The Kiddosphere @ Fauquier

The Boy Who Dared

2008-08-29T11:24:00.005-04:00

In 2006, Susan Campbell Bartoletti won a very much deserved Newbery Honor citation for Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow. Hitler Youth is an amazing and disturbing look at the children enrolled in the Hitler Youth as well as the Jewish children who increasingly found their lives more restricted and in danger once the Third Reich was created.

One of the stories told in Hitler Youth was that of seventeen year old Helmuth Hubener, and now Bartoletti has turned his story into a full fledged novel. The (eventual) stepson of a highly ranked Nazi official, Helmuth joins the Hitler Youth. As a faithful Mormon, Helmuth is raised to respect his country and its government, even if he disagres with its actions. As a faithful Mormon, Helmuth is also raised to regard the Jews as God's (First) Chosen People. As a faithful Mormon, Helmuth also knows that according to the Articles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, everyone has the right to worship as they choose.

Helmuth enjoys the outdoor activities of the Hitler Youth, but he is disturbed and frightened at the escalating violence of the Nazis. When he happens upon the BBC German broadcast, he discovers that the German press covers up the increasing casualties suffered by the German military. It is a treasonable offense to listen to any non-Nazi radio station, so Helmuth must be extremely careful, as urged at the end of the BBC German broadcast, to turn the dial to a Nazi station when done listening to the broadcast.

Helmuth includes two friends in his clandestine listening, as well as anonymously distributing leaflets denouncing the Third Reich. He is caught (I'm not spoiling anything here; when the reader begins the book, Helmuth is already awaiting execution) and swiftly punished.

Susan Campbell Bartoletti brilliantly creates an atmosphere of tension, secrecy, courage, and fear. A splendid afterword explains Bartoletti's research, including her interviews with Helmuth's friends, and moving pictures of a baby-faced Helmuth and his execution chamber, memorialized with a bouquet. This is one of the most remarkable books published this year.

The London Eye Mystery

2008-08-28T13:56:00.005-04:00

I read The London Eye Mystery in one sitting-it's that good! Throw in a compelling mystery, a great London atmosphere, and a sensitive yet not maudlin portrayal of a young boy with an autism spectrum disorder, and you have a book that's hard to put down.

Cousin Salim and Aunt Gloria are visiting Ted and Kat before their big move to New York City. Naturally, they want to see the sights of London before moving to the States; when the "Eye" (the Ferris wheel-like contraption built in 2000) is suggested, Salim immediately perks up.

The line (or queue, as the British say) for the ride is interminably long; to their surprise, a stranger offers them a ticket for an immediate boarding. Since Salim is the only one who hasn't experienced the Eye, the ticket is given to Salim.

Ted and Kat keep track of Salim's pod, but to their astonishment, he does not emerge from the ride. How could Salim have slipped away, and why?

As the days go by, the initial hope the family feels fades to guilt and fear, as they wonder if they will ever see Salim again. The final scenes are very fast paced and surprising, as Ted puts the clues together.

Ted is a winning and sensitively drawn character dealing with aspects of an autism spectrum disorder. His arm flapping, occasional grunting, coping skills when faced with loud noises, and obsessions are interwoven throughout the story, but never overwhelm this story. His relationship with his older sister, who at times is affectionate and exasperated with him, is genuinely drawn. Some Britishisms, such as terms for cigarettes and flashlights, might need explaining, but the success of Harry Potter has shown that occasional regional differences do not trip up children! Although the final outcome is expected for a children's mystery, the twists and turns throughout the story will keep young readers' attentions until the very end.

Helen's Eyes

2008-08-25T10:23:00.002-04:00

National Geographic's photobiography series is a treat. Everyone knows National Geographic for its fabulous pictures, but the writing found within its pages and books is also of the highest quality. Having enjoyed their Annie Oakley and Matthew Henson biographies, I was excited to find that Annie Sullivan was the subject of its latest book.

