Illustration by Mark Tuchman

That’s the first thing you do when you finish reading a book? Pass it along to a friend? Return it to the library? Place it on the unruly pile of titles that you charitably call your “office”?

Scores of dedicated readers log on to Goodreads and share their opinions with the world. Imagine Facebook and your public library having a baby (on second thought…) and you get the gist of the social network that millions have come to know, use, and depend on. You may not have heard much about Goodreads, and the public at large hardly knows it exists, but this site has a devoted following among book lovers. It’s a powerful and, occasionally, controversial way for readers to connect with one another, share their two cents’ worth, and decide which title to tackle next. It can also be a valuable professional tool to share with your students and colleagues.

Calling all teens, teachers, and librarians

Similar to Facebook, you must be 13 or older to sign up for Goodreads, which helps to explain why it’s a useful tool for recommending books to young adults. It’s also a great way to stay in touch during the summer, because students can see what their librarians or teachers are reading. And since kids can write reviews for the site, it also offers them opportunities to offer an in-depth analysis of the titles they’ve read.

For those of us who work in school libraries, there’s the added benefit of being on the cutting edge of kids’ book publishing. I’m constantly finding out about new titles—such as Kelly DiPuccio and Heather Ross’s Crafty Chloe (S & S/Atheneum, 2012), Steve Jenkins’s The Beetle Book (Houghton, 2012), and Martin Salisbury and Morag Styles’s Children’s Picturebooks: The Art of Visual Storytelling (Laurence King, 2012)—which inform my collection-development decisions and help me make savvier reader’s advisory choices. I can see librarians going wild with Goodreads’ bookshelf concept (more on that later)—creating virtual shelves for their favorite read-alouds and subjects, and those oft-requested topics (princess books, anyone?). Every year, I lead an after-school, professional development session on the year’s best books. With Goodreads, it’s easy to pull up my favorite titles to share with our teachers. And even if you don’t want to create your own interest-specific shelves, you can still benefit from looking at your friends’ shelves. OK, are you ready to take the plunge and join Goodreads?

Dig Goodreads?

Then you might also enjoy the following sites for book lovers:

Shelfari 

The look of this Amazon-owned operation is very visual with book covers galore. You can import your Amazon purchases and contribute to the wikilike “Book Facts” for each title. This information is available on the site as well as on Kindle devices and apps.

Library Thing 

This site (tagline: “Catalog Your Books Online”) is a utilitarian alternative to Goodreads. There are fewer frills, and the look isn’t as slick as Goodreads, but there’s also no advertising staring you in the face. The basics are all there: reviews, collections, groups, and discussions.

BiblioNasium 

Billed as “part kids’ social network, part parent’s guide, part teacher’s tool,” BiblioNasium is geared toward the education market, and it’s very kid friendly. Teachers can join, generate class accounts, and create a reading network with their students, who can respond to books and post their own reviews.

A few basics

I joined Goodreads in 2008, about a year after it was launched, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that many of the librarians and bloggers that I follow were using the service. It’s secretly popular, and it’s growing by leaps and bounds. In December 2011, BuiltWith, a technology information provider that tracks working websites, reported that Goodreads had “6,700,000 members who have added more than 230,000,000 books to their shelves.” And in August 2012, the Los Angeles-based company announced that over 10 million users had recommended more than 300 million books on its site.

My home bookshelves may be a mess, but on Goodreads, they’re immaculate. Many people, myself included, use the site as a de facto home library. By adding titles to various virtual “bookshelves,” Goodreads encourages its users to organize their reading and to reflect on what they’ve read. Members can assign a one- to five-star rating to each title they’ve completed, and their individual appraisals contribute to a book’s overall rating, which appears next to the title.

Inside and out

When you register for Goodreads, you have the option of letting the service check your email or social media accounts for any members you may know. Once you have a few friends, things get interesting.

If you have a Facebook account, you’ll feel comfortable—even peaceful—with Goodreads’ design and layout, because the site keeps clutter to a minimum. Its home screen lists “Recent Updates”—the equivalent of Facebook’s well-known wall of “Status Updates”—that indicate when friends have added a new book to their to-read piles, rated a book, or written a review. Overachievers, ahem, frequent users can even offer updates on the number of pages they’ve read in their most recent book.

If you’re new to Goodreads, one of the first things you’ll notice is that it has a few built-in shelves—“read,” “currently reading,” and “to-read”—for you to put your books on, but you can also create your own custom shelves. I have one for “Books Read in 2012” and a “to-review” shelf for some 2013 titles that I’m planning to critique, including Steve Jenkins and Robin Page’s My First Day (Houghton), Cecil Castellucci and Sara Varon’s Odd Duck (First Second), and John Coy and Joe Morse’s Hoop Genius (Carolrhoda).

From the home screen, you can easily set up a “Reading Challenge.” Simply enter the number of books you’d like to read this year, and Goodreads will track your progress. There are also plenty of social features. The site lets you compare books with friends, comment on reviews, and recommend books to friends. Members can also set up lists for others to vote on. I especially like checking out the Newbery and Caldecott lists, because they highlight titles that are getting good reviews and may be in the running for these prestigious children’s literature awards.

You’ll also find groups for every imaginable genre and niche—from manga to literary fiction to werewolves—which offer a place for those with shared interests to get together to discuss what they’re reading. You can also start a book club or create a digital counterpart to a club that already exists in the offline world. I belong to a mock Newbery group that has more than 800 members, and we always have lively discussions.

If sharing on the site isn’t enough, you can also create a widget that displays your books on your website or blog. It looks like a little bookshelf and flashes through the titles on any of your Goodreads shelves.

The organization benefits alone are worth the price of admission. Actually, since the price of admission is free, the benefits are worth way more. I love being able to quickly look back at my reading history. Plus, the ability to add filters—narrowing my search results according to the number of stars a title has—means it takes only seconds to pull up a list of my “five star” favorites.

Goodreads is also a helpful place to find basic book information. Summaries, pub dates, cover images, and genre details are available for any book you can think of. Underneath this information, you’ll find reviews from Goodreads users. Friends’ reviews always appear at the top, followed by other users’ opinions.

Goodreads’ free mobile app is another good reason to jump onboard. It’s well thought out, with intuitive touches that allow easy access to just about everything you can access on the regular site. It even lets smartphone and tablet users scan books’ barcodes—entering them into their “to-read” shelves without having to type a single thing. I knew I got a smartphone for a reason.

Controversy!

Any time “non-critics” are able to share their opinions worldwide, there’s bound to be some friction. While this sort of “review by committee” approach is something that rightfully makes many cringe, it invariably holds some power, and most likely guides many readers’ book choices. The “yea or nay” type of reviews that Goodreads allows (it should be noted that the site also offers an opportunity for lengthy, thoughtful reviews) may not be ideal, but the Harvard Business School recently released a study that shows that, in general, Amazon’s reviews (which are very comparable to GoodReads’) are more similar to a professional critic’s opinion than one might think. I’m not giving up my professional reviews any time soon, but this study provides some food for thought. As you might expect, this is a controversial topic.

The public nature of online reviews clearly has pros and cons. In some cases, it has increased the tension between readers and authors. Writers who belong to Goodreads should be prepared to occasionally give their thin skin a workout. I’ve heard of authors (I won’t name names) who have joined the service only to cancel their accounts because of unfavorable (and, in many cases, unfair) reviews of their work. Stories of unhappy writers directly contacting users to contest their negative reviews are also out there. But there’s a flip side: being a member of Goodreads allows authors to directly interact with their fans in ways that were unimaginable until fairly recently. And for readers, the chance to easily contact a favorite author to praise their latest book is a genuine 21st-century thrill.

Still, controversy occasionally erupts, as in the case of British thriller writer Stephen Leather, who admitted that he’d created fake Goodreads accounts so he could write positive reviews of his own works. He also, every now and then, gave other authors’ books one-star reviews to lower their overall ranking. Although this sort of deviousness is rare, it offers a glimpse into the “book review 2.0” world.

It’s a wrap

Now that I’ve been a member of Goodreads for a few years, it’s hard to imagine going back to the days when my only bookshelf was an actual physical object. I like that my unorganized mess of hard copies has a neat and tidy online counterpart. The organizational, informational, and social elements of the service have won me over. It’s a personal and professional win. Chances are, it’ll enrich your reading and teaching life, too.

Travis Jonker is a school librarian and an SLJ blogger (100scopenotes.com). His last feature for the magazine, “Travis’s Excellent Adventure” (September 2012), was about how to launch a successful ereader program.

For our part, we saw a disconnect when SLJ’s public library spending survey revealed that a mere nine percent of public librarians actively collaborate with their peers in K–12. After we published the results in “It Takes Two” (May 2012, pp. 26–29), we learned about many partnerships, and we also heard from many from both school and public librarians who seemed burned out by failed outreach attempts.

Yoder and Lowry may be a rare breed, but, as is abundantly clear in our cover story, “Partners in Success” (pp. 22–28), they’re not alone. Many like-minded librarians are reaching across institutional walls and redefining their turf—and their institutions are changing, too. Considering the yawning gap between what kids need from libraries and the resources currently available to them, innovation in this area is urgent.

At first, I was inspired by the spark between two professionals that ignites a new partnership. I still am. This kind of grassroots initiative is grounded in knowing the kids, and, when it works, helps build the case for more. Now, however, I’m even more convinced that our institutions need to act with the same responsiveness and creativity.

We need more of what’s happening in Nashville. Talking with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools’ Kathryn Bennett brought this home. I met Bennett, a library lead teacher, at Library Journal’s December 14 Design Institute at the wonderful Warrensville Heights Branch of the Cuyahoga County (OH) Public Library. It was great to see her at this public library event—after all, there’s plenty of insight into learning spaces in any good library.

Naturally, we fell into talking about Nashville’s Limitless Libraries initiative. Bennett is a big fan of the project, which, she says, wouldn’t be nearly what it is without the “Memorandum of Understanding” between the school and Nashville Public Library (NPL).

As NPL’s Tricia Racke Bengel details in her overview of how Limitless Libraries came to be, the memorandum enables the library to use information about students, with parental permission, so their student IDs serve as library cards, streamlining access to the collections. Racke Bengel, who was named a 2012 LJ Mover & Shaker for this work, describes a process that was certainly disruptive. The project keeps expanding as it enriches the lives of Nashville’s kids.

After reading cover story writer Marta Murvosh’s exploration of the state of public and/school library collaborations, I’m even more convinced of the need for us be actively reimagine how we serve our kids. And we must break down the silos that stymie that work.

Toward that end, SLJ will be giving more attention to collaboration in 2013 in an effort to forge a model to help us join together to approach challenges as a greater community. We’ll focus on these partnerships as part of the first SLJ Public Library Leadership Think Tank, currently in planning for April 5 in New York City. The daylong event aims to provide a public library companion to SLJ’s dynamic Leadership Summit, aimed at tackling school library issues. My hope is that the two events will, in a sense, ping pong off of one another to foster deeper dialog on the commonalities shared by all librarians serving kids. Collaboration will also be a theme in the upcoming Be the Change webcast series, which we bet will be the start of a robust leadership initiative.

Let’s change the world together. Happy New Year!

Rebecca T. Miller
Editor-in-Chief
rmiller@mediasourceinc.com

Photograph by Tallulah Photography.

In The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen, his older brother brings a hunting rifle to school to kill his merciless tormentor—and then takes his own life. Where’d that idea come from?

There were two books of Wally Lamb’s that I pulled little things from. But in The Hour I First Believed, the protagonist’s wife is at Columbine when the boys open fire. There was a line in that book about the fact that one of these boys had an older brother and for some reason it just kind of punched me in the gut, and I thought, “Oh, my god, I never thought about the fact that these people—and in that case, one of them actually was a monster—but these people have their own families. They have siblings. What would it be like for the surviving brother?

Why is there so much humor in such a troubling story?

I can’t write a book without humor, and this was certainly as dark as I have gone in any of my books. What really worked for me is that the story is told in first person. When you’re dealing with a 13-year-old boy and his perspective on life, at that age, we tend to be very self-centered, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. There are going to be things that make readers laugh in terms of his interactions with other people, his impressions of other people, because they’re his private thoughts. So when Henry is first meeting his neighbors and Farley and Alberta, that’s a very natural way to bring humor into the story, even though Henry never thinks he’s being funny, of course.

Did you use humor to deal with the world while growing up with a single parent in Ontario, Canada?

Oh, my God, that’s such a great question! Nobody’s ever asked me that before. Yeah, I did. I was a performer from a very early age. We would try to get parents to sit down and watch a play that I had made the neighborhood kids rehearse and memorize. I think I actually had a little book of kids’ plays that my mom had given me. And so I would force all the other kids into participating, and we would put on performances, and they would involve really bad jokes.

Henry’s family and his friend Farley are huge pro wrestling fans. How’d you write so sympathetically about a sport that you’re not really into?

I was having lunch with a writer friend, and he said—and I think Alberta says this in the book—that wrestling is “like a soap opera for guys.” Suddenly, the penny dropped for me. I thought, OK, that makes a certain amount of sense. Now I understand why people might enjoy watching this.

You got your first break writing TV screenplays after serving snacks to the cast of Degrassi Junior High. Were your muffins any good, or were you a lousy baker like Henry’s sassy girlfriend, Alberta?

That’s really weird that you asked me that, because I don’t think I’ve ever made that connection before. I didn’t make the muffins, I bought them. But the kids on Degrassi wrote a poem to me at the end of the first season. It goes like this: “An ode to Susin, the Brand Muffin Queen, we eat them, we die, then we turn green.”

Sadly enough, after we first spoke, there was another school shooting.

I was devastated by the news. I got a message from a woman who lives in Connecticut that moved me beyond words. Here’s what she wrote: The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen has really had me thinking after these recent horrific events at Sandy Hook Elementary. One big problem I had prior to reading this book was that I was ignorant of the feelings of a shooter’s family members. It has helped me to pray for the members of the Lanza family who are also suffering at this terrible time.

In turn, her students have been guided in the inquiry process and taught how to make connections. They are learning how to develop intriguing questions for further discovery and research, investigate a topic, construct new meanings, develop opinions and supporting arguments, apply new understandings, create final products, and reflect on what they learned. These teaching practices, all of which are called for throughout the CCSS, place this school librarian at the core of education in her school and a model for others to follow.

As Poser’s familiarity and understanding of the Common Core grew, she realized she had an opportunity to take a strong role in the implementation of these new standards. With the ongoing support and encouragement from her principal, Lenny Santamaria, she attended several workshops on the Common Core and alignment with NYC’s Information Fluency Continuum. She began to recognize where the information literacy skills she has taught for the past 17 years merge with the CCSS. She also noticed, however, most educators did not express the same confidence.

Success with teachers and parents

To make inroads, Poser started to share her knowledge of inquiry with staff, parents, and students. She gave a workshop on text complexity for staff and attended curriculum-planning meetings, providing resources and informational text to complement instructional units. She expanded her collaborative relationships and developed engaging projects with new teachers in the school.

She analyzed the collection and looked at how to enhance it. The shift to Common Core called for more non-fiction texts, and Poser thought outside the box when it came to expanding the library’s collection. She won a grant for a specialized collection on the American presidency that provided $5,000 for new materials. Then she developed a collaborative inquiry unit with the art teacher around the new collection, introducing students to primary sources, speeches, policies, and biographies of these U.S. leaders.

Meanwhile, Poser created book displays thoughtfully highlighting engaging nonfiction at varying reading levels. The titles circulate often and change regularly, focusing on Poser’s Picks of the Month, which features tie-ins across subject areas with both fiction and nonfiction.

Collaborating with the principal and parent coordinator, Poser helped create an informational pamphlet for parents that explains the Common Core and highlights the resources available through the library. Additionally, she facilitated a workshop at a PTA meeting, introducing parents to the library’s website, walking them through databases, and demonstrating how to use the online catalog from home. She even showed them how to cite sources.

Poser also developed new programming that reached out to parents and students, inviting them after school hours to Warm Up with a Good Book and Vote for Books. Both programs focused on nonfiction titles and brought parents into the physical library space, helping them make connections with their children and the resources available to support the Common Core.

Real-world connections

The Common Core forces students to connect ideas outside of the classroom to the real world. To meet the standards, students and teachers need to develop new dynamics like the ones modeled by Poser. They also require us all to overcome the angst that these changes make many educators feel. Librarians like Christine Poser are key to a successful transition. With the support of administrators, they can have a huge impact on the implementation of the new standards.

Melissa Jacobs-Israel (Mjacobs7@schools.nyc.gov) is Coordinator, NYC School Library System, NYC Department of Education, Office of Library Services. To submit an On Common Core opinion piece, please contact Rebecca T. Miller at rmiller@mediasourceinc.com.

Photographs by Teri Fullerton

When William Alexander recently walked across the stage at the National Book Award ceremonies to accept this year’s award for Young People’s Literature, he joined a very small group of writers who have won such an award for their first novel. But Goblin Secrets (S & S, 2012) isn’t at all his first published work. He’s the author of many short stories printed in journals such as Weird Tales and Interfictions.

Will lives in Minneapolis, in a writerly neighborhood within walking distance of excellent coffee, amazing Mexican food, and a library. “We’re also close to a lake,” he writes, “but everyone in Minnesota lives close to a lake.” His writing day begins when his son goes off to preschool. “Then I drink coffee, bandage my wounds from the pre-preschool struggles, and put on some music. The cellist Zoe Keating makes excellent soundtracks for fairy tales.” He writes in “a strange little room,” taken up mostly by his desk and his bookcases. Will’s wife, Alice, recently built him a standing desk, with the kind of floor mat cherished by professional chefs; he can stand up all day on it. His collection of masks lines the walls.

Will and Alice and their two children have one pet: Nyx the polydactyl cat. “Like most cats, she understands that books are filled with things we were never meant to know. She curls up on the pages of whatever I’m trying to read, always. I’m sure she’s only trying to protect me.”

Will writes through the day until “I look at the time and realize that I should have picked up my son from preschool by now.” We are all grateful for his son’s patience, for it has led to the splendid Goblin Secrets .“When I sent Goblin Secrets out into the world, I hoped it could possibly communicate my sense of theater—what it is, what it does, and why it’s important,” he writes. “And I hoped it would be fun to read aloud.”

It does, and it is.

GDS: In your acceptance speech—which was very gracious, by the way—you quoted Ursula K. Le Guin.
WA: Thanks! That line is from her book of essays Cheek by Jowl. I’ll repeat it here. It’s worth returning to, over and over again. She writes that “the literature of imagination, even when tragic, is reassuring, not necessarily in the sense of offering nostalgic comfort, but because it offers a world large enough to contain alternatives and therefore offers hope.” We need to remember that the way things are is not the only possible way that they could be.

Let’s talk about the goblins. Did George MacDonald’s The Princess and the Goblin provide a starting place for your own, who are quite unlike the goblins of, say, The Hobbit?
Absolutely. Along with Jim Henson’s film Labyrinth, with all of those goblin puppets designed by Brian Froud. There is something so gleeful and wonderful about them—even if they are dangerous. I wanted mine to be consistent with goblin lore, full of mischief and trickery. And the thing I stole from Henson and MacDonald is that goblins used to be children. They haven’t been swapped for children, as in fairy lore about changelings. They’re kids transformed.

In the novel, the goblins are often referred to as the “Changed”; Rownie is “an unchanged child” and sometimes reaches up to see if his ears are becoming pointed to discover if he is “changing.”
I’m pretty sure that this fear and curiosity about monstrous transformations explains the endless popularity of vampires and werewolves, too. They’re the monsters that you might become, so they make perfect metaphors for all of the changes we actually experience while trying to figure out who we are.

Your goblins are also outsiders: they are outside the world of Zombay, unaccepted there even though one of their missions is to protect the city.
This is what connects my goblins to actual actors at various points in theater history. It’s a disreputable, mischievous, goblinish profession, and a vital one. In Shakespeare’s day they were barely considered people. But they were also the only ones outside the nobility who could legally wear silk. All sorts of rules reversed onstage. And theatrical mischief also takes its responsibilities seriously. You have to get your cues right. You have to pull the ropes at precisely the right time or else the wrong piece of scenery falls into place, and in that moment nothing else is more important. Nothing could possibly be more important than the painted landscape on the other end of that rope. So theater folk may be mischievous, but there’s also a dedication and a clear precision to what they do; it’s not all irreverent foolishness. It can even be heroic.

To perform and to be heroic, these goblins don masks.
I interviewed some master mask makers while researching the book, and tried to learn as much as possible about the mythic and ritual origins of masks. In ritual the mask can stand in for powerful forces that we have no control over—the hunt, or the weather, or the river that might flood and kill us all. But if we can give those forces a voice and a face, then we might be able to interact. We still don’t have any control, but at least we can have a conversation. And in performance we can take on some of the qualities we’re afraid of.

Which is why Rownie becomes the giant when he puts on the giant’s mask, and why he becomes the fox at the end of the novel by putting on the fox’s mask—and so taking on some of the qualities of the fox.
Absolutely. It can be a privately transformative ritual as well as an ancient, public attempt to communicate with angry weather. The giant mask comes from one of my favorite theatrical exercises, an especially useful one for children’s workshops. You get everybody to walk in a circle and give them vivid, impossible metaphors: “Walk like your feet weigh five hundred pounds. But you’re used to it. They always have. Now walk like your head is full of honey. Now walk like your hair is on fire, and always has been.” This is great for giving each character a distinct way of moving. One of those basic exercises is “Walk like a giant.” Some stand on tiptoe as soon as you say “giant,” but they shouldn’t. “You’re already a giant. You don’t need to stand on tiptoe. You are already very tall.” That’s a useful walk to learn. No one ever bothers you when you stand like a giant, no matter how tall you happen to be.

