Librarians are often more comfortable working in the literacy classroom than manipulating mathematical data, but it may be statistics that prove to be our greatest ally. When the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were rolled out two years ago, they were packaged as content standards, and six instructional pedagogical shifts were identified. Those shifts called for additional attention to vocabulary, nonfiction materials, text complexity, literacy across content areas, increased curriculum rigor from kindergarten through high school, and a focus on producing evidence (versus opinion). By drawing conclusions from data extrapolated from the English Language Arts (ELA) CCSS, librarians can build a strong case for a seventh shift: research.

In the world of statistics, occurrence, or frequency, is often used to interpret results. Viewing the CCSS standards through a statistical lens as a body of data and assessing importance based upon word frequency produces results that support that case. Start by assuming that the ELA standards represent the intentions of the authors of the CCSS, and the objectives, learning targets, and pedagogy that they are asking educators to embrace. Investigate the language of the standards and examine the number of times certain words appear; you’ll notice that the term “research” appears 132 times, exceeding the mention of “vocabulary” (79) and “nonfiction” (64), and comes in close to “evidence” (155) and “complexity” (196). The word “information” (244) is used more often than all five, but behind “reading” (388).

Clearly, research is an essential component of the learning process in the CCSS classroom. In most schools, it’s the librarian who teaches the higher-level skills that equip students to access, evaluate, and synthesize information—information that they use to speak and write with accuracy and authority when they produce evidence and draw conclusions for discussions, debates, or written assignments.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, half of this generation’s students will earn their living from the creation, dissemination, analysis, and communication of information. Under the CCSS, students begin exploring multiple points of view and presentations in the elementary years; by sixth grade, they are “researching to build and present knowledge” and by seventh grade are expected to conduct “short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation.” These benchmarks broaden and expand until 12th grade, by which time students should be “college and career ready.”

In addition, the pedagogy of evidence—text-based answers and the close reading of text—is part of the research process. Approximately half of the Common Core writing standards acknowledge that research is part of the writing process (see, Writing for Information Standards 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10). In the introduction to the ELA standards, under “Key Design Consideration” is this strong indication of that role: “To be ready for college, workforce training, and life in a technological society, students need the ability to gather, comprehend, evaluate, synthesize, and report on information and ideas, to conduct original research in order to answer questions or solve problems, and to analyze and create a high volume and extensive range of print and nonprint texts in media forms old and new….”

Perception data (the court of public opinion) can be as powerful as concrete data. It’s time for library professionals to craft a national message regarding research—in the same way that the arts have implanted themselves into the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) movement in education, turning it into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, + Art/Design). Formally acknowledging a research shift underscores its function in “building and presenting knowledge” and adds weight to the librarian’s instrumental role within the CCSS.

The time has come to raise our megaphones and strut our stuff. This is an evidence-based claim. We have the data to support it.

Paige Jaeger (pjaeger@WSWHEBOBES.org) is coordinator for school library services, Washington Saratoga Warren Hamilton Essex BOCES, Saratoga Springs, NY.

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

Illustrations by Leslie Patricelli.

The icon means that a Spanish language edition is also available.

Board books are designed to survive the wear and tear of babies’ and toddlers’ inquisitive mouths and hands and offer a wonderful opportunity to share with a child snuggled on a caregiver’s lap. The best ones tell a simple story with few or no words, allowing readers to invent their own. Ideally, illustrations are crisp and clear, with limited images on each page, offering plenty of contrast between the background and the pictures. Occasionally, a picture book makes the successful transition to a board format, but be warned that not all picture books are equally engaging as board books. Too much text on the page is distracting and crowded, and the smaller trim size can make illustrations appear crammed on the page, losing detail and focus. The absolute best board books are the ones that withstand the test of time: not only in being indestructible, but also in holding young children’s interest as they explore and point to pictures, exclaiming, “again, again!” when reaching the last page. The following selections do just that.

Boynton, Sandra. Moo, Baa, La La La! illus. by author. 30th Anniversary Edition. S & S/Little Simon. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4424-5410-1. $7.99.
This classic board book, reissued in a slightly larger format, features cartoon illustrations and a rhyming text that are still as silly as ever to read aloud for a giggle.

Brown, James. Farm. illus. by author. Candlewick. 2013. ISBN 978-0-7636-5931-8. $6.99.
Cut-and-relief lino prints showcase six different animals in this nearly wordless text. The black-and-white images are set on colored backgrounds for visual interest, making this a good choice for older babies.

Christelow, Eileen. Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. illus. by author. Houghton Harcourt. 2012. ISBN 978-0-547-89691-5. $6.99.
The classic fingerplay comes to rollicking life in this adaptation of the picture book. The engaging cartoon art perfectly captures the antics of these exuberant chimps.

Dunrea,Olivier.Gossie. illus. by author. Houghton Harcourt. 2007. ISBN 978-0-618-74791-7. $6.95.
An endearing gosling loves to wear bright red boots. Every day. Rain or shine. What happens when they go missing? This title is a perfect example of a picture book making the successful transition to a board book.

Emberley, Rebecca. My Colors/Mis Colores. illus. by author. Little, Brown. 2000. ISBN 978-0-316-233477. $6.99.
In this bilingual concept book, each spread features simple objects on one side and the color on the other. The vividly hued collage illustrations will attract toddlers.

Flaptastic Colors. DK. 2009. ISBN 978-0-7566-5227-2. $6.99.
What color is the sun? The grass? This lift-the-flap board book features clear photographs of objects to answer each color question.

Fox, Mem. Time for Bed. illus. by Jane Dyer. Houghton Harcourt. 2010. ISBN 978-0-547-40856-9. $8.99.
This padded edition features a larger trim size, making it a better choice than the original, small board book. This version does justice to the beautiful watercolor illustrations of baby animals with their parents at bedtime.

Gravett, Emily. Orange Pear Apple Bear. illus. by author. S & S/Little Simon. 2011. ISBN 978-1-442-42003-8. $7.99.
A spare text (just five words) is cleverly rearranged on each page, and warm watercolors outlined in pen-and-ink will compel readers to look at this title again and again.

Henkes,Kevin.A Good Day. illus. by author. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 2010. ISBN 978-0-06-185778-2. $7.99.
Thick-lined, watercolor and ink illustrations face each page of large, brief text that explores in simple terms how a bad day can turn into a delightful one.

Hills, Tad. Duck & Goose Find a Pumpkin. illus. by author. Random/Schwartz & Wade. 2012. ISBN 978-0-307-98155-4. $10.99.
This charming, large board book tells the tale of Duck and Goose as they search for a pumpkin to call their own. Gorgeous oil paintings in autumnal hues invite readers into their world.

Hoban, Tana. Black on White. ISBN 978-0-688-11918-8.
––––. White on Black. ISBN 978-0-688-11919-5.
ea. vol: illus. by author. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 1993. $6.99.
These wordless titles feature high contrast, silhouetted images against white and black backgrounds. Perfect to share with newborns.

Horacek, Petr. Beep Beep. illus. by author. Candlewick. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7636-3482-7. $5.99.
A family takes a car ride to Grandma’s, depicted in sturdy die-cut pages and boldly colored illustrations. The text contains lots of fun action words to act out together while reading aloud.

Katz, Karen. Where Is Baby’s Belly Button?illus. by author. S & S/Little Simon. 2000. ISBN 978-0-689-83560-5. $5.99.
Lift-the-flap pages feature multicultural babies playing peek-a-boo with the narrator in this interactive book filled with vibrant colors and patterns.

Laden,Nina.Peek-a-Who? illus. by author. Chronicle. 2000. ISBN 978-0-8118-2602-0. $6.95.
Rhyming words and bright colors lead toddlers on a peek-a-boo hunt on pages that sport cutout sections, allowing them to preview the next object.

Light, Steve. Trains Go. illus. by author. Chronicle. 2012. ISBN 978-0-8118-7942-2. $9.99.
Rich watercolors and an energetic text spotlight eight noisy train cars and their unique sounds. This is a new classic for train lovers.

Martin,Bill, Jr.Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?illus. by Eric Carle. Holt. 1996. ISBN 978-0-805-04790-5. $7.95.
The beloved classic has made an excellent transition to a board-book format that can withstand seemingly endless readings and page turns.

Melling, David. Splish, Splash, Splosh! illus. by author. Tiger Tales. 2013. ISBN 978-1-58925-643-9. $8.95.
In this simple counting book, 10 adorable ducklings line up, ready to take a dip in the swimming pool.

Murphy,Mary.I Kissed the Baby! illus. by author. Candlewick. 2004. ISBN 978-0-7636-2443-9. $6.99.
Another picture book turned successful board book. Black-and-white illustrations offer plenty of contrast to a variety of animals that have fed, sung, tickled, and kissed the baby, with a bright yellow duckling at the end of this sweet story.

Murphy, Mary. Quick Duck! illus. by author. Candlewick. 2013. ISBN 978-0-7636-6022-2. $6.99.
Little Duck hurries and scampers out of the mud, down the hill, and through the reeds–but where is he going? Shown in bright yellow, he pops off the white backgrounds, making it easy for young readers to follow along with his escapades.

Opie, Iona. Humpty Dumpty and Other Rhymes. illus. by Rosemary Wells. Candlewick. 2001. ISBN 978-076-3616-281. $4.99.
These eight beloved nursery rhymes, illustrated in Wells’s signature style, are a satisfying introduction to Mother Goose.

Patricelli, Leslie. Higher! Higher! illus. by author. Candlewick. 2010. ISBN 978-0-7636-4433-8. $6.99.
A little girl being pushed on a swing by her father urges him, “Higher! Higher!” With each turn of the page, she travels higher still, until she reaches the edge of space for a high five with an alien-child also sitting on a swing, no doubt urging his own parent to push him “Higher! Higher!” When she slows down and stops, the child turns to her father with delight, uttering a new word: “Again!” Bright acrylic paintings anchor the spreads.

Rathmann, Peggy. Good Night, Gorilla. illus. by author. Putnam. 1996. ISBN 978-0-399-23003-5. $7.99.
This nearly wordless title follows the zookeeper through his nightly walk of saying good night to all the animals–while unbeknownst to him, the gorilla has swiped his key and is unlocking the cages behind him, allowing a parade of animals to follow him home to bed.

Strickland, Paul & Henrietta Strickland. Dinosaur Roar! illus. by authors. Dutton. 1997. ISBN 978-0525-458-340. $7.99.
“Dinosaur roar,/dinosaur squeak,/dinosaur fierce,/dinosaur meek.” A rollicking and rhyming text featuring playfully colorful dinosaurs introduces the concept of opposites in this silly story.

Sutton, Sally. Roadwork. illus. by Brian Lovelock. Candlewick. 2011. ISBN 978-076-3646-530. $6.99.
Trucks and big machines are the main attractions of this noisy book that features a lot of action-based words that jump off the page, begging young readers to shout them out. Multicolored ink drawings are a perfect match for the text.

Wilson, Karma. Baby Cakes. illus. by Sam Williams. S & S/Little Simon. 2006. ISBN 978-1-416-90289-8. $7.99.
Diverse babies snuggle the same teddy bear throughout and get lots of hugs, smooches, tickles, and love in this beautiful, interactive rhyme perfect for bedtime sharing. The pastel-hued illustrations are irresistible.

Yoon, Salina. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe: A Counting Nursery Rhyme.illus. by author. Random/Corey. 2011. ISBN 978-0-375-86479-7. $6.99.
This counting book offers an updated look at a classic nursery rhyme, set among the vibrant colors of a big-top circus tent. Die-cut windows create visual interest and offer a preview of the following spread as images transform from one object to the next.

Lisa G. Kropp is the youth services coordinator at the Suffolk Cooperative Library System in Bellport, NY.

Photograph by Rebecca T. Miller

“The most exciting time for a kindergarten teacher is when a kid looks up and says, ‘Hey, I can read!’” This is my favorite line from a conversation between two educators at the daylong “Fostering Lifelong Learners” event held April 25 at the Cambridge (MA) Public Library. The speaker, Jim St. Claire, a 39-year veteran of the classroom, teaches at the Amigos School in Cambridge, a dual-language immersion program. His counterpart on the stage was Anne Mackay; with 13 years under her belt, she’s a lower school reading specialist at nearby Buckingham Browne & Nichols School. The two shared many insights to apply in working with babies and toddlers.

The day itself was structured to reflect the partnerships needed to give wee ones and their caregivers what they need to arrive at that “aha!” moment. It was organized by SLJ’s sister publication, The Horn Book, in collaboration with the Cambridge Public Library, and Reach Out and Read, a nonprofit that integrates early literacy training into pediatric examinations. The goal of the event, sponsored by Penguin, DK, Junior Library Guild, and Charlesbridge, was to foster early learning—be it in the library, the doctor’s office, at daycare, or at home.

Mackay, for her part, noted the need to build the ability to hear the sounds in words—calling that the “biggest predictor of reading later in life.” She also stressed teaching early print concepts, comprehension of plot, and the development of writing skills. “Encourage parents to get rid of markers,” she said. Instead, use chalk, on the blackboard or sidewalk, as it gives “a ton of feedback” and “really works fine motor skills.”

Technology, too, has its place. “Kids can get a sense of mastery if they know more than the teacher,” said St. Claire, “but we have to be aware of the kids who don’t have tech.” Mackay acknowledged that the digital age has changed many things, not all for the worse, adding, “there are lots of good apps.”

Meanwhile, we at SLJ were developing this special issue dedicated to early learning. I was excited to see so many of the themes of the Lifelong Learners event dovetail with what we were planning. From the essential tastiness of board books (“Built to Last,” p. 28) and the tactile pleasure of play at Brooklyn Public Library (“Read, Play, Grow,” p. 24) to the thoughtful development of apps at Sesame Workshop (“The Early Bird,” p. 18), may the ideas presented here inspire you toward achieving your own “aha” moment in your work with the youngest among us.

SLJ’s new look

Print readers will see a few changes in the magazine this month. They derived, in part, from our migration to the K4 cross-media publishing platform and WordPress content management system. This issue was produced via K4, which will enable us to be more nimble across print, e-newsletters, and the Web.

A migration like this inspires an evaluation of what we do, where, and why. For SLJ, it meant a reconsideration of aspects of the all-important reviews section. A small fix: book titles are enhanced to be more readable. A pragmatic but difficult decision: we will no longer produce the review index, which had appeared in each issue. We recognize the value of this index, especially to researchers, but now offer the BookVerdict database of reviews to subscribers as an alternate way to find SLJ reviews. A vast improvement: fiction and nonfiction now have their own sections, with more specific grade-level groupings.

