have a similar format to The Book of Heroines and The Book of Heroes. I liked them, but I have some problems with the endings and now I'm wondering if I shouldn't check those previous books too.

Magyar wrote The Book of Kings with Drimmer, who wrote The Book of Queens solo. Both include snippets from the other book and generally follow the same layout. Each book is divided into chapters, organizing influential, legendary, or powerful men and women. Kings includes the following sections, "Empire Builders," "Military Masterminds," "Rulers in Revolution," "Lords of Legend," "Kings of Creativity," "Aristocrats of Action," "Kings of Change," and "Kings of Knowledge." Queens has a slightly different lineup, "Empire Builders," "Women of Action," "Revolutionary Rulers," "Culture Shapers," "Monarchs of the Arts," "Legendary Leaders," "Queens of Knowledge," and "Queens of Adventure."

Both include a fairly wide range of people, although it does tend heavily towards Western history and some sections seem to have forgotten to add non-white people. The short biographies are interspersed with information on famous royal jewels, weapons, etc. Kings includes Hammurabi, Agamemnon, Oberon, Babe Ruth, Christiaan Barnard, Isaac Newton, Minakata Kumagusu, Sun Wukong, Coyote, Saladin, and Richard 1. Queens has Empress Cixi, Ranavalona I, Serena Williams, Dolly Parton, Wonder Woman, Kim Swift, Jane Addams, Ellen DeGeneres, Helen Mirren, Maya Lin, Amina, and Jill Tarter.

The portraits are brief, as one would expect in a compendium, not allowing the more complex aspects of the peoples' characters to be shown. Both have indexes and photo credits, but no sources. Both books have inspirational messages to readers in the back. These are what really got to me. In Kings, the messages are "Kings lead by example; Kings are eager to learn; Kings motivate the masses; Kings are confident; Kings have a clear vision." In Queens, the messages are: "Queens lead with integrity; Queens command with courage; Queens respect the role; Queens are passionate; Queens empower their people." There just seems to me to be a disconnect here. Apart from the gendered division into the two books, I felt there was a definite push to admire some male leaders who had done terrible things and gloss over their shortcomings, while the portraits of the women mostly ignored the heavier odds stacked against them.

However, these complaints aside, this wouldn't be the kind of thing I'd give to a kid who was writing a history report or wanting to learn in-depth about these people. This is a book for readers to browse and pick up snippets about people that they can then follow up later. I would have preferred that they divided them up differently - maybe have two books but put all genders together in each and have one be historical and one modern or something.

Verdict: Not an essential purchase, but a nice collection of interesting people to spark kids' interest in biography and certainly a more diverse collection than I've seen anywhere else.

The Book of Kings
ISBN: 9781426335334

The Book of Queens
ISBN: 9781426335358

Published November 2019 by National Geographic; Review copies provided by publicist

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Librarian's Picks: My favorite Picture Books


These are my favorite picture books added to the library this year. It's totally subjective - most of them are funny or nonfiction, because this is MY list and that's what I like! Not all were published this past year - I buy from the backlist frequently - and some were added as review copies, so I didn't actually purchase them.