Helen Keller remains an admired figure 40 years after her death, but her teacher, Annie Sullivan, usually does not receive as much attention in her own right (save for an unparalleled biography, Helen and Teacher). Helen Keller was and is an inspiration, but she would not have achieved her accomplishments without the dedication and sacrifice of Annie Sullivan. In Helen's Eyes, readers learn of Annie's awful childhood within an insane and debtors' asylum, her lifelong battle with sight, and her determination and dedication toward Helen. Readers also learn of Sullivan's unsuccessful marriage, their experiences on the lecture circuit, Hollywood, and vaudeville, and Helen's life after Sullivan's death.

Having read nearly all the books on Helen Keller available, there aren't many pictures of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan that I have not seen. I was happy to find "new" pictures of the two that were unknown to me. I was also satisfied to find that Marfe Ferguson Delano vividly paints pictures of the incredible demands placed upon Annie Sullivan. Helen's Eyes is a great achievement.

Princess Ben

2008-08-25T09:21:00.003-04:00

Catherine Gilbert Murdock's previous two novels were centered around a sixteen year old female football player (it's about so much more, but that's the Cliff's Notes version...if you haven't read Dairy Queen or its sequel, The Off Season, you're missing out!), so it was with some surprise I saw that her latest YA novel, Princess Ben, was a princess story. A female football player is unique, but a princess? Haven't Gail Carson Levine and Shannon Hale cornered the market on literary princess novels for middle schoolers? Perhaps, but when you read Princess Ben, you'll find that Ben (short for Benevolence) is not your ordinary princess.

Ben is uncouth, uninterested in embroidery, a dunce at dance, and not impressed with the prince next door. When her parents fall in battle, she is declared heiress to the throne and goes to live with her aunt, the Queen Regent, Sophia. Queen Sophia is determined to shape her into a true princess in order to secure an alliance with the neighboring kingdom.

Ben, of course, resists, and is found repugnant by Prince Florian. Outraged by her resistance to bend, Queen Sophia locks Ben in the castle tower, in which Ben discovers that she has some very unique powers.

The outcome of the story might not be too surprising (although there are enough twists to make the story moving along), but this terrific blend of fantasy, adventure, and romance will charm many readers. Although the story is romantic in sensibility, Ben is a feisty, unpredictable, and interesting character. Most readers will note the allusion to Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, while attentive readers will also catch a more subtle allusion to Jack and the Beanstalk. It's a departure for Catherine Gilbert Murdock, but one that I'm delighted she made!

Swifter, Higher, Stronger: A Photographic History of the Summer Olympics

2008-08-21T10:53:00.004-04:00

The Olympic Games is such a incredible and exciting event. Even if you're not a big sports fan, it's hard not to get caught up in the drama and achievements of the Games. Regardless of backstage controversies, it's usually an inspiring event.

If you want stories of courage and drama, you really want to read books on Olympic history. One of the best is Sue Macy's Swifter, Higher, Stronger: A Photographic History of the Summer Olympics. Macy doesn't merely give an annotated chronology of the Games; the early history of the modern Games is retold in captivating detail. Sections on "Breakthrough Athletes," "Controversies Cast a Shadow," a beautiful section on "Unlikely Heroes," (Olympians who demonstrated the true message of the Olympics) and "Olympic Snapshots" round out this enchanting book. Although this is undoubtedly a celebration of the Games, the more disturbing and sobering aspects of the Games, such as the "Nazi Olympics," drug abuse, the consequences of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and South African apartheid on the Games, and hostilities between nations spilling out on the playing field are not swept under the rug. This is an inspiring book that you will find difficult to put down once started!

The Random Shelf: Young Adult Fiction

2008-08-21T10:35:00.004-04:00

I read Cry, the Beloved Country when I was in middle school (borrowed my sister's copy). Apartheid was still very much in the news, so although the novel was a bit difficult at times due to the beautiful yet abrupt prose, I understood the basic struggle of the characters. Reading Waiting for the Rain: A Novel of South Africa would have been an excellent age-appropriate companion to that complex novel.

Although Tengo is a native South African and Frikki is an Afrikaaner, they enjoy playing together on Frikki's uncle's farm when Frikki visits for the summer. As Tengo grows older, his dissatisfaction with farm life and his yearning for more education lead him into Johannesburg, and his friendship with Frikki fades. The Soweto riots have sparked student boycotts and confrontations between students and the army.

