Booklist: Holiday Gift Ideas–Picture Books!

Another installment on the book ideas for holiday giving…this time, picture books!  Thirty-two pages of illustrated storytelling, in a variety of genres. All the books on this list are hardcovers, published in 2012.

If you don’t want to give a book alone, picture books lend themselves easily to pairing with toys, stuffed animals, fashion, craft supplies or collectibles for any age!

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2012 Holiday Gift Ideas

Picture Books:

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, Illustrated by Jon Klassen
This looks like an ordinary box full of ordinary yarn.   But it turns out it isn’t! A monochrome town gets a change of color and attitude with the help of a box of yarn and a girl named Annabelle. From the seemingly endless box of Extra Yarn Annabelle knits clothing for everyone around her, tempering the ill-tempered, and creating beautifully patterned warmth for people, animals, and objects, alike. When a greedy clothes-loving archduke tries to buy–then steal–the box for himself, he discovers that ill-gotten gains bear no fruit–or in this case, yarn.

Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham, Illustrated by Paul Zelinsky
Z is for Zebra.  Zebra is absolutely certain he’ll be able to direct everyone to appear on the correct page, at the appropriate time, without any mishaps, unnecessary drama, or hurt feelings. It’s the ABCs, for goodness’ sake. How difficult can it be?
But there is just one…small…problem.
Zebra forgot about Moose.

A Perfect Day by Carin Berger
It snowed.
And snowed.
And snowed.
After it snowed, everyone bundled up and went outside to play.
You come, too!
Carin Berger’s exquisite collages illuminate, from dawn to dusk, the perfect winter day.

Homer by Elisha Cooper
Home isn’t just where the heart is. Home is often where the dog is!
Emerging one by one from a seaside home, Homer’s family invites him along to explore the beach, the market, the field. He gently declines each offer, remaining comfortably on the porch. As, one by one, the family returns with gifts from their wanderings, Homer warmly receives their treasures and enthusiastic accounts. And for this loyal dog—who you will recognize if you have ever loved a dog—home is where you are.

Nighttime Ninja by Barbara DaCosta, art by Ed Young
Late at night, when all is quiet and everyone is asleep, a ninja creeps silently through the house. Stealthy and silent, he is on his midnight mission, breaking into a house to steal some treasure. He sneaks and balances, practiced and undetectable. Soon he reaches his ultimate goal…and gets a big surprise! Will the nighttime ninja complete his mission?

Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney
Llama Llama has new neighbors! Nelly Gnu and her mama stop by for a play date, but Llama’s not so sure it’s time to share all his toys. Maybe just his blocks? It could be fun to make a castle with Nelly . . . But wait–Nelly has Llama’s little Fuzzy Llama! The fun turns to tears when Fuzzy Llama is ripped in two, “all because of Nelly Gnu!” Mama comes to the rescue and fixes Fuzzy, but she makes it clear: “I’ll put Fuzzy on the stairs, until you’re sure that you can share.”

Oh, No! by Candace Fleming & Eric Rohmann
Young children will delight in repeating the refrain “OH, NO!” as one animal after another falls into a deep, deep hole in this lively read-aloud. This simple and irresistible picture book by hugely popular picture book creators—Candace Fleming and Caldecott medalist Eric Rohmann—feels like a classic-in-the-making. Fans of Rohmann’s Caldecott Medal­-winning My Friend Rabbit, will be thrilled to see a new book created in the same expressive and comical style.

Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills
Rocket loves books and he wants to make his own, but he can’t think of a story. Encouraged by the little yellow bird to look closely at the world around him for inspiration, Rocket sets out on a journey. Along the way he discovers small details that he has never noticed before, a timid baby owl who becomes his friend, and an idea for a story.
This is the perfect gift book for any child who loves to write. Pair it with Rocket Learns to Read for even more fun!

This Moose Belongs to Me by Oliver Jeffers
Wilfred is a boy with rules. He lives a very orderly life. It’s fortunate, then, that he has a pet who abides by rules, such as not making noise while Wilfred educates him on his record collection. There is, however, one rule that Wilfred’s pet has difficulty following: Going whichever way Wilfred wants to go. Perhaps this is because Wilfred’s pet doesn’t quite realize that he belongs to anyone.  A moose can be obstinate in such ways. Fortunately, the two manage to work out a compromise. Let’s just say it involves apples.

Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins and G. Brian Karas
On a cold winter day as a mean wind blows and icicles hang from windowsills, Pauline and her younger brother, John-John, decide to have a lemonade stand.A lemonade stand in winter? Yes, that’s exactly what Pauline and John-John intend to have, selling lemonade and limeade–and also lemon-limeade. With a catchy refrain (Lemon lemon LIME, Lemon LIMEADE! Lemon lemon LIME, Lemon LEMONADE!), plus simple math concepts throughout, here is a read-aloud that’s great for storytime and classroom use, and is sure to be a hit among the legions of Jenkins and Karas fans.

This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
When a tiny fish shoots into view wearing a round blue topper (which happens to fit him perfectly), trouble could be following close behind. So it’s a good thing that enormous fish won’t wake up. And even if he does, it’s not like he’ll ever know what happened. . . .  Who would tell?

Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue, Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
Once there was a little girl who didn’t want to sleep. Her parents say she doesn’t have to but insist she put on her pj’s anyway. Once in bed (though not tired!),  the girl asks about how animals sleep, and her parents tell her about cats and bats, whales and snails. When she’s still not sleepy, her parents say she can stay up all night ! She finds a warm spot like a cat, folds her arms like the wings of a bat, curls up like a snail, and falls asleep like the animal who sleeps to be strong—the tiger.

Machines Go to Work in the City by William Low
Toddlers love machines and things that go, and this book gives them everything they want, from a bucket truck to a tower crane to an airplane. Every other spread has an interactive gatefold which extends the original picture to three pages, revealing something new about each situation. The last spread diagrams each city machine, providing additional information for young readers to pore over again and again. William Low’s classically-trained artist’s eye adds a new layer to this genre, and both parents and children will appreciate the beautiful illustrations, the attention to detail, and the clever situational twists revealed by lifting the flaps.

Creepy Carrots! By Aaron Reynolds, pictures by Peter Brown
The Twilight Zone comes to the carrot patch in this clever picture book parable about a rabbit who fears his favorite treats are out to get him.
Jasper Rabbit loves carrots—especially Crackenhopper Field carrots. He eats them on the way to school. He eats them going to Little League. He eats them walking home.  He eats them all the time!  As you can imagine, the carrots aren’t too happy with this situation. And one day. the carrots start following him.  What will Jasper do?

Cold Snap by Eileen Spinelli, Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
It’s snowy cold in the town of Toby Mills. The thermometer is sinking toward zero, and the icicle hanging from the nose of General Toby’s statue is growing closer to the ground. The newspaper headline reads “COLD SNAP!” The people of the town are losing hope—and the feeling in their toes—until the mayor’s wife saves the day with a toasty treat.  From cocoa and sweaters to hot-water bottles, Spinelli (A Big Boy Now) catalogues all the ways people find warmth in winter; despite the harsh weather!

A Home for Bird by Philip C. Stead
While out foraging for interesting things, Vernon the toad finds a new friend – a small blue bird who is curiously silent. Vernon shows Bird the river and the forest and some of his other favorite things, but Bird says nothing. Vernon introduces Bird to his friends, Skunk and Porcupine, but Bird still says nothing.  “Bird is shy,” says Vernon, “but also a very good listener.” Vernon worries that Bird is silent because he misses his home, so the two set off on a journey to help find a home for Bird.

