Display these tales in school and public libraries, recommend them to anxious parents and caregivers, and read them aloud in freshly minted classes to kick off a great school year.

Foxy.
By Emma Dodd. illus. by author. HarperCollins. 2012.
Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-06-201419-1. PreS–Gr 1.

Tucked between her cozy flowered sheets, Emily worries that she does not have everything she needs for her first day of school. Never fear, for her friend Foxy arrives and waves his gigantic magical tail to make the supplies appear. Though it takes a few tries (giggles will ensue as he produces a penguin instead of a pencil case, or a pirate flag in place of a school bag), she is soon properly provisioned. When Emily expresses one final concern—“What if nobody likes me?”—Foxy assures her that she requires no magic to make friends. Vivacious artwork matches the verve of the text, and Dodd’s mix of silly and sincere imaginings will chase away night-before qualms.

Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?
By Audrey Vernick. illus. by Daniel Jennewein. HarperCollins/Balzar & Bray. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-176275-8; ebook $11.99. ISBN 978-0-06-206719-7. PreS–K.

This burning question is answered when a bulky buffalo—wearing a too-tiny backpack and can’t-wait-to-please smile—follows a pigtailed girl into a classroom. Though he’s shy at first (after all, he’s “the only one with horns. And a mane. Okay, and a hump”), his irresistible furry face soon wins friends. Throughout the day, he bravely puts his best hoof forward, taking on new challenges (using scissors) and social situations (sharing), and learning an essential kindergarten lesson: “Everyone’s special in his or her own way.” Breezy text and dynamic cartoon artwork provide a tongue-in-cheek take on first day worries that entertains while it reassures.

Kindergarten Diary.
By Antoinette Portis. illus. by author. HarperCollins. 2010. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-06-145691-6; ebook $8.99. ISBN 978-0-06-206558-2. PreS–K.

Beginning on the day before the big day, Annalina’s brief entries express her trepidation about going to “Big School.” However, before month’s end, she has become comfortable with her “very un-scary” teacher, conquered the monkey bars, and made some new friends. Featuring brightly clothed characters and crisp photo collage images, the artwork bursts with color and motion. Delightful visual details make this book a read-again-and-again charmer.

Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Going to School?
By Bill Martin Jr. & Michael Sampson. illus. by Laura J. Bryant. Amazon/Two Lions. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4778-1722-3. PreS–Gr 1.

A huggable young feline enjoys a busy day at school, singing, learning, playing, and interacting with others. The simple rhyming narrative is presented in a musical call-and-response cadence (“Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat,/time to have a treat.’/‘Yum yum, Teacher,/I always like to eat”) and the warm-hued artwork is filled with charm. It’s sweet, soothing, and just right for use as a cuddle-together bedtime book or a classroom read-aloud for the very youngest new scholars.

Llama Llama Misses Mama.
By Anna Dewdney. illus. by author. Viking. 2009. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-670-06198-3.PreS–K.

Lilting rhymes and color-drenched paintings touch upon little Llama’s first-day woes as he bids a wide-eyed goodbye to Mama, remains shyly aloof from morning activities, is comforted by a caring teacher, and eventually begins to feel at home. Llama’s expressions are convincingly childlike, from his stubborn I-don’t-want-to-participate pout to his joyful smile upon Mama’s return, and the emotions in both text and artwork ring true.

Monstergarten.
By Daniel J. Mahoney. illus. by Jeff Kaminsky. Feiwel & Friends. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-250-01441-2. PreS–K.

Patrick, a fuchsia monster with striped horns, is worried that he won’t be scary enough to attend Monstergarten. He and his toothy pal Kevin practice their moves on Snowball the cat (who fluffs up to giant size and displays pointy teeth), try to frighten Kevin’s sister and her friend (unfortunately garnering giggles rather than gasps), and even consult books about the pros (Frankenstein, etc.). Though still anxious, Patrick follows his mother’s advice—”Just be yourself”—making for a successful first day. Shown flashing their fangs, twisting their tongues, and striking all manner of menacing poses, the brightly colored beasties are a hoot, and the empowering message is delivered with a light touch.

A Pirate’s Guide to First Grade.
By James Preller. illus. by Greg Ruth. Feiwel & Friends. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-312-36928-6; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-250-02721-4. K–Gr 2.

A red-headed, pirate-loving boy navigates the first day of school accompanied by a crew of sea rovers. Generously salted with tongue-tingling buccaneer lingo, the text describes how he shines his “snappers,” gets “dressed double quick,” boards his “jolly boat” (yellow bus), and “drops anchor” at school. Throughout the day, ordinary routines and experiences are transformed into an imagination-fueled adventure. Lush colors delineate the real-world scenes while bronze-toned drawings depict the corsairs in all of their eye-patch-wearing, sword-swinging, trouble-making glory.

This School Year Will Be the Best.
By Kay Winters. illus. by Renée Andriani. Dutton. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-525-42275-4; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-14-242696-8. K–Gr 2.

On the first day of school, a teacher asks her students to share their hopes for the coming year. Varying from the feasible (“I won’t lose things in my desk”) to the far-fetched (“We’ll have a chocolate fountain at lunch!”), the wishes are presented along with breezy illustrations that expand the text with imaginative details and humor. Parents or teachers can share this book to encourage children to discuss their expectations, think about setting personal goals, and jump into the year with a smile.

Tony Baloney: School Rules.
By Pam Muñoz Ryan. illus. by Edwin Fotheringham. Scholastic. 2013. Tr $6.99. ISBN 978-0-545-48166-3. K–Gr 2.

Teeth brushed, backpack filled, and blue-and-white checkered high-tops securely tied, this high-spirited macaroni penguin is ready to dive right into his first day at James Cook Elementary. Though things don’t go quite as planned—particularly in the rule-following department—Tony Baloney’s amiable nature and willingness to learn from his mistakes guarantee a positive experience. Commonplace concerns are effectively expressed through the protagonist’s chats with his beloved stuffed animal (Dandelion is a bit apprehensive). Gentle humor abounds in the easy-reader text and in the artwork, which features bold primary colors and appealing characters.

Wow! School!
By Robert Neubecker. illus. by author. 2007. Hyperion/Disney. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-3854-9. PreS–Gr 1.

Curly-haired Izzy faces her first day with boundless enthusiasm and a contagious smile. From “Wow! Classroom!” and “Wow! Teacher!” to “Wow! Playground!” and “Wow! Science!,” each new experience is gleefully embraced and depicted in effervescent spreads. Packed with dazzling hues and bustling activity, the artwork portrays plenty of classroom details, goings-on, and objects for parents and children to identify and discuss. Perfect for starting off the year with a “Wow!”

You’re Wearing That to School?!
By Lynn Plourde. illus. by Sue Cornelison. Hyperion/Disney. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-5510-2. PreS–Gr 1.

Penelope, a free-spirited hippo, can’t wait for the big day and plans to wear her “sparkle rainbow outfit,” pack a picnic-style feast for lunch, and bring her beloved stuffy Hugsy Hippo for show-and-tell. However, her friend Tiny, a worry-wart mouse who started school last year, frets about her fitting in and advises a plain outfit, PBJ, and a much-less-babyish rock for classroom sharing. Though appreciative of his concern, plucky Penelope ultimately goes her own way, and the final double-fold-out spread shows the smiling youngster surrounded by new school friends. Lively text and endearing artwork convey the beauty of individuality and the importance of remaining true to oneself.

BRANFORD, Anna. Violet Mackerel’s Personal Space. illus. by Elanna Allen. S & S/Atheneum. Sept. 2013. ISBN 9781442435919. JLG Level: I+ : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

Investigating theories is one of Violet Mackerel’s specialties. The summer her mother remarries she decides that if you leave a small something behind (like a shell or a bit of sea glass), a tiny part of you gets to stay forever. Her brother Dylan struggles with the news that the family will be moving to a larger house. When he moves outside to his father’s beat-up tent, Violet focuses on helping her brother adjust. Planning for the wedding redirects her own fear of change, until the day the last box is packed. A big part of her wants to stay in the house she has lived in for her whole life. Does her theory really work? Violet’s musings offer young readers the opportunity to reflect on the spaces they leave behind as well.

COVILLE, Bruce and Elizabeth Levy. Paula Danziger’s Amber Brown is on the Move. illus. by Anthony Lewis. Putnam. Sept. 2013. ISBN  9780399161698. JLG Level:  I : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4)

Moving is never easy, and even worse, Amber has to pack her own things. At school, she falls behind in standardized testing preparations. Saturday Academy for Amber! When her class begins to take ballroom dancing, she has trouble keeping up with that as well. Her dad decides they should take lessons together, but he falls for the dance instructor. Now Miss Isobel (who can never remember Amber’s name) joins the pair on her weekends of musical theater movie watching. Stepfather Max nags at Amber to pack. No wonder she can’t focus. There’s too much change and Amber begins to feel hopeless. How can she get back on track? Coville and Levy guide the endearing girl through a hard year when Amber must learn to take change one step at a time.

HENKES, Kevin. The Year of Billy Miller. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Sept. 2013. ISBN 9780062268136. JLG Level: I+ : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

The summer after Billy Miller hits his head, he worries if he will be smart enough for second grade. His teacher, Ms. Silver, assures him that he is. Now that Billy is older, he wants to call his papa, Dad. How will his father react? Will it hurt his feelings? And papa is struggling with his big art break. What can Billy do to help him? Little sister Sal can be a pain. She even gets glitter on his bat cave project! And his mom becomes the subject of his class project, though it’s really hard to write about her. (He’d rather write about volcanoes.) Henkes divides Billy’s tale into four character-focused sections, enabling readers to understand more fully how Billy conquers fears, works through problems, and grows up―just a little bit.

KLISE, Kate. The Show Must Go On! illus. by M. Sarah Klise. Algonquin. Sept. 2013. ISBN 9781616202446. JLG Level: I+ : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

Sir Sidney has the best circus in the world. Everyone leaves happy. He treats his animals like family. When he grows old and tired, he places an ad in the paper for a new circus manager. Dozens of applicants appear, but they seem more interested in meeting him than in running a circus. Barnabas Brambles, Certified Lion Tamer, has other ideas. He wants to see change―energy, new vision, and a new attitude! Sir Sidney gives him a one week trial, and a free hand to run the business. The stipulation is that he should treat everyone―large and small―with respect. Nothing could be further from the truth. Brambles doubles the performances and prepares to sell Sir Sidney’s beloved animals. Something must be done! The sisters Klise introduce an entertaining cast of characters in an amusing new series (“Three-Ring Rascals”) for independent readers.

MACLACHLAN, Patricia. The Truth of Me. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. 2013. ISBN 9780061998607. JLG Level: I : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

Robbie’s grandmother Maddy is his best friend, though not many kids would say that. Maddy has many friends, but most of them are wild animals. It worries her daughter, but Robbie knows that it proves that Maddy has special powers. He believes she shared a piece of corn bread with a bear while sitting on a log in the woods. The summer that he spends with his grandmother while his musician parents go on tour provides an opportunity for Robbie to experience her gift of talking to the animals. MacLachlan’s tender story of a boy who finds courage inspires readers to observe the truth in their own lives.

For audio/video versions of these booktalks, please visit JLG’s Shelf Life Blog.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

CREECH, Sharon. The Boy on the Porch. Harper/Joanna Cotler Bks. Sept. 2013. ISBN 9780061892370. JLG Level: A : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

What kind of person would leave their child with strangers? Especially a child who doesn’t speak? Finding a young boy sleeping on their porch causes a young couple to open their home and later their hearts. They have no idea how he got there, just that someone would be back for him. Quickly becoming part of the family, Jacob rides the cow, runs with the beagle, and relaxes into a happy routine. All too soon, an unfamiliar car arrives to take the child away. His father has come for him. Feeling the hole that Jacob leaves, the husband and wife search for ways to fill it. Can they find happiness again? What will happen to the boy on the porch? Creech fans expecting a heart-wrenching story will not be disappointed.

DiCAMILLO, Kate. Flora & Ulysses. illus. by K. G. Campbell. Candlewick. Sept. 2013. ISBN 9780763660406. JLG Level: A+ : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

Flora Belle Buckman is a natural born cynic. She also loves comics and reads them until her mother, a romance novelist, writes a contract requiring Flora to “turn her face…toward the bright light of true literature.” When the lady next door accidently vacuums an unassuming squirrel, Flora springs to the rescue and learns that he has acquired super powers. Able to lift the heavy Ulysses vacuum and seemingly now able to communicate, newly-named Ulysses begins a journey that will impact every person he meets. Whether he saves lives or merely types a poem, the squirrel will delight readers. His supporting cast is unique and charming, exactly what one would anticipate from the author of The Tale of Despereaux. (Candlewick, 2006)

DONOVAN, Gail. The Waffler. Dial. Aug. 2013. ISBN 9780803739208. JLG Level: A+ : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

Eating a waffle is a fine thing. Being a waffler (a person who can’t make a decision) is not. Even though he would like to change, Monty has a hard time making up his mind. When the principal accuses him of waffling, he gets a new nickname: Waffles. Complicating matters is the annual reading buddy program. He is assigned to a kindergarten boy named Leo, but later learns that some kids don’t get to participate because they have special services during that time. Deciding it’s not fair, he makes them his “unofficial” partners, reading to them at recess. Just before the culminating event, Leo has to move. Mrs. Tuttle tells Monty he has to decide which of his three unofficial partners will be his new buddy, but how can anyone decide about something like that? Donovan’s new school story has plenty of humor and thought-provoking situations.

LUBAR, David. Numbed. Millbrook. Oct. 2013. ISBN 9781467705943. JLG Level: A+ : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

Fans of Punished (Darby Creek, 2007) and lovers of math will be thrilled to discover Lubar’s new sequel, Numbed. Logan is supposed to keep Benedict out of trouble when his sixth grade class visits the Mobius Mathematics Museum. Discovering a number-crunching robot, Benedict flips the switch and argues with the mechanical device. “Numbers are stupid,” he shouts. Then the robot speaks in a low voice, calm and scary, “You are wrong about numbers. You must be numbed.” The boys soon learn that numbers are integrated into their lives, and without them, they are in big trouble. Solving math problems under time pressure is the only way to reverse their inability to calculate even the simplest equations.

For audio/video versions of these booktalks, please visit JLG’s Shelf Life Blog.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

DAVIES, Matt. Ben Rides On. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. 2013. ISBN 9781596437944. JLG Level: P+ : Primary (Grades K–1).

