Thursday, March 31, 2022

The Daily Bark: The Puppy Problem by Laura James, illustrated by Charlie Alder

 I glanced at this beginning chapter series starter a few months ago and liked it enough to order it for the library, but then I received a review copy and thought I'd give it a more thorough perusal.

Gizmo, a dachshund who's used to life in the city, isn't sure about moving with his journalist human to the small country village of Puddle. He's just wondering how to get to know the other dogs when he meets the dog next door and gets the fright of his life! Jilly is a giant wolfhound! But she turns out to be a sweet mom with four adorable puppies and she needs his help. Her humans are going to sell her puppies far away, but she'd like them to stay close by so she can visit them. Jilly and Gizmo set out to visit the other dogs in town and look for homes for Jilly's puppies. When their first try doesn't work, Gizmo is inspired by his journalistic experience to write a newspaper and get the news out that way - and along the way he meets lots of new friends.

Brown and blue illustrations, with highlights of red and yellow on collars and in flowers, are spaced throughout this cheerful story. While it wasn't to my personal taste - I don't care for sentimentalizing anthropomorphic animals and newspapers are pretty outdated now - I can absolutely see kids loving this, despite my own biases.

James has written several other beginning chapter series, and while definitely British, this latest series hits all the keynotes to make a successful beginning chapter series. Cute pictures and animals, a challenge that's not too scary or big to handle, and lots of gentle humor are all things that appeal to a significant section of my young readers and their caregivers.

Verdict: While this won't diversify your collection and there are plenty of similar series, if you have voracious beginning readers who have finished off all the Diary of a Pug, Critter Club, and similar series, they'll be lining up to find out what happens next in the Daily Bark.

ISBN: 9781547608805; Published January 2022 by Bloomsbury; Review copy provided by publisher; Purchased for the library

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Parks for the people: How Frederick Olmsted designed America by Elizabeth Partridge, illustrated by Becca Stadtlander


 Partridge's well-researched text and watercolors reminiscent of Barbara Cooney introduce young readers to Frederick Law Olmsted, first as a boy in 1830s Connecticut and then as a young man looking for his place in the world. In 1857 he became involved in the clearing of land for a new park in New York and then later the designs he created with a friend, Calvert Vaux, were accepted and Olmsted became known as the designer of Central Park. Olmsted's career covered government positions during the Civil War, and parks and wilderness across the United States, including in Yosemite. The story ends with his design for the US Capitol and the green spaces around it.

Throughout the story, Partridge unemotionally describes the displacement of Black and Indigenous peoples in the public places that Olmsted built, expanding her commentary on the oxymoron of his work in the author's note - although he steadfastly campaigned for public places for all people, his work involved the destruction of many people's homes and land. Detailed sources, a timeline, and further resources are also included.

Although this is a picture book, it's not a title I'd use in a storytime setting. However, it's a good choice for grade school readers and listeners, to include in social studies and to encourage readers to think about the history of the places around them and how their creation has affected different groups of people.

Verdict: A worthy purchase if you have an audience for historical picture books. Although for many years I have not had this audience, this past year I've started putting together social studies and science-related book collections for fifth graders and so this title is a good fit for my library.

ISBN: 9781984835154; Published April 2022 by Viking; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Classic Rereads: Need a house? Call Ms. Mouse! by George Mendoza, illustrated by Doris Susan Smith

[Originally published 6-8-2012]

This isn't so much a review as a paean of joy to that special moment of rediscovery when you find a book you'd loved as a child.

Reading aloud was a huge deal in my family, at least for the older kids. One of my few memories of my grandmother who died when I was twelve is of her reading a Christmas story to us. My mom used to walk us to the library and bring back a wagonload of books. She read aloud to us as a family - as did my dad - until I was about eleven and figured out that I could read faster silently than my parents could read aloud, and promptly sneaked the current read aloud and finished them off on my own. Then I read aloud to my younger siblings. I also picked audiobooks for our longer commute. Some of them were appreciated, but I finally gave in and didn't make my brothers finish listening to Anne of Green Gables and the unabridged Robinson Crusoe gets pretty blah after he's rescued.

So I have a vast number of books lurking about in the back of my brain. Especially picture books from the 1980s when I was a child. Some of these are, to put it mildly, odd but I love them anyways. Like Jon Buller's Fanny and May, about two elephant sisters, one of whom just can't control her appetite...and eats their house. Which is made, naturally, of cake.

Or there's my beloved Tangle and the Firesticks by Benedict Blathwyt, which tells the story of a misfit miniature furry creature. The real draw of course, is all the tiny things in the illustrations...

The best moment in rediscovering a childhood book love is that moment when you pick up a book and suddenly realize you've read it before. And all the delight you felt reading it as a child floods in.