The Quiet Place by Sarah Stewart, pictures by David Small
When Isabel and her family move to the United States, Isabel misses all the things she left behind in Mexico, especially her aunt Lupita and hearing people speak Spanish.  But she also experiences some wonderful new things. Even better, Papa and her brother Chavo help her turn a big box into her own quiet place, where she keeps her books and toys and writes letters to Aunt Lupita. As she decorates and adds more and more on to her quiet place, it is here that Isabel feels the most at home in her new country while she learns to adjust to the changes in her life.

If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen
In If I Built a Car, imaginative Jack dreamed up a whimsical fantasy ride that could do just about anything. Now he’s back and ready to build the house of his dreams, complete with a racetrack, flying room, and gigantic slide. Jack’s limitless creativity and infectious enthusiasm will inspire budding young inventors to imagine their own fantastical designs.  Buy both books for an imagine-packed treat!   Chris Van Dusen’s vibrant illustrations marry retro appeal with futuristic style as he, once again, gives readers a delightfully rhyming text that absolutely begs to be read aloud.

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems
Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur . . . and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.  One day—for no particular reason—they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then—for no particular reason—they decided to go . . . someplace else. They were definitely not setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl.  Definitely not!

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, Illustrated by E. B. Lewis
Chloe and her friends won’t play with the new girl, Maya. Maya is different–she wears hand-me-downs and plays with old-fashioned toys. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her gang, they reject her. Eventually, Maya plays alone, and then stops coming to school altogether. When Chloe’s teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it could have been if she’d shown a little kindness toward Maya. This book will resonate with readers long after they’ve put it down.

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Picture books are often the most difficult to give as gifts, because there are so many to choose from!  We hope this list will give you a good starting point.  And if you give a picture book to a child, may we suggest you write the date and a note to the recipient inside the book cover?  The personalization will make it not only a gift, but a treasured memory.

(And even if you’re not looking for gifts, read these books.  They’re some of the best of 2012!  We’re talking potential Caldecott Award winners here…) 

::Kelly::

Booklist: Holiday Gift-giving Ideas…Non-Fiction for Kids!

And we continue with a few more ideas for gift giving this holiday season.  These books are non-fiction; information and poetry books for kids of all ages.  Pair one of these selections with something that will help a child use the book…origami paper and scissors to go with our first title, a stuffed animal or writing journal to go with one of the poetry selections!

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2012 Holiday Gift Ideas!

Non-Fiction and Poetry for kids:

Star Wars Origami: 36 Amazing Paper-Folding Projects from a Galaxy Far, Far Away  by Chris Alexander
Kids love origami—and what could be cooler than transforming a piece of paper into Boba Fett, Princess Leia, Yoda, or R2-D2? And not just any paper, but custom-designed paper illustrated with art from the movies. Star Wars® Origami marries the fun of paper folding with the obsession of Star Wars.  Pair this with one of Tom Angleberger’s Origami Yoda books for the perfect gift!

Water Sings Blue by Kate Coombs, illustrated by Melio So
Come down to the shore with this rich and vivid celebration of the ocean! With watercolors gorgeous enough to wade in by award-winning artist Meilo So and playful, moving poems by Kate Coombs, Water Sings Blue evokes the beauty and power, the depth and mystery, and the endless resonance of the sea.  The perfect selection for any family visiting the beach…now or in the summer!

Step Gently Out by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder
What would happen if you walked very, very quietly and looked ever so carefully at the natural world outside? You might see a cricket leap, a moth spread her wings, or a spider step across a silken web. In simple, evocative language, Helen Frost offers a hint at the many tiny creatures around us. And in astonishing close-up photographs, Rick Lieder captures the glint of a katydid’s eye, the glow of a firefly, and many more living wonders just awaiting discovery. Fascinating facts about all the creatures pictured may be found at the end.

Forget-Me-Nots: Poems to Learn by Heart by Mary Ann Hoberman, Illustrated by Michael Emberley
From the creators of the bestselling You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You series comes this new collection of poems especially suitable for learning by heart and saying aloud. With personal introductions by former Children’s Poet Laureate Mary Ann Hoberman — as well as her own time-tested tips and tools for memorization and recitation — and vivid illustrations by Michael Emberley featuring his trademark wit and lively characters, Forget-Me-Nots includes more than 120 works from both classic and contemporary poets, from childhood favorites to lesser-known treasures. This anthology should definitely inspire a love of learning poetry!

National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems with Photographs that Squeak, Soar and Roar! Edited by J. Patrick Lewis
What could be better than cuddling up with your child and this book on your lap and allowing your imaginations to soar with the words and images? Lovingly selected by U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis and paired with vibrant animal photography, this collection of poems is an exuberant celebration of the animal kingdom and a beautiful introduction to poetry. Designed for family sharing but targeted to ages 4-8, this dynamic, fresh, and classic collection of animal poems is a must-have for the family bookshelf.

The Lego Ideas Book by Daniel Lipkowitz
Now with The LEGO Ideas Book, you can take what you already have and make something new! The book is divided into six themed chapters—transportation, buildings, space, kingdoms, adventure, and useful makes—each with basic templates of key models and spreads to inspire you to create your own.  Hints and tips from Master Builders can help you turn your classic car into a race car or add a bridge to your castle! Don’t be concerned if you haven’t got all the bricks you need: this book also shows how to simplify details, making this a great user-friendly guide for any building ability.  Pair with a Ninjago book or kit!

One Times Square: A Century of Change at the Crossroads of the World by Joe McKendry
One Times Square explores the story of this fascinating intersection, starting when Broadway was a mere dirt path known as Bloomingdale Road, through the district’s decades of postwar decay, to its renewal as a glittering tourist-friendly media mecca. McKendry’s meticulous, lush watercolors take readers behind the famous Camel billboard to find out how it blew smoke rings over the square for 25 years, to the top of the Times Tower to see how the New Year’s ball has made its descent for over 100 years, and onto construction sites as buildings grow up around One Times Square to dwarf what once ranked among the tallest buildings in the world.

Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A. Nivola
Sylvia Earle first lost her heart to the ocean as a young girl when she discovered the wonders of the Gulf of Mexico in her backyard. As an adult, she dives even deeper. Whether she’s designing submersibles, swimming with the whales, or taking deep-water walks, Sylvia Earle has dedicated her life to learning more about what she calls “the blue heart of the planet.” With stunningly detailed pictures of the wonders of the sea, Life in the Ocean tells the story of Sylvia’s growing passion and how her ocean exploration and advocacy have made her known around the world. This picture book biography also includes an informative author’s note that will motivate young environmentalists.

Optical Illusions by DK Publishing
With the dynamic interactive Optical Illusions, each time readers turn the page, lift the flaps, or pull the tabs, they’ll be confronted with an even more amazing optical illusion!  This guide to the world of eye-tricks is fun for the entire family — providing new and gasp-inducing moments on each page. Along with the illusions, which include a spinning thaumatrope, a stereoscope, and an entrancing 3D sculpture that “follows” you around the room, readers will welcome learning the latest theories about why illusions fool us.  A great book for family sharing!

Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version by Philip Pullman
Two centuries ago, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published the first volume of Children’s and Household Tales. Now Philip Pullman makes us fall in love all over again with the immortal tales of the Brothers Grimm.  Pullman retells his fifty favorites, from much-loved stories like “Cinderella” and “Rumpelstiltskin” and “Rapunzel” to lesser-known treasures like “The Three Snake Leaves,” “Godfather Death” and “The Girl with No Hands.” At  the end of each tale he offers a brief personal commentary, opening a window on the sources of the tales, the various forms they’ve taken over the centuries and their everlasting appeal.
Suffused with romance and villainy, danger and wit, the Grimms’ fairy tales have inspired Pullman’s unique creative vision—and his beguiling retellings will draw you back into a world that has long cast a spell on the Western imagination.  A soon-to-be classic.

Children’s Book-A-Day Almanac by Anita Silvey
Part fun- and information-filled almanac, part good book guide, the Children’s Book-a-Day Almanac is a new way to discover a great children’s book–every day of the year!  This fresh, inventive reference book is a dynamic way to showcase the gems, both new and old, of children’s literature. Each page features an event of the day, a children’s book that relates to that event, and a list of other events that took place on that day. Always informative and often surprising, celebrate a year of literature for children with The Children’s Book-a-Day Almanac.

Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team by Audrey Vernick, Illustrated by Steven Salerno
The Acerra family had sixteen children, including twelve ball-playing boys. It was the 1930s, and many families had lots of kids. But only one had enough to field a baseball team . . . with three on the bench! The Acerras were the longest-playing all-brother team in baseball history. They loved the game, but more important, they cared for and supported each other and stayed together as a team. Nothing life threw their way could stop them.  For any sports fan.

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And there you have it!  A dozen titles for holiday gift-giving (and/or reading!) Enjoy!

::Kelly::

Booklist: Holiday Gift-giving Ideas!

Books are a great gift to give!  Whether your intended reader likes animal stories, adventure, mysteries or realistic fiction, there is something for everyone on this list of our staff favorites from 2012.

This list is comprised of juvenile fiction.  Our juvenile fiction collection is grades three through six; most of the titles on this list are solid fourth and fifth grade choices.  A few are either a little younger and some are a little older.  Ask what your intended gift recipient likes to read and choose accordingly.

Give one of the best new books of 2012 as a gift to your favorite reader this holiday!

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2012 Holiday Gift Ideas:
Juvenile Fiction!

Goblin Secrets by William Alexander
In the town of Zombay, there is a witch with clockwork chicken legs who moves her house around.  She also takes in stray children;  Rownie is the youngest boy in her household. Rownie’s  older brother Rowan is an actor. But acting is outlawed in Zombay, and Rowan has disappeared.  Desperate to find him, Rownie joins a troupe of goblins who skirt the law to put on plays. Rownie doesn’t know that the goblins also want to find Rowan—who might be the only person who can save their world.  Winner of the 2012 National Book Award.

The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee by Tom Angleberger
The kids of McQuarrie Middle School are on their own— with Dwight away at Tippett School, there’s no Origami Yoda to give advice and help them navigate the treacherous waters of middle school. Then Sara is comes in with a paper fortune-teller in the form of Chewbacca. The Fortune Wookiee  seems to give advice as good as Yoda’s. (even if it seems too preoccupied with romance). In the meantime, Dwight is fitting in a little too well at Tippett. Has the unimaginable happened? Has Dwight become normal? It’s up to his old friends at McQuarrie to remind their kooky friend that it’s in his weirdness that his greatness lies.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. He has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle.  Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line. When he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, she makes Ivan see their home, and his art, through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best  friend is injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life; a power that could be the key to setting their war-ravaged country free. Suddenly, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.  Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha.

Almost Home by Joan Bauer
When twelve-year-old Sugar’s grandfather dies and her gambling father takes off yet again, Sugar and her mother lose their home in Missouri. They head to Chicago for a fresh start, only to discover that fresh starts aren’t so easy to come by for the homeless. Nevertheless, Sugar’s mother has taught her to be grateful no matter what, so Sugar does her best. With the help of a rescue dog, Shush; a foster family; a supportive teacher; a love of poetry; and her own grace and good humor, Sugar comes to understand that while she can’t control the hand life deals her, she can control how she responds.

The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
Deza is the smartest girl in her class in Gary, Indiana, singled out by teachers for a special path in life. But the Great Depression hit Gary hard, and there are no jobs for black men. When her father leaves to find work, Deza, Mother, and her brother Jimmie go in search of him, and end up in a Hooverville outside Flint, Michigan. Jimmie’s beautiful voice inspires him to leave the camp to be a performer, while Deza and Mother find a new home, and cling to the hope that they will find Father. The twists and turns of their story reveal the devastation of the Depression and prove that Deza truly is the Mighty Miss Malone.

Will Sparrow’s Road by Karen Cushman
In his thirteenth year, Will Sparrow, liar and thief, becomes a runaway. On the road, he encounters a series of con artists—a pickpocket, a tooth puller, a pig trainer, a conjurer—and learns that others are more adept than he at lying and thieving. Then he reluctantly joins a traveling troupe of “oddities,” including a dwarf and a cat-faced girl, holding himself apart from the “monsters” and resolving to be on guard against further deceptions. At last Will is forced to understand that appearances are misleading and that  he has been his own worst deceiver

In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz
Oversize plant life, eerie amphibious royalty, and fear-inducing creatures abound in a new take on some of the grimmest of Grimm tales! Follow Jack and Jill as they enter startling new landscapes that may (or may not) be scary, bloody, terrifying, and altogether true.  Happily ever after just isn’t cutting it anymore!  Jack and Jill explore a new set of tales from the Brothers Grimm and others, including Jack and the Beanstalk and The Frog Prince in this sequel to A Tale Dark and Grimm.

The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You’ve never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, (respectively)  and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know ALL of  them only as Prince Charming. But this is about to change. Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Gustav stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it’s up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other assorted terrors, and become the heroes no one ever thought they could be.

Chomp by Carl Hiaasen
Wahoo Cray lives in a zoo. His father is an animal wrangler, so he’s grown up with all manner wild animals in his backyard. When his dad takes a job with a reality TV show called “Expedition Survival!”, Wahoo figures he’ll have to do a bit of wrangling himself—to keep his dad from killing Derek, the show’s boneheaded star. But the job keeps getting more complicated. Derek insists on using wild animals for his stunts. Wahoo’s acquired a shadow named Tuna—a girl who’s running from her father and needs a place to hide out.  They’ve only been on location in the Everglades for a day when Derek gets bitten by a bat and goes missing in a storm. Search parties head out and promptly get lost themselves. And then Tuna’s dad shows up with a gun . . .  It’s anyone’s guess who will actually survive “Expedition Survival”. . . .

Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl
Seventeen-year-old Althea is the sole support of her entire family, and she must marry well. But there are few wealthy suitors–or suitors of any kind–in their small Yorkshire town of Lesser Hoo. Then, the young and attractive (and very rich) Lord Boring arrives, and Althea sets her plans in motion. There’s only one problem; his friend and business manager Mr. Fredericks keeps getting in the way. And, as it turns out, Fredericks has his own set of plans . . . This witty take on the classic Regency–Patrice Kindl’s first novel in a decade–is like literary champagne!

Island of Thieves by Josh Lacey
“Only boring people get bored…Interesting people can always find something to be interested in.” That’s what Tom Trelawney’s father says, anyway. Tom shouldn’t have been interested in playing with matches but he was…bored. Now the shed is in ashes and strange Uncle Harvey is the only one willing to have him stay while his parents vacation. Tom soon discovers Harvey is going to South America on a treasure hunt and though nephews aren’t invited, he manages to tag along. Before it’s over he’ll drive a car, fire a gun and run for his life. Tom realizes that life may be about following the rules, but survival may be about breaking them.