Ben’s life revolves around two things: avoiding his bully, Adrian, and dreaming of revenge. After his tormentor steals his bike, Ben discovers an opportunity to retaliate, ridding himself of an unending threat. He finds Adrian hanging off a branch on the side of a cliff. “How extraordinarily terrible,” he thinks. It would be so easy to take his broken bike and walk away, but would that be the right thing to do? In his first book for young readers, Davies captures the emotional upheaval of confronting bullies and choosing right from wrong.

MACDONALD, Ross. Henry’s Hand. Abrams. Oct. 2013. ISBN 9781419705274. JLG Level: P+ : Primary (Grades K–1).

Having removable body parts had disadvantages for Henry. He might misplace a foot or lose an eye under the couch. Happily, Henry’s best friend, Hand, is never far away. They go everywhere together―until he begins to take his friend for granted. Running away from the ungrateful companion seems the only thing Hand can do. His new life instantly changes when he crosses a downtown street and saves a man from being hit by a car. He becomes a hero, surrounded by admirers. But he still feels alone―he misses his friend. Henry realizes it’s his fault that Hand is never coming back. Is it too late to mend their friendship? Humor and tenderness in text and illustration create a timeless fable.

VERNICK, Audrey. Bogart and Vinnie: A Completely Made-Up Story of True Friendship. illus. by Henry Cole. Bloomsbury/Walker. 2013. ISBN 9780802728234. JLG Level: HE : Humor Elementary (Grades 2–6).

“Vinnie, a crazy-happy dog, was lost.” Finding a home in a wildlife shelter seems to be the mostly unlikely place for a lost pet to find a friend. With dogged determination, the canine bonds with Bogart, a lonely rhinoceros. When their uncommon relationship becomes big news, Vinnie’s owners rush to rescue their pet. How can anyone separate a true friendship? Beloved illustrator Cole adds balloon captions to Vernick’s charming story of two unexpected pals.

YOON, Salina. Penguin on Vacation. Bloomsbury/Walker. Dec. 2013. ISBN 9781596437944. JLG Level: P+: Primary (Grades K–1).

Penguin needs a vacation; he’s tired of skiing, sledding, and skating on the ice. Heading north, he sails for the beach. It was, however, nothing like he expected. He can’t ski, sled, or skate on sand. He has no idea how to have fun there. “Are you lost, says Crab?” Being willing to learn―even while playing― helps Penguin make a friendship that will last. Yoon’s simple text and bright illustrations make this a great read aloud for young readers no matter where they live.

For audio/video versions of these booktalks, please visit JLG’s Shelf Life Blog.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

BARTOLETTI, Susan Campbell. Down the Rabbit Hole. Scholastic. 2013. ISBN 9780545297011. JLG Level: B+ : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

A Dear America adventure set in 1871 Chicago, Bartoletti’s orphan tale features the diary of Pringle Rose―a strong female character who takes care of her younger brother who has Down syndrome. When their hopes of shelter end on the steps of a Chicago mansion, the siblings turn to a family they’ve met on the train from Pennsylvania. Pringle becomes the governess and amidst the constant fires of a city built of wood, learns to cook, clean, and manage a household. While she learns about the life of the worker, she begins to struggle with her upper class beliefs. Was her father wrong? Are the workers underpaid and overworked?  Whether readers recognize the date of the Great Fire or not, the foreboding sense of tragedy looms over the city, creating suspense in the center of Pringle’s conflicting emotions.

GOLDBLATT, Mark. Twerp. Random. 2013. ISBN 9780375971433. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7) .

“I’ve done worse, much worse, and never written a word about it.” After a week of suspension, Justin chooses to write about what happened instead of completing his Shakespeare assignment. He has no trouble retelling the mischief he and his neighborhood buddies get into. “His entire head was surrounded by smoke. It was like something you’d see in a comic book…but only for a split second. Not enough time to realize what was going on, or to think about the consequences―like maybe Quentin was going to be dead once the smoke cleared.” (It took six weeks for his eyebrows to grow back.) Justin finds that writing an account of his sixth-grade year is harder than he thought. From tales of love letters gone awry to heartfelt narratives about an argument between friends, Goldblatt’s first novel for younger readers will have them laughing out loud and reflecting on their own choices as Justin learns about the effects of bullying.

KADOHATA, Cynthia. The Thing About Luck. illus. by Julia Kuo. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. ISBN 9781416918820. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Summer’s life has always revolved around the harvesting of wheat. When her parents are called to Japan, she helps take the harvest season on the road as her grandmother’s assistant in the kitchen. She’ll also take care of her younger brother, Jaz, and their dog, Thunder. Timing is everything in this business, so when her grandfather becomes ill and her grandmother’s back causes great pain, the family’s job becomes jeopardized. Can they beat the deadline before the rains come and ruin the profit? Can she save the harvest? Kadohata’s novel combines the power of family responsibility with the story of a young girl determined to triumph over luck.

MILLS, Claudia. Zero Tolerance. Farrar. 2013. ISBN 9780374333126. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Turning in the knife in her mother’s lunch bag (which she mistakenly took) seemed to be the right thing to do. Sierra never thought it would lead to in-school suspension and an expulsion hearing. Though she is an honor student, the zero tolerance policy at her middle school required immediate action. Her passionate attorney father is determined to gain publicity that will force the principal to back down―even if it means sullying his reputation. Sierra has some hard decisions to make. Should she go to another school? Should she admit to writing the letter from the school secretary? And what about Luke, who is always in trouble, but seems to really like her? Middle grade readers will have much to discuss about the issue of zero tolerance.

WILLIAMS-GARCIA, Rita. P.S. Be Eleven. HarperCollins/Amistad/. 2013. ISBN 9780061938634. JLG Level:  B+ : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Delphine and her sisters have come home inspired by their mother and the Black Panthers, but Big Ma has other ideas. Order, tradition, and rules must be upheld. Uncle Darnell returns from Vietnam, but seems sick all the time. He’s also lost his laughter. When Pa brings home his new girlfriend, it seems that Delphine can’t control anything. She feels responsible for everyone, especially her sisters. In a series of letters from her mother, Cecile, she gets advice to let things go. Sister Vonetta can be in charge of the savings for the Jackson concert. Baby sister Fern can be excited for a new stepmother. Maybe it’s time for Delphine to enjoy her family, her childhood, and to just be eleven.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

The assortment of recent books surveyed below examines both historical milestones and current research that have illuminated our understanding, with explorations in two opposite (or maybe not so opposite) directions: toward the universe’s smallest and most fundamental components and forces, and outward to the stars and beyond. Along with picture books that will have very young audiences thinking beyond the playpen, selected fiction and poetry are tucked into this list to demonstrate less typical but no less valid ways of introducing scientific wonders and concepts. Several of the titles also serve todispel the notion that science is for nerds; the sometimes provocative biographies of nuclear physicists Ernest Rutherford and Richard Feynman, for instance, profile men whose personalities were every bit as big and powerful as their brains.

Every good children’s librarian is always on the lookout for great material. Whenever you see a picture book, you don’t just read it, you ask yourself, What can I do with it? How can I use this title in a storytime? Is there a theme I can develop? As a newbie librarian, I kept lists of potential themes and books that would fit with them and also work well with a group. Of course, sometimes my themes got pretty esoteric, such as “Animals that crowd into small spaces.” But for me, one of the joys of doing this type of programming is finding books that work perfectly together to create an engaging storytime.

This month I am focusing on Spanish language and bilingual board books, picture books, and collections of songs and rhymes.

Board Books

There are quite a few board books out there that I wish to highlight. While their size is perfect for one-on-one reading, these titles can also be used for small-group sharing. Bringing quality materials to the attention of new parents and caregivers is just one of the ways that libraries can contribute to early learning programs.

PRINCE, April Jones. Qué hacen las ruedas todo el día?/What Do Wheels Do All Day? tr. from English by Carlos E. Calvo. illus. by Giles Laroche. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. BD $4.99. ISBN 978-0-547-99625-7.
PreS-Gr 1–This is a very simple rhymed text that describes and illustrates the many functions that wheels perform. They help us go places, they win races, they circle and spin. Calvo’s translation is unexpectedly lovely. It scans and rhymes perfectly, and works entirely on its own. The paper cutout illustrations provide a nice sense of reality and dimension to the action.

SCHERTLE,Alice.El camioncito azul. tr. from English by F. Isabel Campoy. illus. by Jill McElmurry. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. BD $7.99. ISBN 978-0-547-98397-4.
PreS-Gr 1–The story is a take on the old Russian folktale “The Giant Turnip.” In this case, a little blue truck is riding along a country road being greeted cheerfully by animals along the way. Then it is sideswiped by a much larger truck that has to get where it is going right away. When the large dump truck gets stuck in the mud, the little blue truck helps it out, but in the process gets stuck itself. The animals come one by one to help push the little blue truck out of the muck, but it is only when the smallest animal, the frog, joins the chain that they are successful. The translation reads aloud very smoothly. The illustrations are perfect for the story, with winding roads and countrysides reminiscent of Virginia Lee Burton’s work.
Activity Ideas: These two books could be paired for a delightful storytime about vehicles. El camioncito azul provides opportunities for audience participation through animal and truck sounds. Qué hacen las ruedas todo el día? gives children the opportunity to point out the different types of vehicles, from motorcycles to baby strollers. El camioncito azul is a terrific story to act out with some impromptu creative dramatization. It could also be paired with a Spanish version of “The Enormous Turnip”: Alexi Tolstoy’s El nabo gigante (Barefoot, 2000).

FOX, Mem. Diez deditos de las manos y diez deditos de los pies/Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes. tr. from English by F. Isabel Campoy. illus by Helen Oxenbury. Houghton Harcourt. 2012. BD $6.99. ISBN 978-0-547-87006-9.
PreS-Gr 1–No matter the place of birth, nationality, race, or color, all little babies share some basic anatomy. Campoy provides a functional Spanish translation, and doesn’t try to force the rhymes. This book is ideal for Spanish-speaking parents to share directly with their infants. Oxenbury’s illustrations remind us why she is considered one of the world’s finest living illustrators.

MUNRO, Fiona, Jo Moon, & Carmen Gil. ¿De quién es esta nariz? Combel Editorial. 2011. BD $11.95. ISBN 978-4-498-25677-2.
PreS-Gr 1–A lift-the-flap book in which children see a detail of a nose and have to guess the animal’s identity. While designed primarily for parent-child sharing, this title can also be used in a storytime, with youngsters taking turns revealing the hidden animals. There are two other books in this series that could work equally as well: ¿De quién es esta cola? (Whose Tail Is This?) and ¿De quién son estas rayas? (Who Do These Stripes Belong To?) (both Combel Editorial, 2012).

THOMPSON, Lauren. Cuaquito. illus. by Derek Anderson. S & S. 2003. BD $7.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9894-5.
PreS-Gr 1–Here’s a backlist title that would work very well with any books with a counting or animal theme. A translation of Thompson’s Little Quack, it is an absolute delight to read aloud. The Spanish edition provides the little ducklings with perfect rhyming names like Chapucín and Chapuzón. The book allows children to count along in Spanish as the ducklings jump one by one into the water. The littlest duckling, Cuaquito, is hesitant but finally makes it into the water, which should elicit cheers from the storytime crowd.

BROWN, Margaret Wise. El gran granero rojo. illus. by Felicia Bond. HarperCollins/HarperFestival.1996. BD $7.99. ISBN 978-0-060-09107-1.
PreS-Gr 1–Another translation of a popular title that originally appeared in English is this rendition of The Big Red Barn. The Spanish edition is available both in the original hardcover as well as board book formats. The text catalogues all of the numerous animals in the big red barn with a nice rhyme scheme that makes this version flow beautifully when read aloud.

BORN TO READ PROGRAM, San Antonio Public Library Foundation, San Antonio Museum of Art.1, 2, 3, Sí!: a Numbers Book in English and Spanish. 2011. ISBN 978-1-595-34080-1.
–––.Hello, Círculos!: Shapes in English y Español. 2012. ISBN 978-1-595-34140-2.
–––. Colores Everywhere!: Colors in English y Español. 2012. ISBN 978-1-595-34139-6.
ea vol: Design by Madeleine Budnick. photos by Peggy Tenison. Trinity University Press. BD $7.95.
PreS-Gr 1–These titles represent a unique museum/library partnership. Each of these concept books is illustrated with reproductions of artwork from the museum. All of the volumes are impeccably designed. Combining a focus on early literacy with a connection to fine art is absolutely brilliant. Must-haves for all collections.

Picture Books

ARGUETA,Jorge.Tamalitos: un poema para concinar/A Cooking Poem. tr. by Elisa Amado. illus. by Domi. Groundwood. 2013. RTE $18.95. ISBN 978-1-55498-300-1.
PreS-Gr 1–Part recipe, part poem, this book takes readers step-by-step through the creation of corn tamales with cheese filling. What I really like is the way Argueta connects the making of tamales with the indigenous culture of Mexico. In his telling, making tamales becomes a celebratory rite and a near-religious ritual. The Spanish version of the poem is clearly superior, and the English translation, while solid, cannot match the beauty, sound, and cadence of Argueta’s verse. There is no formal recipe, but the text makes the steps of cooking tamales very clear, and the elements of the recipe that require adult supervision (such as turning on the stove) are marked with an asterisk. Domi’s illustrations are colorful and imaginative.
Activity Ideas: Of course, this book would work perfectly with a food-themed storytime, with actual tamales available to eat afterward. The obvious connection is with the previous three cooking poems in this series: Sopa de frijoles/Bean Soup (2009), Arroz con leche/Rice Pudding (2010), Guacamole (2012, all Groundwood).
Each title has a different illustrator, and this might provide some fodder for a compare-and-contrast discussion. Guacamole was previously reviewed in this column, along with another food-themed work, Samantha R. Vamos’s La Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred (Charlesbridge, 2011).

ROMÁN, Celso. Mi papá es mágico. illus. by Alekos. Alfaguara. 2010. pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-607-11-0325-3.
PreS-Gr 2–This is a lovely tribute to a father who takes his child to a park and makes it a magical experience. The child, who is the narrator of the story, simply adores her dad in a way that is totally sincere and heartfelt. This book is in some ways reminiscent of Jules Feiffer’s The Daddy Mountain (Hyperion, 2004), which would make a good pairing in a bilingual storytime. The illustrations are particularly good at portraying the world of imagination that the father creates.

MACHADO, Ana Maria. !Qué confusión! illus. by Francesc Rovira. Alfaguara. 2011. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-970-770-946-1.
PreS-Gr 2–This is one of the more recent picture books from the revered Brazilian author. In this charming tale written in rhyming verse, Isabel and Enrique are spending the day at their grandmother’s house. They play with some clay and markers. Then it’s off to Grandma’s garden, where they plant some seeds and water the plants. Unfortunately, they end up covered in mud, and Grandma solves the problem by giving them a bath with the garden hose. A simple story of intergenerational relationships in which the use of language truly shines.