The List
  • *NF* Animal antipodes by Allan-Fletcher; 9781939547491
  • Max attacks by Appelt; 9781481451468
  • Noah builds an ark by Kate Banks; 9780763674847
  • *NF* Do not lick this book by Ben-Barak; 9781250175366
  • Hangry by Brockington; 9780316559324
    • Read this in outreach visits - approved by the kids
  • Little guys by Brosgol; 9781626724426
    • Great book for back to school, learning about cooperation and respect
  • Very impatient caterpillar by Burach; 9781338289411
  • How to eat pizza by Burgerman; 9780735228856
  • Case of the missing chalk drawings by Byrne; 9781250189592
    • I have read this to a LOT of kids and "He's got a dusty red bottom!" is never not funny.
  • T-rex time machine by Chapman (two titles)
    • Used in book club - even the older kids loved this.
  • What does an anteater eat by Collins; 9781536205916
  • *NF* Hummingbird by Davies; 9781536205381
  • Epic adventures of Huggie and Stick by Daywalt; 9780399172762
  • Misunderstood Shark: Friends don't eat friends by Dyckman; 9781338113884
  • *NF* Truth about elephants, crocodiles, and hawks by Eaton (three titles)
  • Ten rules of the birthday wish by Ferry; 9781524741549
  • Carl and the meaning of life by Freedman; 9780451474988
  • All around us by Gonzalez; 9781941026762
    • I kept meaning to buy this and finally got it - beautiful book about grief and being connected to family.
  • How do you dance by Heder; 9781419734182
    • Great book on movement and being inclusive.
  • *NF* Mapping Sam by Hesselberth; 9780062741226
  • *NF* Beware of the crocodile by Jenkins; 9780763675387
  • Stop that yawn by Levis; 9781481441797
  • *NF* Borrowing bunnies by Lord; 9780374308414
    • Adorable bunnies!
  • I can only draw worms by Mabbit; 9781524788223
  • Saturday and Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora
    • Saturday is just PERFECTION
  • I got next by Peoples-Riley; 9780062657770
    • I loved her earlier book about dancing - this one is basketball. Great for back to school time and encouraging kids to face challenges.
  • Summer green to autumn gold by Posada; 9781541528994
    • You can never have too many autumn leaf books.
  • One fox by Kate Read; 9781682631317
  • Glacier on the move by Rusch; 9781513262307
    • I never reviewed this because it's never been on the shelf since I got it! Staff keep grabbing it every time it comes back.
  • *NF* About woodpeckers by Cathryn Sill; 9781682630044
    • I really like woodpeckers.
  • Not your nest by Sterer; 9780735228276
  • Fly by Teague; 9781534451285
  • Panda Problem by Underwood; 9780735228504

Saturday, November 30, 2019

This week at the library; or, Holiday

Happening this week
  • Monday
    • Open Storyroom
    • Paws to Read
    • Girl Scouts
    • D&D
    • Youth Services Staff Meeting
  • Tuesday
    • Open Storyroom
  • Wednesday
    • Open Storyroom
    • Library closes at 5:30
  • Thursday - Friday: Library closed
  • Worked 25 hours; 11 hours on desk
  • 16 hours holiday
Notes
  • I am so tired of viewing security cameras.
  • I weeded through the 600s and got about halfway through the 700s, got as caught up on the cataloging as possible, started planning for next year, and was notified that I won a grant!

Friday, November 29, 2019

The Collectors by Jacqueline West

I loved West's Books of Elsewhere, but they've never circulated as much as I've wanted them to. Most of the kids I've tried them on have told me they're too scary! Still, the description of this book lured me in and I decided to enjoy it myself, even if the kids don't appreciate it.

Van is the new kid, the small kid, easy to overlook - but he sees things nobody else sees. Usually these are small treasures he carries back to his toy theater, wherever he and his opera-singer mother are currently living. But one day he sees - and hears - something different. He sees a strange girl and he hears a talking squirrel. This is unusual not only because, well, talking animals but also because Van can't hear too well anyways. But he doesn't have adjust his hearing aids or make any effort, he just... hears a squirrel.

The mystery deepens as Van pursues the Pebble, the girl, and Barnavelt, the squirrel, and discovers a hidden world of captured wishes and strange collectors, mysterious animals and magic both glorious and terrifying. Eventually, he will be torn between his new friends and his own wishes, trying to find the right path when everyone seems to be lying to him.

This fantasy builds slowly, but when it finally gets going it's a powerful book. Van encounters the power of wishes and also how that power corrupts. He meets friends who turn out to be enemies, and learns that not everything is black and white. West handles Van's hearing loss carefully, weaving its effects into the narrative of his everyday life and building it into the climactic final as Van makes his own choices about his destiny, reminding those who try to change his life that can make his own decisions.

This reminded me of the film Nocturna, with the blend of magic and the strange creatures flitting through the night. It has an open ending, leaving room for a sequel, but not ending on a cliffhanger (the second and last title came out in October 2019, A storm of wishes)

Verdict: I thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written and gorgeously imagined magical world, and the smooth integration of Van's impaired hearing was extremely well done. However, its length (almost 400 pages) and the slow, reflective beginning, as well as the emphasis on the urban setting and the opera world, make this something unlikely to check out in my library. Happily, there are several copies available in my consortium and I plan to use it in forthcoming book clubs and see if there is enough interest to justify the purchase.

ISBN: 9780062691699; Published 2018 by Greenwillow; Borrowed from another library in my consortium