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin
Rendi has run away from home and is now working as a chore boy at the village inn. He can’t help but notice the village’s peculiar inhabitants and their problems-where has the innkeeper’s son gone? Why are Master Chao and Widow Yan always arguing? What is the crying sound Rendi keeps hearing? And how can crazy, old Mr. Shan not know if his pet is a toad or a rabbit?  One day a mysterious lady arrives at the Inn with the gift of storytelling, and slowly transforms the villagers and Rendi himself. As she tells more stories and the days pass in the Village of Clear Sky, Rendi begins to realize that perhaps it is his own story that holds the answers to all those questions. A companion to the much-loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

Kindred Souls by Patricia MacLachlan
Jake’s grandfather, Billy, hears the talk of birds, is eighty-eight years old, and is going to live forever. Even when Billy gets sick, Jake knows that everything will go on as always. But there’s one thing Billy wants: to rebuild the sod house where he grew up. Can Jake give him this one special thing? From beloved author Patricia MacLachlan comes a poignant story about what we do for the ones we love, and how the bonds that hold us together also allow us to let each other go.

Lulu and the Duck in the Park by Hilary McKay
Lulu loves animals. When Lulu finds a duck egg that has rolled out of its nest, she takes it to class to keep it safe. Lulu isn’t allowed to bring pets to school. But she’s not really breaking the rules because it’s just an egg. Surely nothing bad will happen… will it?
A fun-filled new series for early readers and animal lovers alike.

Capture the Flag by Kate Messner
Anna, José, and Henry are complete strangers snowed in together at a chaotic Washington D.C. airport.  They make friends as they encounter a mysterious tattooed man, a flamboyant politician, and a rambunctious poodle.  When they catch the D.C. news and hear that the famous flag that inspired “The Star-Spangled Banner” has been stolen, Anna is certain that the culprits must be snowed in too. She recruits Henry and José to help catch the thieves and bring them to justice. As the snow starts clearing, Anna, José, and Henry find themselves in a race against time (and the weather!) to prevent the loss of an American treasure.

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
C ivil war is brewing in the kingdom.  To unify the people, Conner, a nobleman, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king’s lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner’s motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword’s point — he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage’s rivals have their own agendas as well.  As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner’s sumptuous palace, layers of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver
When Liza’s brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: The spindlers have gotten to him and stolen his soul.  She knows, too, that she is the only one who can save him. To rescue Patrick, Liza must go Below, armed with little more than her wits and a broom. There, she uncovers a vast world populated with talking rats, music-loving moles, greedy troglods, and overexcitable nids . . . as well as terrible dangers. But she will face her greatest challenge at the spindlers’ nests, where she encounters the evil queen and must pass a series of deadly tests—or else her soul, too, will remain Below forever.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio
I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.
August Pullman was born with a facial deformity that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. Wonder begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

Dodger by Terry Pratchett
When a scruffy lad sees a girl leap desperately from a horse-drawn carriage in a vain attempt to escape her captors, can he stand by and let her be caught again? Of course not!  Seventeen-year-old Dodger may be a street urchin, but he gleans a living from London’s sewers, and he knows a jewel when he sees one. He’s not about to let anything happen to the unknown girl—not even if her fate impacts some of the most powerful people in England.  From Dodger’s encounter with the mad barber Sweeney Todd to his meetings with the great writer Charles Dickens and the calculating politician Benjamin Disraeli, history and fantasy intertwine in a breathtaking account of adventure and mystery.

The Second Life of Abigail Walker by Frances O’Roark Dowell
Abby Walker just wants to be like everyone else, until the day that she decides it’s okay to be herself.  Once she leaves the popular girls’ bullying behind, Abby realizes that there is another world to discover. Befriended by two nerdy boys, she also becomes friends with a boy whose father is recovering from PTSD after returning from Iraq. Her new friends helps her to put things into perspective and to overcome the challenges she faces. Abby doesn’t gain superhuman strength or experience a huge boost in confidence; she simply becomes free from the shackles of trying to please everyone at school.

After Eli by Rebecca Rupp
Some people die heroically, others accidentally. When Daniel Anderson’s older brother dies, he wonders which category Eli’s death falls into. In an attempt to understand, Danny creates a Book of the Dead — an old binder that he fills with details about dead people, how they died, and, most important, for what purpose. Time passes, and eventually Daniel is prompted to look up from his notebook of death and questions to make new friends and be swept into their imaginings. With gentle humor and genuine emotion, Rebecca Rupp examines the questions that arise following a profound loss and the moments that start life rolling again.

Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz
Victorian London could be a magical place; of course it could also be miserable. The children in this story know both all too well. For Clara’s birthday, her parents hire a street performer to give a puppet show in their home. Grisini is so talented that he appears to be magical. His two orphaned assistants, Lizzie Rose and Parsefall, are envious of Clara’s home and all its comforts. But when Clara vanishes after the puppet show, Grisini and his assistants are the prime suspects. Then Grisini disappears, and it falls on Lizzie Rose and Parsefall to seek out the missing girl, with the sinister and mysterious help of a wealthy old witch.

What Came from the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt
The Valorim are about to fall to a dark lord when they send a necklace containing their planet across the cosmos, hurtling past a trillion stars . . . all the way into the lunchbox of Tommy Pepper, sixth grader, of Plymouth, Mass.  Mourning his late mother, Tommy doesn’t notice much about the chain he found, but soon he is drawing the twin suns and humming the music of a hanorah. As Tommy absorbs the art and language of the Valorim, their enemies target him. When a creature begins ransacking Plymouth in search of the chain, Tommy learns he must protect his family from villains far worse than he’s ever imagined.

“Who Could That Be at This Hour?” by Lemony Snicket
In a fading town, far from anyone he knew or trusted, a young Lemony Snicket began his apprenticeship in an organization nobody knows about. He started by asking questions that shouldn’t have been on his mind. Now he has written an account that should not be published, in four volumes that shouldn’t be read. This is the first volume. But just as with those charming Baudelaire children, the adventures roll and one can only speculate what’s around the corner. Not that it will do any good.

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead
Seventh grader Georges moves into a Brooklyn apartment building and meets Safer, a twelve-year-old self-appointed spy. Georges becomes Safer’s first spy recruit. His assignment? Tracking the mysterious Mr. X, who lives in the apartment upstairs. But as Safer becomes more demanding, Georges starts to wonder: what is a lie, and what is a game? How far is too far to go for your only friend? Like the dazzling Newbery winner When You Reach Me,  this new book will keep readers guessing until the end.

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
Rising sixth grader Miss Moses LoBeau lives in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC, where everyone’s business is fair game and no secret is sacred. She washed ashore in a hurricane eleven years ago, and she’s been making waves ever since. Although Mo hopes someday to find her “upstream mother,” she’s found a home with the Colonel–a café owner with a forgotten past of his own–and Miss Lana, the fabulous café hostess. She will protect those she loves with every bit of her strong will and tough attitude. So when a lawman comes to town asking about a murder, Mo and her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, set out to uncover the truth in hopes of saving the only family Mo has ever known.

* * *

And there you have it!  A list of great reads and fun gifts.  (And if you’re wondering about what book might win the 2012 Newbery Award in January, our top picks for that are on this list as well.)  And if you already have gifts in mind…well, you can pick up one of these titles at the library to read over the Winter Break.  Enjoy!