Faced with creating new templates, our creative director, Mark Tuchman, seized the opportunity to update the look and feel of the magazine with new colors and tweaks to the layouts of everything from the contributors’ page to the stars page. We hope you approve.

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

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

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

Board Books

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Picture Books

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

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

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

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

Song and Nursery Rhyme Books

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

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

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

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

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

A children’s librarian in a small public library, I announced a monthlong storytelling festival for school-age children. A parent of a third grader complained that the program involves fairy tales. I’m worried that the library director will ask me to pull the program. What should I do?

One parent shouldn’t be allowed to dictate a program. I suggest that you try to reason with her about the value of fairy tales. If she insists that her daughter isn’t to take part, then that is her choice. Let the director know that fairy tales are a large part of the oral tradition, and that no one else has complained. It should be treated in the same way as a book challenge. A formal complaint process solves the issue most of the time.

I’m an elementary school librarian and have once again been hit with a challenge to the “Junie B. Jones” series. The specific complaint is “disorderly conduct” and the grammar in the books. I’m tired of the challenges. I fear that I’m about to cave.

Do not cave! The purpose of a library is to serve all students. This doesn’t mean that everything in the collection satisfies every child or every parent. The way to solve the problem isn’t to remove the books, but to help children see that the “disorderly conduct” and the “bad grammar” define the character of Junie B. Jones—and contribute to the humor. Turn the discussion into an English lesson by asking them to correct the grammar. Children read these books to be entertained and don’t necessarily emulate the character. Trust their intelligence.

Students in a sophomore English class in my school were asked to write an original short story. One student used a lot of profanity in his. The teacher thinks the language is inappropriate and is afraid that she may get in trouble with the principal. She wants to fail the student. I told her that would be a mistake. What should we do?

If she didn’t specify that students weren’t allowed to use profanity in their stories, then she doesn’t have ground to stand on. Please advise the teacher to judge and grade the story on its merit, and not on issues of language. Are the stories for publication, a contest, to be read aloud in class? If not, then why is she afraid that the principal will question the assignment? She will create a larger problem if she reprimands the student.

I had no problems withThe Hunger Games in my middle school library until the movie was released. A parent who hasn’t read the book took her son to see the movie and she was bothered by the content. She called me because she doesn’t think the book should be in a middle school library. She added that neither the movie nor the book disturb, her son, and that makes her nervous. Help!

Tell her that the book is appropriate for middle school students, and that it was selected for the library based on reviews. Share the reviews with her and ask her to consider reading the book. Encourage her to discuss it with her son and ask him to reflect on its powerful themes. Sometimes conversation solves a disagreement. She needs to understand that she can guide what her son reads, but she doesn’t have the right to guide what other children read. Let the complaint go through a formal process if the mother isn’t satisfied.

I have seen a recent push by the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) to report any challenge to library materials. I’ve been afraid to let ALA know when there has been a challenge in my library. Why is reporting so important?

Don’t be afraid. The ALA OIF is there to help you. The information that is reported is kept confidential unless the person filing the complaint wishes for it to go public. ALA uses the data to help guide other libraries in the nation with similar cases. In addition, the data is used in determining the most challenged materials in a given year. It is especially helpful when the office knows the resolution to a case.

We think of today’s youth as constantly connected. Smartphones serve as extra appendages, and the coolness factor goes up for whoever discovers the latest mobile app first.

More than ever, education is contingent upon Internet access. No problem, because today’s teens are digital natives, right? Wrong. Even if they are, not all have Internet access at home. How are teens who rely on library services being affected by public library budget cuts?

Recent data shows that students are usually compiling bibliographies, outlining papers, and synthesizing research between 8 and 10 p.m. during the school week. In other words, students tend to work when most libraries are closed.

How do they compensate? According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, many students are using free WiFi at McDonald’s restaurants to do schoolwork. There are almost as many WiFi access points in McDonald’s (12,000) as there are in public libraries (15,000) in the United States.

This trend is potentially detrimental to students. Obviously, if they have questions, a librarian isn’t available to help. We won’t even discuss the other negative impacts of spending hours at a fast food restaurant.

Defining the gap

We work as information literacy librarians and content developers for EasyBib, an online citation and research tool, and its new platform, ResearchReady. We estimate that our user base represents about 50 percent of the U.S. student population. Our research confirms what news outlets already report: There is a gap between when students need libraries and when libraries are open.

According to a 2010 Pew Internet study, one third of American households with an annual income under $30,000 did not have an Internet broadband connection at home. At the same time, many public libraries facing massive budget cuts reduced their hours when neighborhoods needed them most. Particularly in urban areas, community needs have shifted dramatically since the economic downturn, and more people rely on library resources. Additionally, many rural libraries are often closed before students even get out of school.

The Arkoma Public Library in rural Oklahoma, for example, was the source of over 1,500 visits to EasyBib during the 2011–2012 school year. But the library often closes between the hours of 5 and 7 p.m. By contrast, Seattle Public Library patrons made approximately 1,000 visits to EasyBib during the 2011–2012 school year. During the week of June 10–16, when EasyBib usage was at its peak there, Seattle libraries were in operation until 8 p.m.—pretty decent in terms of open hours. Nonetheless, neither setting could help students during their prime research hours of 8 to 10 p.m.

What are the trade-offs?

One could argue that this issue could be resolved by keeping the library open later. Given the costs of running a library, this is easier said than done. Keeping the lights on, paying staff, and running computers for two more hours every day adds up quickly—but it might be worth it to serve this key constituency better. Libraries face the difficult choice of weighing the costs against the benefits of staying open to serve a small but critical group of patrons. What are the trade-offs?

Finding a way to keep library doors open isn’t always easy. We urge local governments, libraries, and communities to consider all students and their research needs when proposing budgets and closing hours.

Emily Gover and Caity Selleck are information literacy librarians and content developers for EasyBib and its new platform, ResearchReady. Emily received her MSIS from the University at Albany and is a former academic librarian at Berry College in Georgia. Caity received her MLIS from Queens College and has worked at the Queens Public Library and the New York Transit Museum.

All photographs ©Philip Greenberg/Courtesy of Brooklyn Public Library.

 At one of his toddler programs at the Bay Ridge Library in Brooklyn, Chris Lassen covers a table with contact paper, sticky side up. Parents and caregivers look at him skeptically when he tells them what he had done, but the kids know exactly what to do. Little hands reach out and touch the table over and over again to feel this new sensation. In the process, brain cells are connected and the little ones hear and learn a new word: “sticky.”

Across the country at a library in Fort Vancouver, WA, Kendra Jones tapes zip-closure bags to her windows with two colors of paint inside. Toddlers squish and scribble the paint to enjoy “no-mess finger painting.” Through this tactile play experience, their fingers develop fine motor control and they begin to learn the science and art of color mixing. Kendra reports on her blog that both parents and children are quite chatty as they mush and mix.

Both of these library activities are prime examples of play driving language development and early literacy. Early childhood research has always highlighted the many benefits of play. The expanded and updated toolkit Every Child Ready to Read (ALSC/PLA, 2011, 2nd. ed.) features play as one of the five key early literacy practices parents should engage in with their children to promote reading readiness. A University of Iowa study reports that 18 month olds who play with diversely shaped objects learn new words twice as fast as those who play with more similarly shaped objects. A recent study of 1 to 2 year olds finds that those who play with blocks with their parents for just 20 minutes a day score 15 percent higher on language development tests and are 80 percent less likely to watch television. The research touting the benefits of play goes on and on.

The play gap

Studies notwithstanding, many parents are mystified as to how to play with a very young child, particularly one who is still gaining language. What do you say to a baby who can only babble? What do you do with an active toddler on a cold and rainy day when going to the playground is impossible? (I know, I’ve been there.) In the 2010 Play Report, a global survey of older children and their parents initiated by IKEA, 45 percent of parents said that they don’t have enough time to play with their children. Even when parents do find the time to play, 26 percent said that they are “too stressed to enjoy it.”
We also surveyed parents and caregivers at Brooklyn Public Library about their challenges playing with their children, and many mentioned struggling with how to engage a baby or toddler with a short attention span.

Even more troubling, research has also shown that low-income parents engage less in literacy-rich experiences than their wealthier peers. The landmark Risley & Hart study (Meaningful Differences in the Everyday Experience of Young American Children, P. H. Brookes, 1995) notes that, by the time children are three, those from educated and high-income homes have heard 33 million words and their low income counterparts have heard only 10 million. The disparity in the amount of talk between babies and parents of different income levels and education backgrounds is enormous, adding up to massive advantages or disadvantages for children in language experience long before they start preschool. The study finds that the more parents talked to children, the more their langague use increased, utilizing a richer vocabulary with more positive affirmations. When parents sit down to play and talk with their children they draw out babble and burgeoning language from babies and toddlers.

All parents want what is best for their children, and many often think that a very young child’s activities must take a school-like approach. In the race to learn more and more, earlier and earlier, some parents turn to packaged programs for babies and toddlers that incorporate developmentally dubious flash cards and video, such as Baby Einstein or Your Baby Can Read. Many parents have not heard that play is itself a rich and unparalleled learning activity. A child stacking blocks is developing math skills. When babies pull books off the shelves, they are experimenting with gravity and figuring out the properties of books (much to a shelver’s chagrin). Trips to the sandbox and bathtime water play are all early science experiments.

Enter Read, Play, Grow

Connecting the dots for parents between play, language development, and early learning has been the driving force behind First Five Years programs at Brooklyn Public Library. Since 2009—with special grant funding and some help from the staff of New York City’s Infant Toddler Technical Resource Center—we have been creating an in-house curriculum of simple, easy-to-replicate play activities for babies and toddlers dubbed “Read, Play, Grow.” Our recipes for play are deliberately simple. Blocks are made out of cereal boxes. Play dough is edible. Peek-a-boo magic tricks can be performed with a scarf stuffed into a paper towel tube. We aim to show parents and caregivers how simple play can be for little ones and how easy it is to make it happen with everyday materials.

Read, Play, Grow activities are also designed to be easy to incorporate into existing baby and toddler programs. After storytime, librarians set up one to three play “stations” constructed from simple household materials. Parents and caregivers have ample time to interact with and observe their children in the act of playing and learning. Each station has a sign that explains the activity, and we offer tips for things to say to encourage early literacy development along with safety warnings, where warranted.

With these tips, we hope that we’re helping grown-ups to engage with their children. Recent research in early literacy has noted that parents who are supportive and responsive to their children’s chatter and other first attempts at language have children who perform better on early language assessments. It is also important for staff to model these interactions with children. When parents and caregivers see library staff or other adults get on the floor to play and talk with a child, they see first-hand how to engage with a child. From my experience, this kind of direct observation speaks louder than a million parenting workshops.

Talking with a baby or toddler during playtime can sometimes feel awkward, particularly when a child is not talking back. That is precisely why parents should see these interactions modeled. Here is a composite transcript of one exchange that occurred in our library programs during which an 18-month-old boy is stacking blocks made out of cereal boxes:

Librarian:“I like how you’re stacking the blocks.”

Child looks at librarian for a few seconds and puts another block on top.

Librarian: “You put another block on top of the blocks. You’ve got a tall tower! Are you going to knock it down?”

Child looks at the librarian and then back at the tower and knocks it down with a smile.

Librarian: “Boom, boom, boom! You did it! You knocked down the tower!”

While the child said nothing, he was obviously taking everything in and understanding what the librarian said. The librarian put his experience into words and modeled to the parent things to say while playing at home.

Getting hands-on

While we love to show parents how they can make blocks out of cereal boxes, we also show them how they can check out blocks from the library—board book blocks. Parents sometimes look a bit dubious when we suggest playing with library materials, but it gives them permission to loosen up. We line the books up as dominoes or stack them into a tower. Usually a toddler will wander over and knock it over or start a domino rally going to complete the demonstration.

Another favorite activity for babies: tape tactile elements to the floor to create a sensory crawl zone. We have used bubble wrap, foam, textured bath mats, quilts, and pot holders. Visual elements also work well, such as black-and-white patterned bath towels or shiny paper. Little sitters and crawlers get to take in some new sensations as they explore, while staff and parents are talking to them about things that are “bumpy,” “smooth,” “soft,” or “rough.”

Many librarians want to create a program that results in something toddlers can take home. While the goal of giving the child a product based on a theme is laudable (I did this early in my career), all too often, the parents and caregivers complete the paper plate fish that requires motor skills that the toddler does not yet have. Young children are still getting the feel of what a paper plate is and what it does, and are not yet ready to make it into a fish. This is why we have incorporated open-ended collage, process-based activities into our toddler programs. Sensory collage is one of my favorites. We give children a variety of things to glue to their papers, such as textured papers, cotton balls, burlap, and bubble wrap. Children get to explore these materials. They may never stick them down on their paper, and that is just fine.

The playdate, multiplied

For the past three years, our Central Library has hosted the annual Big Brooklyn Playdate. Each time, over 100 babies and toddlers (and their parents or caregivers) have come out to play. Brooklyn Public Library staffers transform the Dweck Center—usually the site of gallery exhibits—into a baby and toddler play space with various “play stations” around the room that parents, caregivers, and young children can explore together. Again, we place signs near activities to give parents tips of things to say and ways to interact. For the first time this year, we borrowed an idea from the Parent-Child Workshop playbook and invited “roving experts” (child development experts, a pediatric physical therapist, and a child sleep expert) to our event to be on hand to answer questions from parents.

The head of our mail room at the Central Library always knows when the Big Brooklyn Playdate is coming because we ask her for her largest cardboard box. We cut a variety of shaped holes and doors in it. Sometimes we give kids crayons or sidewalk chalk to decorate it with, but they are usually so engrossed in crawling in and peeking out of the box that this is unnecessary. Lots of language happens in and out of the box, with squeals and giggles offering delightful punctuation.

The surprise hit of the Playdate is an activity we call the “The Un-Sand Box.” It is two large tubs filled with shredded paper from our office shredder. Who knew recycled documents could be so much fun? The kids love throwing, tossing, and scrunching the “snow” as many of them like to call it. Of course, the paper does go everywhere, but it cleans up easily enough with a push broom. The very first time we tried this, we hid small toys in the paper for the children to find, but we quickly learned it was pointless. The shredded paper was the thing.

The annual Big Brooklyn Playdate is the biggest event we do for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers at library. The feedback is that everyone wants us to do it again every week. We publicize it on several local mommy blogs and family websites, bringing in families with young children who have never been to the library before. Outreach efforts to local early childhood organizations also hook up a group of teen moms from a local high school.

Two years into Read, Play, Grow programs and after the first Big Brooklyn Playdate, we surveyed parents and caregivers about the program’s effectiveness. A full 74 percent of respondents reported gaining new ideas to use with their children and 44 percent said they use Read, Play, Grow activities at home.