DOMINGUEZ, Angela N. Maria Had a Little Llama/María tenía una llama pequeña. Holt. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9333-9.
PreS-Gr 1–This book transports the familiar children’s poem and song to the country of Peru. Mary becomes María, and the lamb becomes a llama. The text of the song is no different from what you would be familiar with, with only the substitutions mentioned above. What makes this book valuable for a collection is the illustrations. The pictures transport children into the landscape and culture of Peru. The markets, the music, and the clothing are all vividly depicted and give readers a sense of how different, and yet how alike, we all are.

Song and Nursery Rhyme Books

Here are three collections of Latino songs and nursery rhymes that I absolutely could not live without while preparing storytimes and programs. While a couple of them may be a tad challenging to find, your library users shouldn’t live without them either.

ROCKWELL, Ann. El Toro Pinto and Other Songs in Spanish. Macmillan. 1971 (Aladdin pap. 1995). (out of print) ISBN 978-0-689-71880-9.
All ages–This was one of the very few books available to me when I started programming for Spanish-speaking children. Rockwell was truly a pioneer in making this collection available. This is essentially a songbook, with the music and lyrics presented together. The tunes are simple to learn, the music is on one staff only, and there are guitar chords as well. The book includes the song “Arroz con leche,” which could accompany the Argueta food-themed storytime. The table of contents indicates the country of origin for each song. The illustrations are charming, and English translations of the songs are included at the end of the book.

GRIEGO, Margot C., Betsy L. Bucks, et. al. Tortillitas para Mamá and Other Nursery Rhymes. illus. by Barbara Cooney. Square Fish. 1988. Tr $8.99 ISBN 978-0-805-00317-8.
All ages–This was the first, and is still one of the finest, collections of Spanish-language nursery rhymes. Along with the Rockwell book, it was my go-to source of material when I started out. The title rhyme is easy to learn and fun to share with kids, even if you don’t speak Spanish. English translations are included. And the fact that this has illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Barbara Cooney is an extra bonus.

OROZCO, José-Luis, sel. De Colores and Other Latin-American Folksongs for Children. illus. by Elisa Kleven. Dutton. 1994. (Puffin, 1999). pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-140-56548-5.
All ages–This is an absolutely essential book by a revered singer and songwriter for Latino children. Some of the songs, such as “El chocolate,” are also nursery rhymes, which I first learned without music, but then discovered the tunes. Others are musical versions of nursery rhymes that English-speaking children would be familiar, like “The Eensy, Weensy, Spider.” It is also a source for a familiar song that would be great with the animal storytime theme suggested by some of the books mentioned in this column: “Los pollitos,” or “The Little Chicks.” Even my English-speaking daughter memorized this one as a child. There is background information on each song, putting it in context.

Tim Wadham is the director of the City of Puyallup Public Library in Washington State. wadhambooks@gmail.com

Ballerina Dreams: A True Story. By Lauren Thompson. photos by James Estrin. Feiwel & Friends. 2007. Trade $16.95. ISBN 978-0-312-37029-9.

PreS-Gr 2–In this affecting photo-essay, five girls, all of whom have cerebral palsy or other muscle disorders, present a much-anticipated recital. Engaging pictures depict the youngsters rehearsing with their teacher; applying glittery makeup on performance day; and, with the aid of teenage helpers, moving gracefully to sparkle on stage. The text highlights the emotions of any would-be ballerina love of tiaras and tutus, backstage butterflies and onstage exuberance, and pride of accomplishment–while underscoring each girl’s personal challenges, hard work, and amazing gains. An uplifting and heartwarming story.

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring. By Jan Greenberg & Sandra Jordan. illus. by Brian Floca. Roaring Brook/Flash Point. 2010. Trade $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-338-0.

Gr 2-6–From inspiration to standing ovation, this handsome picture book describes a collaboration among three artists–choreographer and dancer Martha Graham, composer Aaron Copland, and artist/set-designer Isamu Noguchi–that resulted in a beloved masterpiece. The lyrical text and lissome watercolor paintings place readers in a front-row seat to witness ideas being shared, dancers rehearsing, and the production’s sensational 1944 premiere. Well-chosen quotes provide insight into each artist’s creative process, and the illustrations dramatically convey Graham’s innovative style. Accessible, lovely, and engaging, this offering will have youngsters eager to experience this American classic.

The Barefoot Book of Dance Stories. By Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple. illus. by Helen Cann. Barefoot. 2010. Trade w/ CD. $23.99. ISBN 978-1-84686-219-9.

Gr 1-5–Eight folktales from around the world commemorate the age-old enchantment of dance, from Germany’s midnight-waltzing “Twelve Dancing Princesses,” to the ever-clever Anansi, who limbos past an impossible challenge to win the hand of a West Indian king’s daughter, to a young Spanish shepherd whose magic flute compels anyone who hears it to flamenco. Filled with sprightly motion, the mixed-media illustrations add detail and charm. Information about each dance, costumes, and easy-to-learn tips are appended. A tantalizing invitation to the world of dance.

Cock-a-Doodle Dance! By Christine Tricarico. illus. by Rich Deas. Feiwel & Friends. 2012. Trade $16.99. ISBN 978-0-312-38251-3.

PreS-Gr 2–Things are “Cock-a-Doodle Dull!” for the tired animals on a Texas farm until Rooster catches a jitterbug and boogie fever spreads to each and every critter: turkeys tango, chickens cha-cha, sheep shimmy, and cows clog day and night. However, soon everyone is tuckered out, the barnyard transformed into a pig sty, and the animals realize that they must strike a balance between work and play. Cartoon artwork and a text filled with rhythmic rhymes and bouncy bon mots make for a rollicking read-aloud.

Dance. By Lorrie Mack. DK. 2012. Trade $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-9797-6.

Gr 4-8–From traditional folk dance to modern dance, ballroom tangos to Bollywood, classical ballet to b-boy breakin’, this lushly illustrated overview spans the world of dance. Jam-packed with sumptuous photographs and well-chosen reproductions, the lively text traces each form’s history and evolution, cultural significance, music and technique, costumes, and famous personalities, while conveying the razzle-dazzle of performance. Spreads featuring young dancers showcase the steps and movements of particular styles and you-can-do-it accessibility. An informative and fun-to-browse resource.

Dumpy La Rue. By Elizabeth Winthrop. illus. by Betsy Lewin. Holt. 2001. Trade $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-6385-1; pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-7535-9.

K-Gr 2–Despite being told by family and friends that pigs don’t dance, a free-thinking porker persists in marching to the beat of his own drummer and his smooth moves and high-kicking high spirits soon have all of the farmyard critters hoofing it up. Winthrop’s frolicsome rhymes make for a musical read-aloud, while Lewin’s color-splashed artwork depicts characters with humor and supple style.

Flora and the Flamingo. By Molly Idle. illus. by author. Chronicle. 2013. Trade $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4521-1006-6.

PreS-Gr 2–In this wordless picture book, a little girl wearing a pink swimsuit, flippers, and a daisy-covered bathing cap imitates the graceful movements of a flamingo, her rounded body and animated expressions providing an amusing variation on the bird’s straight-faced long-limbed poses. When they finally end up nose to beak, the flamingo squawks and sends Flora into a tearful tumble, but amends are made and the two dance their way Swan Lake-style to friendship and a smile-inducing ending. The pale pink artwork provides plenty of punch, and cleverly designed fold-down flaps emphasize the kinetic action. An absolute delight.

Jazz Age Josephine. By Jonah Winter. illus. by Marjorie Priceman. S & S/Atheneum. 2012. Trade $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-6123-9; ebook.  $11.76. ISBN 978-1-4424-4710-3.

Gr 3-6–Born in St. Louis in 1906 into a childhood marked by poverty and racism, Josephine Baker “grew up singin’ nothin’ but the blues,” but her unique dance moves and indomitable spirit eventually led her to the Paris stage, instant fame, and a “Boh doh doh-dee-oh!” ending to her “jazz fairy tale.” From the despair of “worn-out old shoes” and “nothin’ to eat” to the jubilance of performing “…the Shake,/the Shimmy,/and the Mess Around!,” Winter’s syncopated narrative toe-taps through tragedies and triumphs. Lithe lines and bursts of bright color trumpet Baker’s effervescence and the sizzle of the Jazz Age.

Knockin’ on Wood: Starring Peg Leg Bates. By Lynne Barasch. illus. by author. Lee & Low. 2004. pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-1-60060-980-0.

Gr 1-4–This rousing picture-book biography introduces Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates, the rhythm-loving son of a South Carolina sharecropper in 1907, who lost his leg in a factory accident at age 12 and went on to become one of the most famous tap dancers of the 20^th century. Whether creating a beat with hands and feet at age five, testing out his rubber-and-leather-tipped wooden leg, putting his own “riffs” on traditional steps, or performing his signature American Jet Plane before a cheering audience, the upbeat text and jaunty ink and watercolor illustrations depict an inspiring individual whose perseverance and talent knew no bounds.

¡Olé! Flamenco. By George Ancona. photos by author. Lee & Low. 2010. Trade $19.95. ISBN 978-1-60060-361-7.

Gr 3-5–Spotlighting the youngest member of a performance group in Sante Fe, New Mexico, this book introduces an exhilarating and expressive art form that fuses song, dance, and music. Flamenco’s Roma roots and evolution in southern Spain are traced, and the beautifully composed photographs and descriptive text depict the style’s techniques, movements, and costumes while expressing its intrinsic drama and emotional power. Often passed down from generation to generation, the dance’s modern-day role in celebrating Hispanic heritage shines brightly through. Ancona’s Capoeira: Game! Dance! Martial Art! (Lee & Low, 2007) provides a similarly intriguing look at a born-in-Brazil blend of dance, acrobatics, and martial arts.

To Dance: A Ballerina’s Graphic Novel. By Siena Cherson Siegel. illus. by Mark Siegel. S & S/Atheneum/Richard Jackson Bks. 2006. Trade $19.99. ISBN978-0-689-86747-7; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-2687-0.

Gr 4-7–Siegel recounts the early influences that fueled her passion for ballet, years of training at the prestigious School of American Ballet, and, after a serious ankle injury at age 18 caused her to stop dancing, her eventual return to the barre (“Dancing fills a space in me”). The accessible narrative and fluid watercolor-and-ink illustrations form a pleasing pas de deux that conveys the exacting demands and captivating magic of ballet.

Vampirina Ballerina. By Anne Marie Pace. illus. by LeUyen Pham. Hyperion/Disney. 2012. Trade $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-5753-3.

PreS-Gr 2–With dreams as big as those of any wannabe dancer, a winsome young vampire (wearing gray gauze cape and bat-ear bow) enrolls in ballet school (one that offers evening classes, of course), learns to plié and relevé with the other girls (when she doesn’t frighten them away with her tiny fangs), practices endlessly (accompanied by a Frankenstein monster on double bass), and jetés to breathtaking heights on opening night (even without turning into a bat). The deadpan text never misses a beat, and the message that hard work and perseverance pay off is delivered with a light touch. Enchantingly eerie and amiably expressive, the artwork abounds with clever details that expand the story’s humor–and its heart.

 See also: Librarian, Blogger, Author: Betsy Bird Talks About Giant Dance Party

CASTELLUCCI, Cecil. Odd Duck. illus. by Sara Varon. First Second. 2013. ISBN 9781596435575. JLG Level: GE : Graphic Novels Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Theodora was content with her life and an interruption like her messy new neighbor could mean nothing but trouble. Chad is, after all, quite different. He is a crazy dancer who splashes when he swims. She keeps a teacup on her head during swimming to practice her posture. He hammers away at his yard art projects, while she quietly sips her tea. An injured wing keeps Chad from flying south for the winter, and Theodora prefers the quiet, so she never flies. Thrown together, the two neighbors become friends until they learn that one of them is an odd duck. Which one is it? Should it make a difference in a friendship? Readers will embrace these new characters embellished with Varon’s charming illustrations―no matter what their quirk.

COUDRAY, Philippe. Bright Ideas! Candlewick/Toon Bks. 2013. ISBN 9781935179221. JLG Level: GE : Graphic Novels Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Benjamin Bear returns with his rabbit friend in one-page comic adventures about their world. Rabbit needs to cross the river, so Benjamin builds him a bridge. Instead of using the new structure, he jumps over the bridge and the river. In “Sharing,” rabbit and porcupine argue over the ownership of a ball. When it hits Benjamin in the nose during his nap, they generously give the ball away rather than own the ball that hit an angry bear. Humor fills every page of this easy reader graphic novel. Each story’s conclusion will keep readers pondering.

HOLM, Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm. Extreme Babymouse. Random. 2013. ISBN 9780375970962. JLG Level: GE : Graphic Novels Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Babymouse wants to be like everyone else, so she begs her mom to go snowboarding. Learning to keep her balance, stopping with no brakes, and avoiding bumps leave her with pain more than anything else. Her coach advises listening to her inner voice. Peer pressure challenges her to ski the bigger hill and take the longest jump. Getting to the bottom of the mountain is more than a challenge. It’s extreme. Will Babymouse let her friends coerce her into poor decisions? Fans of the series will appreciate the humorous illustrations that often speak louder than words.

HOLM, Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm. Squish: Game On! Random. 2013. ISBN 9780307983008. JLG Level: GE : Graphic Novels Elementary (Grades 2–6).

“Just one more level,” is the cry of an avid gamer. Finding a stopping place is almost impossible, and Squish finds it difficult to stop for friends, food, and schoolwork. With a book report due, four school tardies, and no costume prepared for the Comic Convention, gaming has consumed his life. Can he stop his obsession? Will he find a balance in his life? Book 5 in the series leaves the reader laughing while learning an important life lesson.

KROSOCZKA, Jarrett J. Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain. Knopf. 2013. ISBN 9780307980809. JLG Level: GE : Graphic Novels Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Someone is stealing the technology at Thompson Brook School―and just before the new superintendent arrives for inspection. Lunch Lady is determined to find the culprit, while Hector runs for class president against his vote-buying competitor. When the boys do some investigation, it appears that the cyborg substitute teacher is back. How can that be when Mr. Edison is in jail? Is there a new villain in town? Can the Lunch Lady save the day while preventing the cafeteria from failing the inspection? A cliff-hanger conclusion will have fans of the series anticipating Book Ten.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

FLEMING, Candace. Papa’s Mechanical Fish. illus. by Boris Kulikov. Farrar/Margaret Ferguson. 2013. ISBN 9780374399085. JLG Level: E : Easy Reading (Grades 1-3).