::Kelly::

New Favorite: The False Prince

Every so often, I come across a new book that I just love and have to share with friends who are also readers.  Sometimes, they already know about the book because other librarians and book bloggers are also talking about it. Sometimes, I seem to be the only one who loves it.   But that’s the great thing about books!  Everyone has different experiences when they read one.

The False Prince, by Jennifer A. Nielsen, is a new book that I read and loved.  Let’s see if I can convince you to read it too…

* * *

Sage lives by his wits on the streets of one of the major cities of Carthya.  Well, really he lives at Mrs. Turbeldy’s Orphanage for Disadvantaged Boys, but since all Mrs. Turbeldy provides is a vermin-filled bed and a bunch of hungry roommates, Sage might just as well be on the street.  Also living in the orphanage are nineteen other boys between the ages of three to fifteen; Sage is one of the oldest.  Most of the boys are kicked out of the orphanage once they turn fourteen, but Sage is kept a bit longer because he’s good at “finding” things for all the boys to eat, and at stealing little trinkets to keep Mrs. Turbeldy happy.

Caught in the market by a merchant and fleeing pursuit for theft of a roast, Sage returns to the orphanage one afternoon only to find that Mrs. Turbeldy has sold his services to a man named Bevin Conner.  Conner strikes him as untrustworthy, and Sage has no desire to be his servant. Sage resists going with the man…he’d rather be free and on his own than serve a man who won’t even tell him his trade or business.  That’s when he finds out that Conner won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. Sage is clubbed over the head and dragged away.

When Sage awakens, he finds himself in the back of a wagon, with his hands and feet tied. Three other boys are with him in the wagon bed, all about his age, all with light brown hair and similar features.  In fact, they look like they could all be brothers.  Sage wants to know what is going on, but the other boys tell him they’re as much in the dark as he is. They only know that Bevin Conner is a noble, and a friend to  the King’s Court.  One of the boys had overheard that Conner wants the boys for a  service to the king.

When they stop for the night, Sage is taken out of the wagon.  He discovers that Conner and his two henchmen, Cregan and Mott, aren’t yet willing to trust him. Although he is untied, he is left chained, so he won’t attempt an escape.  After a short break for a bare-bones meal, Sage learns Conner’s plan. It seems that Conner is one of the King’s regents, and he’s plotting treason. His plan is to overthrow the king, get rid of him, and put an imposter on the throne.  King Eckbert has one son, Prince Darius, but there used to be two.  The younger son, Prince Jaron, was lost at sea four years ago when the ship he was traveling on was attacked by pirates and sunk.

Conner’s plan is to teach all the boys the skills they will need to convince the court that one of them IS Prince Jaron.  He will say that he tracked down the prince in dire circumstances and rescued him from his enemies, then install him on the throne.  The boy who is picked will become Prince Jaron and inherit the crown of Cathyan. He doesn’t say it, but the boys know that after the training is complete, the leftover, unsuccessful trainees will be a threat to the one who becomes Prince Jaron. The boys  who are not chosen will most likely be killed.  It is a deadly incentive to learn Conner’s lessons. To make the boys realize that he is serious, Conner  has Cregan kill one of the boys.  His excuse is that  Latimer was sick, and would never have recovered enough to learn the sword fighting, horseback riding or dancing he would need to play Prince Jaron.

It’s definitely a way to keep the three remaining boys on their toes and willing to learn.

Sage, Tobias and Roden enter into their training with different skills, knowledge and backgrounds. Each of them is determined to be the one selected as Prince Jaron. Sage watches his two rivals with a cautious respect. Even though they are competing for the biggest prize of all, the boys  do work together on some tasks. Sage has secrets and skills that he doesn’t share with the others though. Every lie he weaves, every devious action he takes gets him closer to being the one chosen as the false prince.

As lies and truths become muddled, Sage is caught in a trap of destiny. Can a liar and a thief become a king?  Does he even want to?

* * *

This is a great book! It’s told from Sage’s point of view, so the reader only knows what Sage chooses to tell us. And Sage keeps secrets.  There are plenty of twists and turns as Sage’s life becomes more and more complicated.  His life on the streets will stand him in good stead in this deadly game.

The False Prince is the first book in the Ascendance trilogy, and I’m already waiting for book two.  It won’t be out for awhile though, so we’ll all have to wait.   This is a book you need to read carefully, because there is a lot going on.  If you pay attention, you may figure out what’s going on before the other characters in the book do.  Because The False Prince is full of political intrigue and mystery, it’s probably best suited to readers in middle school.  A good fifth grade reader might enjoy it too though, and anyone who read and loved The Thief, by Megan Whelan Turner will probably appreciate Sage’s story.  I’m really hoping that the publisher releases it as a book on CD, because it would be a great novel to listen to on a car trip.

So give The False Prince a try, and see what you think!

::Kelly::

Audio Review: The Emerald Atlas

The Emerald Atlas
By John Stephens, Read by Jim Dale
10 CDs, 11 Hours, 38 Minutes

Kate, Michael and Emma are orphans.  They weren’t always orphans. Kate can remember the night her parents vanished; she was four, Michael was almost two, and Emma was just a baby.  When a shabby man with a serious warning showed up at their home, Kate’s mother kissed her and told her to take care of her brother and sister, and eventually their family  would all be together again. She slipped her locket over Kate’s head.  The  next morning (after a dangerous car chase they slept through)  the children woke up in the care of Sister Agatha, of St. Mary’s Home.

Ten years later, there’s still no sign of their parents, and Kate, Michael and Emma have ended up at the Edgar Allan Poe Home for Hopeless and Incorrigible Orphans, their twelfth stop in a long line of placements, each one worse than the last.  They may not know their last name, but they do know that their parents are still alive and will eventually come for them. But in the meantime, they still have to deal with bullies, nasty orphanage directors and prospective adoptive parents.  When Miss Crumley, their latest tyrant of an orphanage director tells them that they have to make a good impression on a prospective adoptive couple, Emma and Michael just can’t.  Mrs. Lovegood and her horrific swan headpiece and attitude toward children are too awful.

In the aftermath of the scene that ensues, Miss Crumley finds the three children the most out-of-the-way institution she can to take them. After a day long train trip to Lake Champlain, they end up in Westport,  New York, waiting for a ferry.  No one they ask knows anything about Cambridge Falls, the town where their new orphanage is, the orphanage itself or even the island where both are located.  There is, however, a derelict dock where they can meet the boat they’re supposed to take to the mysterious island.

When the children are picked up for the ferry ride, they encounter a mysterious fog in the middle of their journey.  When the fog finally clears, they arrive on the island. Cambridge Falls is desolate, cold…and empty.  And it’s strange; the huge mountains on one side of the island certainly should have been visible from Westport. And the vicious wolves that chase their carriage are unexpected.

When they reach the musty old mansion that is to be their new home, Kate, Michael and Emma learn that not only are they the only children in the orphanage, they’re only children in the whole village. The only other people on the island seem to be Abraham, the man who picked them up at the ferry landing, Miss Sallow, the housekeeper, and the mysterious Dr. Pym, the head of the orphanage.

But the strange island and the drafty old house are well worth exploring, and the children do that. When they find a secret passage down to the basement, how could they resist? And when during their explorations, Kate picks up a book, who could have known that the discovery would change their lives forever?  Traveling through time, dealing with monsters, dwarfs, and one evil  sorceress…will Kate, Michael and Emma survive?  Will they find out who they are?