It’s also fun to put on a mask.
Yes! Absolutely. Don’t forget about the fun. Here we are talking about mythic origins and transformation, but none of it matters much without the fun.

The city of Zombay is itself a stage for remarkable and sometimes frightening events—and it’s a stage about to be overwhelmed by the coming floods. What influenced the physical world of the novel?
After high school I saved up some money and became the clichéd American traveler with a backpack and a Eurail pass. I started in England and then headed east. Zombay probably began when I landed in Florence and saw the Ponte Vecchio. It’s a very old bridge with houses and shops on it, suspended over the river. It seemed like a magically impossible in-between place. Then, just a few days later, I was wandering through Prague and crossed the Charles Bridge. That one was covered with performers: musicians with glass harps playing intricate compositions and puppeteers and painters and guitarists and people with costumes and masks, all performing together, all making a vibrant mess of art and collecting coins in hats. Then I found the old town square of Gothic streets and spires—like those in Zombay’s Southside—in direct contrast to blocks of Soviet-style apartments surrounding the city. And I saw the clock tower of Prague. They say the prince who commissioned that clock put out the eyes of the craftsman who made it so he could never build its equal. All I had to do was put the clock tower in the middle of the bridge, and the rest of Zombay took shape around it.

Parts of the story, and the setting, read as very Dickensian to me. Is it fair to cite Dickens as an influence?
That’s fair. And flattering. I have to embrace Oliver Twist as an influence.

The orphan in the company of other orphans, all bullied and controlled by the powerful Graba…
Exactly. But the larger debt to Dickens comes from his essays and articles on urban geography, stolen from the book Dickens’ London. He went for long walks and made the invisible parts of the city visible by writing about them. Southside gets much of its flavor from those essays. In one he describes, with gentle irony, an absolutely terrible play. That helped me write about a theatrical fiasco, when my goblins attempt to perform by the docks and everything goes wrong.

Zombay is very much haunted by London. The old London Bridge was a town unto itself, like a larger version of the Ponte Vecchio. And the south side of London was a rough and disreputable place in Shakespeare’s time, so of course the theaters were there.

Most inland cities seem to have grown up around rivers. London has the Thames. Minneapolis and Saint Paul watch each other across the Mississippi. The contrast between the river and the urban world that borders it is compelling. But in each case the river is very much older than the city, and it doesn’t care about us. It isn’t a malevolent force, but it does what it does as a river, and sometimes that includes swallowing our bridges whole—just as the Mississippi swallowed our 35W bridge a few years ago. The river can swallow you without bothering to notice you. I borrowed a fair bit of nautical lore for the relationship between Zombay City and the Zombay River, the reverence and terror that sailors have always had for the sea. It takes a particular kind of courage to live next to forces larger than yourself. I suppose we always do, but it takes courage to recognize it.

But there are also forces in Goblin Secrets that do what they do for evil purposes. There’s the Mayor, for example, who takes away hearts and volition, and who’s willing to let all of Southside be drowned so he can remake it in the image of Northside. Sometimes very disturbing things happen in Goblin Secrets —not the least of which are the burning pigeons. Were you ever concerned about including varied and visceral kinds of violence in a book intended for children?
Concerned, yes. Hesitant, no. I figured it was important to write what the story needed first, and then soften it later if the audience demands. Then I decided it was important not to soften it. Everyone points out that fairy tales are always dark, and everyone is right, though every few years we still have a big, public battle about it. We’ve been having that particular argument for thousands of years. Plato favored censorship. Aristotle didn’t. Puritans tried to ban theater throughout Shakespeare’s career; they insisted the stage was both dangerous and foolish, a vile and disreputable kind of lying. And it is both dangerous and foolish. That’s its power. Shakespeare admitted to the foolishness in Midsummer and the dangers in Tempest—his two fantasy stories. Both theater and fantasy are still stuck in this conversation, whether we’re talking aboutHarry Potter or Dungeons & Dragons. The argument gets even more heated when kids are in the audience.

We need to give those kids more credit. Violence and darkness in books for children creates a necessary framework of emotional possibility. Cruel and horrible things might happen in a novel, but the young reader—even a young reader to whom nothing especially horrible has happened—will recognize the reality of those dark things and their presence in the world. In his or her world. The politics of the playground are cruel and horrible enough. In a story, they can experience those events and emotions vicariously, from a safe distance.

And what does that give a young reader?
Stories are actually the only way to wrestle with such things from a safe distance. We do a terrible disservice to young readers if we deny them that chance. They need a richer sense of possibility.

Fictional pain works like a vaccine. You inoculate yourself to tragedy by learning that tragedy exists, as in Katherine Paterson’s Bridge to Terabithia. That book forces readers to make sense of a senseless death—hopefully before they have to do so in fact. And everyone has to eventually. But books can give warning, so when young readers encounter full-blown sorrow it might not be an utterly new experience. It might not be overwhelming. Things like it have already happened to fictional characters they’ve loved.

This is what A. E. Housman says of sad and dark poetry in “Terence, This Is Stupid Stuff,” when he writes that “if the smack is sour,/ The better for the embittered hour.” And he concludes the poem with an anecdote about Mithridates, who made himself immune to poison by taking small doses each day—suggesting that reading bitter poems helps, as you say, to inoculate against the devastation of later sorrow.
Exactly! Perfect example. In Goblin Secrets, the puppet show works the same way. It warns both Rownie and the reader about what happens later. That’s also basic foreshadowing, so it follows the standard rules of drama—but those rules all have more than one purpose. It’s an unjust mistake to deny children the full emotional range of fictional experience. We arm the reader as best we can inside the story, and afterwards they might continue to be armed.

And not to keep going back to Housman—except that I really like this poem—but he would affirm this as well. His narrator speaks of using ale to create a tale about a good world where everything is fine, but when he wakes up, “I saw the morning sky:/ Heighho, the tale was all a lie;/ The world, it was the old world yet.”

There’s another important side to all of this. Young readers might have experienced tragedy already. In that case we aren’t offering a vaccine or a warning. Too late for that. But we can offer solace. Trauma is alienating. If you read something that parallels your own experience, then you’re no longer alone. And the inexplicit parallels offered by fantasy can be especially useful. A direct, literal representation of trauma might turn out to be more of a trigger than a comfort. Some things you can only get at sideways. Tolkien insisted that allegory is an inferior form of storytelling because it lacks that metaphoric quality that invites multiple understandings, and Le Guin once summed up all of fantasy and science fiction as “metaphor made literal.”

I should probably point out that Goblin Secrets isn’t entirely composed of sorrow and pain! There’s a bit of fairy tale violence, it’s true, but I hope the book is also fun. Goblins are fun. We shouldn’t forget about the fun.

You mentioned the need for a “richer sense of possibility.” Can you give us some hints about this in your next book?
The next book is called Ghoulish Song, and it’s set in exactly the same time and place as Goblin Secrets. Zombay is a big city, and there’s always more than one story happening at once in a city. This story is as much about music as Goblin is about theater. The protagonist is Kaile, the young girl who brings a basket of bread to the goblins when her father tosses them out of his alehouse. The book repeats that scene from her point of view. Rownie makes a cameo, along with several other characters from the first novel, but the second one is still meant to stand alone.

And so one story can become many stories. And now that you’re back home after the National Book Awards?
Now I’m back to teaching classes, changing diapers, reading to my toddler son—with all the character voices—and finding time to write.

Gary D. Schmidt was chair of the 2012 National Book Award committee for young people’s literature. His most recent novel, Okay for Now (Clarion), was a 2011 National Book Award finalist and the winner of SLJ’s 2012 Battle of the Kids’ Books tournament.

As a librarian, I love it when I find books that relate to one another in terms of themes or content, which gets me thinking about potential program ideas. The titles selected for this first column of the new year are full of such connections. Starting with the idea of focusing on longer fiction, I found two semiautobiographical novels in verse, and both are historical fiction that deal with the protagonist coming of age. Two other novels are connected by the relationship of a child with a grandparent that both explore the idea of coping with loss, which relate to a third, classic title about the relationship between a child and a cherished uncle. Then there are two books of scary short stories rooted in the Latino tradition. And finally, a new biography of a cherished Latino musician.

An article by Frank Bures in a recent issue of The Rotarian magazine entitled “The Bicultural Advantage” reminded me of the fact that one of the best ways to understand and see through the eyes of others is to learn their language. Once we speak the language, we understand the logic and can move into a space where we are not outsiders to the culture. Even though we may not all speak the language, the books in this column can take us to explore that place and help us be part of a very rich and vital culture. These books celebrate family, a culture informed by language and music, and literary tradition in which magical and strange things are possible.

BROWN, Monica. Tito Puente: Mambo King/Rey del mambo. illus. by Rafael López. HarperCollins/Rayo. Mar. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-006-12-2783-7.
PreS-Gr 2–Brown has written a series of picture-book biographies of Latino poets and musicians that have set the standard for what a biography for young readers should be. She has taken the lives of Pablo Neruda, Gabriela Mistral, Gabriel García Marquez, and Celia Cruz and created a special type of poetry of her own, with lyrical texts that capture the essence of who these artists were. This newest title is no different. Puente’s first band was called Los Happy Boys, and, like his music, reading this book aloud can’t fail to put a smile on one’s face. It’s particularly exciting that Rafael López, the illustrator of Brown’s biography of Celia Cruz, has returned for this portrait of another Latin musician. From the cover that shows a grinning Puente gleefully beating on drums with what look like four arms, the joy that he took in music-making can hardly be contained on the page.

Activity Ideas: Of course the only thing lacking is the music itself, so I suggest using Tito Puente as the basis for a Latin-music-themed storytime. Since the book is bilingual, it lends itself to the technique of using two readers—one to read in English, and the other in Spanish. Then play some Mambo music, preferably by Puente himself, and let everyone dance. If you know the mambo, the rumba, or the cha-cha, you could even teach some basic steps. (A basic rumba rhythm is included on the back page of the book.) Brown mentions that Puente was making music before he could walk, banging on spoons and forks, and pots and pans. Bring some utensils and see how your storytime crowd can make music. Since Puente notably recorded with Celia Cruz, you could pair this with Brown’s My Name Is Celia (Luna Rising, 2004 )for a celebration of Latin rhythms. If you use an iPod for your storytime music, there is an “iTunes Essentials” playlist of Puente’s music that you could purchase that includes a track with Cruz singing a number entitled “Celia y Tito.”

ENGLE, Margarita. The Lightning Dreamer. Houghton Harcourt. Mar. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-80743-0.
Gr 6 Up–Engle has produced a fabulous work of historical fiction about Cuban poet, author, antislavery activist and feminist Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda. Written in free verse, the story tells of how Tula, which was her childhood nickname, grows up in libraries, which she calls “a safe place to heal/and dream…,” influenced by the poetry of José María Heredia. In Tula’s voice, Engle writes, “Books are door shaped/portals/carrying me/across oceans/and centuries,/helping me feel/less alone.” She takes elements from Avellaneda’s novel Sab, which is believed to be autobiographical, and creates a portrait of a girl “expected/to live/without thoughts” who will not be forced into an arranged marriage, and who falls in love with a man who wants her to marry the suitor of the woman he has always loved. Tula speaks out against slavery and arranged marriages, finding them both a form of imprisonment. Engle inhabits the voices of various characters from the story, including Avellaneda’s mother, who loses her inheritance because of Tula’s refusal to accept an arranged marriage, and who ultimately banishes her to live with an uncle.

I have always been a little leery of novels in verse because, if there is no artistic reason for the story to take that format, the verse form seems to be little more than a gimmick. Engle is writing historical fiction about a real Cuban poet, and she convinces readers that the story couldn’t be told any other way.

Activity Ideas: This book is ideal for literature units and can be used across the curriculum. Students can read this as an entry point to the history of Cuba, the issues of slavery and feminism, and Avellaneda’s prose and poetry itself. Engle’s book lends itself to teaching, and her appendix includes a bibliography of titles that kids will want to explore and research.

MCCALL, Guadalupe Garcia. Under the Mesquite. Lee & Low. 2011. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-60060-429-4.
Gr 6 Up–This autobiographical novel in verse chronicles Lupita’s coming of age set against the backdrop of her mother’s cancer diagnosis. I love the way that the author begins with the diagnosis, and then follows up with a section of poems about her memories of growing up. She then returns to the present, and the final section deals tenderly with the loss of her mother, and the way her father helps the family through the crisis with quiet strength. This novel rightfully won the Pura Belpré Author Award and it deserves wide exposure. I particularly appreciate the glossary of names, Spanish words, and cultural references, which ties readers to the world of South Texas and the Latino culture that is so prevalent in that region.

Children and Grandparents

MCCALL, Guadalupe Garcia. Summer of the Mariposas. Lee & Low/Tu Bks. 2012. Tr $17.95. 978-1-60060-900-8.
Gr 6 Up–This novel more than fulfills the promise of McCall’s Under the Mesquite. In Summer of the Mariposas, she audaciously sets out to retell Homer’s Odyssey within the context of Latino folklore. Odilia is the oldest of five sisters who have vowed to stay together forever. When they happen upon the body of a drowned man in their swimming hole, they decide to take him back to Mexico to his family, who happen to live nearby their own grandmother. La Llorona appears to Odilia and becomes her mentor and guide. The journey to the girls’ grandmother’s ranch involves getting across the border with a corpse without being caught by authorities. Then the magical realism kicks in as Odilia and her sisters have to combat various supernatural beings, including a shape-shifting witch and the dreaded Chupacabras, the monster who eats goats. These are just some of the connections, especially with the books of scary short stories mentioned below, that make this book such a rich source of material to introduce children to Latino myths, as well as theOdyssey itself. I love McCall’s take on La Llorona, whom she sets out to redeem as a sympathetic mother figure, rather than the scary child kidnapper she is most often made out to be.

MANZANO, Sonia. The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano. Scholastic. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-32505-9.
Gr 5-8–Manzano is, of course, best known for her role as Maria on Sesame Street. In this book, she has brought to life an incident from 1969, when a group of young Nationalist Puerto Ricans, known as the Young Lords, occupied the First Spanish Methodist Church, after the clergy turned down their requests to use the building during the week as a place for breakfast and other social services for the poor. The story is related in the voice of Evelyn Serrano, a young teen who realizes that she wants to find ways to create social change. The girl’s social consciousness comes alive in tandem with her grandmother’s arrival. Her abuela takes over Evelyn’s room, forcing her to occupy the couch. Even with this to grapple with, along with the contentious relationship between her grandmother and mother, Evelyn eventually forges a relationship with the older woman, who was a Nationalist in Puerto Rico. She also discovers more about her grandfather, who was on the other side of the political debate, and this makes her all the more anxious to be a part of history. Manzano makes the Puerto Rican barrio come alive, and the atmosphere she creates reminded me a great deal of West Side Story. Of course, she manages to insert a quick reference to Sesame Street itself, which also first aired in 1969.

ADA, Alma Flor & Gabriel M. Zubizarreta. Con cariño, Amalia. S & S/Atheneum. 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-006-12-2783-7.
Gr 3-6–This is a Spanish translation of a book that previously appeared in English as Love, Amalia. When Amalia’s friend Martha moves away, she deals with an acute feeling of loss that is soothed by her grandmother. The book portrays this loving relationship in a very tender way that is made all the more poignant when Amalia’s grandmother passes away. At the end of the story Amalia reconnects with Martha via a letter, and works to reforge a connection. The book includes recipes for the dishes that Amalia and herabuela make together.

FARIAS, Juan. Los caminos de la luna. illus. by Alicia Cañas Cortázar. Anaya (Sopa de libros). 1997. pap. $8.20. ISBN 978-84-207-8293-5. www.anaya.es
Gr 5-8–While not about a grandparent, this book, which translates as “The Paths of the Moon,” is about the relationship between a young girl and her uncle, known as Juan el Viejo. When his niece Maroliña actually wants to be bored, he takes the opportunity to show her the wonder of life, and to prepare her for a time when he will no longer be there. Written in small snippets of poetic prose, this book has been a longtime favorite. Here’s how it begins: “Juan el Viejo loved walking along the beach at sunset, when the gulls had not yet gone to sleep. Almost always he was accompanied by his niece, Maroliña, the one who listened best. Juan el Viejo tells stories of what comes to his memory.” Each section of the book is introduced by a quote from another book, and, at the end, Farias talks about each quote and its connection with his story, and encourages readers to explore these other books. Sadly, Farias, who won numerous awards in the Spanish literary world for his children’s books, died in 2011.
Activity Idea: After experiencing any of these books, the best thing would be to take kids to a place where they can interview seniors and capture oral history. Years ago when I worked for the Dallas Public Library, there was a senior center directly behind the branch library and we took kids there to do just this. The interviews were all recorded, then transcribed. This was a satisfying experience for everyone involved.

Scary Stories

Below are two books of scary short stories that will appeal especially to boys. Both of these books mine the very rich lode of Latino folklore; any number of these stories would be great to read aloud, or to learn to tell on your own. Both books are bilingual, with the stories presented in both English and Spanish in the same volume.

GARZA, Xavier. Kid Cyclone Fights the Devil and Other Stories. Piñata. 2010. Tr $10.95. ISBN 978-1-55885-599-1.
Gr 5-8–Garza is mostly known for his picture books about lucha libre, or Mexican wrestling. The title story of this collection is about a lucha libre fighter, Kid Cyclone, who ends up wrestling with the devil. In “Llorona 911,” a group of kids at a slumber party call the aforementioned phone number, and La Llorona. This would be the most ideal story to learn to tell aloud. Garza also creates stories with other mythical characters such as the Owl Witch, who torments a girl named Esperanza nightly, asking for her baby sister. Then there is the Elmendorf beast, which finds its match in a very strong and stubborn pig. There are also the “Winged Beasts of Elotes County,” which you ignore at your own peril. There is an interesting tale of the U.S.-Mexican border in which a border patrol officer learns that the thing in the shadows is not an illegal alien, but the legendaryChupacabra itself. Some stories center on the idea of revenge, such as a woman known as “Donkey Lady” who turns the tables on her tormentor. The theme that runs through this collection is that of young people trying to prove, unsuccessfully, that old legends are not true. A great choice for any time a scary story is needed.

SALDAÑA, René, Jr. Batiando con el diablo y otros cuentos de mas allá/Dancing with the Devil and Other Tales from Beyond. tr. by Gabriela Baeza Ventura. Piñata. 2012. Tr $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55885-744-1.
Gr 5-8–The title story is about a high school dance in which Joey hopes to dance with Marlen, his major crush, but doesn’t get to her in time. Instead Marlen accepts an invitation to dance from the devil, which turns out to be fatal for her, and tragic for Joey, who could have saved her were it not for his inattention. Saldaña provides a La Llorona tale that mixes the original story with a more contemporary one in which the tragic scenario plays itself out again. In a second variant on the tale, “Have I Got a Marble for You,” a boy who wants to win a marble tournament obtains a magic marble from a creepy kid who turns out to be working forLa Llorona, helping her obtain a second child. In “Louie Spills His Guts,” an old wives’ tale literally comes true when Louie cuts his toe and then finds his leg swelling up. In Latino culture, a common phrase is “Sí Dios quiere” or, “If God wills it.” This phrase is often used to respond to invitations when there is some uncertainty involved. In “God’s Will Be Done” a girl who wants to go to a dance and meet a forbidden boy decides to do it whether God likes it or not. She finds out through the medium of a fierce bull that God doesn’t really want her to go. All of these stories are full of uniquely Latino cultural elements.

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

Marcus Lowry, teen librarian, Ramsey County (MN) Library and
Leslie Yoder, digital literacy and learning specialist, St. Paul Public Schools.
Photograph by Thomas Strand.

Last spring, when school librarian Leslie Yoder heard that young adult author Francisco X. Stork was available to visit Boys Totem Town, a residential program for incarcerated teens in St. Paul, MN, she pounced on the opportunity. Although Yoder lacked the necessary funds, she instantly knew who to turn to—her partners at Ramsey County Library.

For the last two years, Yoder, a digital literacy and learning specialist with St. Paul’s public schools, has teamed up with Ramsey’s teen librarians—and the outcome has been a win-win for both the librarians and the kids whom they serve.

Thanks to Ramsey teen librarian Marcus Lowry, who found the funds for Stork’s visit, the acclaimed writer spoke at a local high school and to dozens of Yoder’s enthusiastic students about his novel Behind the Eyes (Dutton, 2006), which deals with a reform school. “Our students don’t get to meet the people who write the books,” says Yoder.

When Lowry and fellow young adult librarian Amy Boese visit Boys Totem Town, they are weighed down with bags of books and eager to do what they do best—booktalking and spearheading a weeklong technology workshop. “It’s really energizing for us to go there,” says Boese, who also works with three other school districts. “They are always superpolite and have good questions.”

Although the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the American Library Association’s (ALA) Public Library Data Service Statistical Report don’t keep track of the number of joint-library projects, Yoder, Lowry, and Boese are among a small group of school and public librarians nationwide who regularly work together. Like many rewarding collaborative projects, theirs usually begin with a modest idea, in this case, offering booktalks to kids in a correctional facility. But behind every successful school and public library partnership, explains Lowry, there’s also a strong personal connection and a shared vision. “It almost always has to start with one personal connection,” he says. “It’s the one person that sees that mutual value—that we serve the same kids.”

Teaming up in Minnesota: Aaron Blechert, a media specialist at Irondale
High School, and Amy Boese, a teen librarian at Ramsey County Library,
with students in the school library.
Photograph by Thomas Strand.

It’s also sound fiscal sense for school and public libraries to pool their limited resources, says Jeffrey Roth, the New York Public Library’s vice president of strategy and finance. “We’re in an era that institutions need to look and see who they can partner with and strategically use each other’s assets,” he says.

