Books in Brief: Neighborhood Sharks

Reviewer: Travis

The name of the book being recommended:  Neighborhood Sharks by Katherine Roy


Please give us five reasons why this book is awesome:

1. It's about sharks! The subject matter is awesome in and of itself!

2. It has beautifully illustrated paintings of sharks and their surrounding environment.

3. The textual material and accompanying diagrams are informative and incorporate the latest research into sharks' life cycle and hunting habits--if you're not a shark researcher or a close follower of the subject, you'll probably learn a lot (that goes for adults as well as kids)!

4. The book's depictions of a shark hunting are accurate (aka, lots of blood!) without being gruesome.

5. It offers ample "food" for thought to ponder the place of sharks vs. humans in the world beyond the confines of horror movies. To quote the book, "While their 800,000 human neighbors dine on steak, salad, and sandwiches, the white sharks hunt for their favorite meal." And the book clearly shows that sharks' favorite (or at least most typical) meal is not humans.

How can I find this book in the library? It can be found in the Children's Department, in non-fiction, under the call number j 597.33 R.

Books in Brief: Sophie's Squash

Reviewer: Travis

The name of the book being recommended: Sophie's Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller & Anne Wilsdorf

Please give us five reasons why this book is awesome:

1. It's a charming story about a girl who saves a squash from being served for family dinner, and adopts it as a pet.

2. It's based on a true story! The author's daughter once fell in love with a squash.

3. Who needs a boring goldfish when you can have an exciting squash?

4. There's a twist ending, after the girl gives the squash a nice outdoor dirt bed for the winter.

5. The squash resembles an even cuter version of the "Biting Pear of Salamanca," by fellow children's author/illustrator Ursula Vernon:

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How can I find this book in the library? It can be found in the Children's Department, in picture book fiction, under the call number jE MIL.

Books in Brief: Wilfred

Reviewer: Travis

The name of the book being recommended: Wilfred by Ryan Higgins

Please give us five reasons why this book is awesome:

1. It features a vividly-imagined world where a hairy monster searching for a friend encounters a town of bald people.

2. The illustrations are excellent. Expressive characters and intricate textures.

3. It tells a Lorax-type tale about the perils of over-exploitation of our environment.

4. Except in this case it's the over-harvesting of monster hair for the purpose of making toupees.

5. There are many birch trees depicted. Logically, since the author is from Maine.

How can I find this book in the library? It can be found in the Children's Department, in picture book fiction, under the call number jE HIG.

Books in Brief: Exclamation Mark

Picture Book:  Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

Book Reviewer:  Carla

Five Reasons Why This Book is a Fabulous Must Read:

-As the book jacket says, "this exclamation mark is really everyone's story," and, by gosh, by the time you arrive at "The end!" you realize that it is true. You, me, everyone, we're all exclamation marks.

-The drama, delight, and ta-da of the story is how, exactly, do we go about finding our inner exclamation mark.  A coming-of-age story?  Sure!  It's all about "fitting in and standing out and, with the help of others, finding your way."

-Take a look and see how exclamation mark, being an exclamation mark, stands out in a conga-line style line of smiley periods. What's a punctuation mark to do?

-Who better to help work through questions of belonging and identity with than a question mark!?!!

-You'll cheer as exclamation mark "breaks free from a life sentence" (hee, hee) and discovers himself and a life full of possibilities. How's that for a happy ending!?

Where Can I Find This Book? JE ROS shelved with the new picture books.

Books In Brief: Do Super Heroes Have Teddy Bears?

 
Reviewer: Angie

The name of the book being recommended: Do Super Heroes Have Teddy Bears? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle

Please give us five reasons why this book is awesome:

1. The fun rhyming text makes for a great read-aloud story.

2. Children will identify with the everyday things these superheroes tackle: playing in the mud, saving their teddies, eating their vegetables.

3. Shows children how we can all be superheroes!

4. It's an age-appropriate way to satisfy a younger child's urge for superhero stories.

5. "We're brave and bold and kind and caring."

How can I find this book in the library? It can be found in the Children's Department, in picture book fiction, under the call number jE COY.

Books In Brief: Delicious

Reviewer:Michele

The name of the book being recommended: Delicious: The Life & Art of Wayne Thiebaud by Susan Goodman Rubin

Please give us five reasons why this book is awesome: 

1. FANTASTIC artwork! A feast for the eyes.

2.The perfect title. Thiebaud loves food, especially desserts. Not only does he enjoy eating cakes, pies, and cupcakes, he also paints pictures of them, and he paints mostly from his childhood memories of them. His mother would set up art projects for Wayne and his sister on rainy days while she cooked and baked. They are, indeed, delicious.

3. While still in high school, Thiebaud landed a job as a cartoonist at Walt Disney Studios. He became so skilled that he can draw Popeye with both hands at the same time.