* * *

The audio version of The Emerald Atlas is read by Jim Dale, famous for his narration of the Harry Potter books.  Although I loved the narration, for me his English accent was a little off-putting.  Kate, Michael and Emma grew up in orphanages in New York, Boston and Baltimore.  Cambridge Falls is in the middle of Lake Champlain, so it’s either New York or Vermont. It’s difficult to believe that any of them would have British accents…and yet they do.  I realize that Jim Dale is a master narrator, but I had a hard time remembering that these were supposed to be American kids living in the present time. (Well, at the start of the book, anyway.)

If you get past that though, the narration is wonderful.  The characters that live in Cambridge Falls and the other places the children end up (who could very well have British accents, given their magical backgrounds)  have rich voices, filled with individuality. The tempo of the reading is wonderful–breathless and hurried when action is taking place, slower at moments of exposition or discovery.  And the end definitely leaves you wanting more!  Luckily, it looks like there will be two more books, since The Emerald Atlas is one of three missing books in the story.  A true trilogy!

I would recommend The Emerald Atlas to fantasy fans.  Kate, Michael and Emma are great characters, each a little different, but devoted to each other. (Even if they don’t always show it.) The magic is grand, the villains very evil. The good guys aren’t always aware of their roles, but they learn.  And there’s subtle humor throughout, keeping things from getting too dark. Mostly.

If you liked Harry Potter (the books, but especially the audio books) this title is a must.  Fans of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Golden Compass and The Dark is Rising Sequence should also enjoy this book and audio book.   It’s a long book, with some complicated plot devices, so it’s probably best for readers in 5th to 8th grade. But don’t let that stop you if you’re older or younger!  If The Emerald Atlas sounds like something you’d like…try it!  And let us know what you think.

::Kelly::

New Favorite: Tuesdays at the Castle

Princess Celie’s favorite day is Tuesdays. That’s because Tuesdays are the day that the castle most often gets bored, and grows a new room. Every Tuesday, Celie goes looking for these new additions, so that she can add them to her maps. Sometimes it’s a new room, sometimes it’s a shorter connection between rooms that are already there. Sometimes entire rooms or wings vanish, for no reason. No one knows why Castle Glower changes, just that it does. It doesn’t always happen on Tuesday, and it doesn’t happen every Tuesday, but it’s frequent enough so that Tuesdays are Celie’s favorite.

Even though Celie has an older sister and two older brothers–Princess Lilah, Prince Bran and Prince Rolf–Celie is the only one of her siblings who is interested in mapping the magical rooms of Castle Glower.  Everyone else, from the royal family to the chambermaids and stable boys just follow the two rules of the castle.  Rule One: The Throne Room is always to the east, and Rule Two: If you turn left three times and climb through the next window, you’ll end up in the kitchen, where the helpful kitchen staff will help you get to the Throne Room.  Celie is the only one who tries to figure out how Castle Glower works.  And it seems that the castle loves her for it…she gets flowers in her room when she’s sick, and comfortable furniture when she need it. In fact, everyone acknowledges that the Castle knows what’s best for the kingdom and for the royal family.

When Celie’s parents go away to attend Prince Bran’s graduation from The College of Wizardry, Celie, Lilah and Rolf must remain at the Castle.  None of them are very happy about it, but members of the royal family have a duty to the people, and that includes making sure that they aren’t all exposed to danger at the same time.  Unfortunately, even the much-loved Glower family has enemies who would enjoy taking over their kingdom.  Celie continues to work on her maps, tease her sister and have adventures with Rolf while they await the return of their parents and oldest brother.

But then the unthinkable happens. One of the soldiers returns with news of an attack in the forest: the King, the Queen and Prince Bran were all injured, and the rest of the soldiers were killed.  When the royal guard returns to the site, there is no sign of  the bodies. The King, The Queen and Prince Bran are declared dead, and Rolf, who was happily heir apparent, is suddenly to be crowned King Glower the Eightieth. Although Celie, Rolf and Lilah all staunchly declare that their parents and brother cannot be dead, Ambassadors from neighboring kingdoms start showing up at the castle, invited by the Royal Counselors.  The Counsel wants to crown Rolf as king immediately, marry off Lilah to a prince of a neighboring kingdom, and declare themselves regents.  No one quite knows what to do with Celie.

This is fine with Celie, because she seems to be the only one that notices that Castle Glower is changing. Secret passageways, new turns, even a brand new tower room supplied with spy tools, supplies and several mysterious objects have appeared overnight. Castle Glower is preparing to fight!  And so is Celie. Can a magical castle and one young princess , with the help of her brother and sister, several loyal servants and a few new allies manage to save the kingdom?  They are sure going to try!

* * *

I loved, loved, loved Tuesdays at the Castle, by Jessica Day George.  It has twists and turns and magic…and that’s just the castle!  It also has a spunky young heroine and a great cast of characters.  There’s humor and mystery and political intrigue, as well as dangerous situations, creepy characters and even some slapstick comedy.  It’s a great read!

Jessica Day George has written several other popular titles: the Dragon Slippers, Dragon Flight and Dragon Spear trilogy, as well as Princess of the Midnight Ball and Princess of Glass, based on the fairy tale story  The Twelve Dancing Princesses.  She has been one of the authors whose books I’ve enjoyed very much in the past; but Tuesdays at the Castle is my new favorite.

If you’re a fan of books by Diana Wynne Jones or Patricia Wrede, you’ll love Tuesdays at the Castle. It’s a wonderful book that stands alone, but I’m crossing my fingers that we may see more of Celie, Rolf and Castle Glower in the future.  I’d recommend it to fantasy fans in grades 4 – 6, and it would be a great read-aloud for slightly younger kids.

So try Tuesdays at the Castle, and see what you think!

::Kelly::

Happy 2012!

It’s January, and for children’s librarians, that means one thing:  Book Awards!  Right now, librarians all over the country are pouring over their lists of best books of 2011.  We’re all trying to predict what books published in 2011 will win the 2012 awards for distinguished  literature for children and teens in a variety of fields.

Come in and see our Best Books of 2011 displays, and vote for your favorites for the Newbery and Caldecott Awards.  Will you be right?  Find out on January 23rd!  That’s when the American Library Association will announce the official winners!

For now, here are a list of our favorites:

Caldecott Possiblities:

 A Butterfly is Patient, By Dianna Aston, Illustrated by Sylvia Long

Naamah and the Ark at Night, By Susan Bartoletti, Illustrated by Holly Meade

The Adventures of Mark Twain, by Huckleberry Finn, By Robert Burleigh, Illustrated by Barry Blitt

Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic, By Robert Burleigh, Illustrated by Wendell Minor

The Money We’ll Save, Written and Illustrated by Brock Cole

A Dazzling Display of Dogs, By Besty Franco, Illustrated by Michael Wertz

Blue Chicken, Written and Illustrated by Deborah Freedman

Say Hello to Zorro, Written and Illustrated by Carter Goodrich

Perfect Square, Written and Illustrated by Michael Hall

Red Sled, Written and Illustrated by Lita Judge

Worst of Friends: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and the True Story of an American Feud, By Suzanne Tripp Jurmain, Illustrated by Larry Day

Neville, By Norton Juster, Illustrated by G. Brian Karas

I Want My Hat Back, Written and Illustrated by Jon Klassen

All the Water in the World, By George Ella Lyon, Illustrated by Katherine Tillotson

Me…Jane, Written and Illustrated by Patrick McDonnell

A Ball for Daisy, Written and Illustrated by Chris Raschka

Stars, Written by Mary Lynn Ray, Illustrated by Marla Frazee

Blackout, Written and Illustrated by John Rocco

Where’s Walrus?  Written and Illustrated by Stephen Savage

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature, By Joyce Sidman, Illustrated by Beth Krommes