That’s a strategy that the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) and Nashville Public Library (NPL) have worked to perfection. Although sharing public library collections with public schools is fairly unusual, that didn’t stop these two creative partners from thinking outside the box. During the 2011–2012 academic year, when Nashville’s budget-strapped schools were hurting for resources, the public library reached out a helping hand and loaned the city’s 54 middle schools and high schools 97,000 items—everything from books and DVDs to CDs and Playaways to entice reluctant readers and struggling English-language learners.

As a result of the impressive partnership, which is called Limitless Libraries, Stephanie Ham, NPL’s project coordinator, says the public library’s circulation stats have soared by an unprecedented 60 percent. And on the school side, MNPS’s lead librarian, Kathleen Bennett, couldn’t be more pleased. “This model is just fantastic and the benefits are great,” says Bennett. “What the kids get is wonderful open access to lots of resources.” (For more on Nashville’s Limitless Libraries, click on this link.)

The relationship between schools and public librarians is a critical one. Even before the recent recession, few school libraries could match the buying power of a large branch or a mid-size public library system. And during these troubled economic times, school librarians and their budgets are often among the first items scratched from public school budgets. That’s a compelling reason why Wisconsin’s School District of La Crosse and the La Crosse Public Library are exploring the possibility of sharing school and public library databases. “From a fiscal perspective, we’re starting to balance our resources so we are not duplicating online services,” says Vicki Lyons, the district’s director of technology and library services.

Still, successful school and public library partnerships can be a tough act to pull off, say many librarians and educators. Some of the typical roadblocks include a lack of time, vision, or resources; difficult personalities to deal with; and a scarcity of support from higher-ups. That may explain why less than one-third of school and public libraries coordinate book and other material purchases, according to School Library Journal’s first public library spending survey (see “It Takes Two,” May 2012, ow.ly/gekWY). When it comes to homework assignments, only nine percent of public libraries work directly with schools.

The emphasis on standardized testing can also be a barrier to working together, especially when kids are pulled out of the classroom to visit a public library. If the benefits of a joint effort aren’t obvious, says Rachelle Nocito, a content specialist for the School District of Philadelphia, many teachers and principals begin to worry that these activities will negatively impact test scores. “School districts are judged on our students’ achievement,” explains Nocito, whose district is piloting a program with the Free Library of Philadelphia. “It’s really important that when we step out of our building to do anything, its purpose definitely aligns with the reading program and social studies curriculum or science curriculum.”

But that doesn’t mean that school and public libraries should hesitate to work together. Susan Ballard, president of the American Association of School Librarians, a division of ALA, encourages school and public librarians to reach out to one another and other community groups. “No one can do anything on their own anymore; it’s simply not possible,” Ballard says.

At the moment, ALA’s Interdivisional Committee on School/Public Library Cooperation is working on ways to bring media centers and public libraries together on issues such as preventing “summer slide”—when kids lose many of the reading gains made during the school year—and implementing the Common Core standards. “If you’re not collaborating, why aren’t you collaborating?” Ballard asks. “The end result improves services for kids and makes them better researchers and lifelong learners.”

Students, of course, aren’t the only ones who benefit from a collaborative program. “Great partnerships let you reach out dynamically and work with a wide variety of partners within the school and public library,” says Marge Loch-Wouters, coordinator of youth services at La Crosse Public Library. She should know. Loch-Wouters has been building partnerships with local Wisconsin schools for more than two decades. “Great partnerships don’t put you in a box,” she says.

Buffy Hamilton doesn’t need to be convinced that joint-library ventures make a world of difference. Hamilton is so bullish on them that she recently left her post at Creekview High School, in Canton, GA, where she ran an award-winning library program, and joined the Cleveland Public Library’s (CPL) staff. School and public libraries “have much more in common with their visions and goals than we might initially think,” says Hamilton, who will be CPL’s liaison with Cleveland’s public schools. “We’re working on these parallel paths, and we can find a way to interact and pool our collective resources and talents to accomplish those goals.”

The following collaborative projects are a sampling of what’s happening around the country. Each of these dynamic programs has its own distinct approach, but they all have one thing in common: they’re making a genuine difference in kids’ lives and in the communities that they serve.

Denver, CO

In 2006, when residents of the Mile High City voted to raise the sales tax to support full-day kindergarten and early childhood education, the Denver Public Library (DPL) and the Denver Public Schools (DPS) knew it was the perfect time to extend their partnership, which, at the time, primarily placed library volunteers in the classroom to read to kids. With the help of a two-year, $476,000 Library Services and Technology Act grant, the two organizations banded together, in 2007, to teach children’s librarians, media specialists, and teachers about the latest advances in early childhood education. Children’s librarians who specialized in infant and toddler brain development shared their knowledge with teachers, and educators, in turn, brought public librarians up-to-date on the workings of the adolescent brain. “It was a new way to collaborate,” says David Sanger, DPS’s director of library services. “We formed professional learning communities, and those have still continued.”

Although the grant ended in 2009, the partnership is still going strong. These days DPL, DPS, and local nonprofit groups and agencies, such as Head Start, are working together on a number of projects for children from poor families. School and public librarians are also sharing their respective approaches to improving literacy and serving the city’s many English-language learners, who make up 34 percent of Denver’s K–12 students. Both groups are also discussing how best to share their resources, including, says Sanger, how to get their catalog databases to “talk to each other.”

Their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Denver’s 5 By 5 Project, which was created to support early childhood development, was inspired by these school and library partnerships, says Carol Edwards, DPL’s comanager of children’s and family services. The nonprofit organization, whose goal is to make sure that young kids have at least five cultural experiences by the time they start kindergarten, provides free admission to the city’s top cultural venues, such as the Denver Botanical Gardens and the Colorado Ballet, to nearly 3,000 Head Start and Early Head Start families. Plus, the library also offers free after-school camps for children of families in need. “It’s something that wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t been talking to each other,” says Edwards.

This month, DPL joined communities, such as Louisville and Boston, where one card serves as a student’s ID and library card. My Denver Card will also give kids free access to city parks and recreation services, and there are plans to expand its benefits to include the city’s transit system, says Jennifer Hoffman, manager of DPL’s books and borrowing. Hoffman says she anticipates issuing 30,000 cards. “We’re just trying to make it easy for a student to access us,” she says.

Portland, OR

To reach out to parents and students in east Portland, Multnomah County Library’s (MCL) Midland branch staff worked with educators at the Fir Ridge Campus (FRC), the David Douglas School District’s alternative high school. Their mission? To find teens who were eager to become library tour guides.

But these tours aren’t your average orientation sessions—especially when they’re conducted in Russian, Vietnamese, and Mandarin, the languages spoken in many of the young volunteers’ homes and neighborhoods. The aim of this innovative school-library project, says FRC’s librarian Deb Wheelbarger, is to attract parents who live in east Portland’s diverse and poor neighborhoods to bring their kids to the library and introduce them to its resources.

Student-guided tours are just one way that MCL has teamed up with its five area school districts. Another outreach program, Multnomah’s School Corps (staffed by Jackie Partch, Kate Houston, Peter Ford, and Gesse Stark, all of whom have MLIS degrees), offers local teachers curriculum support, which includes issuing them special library cards (so they can check out more books for longer periods of time), school visits to talk about research skills and library services, and “Buckets of Books,” which, as its name suggests, come brimming with books on commonly taught subjects, such as Oregon history, Pacific Northwest Native Americans, and insects and spiders, says Suzanne Myers Harold, MCL’s adult literacy coordinator. The library also brings visiting authors to local schools and works hard to bring students from the county’s high-poverty areas to theater productions and special events, including an awe-inspiring visit with the Portland Trailblazers, the city’s National Basketball Association team. “Through this collaboration with Multnomah County Library, we’re able to speak for them, and they for us,” says Wheelbarger. “I love the Multnomah County Library. It’s one of the most accessible libraries in the country.”

New York, NY

When the New York City Department of Education (NYDOE) realized there was a great way to work together with the New York Public Library (NYPL), Queens Library, and Brooklyn Public Library to get more learning resources into teachers’ and students’ hands, it couldn’t wait to get started—and MyLibraryNYC was soon launched.

Funded by a $5 million grant from Citigroup, the four-year pilot program, which gives students and teachers access to literally millions of additional materials, lets kids search their school and public libraries’ catalogs simultaneously from any computer that has Internet access. From the very start, the program, which began in 2011 with 84 schools and 50 NYPL branches, opted to take a potentially risky tact: to encourage kids to take advantage of their libraries, students would not be fined if they failed to return materials on time.

A recipe for disaster? Not at all, says NYPL’s Roth. In fact, almost 100 percent of the borrowed items have found their way back onto the library’s shelves. Best of all, students are scooping up more books. “The kids in the pilot were three times more likely to have a book checked out from their local library, and school library circulation essentially doubled,” says Roth. “The New York Public Library and the Department of Education already had a great relationship, but this has taken it to another level.”

Now in its second year, MyLibraryNYC reaches 250,000 students in 400 public schools, offering them access to 17 million books, videos, and recordings. And by 2015, the program hopes to include all 1.1 million of the city’s public school students, says Richard Hasenyager, NYDOE’s director of library services.

As part of the pilot program, NYPL will deliver books and other materials that meet the Common Core State Standards to participating schools. Groundwork is also being laid in all three public library systems to work more closely with school librarians and curriculum specialists so that their collections will support the state’s Common Core Standards.

NYPL estimates that MyLibraryNYC will cost $6 per student annually in direct and indirect costs, which include shipping the materials to schools and library branches. The public library systems pay for shipping and staff training, and the every school pays the roughly $800 annual fee charged by library resource vendor Follett for its Destiny catalog and BiblioCommons, which developed the catalog’s software and online interface. (Follett is giving those school libraries a $150 discount on Destiny.) School libraries that haven’t joined the pilot will pay $650, says Leanne Ellis, NYDOE’s coordinator of library services.

This year, the pilot added the Queens and Brooklyn public libraries and expanded to 207 school libraries that now serve 296 schools, says NYDOE. Although schools have to foot part of the bill, when you stop to consider what kids are getting in return—access to “the greatest books ever written by man,” says NYPL’s Roth—it’s a real deal.

Queens Library sees MyLibraryNYC as a launching pad to expand its librarians’ ongoing work with schools in the borough. “What can be done to help the kids, to support the teachers, to ensure kids have a strong start in reading and literacy and a place to go and their parents, too?” asks Bridget Quinn-Carey, the library’s chief operating officer. “Those are the wonderful things that libraries can do.”

Monterey High’s freshmen take advantage of computers in the Monterey Public Library teen zone as part of a joint venture between the school and library.
Photo courtesy of Monterey Public Library and Monterey High School.

Monterey, CA

To help its incoming freshman beef up their critical thinking skills and boost their tech know-how, the Monterey High School (MHS) turned to a familiar partner, the Monterey Public Library. The two teamed up to create a class called 21st Century Learning Skills. Aaron Sanders, the MHS history teacher who helped kick-start it, and Ben Gomberg, a librarian formerly with the Monterey Public Library, worked together to create the course’s project-oriented assignments, which have included creating websites that explore the coastal town’s history and comparing employment information that kids found on Craigslist with data provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. Supported by a $5,300 IMLS grant, their aim was to give 130 to 150 freshmen (out of a class of 1,100) the skills they needed to succeed in school and in life, says Sanders.

As part of the class, students made four separate visits to the public library (located just a block away), and Gomberg, in turn, made the same number of classroom visits, offering presentations on topics such as copyright and privacy, evaluating websites, and using library resources to prepare for college and careers.

How’s the new course working out? According to MHS’s principal, Marcie Plummer, students who took the class had fewer D’s and F’s, absences, and discipline issues than their nonparticipating peers. Roughly half of the kids in the class reported using the public library in their free time and about a third of them also used it to do schoolwork from other classes, says Gomberg.

Students in the pilot program have also learned how to be advocates for their own learning and how to evaluate their approaches to school so that they can improve their academic performance. “Personally as a teacher, I saw them having huge gains in that area,” Sanders says. “They were not afraid of having conversations with their teachers.”

Philadelphia, PA

How do you improve 146,090 kids’ information literacy and critical thinking skills? If you’re the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) and the Free Library of Philadelphia, you join hands to create a dynamic pilot program that pairs third-grade teachers with children’s librarians from nearby branches.

How does the program work? Six times during the last two months of the school year, instead of taking part in their school’s daily requirement of 90 minutes of reading, about 200 third graders take a short walk to their local public library, usually no more than a couple of blocks away. The purpose of the visits? To research the history of Philadelphia and their neighborhoods.

Upon returning to their classrooms, groups of three or four students dive headlong into the resources they discovered at the library and begin to create their own projects, says district content specialist Nocito. Although it’s impossible to predict what these inspired students are likely to cook up, one thing’s for sure—it’s always interesting.

Sarah Stippich, a children’s librarian at the Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek Library, remembers the day when the Free Library’s 25-foot-long, state-of-the art Techmobile visited Anderson Elementary School and its third graders were introduced to iPads. “They were digitally mapping our neighborhood,” says Stippich. “They were really into that, not only the technology part of that, but being able to look at their neighborhood and say, ‘Oh, that’s where I live.’”

Some classes combine their walks to the library with physical education, and their students strap on pedometers to count their footsteps, says Betsy Orsburn, the Free Library’s chief of the Office of Public Service Support.

Although it will take at least three years to gather enough data to evaluate the pilot, says Nocito, the initial assessments indicate that students are making connections between their schoolwork and library resources. Their teachers also reported developing moderately strong to strong informative partnerships with public librarians.

Nocito would like to improve on the instructional aspects of the pilot program. Ideally, she’d like to see a 10-week local history project that touches on different curriculum areas, such as science and language arts, and then follow up with an assessment to see if students’ gains continue on in fourth grade. “We’re under scrutiny,” she says. “Our students are going to be held accountable for their visits to the Free Library.”

The pilot program originally began in 2011, when the Free Library offered to help city schools that didn’t have a librarian or a school library, says Joe Benford, the Free Library’s chief of the Extensions Division. “It really is a way to try to cement library instruction and information literacy in the school district curriculum,” says Benford. Although more than 100 of Philadelphia’s 249 public schools have school libraries, only 46 schools have certified librarians. “The school librarians are almost nonexistent,” says Benford. “What we’re trying to do is prove this works and works as a model for the future. We just wanted to see if we could collaborate with the school district, and we have.”

Even though the pilot program appears to be working, there are limits to what it can accomplish. Stippich, who works with three third-grade teachers at Anderson Elementary School and with seven other schools and 12 child-care centers, says it’s impossible for her to offer everyone the level of service that she gives to those in the pilot program. “I can’t be the librarian for everyone,” she says. “This has just convinced me even more that they need more school librarians.”

Freelance writer Marta Murvosh is an aspiring librarian who often writes about libraries and education. You can find her at www.facebook.com/MartaMurvosh.

Reviews in this column first appeared in SLJ’s column Touch and Go. Please note that later versions of some of these titles may now be available. Visit Touch and Go at slj.com under “Blogs & Columns” for additional reviews, commentary, and interviews with people in the field.–Daryl Grabarek

Atlas by Collins. Harper Collins Publishers. 2012. iOS, requires 5.0 or later. Version 1.0.3. $6.99.
Gr 6 Up–This expansive app contains seven globes: satellite, physical, political, population, environment, communications, and energy. For each thematic section text and illustrations combine to provide an overview of the subject.

“Living Earth” explores the natural world and a variety of landscapes, as well as changes in and threats to the planet, among other topics. “People and Power” considers where energy reserves are located, where energy is produced and consumed, how technology connects the world, and more. These and other subjects are addressed through questions and detailed answers are provided along with captioned photos, charts, and graphs (sources cited).

Viewers swipe to spin the 3-D globes; pinch and pull to zoom in and out. While zooming in the globe will switch to Google Maps with an Internet connection. A location bar at the top of each screen marks the city and country or region displayed. A tap on the information symbol opens a window that reveals country statistics and information on the nation’s land, climate, economy, demographics, and transportation, and a few images. Each entry also includes links to the country’s web site.

Menus below each globe provide readers with additional facts about our planet including birth rates, pollution hotspots, and Internet usage. Color-coded keys and symbols help readers interpret the information. (The app contains no narration or sound effects.)

The satellite globe is the only one that downloads when users purchase the app. The others must be installed individually, and the amount of time required to do so is considerable. While the breadth of information inAtlas is impressive, its tendency to shut down and the substantial amount of storage space required (1.3 GB) may prove problematic for some users.–Cathy Potter, Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, ME

Franklin Frog. Barry Tranter and Emma Tranter. Nosy Crow Ltd. 2012. iOS, requires 3.1.3 or later. Version 1.0.2. $4.99.
PreS-Gr 2–Hibernation is on the mind of an amphibian in this interactive, animated introduction to the habits and life cycle of a frog. Users meet the mature fellow resting on a lily pad. From there they direct him through his habitat and day as he hops to land, snares a tasty snail and worm, and swims in a pond, carefully avoiding predators. As the seasons change, the frog hibernates (viewers help locate a likely spot), awakens in the spring, and eventually finds a mate. From one of the eggs laid by the female, a frogspawn hatches and the story begins anew. With its simple activities and circular format, this colorful app is bound to keep young children engaged through several frog generations.

Children can read the story independently or listen to a winning child narrator. There are occasional verbal and visual (glowing dots, blinking arrows) prompts. The background music is soothing and the sounds of pond life, realistic. A delightful balance between educational and entertaining.– Amy Shepherd, St. Anne’s Episcopal School, Middletown, DE

Goodnight Moon. Margaret Wise Brown. Loud Crow Interactive. 2012. iOS, requires 4.3 or later. Version 1.1. $4.99; Android, requires 2.3.3 and Up. Version 1.2. $2.99
PreS-K–On the opening screen Brown’s classic title appears against pastel bed covers, a plush stuffed rabbit, and some not-too-subtle advertising for add-on purchases. A tap to the jacket and the book opens as the background becomes a deep-blue sky filled with twinkling stars. A double-page spread of the story covers only half the screen, so images and text are somewhat reduced in size.

The digital version retains the rich palette of Clement Hurd’s original illustrations, and there are loads of enchanting animations, sound effects, and interactive elements: flickering flames in the bedroom fireplace, a cow that jumps over the moon, stars that dissolve on touch, and the opportunity to inscribe the book with child’s name and/or photo. But there are also features and games that may not be intuitive, or of interest to kids: a mouse hunt, a sticker collection (more for purchase), and a spy glass that enlarges only a small portion of an image or the text while obscuring the rest of it.

The narration is evenly paced and soothing, and a gentle piano tune plays throughout (the volume is adjustable). To advance the text, a long swipe is best; a short one may trigger more interactivity, which can frustrate children.

