Book Buzz March, 2015

Sofia Martinez: My Family Adventure 

by Jacqueline Jules

In these three short stories about life in the Martinez family, seven year old Sofia Martinez is a problem solver.  Sophia manages to find a way to stand out from her sisters, make a pinata for her Abuela's birthday, and 

re-capture a pet mouse - but not without some major mishaps along the way! This fun early chapter book will appeal to fans of Fancy Nancy and Junie B. and as a bonus readers may learn some new Spanish vocabulary! Alia (J Fiction)

The Princess in Black by Shannon and Dean Hale

After reading the Princess in Black, the word “princess” will have to be redefined.  Princess Magnolia can serve hot chocolate and scones with the primmest of the prim but when trouble calls, and with a change of wardrobe, she can kick butt with the toughest, alongside her trusty steed Frimplepants, aka Blacky.  When the big blue monster emerged from Monster Land to snack upon some delicious goats Princess Magnolia quickly switches into the Princess in Black mode to rescue the goats and the hapless goat herder.  This story emphasizes that being tough and being feminine are not mutually exclusive.  It should appeal to those who love all things princess as well as those who love to be the superhero.  Its short chapters and colorful illustrations make it a great book for emerging readers who are beginning to transition to chapter books. 

Candace (J Fiction)

Counting by 7’s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Willow Chance is a twelve year old genius. Unfortunately, no one realizes this at home or at school and she doesn’t fit in.  She is starting a new school and hoping things will be better. After she scored a perfect score on an aptitude test, she is accused of cheating and she is sent to an inept counselor.  Dell Duke, her counselor, is the only one who realizes she is a genius and is very curious about her.  Tragedy strikes and Willow must face many new challenges. With these changes bring for the first time in her life people that she can consider to be friends.  

Kristin (J Fiction)

Book Buzz February, 2015

Amy Namey in Ace Reporter by Megan McDonald

Those of you looking for a Mercy Watson read alike, try Judy Moody and Friend series.  A great new beginner chapter book series about Judy Moody.  In Amy Namey in Ace Reporter, Amy wants nothing more than to be a reporter just like her mother.  So with the help of her good friend Judy Moody, Amy sets out to find an above the fold type of story.   Will Judy and Amy be able to stay out of trouble long enough to have a newspaper article published?  You will have to check out this new book to find out.  Jacquie (J Fiction)

El Deafo by CeCe Bell

El Deafo is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel that follows a bunny, Cece, after a brief illness that resulted in loss of hearing.  Cece struggles with feeling isolated from her family and peers due to her deafness.  At times she indulges in fantasies where she is the superhero El Deafo and her hearing loss is actually her super power.  Cece explains how alone she feels and the illustrations further accentuate the feeling of being in a bubble, separate from other people.  Attempts at inclusion by well intentioned but misguided peers increases Cece’s sense of alienation.  Cece learns how to bridge her isolation to make friends and eventually actually speak with her first crush.  Ultimately, her deafness is her super power and saves the day! Candace (JNF Graphic 978.022)

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, told from the perspective of Rose. She is a fifth grader and considered to be highly functioning on the autism spectrum. Some of her favorite things are her dog, her ongoing list of homonyms, and her uncle. In the text, she includes homonyms as she is writing. She is very attached to her dog Rain (reign, rein) and is devastated when she is lost during a hurricane that hits her area very hard. Her uncle is very supportive and helps, especially when her father is less so.  Kristin (J Fiction)

This Week @ Story Time

What We Read:

Little Listeners:

Carrot Soup written and illustrated by John Segal

Slop Goes the Soup written by Pamela D. Edwards 

and illustrated by Henry Cole

Growing Vegetable Soup written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert

Story Time:
In addition to these fun soup books we read

Duck Soup written and illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic 

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:

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)

This Week @ Story Time

What we read in Little Listeners and Story Time:

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie written by Alison Jackson 

and illustrated by Judith Byron Schachner

10 Fat Turkeys written by Tony Johnston 

and illustrated by Rich Deas

Thanks for Thanksgiving written by Julie Markes
and illustrated by Doris Barrette

This Week @ Story Time

What we read:

Little Listeners:

The Busy Little Squirrel written and illustrated by Nancy Tafuri

Fall Mixed Up written by Bob Raczka and illustrated by Chad Cameron

Fall is Not Easy written and illustrated by Marty Kelley

Story Time:

In addition to Fall is Not Easy and Fall Mixed Up, we read:

By the Light of the Harvest Moon written by Harriet Ziefert

and illustrated by Mark Jones

 

Happy Fall!