Grandpa Green, Written and Illustrated by Lane Smith

Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat, Written and Illustrated by Philip Stead

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of the Macy’s Parade, Written and Illustrated by Melissa Sweet

 * * *

Newbery Possibilities:

The Mostly True Story of Jack, By Kelly Barnhill

Chime, By Franny Billingsley

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette, By Jeanne Birdsall

Small Persons with Wings, By Ellen Booraem

Jefferson’s Sons, By Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Dragon Castle, By Joseph Bruchac

The Cheshire Cheese Cat, By Carren Agra Deedy

Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart, By Candace Fleming

Dead End in Norvelt, By Jack Gantos

Tuesdays at the Castle, By Jessica Day George

True (…sort of), By Katherine Hannigan

Small as an Elephant, By Jennifer Richard Jacobson

Inside Out & Back Again, By Thanhha Lai

The Friendship Doll, By Kirby Larson

A Monster Calls, By Patrick Ness

The Aviary, By Kathleen O’Dell

Words in the Dust, By Trent Reedy

Bluefish, By Pat Schmatz

Okay for Now, By Gary D. Schmidt

The Emerald Atlas, By John Stephens

Hound Dog True, By Linda Urban

Breadcrumbs, By Anne Ursu

Pie, By Sarah Weeks

 * * *

Remember, any new book published in 2011 in the US is eligible!  Please come by the library to vote, and feel free to add any suggestions you might have.  If you’d like to share here, just let us know which book YOU think might win an Award!

::Kelly::

 

Looking for a gift? How about a book!

If you’re looking to give a book as a gift for your favorite child, tween or teen this holiday season, here are a few suggestions.  All of the titles listed were new in 2011, and should be readily available at any bookstore.

If you really want to make a book gift special, try giving a title you loved as a child.  (Remember, it may not still be in print, so some extra searching may be required.)  Or maybe pair up a gift book with something more concrete…for example, if you’re giving a book about manatees, how about a stuffed manatee, a mug with a manatee on it,  or even a ticket to the Aquarium?  There are so many things you could do!

Good luck, and on with the suggestions!

* * *

Great 2011 Books for Holiday Gifts:

Picture Books:

Burkert, Nancy.  Mouse & Lion

Carle, Eric.  The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse

Fisher, Valarie.  Everything I Need to Know Before I’m Five

Freedman, Deborah.  Blue Chicken

Jeffers, Oliver.  Stuck

Judge, Lita.  Red Sled

Juster, Norman.  Neville

Klassen, Jon.  I Want My Hat Back

Lichtenheld, Tom.  Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site

Nolan, Dennis.  Sea of Dreams

Rocco, John.  Blackout

Smith, Lane.  Grandpa Green

Tullet, Harve.  Press Here

* * *

Juvenile Fiction:

Booram, Ellen.  Small Persons with Wings

Broach, Elise.  Missing on Superstition Mountain

George, Jessica Day.  Tuesdays at the Castle

Hannigan, Katherine.  True… (Sort of)

Mason, Simon.  Moon Pie

McLaughlin, Patricia.  Waiting for the Magic

Moriarity, Chris.  The Inquisitor’s Apprentice

Schmidt, Gary.  Okay for Now

Selznick, Brian.  Wonderstruck

Urban, Linda.  Hound Dog True

Ursu, Anne.  Breadcrumbs

Valente, Catherynne.  The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her own Making

Weeks, Sarah.  Pie

* * *

Teen Fiction:

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick : Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales illustrations by Chris Van Allsburgh

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Chime by Franny Billingsley

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Withering Tights by Louise Rennison

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Life:  An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet

The Outcasts (Brotherband Chronicles) by John Flanagan

The Always War by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Inheritance by Chris Paolini (The conclusion to the series Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr is finally here!)

The Death Cure by James Dashner
(1:  The Maze Runner  2:  The Scorch Trials 3:  The Death Cure)

Matched (Book 1) & Crossed (Book 2) by Ally Condie

Americapedia: Taking the Dumb Out of Freedom by Jodi Lynn Anderson

F in Exams:  The Very Best Totally Wrong Test Answers by Richard Benson

* * *

Poetry and Non-Fiction:

Aronson, Marc.  Trapped: How the World Rescued 33 Miners from 2,000 Feet Below the Chilean Desert

Chin, Jason.  Coral Reefs

Daniel, Noel.  Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm

Fleming, Candice.  Amelia Lost

Jenkins, Martin.  Can We Save the Tiger?

Lourie, Peter. The Manatee Scientists

McDonnell, Patrick.  Me…Jane. 

Sidman, Joyce. Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature

Silverstein, Shel.  Every Thing On It

Sweet, Melissa.  Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade

Young, Ed.  The House Baba Built: An Artist’s Childhood in China

* * *

These books are all great reads too, so come in and check them out at the Library!  If you’re looking for more suggestions for gift-giving, please visit the library and ask one of our librarians for assistance.

::Kelly::

Booklist: The Titanic

Coming in May–a new series by Gordon Korman, one of my favorite authors! Did you know he published his first book while he was in seventh grade? And that since then, he’s written over 55 titles for kids and teens?  His trilogies are full of adventure and thrills, while his stand-alone books tend towards humor;  several have been featured in past booklists and others have been on Weston Schools’ Summer Reading Lists.  So check out the new Titanic books when they come out! The first one is due in May, the second in August. After that, we’ll have to see…

* * *

Gordon Korman’s new series:
Titanic
Book One: Unsinkable
As The Titanic begins its maiden voyage, there’s plenty of danger waiting for four of its young passengers. Paddy is a stowaway, escaping a deadly past. Sophie’s mother is delivered to the ship by police–after she and Sophie have been arrested. Juliana’s father is an eccentric whose riches can barely hide his madness. And Alfie is hiding a secret that could get him kicked off the ship immediately. The lives of these four passengers will be forever linked with the fate of Titanic. And the farther they get from shore, the more the danger looms. . . .

But if you just can’t wait until May, try one of these older titles about The Titanic and its fateful first trip…

* * *

Titanic Booklist!

Bunting, Eve.  SOS Titanic
Barry O’Neill is journeying alone to New York on the Titanic’s  maiden voyage. He doesn’t really want to leave England,  and he’s worried about the Flynn boys  (his arch enemies) who are traveling in steerage and who have threatened to throw him overboard. Little does Barry know that a struggle with the Flynns is the least of the dangers that await him.

Crisp, Marty. White Star: A Dog on the Titanic
Sam Harris is traveling from England to America on a brand-new ship: The Titanic. Sam is lonely at first, but is soon delighted to discover that there are dogs aboard! When Sam volunteers to help out in the kennel, he meets Star, a spunky Irish setter that belongs to the ship’s captain. Sam and Star become fast friends, and when disaster strikes, the boy and dog must rely on each other more than ever before.

Duey, Kathleen. Titanic: April 14, 1912
Gavin Reilly is working in the Titanic’s galley to earn his passage so he can join his brother in New York. Karolina Green is returning home to the States with her Aunt Rose after the death of her parents in England. On a calm, clear April night their hopes and dreams turn into a nightmare. Rich and poor, famous and unknown, the people aboard the Titanic find themselves at the mercy of the cold sea. Few will live to remember the disaster the world still can’t forget — will Gavin and Karolina be among the survivors?