So, finally arriving at the focus title of the random meandering...I have no idea why Need a House? was on my to read list. I might have seen it on some blog...or it could have been a leftover from one of my many lists. In any case, I requested it from inter-library loan with no recollection of ever having seen it before. I looked at the cover and thought, "hmm, that looks kind of familiar" opened it up and...

ohhhhhhhhh, the love! I loved, loved, loved this book. It has two of the things I loved most in picture books as a child; small, detailed drawings and organization. Yes, a cataloger from my youth... Ms. Mouse, a brilliant career mouse, designs houses for all her friends. The text is pretty blah - and I don't really remember reading any of it. But the pictures...ohhhh, the pictures. Just looking at them makes me so happy. It's like a combination of Jill Barklem's Brambly Hedge miniature books and Doris Burn's Andrew Henry's Meadow, with the houses designed for each child (both were also favorites of mine). Ms. Mouse not only builds a different style of house for her friends, many of them are also set in different cultures. So Cat has a Japanese-style house with sliding doors and an inner garden courtyard set high in the mountains, where he can lazily sun himself on the open terraces and fly his kite. Trout has a kind of formal French garden maze set with coral hedges. If I knew more about architecture I could probably identify the other places, but you don't need to be an expert to fall in love with this book.

Interestingly, when I was looking for some pictures, I found an old design blog with some of the interior illustrations. You can check them out here.

Alas, I must now return this gem to the library from whence it came, but I've had another lovely "oooohhh" moment and now have a new book to add to my childhood favorites wishlist.

This is long out of print and used copies run to hundreds of dollars. I don't know that it would necessarily appeal to today's children, but the nostalgia value is high and I think there would be a large market for it, should any publisher bring it back.

Monday, March 28, 2022

In short, I am Busy: We Explore Artist Julie Paschkis

 

Best swirly art in the style of Julie Paschkis!
Art Project Part 1: Sketching

The kids start with pencils and drawing paper and I show pictures of Paschkis' sketches for her artwork, especially P. Zonka. I encourage them not to worry about "mistakes" or extra lines.

Supplies
  • Pencils and drawing paper
Storytime
During storytime I discuss Paschkis' art process and how the pictures and words are put together. Paschkis is a really easy artist for this because there are a number of interviews with her on  Seven Impossible Things' interview as well as information on her website.

Selected Books
  • P. Zonka Lays an Egg
  • Mooshka, a quilt story
  • Vivid
  • Who put the cookies in the cookie jar by George Shannon
Art Project Part 2: Painting
Older kids can be encouraged to mix their paints and make new colors, using biocolors. Younger children can use the no-spill paint cups. As always, we change brushes between colors so we don't need cups of water.

Supplies
  • Tempera paint in no-spill cups
  • Biocolor paint and styrofoam or plastic plates for mixing
  • Paintbrushes, aprons, sink, paper towels
Evaluation

In short, I am busy: 5th grade field trip

For a few years I hired a performer, then I set up an actual field trip for the 5th graders.

Staff required: A minimum of two, one to be dragooned into supervising the tour and scavenger hunt and myself for booktalking and checkout. I'd be open to resuming the performer, if I get interest in full grade visits again.

My presentation to the kids includes a talk about their responsibilities and privileges as middle schoolers and booktalking.

Preparation: Update the scavenger hunt, make sure the basement appears suitably haunted, check library cards, and prepare books.

Notes
  • 2019
    • This needs a minimum of two people, one to run the tour and me for booktalking and lecturing. Additional staff are really only needed for checkout at the end. I did add a section explaining in loco parentis and contrasting the number of people in their school with the number of people served by the library to explain why I don't have time to work individually with them when they're misbehaving - I will just ask them to leave.

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Vacation!

my current puzzle

 I might or might not post this upcoming week. I have the week off and am currently putting together my to-do and to-read list. For the first time in... forever, I have absolutely zero books on my library card! I hope to completely catch up on my backlog of review copies, among other things.

Sewing

  • Finish the top of the (belated) wedding quilt and find the backing (I'll have to put it together later when I have access to a bigger space)
  • Start cutting the flannel quilt I've been thinking about.
Misc. projects
  • try a cookie recipe https://therecipecritic.com/cheesecake-stuffed-chocolate-chip-cookies/
  • Fix the wire on my tulip beds
  • Laundry, vacuum, finally clean the kitchen floor, clean the bathroom

Read, to be reviewed

  • True History: The legacy of Jim Crow and The founders unmasked
  • The daily bark
  • Parks for the people
  • Tiny Fox Great Boar (NFNT) (ebook)
Review copies to read
  • Unicorn island by Galanti (requested)
  • Wild world handbook: Creatures
  • Clockwork crow by Fisher (yes, this came out in 2020. I did say backlog)
  • Dragon used to live here by Cate LeBlanc (requested)
  • Archibald Finch and the lost witches
  • Bloom by Nicola Skinner
  • Doom's day camp (requested)
  • Ultimate biography of earth (requested)
  • Paws: Gabby gets it together (requested)
  • Lia Park and the missing jewel (requested)
  • Cameron Battle and the hidden kingdoms
  • Honestly Elliott by Gillian McDunn
  • Taste of magic by J. Elle
  • When the sky falls by Phil Earle