Come out to play

With President Obama calling for more funding for early childhood education and a New York Times article from 2011 reporting high-powered Manhattan parents attending block-building workshops, it seems that the educational pendulum is once again swinging back to embracing the value of play. While it comes naturally to children, some of us grown-ups need help—and even permission—to get down on the floor and stack blocks, squeeze dough, and make a mess.

Brooklyn Public Library’s programs are just a few of the playful activities going on at libraries throughout the country. From play installations that would rival most children’s museums to in-house-developed play activities using materials rescued from the recycling bin, ours is just one of the many libraries putting play front and center.

Has your library come out to play?

Rachel G. Payne is the coordinator of early childhood services at Brooklyn Public Library. She has reviewed children’s books for SLJ and Kirkus, served on the Caldecott Award Committee, and presented on early literacy at conferences nationwide.

For students who love to write, composing blog entries is a natural—and effective—way to share their stories and ideas with a wider audience. Reluctant writers can have great ideas, too—they just don’t want to write them down. Fortunately, there’s more than one way to tell a story. Here, we’ll examine some excellent video and audio tools and how they can be used to help students craft dynamic content for classroom blogs.

Edited video with SOund

Free tool Wideo.co lets you make short, animated videos in your Web browser. Simply choose from the provided digital cut-outs and drag and drop them onto a canvas to illustrate your video. After arranging the scenes, upload an audio recording to your project—pre-recorded music, a spoken track, or something else.

Students can make their own audio recordings using SoundCloud. Available on the Web and in mobile versions for Android and iOS, SoundCloud includes simple editing tools that remove dead air at the beginning and end of a file. Finished recordings can be saved to a SoundCloud account online, where you can grab an embed code to insert the recording into a blog post.

SoundCloud apps come in handy for a variety of projects. Kids can capture interviews, for example, using the app on their devices. Or they can record classroom presentations or student debates. SoundCloud recordings are downloadable, so the application is ideal for creating those voice-overs for Wideo projects.

Audio slideshows

Animoto is of the best-known tools for making audio slideshows and has long been a classroom favorite. That’s because students quickly create great-looking videos with it. You can make Animoto videos in a Web browser, or on Android and IOS devices. My students have used Animoto to showcase research projects, and the mobile apps are great for highlighting favorite parts of a field trip. All Animoto projects can be embedded into blog posts.

Narrable (pictured above), launched earlier this year, is another audio slideshow application. It’s different from Animoto and here’s how. After your pictures are uploaded in Narrable, you can record narration for each image through your computer’s microphone, or by calling a Narrable access phone number. You can also upload an audio recording stored on your computer. Narrable projects can be shared via email or Facebook, or embedded into a blog.

Unedited video

Editing video is an important exercise, but don’t overlook the value of raw clips. Give a prompt to your students and they can quickly share their thoughts through informal video capture. One I often use is “share your high and low experience from class this week.” In this kind of exercise, the production quality isn’t important. Getting students to express their ideas is what matters.

They can do just that by recording quick YouTube videos using the webcams in their laptops. YouTube apps for Android and iOS enable students to record and post clips on the fly. They can grab the embed codes from YouTube and post the videos on a classroom blog.

This fall, think beyond writing—and give these alternative blogging methods a try.

Narrable | screencast tutorial from School Library Journal on Vimeo.

SoundCloud | screencast tutorial from School Library Journal on Vimeo.

Sha Doo Be Doop (AV Cafe)

Les Miserables. DVD. approx. 3 hrs. Entertainment One Home Video. 2013. ISBN unavail. $19.98.
Gr 6 Up–In this made-for-TV adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic story, ex-criminal Jean Valjean seeks a better life for himself, but his efforts are dogged by the relentless Inspector Javert. With the young orphan Cosette at his side, Valjean flees to Paris where, years later, civil unrest divides the city. Amidst the turmoil, Cosette meets and falls in love with the young noble Marius, Valjean’s true identity is revealed, and Javert is faced with an ideological dilemma that ultimately leads to his demise. In the end, Valjean proves to be the man he has always wanted to become. Gerard Depardieu brings Valjean to life with an intensity and fierceness that closely resembles the character Hugo created. Depardieu expresses his character’s inner struggles with passion, depicting Valjean’s quest for redemption with conviction. John Malkovich’s Javert oozes sinister intent and embodies the man’s obsessive desire to destroy Valjean with single-minded ferocity. When the two actors share the screen, their chemistry is palpable, thanks to writer Didier Decoin, whose screenplay retains the novel’s dynamic characters and moral ambiguities. The movie’s pacing and the strong supporting cast round out a superb production. Both fans of the novel and those new to the story will not be disappointed.–Audrey Sumser, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Mayfield, OH

Amazing Science! Volume 1. 2 DVDs. 4 hrs. Prod. by ScienceAndMath.com. Dist. by AV Café. 2012. ISBN unavail. $19.95.
K-Gr 8–Twenty-three fascinating experiments conducted by former NASA rocket scientist, Jason Gibson, are demonstrated in a simple, easy-to-understand manner. For each one, viewers are given a materials list, step-by-step instructions complete with live-action demonstrations and explanations on how to conduct the activity, what results to expect, and the science behind it. Common household items are used, requiring little advanced preparation. Each experiment can be accessed individually, allowing selection according to curriculum needs. Once it has been completed, Gibson provides the scientific explanation for the reactions in basic terms. Among the exciting experiments are: Color Changing Milk, Exploring Air Pressure, Lemon Battery, Unburnable Money, Matchstick Speedboat, Balloon in a Candle Flame, Simple Lava Lamp, Soda Can Fizz, and Build a Motor. This incredible resource provides simple-to-understand and easy-to-perform science activities that are a must-have for all elementary and middle school collections, public libraries, and home schoolers.–Linda M. Teel, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

YERT: Your Environmental Road Trip. DVD. 1:53 hrs. Prod. by Media Changing Media. Dist. by First Run Features. 2012. ISBN unavail. $24.95.
Gr 8 Up–Three friends take off in a hybrid car to tour America in order to discover how we are saving or destroying our planet. In short segments filled with interviews, music, and often stunning scenery, the trio finds innovative green technologies and lifestyles that are being implemented across the nation. They travel to 50 states over the course of a year, and their experiences include visiting a living roof in Chicago, a mud home in Nebraska, homes and other structures built with all types of recycled materials in New Mexico, wind farms in Texas, a project in New Jersey where packaging materials are made from garbage, and more. They interview many well-known and ordinary citizens who are working to save the planet and seeking to live green. Pertinent environmental problems and issues are also studied, including water usage, oil drilling, wetlands, rising sea levels, fossil fuel dependence, and sustainability in all aspects of our daily lives. One of the most moving segments occurs during the team’s visit in West Virginia with Larry Gibson, a well-known leader in the fight against mountaintop removal mining. Everywhere there are questions and viewers are asked, “How are we going to do it?” “How are we going to save the planet?” Filled with hope and humor, this production demonstrates that we can create solutions through community and individual efforts. Classes across the curriculum can utilize this program.–Patricia Ann Owens, formerly Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, Mt. Carmel, IL

The Central Park Five.DVD. 2hrs. PBS Dist. 2013. ISBN 978-1-60883.854-7. $24.99.
Gr 9 Up–Filmmaker Ken Burns turns his well-documented talents to a more contemporary topic: the beating and rape of a white woman in New York’s Central Park during racial and class strife in the late 1980s. The news media applied incredible pressure on the city’s embattled police force to solve the crime which resulted in charges made against five Hispanic and black young men who were in the park that night. After each served prison sentences for the crime despite only meager circumstantial evidence and coerced confessions, another man’s admission of guilt was supported by evidence. This moving documentary of what came to be called “The Central Park Jogger Case” tells the story from the perspective of the five men with a rich mix of archival video and personal commentary from all those involved—public officials, media professionals, attorneys, and historians. This thorough review, typical of Burns’s celebrated style, makes an historical event understandable and relevant. Particularly effective are the commentaries by four of the five victims of what was generally considered to have been society’s compulsion for quick “justice” at the time and its resultant effect on racial relations nationwide. Some street language is used, but it is hardly offensive and fits naturally into the speakers’ milieu. The options of chapter selection as well as English and Spanish subtitles enhance the value of this resource for both classroom and library settings.–Dwain Thomas, formerly Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL

Code Name Verity.By Elizabeth Wein. 9 CDs. 10 hrs. Prod. by Bolinda Audio. Dist. by Brilliance Audio. 2013. ISBN 978-1-7428-5764-0. $59.97.
Gr 9 Up–Wein’s award-winning novel (Hyperion, 2012) is a brilliant story of two young women during World War II who are brought together to support the British RAF. Though from opposite stations in life, Maddie and Queenie (Verity) are both brash, confident, and beautiful, and their friendship is heartfelt. The story unfolds gracefully through written confessions of one of the women who was captured by Nazis after their plane went down in France. The friends are separated after this tragedy, and they (and listeners) are left to wonder if both of them have survived. The prisoner’s testimony is crafted to confess the truth, while misleading her Nazi interrogators. At times details about airplanes, mechanics, incendiaries, and such leave listeners feeling woefully inadequate. Graphic accounts of torture and death are put forth in explicit detail. Wein is a master at recounting both horrible events and the emotional subtleties which define the lives of these two heroines. Narration by Morven Christie and Lucy Gaskell is superb, especially with Scottish, British, French, German, and English so beautifully spoken. An excellent choice for thoughtful, mature listeners.–Robin Levin, U.S. Holocaust Museum Teacher/Fellow

Fox Forever.By Mary E. Pearson. 8 CDs. 9:29 hrs. Macmillan Audio. 2013. ISBN 978-1-4272-1517-8. $39.99.
Gr 9 Up– In the thrilling and brilliant conclusion (Holt, 2013) to Pearson’s Jenna Fox Chronicles, Locke Jenkins has finally been able to escape the malicious Dr. Gatsbro with the aide of the Network. He heads for Boston to repay the Favor owed for their assistance. Locke wants nothing more than to complete his task so that he can return to Jenna Fox in California and have the chance to be with the girl that he’s loved for almost 300 years. What Locke finds in Boston, though, causes him to question his feelings and his ideals. Locke’s task is to retrieve the leader of the Resistance, Karden, a man thought to have been dead for the last 16 years. To do so, Locke must win over the teenage daughter of the government official holding Karden captive. Drawn deep into the struggle between the corrupt government and the Network, Locke finds himself defining who he wants to be in the hundreds of years he may have left to live, and who he believes should be beside him as he goes into the future. Matthew Brown’s even tones and deliberate pacing brilliantly capture Locke as he moves through Pearson’s explorations into morality, societal relationships, government control, and what truly defines humanity. The final events of the book not only give listeners the end of Locke’s story, but also bring an emotionally satisfying conclusion to Jenna’s tale. For all library collections circulating the first two titles.–Jessica Miller, West Springfield Public Library, MA

Mojo.By Tim Tharp. 7 CDs. 8:09 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2013. ISBN 978-0-385-36367-9. $40.
Gr 9 Up–Dylan is a husky high school junior with a craving for burgers, a penchant for retro T-shirts, and a dream of owning a ’69 Mustang and pursuing a career in journalism. But a lack of respect at school and a run-in with a corpse in a dumpster lead him to determine that what he really needs is mojo. When he hears about a missing girl from an elite high school across town, he sees the perfect opportunity to track her down and gain some notoriety. His pseudo-detective gig leads him to an organization called Gangland where he becomes involved with upper-crust society and a way of life he had previously never even dreamed of. Serious themes such as anti-bullying and gay rights are skillfully woven into the story with edgy humor. Jessie Bernstein’s narration of Tharp’s story (Knopf, 2013) is stellar, and his amusing and distinct character voices add to the tale’s humor. Wildly careening plot twists, fabulous characters, and madcap antics all add up to some serious mojo. Alcohol and drug use, swearing, lesbian relationships, strippers, and more combine to make this choice most appropriate for high school students.–Lisa Hubler, Charles F. Brush High School, Lyndhurst, OH

Requiem: Delirium, Book 3.By Lauren Oliver.8 CDs. 10:10 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2013. ISBN 978-0-385-36141-5. $65.
Gr 9 Up –Oliver’s final novel (HarperCollins, 2013) in the “Delirium” trilogy uses alternating chapters— Lena and Hana—to run parallel story lines between opposite worlds until the two literally collide in a brilliantly crafted ending. In 21 days, Hana, Lena’s childhood best friend, is to marry Fred Hargrove, a secretive, sadistic man whose political platform to restore order got him elected mayor. Hana harbors a dark secret of deceit and betrayal. Three days have passed since Lena, Julian, and a renegade band of Invalids escaped the regulators (and certain death) and returned to the Wilds, which is no longer a safe haven since Hargrove’s election. The unexpected reappearance of Alex, who Lena never stopped loving, muddles her feelings for Julian in this complicated love triangle. Determined in their quest to change the future, they join the Resistance. Sarah Drew’s narration is fantastic, vividly capturing every human emotion: venomous hatred, whooping joy, flattened resignation, gut-wrenching loss, and wistful love. This harrowing tale of love in all its forms—especially the love of freedom of choice, be it right or wrong—is a riveting page-turner. Oliver saved the best for last–Cheryl Preisendorfer, Twinsburg City Schools, OH


Scowler. By Daniel Kraus. 9 CDs. 11:15 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2013. ISBN 978-0-385-36837-7. $45.
Gr 10 Up–It’s the summer of 1981 and 19-year-old Ry Burke, along with his mother and younger sister, are preparing to leave the failing family farm in Kraus’s thriller (Delacorte, 2013). It has been nine years since Ry’s abusive father was sent to prison after committing horrific acts, culminating with a 16-hour chase through the forest in pursuit of his son. Ry survived the ordeal with the help of three toys turned imaginary friends: a teddy bear called Mr. Furrington, a bendy figure of Jesus Christ, and a frightening piece of folk art dubbed Scowler. Back in the present, an approaching meteor shower will have unimaginable consequences for the family, and Ry will once again call upon his protectors as his father returns to exact his revenge. Listeners are treated to a stellar performance by Kirby Heyborne, whose pacing is impressive. He has an incredible ability to convey so much about a character through his choice of voice: the rough speech of Marvin with his cringe-inducing unmelodious humming; the high-pitched and appropriately clichéd British accent for Mr. Furrington; the soft, gentle tone of Jesus Christ; and the garbled nonsensical sounds of Scowler. In the end, what truly stands out is his nuanced portrayal of Ry, whose deteriorating mental state is at the heart of this harrowing, disturbing, and yet completely absorbing story.–Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL

Sha Doo Be Doop.Performed by Miss Nina. CD. 33 min. Little Monster Records. 2013. ISBN unavail. $15.98.
PreS-Gr 1–Singer/songwriter Nina Stone hits all the right notes with her second album. Her voice is strong and clear, and each song is delightful, whether it is putting a new spin on the alphabet, touting the joys of the hula hoop, or providing instructions on how to wash your hands. Songs based on the books How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight by Jane Yolen and Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. will have children clamoring for the stories, as will the song “Wild Things” which is inspired by Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. With most of the numbers running about three minutes, they will work best in story times or programs that feature a music or singing element. The unique concept of this album makes it a must-have for every collection.–Veronica De Fazio, Plainfield Public Library District, IL

Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon.By Steven Sheinkin. 6 CDs. 7:12 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2013. ISBN 978-0-8041-2220-7. $39.
Gr 5 Up–Sheinkin’s stellar nonfiction account (Flash Point, 2012) captures the science, technology, logistics, and politics of the race to build the first atomic bomb. The book gives listeners a holistic perspective, highlighting the fact that the story of the bomb, while a technological miracle of the time, is at its core, an intricate tale of daring individuals whose actions affected families, friends, communities, and nations. The story begins at the end, with the capture of American spy Harry Gold in Philadelphia. From Gold’s seizure, Sheinken takes a retrospective look at events from the discovery of nuclear fusion to the deployment and the aftermath of the uranium and plutonium bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. Gold, a chemist, in his role as Communist sympathizer and Soviet courier, is the thread that weaves this fascinating book together as it follows the trail of scientists, Nazi resisters, Soviet and American spies, workers, military commanders, and political leaders across the globe. The author’s narrative is as gripping as that of nonfiction masters such as Jim Murphy and Russell Freedman. Roy Samuelson’s clear diction and measured delivery complements the subject matter, offering students the opportunity to absorb sometimes complex material without pause. This award-winning, meticulously sourced book deserves a spot in every library.–Lisa Taylor, Ocean County Library, NJ

Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World. By Tracy Kidder and Michael French. 6 CDs. 7:22 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2013. ISBN 978-0-8041-2169-9. $35.
Gr 7-10–Tracy Kidder spent years following Dr. Paul Farmer’s career and traveling with him. Dr. Paul decided at an early age that he wanted to help people, particularly the poor, and he felt the area of infectious disease was his calling. Shortly before starting Harvard Medical School, he traveled to Haiti and witnessed the devastating conditions there. He helped to found Partners in Health (PIH); led projects in Haiti, Siberia, Peru, and Russia; advocated for the treatment of multi-drug resistant TB for even the least fortunate, and helped with AIDs and tuberculosis research. Farmer embraced the idea of “mountains beyond mountains,” tackling one problem and then starting on the others. He and other PIH members have changed the way people look at infectious disease and how the poor are treated. Lincoln Hoppe narrates this book (Delacorte, 2013) that has been adapted from a lengthier version (Random, 2003) for adults by Kidder. He speaks in a caring and compassionate tone, and the story flows just like a suspense novel. Farmer’s story will inspire students. An excellent choice for current events classrooms as well as public and high school library collections.–Sarah Flood, Breckinridge County Public Library, Hardinsburg, KY

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

DVD

Art

The Portrait. DVD. 30 min. National Film Board of Canada. 2013. ISBN unavail. $150.

Business Education

Shift Change. DVD. 69 min. Bullfrog Films. 2013. ISBN 1-93777-238-1. $295.

Early Childhood

Back to the Sea. DVD. 97 min. Prod. by Viva Pictures. Dist by CD Universe. ISBN unvail. $19.95.

Guidance–General

Guns, Gangs & Violence: The Willie Jones Story (Teens at Risk Series). DVD. 19 min. TMW Media. 2013. ISBN unavail. $64.95.

Out in the Open. DVD. 88 min. Prod. by Breaking Glass Pictures. Dist. by Midwest Tape. 2013. ISBN unavail. $24.99. 

Guidance–Careers

The World of Work. DVD. 14 min. with tchr’s. guide. Prod. by VEA. Dist. by Films Media Group. 2013. ISBN unavail. $129.

Health

Living with Genetic Disorders.  DVD. 18 min. with tchr’s. guide. Human Relations Media. 2013. ISBN 978-1-62706-028-8. $149.95.

In-Service

School’s Out: Lessons from a Forest Kindergarten. DVD. 36 min. schoolsoutfilm.com. 2013. ISBN unavail. $20.

Language Arts

The Ant and the Grasshopper. DVD. 8 min. Weston Woods. 2013. ISBN 978-0-545-57136-4. $59.95; CD, ISBN 978-0-545-57138-8: $12.95; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 978-0-545-57140-1: $29.95.

Science

Grand Canyon (Discoveries America National Park Series). DVD. 50 min. Bennet-Watt Entertainment. 2013. ISBN 978-1-60490-169-8. $24.95.

Extreme Dinosaurs. DVD.1:40 hrs. Prod. by BBC/Discovery Channel. Dist. by Warner Home Video. 2013. ISBN unavail. $19.92.

Predator Dinosaurs: The Truth about Killer Dinosaurs. DVD. approx. 2 hrs. Prod. by BBC/Discovery Channel. Dist. by Warner Home Video. 2013. ISBN unavail. $19.92

Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina. Season 1. 2 DVDs. 4:40 min. Prod. by Chedd-Angier Prod Co. Dist. by PBS Dist. 2013. ISBN 978-1-60883-779-3. $29.99.

Tokyo Waka: A City Poem. DVD. 65 min./53 min. Bullfrog Films. ISBN 1-93777-244-6. $295.

Wild Kratts: Rainforest Rescue. DVD. 55min. Prod. by Wild Kratts/9 Story Entertainment. Dist. by PBS Dist. 2013. ISBN 978-1-60883-865-3. $9.99.

Social Studies

Citizen Hearst. DVD. 84 min. Lionsgate. 2013. ISBN unavail. $19.98.

Harvest of Empire: The Untold Story of Latinos in America. DVD. 92 min. Prod. by Onxyx Films, EVS Communications, and Loquito Prods. Dist. by Third World Newsreel. 2013. ISBN unavail. $80.

Heart of Sky, Heart of Earth. DVD. 1:38 hrs. Prod. by Umbrella Films. Dist. by Bullfrog Films. 2012, 2013 release. ISBN 1-93777-245-4. $295.

Mao’s Great Famine.DVD. 52 min. Filmakers Library. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4631-1627-9. $295.

Never Give Up! Ama’s Journey to Freedom on the Underground Railroad.DVD. 28 min. with curriculum.  Nevergiveupfilm.org. 2012. ISBN unavail. Free.

The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights. DVD. 54 min. PBS Dist. 2012. ISBN 978-1-60883-888-2. $24.95.

Sosúa: Make a Better World. DVD. 56 min. Willow Pond Films. 2013. ISBN unavail. $24.95.

Space Shuttle Columbia: Mission of Hope. DVD. 60 min. Prod. by Herzog & Co. Dist. by PBS Dist. 2013. ISBN 978-1-60883-862-2. $24.99.

The Troubles in Northern Ireland. DVD. 30 min. with tchr’s. guide. Prod. by VEA. Dist. by Films Media Group. 2013. ISBN unavail. $129.

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

Because of Mr. Terupt.By Rob Buyea. 4 CDs. 4:30 hrs. Tantor Audio. 2013. ISBN 978-1-4526-4229-1. $59.99.

The Book of Broken Hearts.By Sarah Ockler. 8 CDs. 9:57 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2013. ISBN 978-0-8041-2353-2. $55.

The Clock.By James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier. 3 CDs. 3:41 hrs. AudioGO. 2013. ISBN 978-1-935430-96-4. $49.95.

Fearless: A Mirrorworld Novel. By Cornelia Funke. 9 CDs. 10 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library.  Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2013. ISBN 978-0-307-58332-1. $40.

Froggy’s Worst Playdate.By Jonathan London. cassette or CD. 15 min. Recorded Books. 2013. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4703-5092-5, CD: ISBN 978-1-4703-5091-8. $15.75; hardcover book, ISBN 978-0-6700-1427-9: $16.99.

Ghost Buddy #3: How to Scare the Pants Off Your Pets. By Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver. 3 CDs. 3:18 hrs. Scholastic Audiobooks. 2013. ISBN 978-0-545-497701. $24.99.

Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus!By Atinuke. cassette or CD. 1 hr. Recorded Books. 2013. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4618-3457-1, CD: ISBN 978-1-4618-3458-8. $15.75.

Help! I’m Stuck in a Giant Nostril: George Brown, Class Clown #6.By Nancy Krulik. cassette or CD. 1 hr. Recorded Books. 2013. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4703-6199-0, CD: ISBN 978-1-4703-6193-8. $25.75.

Horrible Harry and the Stolen Cookie.By Suzy Kline. cassette or CD. 45 min. Recorded Books. 2013. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4703-6201-0, CD: ISBN 978-1-4703-6195-2. $15.75.

Mr. Docker Is Off His Rocker!: My Weird School, Book 10.By Dan Gutman. cassette or CD. 45 min. Recorded Books. 2013. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4703-4233-3, CD: ISBN 978-1-4703-4232-6. $25.75.

Nouns and Verbs Have a Field Day.By Robin Pulver. CD. 13:49 min. with paperback book. Live Oak Media. 2013. ISBN 978-1-4301-1115-3. $18.95.

P. K. Pinkerton and the Petrified Man.By Caroline Lawrence. 7 CDs. 7:52 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2013. ISBN 978-0-307-96886-9. $50.

Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems.By Kate Coombs. cassette or CD. 15 min. Recorded Books. 2013. cassette: 978-1-4703-6198-3, CD: 978-1-4703-6192-1. $15.75; hardcover book, ISBN 978-0-8118-7284-3: $16.99.

What the Spell: Life’s a Witch.By Brittany Geragotelis. 8 cassettes or 8 CDs. 9:30 hrs. Recorded Books. 2013. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4703-6253-9, CD: ISBN 978-1-4730-4478-8. $97.75.

Music

Again!!!Performed by Billy Kelly. CD. 32:29 min. Billy Kelly Show. 2013. ISBN unavail. $14.

Back to School: The Remix.Performed by Alphabet Rockers. CD. approx. 37 min. Prod. by School Time Music. Dist. by AV Café. 2012. ISBN unavail. $12.99.

Future Hits: Songs for Learning.Performed by Future Hits. CD. 21:52 min. Matt Baron. 2012. ISBN unavail. $15.

Is Love a Fairy Tale?Performed by Aoede. CD. 46:19 min. Aoedemuse.com. 2012. ISBN unavail. $15.

A Little Help from My Friends.Performed by Mr. Billy. CD. approx. 36 min. Prod. by Bounce House Records. Dist. by AV Café. 2012. ISBN unavail. $15.

Made in the U.S.A.Performed by Twinkle Time. CD. 37:16 min. CDBaby.com. 2012. ISBN unavail. $10.

The Out of Control Rock and Roll Reading Show.Performed by Mr. Billy and friends. CD. 37:48 min. AV Café. 2013. ISBN unavail. $15.

Spaghetti Eddie! And Other Children’s Songs, Vol. 3.Performed by Brendan Parker. CD. 24:38 min. AV Café. 2013. ISBN unavail. $12.

Religion

The Toddler’s Bible.By V. Gilbert Beers. CD. 61 min. Oasis Audio. ISBN 978-1-60981-647-6. $16.9.

Sasha, a three-year-old girl with light brown hair, is trying to get Elmo back to Grover. It’s 12:35 p.m. on a Friday in early April, and she’s dragging one-inch pieces of virtual railroad track across an iPad screen in an effort to link the two characters. But Sasha is having trouble understanding how to make the pieces connect. Courtney Wong, a research specialist with Sesame Workshop and designated “child whisperer,” encourages her to try again.

“Okay,” says Sasha, now attempting to make the digital Elmo move across the screen—to no avail. Frustrated, she stabs at the image. “C’mon, c’mon, Elmo.”

It’s just a regular day of app testing at Sesame Workshop. Located in two rooms on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, these offices might seem a world removed from the TV show street featuring Oscar’s trash can, Gordon’s stoop, and the ever-cheerful presence of Big Bird. Those enchanted icons are about 20 miles away, on a sound stage at the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Long Island City, in Queens, NY, where Sesame Street—now in its 44th year—is filmed.

In this office building, a new kind of magic is being crafted: Sesame Workshop’s digital content. Here, and at other locations, the Workshop has run more than 76 tests over two and a half years to understand how children, ages three to five, adopt and adapt to touch devices in their learning. The brand wants to ensure Sesame Street’s continued success—in a new media world.

A young tester puts an app through its paces at the offices of Sesame Workshop.

Capturing the digital audience

Competition for the pre–K digital audience is stiff, with networks from Disney Junior to Nick Jr.—both nonexistent when Sesame Street launched—vying for the opportunity to educate young children with apps. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Dora the Explorer are deep in the game.

So are Ernie and Bert, since Sesame Workshop considers its digital incarnation to be crucial to its original mission. “The goal has never changed from back in 1969, which is to reach children where they are to get them ready for school, and also to reach underserved children,” says Jennifer Perry, Sesame Workshop’s vice president of worldwide publishing. “Anything that becomes a destination for parents, we have to be there.”

In 1969, that destination was TV. Most families had televisions in their homes when Sesame Street first went on the air. Cocreator Joan Ganz Cooney’s idea of using TV for early learning was revolutionary at the time. For decades, Sesame Workshop and its groundbreaking show owned the block on educational television.

Given that history, the Workshop’s entry into digital involves seismic changes for the organization. While TV and books aren’t disappearing, tablets, smartphones, apps, and ebooks are increasingly drawing preschoolers’ attention. Sometimes it’s Dad handing off his Android during a long wait at the doctor’s office. Other times it’s a school media specialist launching a series of iPad literacy apps for kindergarteners.

Surveys confirm that devices are pulling people away from TV, and devices also tend to be cheaper. Americans spent about 127 minutes a day using mobile apps in 2012—up from 94 minutes a day in 2011—compared to the 168 minutes a day they spend watching television, according to Flurry Analytics, an organization that follows mobile app trends. Today, smartphones are practically given away with many mobile plans. Revenue from app sales generated about $15 billion globally in 2012, and is projected to rise to $25 billion by the end of 2013, according to Gartner Inc., a tech research firm.

Sesame Workshop’s digital earnings are up, too. The organization has seen its digital revenue grow from 5 percent of its total in fiscal year 2011 to 13 percent in fiscal year 2012. According to Sesame Workshop, digital is projected to comprise 15 percent of its overall revenue by year-end June 30.