The laws of apartheid in South Africa ended in 1993; since then, South Africa has largely been out of the news in this country. Young readers unfamiliar with the aspects of apartheid will be stunned at the gross inequalities and insults suffered under the regime. The surprising final confrontation between Tengo and Frikki, both young adults on opposite sides of the political spectrum, is intense, dramatic, and heartbreaking. The novel was written in 1987, so it doesn't qualify as historical fiction. However, this is an illuminating look at South African society through a contemporary author.

Meet the Dancers

2008-08-21T10:12:00.003-04:00

If you know a dance-obsessed child, you'll definitely want to steer her/him toward Meet the Dancers: From Broadway, Ballet, and Beyond. 16 professional dancers are profiled in engaging and detailed chapters. Dancers from major dance companies such as the New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as well as dancers from smaller and experimental dance companies, the Broadway stage, and dancers in music videos and concert tours discuss their inspirations, accomplishments, setbacks, and advice to aspiring dancers (each dancer was also asked about their favorite childhood books!). The dancers are obviously passionate about their careers, but are also very honest about the demands placed upon a dancer's body, as well as the limited time a dancer has for a professional career (many of the dancers included in the book take college courses in their free time or have college degrees). African American and Latino dancers also talk about aspects of being a dancer of color. Although the majority of the dancers began their training when they were very young, several dancers didn't start until they were in their teens (usually male dancers, although there are one or two female dancers who started in their teens as well), which gives a different perspective.

Although the book is targeted toward young dancers, dance fans of all ages will enjoy this fun and eye-opening look at professional dance.

The Hope Chest

2008-08-19T17:29:00.003-04:00

It's hard to believe that it's only been 88 years since the 19th Amendment was passed. In the course of history, that's not very long at all! Karen Schwabach portrays the drama and euphoria of that time in her superb second novel, The Hope Chest.

Ever since Violet's older sister, Chloe, left the family, things haven't been the same. At odds with her family over the suffragist movement, Chloe bought a car with the money being saved for her hope chest (filled with housekeeping items) and moved to New York City. When Violet learns that her mother has been hiding Chloe's letters to her, Violet runs away to find her sister.

When Violet finally gets to New York City, after having befriend a young African-American orphan named Myrtle, she finds that her sister is actually living and working in Nashville. Nashville is ground zero for the ratification of the 19th Amendment, and pro and anti-suffragist groups are feverishly working to ensure that their side wins.

Authors of historical fiction can run the risk of imparting dates and information with the subtlety of a frying pan hitting your head; if the storyline is interesting enough, this can occasionally be forgiven. Luckily, Schwabach skillfully interweaves facts and story together. The unfortunate racism of aspects concerning the suffragist movement is likewise conveyed in a perceptive manner.

Reading a Southern-based novel that's set in a time other than the Civil War or Civil Rights era is always a treat, since it's not common. The Hope Chest is a great read-definitely check it out!

Beep Beep, Choo Choo, Rattle Rattle

2008-08-18T13:33:00.002-04:00

Transportation history is very cool. Pair a book with economical writing and neat facts with meticulous illustrations, and you have a winner. Fans of DK Eyewitness and Kingfisher books won't want to miss Transport on Land, Road, & Rail.

From the days of the chariots to futuristic cars powered by solar, the history of planes, trains, and automobiles is told in an engaging and well-designed manner. Readers will want to linger over the amply illustrated portraits of carriages, trains, and early automobiles. I appreciate the fact that it is not an entirely Western-focused book: transportation innovations in China are not neglected. Not only are changes in cars and trains profiled, but sections on streetcars, bicycles, and motorcycles make this a well-rounded and browse-worthy book.

Who Moved My Cheese? For Kids

2008-08-18T13:17:00.004-04:00

Many people-especially those of us who have had yearly training requirements at some point in our employment history-are familiar with Who Moved My Cheese? Even if you haven't read it, you probably know that it's about change and how to successfully deal with it. At the center of the book is the story about the three mice who, after becoming complacent about finding cheese, suddenly find that cheese is no longer in the place they expect to find it. The mice deal with it in their own way, and their decisions illustrate positive and negative ways of dealing with change.