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” goes the well-known saying. Papa was an inventor, so he made a mechanical fish. It sunk. He added a fin and propeller. It almost worked, so he added a steering wheel and protected the surface with copper. Papa’s inspirations for improvement come from the fish themselves (and a little prodding from his daughter). How do fish know where they’re going? Papa adds portholes. Will his invention ever work well enough for use in war or transportation? Fleming’s inspirational tale of little-known inventor, Lodner Phillips, presents a creative mind that continued to think, whether he was immediately successful or not.

HEILIGMAN, Deborah. The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdös. illus. by LeUyen Pham. Roaring Brook. 2013. ISBN 9781596433076. JLG Level: BE : Biography Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Paul loved math more than anything. He counted and subtracted all day. Between his mother’s over-protectiveness and his obsession with equations, the young boy never learned to do things for himself. When he was 21, his work took him to places where he was alone. Another mathematician would take him home, wash his clothes, provide his meals, and pay his bills. Shouting “my brain is open,” Paul would announce that he was ready to do calculations early in the morning. His personal quirks were tolerated by friends and colleagues who loved him anyway. Heiligman’s picture book biography of an eccentric genius reveals a man who was good at his job and was willing to share his talents with others.

MARKEL, Michelle. Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909. illus. by Melissa Sweet. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray. 2013. ISBN 9780061804427. JLG Level:  NE : Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Typical examples of leaders in American history include figures like George Washington or Benjamin Franklin. Clara was a five-foot-tall, nineteen-year-old girl when she took a stand for thousands of garment industry workers to strike for the improvement of their working conditions and benefits. If a worker bled twice on her cloth, she could lose her job. If she were a few minutes late to work, she could lose half a day’s pay. Working under unbelievable conditions (two toilets and one sink for 300 hundred girls), these teenagers made women’s clothing instead of getting an education. Clara was determined to improve things, so she took a stand. Though beaten and arrested 17 times, the immigrant seamstress dared to challenge the establishment and make a difference for those around her and the workers yet to come. Sweet’s brilliant collage and watercolor illustrations weave Markel’s words into an inspirational story of fighting for equality.

ROCHE, Suzzy. Want to Be in a Band? illus. by Giselle Porter. Random/Schwartz & Wade. 2013. ISBN9780375968792. JLG Level: E+ : Easy Reading (Grades 1–3).

What does it take to start a band? A little sister can ask her two older siblings. Then they can teach her everything they know. A new musician’s fingers may tire while playing the guitar, but practice is important. Performing for others may give a novice stage fright, but playing for her parents is a baby step in the right direction. After the band chooses a name, they can have a public performance. Maybe it will lead to a gig in a club, but the sisters shouldn’t worry if it’s not a big-time appearance. Based on her own experiences, folk-indie rock band The Roches, the author’s advice continues as she encourages budding musicians in the process of starting a band.

SAY, Allen. The Favorite Daughter. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. 2013. ISBN 9780545176620. JLG Level: CE : City Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Yuriko is upset when her Japanese name is mispronounced at school. Even her teacher calls her “Eureka.” As the teasing continues, she decides she wants an American name. Her wise and patient father goes along with her wishes and takes his “new” daughter, Michelle, to a Japanese garden in San Francisco. While looking for a souvenir with her name on it, they see a Japanese ink painting artist. After learning her real name, he paints a lily and uses traditional characters to write it out. She’s delighted with her special remembrance and decides to learn to paint it too. On their trip to the Golden Gate Bridge, father and daughter are disappointed to see it buried in fog. He encourages the youngster to use her imagination to recreate the bridge for her school project. Her father points out that she wants an ordinary name, but something different from everyone else for her artwork. Perhaps he’s given her more to think about than a school assignment. Say’s illustrations accompany the thought-provoking dialogue.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

BURLEIGH, Robert. Look Up!: Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer. illus. by Raúl Colón. S & S/Paula Wiseman. 2013. ISBN 9781416958192. JLG Level: SCE : Science Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2–6).

When Henrietta was a young woman, male students outnumbered the females in her college astronomy classes. Once she graduated, the young astronomer was paid thirty cents an hour to record information that male scientists in the observatory researched. Hour after hour she poured over the photographs. Eventually she began to see differences in the dots that represented the stars. Some stars dimmed while others brightened. Determined to unlock the mystery, Henrietta kept a chart and slowly a pattern began to emerge. What had she found? What impact would it make on astronomy? Burleigh’s text is beautifully illustrated by the acclaimed Colón, and supplemented with back matter for use in further research about this little-known pioneering woman astronomer.

CATE, Annette LeBlanc. Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard. Candlewick. 2013. ISBN 9780763645618. JLG Level: SCE : Science Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2–6).

“More exciting than slugs! More varieties than squirrels! Less dangerous than grizzly bears!” Perhaps best of all: bird-watching can be done in the safety of your own backyard. With a sketchbook and a pencil, even kids can learn about a bird’s characteristics. Observing its color, shape, actions, and interactions, the careful young scientist can learn to study nature. From “Be a Birdbrain” suggestions to “Wing Tips” that provide facts for novices, this new picture book is loaded with prodding questions. For example, observers can notice how a bird spends its time. Is it a loner? Does it stay in groups? Silly cartoons and speech bubbles punctuate the text, encouraging readers to linger over the detailed drawings to extract a plethora of facts. No matter where kids live, by looking up, beginning hobbyists can observe the world around them. Now they know what to look for.

STEWART, Melissa and Allen Young. No Monkeys, No Chocolate. illus. by Nicole Wong. Charlesbridge. 2013. ISBN 9781580892872. JLG Level: SCE : Science Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2–6).

What does it take to make chocolate? Milk? Sugar? Beans? Coffin flies? Lizards? Monkeys? Learning about the life cycle of a cocoa tree becomes fun and informative as readers discover how plants and animals work together to produce the bean that becomes chocolate. Cocoa pods don’t form without flowers and the midges that pollinate them. Flowers won’t bloom without the maggots that eat the ants’ brains which prevent the leaf-cutter ants from killing the leaves that feed the flowers. Fungi in the soil break down dead plants and animals, providing nutrients for the roots of the cocoa tree. A supporting cast of bookworms adds humor to the text. “I thought this book was about monkeys,” he says. “Well, we aren’t done yet. They must be coming,” she replies. To find out how monkeys help in the production of cocoa beans, kids will have to read it for themselves.

WEITEKAMP, Margaret A. with David DeVorkin. Pluto’s Secret: An Icy World’s Tale of Discovery. illus. by Diane Kidd.  Abrams. 2013. ISBN 9781419704239. JLG Level: SCE : Science Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Remember when Pluto’s status as a planet was revoked? Since 1930, when the small planet was discovered, idiosyncrasies kept scientists from being completely satisfied with its inclusion in the list of nine planets. Finally in 2006, scientists created the definition of a planet, and Pluto was outvoted. Weitekamp’s new informational picture book takes the reader back through time as Pluto is discovered, studied, and named by an eleven-year-old girl. Index, glossary, and a Who’s Who guide support common text nonfiction needs. Humorous illustrations and Pluto’s witty comments ensure that this new title will be a hit in a science classroom or in a storytime.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

First up are introductions to ocean-related topics, including currents, tides, food chains, and topography. In Down, Down, Down and Journey into the Deep, the authors organize their tours vertically, descending into ever-darker ocean zones, revealing giant tube worms and carnivorous sponges. With thousands of animals to study, most writers concentrate on a group such as whales or octopuses to show how species interact within a habitat. Books about prehistoric ocean life allow students to compare ancient animals with current ocean dwellers, while speculation about sea monsters can turn to fact as new discoveries are made.

Challenges facing scientists remain formidable. More humans have walked on the Moon than in the Marianas Trench, 35,000 feet below the surface. Although some people dive in search of sunken ships or treasure, many more study the ocean itself. The final illustration in Life in the Ocean, a biography of oceanographer Sylvia Earle, shows two people looking over the water. Below them, a panorama of animals and plants extends downward against deepening shades of blue. As elementary and middle school readers dive into this collection of ocean wonders, their awareness of and appreciation for the world under the sea are sure to grow.

The Big Picture

BANG, Molly & Penny Chisholm. Ocean Sunlight: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas. illus. by Molly Bang. Scholastic. 2012. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-545-27322-0.
K-Gr 4–Sunlight’s role in ocean food chains extends from surface waters to pitch-black depths. The dramatic growth of phytoplankton cascading across a spread is one of many arresting illustrations, large enough for group sharing yet complex enough to study individually. Detailed notes cover topics such as photosynthesis, marine snow, and chemosynthesis.

COLE, Joanna. The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor. illus. by Bruce Degen. (Magic School Bus Series). Scholastic. 1992. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-59041-430-2; pap. $6.99. 978-0-59041-431-9.
Gr 1-4–A diligent lifeguard tries to rescue Ms. Frizzle’s class as she drives across the beach and continental shelf into deep waters. A whirlwind tour of the ocean floor and coral reefs ends with a surfboard ride to demonstrate wave action. Cartoon illustrations and fact-filled “class report” sidebars enliven another entertaining and informative field trip. Audio and DVD versions available from Scholastic.

GREEN, Dan. Oceans: Making Waves! illus. by Simon Basher. (Basher Science Series). Kingfisher. 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7534-6821-0. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-7534-6822-7.
Gr 5-8–With its conversational tone and cartoon illustrations, this unconventional guide packs a lot of information into each double-page entry. Not only do animals introduce themselves, but ocean features such as tides, seaweed, and pollution also have their say. The wide-ranging topics and appealing format should jumpstart interest in the watery world.

JENKINS, Steve. Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea. illus. by author. Houghton Harcourt. 2009. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-618-96636-3.
Gr 2-6–Jenkins’s masterful collages reveal characteristics of animals at different ocean depths from the sunlit surface to the deepest trench. For example, contrasting images of twilight-zone animals as they would appear in light with their glowing outlines in dark water illustrate bioluminescence. Those interested in specific species will find more information after the main text.

JOHNSON, Rebecca L. Journey into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures. Millbrook. 2010. PLB $31.93. ISBN 978-0-7613-4148-2.
Gr 5-8–From 2000 to 2010, hundreds of scientists worldwide participated in the Census of Marine Life. New species that they identified, such as zombie worms or yeti crabs, appear in amazing photographs that accompany quotations from scientists and descriptions of their research methods and findings at various ocean depths.

WALKER, Pam & Elaine Wood. The Open Ocean. (Life in the Sea Series). Facts On File. 2005. PLB $35. ISBN 978-0-8160-5705-4.
Gr 6-10–The authors supply extensive information about the open ocean, which covers more than half of Earth’s surface. Drawings and diagrams accompany clear explanations of topics such as animal anatomy, food chains, hydrothermal vents, and properties of seawater. Although a few color photos are included, the volume is aimed at researchers, not browsers.

WIESNER, David. Flotsam. illus. by author. Clarion. 2006. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-618-19457-5; ebook $17. ISBN 978-0-547-75930-2.
PreS Up–Photos developed from a “Melville underwater camera” washed ashore astound the boy who discovers the device. Fantastic scenes of undersea life and images of children from years before encourage him to add his own photo to the series. Wiesner wordlessly stretches readers’ imaginations about the timeless ocean circling the globe.

Animals Past and Present

BRADLEY, Timothy J. Paleo Sharks: Survival of the Strangest. illus. by author. Chronicle. 2007. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-0-8118-4878-7.
Gr 4-8–Sharks from the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras have connections to current ocean dwellers. Diagrams show relative sizes of the ancient shark, great white shark, and human diver while dramatic illustrations often feature predators and prey. Bradley clearly explains what paleontologists can and can’t deduce from fossil remains.

BULION, Leslie. At the Sea Floor Café: Odd Ocean Critter Poems. illus. by Leslie Evans. Peachtree. 2011. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-56145-565-2.
Gr 5-8–Eighteen poems introduce unusual ocean animals such as the bone-eating osedax and eviscerating sea cucumbers. Linoleum-block illustrations plus fact-filled paragraphs accompany the poetic portraits. Explanations of the poetic forms, including limerick, cinquain, and triolet, encourage readers to follow Bulion’s lead in presenting scientific information in verse.

BUTTFIELD, Helen. The Secret Life of Fishes: From Angels to Zebras on the Coral Reef. illus. by author. reprint ed. Diane Publishing. 2004. (original ed. Abrams, 2000). Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-7567-8075-3.
Gr 5-8–More than 250 fishes glide across the pages of this elegant introduction to life on coral reefs. Meticulous watercolor illustrations accompany Buttfield’s pithy text, which often notes the importance of color and pattern for attracting mates, eluding enemies, or fooling prey. Share with students of art and design as well as ichthyologists.

CYRUS, Kurt. The Voyage of Turtle Rex. illus. by author. Houghton Harcourt. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-42924-3; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-77283-7.
K-Gr 2–A tiny turtle scuttles past T. rex to reach the ocean’s sheltering seaweed, where she grows into a two-ton Archelon. Swimming with Plesiosaurs and escaping a massive Mosasaur, she eventually returns to the same beach to lay eggs for another generation. Easy-flowing narrative verse plus large illustrations encourage read-aloud visits to ancient seas.

DAVIES, Nicola. Surprising Sharks. illus. by James Croft. (Read & Wonder Series). Candlewick. 2003. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-2742-3.
K-Gr 3–Large diagrams and bright illustrations note the essentials of shark anatomy and how different senses help sharks find food. The fierce great white may not surprise readers, but the variety of sizes, shapes, and colors of other sharks will. Most surprising? Sharks kill about six people yearly, but humans kill millions of sharks.

ELLIOTT, David. In the Sea. illus. by Holly Meade. Candlewick. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4498-7.
K-Gr 3–Short, bouncy poems introduce ocean animals to young listeners. Evocative imagery of an octopus as an “eight-armed apparition” or a dolphin as an “acrobat with fins” plus energetic woodcut illustrations of creatures that swim, swirl, and dive across oversize pages add up to a good choice for storytimes as well as individual viewing.

GISH, Melissa. Whales. (Living Wild Series). Creative Education. 2012. PLB $35.65. ISBN 978-1-60818-084-4; pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-89812-676-1.
Gr 5-8–Gish packs an impressive amount of information into this well-designed volume. Effectively covering diverse science topics such as whale communication methods, life cycles, and migration patterns, she also considers whales in myth and literature and includes a Japanese fable and D. H. Lawrence poem. Large photos, maps, and illustrations will engage browsers as well.

GUIBERSON, Brenda Z. Into the Sea. illus. by Alix Berenzy. Holt. 1996. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-2263-6; pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-6481-0.
Gr 2-5–From when a hatchling makes her way across the beach until she returns to lay her eggs years later, a sea turtle lives in the ocean. Pencil and gouache illustrations depict her underwater life amid sea grass refuges and fishing net dangers. Compare this contemporary reptile with Cyrus’s prehistoric Archelon.