Making the Workshop’s digital content stand out is crucial, given the direct competition and the vast number of apps for sale—more than 300,000 iPad apps in the Apple store alone. On a recent day in April, Nickelodeon held the third and fifth spots among the top paid iPad apps in Apple’s iTunes education section. Disney had eighth place, with Sesame Workshop’s Potty Time with Elmo at number 41. Among paid iPad books, Disney held three of the top 10 slots, Nickelodeon had two, and Sesame Workshop’s The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone (originally published by Golden Books in 1971) appeared at number 11.

Designing for limited attention spans

Those charged with building the next generation of Sesame Workshop educational tools are doing so with as much thought and research as Cooney invested in the show. But now, more than ever, a three-year-old’s attention waits for no one.

“We have to be nimble,” says Betsy Loredo, editorial director of Sesame Workshop, who is part of the team charged with re-inventing the Sesame Street brand for the digital domain. “Incredibly nimble. That, in some ways, is the antithesis of how we’ve been doing business for a very long time.” Traditionally, that process has been about “testing, testing, testing, and don’t put it out there until it’s perfect,” Loredo says.

“What we are now grappling with is how to balance this thoughtful approach with the incredible speed with which innovation and technology shifts are changing the landscape for kids,” she explains. “I think that’s a struggle every creator of print books currently faces. It’s just compounded for us by this heightened commitment we have to testing and to being a standard bearer for a fun and educational ‘safe space’ for preschoolers.”

An ongoing challenge is figuring out how to make learning fun so that a child doesn’t lose interest and tune out along the way. With that in mind, Sesame Workshop is constantly thinking about how app instructions are delivered to kids. A particular consideration is how long a child must wait before she can launch a story, a game, or any of the 75 live apps the Workshop has available in the marketplace.

“We used to have longer instructs and longer types of prompts,” says Mindy Brooks, Sesame Workshop’s director of education and research. “But now, we’re in this age of immediate responses.” She hits her finger repeatedly on the table, mimicking how a child might interact with a touch device.

Brooks and her colleagues are well aware that if children are comfortable with other apps, they expect to be able to navigate Workshop apps easily, too. They come to the apps thinking, “I can do this,” says Loredo.

“And it’s not responding,” adds Brooks.

“Then it’s broken,” concludes Loredo.

That isn’t the experience Sesame Workshop wants to deliver to the 16.5 million kids and parents it reaches on digital platforms every quarter. As of April, 35 Sesame Workshop book apps live on platform devices including iOS, Chrome, Windows 7, HP, Symbian, and Kindle Fire. And nearly 155,000 book apps have been downloaded so far in 2013, with 1.8 million downloaded since Sesame Workshop launched its first book app in December 2009.

Partnerships with big tech

Sesame Workshop’s dive into digital is aided by partnerships with third-party technology firms, including a $1 million pledge from the software company CA Technologies. That company is working with Sesame Workshop to develop a package featuring videos, lesson plans, and games, including the one three-year-old Sasha was testing, for a future STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) hub on SesameStreet.org.

Another recent partnership, with mobile outfit Qualcomm, focuses on augmented reality tools. For today’s children, this kind of cutting-edge technology is taken for granted, allowing them to play with and explore their surroundings.

At Sesame Workshop’s Upper West Side location, Loredo and Brooks launched a recent smartphone prototype that resulted from the Qualcomm relationship. On a smartphone screen, a grocery list appears for Big Bird. Eggs, carrots, and cereal are items on the list, and the child is charged with finding those same printed words in her environment. Holding the smartphone, the child selects a word and then aims the device at words he or she sees displayed in a grocery store, a restaurant, or wherever she is at that moment. When the phone’s camera sees the right word, such as “milk,” Big Bird exclaims, “Milk, mmm milk.” The screen then pulls up a word tree, providing the child with more context and definition.

Previewed at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the app is expected to launch this fall. It’s already gone through two formative rounds of testing and recently completed a month-long study with about 200 children in a few Head Start Centers in rural Idaho. Sesame Workshop wants to ensure that three- to five-year-olds can enjoy the app without frustration.

From book to app

Sesame Workshop’s ebookstore carries more than 160 titles, with approximately 100,000 ebooks downloaded to date. But print books still sell far more—to the tune of 27 million copies in 2011 alone.

Classics like The Monster at the End of This Book have been refashioned for today’s burgeoning reader, who may encounter his first title in electronic form—still, likely, while sitting on a parent’s lap. Almost prescient in its interactivity, the original version of The Monster at the End of This Book features Grover warning the reader not to turn the next page because of the monster at the end. Of course, the curious child turns the pages anyway, tearing down brick walls and infuriating Grover, who, at the book’s closing, reveals himself to be the anticipated monster, albeit a “lovable, furry old” one that the child adores.

In app form, the reader still pages through the story, sliding fingers along the corners where digital pages flap audibly. The on-screen Grover reads each word, but now we see him tying and nailing the pages, building a brick wall and complaining as the child breaks knots and smashes bricks, animated for today’s young digital users.

Molding future tech

Looking ahead, Sesame Workshop is planning to innovate far beyond book- and TV-derived experiences. A team of employees is analyzing cutting-edge technologies to see what learning experiences they might best support—and they’re even pushing developers to tune their new tech to children’s needs. Miles Ludwig, managing director of Sesame Workshop’s Content Innovation Lab, leads a five-person research and development team in pursuing technologies they expect will become available globally to children of all economic levels. Recently, Ludwig shopped a prototype application to firms working on voice recognition. His hope is to partner on a tool that children play with in which they give Cookie Monster clues to guess what animal they’re thinking about. Since voice recognition software is currently optimized for adult men, says Ludwig, it’s not ideal for the high-pitched musical tones and particular pronunciation that can come from a child’s mouth. Sesame Workshop hopes to change that.

As new technology develops, Ludwig and his team are also considering other places around the home where they could potentially interact with children—for instance, on screens that may be in an oven door or on a refrigerator.

“One of the things we’re thinking about now is embedded devices connected to the home, these sorts of concepts of the future, and what does that mean to us,” says Ludwig. An example might be when “Abby just shows up on this refrigerator screen and communicates something about healthy eating.” Another scenario could involve the Count helping a child count the eggs in a refrigerator, an activity based on the “Number of the Day” from that morning’s Sesame Street TV episode.

Delight in learning

As Sesame Workshop focuses on its longevity, its educational stronghold—the pre–K years—remains its primary focus. Back in the testing room, Sasha is on the iPad, tickling a swimming trunk-clad Grover; she sees him holding lightweight objects like flip-flops instead of heavy ones like metal keys. Sasha’s goal is to get him to let go of objects at the right time so the light ones float into the center of an inner tube. Sasha can’t quite time it right—and the objects end up floating outside the target, missing the goal. Wong offers encouragement.

“Let’s try to aim for that tube,” says Wong.
“I will try,” says Sasha. “I missed!”
“Uh oh, did that float?” says Wong, as Sasha selects a heavy object instead.
“Oooooh,” Sasha exclaims.

From another room, the researcher and show producer laugh, watching as Sasha navigates the game with a toddler’s intensity. She slides her finger once again over Grover and—success. She squeals.

“Look Mom!” says Sasha, immersed in the game. A child’s delight, delivered. Sesame Workshop hopes it’s a learning moment, too.

Sophie’s Squash (Miller)
©2013 by Anne Wilsdorf

BECKER, Aaron. Journey. illus. by author. 40p. Candlewick. July 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6053-6. LC 2012947264.
Gr 1-4–In this auspicious debut picture book, a lonely girl escapes the boredom of a sepia-toned world by drawing a doorway to a magical realm. Harkening back to Crockett Johnson’s Harold, this child uses a red crayon and a lot of imagination to venture across a Venice-like kingdom, fly among a fleet of steampunk airships, and take off on a magic carpet ride. When an act of compassion and bravery lands the heroine in a cage, it’s her magic crayon and a bit of help from a new friend that save the day. This captivating wordless story has all the elements of a classic adventure: unknown lands, death-defying stunts, and a plucky lead. Finely detailed pen-and-ink line drawings combine with luminous washes of watercolor to create a rich and enchanting setting. Becker builds a sense of suspense by varying colorful full-page spreads with smaller vignettes that feature the girl and her red crayon surrounded by ample white space. The final page shows the youngster and her new friend riding a tandem bicycle pointing onward. Endpapers spotlight all manner of transportation: ships, trains, cars, and even space shuttles. The strong visual narrative makes this an appealing choice for a wide range of ages. By the turn of the last page, children will immediately begin imagining the next adventure.–Kiera Parrott, Darien Library, CT

DAYWALT, Drew. The Day the Crayons Quit. illus. by Oliver Jeffers. 32p. Philomel. July 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25537-3. LC 2012030384.
K-Gr 2–In this delightfully imaginative take on a beloved childhood activity, a young boy’s crayons have had enough. Fed up with their workload and eager to voice their grievances, they pen letters to Duncan detailing their frustrations. Energetic and off-the-wall, the complaints are always wildly funny, from the neurotically neat Purple (“If you DON’T START COLORING INSIDE the lines soon… I’m going to COMPLETELY LOSE IT”) to the underappreciated White (“If I didn’t have a black outline, you wouldn’t even know I was THERE!”). Daywalt has an instinctive understanding of the kind of humor that will resonate with young children, such as Orange and Yellow duking it out over which of them represents the true color of the sun or Peach’s lament that ever since its wrapper has fallen off, it feels naked. Though Jeffers’s messily scrawled crayon illustrations are appropriately childlike, they’re also infused with a sophisticated wit that perfectly accompanies the laugh-out-loud text; for example, a letter from Beige, in which he bemoans being tasked with drawing dull items like turkey dinners, is paired with an image of the crestfallen crayon drooping over beside a blade of wheat. Later on, Pink grumbles about constantly being passed over for less-feminine colors while the opposite page depicts a discomfited-looking pink monster and cowboy being derided by a similarly hued dinosaur. This colorful title should make for an uproarious storytime and may even inspire some equally creative art projects.–Mahnaz Dar, Library Journal

HENKES, Kevin. The Year of Billy Miller. illus. by author. 240p. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-226812-9; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-226813-6; ebook ISBN 978-0-06-226815-0. LC 2012050373.
Gr 1-3–The beginning of a new school year brings anxious moments for Billy Miller, a typical second grader at Georgia O’Keeffe Elementary School in a small Wisconsin town. His new teacher, Ms. Silver, uses chopsticks to hold her hair in place and know-it-all Emma Sparks is unfortunately one of his desk mates. Just as a school year is divided into quarters, the book is divided into four parts–”Teacher,” “Father,” “Sister,” and “Mother”–each offering a new perspective on Billy’s personality and development through his interactions with these well-developed characters. He begins the school year with a lump on his head from a family-vacation incident and navigates glitter homework fiascos, canceled sleepover plans, and sibling annoyances as readers see the year unfold through funny and often poignant situations. Billy himself might have been daunted by a book with more than 200 pages, but eager young readers will find this a great first chapter book to share or read solo.–Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH

MILLER, Pat Zietlow. Sophie’s Squash. illus. by Anne Wilsdorf. 40p. Random/Schwartz & Wade. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97896-7; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97897-4. LC 2012006438.
K-Gr 2–“Good friends are hard to find,” says Sophie to her best buddy, Bernice. This must be so, because Bernice is a farmers’ market squash. The fruit is supposed to be for supper, but all bets are off when Sophie gives it a face and a name. The two friends are inseparable, visiting the library and other squash at the market, practicing somersaults on the hill…and every night Sophie gives Bernice a baby bottle and tucks her into a cradle. (“Well, we did hope she’d love vegetables,” Sophie’s mother observes.) Countless stories exist about girls’ exploits with their dolls or stuffed animals. Few, if any, feature healthy produce. But the tale of Sophie and Bernice is charming and even suspenseful as the title character reluctantly realizes that her squash will not last forever. Miller’s sweet and lively story is perfectly matched by Wilsdorf’s expert ink and watercolor illustrations. With lessons on life, love, and vegetable gardening, this tale will be cherished by children, and their parents will be happy to read it to them often.–Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY

KELLER, Laurie. Bowling Alley Bandit. illus. by author. 128p. (The Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut). Holt/Christy Ottaviano. 2013. Tr $13.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9076-5.
Gr 2–4–Arnie the doughnut returns in a “who-donut” chapter book that will appeal to fans of Dav Pilkey’s “Captain Underpants” (Scholastic) and Lincoln Peirce’s “Big Nate” (HarperCollins) series. Iced with chocolate and covered with sprinkles, the “doughnut dog” catches readers up-to-date since he debuted in his own picture book, Arnie the Doughnut (Holt, 2003). The first chapter recaps how he became a doughnut dog and beloved friend to Mr. Bing, who instead of eating Arnie decides to adopt him as his pet. Readers then follow adventures that occur during Arnie’s favorite Tuesday-night outings to the bowling alley with Mr. Bing and his buddies. Comic-style drawings fill the pages, providing abundant humor and tons of spoofy comedy for reluctant readers. Children will stay engaged as Arnie and friends try to discover why Mr. Bing keeps throwing gutter balls during the tournament when he usually is a high-scoring bowler. Does the opposing team, the Yada-Yadas, have something to do with it? With zany, quirky characters (talking pizza, break-dancing bowling pins, animated shoes) and a fast-paced, silly story line, the book will have readers looking for Arnie and Mr. Bing’s next adventure.–Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI

SEEGER, Laura Vaccaro. Bully. illus. by author. 40p. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-630-5. LC 2012012991.
PreS-Gr 2–On the cover, bold black lines on an angry tomato-red background depict the scowling title character. Seeger sets the emotional tone from the very start: this is one mean bull. Front endpapers offer a clue to his behavior as readers see a larger, adult bull shout, “Go away!” The rejected little guy hangs his head, and, as many real-life bullies do, turns his hurt into anger. When he comes upon a group of animals who want to play, he puffs himself up in a near-identical pose to his adult counterpart and shouts, “No!” He proceeds to insult them with literal names (“CHICKEN!” “PIG!”) that lend a bit of levity and humor to an otherwise serious story. With each insult, the bull’s bravado makes him larger and larger, filling and then expanding outside the frame of the pages. Children will recognize and respond to this powerful visual depiction of rage. By the time he yells “YOU STINK!” at the skunk, only his two giant front hooves and enormous snout are visible. When the bull is finally forced to confront what he has become, viewers see him deflate like an overinflated balloon and become small. Again, Seeger lightens the mood with this touch of cartoon whimsy. Spare text and simple drawings allow the antibullying message to come across clearly without being heavy-handed or didactic. The arc of the bull’s experience engenders discussion and encourages the quest for satisfying solutions.–Kiera Parrott, Darien Library, CT