Clients told Dr. Johnson that they wished they had heard the story when they were children; they thought that it might have helped them with making decisions. Dr. Johnson and his son, Christian, decided to turn the story into a picture book for kids, and so we have Who Moved My Cheese? For Kids.

Adults can grasp the meaning behind the story, but can children? Although I'm not wildly enthused about the book, I do think the discussion questions would help when discussing the story with children. As bibliotherapy, I think the book would work pretty well. It's clearly meant for a parent/teacher/group leader to share with children; I don't think it would have as much success if a child read it on his/her own. It's an interesting concept that can definitely spark fun conversations.

Demeter and Persephone

2008-08-18T12:09:00.002-04:00

I enjoy reading nonfiction books about religion, although my preferences usually run to books about Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The mythology section of the 200s is not something that I ordinary read. The last major reading I did of mythology was Edith Hamilton's Mythology, which I last read in high school. I was delighted to find an excellent retelling of the Demeter/Persephone myth in Penelope Proddow's Demeter and Persephone. This enchanting version is beautifully illustrated by Barbara Cooney. Not only is this is a terrific retelling of the myth, it would serve as a great read aloud for elementary students. A great find!

Ooooh, I Wanna Take You to Bermuda.....

2008-08-18T12:00:00.002-04:00

I have read more books in the 000 section in the past few weeks than I have ever read in my life. Having read books on UFOs and aliens, I was all set for another intriguing book on paranormal things and events. I selected The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, expecting a read of freaky-deaky disappearances. How surprised I was to find that there might be several reasonable explanations for all those unusual disappearances! I was half-expecting to learn that one of the theories involved Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster piloting a UFO to steal away unfortunate crew members, all of which was, of course, predicted by Nostradamus.

Chris Oxlade isn't that type of author. No, he's more of the "let's lay out all the possibilities and explain them one by one" author, with lots of clear cut explanations, complete with a glossary, index, and section for further reading. This makes for a terrific choice for a report, but anyone expecting anything terribly mysterious will be disappointed (it's not his fault, however).

Healing Water

2008-08-18T10:59:00.002-04:00

Leprosy. The mere mention of the disease (now called Hansen's Disease) conjures up images of disfigured skin and isolation. Those with leprosy were feared, ridiculed, and isolated, from pre-Biblical times (possibly 600 B.C.E.) up to more recent eras. If there is a children's/YA book featuring Hansen's Disease, I wasn't aware of it until I read Healing Waters.

The Kingdom of Hawai'i was at a crossroads in the mid to late 1800s. The local community was turning away from its native religion of Hawaiian spirits with the mass introduction of Catholic, Protestant, and Mormon missionaries. Not only was the Christian religion introduced to the islands, but leprosy was also brought to the islands.

At first, people with leprosy were treated at home, until the king enacted an isolation policy (which wasn't repealed until 1969). Anyone-regardless of age-was exiled to the leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka'i...which is what happened to thirteen year old Pia. Forced from his family and abandoned by his best friend, he quickly discovers that "there are no laws" at the settlement. Newcomers must attach themselves to a protector in order to survive, in exchange for favors.

Homesick for his family and distressed about his friend's abandonment, Pia fights for survival and becomes a completely different person than the one he was at home. His friend unexpectedly shows up at the colony, which throws his new existence into disarray.

Missionaries briefly visited and established churches, but there was rarely a constant religious presence, particularly for the Catholics, who depended upon a priest to consecrate Mass. Enter a young Belgian priest by the name of Father Damien, who would forever change the lawless colony.

Healing Water is a harsh and remarkable account of this extraordinary era in Hawaiian history. The perspective is entirely from young Pia's perspective (the native Hawai'ian perspective). Not only is this a look at the leprosy colony, it is also a look at the changing face of Hawai'i from an isolated community to one influenced by many outside forces.

Hawai'ian vocabulary is sprinkled throughout the text, which makes the inclusion of a glossary very welcome. Further information about Father Damien, who is expected to be canonized early next year, is also included, as is a brief history of leprosy. For an extraordinary and unique historical fiction read, you can't go wrong if you pick up Healing Water.