HALFMANN, Janet. Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish. illus. by Joan Paley. Holt. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9073-4.
K-Gr 3–Sea stars may look harmless, but hundreds of sticky tube feet under their rays, plus a stomach that extends from their mouth, make them effective predators. Collage illustrations follow a sea star’s hunt for mussels and its escape from a seagull. More information, including the animal’s ability to grow replacement rays, appears after the story.

MARKLE, Sandra. Octopuses. (Animal Prey Series). Lerner. 2007. PLB $25.26. ISBN 978-0-8225-6063-0; pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-0-8225-6066-1.
Gr 3-6–Octopuses must elude predators while seeking their own prey. Color photos reveal techniques such as blasting ink to distract pursuers or changing shape or color to blend in with the seafloor or reef. Views of octopuses from around the world will intrigue browsers and beginning researchers, who can follow the creatures’ life cycle.

NEWQUIST, HP. Here There Be Monsters: The Legendary Kraken and the Giant Squid. Houghton Harcourt. 2010. Tr $18. ISBN 978-0-547-07678-2.
Gr 5-8–Sailors’ tales of sea monsters fueled speculation about kraken long before giant squid carcasses washed ashore in the 19th century. Illustrations range from 16th-century maps to 20th-century movie posters, accompanying summaries of legends and excerpts from poems and stories. Photos by modern scientists elucidate current research about the elusive animal.

PFEFFER, Wendy. Life in a Coral Reef. illus. by Steve Jenkins. HarperCollins. 2009. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-029553-0; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-06-445222-9.
K-Gr 3–Coral reefs bustle with activity day and night. Paper cutout illustrations capture the vibrant hues of reef animals from tiny coral polyps to a lime-green moray eel gliding past a mucus-enclosed parrot fish. Fact pages identify coral reef locations worldwide and threats to their existence.

SIMON, Seymour. Coral Reefs. HarperCollins, 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-191495-9; pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-0-06-191496-6.
Gr 2-5–Vibrant close-up photos accompany Simon’s informative text. He explains how coral polyps slowly develop into colonies that form different reef structures. Careful page design matches relevant photos with introductions to various hard and soft corals and unusual reef animals. Throughout, the author stresses the importance of reefs and notes threats to their survival.

TURNER, Pamela S. Project Seahorse. photos by Scott Tuason. (Scientists in the Field Series). Houghton Harcourt. 2010. RTE $18. ISBN 978-0-547-20713-1.
Gr 4-8–Coral reef destruction from blast fishing, pollution, and dredging threatens many fish, including seahorses. Amazing close-up photos complement explanations of their unusual biology, including that males give birth. Attempts by Filipino scientists and villagers to establish a marine protected area demonstrate the need for cooperative conservation efforts at local, national, and international levels.

Human Explorations

BECKER, Helaine. The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea. illus. by Willow Dawson. Kids Can. 2012. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-746-4; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-747-1.
Gr 3-6–Even students far from coastlines can participate in hands-on activities to learn about the ocean. More than 30 simple experiments employ everyday materials to investigate topics such as currents, salinity, pollution, and camouflage. Sidebars with diagrams and photos cover current issues including environmental threats and ways to help.

BERNE, Jennifer. Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau. illus. by Éric Puybaret. Chronicle. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8118-6063-5.
Gr 1-4–Cousteau’s childhood fascination with machines, movies, and the sea provided the foundation for his inventions and explorations that drew worldwide attention to ocean life. Blue-green backgrounds painted in acrylic on linen reinforce the watery theme, especially in the fold-out panorama of Cousteau diving ever deeper. Compare this biographical introduction with Dan Yaccarino’s The Fantastical Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau.

EARLE, Sylvia A. Dive! My Adventures in the Deep Frontier. National Geographic. 1999. RTE $18.95. ISBN 978-0-7922-7144-4.
Gr 3-7–A marine biologist, Earle shares her lifelong passion for ocean exploration and conservation. From childhood observations of creatures on shore to journeys thousands of feet below the surface in a submersible she helped design, Earle has retained her fascination with marine life. Numerous photos document various forays under the sea.

FALLS, Kat. Dark Life. Scholastic. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-17814-3; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-545-17815-0.
Gr 5-9–In this futuristic novel, rising waters force humans into stack cities while pioneers farm the ocean floor. Western adventure motifs combine with subsea adaptations, such as Liquigen for breathing, as Undersea Ty and Topsider Gemma face fast-paced treachery and danger while searching for the girl’s brother. Challenge readers to invent additional underwater survival strategies.

GIBBONS, Gail. Sunken Treasure. illus. by author. reprint ed. HarperCollins. 1990. (original ed. Crowell, 1988). pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-06-446097-2.
Gr 1-4–Gibbons’s exciting account of the sinking of a Spanish galleon near Florida in 1622 and the 20-year search to locate the ship more than 300 years later demonstrates that divers search for treasure as well as marine life. Detailed illustrations accompany explanations of the work involved in discovery, salvage, and restoration.

MALLORY, Kenneth. Adventure Beneath the Sea: Living in an Underwater Science Station. photos by Brian Skerry. Boyds Mills. 2010. RTE $18.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-607-9.
Gr 4-8–Readers follow Mallory and Skerry through aquanaut training and their stay on Aquarius, an underwater research station. A map of Aquarius plus numerous photos give potential oceanographers insights into coral reef research as well as station life from meals to Internet connection. Mallory concludes with warnings about threats to coral reefs.

MATSEN, Brad. The Incredible Record-Setting Deep-Sea Dive of the Bathysphere. Enslow. 2003. PLB $23.93. ISBN 978-0-7660-2188-4.
Gr 4-7–The 1934 dive of William Beebe and Otis Barton continues to inspire oceanographers. Diagrams of the bathysphere and period photos set the scene. Matsen effectively builds the suspense and excitement of their descent. Even though readers know the outcome, the danger surrounding the small ship in a vast ocean is palpable.

NIVOLA, Claire A. Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle. illus. by author. Farrar. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-374-38068-7.
K-Gr 3–Nivola weaves quotations from Earle into her brief biography, but richly colored illustrations draw viewers on their own. Earle swims past reef fishes, walks through bamboo coral, and plunges into a galaxy of bioluminescent creatures. The final spread incorporates earlier illustrations in a panorama of a teeming world worth exploring and preserving. Audio version available from Recorded Books.

WALKER, Sally M. Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H. L. Hunley.Carolrhoda. 2005. RTE $18.95. ISBN 978-1-57505-830-6.
Gr 6-10–History and science combine in a fascinating account of the submarine developed to break the Union blockade of Charleston. Documents, maps, and diagrams illustrate the Civil War section while photos enhance explanations of the 1990s work of divers, engineers, and geologists to locate and raise the H.L. Hunley in order to learn why she sank.

YACCARINO, Dan. The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau. illus. by author. Knopf. 2009. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-85573-3; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-375-84470-6; ebook $7.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98755-7.
Gr 1-4–Bold colors and abstract patterns emphasize Cousteau’s energetic quest to invent ways to explore the ocean, document what he saw, and share his discoveries with others. Brief quotations from Cousteau complement Yaccarino’s simple text. Words are secondary to the layered illustrations, which reveal the vitality of ocean life.

Kathy Piehl is Professor Emerita at Memorial Library, Minnesota State University, Mankato.

CROWDER, Melanie. Parched. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. ISBN 9780547976518. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Sarel is a girl who learned from her mother the secrets of plants―which can heal, nourish, or hold water. Nandi is the dog that saves Sarel from being seen when her family is murdered for the location of their secret well. She can also sense that the boy who has the power to save them all is near. Musa can sense the flow of underground water sources. His gift causes him to be kidnapped by a gang and forced to search for water after being beaten, starved, and handcuffed. These three survivors must find a way to locate water in a brutal desert before they run out of time. In her debut novel, Crowder tells the powerful story of the courage of two kids who use what they do well to work together and survive in a harsh world.

LARSON, Kirby. Hattie Ever After. Delacorte. 2013. ISBN 9780385906685. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

After Hattie pays off her IOU for Uncle Chester’s debt, she finds herself wondering if life in Montana and marriage to Charlie is what she really wants. When a traveling theatre troupe offers her a job which will take her to San Francisco, she jumps at the chance. This could be her opportunity to make a real career choice―journalism! The problem is that in 1919, women clean offices; they don’t work in them. Hattie must use her courage and desire to write to conquer stereotypes and win a spot on the front page. The sequel to Hattie Big Sky (Delacorte, 2006) allows Hattie to take her dabbling with a hometown newspaper column to a professional level in the fast and furious big-city life at the cusp of the Roaring Twenties.

MELOY, Maile. The Apprentices. Putnam. 2013. ISBN 9780399162459. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Math and science have always been easy for Janie. When she is falsely accused of cheating on a math test, the young researcher is expelled. Without access to her experiment, Janie won’t be able to finish extracting salt from her saline solution. She hoped to find a way to produce drinkable water from the ocean. Unfortunately, her equipment is stolen. In the meantime, her friends are scattered around the world. Benjamin and his father are in the jungle, trying to survive a war. Pip is on hiatus from making his television show. Jin Lo has returned to her childhood home to face the ghosts of her murdered family. As these teens struggle with their own problems, they unite for the common cause, as apprentices to the great Apothecary. Meloy’s sequel to The Apothecary (Putnam, 2001) smoothly takes four storylines and blends them into one high-powered race to save the team and fight their enemies.

PATTERSON, Valerie O. Operation Oleander. Clarion. 2013. ISBN 9780547244372. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Jess is not an orphan, but as the child of a soldier, her sense of duty and responsibility draws her to create a way to support her father and the orphans in Afghanistan. Though her friends Meriwether and Sam help with Operation Oleander, not every person feels that the Army should be involved in war in Kabul. When a bomb targets the jeep that is taking their supplies to the orphanage, Jess’s dad is severely wounded. Meriwether’s mother is killed. After an investigation ensues, Jess worries that it’s their fault. Sam’s dad is the Commander in Chief of the base; he must decide the future of their project. Conflict strains relationships to unbearable limits. Patterson’s heartfelt novel explores how even good intentions can have unexpected consequences.

TIMBERLAKE, Amy. One Came Home. Knopf. 2013. ISBN 9780375969256. JLG Level:  C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Georgie refuses to believe that her sister is dead. Anyone could have taken that dress. Full of courage and anger, the thirteen-year-old girl talks her neighbor Billy into providing her with a horse to find Agatha. She never expects him to trick her into riding on a mule and taking him with her. Together they follow clues that lead them to believe that Georgie’s gut feeling was not unfounded. Unfortunately they stumble into a dangerous ring of counterfeiters in the process. Can they solve Agatha’s mystery without causing another death? With turns of the tale at every bend in the road, Timberlake weaves secrets into a plot that makes you laugh and breaks your heart.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

Picture Books

Dozens of Cousins. By Shutta Crum. illus. by David Catrow. Clarion. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-618-15874-4.

PreS-Gr 3–It’s family reunion time, and unruly cousins race willy-nilly through the yard, tramp barefoot through the house, splash and frog-catch in the creek, eat everything in sight, and finally fall into an exhausted and happy-dream-filled sleep. The antics of these “rowdy ogres” gleefully unfurl in vivacious verses and sun-bright paintings packed with comical details.

It’s a Firefly Night. By Dianne Ochiltree. illus. by Betsy Snyder. Blue Apple. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-160905291-1.

PreS-K–Rhyming text and vibrant collage artwork describe how a nightgown-clad girl and her father venture outdoors on a warm night to capture–and eventually release–a jar full of shimmering insects. The hushed narrative is aglow with wonder, and the lovely illustrations are filled with luminous touches. A sweet choice for bedtime sharing or celebrating special daddy-daughter moments.

Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping. By Mélanie Watt. illus. by author. Kids Can. 2013.Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-894786-86-7.

PreS-Gr 3–Rather than venturing into the rugged wilderness (where mosquitoes, quicksand, and penguins abound), the ever-anxious protagonist opts to remain safely in his tree and watch camping shows on TV. Unfortunately, the nearest electrical outlet is across the park. Equipped with survival gear and a carefully constructed plan, Scaredy Squirrel sets off on an adventure that results in comical mishaps and an eye-opening revelation about the great outdoors. Colorful cartoon artwork, amusing diagrams and charts, and spot-on storytelling keep this fretful–and lovable–character on top of his game.

Spike & Ike Take a Hike. By S. D. Schindler. illus. by author. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-24495-7.

PreS-Gr 2–Hungry from their trek, Spike the hedgehog and Ike the coatimundi decide to pay a lunchtime visit to Ike’s cousin. As they amble through various terrains, they encounter an assortment of critters, including a “big buzzy bumblebee,” “soggy froggy,” and “itty-bitty kitty.” Winsome details fill the textured artwork, which depicts dazzling landscapes and charismatic characters. Fueled by clever wordplay, terse rhymes, and tongue-tingling alliteration, this share-aloud romp will also appeal to beginning readers and language lovers.

A Stick Is an Excellent Thing: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play. By Marilyn Singer. illus. by LeUyen Pham. Clarion. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-12493-3.

K-Gr 4–“A stick is an excellent thing./If you find the perfect one,/it’s a scepter for a king….” Eighteen pithy poems and dynamic double-page illustrations pay homage to the simple pleasures of summer, as a flock of high-spirited friends dash through sprinklers (“Big drops flash./Hurry, dash!”), barrel down hills, blow bubbles, soar on swings, and more. Simply worded yet humming with imaginative imagery, the enchanting verses resound with joyful activity and the power of play.

This Monster Cannot Wait! By Bethany Barton. illus. by author. Dial. 2013.Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3779-2.

PreS-Gr 1–Stewart’s first camping trip is only a week away and the irrepressible youngster will try almost anything to make the time pass more quickly, even tearing–literally–through the book’s pages to rush to the story’s end. Taking a friend’s advice, he slows down and savors the “right now,” a philosophy that ultimately pays off. Barton’s loose-lined monsters are a hoot, and the tongue-in-cheek text perfectly pegs the agony of anticipating a grand adventure and the ecstasy of enjoying the much-awaited day.

Chapter Books and Graphic Novels

Bluffton: My Summers with Buster. By Matt Phelan. illus. by author. Candlewick. July 2013. Tr $22.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5079-7.

Gr 5-8–Henry Harrison’s ho-hum life in Muskegon, MI, is best described as “ordinary,” until the summer of 1908 when a troupe of vaudeville performers arrives, complete with baggage, elephants, and a young Buster Keaton (pratfall artist extraordinaire), to vacation by the lake. An extravaganza of gags and high jinks blends with more typical hot-weather pursuits as the boys strike up a friendship and Henry begins to dream of a different sort of life. In this historical graphic novel, watercolor panels and understated text paint a glorious picture of a time gone by and a poignant portrait of a boy’s journey of self-discovery.

Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Summer Vacation. By Tommy Greenwald. illus. by J. P. Coovert. Roaring Brook. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-757-9.

Gr 4-7–The outspoken book-hater and star of two previous adventures is  heading off to Camp Rituhbukkee (“Pronounced ‘Read-a-Bookie”) for three weeks of academic enrichment at his parents’ behest. Adrift in a sea of kids who love to learn, the self-professed slacker resolves to mold his fellow campers into “normal, non-reading people,” but as events unfold and personal challenges abound, it begins to look like his plan might backfire. The snarky first-person narrative is peppered with wry humor, and the entertaining action is augmented by astutely presented friendship dilemmas. This snicker-inducing page-turner makes an engaging read-aloud and holds strong appeal for Charlie Joe’s reluctant-reader compatriots.

Like Bug Juice on a Burger. By Julie Sternberg. illus. by Matthew Cordell. Amulet/Abrams. 2013. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0190-0.

Gr 2-4–At first, nine-year-old Eleanor is excited about going to her first-ever sleepaway camp, but a few mishaps–a tree-root tumble, a swim test that lands her in the baby group, yucky food, and far too many creepy-crawlies–soon have her longing for home. However, a kind new friend, intriguing new experiences, and small victories add up to positive experience. Told in first-person verse and illustrated with line drawings that reflect each emotional up and down, this charmer provides a candid, believable, and engaging look at growing up.

Lulu and the Dog from the Sea. By Hilary McKay. illus. by Priscilla Lamont. Albert Whitman. 2013. Tr $13.99. ISBN 978-0-8075-4820-2.

K-Gr 3–Seven-year-old Lulu and her family are looking forward to a pleasant seaside vacation, but when they arrive, they discover that the cottage they are renting has been besieged by a food-stealing, sand-scruffy stray. While the adults see a menace, Lulu sees a new friend and sets her sights on taming the pooch. Illustrated with breezy black-and-white sketches, this early chapter book percolates with warmhearted humor, true-to-life happenings, and honest emotion.

CLEMENTS, Andrew. In Harm’s Way: Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School. illus. by Adam Stower. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. ISBN 9781416938897. JLG Level: A+ : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

The Keepers of the School thought that their work was done after the discovery of a secret hideaway for the Underground Railroad in the Captain Duncan Oakes School, ―no bulldozer could destroy the historical building. What Benjamin, Jill, and Robert learn is that their detective work only saved a portion of the structure. Determined to keep their enemy ―janitor Justin Lyman―at bay, their investigation is complicated by the hiring of some muscle and another pair of eyes to spy on the trio. The Keepers continue to unravel the puzzle of clues left by Captain Oakes. They must think like the mariner, “After three hooks pass, one will be brass.” Ben isn’t sure what skills he brings to the team, so in an effort to prove his worth, he tries to solve it on his own. Can he unlock the puzzle and save the school? Whether new to the series or not, readers will race through the chapters as solving the mystery leads the characters into harm’s way.

GIBBS, Stuart. Double Cross: The Last Musketeer. HarperCollins. 2013. ISBN 9780062048448. JLG Level: ME : Mystery/Adventure Elementary (Grades 2–6).

“All for one, and one for all.” The fourth musketeer, D’Artagnan, is also known as Greg, a time traveler whose future is in jeopardy if Michel Dinicoeur and Cardinal Richelieu have their way. King Louis XIII is also in danger if the Musketeers can’t break out of prison before they are hanged. With Milady de Winter in league with the Prince of Condé, and all three groups after the Devil’s Stone, time is of the essence. The Musketeers must save the King, and find the Stone first in order to stop events that can change the present and the future. Full of sword fights and daring escapes, this Musketeer adventure leaves readers as exhilarated as the characters themselves.

HEALY, Christopher. The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle. HarperCollins/Walden Pond. 2013. ISBN 9780062118455. JLG Level: ME : Mystery/Adventure Elementary (Grades 2–6).

In Book Two of The Hero’s Guide, our fearless princes have a new task―rescue Prince Liam from Briar Rose who is using him to acquire more power. The League reforms and a weak, but hilarious, plan throws them right into the castle of Raubar, the Bandit King―a ten-year-old self-made sovereign who enjoys being the bad guy. Rundark, who is a true villain, accepts the boy’s invitation to his castle because he can’t understand why a ruler with so little credibility as a criminal, can have the admiration of his men and the fear of the people. Once he unravels the mystery, Raubar is as good as dead, but the League of Princes bring their bungling, unheroic efforts to save the kingdom from Briar Rose’s misguided scheme, and cause chaos and laughter in their wake. Witty dialogue and eccentric characters take this fractured fairy tale to places less than happily-ever-after in this fun adventure.

MESSNER, Kate. Hide and Seek. Scholastic. 2013. ISBN 9780545419758. JLG Level: ME : Mystery/Adventure Elementary (Grades 2–6).

The Silver Jaguar Society has been protecting some of the world’s most important historical artifacts for centuries. With junior members José, Anna, and Henry on the case, the missing Jaguar Cup is sure to be found. On a trip to Costa Rica, the trio finds itself in the middle of a mystery―who sent the counterfeit cup to the exhibit and where is the real relic? A guest at the jungle lodge claims to have seen a species that doesn’t live in the area. A Society member secretly takes a great deal of money from one tourist. Suspects are everywhere. When José’s lack of self-confidence causes him to put his own life in danger, he begins to reconsider the value of teamwork, but is it too late for him to learn that lesson? Narrow escapes and short, cliff-hanger chapters create an adventure that seems like an afternoon at the movies.

SUTHERLAND, Tui T. and Kari Sutherland. The Menagerie. HarperCollins. 2013. ISBN 9780060780647. JLG Level: ME : Mystery/Adventure Elementary (Grades 2–6).

“Logan Wilde noticed the feathers as soon as he woke up.” He would later discover that they belong to a baby griffin. The move to Wyoming has been less than exciting and learning to live without his mom is difficult. His dad says that living in a new place will help him adjust, but Logan continues to have trouble making friends. Classmate Zoe and her family are responsible for the health and well-being of a mythical creatures menagerie. SuperNatural Animal Protection Agency (SNAPA) will arrive soon to inspect the facility, looking for infractions that could close them down. Though normally Zoe’s family would erase a stranger’s memory, Logan quickly becomes part of the group, as he has a knack for tracking the animals. Can they find the runaway cubs before the SNAPA agents arrive? Fantastical creatures in a dangerous, time-ticking situation builds tension in this adventure novel that keeps readers surprised at every turn.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

GUIBERSON, Brenda Z. Frog Song. illus. by Gennady Spirin. Holt. 2013. ISBN 9780805092547. JLG Level: NEK : Nonfiction Early Elementary (Grades K–2).

“Slurp!” The Darwin’s frog in Chile scoops up the tadpoles and keeps them in his vocal sacs for seven weeks. Then the froglets jump out of his mouth. A wood frog in Canada sings a “brackbrack!” song when she calls her mate. The female Surinam toad carries 100 eggs in the skin on her back. In four months, tadpoles will swim through her skin and away from their mother. Children will learn how frogs and toads sing all over the world as they incubate and hatch their babies. Gorgeous tempera, watercolor, and pencil illustrations provide young students with eye-opening visuals.

KRULL, Kathleen and Paul Brewer. The Beatles Were Fab (and They Were Funny). illus. by Stacy Innerst. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. ISBN 9780547509914. JLG Level: E+ : Easy Reading (Grades 1–3).

Lots of kids learn to play guitar or drums, but not every musical kid makes history. The Fab Four, otherwise known as the Beatles, zoomed to stardom from Liverpool, England to San Francisco―and everywhere in between. After seventeen straight times of singing it, they recorded their first song―”Love Me Do.” Their next song, “Please Please Me,” hit number one on England’s music charts. The band that laughingly considered calling themselves the Rainbows, created Beatlemania. They played for the Queen Mother―and even joked with her while onstage. When interviewed, they answered questions, but their sense of humor got in the way of a serious response. When George was asked what he called his hairstyle, he replied, “Arthur.” Ringo answered “How did you find America?” with “We went to Greenland and made a left.” After all, don’t silly questions deserve silly answers? The husband and wife team of Krull and Brewer guide the reader from the start of the Beatles’s career until their final album, Abbey Road―though you may have to be a fan to see the importance of the album cover tribute illustration. Adults sharing the story with kids will have a soundtrack playing in the back of their minds while they read. The listeners will want to hear it too.

MARKLE, Sandra. Bats: Biggest! Littlest! Boyds Mills. 2013. ISBN 9781590789520. JLG Level: NEK : Nonfiction Early Elementary (Grades K–2).

The Great Fruit-Eating Bat carries and eats figs while he flies. The Tube-Lipped Nectar Bat has a tongue so long that it’s attached to its ribcage. When not in use, the tongue curls up next to its heart. The Gray-Headed Flying Fox carries her baby with her, while Free-Tailed Bats cluster together on their own as their mother forages for food. Bats are as small as six inches and have a wingspan as big as three feet. Markle amazes readers with fascinating fats about bats―big and little, in this new addition to an animal series that includes large photographs and fonts.

ROSENTHAL, Amy Krouse and Tom Lichtenheld. Exclamation Mark. Scholastic. 2013. ISBN  9780545436793. JLG Level: NEK : Nonfiction Early Elementary (Grades K–2).

Whoever said that reading about punctuation would be boring? Exclamation Mark is a laugh-out-loud adventure that appeals to everyone’s insecurities. “It seemed like the only time he [the exclamation mark] didn’t stand out was when he was asleep.” He was different, no matter how hard he tried to fit in. When an inquisitive question mark asks him more questions than he can handle, he finds his voice, shouting, “STOP!” It feels good to shout, so he tries something else―accepting himself.  Finding his place in the world could have endless possibilities. Simply told and illustrated, Rosenthal and Lichtenheld have created a classic that goes far beyond a language arts lesson.

STONE, Tanya Lee. Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell. Holt. 2013. ISBN 9780805090482. JLG Level: NEK : Nonfiction Early Elementary (Grades K–2).

Elizabeth Blackwell never walked away from a challenge. Whether it was sleeping on the floor to toughen herself up or carrying her brother over her head until she got her way, the little girl was determined to succeed. As a woman in the 1840s, she ran into a road block. She had decided to become a doctor even though everyone always said  that women can’t be doctors. Twenty-eight medical colleges refused to admit her, but Elizabeth wouldn’t give up. “No” was an answer she could not accept. Stone includes a two-page author’s note with more facts about the life of America’s first female doctor. Her narrative biographical account is perfect for reading aloud.

For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

From Graeme Base, author of THE LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN SNAIL (Abrams, 2010):

Summer Reading List? Here in the Land Downunder we’re putting on woolly sweaters and looking at our Winter Reading Lists! On top of mine is, I confess, a disheartening backlog of New Scientist magazines. I subscribe to this generalist weekly about astrophysics and the like in a vain attempt to keep up with my older brother who actually understands all this stuff. The reason I need to get through the backlog is twofold: firstly, I’ve paid for the subscription and the Scottish side of me demands I get my money’s worth. The second (better) reason is that I have three books on the bedside table that are waiting to be opened.

First among them is Anna Funder’s All That I Am. It comes highly recommended by my wife (which is about as high as it gets) which is why it is on the top. She put it there. Second is Almost French by Sarah Turnbull. I know nothing at all about this novel but it was given to me as a present, so we shall see what unfolds. And finally, as always, there is James Joyce’s impenetrable tome Ulysses. I have tried to read this monster no less than three times over the years and failed, though each time making my way a little further through the dense prose and alarming lack of punctuation. Let’s see what this winter holds. (Oh, and good luck with summer up there.)

From Kevin Henkes, author of the forthcoming THE YEAR OF BILLY MILLER (Greenwillow Books, September, 2013):

About four years ago I read nearly everything by Willa Cather for the first time. I found her books beautifully crafted, deeply felt, and painfully human. A selection of her letters has just been published by Knopf. I look forward to reading it this summer.

From Candace Fleming, author of PAPA’S MECHANICAL FISH (FSG, 2013):

Before being asked to reveal my summer reading list, it looked like this: Buffalo Bill’s Life Story: An Autobiography by William F. Cody; Buffalo Bill’s America by Louis S. Warren; Anecdotes of “Buffalo Bill” That Have Never Appeared In Print by Dan Winget, and Last of The Great Scouts (Buffalo Bill) by Helen Cody Wetmore and Zane Grey.  (Can you guess whom my next biography is about?)  Once I knew my list was going public, however, I fretted.  Sure, I think these titles are sizzlers.  But I suspect many of you wouldn’t.  And since I don’t want to leave the impression that I’m a complete history nerd, I shuffled a couple titles around.  Topping my list now is And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (I’ve re-read Christie every summer since middle school), followed by Holly Black’s Doll Bones (love that cover), and The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer (love that author).  I head to my beach house in two weeks.  You know what?  I’m leaving Bill behind.

From Matt Phelan, author of the forthcoming BLUFFTON: MY SUMMER WITH BUSTER KEATON  (Candlewick, July, 2013):

The current line-up includes The Center of Everything by Linda Urban because she is smart and funny and writes smart and funny books. My non-fiction slot is filled by Between Man and Beast: An Unlikely Explorer, the Evolution Debates, and the African Adventure That Took the Victorian World by Storm. If that last title isn’t enticing enough, the “African Adventure” concerns the capture of the first gorilla the West had ever seen. Also, the author’s name is Monte Reel which is a name that fits this book perfectly and would make a great false identity if it didn’t already belong to a real person. (I may still use it.)

I’m also eager to get my hands on a copy of Kate DiCamillo’s Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures because, if you haven’t heard, it features a super-powered squirrel. Enough said. I’m sure I’ll read at least three P.G. Wodehouse books this summer. Wodehouse is the funniest writer ever and my literary comfort food. He wrote approximately 7,492 books so I’m set for this and many summers to come.

From Meg Medina, author of YAQUI DELGADO WANTS TO KICK YOUR ASS (Candlewick, 2013) and co-conspirator on Girls of Summer, a curated reading list of summer reads for strong girls:

Nothing says summer to me like reading for hours in the middle of the day with no apologies necessary.

Here’s what’s in my bag:
Last Night I Sang to the Monster by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet, and Operation Oleander by Valerie O. Patterson (all young adult titles).

I write across age groups, so for the days when I’m channeling a younger voice: Gigi Amateau offers up the second in her “Horses of the Maury River” series, so I’ll be eager to read Macadoo of the Maury River, and playing with the new app that she’s designed for the series. I’ll also pick up David Almond’s  Mouse Bird Snake Wolf because, frankly, I live in awe of his work.