WISSINGER, Tamera Will. Gone Fishing. illus. by Matthew Cordell. 120p. bibliog. glossary. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-547-82011-8. LC 2012032796.
Gr 1-4–This novel in verse successfully builds a story filled with anticipation, family humor, and sibling rivalry. Wissinger adroitly uses a variety of poetic forms to express nine-year-old Sam’s excitement about an upcoming outing with his father: “Hip-hip, hooray!/It’s fishing day./Yo-ho yippee!/Just Dad and me.” To Sam’s consternation, his annoying little sister decides that she wants to go, too. She packs for the trip by filling Sam’s tackle box with her toys. “Where’s my stringer?/Something’s wrong!/The princess doll does not belong!” Sam is even more despondent when her singing helps her catch a handful of fish even before he has caught one. The trip vastly improves when he lands a sizable catfish, leading Lucy to gush with pride for him. “You caught one Sam!/Lucy scoots close to me./A big one, too!/I didn’t even look/when she caught/her first fish./But she cheered for me/Maybe I was wrong/about bringing her along.” Teachers will appreciate the seamless introduction to different poetic forms including rhyming lists, concrete poems, ballads, and haiku. Wissinger deftly plies her craft to ensure that the use of poetry enhances the readability of the story. She includes a “Poet’s Tackle Box” to complete this solid introduction to poetic form. Cordell’s whimsical line drawings complement the poetry by capturing the adventurous spirit and humor that this story demands. Hearing it aloud, children will appreciate the rollicking tale and the lyrical verse, while young readers will be able to enjoy the book independently. This book might inspire some to pursue an interest in fishing, but it will surely encourage all of them to delve into the world of poetry.–Carole Phillips, Greenacres Elementary School, Scarsdale, NY

WOODSON, Jacqueline. This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration. illus. by James Ransome. 32p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-23986-1.
K-Gr 3–A utilitarian rope–now a toy, now a clothesline, now a fastening cord–ties together this lyrical multigenerational story of one family’s experience leaving the South for greater opportunities up North. Woodson’s text and Ransome’s warm, lived-in oils begin in the sweet expanse of South Carolina, the rich rural landscape contrasted with the busy, populous images of the family’s new stone-and-concrete neighborhood in Brooklyn. Every page turn reveals the titular phrase again, but the repetition does not weary as the family thrives and evolves in great leaps and short steps. Significant episodes like the arrival of a baby or the beginning of college unfold in meaningful text and blend with fine splashes of humor; one surprisingly dynamic and evocative spread shows a teenager’s room–Prince poster on the wall, Michael Jackson albums scattered on the bed–and the shadow of a mischievous younger brother dashing down the hallway with the rope, needed for “some crazy game that little boys play.” An author’s note offers a brief familial history as well as a few lines about the Great Migration and supports the text as a resounding affirmation of the journey made by more than six million African Americans in search of change. With characteristic grace and a knack for the right detail, Woodson and Ransome have provided a pleasing portrait of one loving family in the midst of a movement.–Robbin E. Friedman, Chappaqua Library, NY

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

Preschool to Grade 4 Fiction

ASQUITH, Ros.Letters from an Alien Schoolboy. illus. by author. 192p. Sky Pony. 2013. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-1-62087-536-0.

BERGER, Samantha.Crankenstein. illus. by Dan Santat. 40p. Little, Brown. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-316-12656-4.

BEST, Cari. When We Go Walking. illus. by Kyrsten Brooker. 32p. Amazon. 2013. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4778-1648-6; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4778-6648-1.

BÉZIAT, Julien. Mäko. tr. from French by Evan Jones. illus. by author. 36p. Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2013. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55455-275-7.

BROCKENBROUGH, Martha. The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy. illus. by Israel Sanchez. 32p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-24466-4. LC 2012013235.

AKIYAMA, Bruce & Ken Scarborough. Campfire Stories. ISBN 978-0-547-97024-0; ISBN 978-0-547-97021-9.
––––.So You Want to Be a Dog? ISBN 978-0-547-97483-5; ISBN 978-0-547-97018-9.
ea vol: 96p. (Martha Speaks Series). glossary. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. Tr $14.99; pap. $5.99.

BUZZEO, Toni. But I Read It on the Internet! illus. by Sachiko Yoshikawa. 32p. (A Mrs. Skorupski Story). websites. UpstartBooks. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-60213-062-3.

BYRNE, Richard. Penguins Can’t Fly! illus. by author. 32p. Barron’s. 2013. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-4380-0254-5. LC 2012943294.

BYUN, You. Dream Friends. illus. by author. 32p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25739-1. LC 2012011082.

CABATINGAN, Erin. Musk Ox Counts. illus. by Matthew Myers. 40p. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-798-2. LC 2012046936.

CALLEN, Sharon. Anna Goes to Zambia. illus. by Bettina Guthridge. ISBN 978-1-4333-5495-3.
––––.Safari Camp. illus. by Jane Wallace-Mitchell. ISBN 978-1-4333-5494-6.
CARTHEW, Mark. Speak Up! illus. by Annie White. ISBN 978-1-4333-5496-0.
EDWARDS, Amelia. It’s Good Enough to Eat! illus. by Mike Brownlow. ISBN 978-1-4333-5493-9.
WEAVER, Jo. Paul Bunyan: A Very Tall Tale. illus. by Loretta Krupinski. ISBN 978-1-4333-5497-7.
ea vol: 20p. (Fiction Readers Series). Teacher Created Materials. 2013. pap. $4.99.

CORDEROY, Tracey. I Want My Mommy! illus. by Alison Edgson. 32p. Tiger Tales. 2013. RTE $12.95. ISBN 978-1-58925-130-4.

CRUM, Shutta. Dozens of Cousins. illus. by David Catrow. 32p. Clarion. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-618-15874-4. LC 2012005010.

DAVIES, Katie. The Great Dog Disaster. illus. by Hannah Shaw. 208p. (The Great Critter Capers Series). S & S/Beach Lane. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4517-8; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-4519-2. LC 2012041868.

DAVIES, Nicola. Escape from Silver Street Farm. illus. by Katharine McEwen. 65p. (Silver Street Farm Series). Candlewick. 2013. RTE $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6133-5. LC 2012942620.

DEAN, James. Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach. illus. by author. ISBN 978-0-06-211073-2; ISBN 978-0-06-211072-5. LC 2012952453.
LIN, Amy Hsu. Splat the Cat: A Whale of a Tale. illus. by Robert Eberz. ISBN 978-0-06-209024-9; ISBN 978-0-06-209022-5. LC 2012949618.
ea vol: 32p. (I Can Read! Series). HarperCollins/Harper. 2013. Tr $16.99; pap. $3.99.

DEAN, James. Pete the Cat: Pete’s Big Lunch. ISBN 978-0-06-211070-1; ISBN 978-0-06-211069-5.
––––.Pete the Cat: Play Ball! ISBN 978-0-06-211067-1; ISBN 978-0-06-211066-4.
ea vol: illus. by author. 32p. (I Can Read! Series). HarperCollins/Harper. 2013. Tr $16.99; pap. $3.99.

DICMAS, Courtney. Harold Finds a Voice. illus. by author. 32p. Child’s Play. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-84643-550-8.

DIPUCCHIO, Kelly. Crafty Chloe: Dress-Up Mess-Up. illus. by Heather Ross. 40p. websites. S & S/Atheneum. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2124-0. LC 2011042345.

DOWNER, Ann. Shark Baby. illus. by Shennen Bersani. 32p. Sylvan Dell. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-60718-622-9; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-60718-634-2; ebook $9.95. ISBN 978-1-60718-646-5.

DRUMMOND, Ree. Charlie the Ranch Dog: Where’s the Bacon? illus. by Diane deGroat. 32p. (I Can Read! Series). HarperCollins/Harper. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-221909-1; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-06-221908-4. LC 2012949619.

DUNBAR, Joyce. Puss Jekyll Cat Hyde. illus. by Jill Barton. 32p. Frances Lincoln. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-84780-369-6.

EMBERLEY, Ed. Nighty Night, Little Green Monster. illus. by author. 32p. Little, Brown. Aug. 2013. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-316-21041-6.

FARLEY, Brianne. Ike’s Incredible Ink. illus. by author. 32p. Candlewick. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6296-7. LC 2012947261.

FEDER, Jane. Spooky Friends. illus. by Julie Downing. 40p. (Spooky Friends Series). Scholastic. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-47815-1; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-545-47816-8. LC 2012014786.

FORD, Bernette. No More Biting for Billy Goat! illus. by Sam Williams. 32p. Boxer Bks. 2013. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-907967-31-3.

FOX, Mem. Good Night, Sleep Tight. illus. by Judy Horacek. 32p. Scholastic/Orchard. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-53370-6.

GEORGE, Patrick. I Hear…. ISBN 978-1-908473-07-3.
––––.I See…. ISBN 978-1-908473-04-2.
––––.I Smell…. ISBN 978-1-908473-05-9.
ea vol: illus. by author. 36p. Trafalgar Square. 2013. RTE $12.99.

GERARDI, Jan. The Little Recycler. illus. by author. 16p. (Teenie Greenies Series). Random. 2013. BD $6.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86172-7. LC 2012001910.

HALL, Marcellus. Everyone Sleeps. illus. by author. 32p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25793-3. LC 2012023258.

HARDY, Edward. Where Is Fred? illus. by Ali Pye. 32p. Egmont USA. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4052-5402-1; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4052-5403-8.

HODGMAN, Ann. That’s My Mommy! illus. by Laura Logan. 22p. Tiger Tales. 2013. BD $8.95. ISBN 978-1-58925-645-3.

JAMES, Helen Foster. Grandma Loves You! illus. by Petra Brown. 32p. Sleeping Bear. July 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-58536-836-5. LC 2013002582.

JOYNER, Andrew. Boris on the Move. Bk. 1. 80p. illus. by author. (Boris Series). ISBN 978-0-545-48442-8; ISBN 978-0-545-48443-5; ISBN 978-0-545-48782-5. LC 2012034254.
LUBAR, David. Stranger Things. Bk. 1. 96p. illus. by Matt Loveridge. (Looniverse Series). ISBN 978-0-545-49601-8; ISBN 978-0-545-49602-5; ISBN 978-0-545-49685-8. LC 2012024838.
ea vol: Scholastic/Branches. 2013. Tr $15.99; pap. $4.99; ebook $4.99.

KASZA, Keiko. My Lucky Birthday. illus. by author. 32p. Putnam. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25763-6. LC 2011037119.

KLEIN, Adria. Sammy Saw and the Campout. ISBN 978-1-4342-4022-4; ISBN 978-1-4342-4234-1. LC 2011049284.
––––.Sophie Screwdriver and the Classroom. ISBN 978-1-4342-4021-7; ISBN 978-1-4342-4235-8. LC 2011049285.
ea vol: illus. by Andy Rowland. 32p. (Tool School Series). Stone Arch. 2013. PLB $21.32; pap. $5.95.

KURTZMAN-COUNTER, Samantha. When Miles Got Mad. 30p. illus. The Mother Company. 2013. RTE $12.95. ISBN 978-0-615-69965-3. LC 2012949929.

LEE, Mark. 20 Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street. illus. by Kurt Cyrus. 32p. Candlewick. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5809-0. LC 2012943654.

LEHRHAUPT, Adam. Warning: Do Not Open This Book! illus. by Matthew Forsythe. 40p. S & S/Paula Wiseman Bks. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3582-7; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-3583-4. LC 2012014432.

LIU, Julia. Gus, the Dinosaur Bus. tr. from Chinese by Jamie White. illus. by Bei Lynn. 32p. Houghton Harcourt. July 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-547-90573-0.

LLOYD, Jennifer. The Best Thing About Kindergarten. illus. by Qin Leng. 36p. Simply Read Books. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-897476-82-6.

LOBEL, Anita. Lena’s Sleep Sheep: A Going-to-Bed Book. illus. by author. 24p. Knopf. Aug. 2013. Tr $10.99. ISBN 978-0-449-81025-5; PLB $14.99. ISBN 978-0-449-81026-2; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-449-81027-9. LC 2012028378.

LUCAS, David. The Skeleton Pirate. illus. by author. 30p. Candlewick. 2013. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6107-6. LC 2012942674.

MACLACHLAN, Patricia. The Truth of Me. 128p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. Aug. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-06-199859-1; PLB $15.89. ISBN 978-0-06-199860-7.

MAHY, Margaret. The Green Bath. illus. by Steven Kellogg. 40p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-20667-9.

MAIZES, Sarah. On My Way to Bed. illus. by Michael Paraskevas. 40p. Walker. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-2366-6; RTE $17.89. ISBN 978-0-8027-2367-3. LC 2013001363.

MANCEAU, Édouard. Windblown. tr. from French by Sarah Quinn. illus. by author. 32p. websites. Owlkids. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-926973-77-7. LC 2012945653.

MINOR, Wendell. How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow? illus. by author. 32p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-24684-5.

Monster, Be Good! illus. by Natalie Marshall. 24p. Blue Apple. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-1-60905-314-7.

MONTIJO, Rhode. Gum Girl!: Chews Your Destiny. illus. by author. 128p. Hyperion/Disney. July 2013. RTE $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-5740-3.

MOSER, Lisa. Cowboy Boyd and Mighty Calliope. illus. by Sebastiaan Van Doninck. 40p. Random. Aug. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-87056-9; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97056-6; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98079-4. LC 2012025379.

MYRACLE, Lauren. Penguin Problems. illus. by Jed Henry. 128p. (The Life of Ty Series). Dutton. 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-525-42264-8.

OHORA, Zachariah. No Fits, Nilson! illus. by author. 32p. Dial. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3852-2. LC 2012021514.

Peppa Pig and The Muddy Puddles.32p. illus. Candlewick. 2013. RTE $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6523-4. LC 2012942611.

PERL, Erica S. King of the Zoo. illus. by Jackie Urbanovic. 40p. Scholastic/Orchard. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-46182-5.

PIPPIN-MATHUR, Courtney. Maya Was Grumpy. illus. by author. 32p. Flashlight. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-9362611-3-0. LC 2012946228.

PRITCHETT, Andy. Stick! illus. by author. 32p. Candlewick. Aug. 2013. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6616-3. LC 2012947824.

RANSOM, Candice. Iva Honeysuckle Meets Her Match. illus. by Heather Ross. 192p. (Iva Honeysuckle Series). Hyperion/Disney. 2013. RTE $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-3514-2. LC 2012035111.

ROBINSON, Nicola L. The Monster Machine. illus. by author. 32p. Pavilion. 2013. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-1-84365-200-7.