Purchased middle grade to read
  • Children of castle rock by Farrant
  • Wish for a witch and witches unwelcome by Umansky
  • Catalyst by Durst
  • Whispering skull by Stroud
Misc. to read
  • Top secret by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
  • Magus of the library 4
  • Little Lulu: The fuzzythingus Poopi
  • Muhyo and Roji's bureau of supernatural investigation 1-5
  • Paying the piper at the gates of dawn by Edghill

Purchased comics to read
  • Dire days of Willowweep manor
  • Witch for hire by Naifeh
  • Charmed and the cursed by Naifeh
  • Young Justice: Growing up
  • Adventures of the super sons 1 and 2
  • Twelve by Straczynski
  • New Defenders vol. 1
  • Mystery men by Liss
  • War of kings by Abnett
Purchased mysteries to read (or reread)
  • Murder out of commission by R. B. Dominic
  • Murder without icing by Emma Lathen
  • Death shall overcome by Emma Lathen
  • When in Greece by Emma Lathen
  • Creeping venom by Sheila Pim
  • Doors open by Michael Gilbert
  • Night of the twelfth by Michael Gilbert
  • Black seraphim by Michael Gilbert
  • Family tomb by Michael Gilbert
  • While the patient slept by Mignon Eberhart
  • Curtain call for a corpse by Josephine Bell
  • Take a body by Creasey
  • Our first murder by Chanslor
  • Penelope passes by Coggin
  • Death in Daylesford by Greenwood

This week at the library

My last amaryllis is opening

 Programs

  • Paws to Read
  • Pokemon Club
  • Dungeons and Dragons
  • Winter Wigglers (rescheduled)
  • Lapsit
  • Lakeland School field trip
  • Three year old birthday party
  • Outreach storytimes (5 sessions)
  • Offsite family concert
One more week and then I have a week off for Spring Break. The push this week was to catch up on projects and make sure we had all the take home stuff ready for next week, as my full-time associate is also taking a break. I'm also working on finishing the materials for summer reading, finalizing performers for summer, weeding another section of picture books, and updating and reorganizing the rest of our workroom/office space.

Saturday, March 26, 2022

Classic Rereads: Mine for keeps by Jean Little

Sally has cerebral palsy and has been living at a special facility for children with disabilities for five years, but now she's finally coming home to stay. She's excited, scared, and worried all together. Her family is familiar and yet strange and there are so many new things to navigate, from getting dressed by herself to going to school. When she gets a dog, at first it seems like one more thing she can't handle, but together they slowly change and grow until Sally changes from being "Scarey Sarah" and her dog Susie changes too. Together with her friends, she learns to fit into her family and her new world.

This is such a solid book book from the perspective of a child with a disability. How often do you see that? Not the foil for the main character, not the plucky friend who gives wise advice to the main character, no, the main character herself! Sally is a real little girl, not defined by her disability, but not unaffected by it either. She has to struggle to be independent, to do the things that others find so easy. She's not a cardboard cut-out child - she gets upset, doesn't try, feels angry and worried and scared. Her family and friends are perfectly cast and are just as real as Sally is. They don't have perfect lives any more than she does and, if there was a lesson to this book, it would be that everyone has their own difficulties to overcome.

Who will read this? Kids who like realistic and family stories.

Bring it back? Yes. I've never really found another author who wrote so simply and realistically about children with disabilities as Jean Little. It would be amazing if publishers would update some of the factual information and a few references to clothes etc. and republish these with new covers.

Availability: This was last republished in the US in the 1990s by Viking but was republished in a paperback edition in Canada in 2008 with a new cover. I don't know if any aspects in that edition were updated. I'd love to see a new US edition available.

Friday, March 25, 2022

Library Collection: Caregivers/Parenting Collection

Battle of the Books are currently on top
but normally that is a display space.

This collection was originally Tough Topics, with titles meant to be read together with kids on death, divorce, puberty, and other issues caregivers would want to introduce themselves. It's adapted and changed over the years, moved several times, and just recently we started including adult books on parenting on loan from the adult nonfiction collection.

I am in the process of weeding and updating our picture book neighborhoods and a lot of previously "parenting" books moved to that area, where I have sections for social issues, social-emotional learning, etc.

Most of the children's titles are purchased from Magination, Albert Whitman, and Free Spirit. Circulation averages around 10-20 each month. I have a spreadsheet of what is currently contained in this collection, but a more comprehensive collection is organized on Pinterest under Helping Books for Growing up and Tough Times.

Currently the headings we use are:
BIRTH (For young children, where babies come from)
BODIES (For slightly older children, pre-puberty information)
DEATH
DIVORCE
FAMILY (foster care, incarceration, adoption, etc.)
ILLNESS (diabetes, asthma, cancer, allergies)
MENTAL (mental health - anxiety, depression, mindfullness)
PUBERTY (for tweens - more teen puberty titles are in the teen area)
SEL (social-emotional learning - mostly chapter books on social skills)
SPECIAL NEEDS (learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, etc. I don't particularly like this heading, but have never found a good alternative)

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

In short, I am busy: 4K field trips

There are two themes available for four year old kindergarten field trips - Pete the Cat or Elephant and Piggie.