Finally for those days when all I want is color, poetry, and music, it will be a picture book called Tito Puente: Mambo King/Rey del Mambo by Monica Brown and illustrated by Rafael López.

From Deborah Hopkinson, author of the forthcoming THE GREAT TROUBLE, A MYSTERY OF LONDON, THE BLUE DEATH, AND A BOY CALLED EEL (Knopf, October, 2013):

Summer is what made me a reader—and reading made me a writer. Summer in childhood meant reading fiction until dawn.

I still read novels in great gulps like this. There are few greater pleasures.

But as I look at my bay windowsill, which serves as my “future idea bookshelf,” there’s nary a novel in sight. (I’m not counting my six other bookshelves, or the three bins of research books.)

Piled on the windowsill are books on the Tower of London, turtles, World War II, the cartography of cholera, Beatrix Potter, and biographies of scientists, artists, and a 19th-century pickpocket. Tucked in one corner is a work on Oscar Wilde, bought in a moment when I wondered: Are we ready yet for a picture book on Wilde?

The truth is, though, that while I will undoubtedly read most of these this summer, my true summer reading is contained on a small black listening device.  Here I will return to the joy I remember from those summer nights: escape into another world.

Yes, I admit it. I’m hooked on George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series. I’m listening to book three now. At about 33 hours each, I should have enough Seven Kingdoms intrigue to get me to Labor Day. If not, well, I might just start back at the beginning.

From Aaron Hartzler, author of RAPTURE PRACTICE (Little, Brown, 2013) 

All of my books are arranged on white shelves by color. I lay them sideways in left-justified stacks that are, I admit it, a little OCD: spines out, largest on bottom to smallest on top. This idea was stolen without apology directly from a page in Dwell magazine in 2009, and while impressive to look at, there are times when I think my books are really more an art installation than functional objects.

Truth be told, the piles of books I’m currently reading, (and yes, there are always quite a number going at once) are strewn atop my desk, stacked next to the plaid reading chair in my office, and spilling off my bedside table. The act of reading, it seems, requires me to be a bit more freewheeling than my color-coding allows. The art of finishing a book, however, takes focus, and the following titles will have mine in the coming summer months:

Arcadia by Lauren Groff
If It’s Not One Thing, It’s Your Mother by Julia Sweeney
Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris
The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr
Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick
Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick
Some Hope by Edward St. Aubyn
Far Far Away by Tom McNeal

From A. G. Howard, author of SPLINTERED (Abrams, 2013).

This summer I’m going to be doing a lot of world-building as I write my newest book, and one of my favorite things about world-building is crafting creatures, whether they’re horrifying or endearing. So to that end, for inspiration, I’m going to be reading two particular books.

First is the The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black by E.B. Hudspeth. This book has an intriguing premise (the MC hypothesizes that the world’s most celebrated mythological beasts were evolutionary ancestors of humankind) along with detailed drawings and sketches of the creatures within.

The second book is Unnatural Creatures collected and edited by Neil Gaiman. Not only were these 16 short stories about fantastical creatures chosen by one of my favorite authors, but sales of this book benefit a nonprofit organization that supports students in writing. So it’s win-win. I get inspired, and the kids I write my books for get the support they need to one day be writers and inspire others themselves.

From Tom Angleberger, author of the “ORIGAMI YODA” books (Abrams):

I do love reading on the porch on a beautiful day! I was out there yesterday with Linda Urban’s The Center of Everything.  Hopefully, I’ll be out there a lot this summer with Vader’s Little Princess by Jeffrey Brown, Cardboard by Doug TenNapel and this new book, William Shakespeare’s Star Wars. (Yes, that’s really happening! Though an Ian Doescher claims authorship.)

From Megan Whalen Turner, who is working on her next book in her “QUEEN’S THIEF” series (HarperCollins) :

I love reading, really, I do, but starting a new book often feels like diving into a swimming pool on a hot day.  I know I am going to be fine once I am in the water, but I still spend too much time dithering by the side of the pool. As much as I love reading, it’s hard to start new books, find new authors, and try new things. Clearly I am still the same person who read nothing but Walter Farley books for the entirety of fifth grade. Plus ça change and all that. Anyway, I gravitate toward books by authors I know and trust. I re-read books I like.  And sometimes I pick out new things and sternly tell myself to jump in. This summer I have some of all three planned.

I was given Iain M. Banks’s Consider Phlebas for Christmas and I’ve been waiting for a quiet stretch of days to enjoy it properly. I am looking forward to Holly Black’s Black Heart. I’ll be reading Reflections, a collection of Diana Wynne Jones’s nonfiction writing. I am re-reading The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt right now, and it is even better the second time through. In the interests of trying something new, I want to read My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk and London Falling by Paul Cornell, as well as The Boneshaker by Kate Milford, which has been on my to-be-read list for a long time.

From Rae Carson, whose THE BITTER KINGDOM (Greenwillow, 2013) will be published in September.

This summer, I’ll be finishing the first book of my next series, which means I’m unlikely to read any fiction. (I’m also unlikely to do laundry, wash dishes, or bathe regularly.) However, I have the best job ever, because writing this book demands that I dive into some riveting research reads including The Age of Gold by H.W. Brands, The Poker Bride by Christopher Corbett, and Women’s Diaries of the Westward Journey collected by Lillian Schlissel. I’ll return to fiction as my reward for finishing. First up will be George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” saga, starting with a re-read of the amazing A Game of Thrones.

From Suzanne Selfors, author of SMELLS LIKES PIRATES (Little, Brown, 2012):

Reading? What’s that? Seriously, I’m supposed to write AND read? Is that why there’s a huge stack of books next to my bed? Hmmm, let’s see what’s on the top of the stack. It’s a book my teen daughter says I must read–Forgotten, by Cat Patrick. She said it’s a great mystery that kept her guessing the whole time. Next on the stack is a new middle-grade title by local author Kevin Emerson called The Fellowship for Alien Detection. I’ve met him. He’s in a rock band. I’d like to be in a rock band. And if there’s anything new by Wendy Mass, I will be reading it. She’s one of my faves.

But you know, what I’m really keen on reading this summer are some good cookbooks. I want to figure out what to do with chicken breasts besides dump cream-of-mushroom soup on them.

From Stefan Bachmann, author of THE PECULIAR (HarperCollins, 2012):

This summer I’m DETERMINED to read at least the first of  J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” books. I still haven’t done this, and I’m sure you’ll agree that’s a terrible thing. After Harry Potter, I’m planning to read some action-y young adult books. The ones I’m most looking forward to are:

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth
2. The Diviners by Libba Bray  (I actually don’t know how action-y this is, but it’s 1920′s + creepiness, so I’m excited.)
3. Reboot by Amy Tintera
4. Prodigy by Marie Lu (the sequel to Legend)
In the middle-grade range, I can’t wait for The Year of Shadows by Claire LeGrand, because everything Claire writes is fantastic. I also have The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald waiting for me, then Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

And now that I see all these handily listed, that’s a lot of books… I hope I have many train and plane rides this summer.

From Steve Sheinkin, author of BOMB; THE RACE TO BUILD—AND STEAL—THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS WEAPON (Roaring Brook, 2012):

In addition to the usual stack of research-related books, I’m looking forward to reading a couple of Patricia Highsmith’s fantastically creepy “Tom Ripley” novels, and the recent novel The Art Forger, by B.A. Shapiro. I love anything to do with art forgery. If I had the talent, I think I’d like to be an art forger. After that, who knows? I don’t like to plan to far in advance…

BERNE, Jennifer. On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein. illus. by Vladimir Radunsky. Chronicle. 2013. ISBN 9780811872355. JLG Level: BE : Biography Elementary (Grades 2–6).

As a child, Albert Einstein never had much to say until the day his father gave him a compass. “Suddenly he knew there were mysteries in the world―hidden and silent, unknown and unseen.” His desire to know consumed him. Teachers told him he would amount to nothing if he continued to disrupt the class with his endless questions. He would spend the rest of his life looking for answers―”wondering, imagining, figuring, and thinking.” His discoveries unlocked many puzzles of the universe, while leaving future scientists with questions that they can solve. Radunsky’s loose illustrations are as charming as Einstein himself.

BRYANT, Jen. A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin. illus. by Melissa Sweet. Knopf. 2013. ISBN 9780375967122. JLG Level: BE : Biography Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Horace had big hands, but his grandma told him, “the biggest part of you is inside, where no one can see.” He used those hands to help his family―sorting laundry, running errands for his mom, and gathering wood for the stove. When he had time, he loved to draw. At school, if a picture came into his mind, he would tell his “heart to go ahead.” His classmates loved his pictures, but some of his teachers did not. In eighth grade, Horace had to quit his studies because his family needed him to work. Horace drew for the other workers. When the opportunity to fight for his country arose, Horace enlisted. Even in the trenches of combat, he continued to draw until the day a bullet wounded his shoulder. He couldn’t lift his arm. The pictures kept coming to his mind, but how could he paint them now? Read how Pippin became a world-renowned folk artist despite many obstacles.

PINBOROUGH, Jan. Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children. illus. by Debby Atwell. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. ISBN 9780547471051. JLG Level: BE : Biography Elementary (Grades 2–6).

When Anne was a little girl in the early 1870s, children weren’t allowed to go to libraries. Librarians thought children would lose or ruin the books. Anne thought otherwise, so she grew up to be a librarian. She got her first job at Pratt Free Library, where children could check out books and have stories read to them, just as her father read to her. News about the children’s library spread until she became the head of children’s sections in all thirty-six branches of the New York Public Library. She visited all of the branches, offering ideas to create better spaces for the young readers. Then, plans were announced to build the biggest and best library of all―right in the middle of New York City. How could she make it a wonderful space for children? Pinborough’s picture book biography is the inspiring narrative of a strong woman whose passion for children’s library services influenced libraries across the country.

For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

Teachers and parents alike are unsure about the topic, but it’s never been more important

Islam proved a tough subject for Coco Huguet when she went looking for resources to use with a fifth-grade global history class at the Hewitt School five years ago. “I looked all over the Internet for teaching material on [Islam] and couldn’t find anything,” says the English and history teacher at the all-girls school on New York’s Upper East Side. “Up until a few years ago, there was very little, especially for younger kids.”

But this fall, Huguet’s students will read the novels The Breadwinner (Groundwood, 2001) by Deborah Ellis and Andrew Clements’s Extra Credit (Atheneum, 2009), along with a National Geographic history reference, The Islamic World (2005)—as part of an attempt to enhance student understanding of the religion from an academic viewpoint and also provide a deeper context to the concerns permeating today’s headlines. “This year they’re going to be more aware,” says Huguet. “Some of these issues, especially Afghanistan and the division you see about the Mosque are coming to a head.”

Between recent threats by a Florida pastor to burn the Quran, our nation’s ongoing presence in Afghanistan, and protests at the planned site for Park 51, an Islamic community center and mosque set to be built two blocks from the World Trade Center site, the topic of Islam is a tricky one, especially in K–12 schools, say many educators.

For starters, it can be difficult to find appropriate materials to bring into media centers and classrooms. And then, parents can object to Islam being taught to their children, as protest groups across the Internet can attest. Of all major religious groups in the United States, Muslims trigger the most feelings of prejudice among Americans, according to a poll released in January by the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies. More than four in 10 Americans, or 43 percent, admitted to feeling at least “a little” prejudice against Muslims—as compared to 18 percent feeling similarly toward Christians, and 14 and 13 percent toward Jews and Buddhists respectively. And just 37 percent of Americans say they even know a Muslim American personally, according to a recent Time-Abt SRBI poll, with 46 percent believing that Islam actually supports the idea of its followers bringing harm to nonbelievers (http://bit.ly/dlchZy).

This prejudice can play out when organizations hear of Islamic culture being taught in schools, as Linda Tubach discovered when she launched a weekend professional development course for Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) teachers four years ago. “The Anti-Defamation League sent observers for a couple of years, and one person objected because [the class] was on the Jewish Sabbath,” says the retired high school social studies teacher, who runs the program through the interfaith group Fellowship of Reconciliation, which offers teachers salary point credit for the two-day course. “But that’s subsided, and our last class had no observers. People just seem to accept it at this point, and we feel very good about that.”

Participating teachers travel to the Helen Bernstein Professional Development Center in downtown Los Angeles to create lesson plans and review Internet sites for use in K–12 classes. They’re also treated to Middle Eastern luncheons and dancing. But the goal of the class is for educators to learn how to encourage questions and dialogue among K–12 students, specifically on the subject of Islam.

In a recent session, Tubach had two teachers role play—one assuming the role of an Israeli and the other a Palestinian—acting out a historic event from different viewpoints. The hope is that by addressing real history and potential stereotyping together, teachers will treat the subject matter with more confidence in a classroom setting. “People worry about backlash when they take on these issues,” says Tubach. “But we found you can handle that successfully if you design a class that meets high standards.”

But few students have an opportunity to take a class on world religions—let alone Islam. With budget cuts fairly standard across U.S. school districts, electives beyond the standard English, science, history, and mathematics courses are pretty limited. “Our school can’t afford to have more exotic classes because we’re already cutting back on others,” says Mithi Hossain, a senior at Stuyvesant High School in lower Manhattan. “We did have a college-level course on Arabic after school. But that’s a language. And it was cut.”

Hossain, who serves as vice president of Stuy’s Muslim Student Association (MSA), is very passionate about her Muslim identity. She’s worn a hijab since the fifth grade and wishes more students at her school—beyond MSA’s 25 members—understood details about Islam. While elementary school is a little early to introduce the topic, she says, she believes that certainly high school students should be educated in the nuances of world religions. “When you’re going out into the world, you can’t rely on stereotypes to make decisions,” she says. “I believe school is the right place to learn about these subjects like Islam, as long as it’s not biased. I know that’s a very difficult thing to do. But if it’s coming from a teacher who is well educated and not from a Muslim background, then sometimes it’s more acceptable. Sometimes people are more willing to hear from a person with a different background than what they’re teaching.”

Knowing how to craft such a lesson is key. For teachers who don’t have access to professional development programs like Tubach’s, guidance on how to structure lesson plans is available online. New York’s Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility has a “Teachable Moment” section on its site, which covers subjects from “Engaging the Muslim World” to a fairly topical one called “NYC Muslim Community Center: Why There? Why Not?”, which includes tips on how to guide a student discussion on U.S. and Muslim relations.