Parents are likely to be turned off by the add-ons (though the pitch can be locked down), but kids who love this story will enjoy viewing it with animation. While the interactivity will engage them, the extras are just that.–Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal

 HELQUIST, Brett. Grumpy Goat. illus. by author. 40p. HarperCollins/Harper. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-113953-6. LC 2012011522.
PreS-Gr 3–A gorgeously illustrated, simply told, and emotionally complex story about anger and grief. When a friendless, grumpy goat arrives at Sunny Acres, the other animals don’t know why he is so ornery and they try to befriend him. However, rebukes come swift and hard. Goat kicks, scowls, and stares at the ground. It is only when he finds a lone dandelion on a hill–painted full page, as majestically as a Van Gogh sunflower–that his anger starts to unravel. Meanwhile, Cow, the sheep, and the pigs are undeterred by his rudeness, demonstrating their power of perseverance and forgiveness, and he begins to accept their invitations. However, one fateful day Goat watches helplessly as his beloved flower blows away. Despondent and in a state of mourning, he is cared for by his friends, each in their own way. Understated writing with superb pacing and luminous and warm oil paintings using a vibrant brushwork style result in a story to ponder and pore over. The simple truths of the world’s beauty and friends’ loyalty are healing. Sharon Dennis Wyeth’sSomething Beautiful (Random, 1998), Philip C. Stead’s A Sick Day for Amos McGhee (Roaring Brook, 2010), and Arthur Geisert’s The Giant Seed (Enchanted Lion, 2012)–also featuring the heroism of the humble dandelion–would all pair stunningly.–Sara Lissa Paulson, The American Sign Language and English Lower School, New York City

 JEFFERS, Oliver. This Moose Belongs to Me. illus. by author. 32p. Philomel. 2012. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-16103-2.
K-Gr 2–Wilfred wants a pet, so when a moose just happens to wander by, the boy claims him as his own and dedicates a lot of time to teaching Marcel the rules of being a good one. They fill their days exploring the countryside and taking long walks. One day, however, Wilfred discovers that his moose might have a whole other life that he knows nothing about. He must figure out how to process this shocking discovery and decide if he can accept the fact that he must alter the boundaries of their friendship. With its classic story of friendship and witty text, this beautiful picture book will appeal to children. The fonts are mixed between standard type and words that appear to be handwritten. Speech bubbles appear on some pages as well, to give voice to Wilfred and several other characters. The illustrations are a combination of oil paint onto old linotype, painted landscapes, and technical enhancements. The characters are whimsical and bright, and the appealing landscapes carry readers along on this journey of two unlikely friends. This Moose Belongs to Mewill be adored by younger elementary students, particularly those who have longed to keep a wild animal as a pet.–Amy Shepherd, St. Anne’s Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

 MOORE, Eva. Lucky Ducklings . illus. by Nancy Carpenter. 32p. Scholastic/Orchard. Feb. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-44861-1.
PreS-Gr 1–This stunning book depicts an incident that took place in Montauk, Long Island (NY). Mama Duckling swims to shore one day, followed by her five offspring: Pippin, Bippin, Tippin, Dippin, and Little Joe. (Guess who’s the one who lags behind to watch a butterfly or check out a big red berry.) The homey village seems like a fine place for a walk–but for diminutive ducklings, there are unforeseen hazards. Luckily, there are also watchful, resourceful villagers to rescue the little creatures when they all fall through a storm drain in the street. The language is melodic: “The Duck family lived in a pretty pond in a green, green park, in a sunlit little town at the end of a long, long island.” It’s dramatic: “Mama Duck came running after him. ‘Whack! Whack! Whack!’ she cried. ‘Bring my babies back!’” It’s comically suspenseful: “Oh, dear! That could have been the end of the story. But it wasn’t, because….” Carpenter, a gifted and powerfully versatile illustrator, fills the book with beauty, humor, and a delicious variety of perspectives. Her style here has a sweet old-fashioned spirit–a touch of Robert McCloskey, but more visually arresting. Writer and artist have conspired to give children a sure-to-be classic that they’re sure to love.–Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY

 VIVA, Frank. A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse. illus. by author. 40p. Toon Bks. 2012. RTE $12.95. ISBN 978-1-935179-19-1. LC 2011049499.
PreS-Gr 2–From the endpapers, Mouse asks the timeless question of many young travelers, “Are we there yet?” Inspired by Viva’s experiences traveling to Antarctica aboard a Russian research ship, the oblong picture book offers basic facts about the region (it is cold and penguins live there, for instance), while Mouse tries to figure out when it will finally be time to go home. Viva’s illustrations employ only primary colors, white, black, and gray, but in the best way. Every bit of space is used to tell the story, which is perfectly suited for storytimes, reading aloud, or even reader’s theater. The text is simple enough for fairly new readers to tackle, and interesting. Picture clues are used to help with some of the vocabulary words. This book begs to be shared again and again. Pair it with one of Mo Willems’s “Elephant & Piggie” books (Hyperion) and bring on the giggles. Outstanding.–Amy Commers, South St. Paul Public Library, MN

 BROWN, Don. Henry and the Cannons: An Extraordinary True Story of the American Revolution. illus. by author. 32p. bibliog. Roaring Brook. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-266-6. LC 2012013450.
Gr 1-4–As the American Revolution was getting underway, George Washington knew he needed cannons to defeat the British. Unfortunately, he was camped outside British-held Boston, and the nearest big guns were 300 miles away at Fort Ticonderoga, New York. They were thought to be impossible to retrieve, until Henry Knox agreed to try. Brown employs a light touch in telling this exciting true story. Moving 120,000 pounds of artillery in winter involved dragging the pieces, sailing, sledding, and even retrieving them from freezing water when the ice broke under their weight. Readers will be fascinated by the various methods employed to keep the cannons moving, including poles, ropes, and chains to help the sleds scale steep heights. Amazingly, Knox and his group arrived without losing a single piece of weaponry. Quotations integrated into the text are not directly attributed, but a bibliography is included. Watercolor illustrations are given weight by black outlines. A palette of blues, whites, and browns reinforces the winter tone. Full spreads interspersed with panels vary the pace and allow for certain images to be spotlighted. A nicely composed three-panel page shows the changing weather (clear to rain to snow) as Knox begins his quest. This entertaining tale will be great to use along with studies of George Washington and the Revolutionary War.–Lucinda
Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher’s School, Richmond, VA

 BRYANT, Jen. A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin. illus. by Melissa Sweet. 40p. further reading. notes. photos. reprods. websites. Knopf. Jan. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86712-5; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96712-2. LC 2012003209.
Gr 3-6–Born in 1888, grandson of a slave, Pippin loved to draw from an early age. He painted “…every day scenes in natural colors; then he added a splash of red.” His classmates often begged, “Make a picture for us, Horace!” When he was in the eighth grade, he quit school and went to work. From rail yard to farm to hotel to factory, his workmates echoed the request, “Make a picture for us….” And when he enlisted in World War I, his fellow soldiers also entreated him to draw. “The war brought out all the art in me.” But a bullet to the shoulder rendered his right arm useless and he was unable to find work due to his injury. Still, his drive to draw remained. One day, “using his good arm to move the hurt one, he scorched lines into the wood” to create a picture. With practice, his weak arm improved enough to allow him to paint, and paint he did. N.C. Wyeth recognized his talent and arranged for him to have a one-man exhibit. Today his work hangs in museums all over the country. Bryant’s meticulously researched, eloquent text makes this a winning read-aloud, while Sweet’s vibrant, folksy illustrations, rendered in watercolor, gouache, and mixed media, portray the joys and hardships of the man’s life, using his trademark palette…with just a splash of red. Quotations from his notebooks, letters, and interviews are effectively woven into the pictures.–Barbara Auerbach, PS 217, Brooklyn, NY

 HALPERIN, Wendy Anderson. Peace. illus. by author. 40p. S & S/Atheneum. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-689-82552-1; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-6787-3.
Gr 3 Up–A beautiful book with rich watercolor artwork. Most of the paintings are spreads in a nontraditional layout, with sections sometimes divided into shapes by the meandering text. The book is about peace and how it can be achieved: in the world, in the country, in the city, in one’s school, and within oneself. The layout makes it a challenge to read aloud to a group. Many quotes from various people are included, with a running narrative on each page, beginning with “For there to be peace in the world…,” on the first page, followed by “…there must be peace in nations” on the next. Each spread incorporates the words of others to support the running circular narrative. For example, “Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools.–Albert Einstein” is followed by “What you do not want done to you, do not do to others.–Confucius.” This lovely, uplifting title is meant to be pored over and could be used as a starting point for important discussions about bullying, racism, nonviolence, and many other topics.–Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, ME

 JENKINS, Steve & Robin Page. My First Day. illus. by Steve Jenkins. 32p. Houghton Harcourt. Jan. 2013.RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-73851-2.
PreS-Gr 2 –Another winner from this talented creative team. Jenkins’s trademark cut-paper collages are up to their usual standard, which is to say they are outstanding, as he captures 23 different newborns on their first day of life. Some of the animals are familiar, such as giraffes and penguins, while others are more exotic, such as a sifaka, a muntjac, and a blue wildebeest. A few simple, clearly written sentences describe the wide variety of things that these youngsters can or cannot do upon entering the world. Children should find the information intriguing as they learn about capybaras that can swim and dive when only a few hours old and how mother zebras memorize the pattern of stripes on their babies so they can recognize them among the thousands of others in the herd. The striking depictions of mother and child set against full-bleed colored backgrounds or clean white space should make for many return readings. Additional information on each animal is included in the back matter. A first purchase for most libraries.–Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

 MARKEL, Michelle. Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909. illus. by Melissa Sweet. 32p. bibliog. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. Feb. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-180442-7.
K-Gr 3–This picture-book biography of Clara Lemlich, a spitfire who fought hard for better working conditions, is an engaging, informative introduction to her activism as well as to the deplorable state of the U.S. garment industry in the early 1900s. Ukrainian-born Lemlich came to the United States with her parents to escape the Kishinev pogrom of 1903, only to be thrust into another appalling nightmare: the American shirtwaist factories. She began on a small scale to encourage her coworkers to strike, but at a union meeting, when even men wouldn’t call for a walkout, she rose and shouted to the large gathering that the time for a strike was now, inspiring tens of thousands of women to leave their stations in the factories. Markel’s style is clean and clear, making Lemlich’s story accessible to a young audience. Readers are treated to solid information with a buoyant message about standing up for what is right. Sweet has created an outstanding backdrop for Markel’s text with a vibrant collage of watercolor, gouache, blank dress-pattern paper, bookkeeping pages, stitches, and fabric pieces. This spirited account concludes with additional material on the garment industry and a solid bibliography. A first purchase.–Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR

 MERCHANT, Natalie, adapt. Leave Your Sleep: A Collection of Classic Children’s Poetry. illus. by Barbara McClintock. 48p. photos. w/CD. Farrar/Frances Foster. 2012. RTE $24.99. ISBN 978-0-374-34368-2. LC 2011047064.
K-Gr 3–In 2010, Merchant released a successful album of 30 classic children’s poems that she set to music. Nineteen of these poems are now brought together in this anthology consisting of a delightful range of American and British poets from Ogden Nash and Edward Lear to Rachel Field and Jack Prelutsky. The jaunty selections feature horses, elephants, dancing bears, and wonderfully empowered children. McClintock’s detailed paintings bring inviting color and fun to the verses in both spot art and full spreads. A full-length CD of the recordings is included, making this a feast of enchanting sounds, words, and visuals–a magnificent package for any poetry collection. Back matter includes photographs of the poets included, credits and more information about the poems and the music.–Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

 WERNER, Sharon & Sarah Forss. Alphasaurs and Other Prehistoric Types. illus. by authors. 56p. Blue Apple.2012. Tr $22.99. ISBN 978-1-60905-193-8.
K-Gr 4 –Each page is dedicated to a different dinosaur, from allosaurus to zuniceratops. On each one, readers will find the reptile’s name, pronunciation, a wealth of fascinating facts (presented in a fun way with plenty of alliteration), and eye-catching illustrations. The text is delivered in short captions, but is chock-full of the kinds of facts and comparisons that will leave a lasting impression on young readers. Twenty-seven prehistoric lizards are covered–both those that are familiar and many lesser known, but equally fascinating. The illustrations were boldly created by typography. The featured dinosaurs are made up solely of an arrangement of their first letters, both capital and lower case. The many foldout pages are beautifully done and add to the overall appeal and excitement of the book. The font varies in style, size, and color, creating even more visual interest. Many libraries have alphabet books in abundance, but this is one not to miss.–Amy Shepherd, St. Anne’s Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

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The following titles are reviewed in the January 1 print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.

Fiction

ANDREWS, Julie & Emma Walton Hamilton. The Very Fairy Princess Follows Her Heart. illus. by Christine Davenier. 32p. (Very Fairy Princess Series). Little, Brown. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780316185592.

AUSTIN, Mike. Monsters Love Colors. illus. by author. 40p. HarperCollins/Harper. Feb. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-06-212594-1.

BAKER, Ken. Old MacDonald Had a Dragon . illus. by Christopher Santoro. 32p. Amazon. 2012. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6175-3; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6243-9. LC 2011036607.

BANIA, Michael. Kumak’s River: A Tall Tale from the Far North. illus. by author. 32p. Alaska Northwest. 2012.Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-88240-886-6; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-88240-887-3. LC 2012019726.

BRACKEN, Beth. The Little Bully. illus. by Jennifer A. Bell. ISBN 978-1-4048-6795-6. LC 2011029540.

JONES, Christianne. Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker. illus. by Richard Watson. ISBN 978-1-4048-6796-3.
ea vol: (Little Boost Series). Picture Window. 2012. 32p. PLB $22.65.

BRAMSEN, Carin. Hey, Duck! illus. by author. 40p. Random. Jan. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86990-7; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96990-4. LC 2012001880.

BRYANT, Megan E. Alphasaurus. ISBN 978-1-4521-0748-6.
––––.Colorasaurus. ISBN 978-1-4521-0814-8.
––––.Countasaurus. ISBN 978-1-4521-0747-9.
––––. Shapeasaurus. ISBN 978-1-4521-0815-5.
ea vol: illus. by. Luciana Navarro Powell. 20p. Chronicle. 2012. BD $9.99.

BUNTING, Eve. Frog and Friends: Frog’s Flying Adventure. Bk. 4. illus. by Josée Masse. 48p. (I Am a Reader! Series). Sleeping Bear. 2012. Tr $9.95. ISBN 978-1-58536-805-1; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-1-58536-806-8.

CHAIKIN, Miriam. Hardlucky: The Story of a Boy Who Learns How to Think Before He Acts. illus. by Gabriel Lisowski. 40p. Sky Pony. 2012. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-61608-963-4.

CUMMING, Hannah. The Red Boat. illus. by author. 28p. Child’s Play. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-84643-493-8.

DEMAS, Corinne. Here Comes Trouble! illus. by Norah Z. Jones. 40p. Scholastic. Jan. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-35906-1.

EDWARDS, Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton. Little Bo in London: The Ultimate Adventure of Bonnie Boadicea. illus. by Henry Cole. 112p. (Little Bo Series). HarperCollins/Julie Andrews. 2012. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-06-008911-5. LC 2010013685.

FORD, Bernette. Princess Puppy. illus. by Sam Williams. 32p. Scholastic/Cartwheel. Jan. 2013. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-545-45006-5.

FOWLER, Gloria. Color . illus. by Alexander Girard. 58p. photos. AMMO. 2012. BD $14.95. ISBN 978-1-9344-2977-8.

GAIMAN, Neil. Chu’s Day. illus. by Adam Rex. 32p. HarperCollins/Harper. Jan. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-201781-9.

GIFF, Patricia Reilly. Fiercely and Friends: The Big Something. illus. by Diane Palmisciano. 40p.Scholastic/Orchard. 2012. PLB $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-43369-3; Tr $6.99. ISBN 978-0-545-24459-6. LC 2011016759.

HEALD, Robin. Pat, Roll, Pull: A Challah Braiding Story. illus. by Erin Taylor. 32p. Hachai. 2012. PLB $10.95. ISBN 978-1-929628-64-3. LC 2011916175.

HEILBRONER, Joan. A Pet Named Sneaker. illus. by Pascal Lemaitre. 48p. (Beginner Books Series). Random.Jan. 2013. Tr $8.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97580-5; PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97116-7; ebook $8.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98112-8. LC 2011047340.

HENRY, Jed. Cheer Up, Mouse! illus. by author. 32p. Houghton Harcourt. Jan. 2013. RTE $12.99. ISBN 978-0-547-68107-8.

JIANG, Ji-li. Red Kite, Blue Kite. illus. by Greg Ruth. 32p. Hyperion/Disney. Jan. 2013. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-2753-6.

KINCH, Devon. Pretty Penny Makes Ends Meet. illus. by author. 40p. Random. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86737-8; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96735-1; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98128-9.

LEATHERS, Philippa. The Black Rabbit. illus. by author. 40p. Candlewick. Jan. 2013. Tr $14. ISBN 978-0-7636-5714-7. LC 2012942317.

LONG, Heather. Max & Milo Go to Sleep! illus. by Ethan Long. 32p. S & S/Aladdin. Jan. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5143-8.

MACKALL, Dandi Daley. There’s a Baby in There! illus. by Carlynn Whitt. 32p. Amazon. 2012. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6191-3; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6193-7. LC 2011034875.

MCPHAIL, David. Ben Loves Bear. illus. by author. 22p. Abrams Appleseed. Jan. 2013. BD $8.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0386-7.

MANUSHKIN, Fran. Big Girl Panties. illus. by Valeria Petrone. 24p. Random/Robin Corey. 2012. BD $7.99. ISBN 978-0-307-93152-8.

MARSHALL, Linda Elovitz. The Passover Lamb. illus. by Tatjana Mai-Wyss. 32p. Random. Jan. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-307-93177-1; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97106-8; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98107-4. LC 2011052092.

MAYHEW, James. Ella Bella Ballerina and The Nutcracker. illus. by author. 32p. Barron’s. 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7641-6581-8.

MLYNOWSKI, Sarah. If the Shoe Fits. Bk. 2. 166p. (Whatever After Series). Scholastic. Jan. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-545-41567-5; ebook $14.99. ISBN 978-0-545-50465-2.

OLANDER, Johan. My Robots: The Robotic Genius of Lady Regina Bonquers III. illus. by author. 61p.Amazon. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6173-9. LC 2011036697.

PFISTER, Marcus. The Yellow Cab. tr. from German by Rebecca Morrison. illus. by author. 32p. NorthSouth. Mar. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-7358-4111-6.

RENNERT, Laura. Royal Princess Academy: Dragon Dreams. illus. by Melanie Florian. 102p. Dial. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3750-1; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-1424-2510-7.

RENOULT, Armelle. Basil Becomes a Big Brother . tr. from French by Susan Allen Maurin. illus. by Claire Frossard. 32p. Auzou. 2012. pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-2-7338-2143-5.

ROBBERECHT, Thierry. Superhero School. tr. from Dutch. illus. by Philippe Goossens. 30p. Clavis. 2012. RTE $15.95. ISBN 978-1-60537-140-5.

ROSS, Gary. Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind. illus. by Matthew Myers. 96p. Candlewick. 2012. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4920-3.

SEVEN, John. A Year with Friends. illus. by Jana Christy. 32p. Abrams Appleseed. Jan. 2013. RTE $14.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0443-7.

SPERRING, Mark. The Shape of My Heart. illus. by Alys Paterson. 32p. Bloomsbury. Jan. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-962-2.

STURGES, Judy Sue Goodwin. Construction Kitties . illus. by Shari Halpern. 32p. Holt/Christy Ottaviano. Feb. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9105-2. LC 2011043537.

THEMERSON, Stefan. The Table That Ran Away to the Woods. tr. from Polish. illus. by Franciszka Themerson. 20p. Tate. 2012. Tr $10.95. ISBN 978-1-84976-057-7.

THOMPSON, Colin. Free to a Good Home. illus. by author. 32p. Trafalgar Square. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-74166-319-8.

THOMSON, Sarah L., retel. Cinderella. illus. by Nicoletta Ceccoli. 32p. Amazon. 2012. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6170-8; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6171-5. LC 2011034873.

VAN GENECHTEN, Guido. Ricky’s Birthday. tr. from Dutch. illus. by author. 30p. Clavis. 2012. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-60537-119-1.

WYETH, Sharon Dennis. The Granddaughter Necklace. illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline. 32p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-08125-2. LC 2011038933.

YACCARINO, Dan. Doug Unplugged. illus. by author. 40p. Knopf. Feb. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86643-2.

ZIEFERT, Harriet. The Princess and the Peas and Carrots. illus. by Travis Foster. 40p. Blue Apple. 2012. Tr ISBN 978-1-60905-250-8.

Nonfiction

BROCKET, Jane. Circles, Stars, and Squares: Looking for Shapes. photos by author. 32p. (Jane Brocket’s Clever Concepts Series). Millbrook. 2012. RTE $25.26. ISBN 978-0-7613-4611-1; ebook $18.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-7260-8. LC 2011050199.

BROWN, Calef. We Go Together!: A Curious Selection of Affectionate Verse. illus. by author. 40p. Houghton Harcourt. Jan. 2013. RTE $9.99. ISBN 978-0-547-72128-6.

COMDEN, Betty, Adolph Green, & Carolyn Leigh. Flying to Neverland with Peter Pan: A Lyrical Journey with Songs from the Broadway Musical. illus. by Amy June Bates. 40p. Blue Apple. 2012. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-60905-249-2.

CUNNINGHAM, Kevin. Reading Maps. ISBN 978-0-531-26006-7; ISBN 978-0-531-26237-5. LC 2012000692.

TAYLOR-BUTLER, Christine. Understanding Diagrams. ISBN 978-0-531-26008-1; ISBN 978-0-531-26239-9.LC 2012004797.
––––.Understanding Charts and Graphs. ISBN 978-0-531-26009-8; ISBN 978-0-531-26240-5. LC 2012002643.
ea vol: 48p. (A True Book). charts. chron. diags. further reading. glossary. index. maps. photos. websites. Children’s Press. 2012. PLB $29; pap. $6.95.

CURTIS, Andrea. What’s for Lunch?: How Schoolchildren Eat Around the World. illus. by Sophie Casson. 40p. glossary. Red Deer. 2012. pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-0-88995-482-3.

DEMI. Columbus. illus. by author. 64p. map. Amazon. 2012. RTE $19.99. ISBN 9780761461678. LC 2011036019.

DIVAKARUNI, Chitra Banerjee, retel. Grandma and the Great Gourd: A Bengali Folktale . illus. by Susy Pilgrim Waters. 32p. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. Mar. 2013. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-378-6. LC 2012001392.

FARMER, Jaqueline. Valentine Be Mine. illus. by Megan Halsey. 32p. photos. Charlesbridge. Jan. 2013. RTE $17.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-389-3; pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-390-9; ebook $6.99. ISBN 978-1-60734-467-4. LC 2011049504.

GERBER, Carole. Seeds, Bees, Butterflies, and More!: Poems for Two Voices. illus. by Eugene Yelchin. 32p.Holt. Feb. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9211-0. LC 2012011490.

GREENWOOD, Mark. The Greatest Liar on Earth: A True Story. illus. by Frané Lessac. 32p. Candlewick. 2012.RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6155-7.

HULBERT, Laura. Who Has This Tail? illus. by Erik Brooks. 44p. Holt. 2012. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9429-9.

KAUFMAN, Elliott. Alphabet Everywhere . 64p. index. Abbeville. 2012. RTE $14.95. ISBN 978-0-7892-1115-6.LC 2011053027.

LESYNSKI, Loris. Crazy About Soccer! illus. by Gerry Rasmussen. 48p. Annick. 2012. PLB $22.95. ISBN 978-1-55451-422-9; pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-1-55451-421-2.

MIRON, Marie-Charlotte & Mélanie Perez. My Little Handbook of Experi ments: Sciences, Water and Light, Ecology. tr. from French by Susan Allen Maurin. illus. by Vincent Hubert. 144p. glossary. Auzou. 2012. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-2-7338-2147-3.

NELSON, Kadir. Nelson Mandela. illus. by author. 40p. bibliog. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. Jan. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-178374-6; PLB $18.89. ISBN 978-0-06-178376-0.

O’BRIEN, John. Look…Look Again! illus. by author. 64p. Boyds Mills. 2012. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-894-3. LC 2012936283.

OROZCO, Rebeca. It’s Our Nature. illus. by Menena Cottin. 24p. Tundra. 2012. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-1-77049-283-7.

OWEN, Ruth. Easter Sweets and Treats. ISBN 978-1-4488-8084-3; ISBN 978-1-4488-8131-4. LC 2012009781.
––––. Halloween Sweets and Treats. ISBN 978-1-4488-8079-9; ISBN 978-1-4488-8126-0. LC 2012009216.