    Playtime and children's area
    • Take kids the long way into and out of the library so it's not a "full" tour but they can see things to pique their interest and bring them back.
    • Emphasis on playtime - legos, play area, outdoor space, as time allows.
    • Pennies in the wishing well after field trip.
    • Storytime - Pete the Cat or Elephant and Piggie books.
    Activities for Pete the Cat
    • Groovy buttons
      • Die-cut circles with holes punched
      • Ribbon, Markers
      • Kids decorate their buttons and string them
    • Art book covers
      • Pre-printed book covers "Pete the Cat and His ____ by ____
      • Markers
    • Create art books
      • Construction paper, Watercolor pencils
      • Water cups and brushes Stapler
      • Kids draw pictures and brush over them with water, then we staple all the pictures together to make books (use their Pete the Cat art book covers)
    Activities for Elephant and Piggie

    Tuesday, March 22, 2022

    Mushroom Rain by Laura K. Zimmerman, illustrated by Jamie Green


    This is the gorgeous, nonfiction mushroom book you didn't know you needed. It starts with exquisite white ink drawings on the navy blue endpages, then draws readers into the wonderful, mysterious world of mushrooms.

    Down in damp dirt, mushrooms pop up. Strange shapes, weird smells, and wonderful colors dot the forest floor - but where do they come from? How do they grow? Who eats them? Follow the journey of mushrooms from spore to bloom, meet the creatures that feast on them, both animal and human, and then dig even deeper. Did you know there's a vast fungi network that is thousands of years old? That mushrooms seed clouds and help it rain?

    Back matter is drawn in the style of a nature journal with intricate watercolor illustrations and a font that looks handwritten, expanding on each of the simple statements in the book itself.

    Verdict: This is a superlative nonfiction book, perfect for reading aloud to young children in storytimes or using as the base for a STEAM-themed workshop on mushrooms, art, or nature journaling. Older readers will enjoy exploring the lengthier text in the back of the book and perhaps following up on the creators' interest in Beatrix Potter's work in drawing mushrooms or the illustrator's portfolio of nature and mycology work. Highly recommended with numerous connections to be made for curriculum, programming, and general interest.

    ISBN: 9781534111509; Published March 2022 by Sleeping Bear Press; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

    Sunday, March 20, 2022

    This week at the library

    We've reached the "brown and muddy" stage of spring
    but I saved some Paperwhites so I have flowers inside

    Programs

    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Elementary art show open house
    • Art program (sub program for Winter Wigglers)
    • Lapsit
    • Foodie Friday
    • Candlemaking workshop (2 sessions)
    • Outreach storytimes (7 sessions)
    • Library on the Go (4 sessions)
    • Art workshop (after school wrap-around) (2 sessions)
    We had several hundred people through the library for the art show and we are also running our book sale this week. I attended the Promoting Early Childhood (virtual) conference and still managed to get a little farther on my weeding - I finally finished the Community neighborhood!

    Saturday, March 19, 2022

    How to say hello to a worm: A first guide to outside by Kari Percival


     This sweet debut picture book is a little scattered in organization, but makes up for it with attractive illustrations and a charming message.

    Vivid green endpages lead the reader into the first spread which asks "How do you plant lettuce seeds?" and pictures three children sprinkling seeds, patting the earth, and pouring on water. The book continues with a diverse group of children, shown with different skin colors, crutches and leg braces, and glasses, as they explore outdoors. They plant seeds, play in the dirt, observe insects, watch strawberries ripen, and finally harvest the garden, including giant lettuce heads and those longed-for peas.

    Back matter offers some simple tips on growing items for kids and suggestions for adults on gardening with toddlers, including allowing exploration, safety tips, and how old should a child be.

    This is a very simple introduction; all the plants grow with no problems, there are no pests, and despite playing in the dirt the toddlers appear relatively clean throughout the story. But that's ok! It's meant to encourage families to get out and play in the dirt and try gardening, not as an exhaustive guide, and the charming collage-style illustrations are encouraging for those who haven't explored outside before. I'm always looking for books that are aimed at a toddler audience and we do a lot of outdoor/gardening programming, so this is a perfect fit for our library.

    Verdict: Use this in gardening storytimes or pick out bits and pieces for an outdoor program or interaction with toddlers. It's a good starting book for young gardeners and would pair especially well with some of Asia Citro's activity books for summer, outdoor library programs. The diverse children pictured, especially one with mobility aids, bumps this up from additional to a must-have title.

    ISBN: 9780593226797; Published February 2022 by Rise X Penguin Workshop; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

    Friday, March 18, 2022

    Tummy Time! A high-contrast fold-out book with mirror

     This is a cross between a toy and a board book, but I'm considering it a toy for the purposes of this review.