4. He not only paints colorfully, he dresses colorfully. One of his students, commenting on his purple corduroy jacket and green bow tie, said, "He was just what I thought an artist should look like."

5.Thiebaud takes ordinary things and paints them in extraordinary ways, making you see them with new eyes. "I try to find things to paint which I feel have been overlooked." WT

Where can I find this book in the library? It can be found in the Children's Department under the call number j 759.13 T, and will be enjoyed by readers in grades 3+ (and by adults, too!).

Books in Brief: Traction Man is Here!

Picture Book: Traction Man is Here!

Author: Mini Grey

Reviewer: Travis

Five Reasons Why This Book is Awesome:

1. Finally, a picture book action figure who stands up for Truth, Justice, and the British (?) Way!

2. Traction Man manages to turn a variety mundane situations, such as washing dishes and taking a bath, into heroic rescues of household objects and toys.

3. He has an adorable sidekick-slash-pet named Scrubbing Brush.

4. One of the Library of Congress subject headings of the book is "Brooms and Brushes--Fiction"

5. It offers an ingenious way to transform ugly knitted Christmas coveralls into fashionable swim gear, all without compromising your heroism.

Books in Brief: Lemony Snicket returns!

Who Could That Be At This Hour? by Lemony Snicket
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

First things first. This is not A Series of Unfortunate Events.

That being said, it is the first in a series, and there are some events that could be called unfortunate. (The near-drowning comes instantly to mind...) In this noir-flavored detective story, a young Lemony Snicket is trying to get to the bottom of a mystery of an odd wooden statue in a nearly deserted ink industry town.

I'm a huge Snicket fan from way back, and I was pleased to see elements of the previous series - defining potentially tricky vocabulary words, a love of reading and libraries, etc. - appear in this volume. Other highlights for me included the bickering police couple and the clever system Lemony devises to communicate with his partner in the city.

The plot didn't really grab me until about halfway through, but when it did, I was ready for the next book in the series.

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Books in Brief: The Lonely Beast

The Lonely Beast by Chris Judge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A rare creature sets out on a journey to find others of his kind.

Five reasons this books is awesome:

1. A very endearing main character (who manages to be expressive even with an almost complete lack of features...)

2. A long and interesting journey.

3. A gentle thread of humor.

4. Really wonderful illustrations. (The underwater scenes are my particular favorites.)

5. A happy ending.

A great read-aloud choice for 4's and 5's.

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Books in Brief: In a Glass Grimmly

In A Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Adam Gidwitz has done it again! As with his debut novel A Tale Dark and Grimm , the author stitches together classic folk and fairy tales into a journey of self-discovery for two very brave children.

(And when I say fairy tales, I'm not talking about magic wands and fluffy ballgowns. I'm talking about old-school, blood-and-guts, rolling people down hills in nail-spiked barrels. Just so we're clear.)

Though published after A Tale Dark and Grimm and told in a similar style, In a Glass Grimmly is not meant to be a sequel. We follow two entirely different characters - cousins Jack and Jill - on an entirely different set of adventures. (And yes, there is a hill and a head injury.) However, fans of the first novel will find a few threads to connect the two. The ravens are back, as is the narrator, who tries to warn us of the particularly scary bits before they happen. (And apologizing when he forgets.)

Suspenseful, dark, peppered with humor, and ultimately wise, this is a great choice for middle school students who don't mind a little gore in their happily ever after.

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Books in Brief: Green

Reviewer: Carla

Book and Author: Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Five Reasons Why this Picture Book is a Winner:

-Fabulous artwork dramatizes the many lush, vibrant hues of green.

-Peek-a-boo cutouts cleverly link pages and concepts while providing a fun and active learning opportunity.

-Bold depictions of "never green" offer a clear, interesting twist on the theme.

-Timely, take home message of how we can contribute the world's "green."

-Hopeful "forever green" grand finale.

Where to Find Green:  Shelved with our "New Picture Books," JE SEE.

Books in Brief: Meet Caroline

Meet Caroline by Kathleen Ernst
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had never read any of the American Girl books, but when I discovered that the latest adventures were set in my old stomping grounds - Sackets Harbor, New York - I had to check it out.

In addition to being a charming place to have Sunday brunch, this small lakeside town played an important role during the War of 1812, which is the conflict that is just beginning as we meet Caroline Abbott, a young girl who dreams of being the captain of her own ship someday.

Unfortunately, her dreams are put on hold when the British capture her father and attack her community. Will the town be able to defend themselves against the invasion? Will Caroline be reunited with her father? Luckily, we have five more books to find out...

Recommended for ages 7-10, fans of well-written historical adventure, or anyone who's ever walked the Sackets Harbor battlefield. (Admittedly, we might be a small crew.)