Hoobler, Dorothy.  The Second Decade: Voyages
After losing their fortune on the Titanic, the  Aldrich family is destitute. Fortunately, they still have a lot of talent and some famous friends.  When film director D.W. Griffith catches Nell’s impressive acting and Peggy’s play writing abilities at the family’s summer performance, he offers them jobs at his film studio.

Lawlor, Laurie.  American Sisters: A Titanic Journey Across the Sea, 1912
They were sisters yet strangers: practical Alfreda Anderson and fanciful Erna, divided by hardship but united in the adventure of sailing to America. Alfreda dreamed of new beginnings, far from the drudgery of life with her aunt and uncle, while Erna already missed her home and feared the journey to Chicago and the father they hadn’t seen in years. Papa had sent tickets for Mother and their sick little brother, but only the girls would make the journey — on the splendid new ship Titanic.

Peck, Richard.  Ghosts I Have Been
Blossom Culp is the outspoken outcast of Bluff City, always getting into trouble. No one wants to cross her, especially now that she’s revealed that she can see the Unseen. Then Blossom herself is stunned, because her lie turns out to be truth. She actually does have second sight …and she finds herself  “on board” the sinking Titanic, trying to help a small blond boy…  (This book is my favorite on the list!)

Tarshis, Lauren. I Survived: The Sinking of the Titanic, 1912
George Calder can’t believe his luck — he and his little sister, Phoebe, are on the famous Titanic, crossing the ocean with their Aunt Daisy. The ship is full of exciting places to explore, but when George ventures into the first class storage cabin, a terrible boom shakes the entire boat. Suddenly, water is everywhere, and George’s life changes forever.

Vance, Marguerite.  Courage at Sea
Cousins Peter and Cy Ambler are very different.  Peter is shy and bookish, while Cy is boisterous and athletic. Who is the braver of the two though, will be proven when both are confronted with big decisions on board the new ocean liner, The Titanic.

White, Ellen Emerson.  Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady (Dear America Series)
Orphan Margaret Brady, hired as a companion to wealthy American Mrs. Frederick Carstairs, is traveling on the maiden voyage of the R. M. S. Titanic in 1912. For Margaret, this is an opportunity to join her older brother, William, in Boston. She keeps a diary of the voyage, detailing descriptions of the liner, the famous people she encounters, and the events leading up to tragedy.

Williams, Barbara.  Titanic Crossing
Under pressure from his Grandmother Trask in Virginia, Albert Trask and his family are returning to the U.S. on the Titanic. Because his recently widowed mother is preoccupied and his younger sister Ginny is taking up all her attention, Albert is free to explore the colossal ship and observe its passengers. He learns much during his four-day journey, and when the ship begins to sink (and Mother cannot be located), Albert and Ginny must find a way to escape together.

Weyn, Suzanne. Distant Waves: A Novel of the Titanic
The five Taylor sisters have moved to turn-of-the-twentieth-century Spirit Vale, where their mother makes a living talking to the dead. The future, however, is something even she cannot see clearly. The sisters are not meant to stay in Spirit Vale for long. All seem poised to move in different directions–science, society, fame, even the spirit world–but all of their destinies converge on board the Titanic. A transatlantic voyage that promises great wonders soon turns into a fight for survival that not everyone will win…or can they? Young Adult.

Picture Books for younger readers:

Crisp, Marty. Titanicat
Young Jim Mulholland can’t believe his good luck: He has signed on as a cabin boy to the world’s finest ocean liner, the Titanic. As part of his duties Jim is in charge of the ship’s cat, a beautiful tortoiseshell called 401, after the ship’s construction number. Jim is  certain that she will bring him good luck. But once the ship’s trial runs are completed and it’s ready to launch to sea, Jim notices that 401 is nowhere to be found. He has to find her–the Titanic can’t cast off without her lucky cat! Jim is faced with a decision that will affect the rest of his life.

Spedden, Daisy.  Polar, the Titanic Bear
Polar is the charming story that the American heiress Daisy Corning Stone Spedden wrote for her son the year after her family escaped the doomed Titanic. The story, told through the eyes of the young boy’s teddy bear, opens a window on a vanished way of life and contains an enthralling eyewitness account of the Titanic disaster.

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If you’d like to read some factual books about The Titanic, just go to our non-fiction section with the Dewey number J 910.9.  We have practically a whole shelf, for readers of all ages!

::Kelly::

2011 Book Awards!

The Winners of the Best Books of 2011 were announced last Monday at the American Library Association Conference.   This year’s winners were (direct from the ALA website)…

…drumroll, please…

Newbery Medal

The Newbery Medal is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

2011 Winner

Moon Over Manifest written by Clare Vanderpool, published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Armed only with a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was.
Having heard stories about Manifest, Abilene is disappointed to find that it’s just a dried-up, worn-out old town. But her disappointment quickly turns to excitement when she discovers a hidden cigar box full of mementos, including some old letters that mention a spy known as the Rattler. These mysterious letters send Abilene and her new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, on an honest-to-goodness spy hunt, even though they are warned to “Leave Well Enough Alone.”
Abilene throws all caution aside when she heads down the mysterious Path to Perdition to pay a debt to the reclusive Miss Sadie, a diviner who only tells stories from the past. It seems that Manifest’s history is full of colorful and shadowy characters—and long-held secrets. The more Abilene hears, the more determined she is to learn just what role her father played in that history. And as Manifest’s secrets are laid bare one by one, Abilene begins to weave her own story into the fabric of the town.

Newbery Honor Books

Turtle in Paradise written by Jennifer L. Holm, published by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Heart of a Samurai written by Margi Preus, published by Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night written by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen, published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

One Crazy Summer written by Rita Williams-Garcia, published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

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Caldecott Medal

The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

2011 Winner

A Sick Day for Amos McGee illustrated by Erin E. Stead, written by Philip C. Stead, a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing

Friends come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In Amos McGee’s case, all sorts of species, too! Every day he spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it’s time they returned the favor.

Caldecott Honor Books

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Interrupting Chicken illustrated and written by David Ezra Stein, published by Candlewick Press

 

 

 

 

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Geisel Award

The Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.

2011 Winner

Bink and Gollie written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, illustrated by Tony Fucile, published by Candlewick Press
Meet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls — one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible. Setting out from their super-deluxe tree house and powered by plenty of peanut butter (for Bink) and pancakes (for Gollie), they share three comical adventures involving painfully bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion. No matter where their roller skates take them, at the end of the day they will always be the very best of friends.

Geisel Honor Books

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! written and illustrated by Grace Lin, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

We Are in a Book! written and illustrated by Mo Willems, published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group.

 

 

 

 

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Sibert Medal

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year.

2011 Winner

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot written by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Nic Bishop, published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
On remote Codfish Island off the southern coast of New Zealand live the last ninety-one kakapo parrots on earth. These trusting, flightless, and beautiful birds—the largest and most unusual parrots on earth—have suffered devastating population loss.
Now, on an island refuge with the last of the species, New Zealand’s National Kakapo Recovery Team is working to restore the kakapo population. With the help of fourteen humans who share a single hut and a passion for saving these odd ground-dwelling birds, the kakapo are making a comeback in New Zealand.

Sibert Honor Books

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, illustrated by Brian Floca. A Neal Porter Book., published by Flash Point, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing

Lafayette and the American Revolution, written by Russell Freedman, published by Holiday House

 

 

 

 

 

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Although there were many, many books published this year, these are the cream of the crop!  Check one out…you’ll sure to be  impressed.

::Kelly::