Book Buzz October, 2014

The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story 

by R.J. Palacio

This is a must-read for anyone who has read Wonder. Available only in audio book or e-book format, The Julian Chapter gives us the story from the perspective of the bully. Not that Julian thinks of himself as a bully. He has all the excuses in the world for his behavior. Initially remorseless, Julian struggles with the consequences of his treatment of Auggie (the boy in his class with severe facial deformities) and what it says about him. Whether or not there is redemption by the end is up for debate.  Read it (or listen to it) and see what you think!  Alia (J Audio Fiction)

Jasper John Dooley: Not in Love 

by Caroline Adderson

Jasper John has to deal with Isabel being in love with him. She is telling everyone they are getting married and he can’t stand it!  She is ruining his recess time and getting him in trouble at school repeatedly. How can he get her not to like him anymore?  Some very good advice comes from his Nan and father—will it help?  This is a great book for kids new to chapter books and book three of the series.  Kristin (J Fiction)

Hidden by Loic Dauvillier

Hidden is a beautiful graphic novel that tells a story within a story. One night, Elsa wakes up and finds that her Grandmother is still awake and rather upset. Elsa's Grandmother then tells her the story of her experience during the Holocaust as a young Jewish girl living in occupied France. The pictures tell a beautiful, sad story with a moderate amount of dialogue. Since the story is told from a little girl's perspective, it doesn't obscure the atrocities of the Holocaust but remains age-appropriate. Despite having sad moments, this novel also has a lot of warmth. Cassie (JF Graphic Novel)

This Week @ Story Time

What we read:

Little Listeners:

The Bus for Us written and illustrated by Suzanne Bloom

The Seals on the Bus written by Lenny Hort 

and illustrated by G. Brian Karas

School Bus written and illustrated by Donald Crews

Story Time:


In addition to The Bus For Us and The Seals on the Bus we read:

The Little School Bus written by Carol Roth  

and illustrated by Pamela Paparone

September, 2014 Book Buzz

The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sovern
Fifth grader and future President Maggie has a lot on her plate: her father has Multiple Sclerosis (a subject which is treated with both honesty and sweetness), her two teenage sisters are utterly boy-obsessed, and she’s developing a bit of a crush herself! This humorous and warm-hearted book follows Maggie and her family as they work to keep everything together during a huge shift in their lives—Dad is getting sicker and Mom’s got a new job with long hours. Maggie is a hilarious and insightful narrator who is determined to help her father and family through some pretty intense and scary struggles. Will the rock-and-roll loving Mayfield family make it through?  Cassie (J Fiction)

Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

This book is great for reluctant readers. Albie a ten-year-old is not the best student in his class. He struggles with reading and math. Luckily he has one great friend, Erlin, who doesn’t care how he does in school. His parents get very frustrated with his inability to do well in school. He gets a new nanny, Calista, and she really pays attention to him and seems to understand him. She is a great influence and helps him feel better about school and who he is.  Kristin (J Fiction)

Nightingale's Nest by Nikki Loftin

Adapting Hans Christian Andersen’s tale The Nightingale into a middle grade contemporary novel, Loftin tells the story of Little John, a 12 year-old well versed in loss, and of Gayle, a neglected foster child who may also be a magical nightingale.  Little John is spending the summer working for his father's landscaping company when he comes across Gayle, a birdlike little girl who has made her nest in a tree. Gayle's voice is like nothing John has ever heard before and her singing attracts the attention of the richest man in town, a guy the residents call The Emperor.  The Emperor wants to record Gayle's voice and he'll stop at nothing to get it, including paying Little John to bring Gayle to him. Little John is torn between protecting his family and protecting Gayle and initially he makes the wrong choice. Can he fix things before Gayle's magic is gone forever? Alia (J Fiction)

Book Buzz August, 2014

Dreamer Wisher Liar by Charise Mericle Harper

This is a great book about summer vacation, friendship, and magic. This emotive book follows Ash, a girl with prosopagnosia (face blindness), as she deals with a summer of changes and new people (neither of which she is fond of at all). What changes, you ask? Her best friend Lucy (who often assists Ash with recognizing faces) is moving away and a strange young girl, Claire, is staying with Ash’s family for the first 3 weeks of summer. But something special is brewing in the basement: Ash finds a jar filled with wishes written on paper, and each time she removes one she’s transported to an alternate place where she watches the struggles and triumphs of a friendship between two other girls. Readers will enjoy putting together the pieces of this sweet story.  Cassie (J Fiction)

Half A Chance by Cynthia Lord

Lucy has just moved to a new house on a lake in New Hampshire.  She is very nervous about meeting people and making friends. Almost as soon as she arrives, she meets the neighbors Nate and Emily. She and Nate quickly become great friends.  Lucy’s dad is a famous photographer and he is gone for most of the summer and she really misses him when he travels. Lucy also loves photography and she and Nate spend part of their summer taking photographs for a contest her dad is judging.  The hard part is, she takes a very moving photo of Nate’s grandmother, but it makes him sad and he doesn’t want her to use the image. Should she use the photo in the contest or not? Kristin (J Fiction)

Nancy Clancy: Secret of the Silver Key 

by Jane O’Connor

Bree and Nancy are at it again.  Nancy and her family go to an estate sale on the hunt for a new desk for Nancy.  When they find one and bring it home, Nancy discovers that in a secret drawer is a key. She and Bree cannot figure out what the key unlocks.  The girls put on their detective hats and try to track down the desk’s original owner.  The key leads the girls into an even bigger mystery with a pretty great surprise at the end.  Fancy Nancy fans will not be disappointed! Jacquie (J Fiction)