    There's a cardboard cover with a tab; once this is opened, you'll see the background of bright white polka dots on black and a back flap that explains how babies see and their need for high contrast images. It also includes thumbnails of all the images included in the "book."

    The pages fold out into a stand-up accordion of five pages. On one side are shown a four photographs of babies with instructions for movement "touch your nose" or "peekaboo" and a mirror. On the reverse side are high contrast images in black, white, and primary colors. They show a blue and yellow ship on black and white zigzag patterns, bright star-like shapes, a blue teddybear holding a multicolored star, a snail with a shell that is a maze, and the outline of a white baby on a black background holding a target.

    The pages are made of a light but sturdy cardboard. The photographs include a diverse range of skin tones. The "book" itself is about 8x5 inches, before being folded out.

    I have mixed feelings about this. The idea of high contrast images and photographs is great, and this is actually quite a good design, it would be fun to set it up or lay it out for an infant playing on their stomach. However, my concerns are that the images, while high contrast, are too busy. Frankly, they make me a little dizzy. I looked at a lot of other high-contrast books and I felt that they were, overall, simpler with more basic designs and only black and white, or maybe one color. However, I don't really feel qualified to make a call as to whether this is too much for an infant or not.

    Verdict: If you're putting together baby toy kits or looking for purchases to encourage infants to spend time on their tummies, I like the design and photographs of this book, but I'm not a complete fan of the contrasting images.

    ISBN: 9781636550138; Published March 2022 by Little Comet/Red Comet Press; Review copy provided by publisher

    Thursday, March 17, 2022

    Classic Rereads: Alice's Birthday Pig by Tim Kennemore


    I first discovered this funny beginning chapter book trilogy almost 10 years ago. Not only was it hilarious and spot-on, it was not overwhelmingly British and it has a guinea pig!

    Alice, in addition to her wacky little sister Rosie and her supercilious older brother Oliver, has a problem - she can't pronounce "animal". When her teacher announces that the class topic will be farm animals, Alice gloomily looks forward to a semester of teasing. And when her class takes a field trip to a farm and Alice finds an unexpectedly adorable little pig, she knows that more disappointments are in store. However, in a surprise ending, Alice gets her a pet, Oliver is vanquished, and even Rosie is temporarily dismayed.

    This is a classic "in the middle" story; Alice's trials and triumphs as a middle child and her longing for a pet of her own will resonate with children no matter their birth order! The illustrations are sweet and just a little zany, just like Alice's family.

    Who will read this? Beginning chapter readers who are fluent but not ready for longer books; kids who enjoy funny family stories, and any kids who have sibling woes.

    Bring it back? Well....I'd love it to be available, but I have to admit it has not circulated in my library as I'd hoped, even when I used it for a book club. It's a little challenging for the reading level of most kids who are reading beginning chapters and there are a lot of beginning chapter series out there. It's a great read-aloud but there are plenty of copies still floating around.

    Availability? The trilogy is out of print, but it's available as a digital audio (which I personally own) and I eventually weeded the books, so it's no longer available in my consortium.

    ISBN: 978-0802853356; Published March 2008 by Eerdmans

    Wednesday, March 16, 2022

    A Really Bird Story: I really want to be first; I really want a bigger piece by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Travis Foster

     Harriet Ziefert has launched an early reader series with Red Comet Press that is, like most of her work, quirky and unique.

    Really Bird, as described in the opening of each book, has really big emotions - when he is "happy, or sad, or thirsty, or scared, [he's] REALLY happy or REALLY scared..." He's a blue circle with a yellow beak, a loop of tail feathers, and big cartoon eyes, accompanied by a yellow cat, with orange splotches, and a nondescript grey puppy with black ears, nose, and a blue collar.

    Really Bird and his friends live in a park, shown to contain a little forest, flowers, fountain, pond, zoo, gazebo, and play structures. In his first story, he wants to be first. Cat is usually the leader, with Really Bird coming last after Pup, but he insists on being first this time and leads the trio on an adventure, climbing a tree. It doesn't end well though, as both Cat and Pup are scared at being so high and Cat ends up having to help Pup get down. This prompts an argument about who was first, but Pup resolves it and Really Bird leads them home.

    In their second adventure, Really Bird is REALLY hungry and is not happy with how Pup divides up their delicious blueberry pie. After much discussion, she compromises and figures out a division that makes everyone happy, from Cat, who just wants to eat now because he's starving, to Really Bird who keeps asking for more. But what will they do with the last piece?

    Each book, after the rather ambiguous ending, has a series of simple discussion questions like "Have you ever asked for a bigger piece?" or "Do you like to be first?" with a drawing prompt. Foster's art is quick and cartoony, with a limited palette of green, blue, and orange and a few small details of flowers and woodland creatures. Really Bird seems rather demanding, with his friends going along with his demands somewhat reluctantly, and bearing most of the weight of resolving their arguments.