The Newbery Project

2008-08-18T10:15:00.003-04:00

For Newbery readers, the 1950s could very well be considered the beginning of the Golden Age of the Newberys. This is where we begin to see the classics of children's literature getting their due: The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Old Yeller (Honor Book), Charlotte's Web (Honor Book), The Wheel on the School, and The Door in the Wall are just several examples of the impressive quality of children's literature during this era.

Ginger Pye won the coveted Medal in 1952, but it seems to be overshadowed by its friends from 1950s. Which is too bad, because it is a delightful and charming story, with clever humor that isn't dated or too precious. It just doesn't have the drama and pathos of The Witch of Blackbird Pond or the two more famous animal books of the era, Old Yeller and Charlotte's Web.

Although the Pye family might be unusual, having the youngest mother in the neighborhood (based on the fact that she married at 17, she's probably no older than 27), the youngest uncle (three year old Uncle Benny, who is called as such and refers to himself as Uncle Benny), and having a famous bird expert for a father, they're not unusual in their love for their new dog. Ginger, The Intellectual Dog, is a hard-earned dog, having cost all of $1.00. Ginger has many little adventures, including one in which she appears at the children's school with pencil in mouth (based upon a childhood experience of Eleanor Estes). Everything is going just grand until Ginger disappears! The children frantically search, but months go by without Ginger ever appearing.

Amusing aspects of 1950s life (Karo syrup on bread as a snack) and not so amusing aspects of 19050s life (German measles) are woven throughout the book, but without puzzling the modern reader. Given the fact that Ginger Pye was written as a contemporary novel, the fact that the book reads as timeless as it does points to the quality of the book. Fans of books that capture an "innocent" quality of life will enjoy this book (Estes's other novels are just as enjoyable).

The Random Shelf: Chapter Book

2008-08-18T09:56:00.002-04:00

I thought I was familiar with most of the Holocaust fiction in the library. That was, until I recently picked up Gideon.

Gideon is a young Polish Jew, fighting for survival in the Warsaw Ghetto. The ghetto is desperate for food, and Gideon joins a gang smuggling food past the Nazis. This is, of course, a highly dangerous job that would immediately end in instant death or a concentration camp sentence if caught.

The level of despair, anger, and hopelessness is similar to that in Elie Wiesel's Night. The shocking cruelty and violence is not for sensitive readers. It is a powerful and unforgettable fictionalized account of the despair of the ghetto and the bravery of the Resistance fighters.

Just One More

2008-08-14T11:43:00.003-04:00

The English language has several exceptions that make it puzzling for children and those learning English as a second language. While it’s true that a plural of a noun is usually made by simply adding “s,” but we know that that is not always true. Just look at my first sentence: child is singular, but children is plural. A child’s language explosion typically begins around 18-21 months; he/she will eventually show that he/she understands that there is a difference between singular and plural nouns by adding the “s” to nouns. He’ll/she’ll say “foots” for feet. He/she has the understanding that when you talk about more than one thing, the word changes, but he/she doesn’t quite have it down yet (think about this-this is quite a concept to grasp).

Just One More illustrates a sampling of the irregular noun changes from singular to plural: child to children, ox to oxen, man to men, and so on. There’s no storyline; just sight words and illustrations. A simple book illustrating a complex matter...I’m all for that!

The Random Shelf: Biography

2008-08-13T12:18:00.004-04:00

I've neglected the random biographies, and that's not fair. I've been a biography fan since I was reading about Helen Keller in the third grade. This biography isn't about Helen Keller (although there's a new one about Annie Sullivan Macy that I am eagerly anticipating). It's about Louis Cyr, once billed as "The Strongest Man in the World." Presented in graphic novel/comic book format, this is an enlightening biography about a largely-forgotten man. Although more useful for pleasure reading than for a homework report, The Strongest Man in the World is an excellent choice for a reluctant reader with a biography reading assignment.

Sisters & Brothers

2008-08-13T12:10:00.004-04:00

Steve Jenkins is one of my favorite children's nonfiction authors. They're enormously appealing to children: wide, colorful illustrations, fun text, and unique subject matters. It's always a happy day when a new Steve Jenkins book is released.