Book Buzz July, 2014

When Life Gives You O.J. by Erica S. Perl

Ten-year-old Zelly is still adjusting to life in Vermont after leaving Brooklyn with her family to live with her Grandfather. Her family is Jewish and she finds there aren’t a lot of other Jewish families nearby, and this sometimes makes her feel uncomfortable. Summer has started and Zelly's best friend has left for camp, so she is a little bored. Plus she really, really wants a dog. Her eccentric Grandpa, also known as Ace, comes up with a sure fire plan to get her a dog… but he is the only one that thinks it is sure fire idea. Kristin (J Fiction)

Bad Kitty: Drawn to Trouble by Nick Bruel

For the 10^th book in the Bad Kitty Series, Nick Bruel, the author, decided to clue children in on the process of making a book. In Drawn to Trouble, we follow our friend Bad Kitty through all sorts of adventures. We get to learn a little about the author and also get a very quick art lesson on how to draw that main character. As you read this book, you learn how an author creates a character and setting. You also learn in a very humorous way about conflict, antagonists, and how to develop a great story. This story is very funny and it does not disappoint. Jacquie (J Fiction)

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel  by Ransom Riggs.  

Sixteen-year-old Jacob Portman has grown up hearing his grandfather’s stories about the monsters that hunted him in his youth and the enchanted orphanage where he sought refuge. Jacob thinks these stories are just a metaphor for the Nazis and the horrors of the second World War, that is until his grandfather is murdered and Jacob sees a terrifyingly real monster. Suddenly Jacob finds himself journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Perhaps his grandfather was telling the truth all along… Even if you’ve read the book, the graphic novel version is worth a second read.  Artist Cassandra Jean’s illustrations bring to life this “peculiar” story! Alia (Y Graphic)

Odessa Again by Dana Reinhardt

Have you ever wanted to go back in time to fix a mistake? What about just to make something go your way? This audiobook takes us on a journey with ten-year-old Odessa Green-Light after she discovers a time travel portal in her new attic bedroom. The trouble is, Odessa's time travel power becomes more limited each time she uses it, so she has to be sure to use it wisely. This is an exciting story about friendship and family with a slight hint of magic, and a fabulous narrator to boot. Cassie (J audio book)

Book Buzz June, 2014

Toilet: How It Works by David Macaulay

Everyone knows what a toilet is for, but how many  people know how a toilet works? I mean how it really works – beyond the big flush that sends everything down the pipes. With this book you’ll learn where human waste comes from and where it goes.  From plumbing, to sewers, to water treatment plants, check this book out and all your bathroom questions will be answered! Alia (E Non-Fiction)

Amelia Bedelia Goes Wild by Herman Parish

Our good friend Amelia Bedelia is at it again.  After being home sick and not being able to go to the school field trip to the zoo, Amelia has a big idea.  A HUGE idea! She decides that she is going to turn her backyard into a wildlife experience.  With the help of her parents, friends, and teacher, Amelia Bedelia tries to put together a zoo of her own, with real live animals, some not so alive animals, and other fun activities where no animals are required! And why do the zoo and the news reporter show up at the Wildlife experience?  You will have to read it to find out!   
Jacquie (J Fiction)

The 14 Fibs of Gregory K. by Greg Pincus

Gregory K. is ending the school year on a downward spiral. He finds out his best friend in the whole world, Kelly, is moving away with her mother. He also lives in a family of math geniuses and learns that he may fail math for the year. His parents are called in to talk to him and his teacher about the math situation.  The worst part is, Gregory loves poetry and writing - he doesn't fit in with his family at all.  He ends up telling a few fibs, mainly so he doesn't hurt any feelings, but can he get everything under control?  
Kristin (J Fiction)

The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech

One day, a boy shows up on John and Marta’s porch with a note that reads “Plees taik kair of Jacob. He is agod good boy. Wil be bak wen we can.” Although John and Marta are quite confused, they begin to take care of Jacob, and find that he has an array of talents—like communicating with animals, painting (although his colors are a bit unique), and playing guitar beautifully. With the turn of each page we learn something new about Jacob and watch their strange family grow, until a man claiming to be Jacob’s father shows up—and John and Marta are heartbroken when he has to leave. This is a quiet but engaging book that readers of Patricia McLachlan and Katherine Paterson should try on for size. Best for readers 8 and up. Cassie (J Fiction)

This Week @ Story Time

What we read:

Little Listeners:

Bear's New Friend written by Karma Wilson
and illustrated by Jane Chapman

Hello, Day! written and illustrated by Anita Lobel

Story Time:

I'm Not Cute! written and illustrated by Jonathan Allen

Caterina and the Perfect Party written
and illustrated by Erin Eitter Kono

Bear's New Friend written by Karma Wilson
and illustrated by Jane Chapman