    Although one might be tempted to immediately grab these up as an Elephant and Piggie read-alike, they are really their own creation. They don't actually have much humor, although they are described as having a lot of laughs, but they will appeal to kids who are attracted by the graphic novel trend of easy readers. The primary use of these, to my mind, is as talking points for social learning and problem-solving as well as fillers for beginning readers who are looking for something new. The font is a little larger than average, with more difficult vocabulary, so they're not for absolute beginners, but they'd make a good book club choice for younger readers.

    Verdict: Not a necessary choice, but if you are looking to expand your early reader collection and especially if you serve a lot of teachers and want to encourage discussion, these are a good additional choice.

    I really want to be first; ISBN: 9781636550183
    I really want a bigger piece; ISBN: 9781636550190
    Published April 2022 by Red Comet Press; Review copies provided by publisher; Donated to the library

    Monday, March 14, 2022

    Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round: My story of the making of Martin Luther King Day by Kathlyn J. Kirkwood, illustrated by Steffi Walthall


     This unique book combines a number of techniques to bring a period of history alive to young readers. Jacqueline Woodson introduces Kirkwood's story, prefacing it with the importance of remembering and honoring the past and the labor of civil rights activists as well as the events which have shaped our past and our future.

    In 1968, Kathlyn Kirkwood was a senior in a high school in Memphis, TN. This narrative, in verse, opens with photographs and illustrations of the segregated parade her high school marching band participated in, then jumps into broader pivotal events in Memphis, the Sanitation Strike, and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Throughout these events, Kathlyn remembers her own feelings and activities, her determination to be involved even as she continued attending school, pursued a career, and got married. For fifteen years, she and other activists worked to make Martin Luther King's birthday a federally-recognized holiday and their long-overdue success is triumphant, while still recognizing there is more work to do.

    One of the appealing aspects of this book is how much it packs into a brief 100 pages. Vigorous free verse, black and white illustrations, and original documents, like a copy of the letter a teen Kirkwood wrote to her parents asking permission to go on a march, are mixed together to create a strong narrative. Back matter includes not only more details about the lives of Kirkwood and her family, but also on the process for creating a bill and a helpful glossary.

    Verdict: As Woodson says in her foreword, it's important that young readers hear the stories of those who fought for their rights while they are still around to tell them. This will capture even the most reluctant of reader with its blend of formats and air of immediacy. Highly recommended for middle grade and teen collections.

    ISBN: 9780358387268; Published January 2022 by Versify; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Added to library order list

    Sunday, March 13, 2022

    This week at the library

    another batch of amaryllis for me

    Programs

    • Paws to Read
    • Pokemon Club
    • Family Storytime
    • Candle making workshop (2 sessions)
    • Lapsit
    • Teen Advisory Board
    Projects
    • Collection development
    Bunnies visited us for Paws to Read and I was VERY impressed that the 50 people who came were absolutely quiet and calm! It might have helped that we all warned them that if they stressed the rabbits they would DIE. I'm updating my candle making workshop since we added gel wax and some new elements this time and it will repost next week. My associate ran a third session for adults while I coughed quietly in my office.

    We had a managers meeting and a major revamp of the schedule, due to some staffing changes, and are doubling down on summer reading plans. I'm also making headway on weeding the picture books - I've almost finished the second neighborhood, community. Battle of the Books has been bringing in lots of familiar and new faces and we've been very busy all week!

    Saturday, March 12, 2022

    Joe and Sparky get new wheels by Jamie Michalak, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

    [Originally published in 2009.]

    Kids who like the classic Frog and Toad pairing of a more staid character with a wacky buddy, will enjoy the inimitable Joe and Sparky. Sparky is a stay-at-zoo turtle, while Joe likes new experiences and adventures. Their wild day out is full of silly misunderstandings, sly humor, and a satisfying friendship. Kids will enjoy giggling over Joe's innocent enjoyment as he leaves havoc behind him and Sparky's nervous protestations as he tries some new experiences.

    Bright yellows, greens, and blues add zing to the classic framework of the characters. This is a more challenging early reader, for kids who are not quite ready for chapters but are almost there.

    Verdict: If you are looking for more titles to fill in your upper level early readers, this series is a strong choice.

    Revisited: The original series is mostly out of print, but Candlewick has reissued them as part of their Sparks series of upper level early readers/lower level early chapters and they are mostly available in paperback or prebound. Purchase from the backlist to jazz up your collection.

    ISBN: 9780763633875; Published March 2009 by Candlewick; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

    Friday, March 11, 2022

    Hamster Princess: Harriet the invincible by Ursula Vernon

    [Originally published in 2015]

    I was incandescent when I got a galley of Ursula Vernon's newest series, Hamster Princess, and it fully lived up to all my hopes, of course. Ursula Vernon never disappoints.