ROCK, Brian. The Deductive Detective. illus. by Sherry Rogers. 32p. Sylvan Dell. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-60718-613-7; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-60718-625-0; ebook ISBN 978-1-60718-637-3. LC 2012030120.

RYLANT, Cynthia. Mr. Putter & Tabby Drop the Ball. illus. by Arthur Howard. 44p. Houghton Harcourt. Sept. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-15-205072-6.

SCILLIAN, Devin. Memoirs of a Hamster. illus.by Tim Bowers. 32p. Sleeping Bear. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-58536-831-0. LC 2012033693.

SHANNON, David. Bugs in My Hair! illus. by author. 32p. Scholastic/Blue Sky. Sept. 2013. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-14313-4. LC 2012042220.

SHANNON, George. A Very Witchy Spelling Bee. illus. by Mark Fearing. 32p. Houghton Harcourt. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-15-206696-3.

SITTNER, Nechama. What Did Pinny Do?: An Upsherin Story. illus. by Tova Leff. 32p. glossary. Hachai. 2013. PLB $12.95. ISBN 978-1-929628-72-8. LC 2012921267.

SLONIM, David. Patch. illus. by author. 32p. Roaring Brook. July 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-643-5.

SMITH, Alex T. Claude in the City. illus. by author. 96p. Peachtree. 2013. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-1-56145-697-0. LC 2012028081.

SMITH, Peter. Monsieur Albert Rides to Glory. illus. by Bob Graham. 32p. Allen & Unwin. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-74237-680-6.

SOBRINO, Javier. Night Sounds. tr. from Spanish by Elisa Amado. illus. by Emilio Urberuaga. 36p. Groundwood. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55498-332-2.

STEFFENSMEIER, Alexander. Millie and the Big Rescue. tr. from German. illus. by author. 40p. (Millie’s Misadventures Series). Walker. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-3402-0.

SULLIVAN, Dana. Ozzie and the Art Contest. illus. by author. 32p. Sleeping Bear. July 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-58536-820-4.

TABBY, Abigail. The KnitWits Make a Move! illus. by Lee Wildish. 32p. S & S/Little Simon. Aug. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5342-5; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-5343-2. LC 2012040111.

TOBIN, Jim. The Very Inappropriate Word. illus. by Dave Coverly. 40p. Holt/Christy Ottaviano. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9474-9. LC 2012021084.

ULUADLUAK, Donald. Kamik: An Inuit Puppy Story. illus. by Qin Leng. 32p. Inhabit Media. 2013. pap. $10.95. ISBN 978-1-9270-9511-9.

UNGERER, Tomi. Fog Island. illus. by author. 48p. Phaidon. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-7148-6535-5.

WATSON, Stephanie. The Wee Hours. illus. by Mary GrandPré. 40p. Hyperion/Disney. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-4038-2.

WATT, Mélanie. Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping. illus. by author. 32p. Kids Can. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-894786-86-7.

WILLEMS, Mo. A Big Guy Took My Ball! illus. by author. 64p. (Elephant & Piggie Series). Hyperion/Disney. 2013. RTE $8.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-7491-2. LC 2012010899.

YOLEN, Jane. Romping Monsters, Stomping Monsters. illus. by Kelly Murphy. 32p. Candlewick. July 2013. RTE $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5727-7. LC 2012943655.

YOUNG, Jessica. My Blue Is Happy. illus. by Catia Chien. 32p. Candlewick. Aug. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5125-1. LC 2012950616.

YUM, Hyewon. This Is Our House. illus. by author. 40p. Farrar/Frances Foster. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-37487-7.

ZIEFERT, Harriet. Goodnight Underwear. illus. by Todd H. Doodler. 36p. (Bear in Underwear Series). Blue Apple. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-1-60905-363-5.

APPELT, Kathi. The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp. illus. by Jennifer Bricking. 384p. S & S/Atheneum. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2105-9; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-8121-3. LC 2012023723.
Gr 3-7–Appelt returns with a rich tale set deep in a Texas swamp, full of critters including gators, rattlesnakes, and feral hogs. Brothers Bingo and J’miah are true-blue scouts (raccoons) who have set up house in an abandoned old DeSoto, adorning it with their artwork and following orders from the Voice of Intelligence (actually the lightning-enabled car radio). The young raccoons are affable and easy to root for as they attempt to stop the gang of wild hogs intent on destroying their beloved Muscovado sugar cane. Woven throughout the 104 short chapters, delivered by a rollicking omniscient third-person narrator, are other stories–greedy Sonny Boy Beaucoup, who is only interested in tearing up Sugar Man Swamp to make room for the Gator World Wrestling Arena and Theme Park; and young Chap Brayburn, who is intent on being the man in the family and protecting his mother and their Paradise Pies Café (with pies made from the swamp’s sugar cane). As anticipation builds, Bingo and J’miah set out on a quest to wake up the elusive Sugar Man–a Yetilike creature that guards the swamp. Appelt has adeptly intertwined the folksy narrative of a tall tale with a perfect blend of adventure and mystery, all the while subtly bringing an ecological message to the surface.–Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA

HERRICK, Amy. The Time Fetch. 320p. Algonquin. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-61620-220-0.
Gr 5-8–This transcendent middle-grade debut could almost be subtitled “A Young Person’s Guide to Existentialism.” The opening scene presents Edward struggling to get out of bed with the knowledge that “it was all dancing atoms. Nothing was solid.” It’s not a depressing novel, though. The story is strange and beautiful, with profundity hiding in the mundane while science and magic come to a comfortable alliance. After convincing himself to leave his bed, Edward has to find a rock for a science project. The rock turns out to be a Fetch, a magical vessel for small glints of light called Foragers, who collect and feed off unmissed moments of time. But when the mean girl steals Edward’s rock and is in turn kidnapped by three evil hags in the classic tradition, the Foragers are let loose and begin wreaking havoc on Brooklyn’s temporality. It is up to Edward and three mismatched schoolmates (the popular guy, the nasty girl, and the silent newcomer) to return the Foragers to the Fetch and save the world. The narrative seems to follow a well-trodden path (Brooklyn, fairies, unexpected friendship) but the introduction of scientifically based ennui as well as a deep thread of pagan traditions provides an accessible, age-appropriate introduction to deeper themes of both the intellect and the spirit. But it’s not heavy–the plot is suspenseful, moves at a rapid pace, and is heavily sprinkled with fascinating characters. Despite the well-wrapped-up ending, this book screams for a sequel.–Kyle Lukoff, Corlears School, New York City

PECK, Richard. The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail. illus. by Kelly Murphy. 240p. Dial. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3838-6. LC 2012027992.
Gr 4-6–Mouse Minor is the smallest mouse in the Royal Mews of Queen Victoria’s Buckingham Palace. Raised by kindly Aunt Marigold, he has no real family. He doesn’t even have a proper name–just a nickname. All he knows is that his mother was not a Mews mouse and that his oddly twisted tail marks him as different from his classmates at the Royal Mews Mouse Academy. Mouse Minor violates a cardinal rule of mouse society by accidentally allowing a human to see him dressed in his school uniform. Disgraced, he runs away, hoping to find some clues about who he is and where he came from. His quest takes him from the stables to the palace parade grounds to Victoria’s private chambers, but even the great Queen herself can’t give him all the answers he seeks. Set against the background of the 1897 Diamond Jubilee, the story portrays a secret animal society existing in the shadows of the human world. Mice, cats, horses, and other creatures have schools, armies, titles, and industries. Cultural attitudes and social ranks parallel the human ones, although because of the difference in life spans, the animal society moves a bit faster. Attractive mouse’s-eye-view drawings help establish the relationship between these two halves of Victorian society. With a plucky hero, exciting plot, and a satisfying, if somewhat predictable resolution, Peck’s latest is a gentle homage to old-school adventure tales.–Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL

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

Grades 5-8 Fiction

ABDEL-FATTAH, Randa. The Friendship Matchmaker Goes Undercover. 208p. Walker. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-3485-3.

ARMSTRONG, K. L. & M. A. Marr. Loki’s Wolves. Bk. 1. 360p. (The Blackwell Pages Series). illus. Little, Brown. 2013. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-316-20496-5. LC 2012029851.

BOSCH, Pseudonymous. Write This Book: A Do-It-Yourself Mystery. illus. by Gilbert Ford. 276p. (Secret Series). Little, Brown. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-316-20781-2.

BURNS, T. R. A World of Trouble. Bk. 2. 384p. (Merits of Mischief Series). S & S/Aladdin. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4032-6; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-4034-0.

CAMERON, Anne. The Lightning Catcher. 416p. illus. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-211276-7; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-06-211278-1. LC 2012042848.

CASTRO, Adam-Troy. Gustav Gloom and the Nightmare Vault. Bk. 2. illus. by Kristen Margiotta. 248p. Grosset & Dunlap. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-448-45834-2. LC 2012012898.

COLUMBUS, Chris & Ned Vizzini. House of Secrets. illus. by Greg Call. 496p. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-219246-2.

DANESHVARI, Gitty. Ghoulfriends Just Want to Have Fun. Bk. 2. illus. by Darko Dordevic. 262p. (Monster High Series). Little, Brown. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-316-22253-2. LC 2012048544.

DE LINT, Charles. The Cats of Tanglewood Forest. illus. by Charles Vess. 285p. Little, Brown. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-316-05357-0. LC 2011042982.

FARRANT, Natasha. After Iris. 260p. Dial. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3982-6.

FLEMING, David. The Saturday Boy. 261p. Viking. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-78551-3. LC 2012029680.

FROST, Helen. Salt: A Story of Friendship in a Time of War. 160p. glossary. Farrar/Frances Foster. July 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-374-36387-1. LC 2012029521.

GARZA, Xavier. Maximilian and the Bingo Rematch: A Lucha Libre Sequel. illus. by author. 208p. Cinco Puntos. July 2013. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-935955-59-7; pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-1-935955-46-7; ebook $12.95. ISBN 978-1-935955-47-4. LC 2012043173.

GOLDBLATT, Mark. Twerp. 275p. Random. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97142-6; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97143-3; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97144-0. LC 2012005033.

GOLDEN, Laura. Every Day After. 224p. Delacorte. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74326-6; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-99103-5; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-307-98312-1. LC 2012015770.

GRABENSTEIN, Chris. Riley Mack Stirs Up More Trouble. 325p. HarperCollins/Harper. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-202622-4; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-220297-0. LC 2012022148.

HAIG, Matt. To Be a Cat. illus. by Stacy Curtis. 304p. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5405-7; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-5407-1. LC 2012028520.

HARRISON, Mette Ivie. The Rose Throne. 400p. Egmont USA. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-365-9.

HAWKINS, Rachel. School Spirits. 297p. Hyperion/Disney. 2013. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-4849-4. LC 2012046402.

HEALY, Christopher. The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle. Bk. 2. illus. by Todd Harris. 480p. (Hero’s Guide Series). HarperCollins/Walden Pond. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-211845-5. LC 2012050668.

HOLT, Christopher. Dark Waters. Bk. 2. illus. by Allen Douglas. 324p. (The Last Dogs Series). Little, Brown. 2013. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-316-20012-7. LC 2012030639.

HUGHES, Alison. Poser. 160p. Orca. 2013. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-4598-0147-9; ebook $7.99. ISBN 978-1-4598-0149-3. LC 2012952942.

JONES, Ursula. Star Turn. 368p. glossary. Inside Pocket. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-9084581-6-2.

KITTREDGE, Caitlin. The Mirrored Shard. Bk. 3. 304p. (Iron Codex Series). Delacorte. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73833-0; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90722-4; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98570-6.

KLINE, Lisa Williams. Winter’s Tide. Bk. 4. 240p. (Sisters in All Seasons Series). Zonderkidz. 2013. pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-310-72619-7.

MADDISON, Kate. The Incredible Charlotte Sycamore. 282p. Holiday House. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-2737-6. LC 2012019564.

MAYO, Simon. Itch: The Explosive Adventures of an Element Hunter. 426p. Sterling/Splinter. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-4549-0509-7.

NESBET, Anne. A Box of Gargoyles. 368p. HarperCollins/Harper. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-210425-0.

PERL, Erica S. Aces Wild. 224p. glossary. Knopf. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-307-93172-6; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97104-4; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97547-8. LC 2012023335.

PHILLIPS, Gin. The Hidden Summer. 208p. Dial. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3836-2.

PRYCE, Trevor with Joel Naftali. An Army of Frogs. Bk. 1. illus. by Sanford Greene. 273p. (Kulipari Series). Abrams/Amulet. 2013. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0172-6. LC 2012027726.

REESE, Jenn. Mirage. Bk. 2. 368p. (Above World Series). Candlewick. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5418-4; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6364-3. LC 2012943643.

RODKEY, Geoff. New Lands. Bk. 2. 304p. (The Chronicles of Egg Series). Putnam. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25786-5.

SANDERSON, Brandon. The Rithmatist. illus. by Ben McSweeney. 368p. Tor. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7653-2032-2; ebook ISBN 978-1-4299-5316-0.

SCOTT, Jerry. Chillax. illus. by Jim Borgman. 256p. (Zits Series). HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-222851-2. LC 2013931374.

SHULMAN, Polly. The Wells Bequest: A Companion to The Grimm Legacy.288p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25646-2. LC 2012036571.

SHUSTERMAN, Neal. Ship Out of Luck. 304p. Dutton. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-525-42226-6.

SMITH, Icy. Three Years and Eight Months. illus. by Jennifer Kindert. 44p. maps. photos. East West. 2013. Tr $20.95. ISBN 978-0-9856237-8-4. LC 2012040668.

VOIGT, Cynthia. Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things. Bk. 1. illus. by Iacopo Bruno. 384p. Knopf. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97681-9; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97123-5; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97683-3. LC 2012033823.

WEISSMAN, Elissa Brent. The Short Seller. 256p. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5255-8; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-5293-0. LC 2012018632.

YOLEN, Jane & Adam Stemple. The Hostage Prince. Bk. 1. 240p. (The Seelie Wars Series). Viking. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01434-7.