Schools across the country have accessed these lessons and have also been helped directly by Tala Manassah, deputy executive director of the Morningside Center, who believes that a properly constructed course can be effective in combating stereotypes. “You want to approach this from a historical side so they have some context,” says Manassah. “Because some of this squawking that goes on with controversial issues comes from ignorance.”

Nancy Gallin might concur. The history department chair at the Hewitt School for the past 15 years occasionally encounters queries from students that give her pause. “You’ll get the odd questions like, ‘Are Catholics Christians?’” she says.

But her students are taught about Islam through multiple disciplines and over many years to help stem that lack of knowledge. In the eighth grade, students learn how the Quran figures as a document of religious law, while ninth graders study the Crusades and the extension of Islam into Europe. By 10th grade, they’re prepared to examine the religion within a more current context. “My general approach is to note similarities between today and history,” says Gallin. “Because of the Muslim Community Center, I’ll talk this year about the fact that xenophobia goes back to the Alien and Sedition Acts [of 1798]. And I’ll connect that to the point that even though we live in a country with such an eclectic culture, some people think they’re more real of an American than others.”

Yet even a well-prepared teacher can watch a spirited conversation among students about burqas and the Five Pillars of Islam dissolve into a heated argument or even cross into proselytizing. Knowing not just how to present material, but how students may even respond, can make the difference.

Diane Moore helped pilot an online program, launched this fall through Harvard Divinity School, to turn public school teachers into peer scholars who can then teach the topic of Islam to fellow educators.

“One of the main things we’ll be working with is not just content, but how do you teach about [Islam] and what you should be attentive to,” says Moore, a professor of the Practice in Religious Studies and Education, and director of the Program in Religious Studies and Education at Harvard. “Content knowledge is not insignificant, but it is the how of teaching religion that is really critical. How do you introduce the subject to your students when they have their own misperceptions? So part of it is anticipating what your students already think about this.”

That kind of teaching may be imperative in helping teachers overcome concerns that prevent them from even broaching the topic of Islam or Muslims in class—even if they believe these are subjects that could be helpful for their students. “There’s a real consensus that public schools need to teach more about religious diversity and aren’t doing a better job because so many teachers are afraid of touching the topic with a 10-foot pole,” says Henry Goldschmidt, program associate with the Interfaith Center of New York, which runs professional development courses for teachers every summer.

For the two dozen or so educators who come for the weeklong program in New York, the Interfaith Center offers visits with community religious leaders including those from the Jewish, Santería, and Christian faiths, lectures from academic experts, and even field trips to different houses of worship—outings K–12 teachers can arrange for their own classes. The hope is that teachers will see religion as more a base of lived traditions and not just historical doctrines—and in that way make the subject more accessible and alive to K–12 students.

“That’s one of the reasons K–12 curriculum is reduced to historical facts and dates,” says Goldschmidt. “It’s simpler for students and teachers to get their hands around that. But while they may be able to recite the Ten Commandments, they may not have any understanding of the lives of Muslims, Buddhists, or Jews living in America today.”

But that’s not going to be the issue with Gallin’s students at Hewitt this fall. Every Thursday morning, the school holds a town meeting—usually filled with reminders for children to bring in permission slips, or about parent conferences. However, Gallin says she’s going to use the time to keep the school community more aware of the current issues surrounding Islam.

“I’m going to call people’s attention to what’s going on in downtown New York, in particular, with Islam,” she says. “I think if we’re assuming these young women are going to be citizens of the world, they should know what’s happening around them.”

Resources foR teaching about islam

Luckily, you can find a lot more material online today than in recent years. Many organizations offer K–12 curricular guides, and while it’s still a challenge to find content for younger grades, these resources are a good place to start:

Elementary School

Access Islam
Thirteen.org

Ten multimedia lessons for grades 4–8 about Islamic holidays, traditions, and cultures, from Ramadan to the Quran.

Children’s Book Study Guides: The Librarian of Basra and Alia’s Mission: Saving the Books of Iraq
Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility

A way to introduce the Iraq war to younger children by discussing the Library of Basra that burned.

Information on Islam
Woodland Junior School, Kent, England

Offers simple history questions for younger students complete with photographs and a multi-faith calendar.

Middle School

Extra Credit study guide
Andrew Clements

Guidance for teachers to help students discuss the story of two sixth graders, a young girl in Illinois and a boy in Afghanistan, who become pen pals.

Geometry and Islam
Asia Society

A student activity that incorporates Islamic textiles and architecture.

Teaching on Controversial Issues: Guidelines for Teachers
Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility

A teacher guide to presenting complicated and potentially controversial subjects.

High School

NYC Muslim Community Center: Why there? Why not?
Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility

Background regarding the proposed mosque and community center, with guidelines for conducting a discussion with students.

Islam, Empire of Faith
PBS Educational Resources

The first of five lessons aimed at students in grades 6–12.
The World of Islam
National Geographic

National Geographic story on Islam, with links to online forums, bibliographies, Muslim organizations, and a digital Quran.

SLJ‘s Recommended Titles

Picture Books

ADDASI, Maha. Time to Pray. tr. by Nuha Albitar. illus. by Ned Gannon. Boyds Mills. 2010. RTE $17.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-611-6.

Gr 1-4–During a visit to her grandmother in the Middle East, Yasmin learns about her religion and finds a way to pray at home, even though there are no mosques where she lives. A warm intergenerational story, told in English and Arabic, with  illustrations that feature Islamic geometric designs and Arab architecture and culture.

ADDASI, Maha. The White Nights of Ramadan. illus. by Ned Gannon. Boyds Mills. 2008. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-523-2.

Gr 1-4–When Noor, who lives in Kuwait, sees the almost-full moon rise, she knows it’s time to prepare for Girgian, a Muslim celebration observed mostly in the Arabian Gulf states during the middle of the month of Ramadan. The story underlines the importance of sharing, self improvement, and community welfare. Highlighted with moonlit hues, the attractive illustrations are done in a style that reflects one of many Muslim cultures.

JALALI, Reza. Moon Watchers: Shirin’s Ramadan Miracle. illus. by Anne Sibley O’Brien. Tilbury House. 2010. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-88448-321-2. LC 2009046324.

Gr 1-4–Shirin is disappointed because she is too young to fast, but her father encourages her to do good deeds. As Ramadan ends, the family prepares for Eid-ul-Fitr, and a big surprise awaits Shirin, a “miracle.” O’Brien’s watercolor illustrations depict a Persian-American family.

KHAN, Hena. Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story. illus. by Julie Paschkis. Chronicle. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8118-6062-8.

Gr 2-4–A seven-year-old Pakistani-American girl learns about the Islamic calendar and enjoys a special dinner with her family. Typical events follow, such as a celebration of the “Night of the Moon” at the community center. Then Ramadan is over, and the next day is Eid. Paschkis’s stunning paintings incorporate Islamic tile art, adding to an authentic sense of the culture.

MOBIN-UDDIN, Asma. A Party in Ramadan. illus. by Laura Jacobsen. Boyds Mills. 2009. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-604-8.

Gr 2-6–Leena faces a difficult decision when she wants to fast during Ramadan, but also wants to attend her friend’s pony party. She decides to do both, but finds that resisting the tempting treats isn’t easy. When it is time to end the fast, her friends come with cake, and her mother invites them to share the iftar dinner. This well-told story is a great resource for discussing choices and religious differences

ROBERT, Na’ima B. Ramadan Moon. illus. by Shirin Adl. Frances Lincoln. 2009. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-84507-922-2.

K-Gr 4–A girl explains what happens throughout the month as people pray in mosques, listen to imams read verses from the Qur’an, and perform good deeds. The language is poetic, and the art shows the moon’s waxing and waning phases as the family worships and rejoices.

WHITMAN, Sylvia. Under the Ramadan Moon. illus. by Sue Williams. Albert Whitman. 2008. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-8075-8304-3.

Gr 2-4–In a lyrical text, Whitman describes how a modern family observes Ramadan. Soft pastels captures the events and family interactions, and show women in hijaab giving hugs and talking on cell phones.

For Older Readers

Fiction

ABDEL-FATTAH, Randa. Does My Head Look Big in This? Scholastic/Orchard. 2007. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-91947-0.

Gr 7 Up–Amal, a devout Muslim, decides to wear the hijab full time. She faces typical teen concerns and deals with  misconceptions non-Muslims have about her religion and culture. The novel deals with some heavy issues, but it’s also very funny. See also Randa Abdel-Fattah’s Ten Things I Hate About Me.

CLEMENTS, Andrew. Extra Credit. illus. by Mark Elliott. S & S/Atheneum. 2009. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-4929-9.

Gr 4-7–Illinois sixth-grader Abby Carson and Sadeed Bayat, the best English-language student in his Afghan village, become pen pals, but because it isn’t proper for a boy and girl to correspond with one another, he must pretend he is his sister.  He can’t keep the secret though, and the two become friends and learn about one another’s culture and connect through their shared love of Frog and Toad Are Friends.

ELLIS, Deborah. Parvana’s Journey. Groundwood. 2002. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-88899-514-8; pap. $5.95. ISBN 0-88899-519-9.

Gr 7-10–This heart-wrenching sequel to The Breadwinner (Groundwood, 2001) follows 13-year-old Parvana as she searches through war-torn Afghanistan looking for her mother and siblings who had disappeared in the tumult of the Taliban takeover. An unforgettable read about the will to survive.

STRATTON, Allan. Borderline. HarperTeen. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-145111-9; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-145112-6.

Gr 7 Up–Sami is bullied at school because he is a Muslim, and the administration doesn’t do anything to stop it. Then the FBI breaks into his house and takes his dad away, unjustly assuming that he is a terrorist. A fast-paced thriller with strong characterizations.  

Nonfiction

CALVERT, John. Divisions Within Islam. ISBN 978-1-4222-0533-4..

KAVANAUGH, Dorothy. Islamic Festivals and Celebrations. ISBN 978-1-4222-0534-1.

––––. The Muslim World: An Overview. ISBN 978-1-4222-0532-7.

LUXENBERG, Alan. Radical Islam. ISBN 978-1-4222-0536-5.

MELMAN, Anna. Islam in America. ISBN 978-1-4222-0535-8.

RADU, Michael. Islam in Europe.  ISBN 978-1-4222-1363-6.

RUBIN, Barry. The History of Islam. ISBN 978-1-4222-0531-0.

SKLAR, Tanya. Islamic-Jewish Relations Before 1947. ISBN 978-1-4222-1361-2.  

    ea vol: 64p. (World of Islam Series). Mason Crest. 2009. Tr $22.95.

Gr 6 Up–These titles clarify issues facing the Muslim world and show the diversity of opinions within the religion. They also show the diversity of thought and opinion within Islam, In order to get a broad picture of the Islamic faith, the books work best as a set.

ELLIS, Deborah. Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak. Groundwood. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-88899-554-7.

Gr 7-9–Alternating accounts from young people between the ages of 8 and 18 show the devastating effect of war on their lives and how any sense of childhood has been stolen from them.

HAFIZ, Dilara & Imran Hafiz, & Yasmine Hafiz. The American Muslim Teenager’s Handbook. Acacia Pub.. 2007. pap. $11.95. ISBN 978-0-9792531-2-6.

Gr 7 Up–A fine introduction to the basics of Islam. Quotes from teens tell what it’s like to be a Muslim in America, and the authors address dating, dancing, drinking, and drugs. The conversational style will appeal to teen readers, whether practicing the religion or wanting to know more about it.

 See also: Picture Book About Islam Ignites Twitter Battle

MILLS, Claudia. Kelsey Green, Reading Queen. illus. by Rob Shepperson. Farrar. 2013. ISBN 9780374374853. JLG Level: I : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

Kelsey Green loves to read―even during math class. Her principal announces a schoolwide reading contest. The best reader will get his or her name on a plaque in the school library. Kelsey is determined to lead her third grade class to victory. Her strongest competition is Simon who is good at everything. He quickly passes Kelsey and leads by four books. Maybe he’s not reading them all, she thinks. Maybe he’s cheating. The two of them can’t beat the sixth grade class by themselves, so Kelsey encourages everyone to participate. Her best friends would rather run and do math than read, so they aren’t much help. Classmate Cody never reads anything. He already reads below grade level. Maybe she could focus on him, but reading with Cody will take precious time from her own efforts. Family outings take away even more. How can Kelsey make progress towards being the best reader with all these distractions?

MYRACLE, Lauren. The Life of Ty: Penguin Problems. illus. by Jed Henry. Dutton. 2013. ISBN 9780525422648. JLG Level: I+ : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

Life is getting complicated for seven-year-old Ty. His new baby sister is taking up most of his mom’s time. He’s afraid of the cat under his bed. His best friend is in the hospital for leukemia treatment. In the meantime, he plays with Lexie, but she is bound to get them into trouble. Roughhousing with his classmate Taylor (who would put him in a headlock if he refused) gives Ty a loose tooth. Then there is preschooler Price, who is his reading buddy and needs a big brother to look after him. The real problem begins when Ty wanders away from his class during a field trip and finds the penguins. Kids have problems just like adults. Being able to handle them is what Ty has to learn.

STERNBERG, Julie. Like Bug Juice on a Burger. illus. Matthew Cordell. Abrams/ Amulet. 2013. ISBN 9781419701900. JLG Level: I+ : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

“I hate camp. I just hate it. I wish I didn’t. But I do. Being here is worse than bug juice on a burger. Or homework on Thanksgiving. Or water seeping into my shoes.” Grandma Sadie is sure that Eleanor will love summer camp―just like her mother did. Eleanor just wants to go home. She misses the city with its sidewalks full of people. At home her bed is beautiful. It’s not a lumpy bunk bed that’s so tall she could fall off of it. She doesn’t like the food. There’s a no candy rule. How can she survive eating only salad? Campers are sorted into ability groups for swimming. Everyone in her cabin is an upper group swimmer, but Eleanor has to wear a life preserver. Writing a letter to her mom seems the best way to escape this disaster. But life has a way of teaching us hard lessons; summer camp could be the place where Eleanor learns them.

WARNER, Sally. EllRay Jakes the Dragon Slayer! illus. by Brian Biggs. Viking. 2013. ISBN 9780670784974. JLG Level: I : Independent Readers (Grades 2–4).

Eight-year-old EllRay Jakes may be small for his age, but he’s still Alfie’s big brother. Her best friend at preschool seems more like her enemy than her friend. While watching the school rabbit in its hutch, Suzette leads a pack of girls to ignore Alfie and pretend she’s invisible. Just as EllRay walks up, they call her “Rabbit poop girl,” and say her new pink jacket is stupid. “How can four-year-olds be so mean? These are her friends? He knows bullying is wrong―no matter what your age. Something must be done. And, EllRay has his own bullying problems. The two situations collide and readers will identify with him as he resolves these conflict. For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.