    "Once upon a time, in a distant land, there was a beautiful princess named Harriet Hamsterbone, who, as her name indicated, was a hamster." Thus begins the most riotous, hilarious, flip-all-your-preconceptions-on-their-head retellings of Sleeping Beauty I have ever read. When Harriet finds out about the curse the evil Ratshade has placed on her, that on her twelfth birthday she's doomed to fall into a long sleep until a prince kisses her, she realizes that means....she's invincible until her birthday arrives! She promptly sets out to do something with all that invincibility and even manages to break the curse! But there are unexpected after effects and now she really, really does need a prince. But will any prince be willing to help out Crazy Harriet Hamsterbone?

    Like the long-running Dragonbreath series, this new series starter combines graphics with text. The illustrations are in dark blue and purples and include some pages of panels and a plethora of spot illustrations, mostly of Harriet.

    This series is just so much FUN. Kids and adults alike will giggle their way through and maybe even pause and think a little bit about preconceived ideas, although that's definitely not the point of the series, more of a byproduct.

    Verdict: An absolute must-buy. These graphic blends are perfect for kids who desperately want to read comics and parents who desperately don't. Hand this one to fans of fractured fairy tales, previous fans of Dragonbreath, kids who like funny stories and adventure.

    Revisited: Harriet went on to star in a series of fractured fairy tales and these continue to fly off the shelves, although they can, ironically, sometimes be a hard sell to boys because of the pink and glittery covers. Still a must-have for most, possibly all, libraries.

    ISBN: 9780803739833; Published August 2015 by Dial/Penguin; ARC provided by publisher at ALA Midwinter 2015; Preordered for the library

    Wednesday, March 9, 2022

    RA RA READ: Fantasy Adventure Graphic Novels

    These graphic novels are full of cinematic color, fantastical worlds, and exciting quests. The most popular and seminal series are Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet (still being published) and Jeff Smith's Bone series, although the latter has fallen somewhat out of favor in recent years.

    Series
    • Giants beware by Jorge Aguirre
    • Estranged by Ethan Aldridge
    • Elsewhere Chronicles by Bannister
    • Three thieves by Scott Chantler
    • Trot and Cap'n Bill by Amy Chu
    • Courageous Princess by Rod Espinosa
    • Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack by Shannon Hale
    • Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke (includes a crossover with Zita the Spacegirl)
    • A house divided by Haiko Hornig
    • Dam Keeper by Robert Kondo
    • Milo's world by Richard Marazano
    • Hildafolk by Luke Pearson
    • Aster and the accidental magic by Thom Pico
    • Lightfall by Tim Probert
    • 5 Worlds by Mark Siegal
    Stand-Alone Titles
    • Timo the adventurer by Jonathan Garnier
    • Another kind by Cait May
    • Giants, trolls, witches, beasts by Craig Phillips
    • No one returns from the Enchanted Forest by Robin Robinson
    • The city on the other side by Mairghread Scott
    • Deep & Dark Blue by Nikki Smith
    • Dragon path by Ethan Young
    Science Fiction that's closely related to fantasy adventure
    • Castle in the stars by Alice Alex
    • Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
    • Cleopatra in space by Mike Maihack
    • Red's Planet by Eddie Pittman

    Monday, March 7, 2022

    The fighting infantryman: The story of Albert D. J. Cashier, transgender Civil War soldier by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali

    Starting with an introduction on the contemporary atmosphere for gender-diverse children and the need for historical role models for transgender people, Aaron Devor briefly reviews the story readers are about to hear. Bold, colorful swathes introduce a young Irish girl named Jennie Hodgers. Immigrating to America with her stepfather, she found work dressed as a boy and eventually moved west and found work in Illinois as a farmhand with a new name and identity as Albert D. J. Cashier. When the Civil War broke out, Albert volunteered along with many others. Despite his small stature, he easily passed the examination and became a private in the infantry. He fought through the long years of the Civil War and finally returned to Illinois when the war was over. He continued to live as Albert Cashier, never learning to read or write, working hard at odd jobs and farm work, supplemented with a small military pension. Only in his sixties, when he was injured in an accident, did his employer and friends learn he had not been born a man. They kept his secret, but when his health worsened and he was sent to a veteran’s hospital, someone leaked the news to a reporter. As his health grew worse, doctors sent him to another hospital, where they forced him to dress as a woman and tried to deny his army pension.

    But his fellow soldiers in the Civil War had not forgotten him; they testified on his behalf that he was, indeed, Albert Cashier, that he had fought in the Civil War, that he was entitled to his pension - and eventually to a military funeral when he died in 1915 at the age of seventy-two.

    Extensive back matter includes a thoughtful discussion by the author about Albert’s life, a brief reference to transgender and gender-diverse people in history and in other cultures, and primary sources quoting the soldiers who testified on Albert’s behalf and the notes and documents regarding his case.

    Verdict: There are strongly opposing views of this title; Some reviewers felt the language Sanders used was disrespectful of Cashier’s identity and reinforced harmful stereotypes. Other reviewers thought it was a balanced and thoughtful account that didn’t include assumptions but built a story around the basic facts within the historical context. With the limited availability of historical accounts of gender-diverse and transgender people, I was inclined to purchase this, but asked for the opinion of a librarian with lived experience and after reviewing it they agreed it was worth purchasing, so I will add this to my collection.