There are awesome books about animal moms/dads and their babies, but have you ever wondered about how animal brothers and sisters get along? You won't be able to put down Sisters & Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World. We have the sweet and adorable (older sister elephants will often "babysit" a little brother or sister) to the unpleasant but intriguing (black widow spider siblings will eat their younger brothers and sisters). Further facts about the creatures can be found at the end of the book. I love books like this!

The Random Shelf: Nonfiction

2008-08-13T11:30:00.006-04:00

Children's nonfiction is in a renaissance. It's never looked better and brighter. There can be too much of a good thing, however, and the design occasionally overwhelms the text. With all the emphasis on design, older books can be overlooked. This is unfortunate because although they might not be the snazziest books on the shelf, they are still important to the collection, as are these next two books.

Remember learning about cumulus clouds, cirrus clouds, etc? Do you remember any of the clouds except for cumulus clouds (the fluffy ones)? I don't either. Julian May's The Cloud Book is a solid introduction to cloud types and cloud formations. Everything is explained in a concise and clear manner. A glossary would improve the book, but it's a fine and easy reading reference book.

The history of America's newspapers is a fascinating and colorful history. Leonard Everett Fisher's The Newspapers is a short but effective take on the rivalries and exploits of the
19th century newspaper trade. Crazy, crazy stuff.

Not only does newspaper history make for good reading, it makes for my favorite live action musical ever produced by Disney.

Eat your heart out, High School Musical.

(Stop laughing. You don't know what you're missing.)

Batman Sings!

Remember D-Day

2008-08-13T10:49:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite memories of growing up in the New Orleans area is centered around the opening of the National D-Day Museum, now known as The National World War II Museum. The local media was filled with stories about the museum, what dignitaries would attend the festivities, and the remembrances of local D-Day veterans. A huge parade was scheduled to roll through the streets of downtown New Orleans on June 8, 56 years after the Normandy invasion.

The World War II Museum was and is a source of enormous pride for New Orleanians. Although the city has excellent museums, notably The New Orleans Museum of Art, Louisiana Children's Museum, and more recently, The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, The National World War II Museum is definitely one of a kind. The museum was placed in New Orleans due to New Orleans's significant role in the D-Day invasion and due to its founder, the late Stephen Ambrose, founder of the National World War II Foundation and a history professor at the University of New Orleans.

The parade, which marched through downtown New Orleans (the largest military parade in the US in forty years), was full of slowly moving jeeps, containing elderly men in uniform. The crowds of people were applauding and cheering; the look on the men's faces was unforgettable. It was the summer, but still a workday, so office workers watched from their open windows. One memory will stay with me forever: female office workers leaned out of their window and blew the men kisses. A veteran exclaimed, "It's like I'm back in Paris!" Wonderful, wonderful memory.

If you can't get to the National World War II Museum, reading Remember D-Day: The Plan, the Invasion, Survivor Stories will introduce you to some of the oral histories and artifacts collected by the museum. National Geographic, to no one's surprise, publishes excellent and eye-catching children's nonfiction books. Ronald J. Drez (Vietnam vet and research fellow at the University of New Orleans's Eisenhower Center) is a terrific storyteller and effortlessly creates an atmosphere of drama and tension. This is a fantastic introduction to the D-Day invasion.

The Random Shelf: Nonfiction

2008-08-12T10:16:00.002-04:00

When I pulled I Can Be a Musician from the 700s section, I immediately recognized the series. I remember reading this careers series when I was in elementary school. This book, naturally, focuses on what musicians do and what they do in order to become musicians. As is ideal for beginning readers of nonfiction, everything is clearly labeled: violins, banjo, marching band, etc. A glossary at the end of the book defines terms used in the book (“record” definitely needs to be defined for today’s children!). Readers also read about the role of a conductor and the differences between an orchestra and a marching band. For beginning readers that are more interested in nonfiction than fiction, I Can be a Musician (and other titles in the series) is a fine choice.