RANDALL, Ronne. Thanksgiving Sweets and Treats. ISBN 978-1-4488-8082-9; ISBN 978-1-4488-8129-1. LC 2012006774.
ea vol: 32p. (Holiday Cooking for Kids! Series). photos. glossary. index. websites. Windmill. 2012. PLB $26.50; pap. $11.75.

REGAN, Lisa. Ballet Dancer. ISBN 978-1-4488-8091-1; ISBN 978-1-4488-8150-5. LC 2012005288.
––––. Magician. ISBN 978-1-4488-8094-2; ISBN 978-1-4488-8153-6. LC 2012001528.
––––. Movie Star. ISBN 978-1-4888-8095-9; ISBN 978-1-4488-8154-3. LC 2012052810.
––––. Pop Star. ISBN 978-1-4488-8096-6; ISBN 978-1-4488-8155-0. LC 2012001529.
ea vol: 32p. (Stage School Series). photos. further reading. glossary. index. websites. Windmill. 2012. PLB $25.25; pap. $10.

SAUNDERS, Tom. I Want to Go to the Moon. illus. by Cynthia Nugent. 32p. w/CD. Simply Read. 2012. RTE $17.95. ISBN 978-1-897476-56-7.

SHEPHERD, Jodie. A Day with Doctors. ISBN 978-0-531-28950-1; ISBN 978-0-531-29250-1. LC 2012013354.
––––.A Day with Librarians. ISBN 978-0-531-28952-5; ISBN 978-0-531-29252-5. LC 2012013357.
––––.A Day with Paramedics. ISBN 978-0-531-28954-9; ISBN 978-0-531-29254-9. LC 2012013358.
ea vol: 32p. (Rookie Read About Community Series). index. photos. websites. Children’s Press. 2012. PLB $23; pap. $5.95.

STONES, Brenda & Thea Feldman. Where Animals Live. ISBN 978-0-7534-6877-7; ISBN 978-0-7534-6878-4.
––––.Where We Live. ISBN 978-0-7534-6901-9; ISBN 978-0-7534-6902-6.
ea vol: 32p. (Kingfisher Readers). glossary. photos. Kingfisher. 2012. PLB $12.99; pap. $3.99.

THOMSON, Sarah L., adapt. Around the Neighborhood: A Counting Lullaby. illus. by Jana Christy. 32p. score.Amazon. 2012. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6164-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6165-4. LC 2011034872.

WADE, Mary Dodson. No Year of the Cat. illus. by Nicole Wong. 32p. Sleeping Bear. 2012. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-58536-785-6. LC 2012007692.

WARD, Jennifer. There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Fish. illus. by Steve Gray. 32p. Amazon. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6196-8; ebook $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6197-5. LC 2011036695.

ZEPHANIAH, Benjamin. When I Grow Up. 28p. illus. Frances Lincoln. 2012. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-1-84780-059-6.

JONES, Diana Wynne. Reflections: On the Magic of Writing. edited by Charlie Butler. 368p. bibliog. index. notes. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 2012. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-06-221989-3; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-221990-9. LC 2012018080.
Putting her papers together in the face of her impending death, Jones chose and arranged these lectures, articles, and reviews written between 1978 and 2008 to encapsulate her beliefs about writing, writing for children, and fantasy. Ranging from literary criticism to autobiography, the 28 pieces illustrate her insight, her humor, and the mastery of her craft. She describes how magic and humor work, discusses the nature of heroes, the uses of mythology, and the value of learning Anglo-Saxon. Other selections reflect on the magic of the “Narnia” books, the nature of “Real Books,” and the orchestration of a narrative. Because this volume is a gathering of pieces written over many years, topics and episodes are repeated, like recurring melodies in a long piece of music. One of the most important themes is that humans–children and adults–need fantasy. In some ways, her entire oeuvre is a reaction to a childhood in which fantasy literature was denied, as revealed in the long essay she wrote for Something About the Author and included here. An interview with the book’s editor, Charlie Butler, and reminiscences by two of her sons wrap up the collection. Readers who have known and loved the author’s vast body of work will nod and laugh, rejoice that they can return to works like the “Chrestomanci” series, and mourn the fact that there will be no more.–Kathleen Isaacs, Children’s Literature Specialist, Pasadena, MD

LEVITOV, Deborah D., ed. Activism and the School Librarian: Tools for Advocacy and Survival. 120p. appendix. bibliog. charts. further reading. index. websites. Libraries Unlimited. 2012. pap. $45. ISBN 978-1-61069-187-1; ebook $45. ISBN 978-1-61069-188-8. LC 2012016873.
Based on research, experience, and actual implementation of award-winning programs, this book offers solid information to guide school librarians in one of their most valuable roles, that of advocate. Seven engaging and informative chapters, all written by various successful practitioners, offer solid suggestions. The first chapter identifies numerous characteristics important to promoting the library, such as focusing on the students, providing equality of services, teaching 21st-century learning skills, helping students learn in meaningful ways, etc. Chapter two emphasizes the importance of student learning, assessment, and evaluation. Remaining chapters address activism, being proactive, developing leadership, connecting, collaborating, and establishing advocates from within the faculty. Suggestions for creating an advocacy plan; ways of promoting it within the school, community, and business; acquiring legislative support; involving parents; and connecting and involving administrators, board members, and teachers are included. If they are heeded, library programs will flourish. Frequent text boxes and figures support the information. Most articles include a summary, with references and additional resource lists at the conclusion of each chapter. The appendix also includes additional tools for developing, planning, and assessing the plan. An extensive index concludes this valuable resource.–Susan Shaver, Hemingford Public Schools, NE

WEBSTER, Lawrence. Under the North Light: The Life and Work of Maud and Miska Petersham. 192p. illus. index. notes. photos. reprods. WoodstockArts. 2012. Tr $39.50. ISBN 978-09679268-6-5. LC 201293874.
This biography looks at the lives of two of the most influential illustrators of children’s books in the 20th century and will be of interest to scholars, librarians, and art students. In lively prose, Webster recounts how two artists with disparate beginnings (Miska, an impoverished Hungarian immigrant, and Maud, daughter of a minister and descendant of the Mayflower), met in a New York art institute in 1912, married, and collaborated on exquisite award-winning children’s books for more than 40 years. Comprehensive research including the artists own correspondence and letters from children; commentary from authors, reviewers, educators, and businessmen; and interviews with family members results in an endearing account of the process, dedication, and joy that went into each project. Numerous texts and illustrations are discussed at length and are accompanied by vibrant colorful reproductions. The author emphasizes the artists’ originality and significance, noting that their work presents a picture of the cultural trends of their times. Webster discusses the criticism as well as the accolades. She acknowledges that today’s critics, more sensitive to cultural stereotypes, find some of the books outdated. The 1946 Caldecott award The Rooster Crows (Macmillan) was reissued in the 1964 printing minus two pages of offensive stereotyping.–Jackie Gropman, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library System, Fairfax, VA

I recently started a job as a middle/high school librarian at an independent school that realized it needed a stronger library program. One of the challenges I’m finding is trying to explain the balance that’s needed in technology education and how having a website is part of it—but having a good website and using the right tools at the right time is hard.

There are many administrators who are also older and so only see that we need technology and don’t understand the complexities of getting the right tool in the right place. It makes it tricky but not impossible. I’m sure I’m not the only one with this problem of trying to explain that having a website is only part of what’s needed.

“Soap Box: Not Fast Enough” (Extra Helping , Dec. 4, 2012) by Mark Ray, a response to School Library Journal’s tech survey, “The League of Extraordinary Librarians” (Nov. 2012, pp. 24–27) is a thought-provoking article, but I worry that you’re preaching to the choir at this point since sometimes, as school librarians, we can create and teach and explain. Yet teachers and administrators have to say, yes, we want this and will use it.

Kate Keith-Fitzgerald
Middle/Upper School Librarian
The Roeper School
Birmingham, MI

Listen up

“Now You’re Talking” (Nov. 2012, pp. 32–38) is a great list of must-have audiobooks for teens and tweens. Happy to see some titles I really enjoyed (Beauty Queens was hysterical) and some for my to-listen list. Of course, I have to put my two cents in for my hands-down absolute favorite audio this year—Mandy Williams’s narration of Seraphina (Listening Library) by Rachel Hartman—that wasn’t on your recommended list.

Geraldine Farmer-Morrison
Head of Children’s Services
Levittown Public Library, NY

Elementary and Middle School

BRANSFORD, Nathan. Jacob Wonderbar and the Interstellar Time Warp. illus. by C. S. Jennings. 262p. Dial.Feb. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3703-7. Gr 4-6

D’LACEY, Chris & Jay D’Lacey. Rain & Fire. 304p. Scholastic/Orchard. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-41453-1. LC 2012014374. Gr 5-8 A companion guide to the Last Dragon Chronicles . Gr 5-8

FREDERICK, Heather Vogel. Wish You Were Eyre. 464p. (The Mother Daughter Book Club Series). S & S.2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3064-8; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4423-4199-9. Gr 6-9

FRIEDMAN, Laurie. Mallory and Mary Take New York. Bk. 19. illus. by Jennifer Kalis. 152p. Darby Creek. Mar. 2013. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-6074-2; ebook $11.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-0962-0. LC 2012019008. Gr 3-5

GUTMAN, Dan. Miss Kraft Is Daft! Bk. 7. illus. by Jim Paillot. 112p. (My Weirder School Series).HarperCollins/Harper. Jan. 2013. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-06-204215-6. Gr 2-3

GUTMAN, Dan. You Only Die Twice. Bk. 3. 289p. (The Genius Files Series). HarperCollins/Harper. Feb. 2013.Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-182770-9; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-182771-6; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-220284-0. Gr 5-8

HOLUB, Joan & Suzanne Williams. Pandora the Curious. Bk. 9. 256p. (Goddess Girls Series). S & S/Aladdin. 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5975-5; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4935-0; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4936-7. Gr 3-6

IRWIN, Bindi & Chris Kunz. Bindi: Behind the Scenes: The Wildlife Games. 192p. Trafalgar Square. Feb. 2013.pap. $11.99. ISBN 978-1-86471-839-3. Gr 3-6

KAIN, P.G. Dramatic Pause. Bk. 3. 288p. (Commercial Breaks Series). S & S/Aladdin. 2012. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9788-7; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9791-7. LC 2012948208. Gr 5-8

KESSLER, Liz. Emily Windsnap and the Land of the Midnight Sun. Bk. 5. illus. by Natacha Ledwidge. 272p.Candlewick. Feb. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5824-3. Gr 4-6

KINNEY, Jeff. The Third Wheel. Bk. 7. illus. by author. 224p. (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series). Abrams/Amulet.2012. Tr $13.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0584-7. Gr 4-8

LASKY, Kathryn. Star Wolf. Bk 6. 246p. (Wolves of the Beyond Series). Scholastic. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-27962-8. LC 2012029320. Gr 4-6

MCCLINTOCK, Norah. Change of Heart. Bk. 7. 218p. ISBN 978-0-7613-8317-8; ISBN 978-1-4677-0701-5; ISBN 978-1-4677-0963-7.
–––– . In Too Deep. Bk. 8. 224p. ISBN 978-0-7613-8318-5; ISBN 978-1-4677-0702-2; ISBN 978-1-4677-0964-4.
ea vol: (A Robyn Hunter Mystery). Darby Creek. Mar. 2013. Tr $27.93; pap. $8.95; ebook $20.95. Gr 6 Up

MCDONALD, Megan. Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout. Bk. 8. illus. by Peter H. Reynolds. 160p. Candlewick.Feb. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6140-3; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6422-0. Gr 1-3

MATT AND DAVE. Yuck’s Fart Club. illus. by Nigel Baines. S & S. 112 p. Jan. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-8153-4; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-8152-7; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-8154-1. LC 2012027627. Gr 3-4

PILKEY, Dav. Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers. Bk. 10. illus. by author. 224p. Scholastic. Jan. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-545-17536-4. LC 2012944030. Gr 3-6

RIORDAN, Rick. The Mark of Athena. Bk. 3. 608p. (The Heroes of Olympus Series). Hyperion/Disney. 2012.Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-4060-3. LC 2012017264. Gr 5-9

SELFORS, Suzanne. Smells Like Pirates. Bk. 3. 384p. (Smells Like Dog Series). Little, Brown. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-316-20596-2. LC 2012028738. Gr 4-7

SMITH, Roland. I, Q: Kitty Hawk. Bk. 3. 230p. (I, Q Series). Sleeping Bear. 2012. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-58536-605-7; pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-1-58536-604-0. Gr 5-8

SNIEGOSKI, Tom. Quest for the Spark. Bk. 3 . illus. by Jeff Smith. 288p. (Bone Series). Scholastic/Graphix.Jan. 2013. Tr $22.99. ISBN 978-0-545-14105-5; pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-545-14106-2. LC 2012025128. Gr 4-8

High School

CHIMA, Cinda Williams. The Crimson Crown. Bk. 4. 598p. (Seven Realms Series). Hyperion/Disney. 2012.RTE $18.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-4433-5. LC 2011053079. Gr 8 Up

CONRAD, Lauren. Starstruck. 294p. (A Fame Game Novel). HarperCollins/Harper. 2012. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-06-207980-0. Gr 5 Up

CREMER, Andrea. Rise. 388p. Philomel. Jan. 2013. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-399-15960-2. LC 2012012263. Gr 10 Up The continuation of the series that began with Nightshade and Wolfsbane .

DESTEFANO, Lauren. Sever. Bk. 3. 384p. (The Chemical Garden Trilogy). S & S. Feb. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-0909-5; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-0913-2. LC 2012015702. Gr 9 Up

EDWARDS, Eve. The Rogue’s Princess. Bk. 3. 272p. (The Lacey Chornicles) Delacorte. Jan. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74093-7; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98976-6; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98339-9.Gr 9 Up

ESTEP, Jennifer. Crimson Frost. 384p. (A Mythos Academy Novel). Kensington/KTeen. Jan. 2013. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7582-8146-3. Gr 9 Up

FITZPATRICK, Becca. Finale. 464p. (The Hush, Hush Saga). S & S. 2012. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2667-2; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2669-6. Gr 9 Up

GODBERSEN, Anna. The Lucky Ones. 374p. (A Bright Young Things Novel). HarperCollins/Harper. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-196270-7. Gr 9 Up

KINCY, Karen. Foxfire. Bk. 3. 297p. (An Other Novel). Flux. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7387-3057-8. LC 2012019102. Gr 9 Up

LACKEY, Mercedes & Rosemary Edghill. Sacrifices. Bk. 3. 304p. (Shadow Grail Series). Tor. Apr. 2013. Tr $21.99. ISBN 978-0-7653-2852-0; pap. $21.99. ISBN 978-0-7653-1763-6; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4299-9719-5. Gr 7-10

LORE, Pittacus. I Am Number Four: The Lost Files: The Legacies. 416p. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-221110-1.
–––– . The Rise of Nine. 416. Feb. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-197458-8.
ea vol: (I Am Number Four Series). HarperCollins/Harper. Gr 7 Up

MOORE, Stephanie Perry & Derrick Moore. Settle Down/Be Real. Bk. 4. 310p. ISBN 978-1-61651-887-5.
–––– . Shake It/Got Pride. Bk. 5. 309p. ISBN 978-1-61651-888-2.
–––– . Yell Out/Do You. Bk. 3. 336p. ISBN 978-1-61651-886-8.
ea vol: (Lockwood Lions Series). Saddleback. 2012. pap. $14.95. Gr 7 Up

SCHREIBER, Ellen. Full Moon Kisses. 224p. (A Full Moon Novel). HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. Jan. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-198653-6. LC 2012949623. Gr 7 Up

SHEPARD, Sara. Ali’s Pretty Little Lies. 292p. Jan. 2013. ISBN 978-0-06-223336-3. LC 2012950661.
–––– . Burned. 324p. 2012. ISBN 978-0-06-208192-6. LC 2012949622.
ea vol: (Pretty Little Liars Series). HarperCollins/HarperTeen. Tr $17.99. Gr 9 Up

SHIELDS, Gillian. Destiny. 374p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-200041-5. Gr 7-10 The conclusion to the series that began with Immortal , Betrayal ,
and Eternal .

SMITH, Alexander Gordon. Execution. Bk. 5. 352p. (Escape from Furnace Series). Farrar. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-36224-9; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-374-32239-7. LC 2012004870. Gr 7-10

SMITH, L. J. Destiny Rising. Vol. 3. 394p. (The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters Series). HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-201773-4.
Gr 9 Up

TANIGAWA, Nagaru. The Indignation of Haruhi Suzumiya. tr. from Japanese by Paul Starr. 224p. Little, Brown.2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-316-03900-0; pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-316-03899-7. LC 2012013848. Gr 7 Up

 The Dustbowl. 2 DVDs. 4 hrs. Prod. by The Dust Bowl Film Project. Dist. by PBS Dist. 2012. ISBN 978-1-60883-718-2. $24.99.
Gr 9 Up–Ken Burns, whose name is synonymous with the highest quality of documentary filmmaking, has turned his camera’s eye to the environmental and economic catastrophe that struck America’s heartland in the 1930s. After detailing the calamity’s prelude involving the easy credit available to farmers and the general lack of respect for the ecology of the land, the production methodically retraces the stages which led to the devastation of the agriculture-based society of our nation’s midsection and our glacially paced recovery during the already disastrous Great Depression. Highlighted are the effects on the everyday lives of a cross-section of people as well as how the turndown distressed our country on a broader level. As is typical of Burns’s other masterpieces (including Civil War, Prohibition, and Baseball), he utilizes a rich variety of stunning vintage photographs, black-and-white film footage, commentary by historians, and—most moving of all—the personal reminiscences of those who actually witnessed the events. The angst and frustration felt by the people of the Plains was as intense as their determination to persevere, even to the point of relocating their families; it was this strength of spirit that led them to become what has been called the “Greatest Generation” as the threat of a future war loomed. The program has a number of viewer-friendly options: scene selection, English and/or Spanish subtitles, video description for the visually impaired, and a full Spanish narration. Bonus sections include an expansion of the personal narratives as well as a short behind-the scenes review. (An accompanying book is also available, although it is was not previewed.) A must-have for all libraries.–Dwain Thomas, formerly Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL

 Henry Clay and the Struggle for the Union (Series). 3 DVDs.  20 min. ea. with tchr’s. guides online. Prod. byWitnessing History. Dist. by TMW Media. 2011, 2012 release. ISBN unavail. $69.95 ea. Includes: The Formation of the Union and Its Early Challenges; The Missouri Compromise of 1820 to the Tariff Compromise of 1833; The Compromise of 1850 to the Civil War. 
Gr 6 Up–Henry Clay served in the House of Representatives and the United States Senate and worked to preserve the Union against the destructive forces of the slavery issue. The narration emphasizes the key events between 1820 and 1860 that led the nation to war. Using dramatic re-creations, historical documents, maps, period photographs and art, and stirring background music, the well-edited series brings the years before the Civil War to life. The seeds of the Civil War were planted at the time of the American Revolution and the writing of the Constitution. An industrial North surpassed the agricultural South in wealth and population. Westward expansion, first into the territories of the Louisiana Purchase, and later into land taken from Mexico in 1848, compounded the issues and forced the country to decide if slavery would spread to these new areas. Clay, the Great Compromiser, offered three compromises—the Missouri Compromise of 1820, the Tariff Compromise of 1833, and the Compromise of 1859—that addressed these issues and forestalled the Civil War for 40 years. Well-produced, fact-filled, and classroom-friendly, these programs should be a part of all library collections, especially during this sesquicentennial of the Civil War.–Patricia Ann Owens, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, Mt. Carmel

 Anna Hibiscus. By Atinuke. cassette or CD. 1 hr. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4618-3465-6, CD: ISBN 978-1-4618-3466-3. $15.75.
Gr 1-3–With this introductory phrase, “Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa,” we are introduced to the many facets of an African child’s daily life with her close-knit family. The culture, land, and people of Africa come shining through in Atinuke’s absolutely delightful stories (Walker, 2007) in this early chapter book. Four vignettes focusing on the child’s life with her large, noisy, extended family point out the value of following traditions. Whether on holiday, selling oranges, dreaming of snow, or advising her Auntie Comfort in America, Anna Hibiscus learns lessons about respecting her elders, working hard, and becoming a proper African lady. Mutiyat Ade-Salu makes the sights and sounds of Africa come alive with her mesmerizing African lilt and clear diction. The humor and the gravity of the text are beautifully expressed, and the images of smiling relatives, lagoons, and the compound where Anna Hibiscus lives linger. One highlight is the simple, joyful paean to snow sung by Anna Hibiscus, although she has never actually seen it. Students will be fascinated by the richness of living near the sea and the rainforest, and will find opportunities to compare and contrast this lifestyle with their own experiences. A gem.–Lonna Pierce, MacArthur and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Binghamton, NY

 The Fire Chronicle: The Books of Beginning, Book 2. By John Stephens. 10 CDs. 12:22 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 978-0-307-87982-0. $37.
Gr 4-7–In The Emerald Atlas (2011), the first book in John Stephens’s series, we met Kate, Michael, and Emma who were searching for their missing parents and got caught up in a magical adventure that nearly turned deadly, tested their family bonds, and gained them the first Book. In this second title (2012, both Knopf), the children are back and older sister, Kate, is hurled backwards through time to the day when the magic and the mundane worlds separated. Her new friend is not all that he seems. In the meantime, Michael and Emma go to the South Pole and discover a strange world hidden underground. Michael rescues a princess, discovers that elves can be annoying but make useful allies, faces a dragon, and finds himself the master of the Book of Life. This enables him to perform acts of amazing mercy and magic, but at a tremendous personal cost. There is great joy, and great loss. The fantastic Jim Dale narrates the story with élan, creating not only unique voices but complete personalities for each character. He keeps things moving along at a brisk pace, immersing listeners in the narrative and bringing it all to life. Fans are sure to enjoy this fabulous production.–Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA

