Book Buzz January, 2015

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Three weeks. Two sisters. One van. This is not going to be a fun trip! Raina has never had the best relationship with her cranky little sister Amara but now she's stuck on a road trip with her family from San Francisco to a reunion in Colorado. She has her Walkman to help tune out Amara and her baby brother, but will they figure out how to get along when the batteries wear out? This companion to Smile is a great Graphic Novel for anyone who has ever been driven crazy by their family! Alia (Y Graphic Fiction)

The Great American Dust Bowl written and illustrated by Don Brown
This nonfiction graphic novel depicts the causes of the Dust Bowl that took place in the American Midwest during the 1930s, or the Dirty Thirties as it would come to be known. The devastating effect upon the land and the people who lived there are conveyed by the stark illustrations. This graphic novel proves that a picture can often convey more than words. The catastrophic results of people interfering with nature are quite obvious but The Great American Dust Bowl avoids becoming preachy. The novel is a good read at any time, but it may be especially illuminating to children who are studying the environment. Candace (JNF Graphic 978.022) 

Fly Away by Patricia MacLachlan
Fly Away is another great story from Patricia MacLachlan. Lucy and her family are taking a car trip to visit their Aunt Frankie and help her at the farm as they prepare for a potential flood. This is a sweet story about Lucy, a young girl trying to find her special place in her family. All her family likes to sing, but Lucy can't. Instead, she likes poetry. She has a special relationship with her baby brother who doesn't talk yet. This is a nice story for early chapter book readers. Kristin (J Fiction)

This Week @ Story Time

What we read:

Little Listeners and Storytime:

Time To Sleep written and illustrated by Denise Fleming

Bear Snores On written by Karma Wilson 

and illustrated by Jane Chapman

 

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? 

written by Bill Martin Jr. and illustrated by Eric Carle

This Week @ Story Time

What we read:

Little Listeners and StoryTime:

Froggy Gets Dressed written by Jonathan London 

and illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

One Mitten written by Kristine O'Connell George 

and illustrated by Maggie Smith

Little Owl's Orange Scarf written and illustrated by Tatyana Feeney

Book Buzz December, 2014

West of the Moon by Margi Preus

Astri, a young Norwegian girl, is devastated when her aunt sells her to a cruel goat farmer, separating her from her beloved younger sister. But Astri has more grit and determination that anyone knows.  Defiant against her fate, Astri escapes, retrieves her little sister, and, armed with a troll treasure, a book of spells and curses, and a possibly magic hairbrush, they set off to find their father in America. Adding another layer to the story, this blend of historical fiction and folklore was inspired by a passage from the author’s great-great-grandmother’s diary. Recommended for middle grade readers looking for a moving story of sisterly love in the frozen north. 

Alia (J Fiction)

The Greenglass House  by Kate Milford

Milo lives with his mom and dad at the top of a mountain in Greenglass House, which is an inn. The inn overlooks the river Skidwrack which is famous for pirates. It is almost Christmas and Milo and his parents are excited to have some quiet time without guests. Before they know it, the inn is full of unusual and eccentric guests. Things start disappearing and more guests show up. Milo and his friend Meddy are trying to figure exactly why they have all shown up at the same time and what they are after.  Kristin (J Fiction)