February 2012 Book Buzz

Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin
Life in the Soviet Union beats any existence in a miserable capitalist country, at least according to Sasha. Sasha sees himself as a good communist and is eager to pledge his loyalty to his country and its leader, Stalin, as a Young Pioneer. When Sasha’s father is unexpectedly arrested, Sasha’s world starts to crumble and he begins to doubt all that he has known. This story is a wonderful exploration of a time and place in history rarely covered in children’s literature.  2012 Newbery Honor recipient. Meghan (J Fiction)

 Liar, Liar by Gary Paulsen

How much damage can a few little white lies do?  Well, if you ask Kevin, our main character in Liar, Liar, not a whole lot.  If you ask his friends, his family, and his teachers… a whole lot of damage! When Kevin wants to impress a girl, he starts to fib here and there, cuts class, lies to his family—and that is just the small stuff.  Will Kevin learn that lies are not a good thing, or will he continue with his fibbing? Jacquie (J Fiction)

May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

When 12 year old May is sent to help out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead she misses her family – but Pa has promised she can come home at Christmas. Then homesick Mrs. Oblinger runs away and Mr. Oblinger goes after her.  Suddenly May finds herself alone, with winter fast approaching and food running scarce.  Will she be able to survive on her own?  Fans of the Little House series won’t want to miss this lovely book, written in verse. Alia (J Fiction)

The Luck of the Buttons by Anne Ylvisaker

In 1929, Tugs Button lives in a very small town where she gets into trouble occasionally and she doesn't always fit in with the other kids. She wants to be like the other girls, but is much more comfortable in overalls and playing with the boys. One day, a new man comes to town trying to get a newspaper started and Tugs is very curious about him. He is asking all the townspeople to donate money for buying a printing press.  Something just doesn’t seem right...  Kristin (J fiction)

Trouble-Maker by Andrew Clements
Clay is not your normal 6^th grade boy.  He is a Trouble-Maker with a capital T.  His student file is two inches thick! And then, he gets himself in MORE trouble by drawing a picture of his principal as a donkey.  Clay wants to be in trouble, he wants to be sent to the principal.  But when his brother Mitchell steps in and makes Clay promise to change his ways, will Clay be able to keep his promise?  Another great realistic fiction book by Andrew Clements. Jacquie (J Fiction)

This Week @ Story Time

What We Read:

Little Listeners:

Pick A Pup written by Marsha Wilson Chall and illustrated by Jed Henry

Jackhammer Sam written by Peter Mandel and illustrated by David Catrow





Story Time:

We're Going om a Bear Hunt  retold by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

Time to Sleep written and illustrated by Denise Fleming

The Paper Bag Princess written by Robert Munch and illustrated by Michael Martchenko

And the Winners Are...

This morning, the "real" Caldecott awards were announced along with the Newbery winners and the other 2012 ALSC book and media award winners.

Caldecott Medal

"A Ball for Daisy" illustrated and written by Chris Raschka, published by Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Caldecott Honor Books

"Blackout" illustrated and written by John Rocco, published by Disney/Hyperion Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group

"Grandpa Green" illustrated and written by Lane Smith, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing

"Me...Jane" illustrated and written by Patrick McDonnell, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Newbery Medal

"Dead End in Norvelt," written by Jack Gantos, published by Farrar Straus Giroux

Newbery Honor Books

"Inside Out & Back Again" written by Thanhha Lai, published by HarperCollins Children's Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers

"Breaking Stalin's Nose" written by Eugene Yelchin, published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC

You can check out the entire list on ALSC's website.

And I am very proud of the Caldecott Kids who also picked "Blackout" as their Honor Book! We didn't get a chance to look at "A Ball for Daisy" because it was checked out from the library. Everyone did a great job and we had a good discussion!

Caldecott Kids Pick A Winner!

The votes are in and the winner of the Caldecott Kids mock Caldecott award is....

Where's Walrus written and illustrated by Stephen Savage

The honor books are:

Blackout written and illustrated by John Rocco

Blue Chicken written and illustrated by Deborah Freedman

Thanks to the 1st-5th graders who participated in our program!  Take a look back here on Monday when we'll post the winners of the actual Caldecott award and see if our committee "got it right!"

This Week @ Story Time

What we read:

Little Listeners:

Pirate Nap: A Book of Colors written by Danna Smith and illustrated by Valeria Petrone

If You're Hoppy and You Know It written by April Pulley Sayre and illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic




Story Time:

The Puzzled Penguin by Kieth Faulkner, illustrated by Jonathan Lambert

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis

This Week @ Story Time

What we read:

Little Listeners:

Owl Babies written by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Patrick Benson
In My Tree written by Sara Gillingham and illustrated by Lorena Siminovich


Story Time:

Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak
Delicious by Helen Cooper
Duck Soup by Jackie Urbanovic

New National Ambassador for Young People's Literature!

Did you know that there is a National Ambassador for Young People's Literature? Well there is and Walter Dean Myers has become the third children's author to step up to the job.  Myers, will formally accept the position in a ceremony at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. on January 10. He succeeds Katherine Paterson, who has served since 2010.  Learn more over at Publisher's Weekly!

January 2012 Book Buzz

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Conor is dealing with a lot. His Mum is very sick with cancer and he is doing his best to help her. He has a recurring nightmare at 12:07AM most nights, where the Yew tree in the backyard calls to him, talks to him and comes alive. At first he thinks it is a nightmare, is it? School is also getting to be more difficult with everyone treats him differently because of his Mum, and he hates it. The book has beautiful black and white illustrations to enhance the text. This has the potential to win the Newbery Award this month. Kristin (YA Fiction)

Clementine and the Family Meeting by Sara Pennypacker

“Family Meeting: Tonight!”  When our heroine sees this sign on the fridge in the morning, all she can do that day is worry...what did she do now?  She is always getting in trouble and is worried that they are having a family meeting for that purpose.  On top of that, her science specimen, a lab rat named Eighteen, is missing; and Clementine cannot find her favorite colorful hat that her Nana made.  When Clementine finds out that she is not in trouble and that the family meeting is to announce that her parents are having another baby, you would think Clementine would be thrilled…will she?  Jacquie (J Fiction)

Pie by Sarah Weeks

Alice’s Aunt Polly, winner of 13 consecutive Blueberry awards for her outstanding baking, is beloved in Ipswitch for her wonderful pie. In fact, that’s the name of her bakery- Pie. When Aunt Polly dies unexpectedly, the town is turned upside down. Every kitchen in town seems filled with furious baking as the townspeople attempt to create their own pie worthy of a Blueberry. On top of that, someone is going to extreme lengths to get his or her hands on Aunt Polly’s pie crust recipe, which was left to her cat- Lardo. Alice and her friend, Charlie, are determined to figure out what is going on in this sweet mystery.  Recipes are included with each chapter and may inspire some baking of your own! 
Meghan (J Fiction)

Splish, Splash Splat by Rob Scotton

Spike is the bully that Splat is trying to avoid.  They have nothing in common.  That is until Splat realizes that they both think that water is “horrible, scary, and wet!!!”  In school they have to learn how to swim and all of the other students dive right in.  Splat is way too scared.  By the end of the book will the two cats be able to overcome their fears?  This is a hilarious must read!  Jacquie (Picture Book)