 Son. By Lois Lowry. 7 CDs. 8:11 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 978-0-449-01448-6. $47.
Gr 6 Up–Those frustrated over the ambiguous ending of Lowry’s The Giver (1993) will be thrilled with the conclusion (2012, both Houghton Mifflin) to the quartet. Listeners are brought full circle, returning to the fate of Gabriel, the little baby saved from “release” by Jonas. The story begins with Claire, who emerges from unconsciousness following a difficult birth to find that her child (or product) has been cut from her, and she has been “decertified.” In the haste to get her to a new assignment, no one has bothered to supply her with the pills that everyone must take to keep them from feeling things. Claire develops an intense longing to find her son, leading her on a daunting and epic journey that weaves together the worlds and characters of the first three novels. Bernadette Dunne’s whispery voice is perfectly suited to this dramatic, satisfying tale. Whether portraying the naive 14-year-old Claire or the evil Trademaster, Dunne captures the very essence of the characters. Lowry has again created a powerful tale rich with themes like sacrifice, loss, the importance of memory, and the restorative power of empathy that will elicit exciting classroom discussions. A must-have for all libraries with audio collections.–Lisa Hubler, Charles F. Brush High School, Lyndhurst, OH

 Splendors & Glooms. By Laura Amy Schlitz. 10 cassettes or 10 CDs. 12 hrs. Recorded Books. 2012.cassette: ISBN 978-1-4498-3568-2, CD: ISBN 978-1-4498-3572-9. $108.75
Gr 4-8–Set in a Dickensian London, Davina Porter is the perfect narrator to capture the nuances of the characters and the time period in Schlitz’s exceptional Victorian fantasy (Candlewick, 2012). Listeners will ache for the orphan children, Lizzie Rose and Parsefall, when they come up with money after pawning a watch. Should they have a proper meal and see the marionettes, or spend the money on practical items they so desperately need? Will they be able to hold onto it long enough to realize either option? The privileged Clara has been kidnapped and transformed by the evil puppet master Grisini. He gained his power from the witch, Cassandra, who desperately needs a child to steal the fire opal that fuels her magic, thereby saving her from a fiery death. Grisini offers up his charges, not realizing that they have discovered the puppet Clara. Parsefall believes it is the missing girl, and Lizzie Rose can’t quite deny it. When Clara’s father sees Parsefall using the puppet, he confronts the children who performed with their master on his daughter’s birthday. Threatened by the possibility of police, the children flee. Cassandra’s promise of an inheritance and money for the train arrive just in time. If and how the three children can save themselves will keep listeners enthralled to the very end. Porter’s deliberate pacing intensifies the drama and her talent with accents broadens the portrayals. A not-to-be-missed gothic thriller.–Janet Thompson, Chicago Public Library, W. Belmont Branch, IL

 The Wolves of Willoughby Chase: The Wolves Chronicles. By Joan Aiken. 4 CDs. 4:49 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 978-0-307-00128-7. $25.
Gr 4-7–The release of this audiobook coincides with the 50th anniversary of the publication of Aiken’s well-loved novel (Doubleday, 1962), and it couldn’t be a more fitting tribute. The narrator, the author’s daughter Lizza Aiken, savors every word as she takes us through the dark wolf infested woods of Willoughby Chase to the rich, luxurious world of Bonnie, a headstrong only child whose world suddenly descends into hardship and grief at the hands of the unscrupulous Miss Slighcarp and her cohorts when her parents leave for a sea voyage. Bonnie and her cousin Sylvia are sent to a school for orphans. Aiken voices Sylvia’s longing and Bonnie’s defiance as she tries to take on the numerous villains. But there are gentle voices as well—the dear housekeeper, the gooseboy, and the loyal house servant—each expressing their unique concern so that listeners are never overwhelmed by the harsh treatment the girls receive. While there is a sense of the threat of wolves outside as well as inside, the book ends with the promise of spring, the wolves have headed to northern climes, the bad guys are off to jail, and order is restored. This delightful audiobook is sure to create new fans.–Edie Ching, University of Maryland, College Park

 Zero the Hero. By Joan Holub. CD. 12:45 min. with hardcover book. Spoken Arts. 2012. ISBN 0-8045-4242-2. $29.95.
Gr 1-3–Zero dons superhero garb and tries to change his reputation because he’s tired of feeling like nothing. It’s clear that he makes no impact in addition, subtraction, or division. And in multiplication he sends the other numbers fleeing in fear of extinction. Finally, in despair, Zero rolls away. However, once he’s gone the other numbers miss him. They can’t make 10. They can’t round up or down. They start to regret the way they treated him. Then bigger problems arise. They are attacked by toga-clad Roman numerals! Zero hears their cries for help and saves the day by demonstrating his awesome ability to make things disappear by multiplying with them. The invaders flee in horror and Zero takes his rightful place among the other numbers. Joan Holub’s fun, light-hearted book (Holt, 2012) teaches important math concepts regarding zero. Jim Brownold and Cie Peterson create unique voices for all the different numbers, who are very talkative participants in the story. Listeners can enjoy the conversations while perusing Tom Lichtenheld’s hilarious illustrations. Original background music by Bruce Zimmerman enhances the experience. This fun and enjoyable package would make a great listening center.–Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA

 The Mighty Sky. CD. 31:31 min. with lyrics. NewSound Kids. 2012. ISBN unavail. $14.98.
K-Gr 4–This production is the brain child of Grammy nominee and NAMMY’s Songwriter of the Year (given by the Native American Music Association), Beth Nielsen Chapman. She was joined in the effort by songwriter Annie Roboff and lyricist Rocky Alvey, director of the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory. The trio has put together a fantastic album of 11 songs in various musical styles including rock, doo wop, zydeco, English music hall, country, blues, and folk. Chapman’s vocals are excellent, as are the instrumental performances on acoustic guitar, slide guitar, banjo, mandolin, piano, keyboards, flute, piccolo, penny whistle, trumpet, drums, percussion, theremin, harmonica, blues harp, accordion, squeeze box, and Jews harp. The songs, mostly about objects in outer space, include “The Mighty Sky,” “Through Hubble’s Eyes” (Dr. C. R. O’Dell, founding scientist of the Hubble Space Telescope, describes it as a time machine when it looks out at distant galaxies), “The Big Bang Boom,” “The Moon,” “Little Big Song,” “Rockin’ Little Neutron Star” (the rhythm track is an actual recording of the Vela Pulsar, 1000 light years away), “Zodiacal Zydeco,” “Test, Re-test and Verify,” “The Way That We Lean,” “You Can See the Blues,” and “There Is No Darkness.” The lyrics insert unfolds into a poster with awesome photos and outer space facts. This outstanding album belongs in every library’s collection.–Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library, TX

 The Monster’s Valentine Ball. CD. approx. 30 min. Family Arts Theater. 2012. ISBN unavail. $10.
PreS-Gr 3–Grab your dancing shoes and join the monsters at their Valentine Ball, and dance to boogie woogie, jazz, rock, ragtime, conga, and Hawaiian style music (several in a spooky minor key). Listen to those terrific monster singers and musicians playing on guitars, ukuleles, saxophones, flutes, pianos, drums, and percussion. Listen to the monsters introducing the songs or just conversing among themselves, and get down with Wolfman, the DJ. Dig the various Spike Jones-style sound effects throughout this third album by the Parents Choice Silver award-winning team of Paula Purnell and Bruce Adamson. And boogie to the sounds of “The Monster’s Valentine Ball” (with an “Erie Canal” motif), “The Valentine Boogie,” “Monster Love” (a monster who has a crush on a shy librarian), “Something in His Growl,” “Cupid Is Stupid,” “Cooties,” “Frankenstein,” “You’re Such a Pretty Baby,” “Never Break a Monster’s Heart,” and “Hootchie Coochie Honey/Hootchie Coochie Conga” (complete with a chanted poem). And when the ball is over, join the monsters in wishing everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. Featuring outstanding vocal and instrumental performances, this humorous album will have monstrous appeal for young listeners.–Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library, TX

 Pete Remembers Woody. 2 CDs. range: 57:42-53:56 min. Prod. by Appleseed Recordings. Dist. byCDBaby.com. ISBN unavail. $20.
Gr 9 Up–This masterful album celebrates the centennial of Woody Guthrie’s birth in 1912. Producer David Bernz has compiled a number of stories that Pete Seeger (now in his 90s) told about Woody and himself, which were recorded in informal sessions over a span of time in their private homes. These reminiscences are interspersed with Woody’s songs, performed by a number of well-known folksingers and folk bands, such as Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Work o’ the Weavers, David Bernz, Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, Vanaver Caravan, Hope Machine, and Almanac Singers. Musical styles are primarily folk and bluegrass, with barbershop quartet and boogie as well. Cathy Fink’s mountain style banjo tunes introduce several of the story tracks, including those about Pete and Woody travelling and performing together, about Woody going to the public library at age 12 and amazing the librarian with how many adult books he read, and about Woody’s communist leanings. The song list includes “New York Town” (a 1940s recording of Woody and Cisco Houston singing together), “Woody’s Ghost,” “Which Side Are You On,” “Do Re Mi,” “The Sinking of the Reuben James,” “If I Had a Hammer,” “So Long It’s Been Good to Know Yuh,” “Pastures of Plenty,” “This Land Is Your Land,” “My Peace,” “Peace Pin Boogie,” “Woody’s Rulin’s,” and “I’ve Got to Know,” among others. Featuring outstanding vocal and instrumental performances, this important piece of music history should be in every public library.–Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library, TX

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The following titles are reviewed in the January 1 print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.

DVD

Entertainment

Trooper and the Legend of the Golden Key. DVD. 81 min. Prod. by Engine 15 Media Group and Ekids Films.Dist. by Entertainment One. 2012. ISBN 1-4172-3855-0. $14.98.

Guidance

School Rules: Being a Good Citizen at School. DVD. 14 min. with tchr’s. guide. Human Relations Media. 2012.ISBN 978-1-55548-577-1. $109.95.

Starshine Workshop: Healthy Touch, Good Boundaries, Safe Kids. DVD. 30 min. with tchr’s. guide. Rising Star Education. 2012. ISBN 978-1-9367-7057-1. $49.95.

Words That Hurt. DVD. 17 min. with tchr’s. guide. Human Relations Media. 2012. ISBN 978-1-55548-574-0. $109.95.

Language Arts

Your Story Your Way. DVD. 35 min. with booklet. DoubleCake.net. 2012. ISBN 978-0-9846594-0-1. $39.99.

Science

Nuclear Savage: The Islands of Secret Project 4.1. DVD. 60 min./87 min. Video Project. 2012. ISBN unavail. $89.

Where Did the Horny Toad Go? DVD. 74 min. AV Cafe. 2012. ISBN unavail. $19.95.

Social Studies

Due Process: Understanding the U.S. Criminal Justice System—Evidence and Forensics. DVD. 30 min. with tchr’s. guide online. Prod. by Films for the Humanities and Sciences/Motion Masters. Dist. by Films Media Group. 2012. ISBN 978-1-62102-908-3. $99.95.

The Titanic Inquiry. DVD. 59 min. Prod. by Network Ireland. Dist. by MVD Entertainment Group. 2011, 2012 release. ISBN unavail. $59.97.

Audio

Many of these titles are available for download and/or in Playaway format. Check distributors’ websites, playaway.com, and audio download retailers for availability and price.

Language Arts

Angelfall: Penryn and the End of Days, Book 1. By Susan Ee. 8 CDs. 8:50 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4692-2237-0. $49.97.

Because It Is My Blood: Birthright, Book 2. Gabrielle Zevin. 9 CDs. 11 hrs. Macmillan Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4272-2630-3. $29.99.

Changling: Order of Darkness, Book 1. By Philippa Gregory. 6 cassettes or 6 CDs. 6:45 hrs. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4640-4519-6, CD: ISBN 978-1-4640-4520-2. $66.75

Crazy Weekend. By Gary Soto. 3 CDs. 2:48 hrs. AudioGo. 2012. ISBN 978-1-935430-75-9. $39.95.

Dork Diaries #5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All. By Rachel Renee Russell. 3 cassettes or 3 CDs. 3:50 hrs. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4703-2985-3, CD: ISBN 978-1-4703-2976-1. $30.75.

The Drowned Cities. By Paolo Bacigalupi. 8 CDs. 9:48 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-5810-1. $49.97.

Enchanted. By Alethea Kontis. 7 CDs 7:49 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4692-0292-1. $69.97.

Eve and Adam. By Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate. 6 CDs. 8 hrs. Macmillan Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4272-2663-1. $29.99.

A Gift of Magic. By Lois Duncan. 4 CDs. 4:53 hrs. Hachette for AudioGo. 2012. ISBN 978-1-61969-101-8. $59.99. 

Hard Gold: The Colorado Gold Rush of 1859 (I Witness Series). By Avi. 4 CDs. 4:00 hrs. AudioGo. 2012. ISBN 978-1-935430-84-1. $49.95.

It’s Kind of a Funny Story. By Ned Vizzini. 7 CDs. 9 hrs. Tantor Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4526-3931-4. $39.99.

King Jack and the Dragon. By Peter Bently. cassette or CD. 15 min. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4640-4551-6, CD: ISBN 978-1-4640-4552-3. $15.75; hardcover book, ISBN 978-1-8037-3698-6: $17.99.

The Last Dogs: The Vanishing. By Christopher Holt and Greg Call. 7 CDs. 8:45 hrs. Hachette for AudioGo.2012. ISBN 978-1-61969-519-1. $69.99.

Liesl & Po. By Lauren Oliver. 5 CDs. 5:55 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 978-0-49-01502-5. $45.

The Mark of Athena: The Heroes of Olympus, Book 3. By Rick Riordan. 12 CDs. 15:09 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 978-0-449-01452-3. $50.

Ms. LaGrange Is Strange!: The Weird School, Book 8. By Dan Gutman. cassette or CD. 1 hr. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4498-6418-7, CD: ISBN 978-1-4498-6419-4. $15.75.

Mystic City. By Theo Lawrence. 10 cassettes or 10 CDs. 11:15 hrs. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4703-1990-8: $77.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4703-1988-5: $108.75.

The Paladin Prophecy: Book 1. By Mark Frost. 13 CDs. 15:40 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 978-0-449-01485-1. $54.

Pirate Cinema. By Cory Doctorow. 11 CDs. 13:06 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 978-0-307-87959-2. $57.

Popcorn Days & Buttermilk Nights. By Gary Paulsen. 3 CDs. 2:40 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4692-4121-0. $39.97.

The Princesses of Iowa. By R. Molly Backes. Brilliance Audio. 2012. 11 CDs. 12:39 hrs. ISBN 978-1-4558-5201-7. $54.97.

Sammy Keyes and the Wedding Crasher. By Wendelin Van Draanen. 7 CDs. 8 hrs. Live Oak Media. 2012.ISBN 978-1-4301-1108-5. $58.95; with paperback book, ISBN 978-1-4301-1109-2: $66.95.

The Schernoff Discoveries. By Gary Paulsen. 2 CDs. 2:14 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-1058-1. $39.97.

The Secret of the Fortune Wookie. By Tom Angleberger. 3 cassettes or 3 CDs. 8 hrs. Recorded Books. 2012.cassette: ISBN 978-1-4703-2984-6, CD: ISBN 978-1-4640-4605-6. $30.75.

The Snow Queen. CD. 53:19 min. The Storycrafters. 2012. ISBN unavail. $14.95.

Super. By Matthew Cody. 7 CDs. 7:47 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 978-0449-01456-1. $37.

Time Between Us. By Tamara Ireland Stone. 8 CDs. 9:04 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 978-0-307-96788-6. $44.

Under Wildwood: Wildwood Chronicles, Book 2. By Colin Meloy. 11 CDs. 13 hrs. HarperChildren’s Audio. 2012.ISBN 978-0-06-204708-3. $36.99.

Ungifted. By Gordon Korman. 6 cassettes or 6 CDs. 6:15 hrs. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4703-2605-0, CD: SBN 978-1-2606-7. $66.75.

Wet and Wild: George Brown, Class Clown, Book 5. By Nancy Krulik. cassette or CD. 1:30 hrs. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4618-1847-2. CD: ISBN 978-1-4618-1848-9. $25.75.

When You Were Mine. By Rebecca Serle. 7 CDs. 7:49 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-1896-9. $54.97.

Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker: Vote for Me! By Robin Palmer. 5 CDs. 5:46 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-5878-1. $49.97.

Music

Binary. CD. 27:21 min. CDBaby.com. 2012. ISBN unavail. $12.99.

Everything Makes a Sound. CD. 33 min. Prod. by Preschool of Rock Records. Dist. by CDBaby.com. 2012.ISBN unavail. $14.99.

Family Values. CD. 48 min. Prod. by Raindrop Records. Dist. by CDBaby.com. 2012. ISBN unavail. $14.99.

Moving Day. CD. 31 min. Prod. by Flying Bounce House Records/Mr. Billy. Dist by AV Café. ISBN unavail. $15.95.

Play Date. CD. 34 min. CDBaby.com. 2012. ISBN unavail. $12.97.

Rabbit Days and Dumplings. CD. 50 mins. DanZanes.com. 2012. ISBN unavail. $12.

Todd McHatton Presents Marvy Monstone’s Mysterious Fun Time Dream Band. CD. approx. 35 min.CDBaby.com. 2012. ISBN unavail. $12.99.

Social Studies

Balloons Over Broadway: The Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade. By Melissa Sweet. cassette or CD. 15 min. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette: ISBN 978-4703-2922-8, CD: ISBN 978-1-4703-2921-1. $15.75; hardcover book, ISBN 978-0-5471-9945-9: $16.99.

The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir. By Cylin Busby and John Busby. 8 CDs. 8:30 hrs. Full Cast Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-936223-09-1. $55.

 CHADDA, Sarwat. The Savage Fortress. 292p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-38516-9; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-46996-8. LC 2011046291.
Gr 8 Up–On vacation in India with his aunt, uncle, and younger sister, pudgy Ash Mistry can’t wait to get back home to his video games and London friends. But when his uncle is offered a million pounds to assist mysterious Lord Savage with translations from an archaeological find, Ash becomes embroiled in an overwhelming and deadly real-life battle. He realizes that Lord Savage is not an ordinary mortal and that his minions are rakshasas (demons). Determined to save his uncle, Ash unwittingly betrays himself and becomes the rakshasas’s target. When he falls into a collapsing pit, he discovers a golden arrowhead–theaastra (weapon) of the ancient goddess Kali. With a splinter of it lodged in his thumb, Ash is able to channel Kali’s power. But it is not enough to save his uncle and aunt, and, when they are killed, he sets out to save his sister–and the world–from Ravana, the all-powerful demon king, and his gruesome forces of evil. Chadda weaves Hindu mythology into an engrossing story of a shy, overweight gamer who becomes transformed into one of his own comic-book superheroes. Plot-driven, fast paced, exciting, and sometimes terrifying, The Savage Fortress is the ideal next step for readers who loved Rick Riordan’s books about the Olympian heroes and Anthony Horowitz’s “Gatekeepers” series (Scholastic). Vivid descriptions of contemporary India and flashbacks to the mythological battles of Rama and Ravana enrich this tale of a nerd’s metamorphosis. Make time for this novel, because it is very hard to put down.–Jane Barrer, United Nations International School, New York City

 NIELSEN, Susin. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen. 243p. Tundra. 2012. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-77049-372-8; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-1-77049-373-5. LC 2011938782.
Gr 6-9–Based on his therapist’s recommendation, 13-year-old Henry begins to keep a journal of his experiences as he transitions to life in a new city, a new school, and in a new apartment with his dad. It’s been a year since his older brother, unable to bear a bully’s relentless torment, took a gun to school and killed the boy and then himself. Subsequently, Henry’s mom has had a breakdown and has been in and out of a psych ward. Nielsen slowly reveals the plot, giving out clues as to what actually happened and the aftereffects of such a tragedy, always through the lens of the younger sibling. Farley, Henry’s nerdy new friend who shares his family’s love of wrestling, and classmate Alberta complement the story as they aggravate Henry and enrich his life, drawing him out of his anger and grief, and help him open up to others and try to find his way. With fully developed adult and child characters and a solid sense of middle school humor, the author has crafted an insightful and nuanced novel about bullying and suicide, and familial love and resilience.–Kathy Lyday, South Caldwell High School, NC

 ROSEN, Michael J. Sailing the Unknown: Around the World with Captain Cook. illus. by Maria Cristina Pritelli. 40p. maps. Creative Editions. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-56846-216-5. LC 2011040840.
Gr 3-6–This spare, fictionalized diary from the youngest crew member aboard the Endeavour in 1768 recounts the events and adventures experienced by the sailors under the command of Captain James Cook, famed for landing in Australia. Nicholas Young, 11 years old at the outset of the journey, is in charge of the ship’s milk goat and helps out in other ways when he can. He chronicles the nearly three-year expedition in journal entries that sway with the rhythm of a sailing ship, telling of the sights and sounds of the far-flung locations they encounter, from exotic animals and insects to groups of people so vastly different from himself. The drudgery of life aboard a ship is juxtaposed with the small moments of brightness and levity that crop up in the most unexpected places. Folk-art-style paintings continue the sea theme with the blues, grays, and greens of the ocean, adroitly conveying the vastness of the world they are exploring. Small border doodles highlight the humorous, or lighter times, such as the dunkings for those new to crossing the Equator. The artwork contains quite a bit of detail, and there is much for readers to pore over; Nick, in his Waldo-like striped shirt is a fun seek and find. A great introduction to exploration for young adventurers everywhere.–Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