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Books In Brief: Scaredy Squirrel

Reviewer: Michele

The name of the book being recommended: the Scaredy Squirrel series by Melanie Watt

Please give us five reasons why this series is awesome:

1. Perfect for reading aloud (ages 4+) or alone (ages 6-8).

2. Bright, adorable, clear, graphics-style illustrations.

3. HILARIOUS stories. Truly, you and your audience will be laughing out loud.

4. Scaredy Squirrel is so overly safe and cautious and scared of anything outside his normal routine that he has a convoluted master plan for every occurrence...or so he thinks...

5. Cleverly portrays the fears that many children have about unfamiliar things, people, and situations, and presents solutions that are practical and very, very funny.

How can I find these books in the library? These can be found in the Children's Department, in picture book fiction, under the call number jE WAT. Titles in the series so far are: Scaredy Squirrel; Scaredy Squirrel at Night; Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach; Scaredy Squirrel has a Birthday Party; Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, and Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas.

Books in Brief: Revenge of the Whale

Revenge Of The Whale: The True Story Of The Whaleship Essex, Adapted For Young People From In The Heart Of The Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I could not put this down, even though I had to, because I needed to eat meals and work. (Though I felt bad about the eating, since the sailors of the Essex spent much of the book starving.)

Adapted from the author's own award-winning tale for adults, this is the riveting story of a 19th century whaling crew attacked and shipwrecked by a large sperm whale in the middle of the Pacific Ocean - and how at least some of them lived to tell the tale.

Recommended for ages 10 and older. Not for the faint of heart.

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Books in Brief: The Year of the Book

The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First things first: Hooray for books about introverts!

Sometimes it seems as though there are so many sassy and outspoken heroines out there that we forget about the ones who are quietly sewing a drawstring bag as a gift for their school crossing guard.

Anna Wang is not sassy. She is not outspoken. If given the choice, she'd rather be reading a book in the corner. However, her life is just as full of growing pains and potential drama as the next fourth grader's. She feels left out by the other girls in her class. Her mother sometimes embarrasses her. She doesn't always want to do what she's supposed to be doing. But Anna takes it in her stride, relying on her books to help her both to escape from and to connect to her world.

I'd recommend this story to upper elementary students - or any bookworm, ever.

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Books in Brief: The Great Cake Mystery

The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When desserts start going missing in Precious Ramotswe's school, she decides to solve the mystery of who is taking them.

For those of you who've read Alexander McCall Smith's grown-up series The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency , you'll know that Precious does grow up to be a detective, but it's in this book that we see how she gets her start.

I've never read any of the grown-up Precious Ramotswe books, but I can tell you that this one is a delight! With evocative illustrations and a narrative voice that is educational without being didactic, it's a lovely mystery with a fun twist. Definitely looking forward to more books in this series!

Recommended for children aged 7-10. 

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Books In Brief: The Junie B. Jones Series

Reviewer: Brianne

The name of the book being recommended: the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park

Please give us five reasons why this series is awesome:

1. It was always interesting.

2. It was a good series for my age at the time (ages 7-9).

3. It was really funny. She always had me laughing while I was reading it.

4. There weren't many words that were hard for me at the time, but it was challenging enough to keep me reading.

5. It was usually about things that were important to me at the time: school, friends, family, etc.

How can I find this book in the library? All of the Junie B. Jones books can be found in the Children's Department, in series fiction, under the call number j series JUNIE B.

Books in Brief: Breaking Stalin's Nose

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A quick read about a young boy's reversal of fortune over the course of only two days in Stalinist Russia.

When the book begins, Sasha is a happy 10-year-old, devoted to his father and to the Communist regime. When his father is arrested, everything changes, and slowly Sasha begins to question the system he used to believe in so completely.

Author Eugene Yelchin paints a deceptively simple and very effective picture of a police state whose citizens - even its children - are encouraged to inform on each other or lie to implicate the innocent. And even though the book doesn't have what I'd call a happy ending, we leave Sasha with at least one person who is kind.

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Books in Brief: Oddfellow's Orphanage

Oddfellow's Orphanage by Emily Winfield Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A lovely story with a very vintage feel to it. Told as a series of vignettes about a home for orphans, it's a lyrical patchwork of gentle humor, simple pleasures, and fairy-tale fantasy.

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Books In Brief: All Kinds of Kisses

Reviewer: Angie

The name of the book being recommended: All Kinds of Kisses by Nancy Tafuri

Please give us five reasons why this book is awesome: 

1. It's the latest installment by Caldecott Award honoree, Nancy Tafuri.

2. This beautifully-illustrated book shows how all kinds of animals express their love.

3. Kisses! And more kisses!

4. Babies and toddlers will love acting out the way the baby animals kiss.

5. From moo kisses to coo kisses, to oink kisses and woof kisses, we are led to the best kiss of all: mommy's kiss goodnight.

Where can I find this book in the library? It can be found in the Children's Department under the call number jE TAF.