In the vast sea of alphabet books, there are many ABC books that are centered around a unique concept. Agave Blooms Just Once is centered around plants and animals of the desert, from agave (which “blooms just once, then dies”) to the zebra-tailed lizard (“gulping insects and flower shoots”). This is obviously not a beginner’s ABC book, but a primer to southwestern flora and fauna. A glossary in the back further explains these interesting plants and animals.

The Random Shelf: Nonfiction

2008-08-12T10:15:00.001-04:00

Transportation is a major fascination with many children, especially boys. Trains, trucks, motorcycles, airplanes…anything that moves is a source of curiosity and awe. It’s not always easy to find suitable books for these young patrons (usually 2-4). While there are plenty of stories involving cars, trains, etc, books with photographs are real winners. Since many of these books have lengthy text, it’s always a treat to find one written for very small children and/or beginning readers. If you know a car-obsessed toddler or beginning reader, Hal Rogers’s Cars may just be the thing for you.

We see photographs of cars on the highway, race cars, police cars, taxis….you name it, it’s here. We also learn why cars have trunks, the difference between headlights and taillights, and the parts of the inside and outside of a car. With a maximum of 3-4 sentences per page, this is a great introduction to the many cool books the library has about cars.

The Random Shelf: Picture Books

2008-08-12T10:08:00.002-04:00

Counting books are a dime a dozen. You have to offer terrific illustrations or a new concept in order to be recognized. One Nighttime Sea by Deborah Lee Rose is a wonderful counting book with a subtle environmental message in its end notes.

Just because we sleep during the night doesn’t mean that everything else is still. This is definitely the situation for sea creatures, which are often active during the night. “All night long while you are asleep, millions of sea creatures move through the deep. ONE blue whale calf swims close to its mother.” Awwww. The little baby blue whale calf. Children are drawn to baby animals, especially unique baby animals. We’re on the right foot!

We count all the way up to 10, meeting 2 humpback whale fathers, 3 white belugas, four spider crabs, and other creatures in the sea. “10 turtle hatchlings plunge into the dust” and “TEN nimble basket stars spread out their arms.”

And now….we count backward!

9 silly nudibranchs…8 parrotfish….seven masked butterflies….until “ONE brand-new seal pup discovers the day.”

Beautiful illustrations (Steve Jenkins is the illustrator-you have to check out his books) of adorable and amazing creatures fill the pages, while a slowly rollicking rhyme moves the book along. Further information about the sea animals-many endangered-is included at the end. I love this book!

The Random Shelf: Nonfiction

2008-08-11T19:51:00.003-04:00

I wasn't too excited about the 400s, quite frankly. Oh, they're very useful. This is where you'll find your dictionaries and thesauri. Very helpful indeed, but not too much in the scope for reading fun. If I had happened upon a dictionary or thesaurus, I would have browsed through it (there's no throwing back a catch here!). I didn't have to do this, thanks to landing upon Ruth Heller's Up, Up, and Away: A Book About Adverbs.

Did you know that English is one of the hardest languages to learn? If you've studied another language, such as French or Spanish, you'll know that the rules usually don't change. English is a different story; there are many exceptions, and this makes it difficult for children (and adult learners of English) to grasp proper English grammar.

This is where Ruth Heller's books come in handy. Not only do they effectively teach the concept, but they do so in a clever and humorous way.

ADVERBS work terrifically
when answering specifically...
"How?"
"How often?
"When?
"And where?
Penguins all dress DECENTLY.

How often do toe dancers practice? FREQUENTLY.

Adverbs also ask "why?" and also tell to what extent....rather, very, more, etc.

All of this is a lot to take in. The cute rhymes and appealing illustrations make this a fun read aloud as well as an instruction book. Well worth checking out!

Congratulations to Our Summer Readers!

2008-08-11T18:24:00.003-04:00

Our summer readers read a grand total of 25,645 books!

That beats our previous 1998 record of 25,084.

Great job, everyone! We had a terrific summer.

Keep checking our website for programs during the school year! We have another science program coming up in September.

We'll also start a read aloud book club for pre-readers and a book club for 3rd-5th graders. We've had several requests for book clubs, and now they're here! They'll be a little different from traditional book clubs. Stay tuned!