 SPINELLI, Jerry. Hokey Pokey. 262p. Knopf. Jan. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-83198-0; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-93198-7; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97570-6.
Gr 5-7–Hokey Pokey is a place where children live and rule themselves, riding bicycles like horses, watching cartoons on huge outdoor screens, throwing tantrums and getting hugged, all without an adult in sight. Their lives are almost pure joy as they dance the eponymous dance, savor the eponymous frozen treat, and listen to The Story of the Kid through little shells they carry in their pockets. Jack is their hero and ringleader, dealing with bully Harold the Destroyer, teaching Kiki lessons in sports and Lopez lessons in life, until the day things begin to change. Jack wakes to find that his beloved bike, Scramjet, has been commandeered by Jubilee, whom he despises because she’s a girl. Answering his Tarzan cry of despair, Amigos LaJo and Dusty race to his side and notice before he does that Jack’s stomach tattoo, given to all children once they’re out of diapers, is starting to disappear. Fighting against the realization that Jack is going to leave them, they lure him into one last bike roundup, roping him and tying him down until Jubilee releases him, recognizing that he cannot resist the pull away from all of them toward the Forbidden Hut and the Train, and into The Story. Using elements of myth, allegory, fantasy, and not-quite science fiction, Spinelli has skillfully combined a stream-of-consciousness narrative with delicious inventive language to create a vivid, dreamlike world. This unforgettable coming-of-age story will resonate with tween readers and take its rightful place beside the author’s Maniac Magee (Little, Brown, 1990) and Louis Sachar’s Holes (Farrar, 1998).–Marie Orlando, formerly at Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

 TIMBERLAKE, Amy. One Came Home. 250p. bibliog. further reading. Knopf. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86925-9; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96925-6; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98934-6. LC 2011037095.
Gr 5-8–Thirteen-year-old Georgie Burkhardt can shoot better than anyone in Placid, Wisconsin. She can handle accounts and serve customers in her family’s general store. What she can’t do is accept that the unrecognizable body wearing her older sister’s blue-green gown is Agatha. Determined to discover what happened after Agatha abruptly left town with a group of pigeoners, Georgie sets out to follow her route. In return for the loan of a mule, she reluctantly allows Billy McCabe, one of Agatha’s suitors, to accompany her. The journey includes a menacing cougar and ruthless counterfeiters, but Georgie’s narration offers more than action-packed adventure. She unravels the tangle of events that led to Agatha’s sudden departure and acknowledges her own role. By turns humorous and reflective, Georgie’s unique and honest voice includes confusion about her feelings for Billy and doubts about her ability to kill even in desperate circumstances. Timberlake seamlessly integrates information about two significant events that occurred in Wisconsin in 1871: the largest recorded nesting of passenger pigeons in spring and devastating firestorms in fall. Georgie’s physical and emotional odyssey that occurs between those two events will linger in readers’ minds.–Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

 BOLDEN, Tonya. Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln and the Dawn of Liberty. 120p. bibliog. chron. glossary. illus. index. notes. photos. reprods. Abrams. Jan. 2013. RTE $24.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0390-4. LC 2012000845.
Gr 5-9–After a dramatic opening description of abolitionists waiting for word that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed, this title reviews the events that led up to the Civil War, examines Lincoln’s reasons for writing it, and details the role of abolitionists. Bolden makes excellent use of primary sources; the pages are filled with archival photos, engravings, letters, posters, maps, newspaper articles, and other period documents. Detailed captions and a glossary interpret them for today’s readers. Quotations from both Lincoln’s contemporaries and modern scholars also break up the text. All the visual elements combine to give pages the look of a scrapbook, making the title a pleasure to browse as well as a source of research material. Bolden has chosen to tell the story in a personal voice, from the perspective of African Americans and abolitionists, “who were pledged to universal liberty.” While this narrative technique makes for riveting reading and gives readers a greater understanding of the viewpoint of these groups, they won’t find much information here on the Unionist Democrats, moderate Republicans, or those who opposed the Emancipation Proclamation. Pair this with another title, such as Charles W. Carey Jr.’s The Emancipation Proclamation (The Child’s World, 2009) to gain that perspective.–Jackie Partch, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

 FRADIN, Judith Bloom & Dennis Brindell Fradin. The Price of Freedom: How One Town Stood Up to Slavery.illus. by Eric Velasquez. 48p. bibliog. further reading. photos. websites. Walker. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-2166-2; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-8027-2167-9. LC 2012015781.
Gr 3-6–In 1856, John Price escaped from slavery in Kentucky by crossing the frozen Ohio River. Two years later, slave hunters arrived in Oberlin, Ohio, and attempted to take him back at gunpoint. Shopkeepers, farmers, teachers, and college students formed an armed group of Rescuers to release Price. Some members of the group were former slaves, risking their own freedom. Charged with violating the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, the Rescuers spent three months in jail. They returned home with a new purpose, vowing that “No fugitive slave shall ever be taken from Oberlin either with or without a warrant, if we have power to prevent it.” The picture-book format is highly effective in conveying the power of the story. In Velasquez’s dramatic mixed-media and oil paintings, determination shows in the stance of the figures and the set of their facial features. The book design is masterful. The front cover highlights John Price, surrounded by some of his champions. The back cover foreshadows a betrayal, with a hand dropping a gold coin into another hand, accompanied by the sentence, “How much is one man’s life worth?” On the endpapers, a dark, quiet view of the river sets the stage for the conflict to come. Full-page images and spreads draw readers directly into the action. The final image is an 1859 large-scale photo of the Rescuers taken in the courtyard of the jail. This book could be used as a nonfiction partner to Christopher Paul Curtis’s Elijah of Buxton (Scholastic, 2007) and as a resource in units about slavery, the Underground Railroad, or the Civil War.–Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher’s School, Richmond, VA

 STONE, Tanya Lee. Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles: America’s First Black Paratroopers. 160p. appendix. bibliog. chron. notes. photos. reprods. Candlewick. Jan. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5117-6; ebook $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6405-3.
Gr 5 Up–A moving, thoughtful history of the United States military’s first black paratrooper unit. During World War II, African American soldiers were mostly relegated to service and security jobs, generally denied the same training and active-combat positions that were available to their white counterparts. Expertly woven together are two narratives: the large, overarching history of rampant racism in the U.S. military and the smaller, tightly focused account of a group of black soldiers determined to serve their country and demonstrate their value as soldiers. Readers are taken along on the emotional journey with the soldiers as they leapt forward from guard duty at The Parachute School into official paratrooper training, the first of its kind for blacks. They faced multiple setbacks as they encountered discrimination, some justified as “policy” and some that was more personal and insidious. Throughout the book, the courage and strength of these men is evidenced in their tireless quest to be the best at what they do, throwing themselves headlong into sometimes dangerous and terrifying training requirements. The photographs and the design of the book as a whole are a gift to readers. Rich with detail, the pictures not only complement the narrative, but also tell a stirring story of their own, chronicling the triumphs and frustrations of the soldiers as they pursued their dreams. Complete accessibility to a wide range of readers, coupled with expert research and meticulous care, makes this a must-have for any library.–Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

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The following titles are reviewed in the January 1 print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.

Fiction

ANGLER, Evan. Sneak. Bk. 2. 278p. (Swipe Series). Thomas Nelson. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4003-1842-1.

BAGUCHINSKY, Jill. Spookygirl: Paranormal Investigator. 280p. Dutton. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-525-42584-7; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-1-101-59145-1. LC 2011052673.

BARROWMAN, John & Carole E. Barrowman. Hollow Earth. 382p. S & S/Aladdin. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5852-9; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5855-0.

BAUER, Hans & Catherine Masciola. Fishtale. 208p. Amazon. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6223-1; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6224-8. LC 2011040131.

BENJAMIN, Floella. Sea of Tears. 280p. Frances Lincoln. 2012. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-1-84780-058-9.

BERNE, Emma Carlson. Never Let You Go. 228p. S & S/Simon Pulse. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4017-3; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4018-0.

BICK, Ilsa J. Shadows. Bk. 2. 520p. (Ashes Trilogy). Egmont. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-176-1; ebook $17.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-378-9.

BJORKMAN, Lauren. Miss Fortune Cookie. 280p. Holt. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-8951-6; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9636-1.

BLACK, Yelena. Dance of Shadows. Bk. 1. 446p. Bloomsbury. Feb. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-940-0.

BLAKE, Stephanie J. The Marble Queen. 180p. Amazon. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6227-9; ebook $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6228-6. LC 2011040132.

BLYTHE, Daniel. Shadow Breakers. 248p. Scholastic/Chicken House. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-47979-0; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-52064-5. LC 2012011273.

BOURREAU, Clara. On the Run. tr. from French by Y. Maudet. 120p. Delacorte. 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74276-4; RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-99076-2. LC 2012010898.

BOYNE, John. The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket. illus. by Oliver Jeffers. 278p. Knopf.Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97762-5; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97763-2; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97764-9.

BRENNAN, Herbie. The Secret Prophecy. 364p. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-207180-4; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-207183-5.

BUCHANAN, Andrea J. Gift. 271p. Open Road. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4532-2023-8.

BUCKNELL, Tobias & Joe Monti, eds. Diverse Energies. 310p. Lee & Low/Tu. 2012. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-60060-887-2.

CAIN, Barbara. Autism, the Invisible Cord: A Sibling’s Diary. 96p. Magination. 2012. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-4338-1192-0; Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-4338-1191-3. LC 2012016053.

CASANOVA, Mary. Frozen. 246p. further reading. University of Minnesota Press. 2012. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8166-8056-6.

COCHRAN, Molly. Poison. 360p. S & S/Paula Wiseman Bks. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5050-9; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5052-3. LC 2012006736.

COLLIE, Brenda Faye. Almost a Senior. 214p. Daylight Books. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-9632177-7-6.

CRONN-MILLS, Kirstin. Beautiful Music for Ugly Children. 288p. websites. Flux. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7387-3251-0. LC 2012019028.

CUMMINGS, Priscilla. The Journey Back. 224p. maps. Dutton. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-525-42362-1.

DALLAS, Sandra. The Quilt Walk. 215p. maps. Sleeping Bear. 2012. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-58536-800-6. LC 2012005863.

DAVIES, Jocelyn. A Fractured Light. 340p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-199067-0; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-211966-7.

DE BAUN, Hillary Hall. Starring Arabelle. 236p. Eerdmans. 2012. pap. $9. ISBN 978-0-8028-5398-1. LC 2011042739.

FALKNER, Brian. The Assault. 290p. glossary. Random. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86946-4; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96946-1; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98351-1. LC 2011042888.

FERRAIOLO, Jack D. The Quick Fix. 292p. Abrams/Amulet. 2012. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-0-8109-9725-7.

FRISCH, Aaron. The Girl in Red. illus. by Roberto Innocenti. 32p. Creative Editions. 2012. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-56846-223-3.

GARVEY, Amy. Glass Heart. 310p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-199624-5; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-210336-9. LC 2011052410.

GIER, Kerstin. Sapphire Blue. Bk. 2. tr. from German by Anthea Bell. 368p. (Ruby Red Series). Holt. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9266-0; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9635-4. LC 2011034011.

GONZALEZ, Christina Diaz. A Thunderous Whisper. 304p. glossary. photos. Knopf. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86929-7; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96929-4; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98274-3. LC 2011043445.

GORDON, Roderick & Brian Williams. Spiral. Bk. 5. 440p. (Tunnels Series). Scholastic/Chicken House. 2012.Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-545-42961-0.

GREEN, Julia. Tilly’s Moonlight Garden. illus. by Paul Howard. 200p. Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky. 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4022-7730-6; ebook $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4022-7731-3.

GRINTI, Mike & Rachel Grinti. Claws. 250p. Scholastic/Chicken House. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-43313-6; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-46967-8. LC 2011048362.

HADDIX, Margaret Peterson. Game Changer. 256p. S & S. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-689-87380-5; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5389-0. LC 2011034707.

HAINSWORTH, Emily. Through to You. 264p. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209419-3; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209421-6. LC 2012006549.

HARRIS, Rachel. My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century. 260p. Entangled Teen. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-62061-135-7; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-62061-136-4.

HARTLEY, A. J. Darwen Arkwright and the Insidious Bleck. Bk. 2. illus. by Emily Osborne. 442p. (Darwen Arkwright Series). Penguin/Razorbill. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-410-2.

HIEBER, Leanna Renee. The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart. Bk. 2. 336p. (Magic Most Foul Series).Sourcebooks/Fire. 2012. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-1-4022-6203-6; ebook $8.99. ISBN 978-1-4022-6204-3.

HIRSCH, Jeff. Magisterium. 310p. Scholastic. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-29018-0; ebook $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-46988-3. LC 2011050775.

HOBBS, Valerie. Minnie McClary Speaks Her Mind. 216p. Farrar/Frances Foster. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-32496-4; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-374-34978-3. LC 2011016860.

HONEYMAN, Kay. The Fire Horse Girl. 326p. glossary. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. Jan. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-40310-8.

HOOPER, Mary. Velvet. 336p. bibliog. Bloomsbury. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7475-9921-0.

HOWARD, Chris. Rootless. Bk. 1. 326p. Scholastic. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-38789-7. LC 2011041109.

JOHN, Antony. Elemental. 326p. Dial. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3682-5; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-1-1015-9113-0. LC 2011049539.

JOHNSON, Hal. Immortal Lycanthropes. illus. by Teagan White. 292p. Clarion. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-75196-2; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-75201-3. LC 2011045438.

JONES, Eddie. Dead Man’s Hand. Bk. 1. 214p. (The Caden Chronicles). Zonderkidz. 2012. Tr $7.99. ISBN 978-0-310-72344-8; ebook $4.99. ISBN 978-0-310-72389-9.

KAIN, P. G. Picture Perfect. Bk. 2. 264p. (Commercial Breaks Series). S & S/Aladdin. 2012. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9787-0; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9790-0.

KOKIE, E. M. Personal Effects. 352p. Candlewick. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5527-3; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6203-5.

KRUMWIEDE, Lana. Freakling. 310p. Candlewick. 2012. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5937-0; ebook $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6204-2.

LAMB, Jody. Easter Ann Peters’ Operation Cool. 268p. further reading. websites. Scribe. 2012. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-9859562-0-2. LC 2012947114.

LAWRENCE, Theo. Mystic City. Bk. 1. 398p. (A Mystic City Novel). Delacorte. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74160-6; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-99013-7; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98642-0. LC 2012010878.

LENNON, Tom. When Love Comes to Town. 296p. glossary. Albert Whitman. Mar. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-8075-8916-8. LC 2012020160.

LINKO, Gina. Flutter. 342p. Random. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86996-9; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96996-6; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98636-9. LC 2011049637.

LIVINGSTON, Lesley. Starling. Bk. 1. 342p. (Starling Saga Series). HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-206307-6; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-206309-0.

LLOYD, Saci. Momentum. 216p. Holiday House. 2012. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-2414-6. LC 2011022056.

LUPICA, Mike. Game Changers. Bk. 1. 208p. Scholastic. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-38182-6; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-44315-9.

MCDONALD, Ian. Be My Enemy. Bk. 2. 264p. (Everness Series). glossary. PYR. 2012. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-61614-678-8.

MCGEE, Krista. Right Where I Belong. 312p. Thomas Nelson. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4016-8490-7.

MCKAY, Emily. The Farm. 420p. Berkley. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-425-25780-7. LC 2012014764.

MCROBBIE, David. Vinnie’s War. 210p. illus. photos. reprods. Allen & Unwin. 2012. pap. $14.99. ISBN 978-1-74237-576-2.

MARKS, Daniel. Velveteen. 452p. Delacorte. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74224-5; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97432-7; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-99051-9.

MARY-TODD, Jonathan. Shot Down. 104p. (After the Dust Settled Series). Darby Creek. 2012. PLB $27.93. ISBN 978-0-7613-8329-1; pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-9399-3; ebook $20.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-0015-3.LC 2012006864.

MATTI, Truus. Mister Orange. tr. from Dutch by Laura Watkinson. illus. by Jenni Desmond. 164p. Enchanted Lion. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-592701-230.

MESSENGER, Norman. The Land of Neverbelieve. illus. by author. 32p. Candlewick. 2012. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6021-5.

MESSENGER, Shannon. Keeper of the Lost Cities. 488p. S & S/Aladdin. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4593-2; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4595-6. LC 2011042201.

MILES, Elizabeth. Envy. Bk. 2. 400p. (Fury Series). CIP. S & S/Simon Pulse. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2221-6; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2223-0. LC 2011044905.

MILLER, Ashley Edward & Zack Stentz. Colin Fischer. 240p. Penguin/Razorbill. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-578-9; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-1-10159-073-7.

MONROE, Ella. Secrets and Lies. Bk. 2. 304p. (Capital Girls Series). St. Martin’s Griffin. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-312-62305-0; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-250-02165-6.

MORRILL, Lauren. Meant to Be. 292p. Delacorte. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74177-4; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-99023-6; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98711-3. LC 2011035519.

MYERS, Christopher. H.O.R.S.E.: A Game of Basketball and Imagination. illus. by author. 40p. Egmont USA.2012. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-218-8.

O’BRIEN, Caragh M. Promised. Bk. 3. 294p. (Birthmarked Series). Roaring Brook. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-571-1; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-596-43832-3.

O’ROURKE, Erica. Bound. Bk. 3. 350p. (Torn Trilogy). Kensington/KTeen. 2012. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7582-6707-8.

PATTEN, E. J. The Legend Thief. Bk. 2. illus. by John Rocco. 370p. (Hunter Chronicles). S & S. Mar. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2035-9; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2037-3. LC 2012012578.

PAULSON, Ingrid. Valkyrie Rising. 346p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-202572-2; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-219029-1. LC 2011042307.

PHILLIPS, Helen. Here Where the Sunbeams Are Green. 297p. Delacorte. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74236-8; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-99056-4; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97487-7.

REEVE, Phillip. Scrivener’s Moon. Bk. 3. 340p. (Fever Crumb Series). Scholastic. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-22218-1.

RODRIGUES, Carmen. 34 Pieces of You. 336p. further reading. S & S/Simon Pulse. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3917-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3908-5. LC 2011045279.

SAVAGE, J. Scott. Zombie Kid. Bk. 1. 270p. (Case File 13 Series). HarperCollins/Harper. Jan. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-06-213325-0; ebook $8.99. ISBN 978-0-06-213328-1.

SCOTT, Mindi. Live Through This. 290p. S & S/Simon Pulse. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4059-3; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4060-9; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4061-6. LC 2012006006.

SCRIMGER, Richard. Ink Me. 210p. ISBN 978-1-4598-0016-8.

STAUNTON, Ted. Jump Cut. 219p. ISBN 978-1-55469-947-6.
ea vol: (Seven the Series). Orca. 2012. pap. $9.95.

SHAN, Darren. Zom-B. illus. by Warren Pleece. 192p. Little, Brown. 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-316-21440-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-316-21439-1.

SOUDERS, J. A. Renegade. Bk. 1. 368p. (The Elysium Chronicles). Tor. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7653-3245-5; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4668-0095-3.

STOLTZ, Adrienne & Ron Bass. Lucid. 342p. Penguin/Razorbill. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-519-2; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-1-10157-208-5.

STONE, Jeff. Phoenix. Bk. 1. 276p. (The Five Ancestors: Out of the Ashes Series). Random. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-87018-7; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97018-4; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98759-5.LC 2012006607.

STRASNICK, Lauren. Then You Were Gone. 214p. S & S/Simon Pulse. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2715-0; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2717-4.

TAYLOR, S. S. The Expeditioners: And the Treasure of Drowned Man’s Canyon. illus. by Katherine Roy. 384p. McSweeney’s McMullens. 2012. Tr $22. ISBN 978-1-938073-06-9.

VAIL, Rachel. Kiss Me Again. 250p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. Jan. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-194717-9; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-220288-8.

WALTON, K. M. Empty. 244p. S & S/Simon Pulse. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5359-3; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5360-9.

WINGET, Dianna Dorisi. A Smidgen of Sky. 208p. Houghton Harcourt. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-80798-0; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-80829-1.

WOLF, Elaine. Camp. 238p. Sky Pony. 2012. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-61608-657-2. LC 2011047125.

WOODWARD, Timothy. If I Told You So. 244p. Kensington/KTeen. 2012. pap. $15. ISBN 978-0-7582-7488-5.

Nonfiction

BAXTER, Roberta. The Bill of Rights. ISBN 978-1-4329-6751-2; ISBN 978-1-4329-6760-4. LC 2011037780.
–––– . The Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the Constitution. ISBN 978-1-4329-6756-7; ISBN 978-1-4329-6765-9. LC 2011037932.

SONNEBORN, Liz. The United States Constitution. ISBN 978-1-4329-6752-9; ISBN 978-1-4329-6761-4. LC 2011037781.
ea vol: 48p. (Documenting U.S. History Series). charts. maps. photos. reprods. chron. further reading. glossary. index. websites. Heinemann Library. 2012. PLB $32; pap. $8.99.

BERNIER-GRAND, Carmen T. Picasso: I the King, Yo el Rey. illus. by David Diaz. 64p. bibliog. chron. glossary. notes. Amazon. 2012. RTE $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6177-7; ebook $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6179-1. LC 2011032177.

BRESLIN, Theresa, retel. An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales. illus. by Kate Leiper. 158p. glossary. Floris. 2012. RTE $24.95. ISBN 978-0-8631-5907-7.

CARROLL, Lewis. The Hunting of the Snark: An Agony in Eight Fits. illus. by Oleg Lipchenko. 48p. Tundra.2012. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-77049-407-7. LC 2012930535.