    ISBN: 9781499809367; Published 2020 by Little Bee; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Added to my order list

    Sunday, March 6, 2022

    This week at the library

    We had to unexpectedly cancel Paws to Read, I had a good turnout for book clubs, and storytime has gotten so busy we're going to multiple sessions after spring break. My associate and I are taking turns being sick - I am at this moment in the middle of a fairly miserable bacterial sinus infection (I do not have Covid, I am not infectious, and I do not want any medical advice thanks). Hopefully next week will be better.

    Saturday, March 5, 2022

    Classic Rereads: Spring begins in March by Jean Little

    One of the things I love about Jean Little's characters in her realistic chapter books is her ability to look at the same situation and characters from completely different viewpoints. In Mine for Keeps she shows Sally, a girl who has cerebral palsy and is coming home after living at a residential facility. Her struggles to be independent, to become part of her family again, to have friends and function at school are defined through her dog, Susie, who is painfully shy and has a lot to learn. Sally has two sisters, bossy older Melinda and wild baby Meg.

    Now it's Meg's turn. She's older now and Sally is the perfect older sister who always does everything right. Nothing goes right for Meg. She's failing in school, constantly daydreams, and when it looks like she's going to get the one thing she desperately wants, a room of her own, it turns out she's going to have to stay with Sally because Grandma Kent is coming to live with them. After many painful struggles, Meg and her new dog Robbie, who is also a "wild child," finally begin to see new hope with help from friends and family and their own courageous determination.

    Although this story was originally written in the 1960s, it is still spot-on. Meg's struggles at school, her desperate feeling that everything she does goes wrong, her clashes with her grandmother and sisters, every one is something a modern girl can completely sympathize with. I've looked at several books showing extended families having to move in together because of economic circumstances, but this is the one I'd choose. Same thing for dealing with school difficulties. Maybe in a modern school Meg would get testing and extra help - maybe not. Either way, it's her own determination and the love of family and friends that finally starts her on the way to fixing all the things that are going wrong.

    Who will read this? Kids who like realistic and family stories.

    Bring it back? Yes please! We need more books showing families struggling with finances, kids who struggle in school, and the encouragement of resilience in kids' personal lives.

    Availability: A later paperback version was published in Canada, but there are currently no available editions. You can buy it used though.

    Wednesday, March 2, 2022

    Classic Rereads: The Brambly Hedge complete collection by Jill Barklem

    As a child, I deeply loved all things miniature and British - so when I discovered Jill Barklem's exquisite little books about the mice of Brambly Hedge I was smitten. Fast forward lo these many years (we won't say how many) and I still have my miniature set-ups, my collections of tiny books including Jill Barklem, and my utter delight that HarperCollins is republishing these classic stories.

    Now, just so you are aware, they are also republishing the original books (they're about the size of Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit books for a size comparison) but if you're looking for a great holiday gift for a miniature and/or book lover, why not get this gorgeous collection? It comes in a nice, sturdy slipcase and includes the eight classic stories in a single volume.

    The first set of four are seasonal - Spring Story, Summer Story, Autumn Story, and Winter Story. They show the mice enjoying the excitement of each season from harvest to winter balls, weddings to picnics. The second set  - The Secret Staircase, The High Hills, Sea Story, and Poppy's Babies adds to the adventures of the mice showing them traveling to the seaside to get salt, setting up a new home for a tired mother, and discovering secrets in the Old Oak Palace.

    The Brambly Hedge stories are a pastoral world, with the mice busily collecting, storing, and sharing food in their intricate stumps and tree homes. There's a quasi-feudal feel to it, with the presence of Lord and Lady Woodmouse, but on the whole the mice are an egalitarian lot with everyone pitching in to help each other out. The most present characters are the ever-curious Wilfrid Toadflax and his best friend, Primrose Woodmouse. Together they have many adventures in and around the meadow.

    A large part of the charm of this series is Barklem's intricate illustrations showing shelves stacked with tiny dishes, food, and other household equipment. Then there's the fields, stream, and trees with exquisite drawings of flowers, grasses, berries, and mushrooms. The mice themselves are dressed in old-fashioned style, buttoned into trousers, petticoats, and adorned with shady straw hats (suitably adjusted for ears and tails of course).

    Verdict: The complete collection is a great buy for library shelves, if you have little listeners who love tiny things (and who doesn't?) and I look forward to introducing our patrons to this beloved series. Consider either the complete collection or selections of the individual books for the miniature loving children in your life; you can even pair them with some little mouse dolls or tiny foods for imaginative play.

    Revisited: This is still in print, although it's rather expensive, at nearly $30. However, it regularly circulates to patrons who love the adorable miniature art and I'm pleased to be one of only two libraries in my consortium that owns it.

    ISBN: 9780008282820; This edition published October 2018 by HarperCollins; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library (I have purchased my own copies of the individual books as well as a few for the library)