CATES, David. Plessy v. Ferguson: Segregation and the Separate but Equal Policy. ISBN 9781617834752; ISBN 9781614789673. LC 2012001279.

KENNEY, Karen Latchana. Korematsu v. the United States: World War II Japanese-American Internment Camps. ISBN 9781617834738; ISBN 9781614789659. LC 2012001277.

VAN ZEE, Amy. Dred Scott v. Sandford: Slavery and Freedom Before the American Civil War. ISBN 9781617834721; ISBN 9781614789642. LC 2012001276.
ea vol: 160p. (Landmark Supreme Court Cases Series). maps. photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary.index. notes. websites. ABDO. 2012. PLB $24.95; ebook $34.95.

CHALINE, Eric. Fifty Machines That Changed the Course of History. 224p. chron. diags. further reading. illus. index. photos. websites. Firefly. 2012. RTE $29.95. ISBN 978-1-77085-090-3. LC T15.C343.

COUWENHOVEN, Terri. The Boys’ Guide to Growing Up: Choices & Changes During Puberty. 64p. illus. index.Woodbine. 2012. pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-1-60613-089-6.

CROSS, Gillian, retel. The Odyssey. illus. by Neil Packer. 178p. Candlewick. 2012. RTE $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4791-9.

ETINGOFF, Kim & Shaina C. Indovino. Greece. ISBN 978-1-4222-2244-7. LC 2010051304.

SADEK, Ademola O. & Shaina C. Indovino. Italy. ISBN 978-1-4222-2248-5. LC 2010051333.

WALKER, Ida & Shaina C. Indovino. Germany. ISBN 978-1-4222-2243-0. LC 2010051291.
ea vol: 64p. (Major European Union Nations Series). maps. photos. chron. further reading. glossary. index. websites. Mason Crest. 2012. PLB $22.95.

HARDY, Aurelia. Dancers of the World. tr. from French by Susan Allen Maurin. illus. by Sybile. 32p. Auzou.2012. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-2-7338-1233-4.

KAUFMAN, Miriam. Easy for You to Say: Q&As for Teens Living with Chronic Illness or Disability. 3 rd ed. 320p. appendix. charts. further reading. index. websites. Firefly. 2012. pap. $19.95. ISBN 978-1-77085-099-6.

KAYE, Cathryn Berger & Philippe Cousteau. Make a Splash: A Kid’s Guide to Protecting Our Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, & Wetlands. 128p. bibliog. further reading. glossary. illus. index. photos. websites. Free Spirit. 2012.pap. $13.99. ISBN 978-1-57542-417-0. LC 2012032120.

KORNFELD, Jody, Sophie Waters, & Kathy Furgang. Death and Bereavement. ISBN 978-1-4488-6892-6. LC 2012003709.

PETERMAN, Rosie L., Jared Meyer, & Charlie Quill. Divorce and Stepfamilies. ISBN 978-1-4488-6893-3. LC 2012001159.

SMITH, Marilyn E., Matthew Monteverde, & Henrietta M. Lily. School Violence and Conflict Resolution. ISBN 978-1-4488-6891-9. LC 2012003027.

SMITH, Rita, Vanessa Baish, Edward Willett, & Stephanie Watson. Self-Image and Eating Disorders. ISBN 978-1-4488-6894-0. LC 2012003030.
ea vol: 48p. (Teen Mental Health Series). photos. further reading. glossary. index. websites. Rosen. 2012.PLB $29.25.

MACLEOD, Peter. Four Wars of 1812. 96p. further reading. illus. maps. photos. reprods. Douglas & McIntyre.2012. pap. $19.95. ISBN 978-1-77100-050-5.

MULLENBACH, Cheryl. Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II. 256p. bibliog. index. notes. photos. Chicago Review Pr. Jan. 2013. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-56976-808-2.

SENDAK, Maurice. My Brother’s Book. illus. by author. 32p. HarperCollins/Michael Di Capua. Feb. 2013. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-0-06-223489-6. LC 2012942549.

SHEINKIN, Steve. Lincoln’s Grave Robbers. 224p. glossary. index. notes. photos. Scholastic. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-40572-0.

TAYLOR , Karen, ed. No Character Limit: Truth and Fiction from WriteGirl. 292p. illus. index. photos. WriteGirl.Jan. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-9837081-1-7.

YODA, Hiroko & Matt Alt. Ninja Attack!: True Tales of Assassins, Samurai, and Outlaws. illus. by Yutaka Kondo. ISBN 978-4-8053-1218-6. LC 2012009837.
–––– . Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide. illus. by Tatsuya Morino. ISBN 978-4-8053-1219-3. LC 2012009752.
–––– . Yurei Attack!: The Japanese Ghost Survival Guide. illus. by Shinkichi. ISBN 978-4-8053-1214-8. LC 2012001804.
ea vol: 208p. charts. illus. photos. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. websites. Tuttle. 2012.pap. $15.95.

YOLEN, Jane. The Emily Sonnets: The Life of Emily Dickinson. illus. by Gary Kelley. 40p. notes. Creative Editions. 2012. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-56846-215-8. LC 2011040841.

YOLEN, Jane, retel. with Heidi E. Y. Stemple. Jewish Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook. illus. by Sima Elizabeth Shefrin. 200p. Crocodile. 2012. Tr $25.00. ISBN 978-1-56656-909-5. LC 2012018174.

Illustration by James Ransome from This Is the Dream (HarperCollins, 2006).

Fifty years ago this May, people around our country turned on their televisions to the sight of children being viciously assaulted with fire hoses and snarling dogs by uniformed grown men, their faces twisted with hatred. The violence in Birmingham, Alabama, stirred a swelling of national conscience and raised questions demanding an answer: Do we really believe that “all men are created equal”? What would our country look like if we really did? What has to change to make that dream a reality?

Until recently, most books for children about the Civil Rights Movement focused on the great leaders. Now, authors and illustrators are using multiple lenses, choosing to illuminate the inner workings of a populist revolution in which many people, with differing beliefs, made difficult choices. Historical fiction and poetry delve empathetically into motivations, situations, and dilemmas. Enticing nonfiction presents a variety of primary sources representing multiple viewpoints, asking readers to compare and contrast versions of reality, draw their own inferences, find personal meaning, and examine the art of history-telling.

These books about the Civil Rights era contain universal themes: How do we recognize and address our own prejudices? How do we make social change happen? How do we find the strength to overcome adversity and do what we know to be right? How can one person change the world? Give these titles to students so that they may start to answer these questions for themselves.

Panning the Scene
Background, Overviews, Introductions

ARONSON, Marc. Race: A History Beyond Black and White. S & S/Atheneum. 2007. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-689-86554-1.
Gr 10 Up—This weighty tome breaks down the social construct of “race,” revealing how it developed, morphed, and impacted societies from the Ancient Greeks to today. Aronson mixes in graphically detailed atrocities alongside deeply personal examinations of his own prejudices and hypothetical modern-day scenarios to guide deeper understanding.

BARTOLETTI, Susan Campbell. They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group.Houghton Mifflin. 2010. Tr $19. ISBN 978-0-618-44033-7.
Gr 7 Up—In an unflinching chronology of the K.K.K., Bartoletti purposefully draws from and presents primary sources representing a range of perspectives, including that of violent white supremacists themselves, in the form of images, interview clips, and more. Guaranteed to provoke fruitful discussion. Audio version available from Brilliance Audio.

OSBORNE, Linda Barrett. Miles to Go for Freedom: Segregation and Civil Rights in the Jim Crow Era. Abrams. 2012. RTE $24.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0020-0.
Gr 6-10—Osborne thoroughly supports her historical examination of segregation with well-chosen quotations, rare photographs, ephemera, and other visual information from the Library of Congress. This cleanly written history of the Jim Crow era is ideal for anyone studying the times, or simply interested in our shared past. A highly readable, substantive title.

PINKNEY, Andrea Davis. Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down. illus. by Brian Pinkney. Little, Brown. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-316-07016-4.
Gr 2-5–With the 1960 Greensboro Woolworth counter sit-in as a central example and food as a metaphor, Pinkney’s highly readable poetic phrases relate how ordinary people’s nonviolent actions eventually led to integration. Brian Pinkney’s buoyant color washes with vibrant ink drawings enhance the spirited tone of his wife’s words.

RAMSEY, Calvin A. Ruth and the Green Book. illus. by Floyd Cooper. Carolrhoda. 2010. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-5255-6.
Gr 1-4–A young African American girl uses the Green Book to find black-friendly businesses on her family’s 1950 car trip from Chicago to rural Alabama, easing the pain of her first encounters with Jim Crow. Cooper’s art, using a grainy, subdued palette that subtly evokes historical photographs, supports this understated but interesting slice of history.

SHANGE, Ntozake. We Troubled the Waters. illus. by Rod Brown. HarperCollins/Amistad. 2009. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-133735-2; ebook $11.99. ISBN 978-0-06-206563-6.
Gr 6 Up–Shange’s spare, dialect-strong poems are vivid, emotional snapshots of the Jim Crow South from a black perspective. They leave plenty of thought-provoking, unspoken ideas between the lines. Together with Brown’s photograph-inspired muralistic oil paintings, this powerful book invokes personal reactions to historical wrongs.

SHELTON, Paula Young. Child of the Civil Rights Movement. illus. by Raul Colón. Random/Schwartz & Wade. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-84314-3; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95414-6; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98281-1.
K-Gr 3–Colón’s richly textured pastels match Shelton’s inviting, friendly descriptions of being a small child among the loving inner circle of leading Civil Rights families. These vignettes from Andrew Young’s daughter simultaneously magnify and humanize the struggle.

SHORE, Diana Z. & Jessica Alexander. This Is the Dream. illus. by James Ransome. HarperCollins/Amistad. 2006. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-055519-1; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-055520-7; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-06-055521-4.
K-Gr 3–Glowingly illustrated with a strong palette, this short “House That Jack Built”-metered picture book starts with imagery of segregation, proceeds to iconic nonviolent protests, and culminates with integrated, happy modern children. This excellent read-aloud celebrates the gains of the Civil Rights Movement with a heartfelt sense of patriotic pride. Younger children will need explanations throughout.

STOTTS, Stuart. We Shall Overcome: A Song That Changed the World. foreword by Pete Seeger. illus. by Terrance Cummings. Clarion. 2010. RTE $18. ISBN 978-0-547-18210-0.
Gr 4 Up–The anthem of the Civil Rights Movement steadied and fortified the righteous. Here is a mini-ethnomusicological study of the song, from its origins through its role at many dangerous and important protests. Archival images, strong poster-art-inspired red/black/white artwork, and a CD accompany the story of the song’s journey.

WATKINS, Angela Farris. My Uncle Martin’s Words for America. illus. by Eric Velasquez. Abrams. 2011. RTE $19.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0022-4.
K-Gr 4–In the grand tradition of deifying King, this title works well as a lap-read companion to Doreen Rappaport’s Martin’s Big Words (Hyperion, 2001). Bold text emphasizes the simple concepts of King’s satyagraha philosophy while taking on a more complete, but age-appropriate, history of the movement. Bright oil-painted portraits backed by stars and stripes lend a patriotic tone.

Zooming In
Places & Events

BAUSUM, Ann. Marching to the Mountaintop: How Poverty, Labor Fights, and Civil Rights Set the Stage for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Final Hours. National Geographic. 2012. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-4263-0939-7; PLB $28.90. ISBN 978-1-4263-0940-3; ebook $19.95. ISBN 978-1-4263-0945-8.
Gr 6 Up–When the Civil Rights Movement arrived in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968, the volatile mix of poverty, racial discrimination, and the black community’s own splintered loyalties came to a boil. This behind-the-scenes exposé sheds light on a specific place and time usually overshadowed by the subsequent assassination of King at the Lorraine Hotel.

BRIMNER, Larry Dane. Birmingham Sunday. Boyds Mill/Calkins Creek. 2010. RTE $17.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-613-0.
Gr 6 Up–Brimner homes in on the racially charged atmosphere of Birmingham in 1963 by hooking readers with details about the four victims of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing. These 48 pages, packed with photographs and sidebars of related information, reveal the shocking extent to which raw violence and danger were prevalent.

CONKLING, Winifred. Sylvia & Aki. Tricycle. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-58246-337-7; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-1-58246-438-1.
Gr 4-6–Meet Sylvia and Aki, two real Southern Californian girls facing government-supported discrimination during World War II. Extrapolating from interviews, Conkling has crafted an alternating-narrator novel that compares and contrasts experiences by Americans of Mexican and Japanese heritage. This title reminds readers that the Civil Rights Movement wasn’t just about inequities faced by African Americans.

DUDLEY, David. L. Caleb’s Wars. Clarion. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-23997-2; ebook $11.99. ISBN 978-0-547-53420-6.
Gr 7 Up–In this novel of World War II-era rural Georgia, Caleb, a 15-year-old African American, chafes at the ways his family and community take Jim Crow for granted, despite his brother’s service in the U.S. Army. Getting to know a German POW assigned to work with him intensifies Caleb’s determination to claim his dignity.

EVANS, Shane W. We March. illus. by author. Roaring Brook/A Neal Porter Bk. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-539-1; eook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-46681-084-6.
PreS-Gr 3–Evans’s expansive, richly colored, simplistic paintings depict a young African American family preparing for and attending the 1963 March on Washington. With carefully chosen, spare language, this simple book powerfully re-creates the event. Brief back matter provides much-needed context.

KITTINGER, Jo S. Rosa’s Bus: The Ride to Civil Rights. illus. by Steven Walker. Boyds Mill/Calkins Creek. 2010. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-722-9.
Gr 1-4–A fresh twist on the familiar tale of Rosa Parks’s defiance and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, with straightforward, simple storytelling, focuses on the historical nature of the bus itself. Walker’s bright oil paintings balance the text and mood throughout. Endnotes offer additional information for the inevitable questions from a read-aloud audience.

LEVINE, Kristin. The Lions of Little Rock. Putnam. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25644-8; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-1-424-2435-3; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-1-101-55044-1.
Gr 5-8–This novel depicts 1958 Little Rock, roiling in racial tension in the wake of the Little Rock Nine. Desperately shy Marley befriends a new classmate at her still-segregated white middle school. When it’s discovered that her new friend is actually a black girl passing for white, the two must decide how important their friendship is. Audio version available from Listening Library.

LEVINSON, Cynthia Y. We’ve Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March. Peachtree. 2012. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-56145-627-7.
Gr 7 Up–Fifty years ago, thousands of children purposefully set out to get themselves arrested and abused by marching in defiance of the most militant government-supported segregationists. This photo-essay interweaves the stories and memories of four disparate participants with contextual photographs and information, reveling in the marchers’ can-do spirit and sense of power. Audio version available from Listening Library.

LONG, Mark & Jim Demonakos. The Silence of Our Friends: The Civil Rights Struggle Was Never Black and White. illus by Nate Powell. First Second. 2012. pap. $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-618-3.
Gr 9 Up–Fiercely segregated 1968 Houston is the backdrop for this hard-hitting graphic novel memoir. It follows a confused white suburban kid and his photojournalist father when a black activist and his family enter their lives. The black-and-white palette contributes to a gritty, film noir tone as the authors openly depict people’s ugliness, uncertainty, selfishness, and cowardice.

MAGOON, Kekla. The Rock and the River. S & S/Aladdin. 2009. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-7582-3; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-7803-9; ebook $6.99. ISBN 978-1-4391-5335-2.
Gr 7 Up–Sam, a 13-year-old African American Chicagoan in the summer of 1968, is torn between the pacifist path promoted by his reverend father and the more militant actions of the Black Panther party favored by his older brother. A sequel, Fire in the Streets (S & S, 2012), goes into greater detail about the day-to-day lives of the Black Panthers. Audio version available from Brilliance Audio.

NELSON, Marilyn. A Wreath for Emmett Till. illus. by Philippe Lardy. Houghton Harcourt. 2005. RTE $17. ISBN 978-0-618-39752-5; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-547-07636-2; ebook $7.99. ISBN 978-0-547-77317-9.
Gr 9 Up–Nelson’s powerful crown of sonnets eulogizes the black 14-year-old brutally lynched in Mississippi in 1955, applying changing perspective, allusions to famous poets, vivid imagery, and metaphor. The sophisticated poetry, expounded upon in the back matter, is accompanied by simple, symbolic artwork, creating a cohesively charged and moving experience.

PARTRIDGE, Elizabeth. Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don’t You Grow Weary. Viking. 2009. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01189-6; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-1-101-15097-9.
Gr 6 Up–From Bloody Sunday to the March on Montgomery, this nonfiction book presents the events of the summer of 1965 in Selma, Alabama, in a photo-journalistic story arc, complete with real-life teenage “characters” found through extensive interviews. Well-chosen, striking photographs contextualize the chronological retelling, supporting the real-life drama. Audio version available from Brilliance Audio.

SCATTERGOOD, Augusta. Glory Be. Scholastic. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-33180-7.
Gr 4-7–In 1964 when her small Mississippi town closes Glory’s beloved swimming pool to avoid integration, the naive white 11-year-old takes a stand. Glory’s story, focusing primarily on members of the white community, compares and contrasts the small actions and inactions of different characters.

TOUGAS, Shelley. Little Rock Girl 1957: How a Photograph Changed the Fight for Integration. (Captured History Series). Compass Point. 2012. PLB $33.99. ISBN 978-0-7565-4440-9; pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-0-7565-4512-3.
Gr 4-8–The focus here is the shocking photograph of 15-year-old Elizabeth Eckford being viciously jeered by a white peer as she and her fellow black students integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Tougas explains the context of the photograph and how the iconic image affected history.

WILLIAMS-GARCIA, Rita. One Crazy Summer. HarperCollins/Amistad. 2010. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-06-076088-5; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-06-076088-5; ebook $6.99. ISBN 978-0-06-196667-5.
Gr 5-9–Spending the summer of 1968 at a Black Panther summer camp is not what the three African American sisters of this novel intend when they visit their estranged mother in Oakland, California, but what they learn about racial identity and pride changes their lives forever. Audio version available from Recorded Books.

Portraits
Featured Faces

BRIMNER, Larry Dane. Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene “Bull” Connor. Boyds Mills/Calkins Creek. 2011. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-766-3.
Gr 6 Up–A fascinating photo-journalistic, two-person biography about the obstinate men who led black and white factions against each other in 1960s Birmingham, Alabama, not only showcases the important role played by the oft-overshadowed Rev. Fred L. Shuttleworth, but also reveals how extremist factions overrode the more moderate voices of other Birmingham residents.

HOOSE, Phillip. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. Farrar/Melanie Kroupa Bks. 2009. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-374-31322-7; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-312-66105-2; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-429-94821-0.
Gr 6 Up–Hoose’s slice of little-known history introduces readers to Claudette Colvin, the teenager who did exactly what Rosa Parks became so famous for nine months later. However, Colvin was marginalized by the very same famous adults (the NAACP, Dr. King, etc.) readers have been taught to revere. Guaranteed to spark a “That’s not fair!” response.

JEFFREY, Gary. Medgar Evers and the NAACP. illus. by Nick Spender. (A Graphic History of the Civil Rights Movement).Gareth Stevens. 2012. PLB $23.95. ISBN 978-1-4339-7495-3; pap. $8.15. ISBN 978-1-4339-7496-0; ebook $23.95. ISBN 978-1-4339-7498-4.
Gr 3-7–The richly colored, pamphlet-size graphic novels in this series are excellent fodder for reluctant readers. This old-fashioned dramatic comic-book retelling of the 1963 assassination of Mississippi Civil Rights leader Medgar Evers attributes a hero’s due to the man’s pride and perseverance. A brief textual preface and afterword frame the action.

NELSON, Vaunda Micheaux. No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller. illus. by R. Gregory Christie. Lerner/Carolrhoda LAB. 2012. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-6169-5; ebook $12.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-8727-5.
Gr 7 Up–The fascinating proprietor of Harlem’s National Memorial African Bookstore touched the lives of thousands of black Americans. This unique quasi-journalistic approach is comprised of faux memories from people Michaux affected, peppered with historical ephemera and Christie’s simple line ink drawings. Begs analysis of what makes a life well lived.

PINKNEY, Andrea Davis. Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America. illus. by Brian Pinkney.Hyperion/Disney. 2012. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-4257-7.
Gr 4 Up–In this compilation intended for sequential reading, Andrea Pinkney’s comfortable storytelling style showcases the intelligence, perseverance, and leadership of 10 black men from Benjamin Banneker through Barack Obama. A poem and a full-page lively facial portrait preface each fascinating biography; Brian Pinkney’s smaller, paint-washed scenes are also inset throughout.

STOKES, John A. with Lois Wolfe & Herman Viola. Students on Strike: Jim Crow, Civil Rights, Brown, and Me.National Geographic. 2008. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-4263-0153-7; PLB $23.90. ISBN 978-1-4263-0154-4.
Gr 5-9–In 1951, Stokes and other black students in Farmville, Virginia, organized against the city to request a high school building as nice as the one the white students attended. Reading Stokes’s chatty style is like hanging out with a guy who’s reminiscing about the accidentally remarkable things he did when he was young.

TEITELBAUM, Michael & Lewis Helfand. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Let Freedom Ring. illus. by Sankha Banerjee. (Campfire Graphic Novels Series). Campfire. Jan. 2013. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-93-80028-69-9
Gr 4-6–Drawn reproductions of iconic news photographs alternate with text boxes and imagined private moments as the biographers portray age-appropriate aspects of this very public figure’s life. A straightforward graphic-novel biography, each page rich with color, detail, and nicely balanced design.

Rhona Campbell is a teacher-librarian at Georgetown Day School in Washington, DC.