CLEMENT-MOORE, Rosemary. Spirit and Dust. 400p. Delacorte. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74080-7; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98970-4; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98271-2.
Gr 9 Up–Daisy Goodnight, a 17-year-old psychic wunderkind, is a college student but occasionally she helps the FBI on murder cases. When the Feds whisk her away for another job, what starts out as a routine homicide investigation turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Enter crime boss Maguire. He kidnaps Daisy to extort her powers to find his kidnapped teenage daughter and to track down the magical Black Jackal, an ancient Egyptian artifact. A secret brotherhood wants the jackal, too, and neither the brotherhood nor Maguire has any scruples about doing whatever it takes to get it. Maguire pairs Daisy with his handsome young thug-with-a-conscience, Carson, and sends them off on a pulse-pumping hunt. What ensues is a perfectly balanced, dynamite combo of action, suspense, mystery, romance, and the paranormal topped off with a dash of humor. Daisy and Carson race across state lines, searching for clues in cemeteries, libraries, and museums. Along the way, they wrestle mummies, flee from the ghost of the Pompeii volcano, and encounter helpful spirit remnants of dead relatives. As Daisy and Carson get closer to the jackal, they discover that it has the potential to unleash unlimited spirit power. In the wrong hands…well, there’s the rub. Daisy is an endearing, strong heroine. Her magical interactions with the spirit world are made utterly believable by finely drawn, evocative details of how she achieves them and the side effects she suffers each time she does. This is one of the best YA novels of the year.–Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Libraries, NC

LAFEVERS, Robin. Dark Triumph. Bk. 2. 400p. (His Fair Assassin Series). Houghton Harcourt. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-547-62838-7.
Gr 9 Up–In this sequel to Grave Mercy (Houghton Harcourt, 2012), Sybella leaves the convent where she has learned her assassin’s skills and returns to Brittany, where she must endure her father’s unspeakable cruelty and the incestuous love of her half brother. Determined to undermine D’Albret at every turn and stay loyal to Duchess Anne, she carries out covert operations and looks for opportunities to use her skills and bring evildoers to justice. She helps to foil a plot to capture Anne and frees the Beast of Waroch, the duchess’s most loyal and fierce champion, from D’Albret’s prison, all the while waiting for an opening to kill her father. When the knight knocks her out and takes her along with him, her cover is blown and she despairs that no one will be able to stop D’Albret’s reign of terror. As with the first book, LaFevers has filled the pages of her novel with adventure, and the pace is electrifyingly fast. The characters are well drawn, and even the secondary figures have dimension. Sybella’s quick-thinking and fearless approach to terrifying personal and political situations renders her an incredibly strong protagonist with whom readers will identify. The love that develops between her and Beast provides a model of a healthy relationship built on mutual trust and understanding. Realistic details of 15th-century Breton life abound, providing an overall clear and accurate picture of the times. There is much talk about St. Mortain as the Lord of Death, which some may find disturbing, but these topics are handled well and the story will leave readers eager for the series’ finale.–Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, formerly at LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI

MADISON, Bennett. September Girls. 352p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-125563-2.
Gr 10 Up–Before the school year is even completely over, Sam’s dad quits his job and takes the 17-year-old and his older brother, who’s home from college, to a sleepy Outer Banks beach town for the summer. Sam’s mom left abruptly months earlier and the three are still reeling from her sudden departure. Ensconced in a rundown rental, the boys spend the summer partying, swimming, and trying to get to know the beautiful, blond, ephemeral-looking girls who seem to be everywhere in town. There’s something odd about them; for one thing they can’t take their eyes off Sam–which is not a problem he’s used to. It turns out that he holds the key to unlocking the curse that has been cast upon the lovely young women. Well, he can help one of them at least. Legends of mermaids, magic, and curses coupled with teenage lust and in-your-face raunchy lingo (including myriad derogatory references to girls and sexual innuendos) make this a unique attempt to combine seemingly disparate elements. This novel is Hans Christian Andersen’s “Little Mermaid” meets modern teenage angst. Sam’s voice rings true and is quite compelling as he copes with his mother’s abandonment and his first forays into love. A fairy tale for a decidedly older audience.–Ragan O’Malley, Saint Ann’s School, Brooklyn, NY

SULLIVAN, Tara. Golden Boy. 368p. glossary. Putnam. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-16112-4.
Gr 8 Up–Habo, 13, knows that his albinism makes him a zeruzeru, less than a person. His skin burns easily, and his poor eyesight makes school almost impossible. People shun or mock him. Unable to accept his son’s white skin and yellow hair, his father abandoned the family, and they cannot manage their drought-ravaged farm in a small Tanzanian village. Habo and his mother, sister, and brother travel across the Serengeti to seek refuge with his aunt’s family in Mwanza. Along the way, they hitch a ride with an ivory poacher, Alasiri, who kills elephants without remorse for the money the tusks bring. In Mwanza, the family learns that one commodity can fetch even higher prices: a zeruzeru. Rich people will pay handsomely for albino body parts, and Alasiri plans to make his fortune. Habo must flee to Dar es Salaam before he is killed. After a harrowing escape, he reaches the city and miraculously encounters a person to whom his appearance makes no difference: a blind woodcarver named Kweli. Slowly Habo develops a sense of self-worth as well as carving skills. When Alasiri brings ivory for Kweli to carve, the boy and old man work with the police to send the hunter to prison. Habo’s gripping account propels readers along.  His narrative reveals his despair, anger, and bewilderment, but there are humorous moments, too. Although fortuitous encounters and repeated escapes may seem unlikely, the truth underlying the novel is even more unbelievable. In Tanzania, people with albinism have been maimed and killed for their body parts, thought to bring good luck. Readers will be haunted by Habo’s voice as he seeks a place of dignity and respect in society. An important and affecting story.–Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

TUCHOLKE, April Genevieve. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. 368p. Dial. Aug. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3889-8. LC 2012035586.
Gr 10 Up–With their beloved grandmother, Freddie, deceased and their artistic, absentee parents blowing the family money abroad, 17-year-old twins Violet and Luke are as neglected as Citizen Kane, their formerly grand and now dilapidated home on a seaside cliff. Antagonistic Luke and sultry neighbor Sunshine are Violet’s only company until she rents the guesthouse to enigmatic River West. His crooked smile, discerning palate, and penchant for lying leave Violet both enamored and distrustful. He is cavalier with the mind-manipulating supernatural power he is unable, and somewhat reluctant, to control. In a small town with its fair share of lurid tales, River’s appearance brings with it devil sightings, missing children, and disturbing deaths. Tucholke’s gothic tone, plot, and setting, complete with a deteriorating estate full of dark family secrets, is reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier or YA fare such as Kami Garcia’s and Margaret Stohl’s Beautiful Creatures (Little, Brown, 2009). Violet’s narration is frank and perceptive, livened with humor and an almost poetically descriptive lilt. She is a combination of naive and mature, having grown up in relative seclusion with limited supervision. Violet and River’s attraction is palpable, but their romance is tainted by his shifty morals and shady charm. Swearing and sexual situations are non-gratuitous. Adults are easily appeased and generally turn a blind eye. Give this one to fans of creepy mysteries, particularly tales that don’t skimp on the violence. They’ll appreciate the conclusion’s heart-pounding, bile-rising standoff.–Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ

WASSERMAN, Robin. The Waking Dark. 464p. Knopf. Sept. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86877-1; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96877-8; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89962-1. LC 2012032802.
Gr 9 Up–This contemporary thriller opens on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon in a small town in Kansas, when five people with no connection to one another inexplicably commit murders and then kill, or attempt to kill, themselves. This becomes known as “the killing day,” and no one has an explanation for it. The dark story is told from the perspectives of five teenagers, each of whom suffers in a different way due to the crimes, but it’s nearly a year before their linked lives truly converge. After a devastating tornado, the entire town is quarantined and the adults are descending into violent madness. The five teens seem to be the only ones who realize something terrible is happening; they struggle both to stay alive and unravel what’s really going on and who is responsible. While the number of protagonists can be confusing at times, their alternating stories are all compelling. Great dialogue and intriguing subplots add to the action-packed story, which will have readers frantically flipping pages. Wasserman sustains a truly spooky mood throughout, and the suspense doesn’t let up until the final pages.–Sunnie Lovelace, Wallingford Public Library, CT

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

Grades 9 Up Fiction

ANONYMOUS. Letting Ana Go. 288p. S & S/Simon Pulse. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-7223-5; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-7213-6; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-7214-3. LC 2012956565.

ARCHER, Jennifer. The Shadow Girl. 336p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-183460-8; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-220300-7.

ARNOLD, Elana K. Burning. 320p. Delacorte. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74334-1; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-99108-0; ebook ISBN 978-0-449-81076-7.

BARON, Ruth. Defriended. 256p. Scholastic/Point. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-545-42357-1.

BARSON, K. A. 45 Pounds (More or Less). 256p. Viking. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-78482-0.

BASKIN, Nora Raleigh. Surfacing. 192p. Candlewick. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4908-1. LC 2012942396.

BINGHAM, Kelly. Formerly Shark Girl. 342p. Candlewick. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5362-0; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6406-0.

BRADBURY, Jennifer. A Moment Comes. 288p. glossary. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-7876-3; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-8302-6.

CAMERON, Emma. Out of This Place. 416p. Candlewick. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6404-6. LC 2012942672.

CASTLE, Jennifer. You Look Different in Real Life. 355p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-198581-2. LC 2012051743.

COLASANTI, Susane. All I Need. 224p. Viking. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01423-1.

COLFER, Eoin. The Reluctant Assassin. Bk. 1. 341p. (W.A.R.P. Series). Hyperion/Disney. 2013. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-6162-2. LC 2012048160.

CÓRDOVA, Zoraida. The Savage Blue. Bk. 2. 416p. (The Vicious Deep Series). Sourcebooks/Fire. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4022-8206-5.

DAVIES, Anna. Identity Theft. 250p. Scholastic/Point Horror. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-545-47712-3.

DEEBS, Tracy. Doomed. 470p. Walker. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-2373-4. LC 2011050974.

DESSEN, Sarah. The Moon and More. 384p. Viking. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-670-78560-5.

DOKTORSKI, Jennifer Salvato. Famous Last Words. 288p. Holt/Christy Ottaviano. July 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9367-4.

DOS SANTOS, Steven. The Culling. Bk. 1. 421p. (The Torch Keeper Series). Flux. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7387-3537-5.

FARIZAN, Sara. If You Could Be Mine. 256p. Algonquin. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-61620-251-4.

FITZGERALD, Helen. Deviant. 256p. SohoTeen. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-61695-139-9; ebook $17.99. ISBN 978-1-61695-140-5.

FLINN, Alex. Towering. 304p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-202417-6; PLB $18.89. ISBN 978-0-06-202418-3; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-220921-4.

FLORES-SCOTT, Patrick. Jumped In. 304p. Holt/Christy Ottaviano. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9514-2.

FRAIBERG, Jordanna. Our Song. 336p. Penguin/Razorbill. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-268-9.

GOULD, Sasha. Heart of Glass. 326p. Delacorte. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74152-1; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-99008-3; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98541-6. LC 2012014714.

GRAY, Claudia. Spellcaster. 400p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-196120-5; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-06-220130-0. LC 2012025331.

GRIFFO, Michael. Moonglow. Bk. 1. 408p. (The Darkborn Legacy Series). Kensington/KTeen. 2013. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7582-8072-5.

GURTLER, Janet. How I Lost You. 320p. Sourcebooks/Fire. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4022-7794-8.

HIATT, Fred. Nine Days. 239p. Delacorte. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74273-3; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-99073-1; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97727-4. LC 2012008653.

HOWLAND, Leila. Nantucket Blue. 294p. Hyperion/Disney. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-6051-9. LC 2012035121.

KADE, Stacey. The Rules. 416p. (Project Paper Doll Series). Hyperion/Disney. 2013. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-5328-3. LC 2012033732.

KENNEALLY, Miranda. Things I Can’t Forget. 320p. Sourcebooks/Fire. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4022-7190-8.

KLASS, David & Perri Klass. Second Impact. 336p. photos. Farrar/Frances Foster. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-37996-4.

KONIGSBERG, Bill. Openly Straight. 336p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-50989-3; ebook $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-50990-9.

LAWSON, Shandy. The Loop. 208p. Hyperion/Disney. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-6089-2. LC 2012025510.

LEVEEN, Tom. ManicPixieDreamGirl. 241p. Random. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-87005-7; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-87060-6; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97576-8. LC 2012027694.

LIEBERMAN, Leanne. Lauren Yanofsky Hates the Holocaust. 240p. Orca. 2013. pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-1-4598-0109-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4598-0111-0. LC 2012952950.

LINDSEY, Mary. Ashes on the Waves. 384p. Philomel. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-399-15939-8.

LORENTZ, Dayna. No Easy Way Out. Bk. 2. 480p. (No Safety in Numbers Series). Dial. July 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3874-4. LC 2012032618.

LYNE, Jennifer H. Catch Rider. 288p. Clarion. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-86871-4. LC 2012022616.

MAFI, Tahereh. Unravel Me. 470p. HarperCollins/Harper. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-208553-5; ebook $11.99. ISBN 978-0-06-208556-6.

MARTIN, T. Michael. The End Games. 369p. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-220180-5. LC 2012038108.

MCENTIRE, K. D. Never. Bk. 3. 300p. (Lightbringer Series). PYR. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-61614-771-6.

MCGARRY, Katie. Dare You To. 480p. Harlequin Teen. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-373-21063-3.

MCGOWAN, Jennifer. Maid of Secrets. 416p. (Maids of Honor Series). S & S. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4138-5; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-4140-8. LC 2012033573.

MCVOY, Terra Elan. Criminal. 269p. S & S/Simon Pulse. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2162-2; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2164-6. LC 2012022801.

MEADOWS, Jodi. Asunder. Bk. 2. 416p. (An Incarnate Novel Series). HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-206078-5; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-206080-8. LC 2012009696.

MITCHELL, Saundra, ed. Defy the Dark. 480p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-212354-1; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-212353-4. LC 2012029993.

MLAWSKI, Shana. Hammer of Witches. 384p. Lee & Low/Tu. 2013. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-1-60060-987-9; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-60060-988-6. LC 2012048627.

MOULTON, Courtney Allison. Shadows in the Silence. Bk. 3. 480p. (An Angelfire Novel). HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-200239-6; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-220301-4. LC 2012005261.

NOYES, Deborah. Plague in the Mirror. 320p. Candlewick. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5980-6. LC 2012947257.

PATRICK, Cat. The Originals. 304p. Little, Brown. 2013. Tr $18. ISBN 978-0-316-21943-3. LC 2012029853.

PAUL, Fiona. Belladonna. Bk. 2. 352p. (The Secrets of the Eternal Rose Series). Philomel. July 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25726-1. LC 2012029564.

PEARSON, Mary E. Fox Forever. Bk. 3. 304p. (The Jenna Fox Chronicles). Holt. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9434-3; ebook ISBN 978-0-8050-9639-2. LC 2012027677.

QUINN, Kate Karyus. Another Little Piece. 432p. HarperTeen. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-213595-7.

REED, Amy. Over You. 320p. S & S/Simon Pulse. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5696-9.

REEKLES, Beth. The Kissing Booth. 448p. Delacorte. 2013. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-385-37868-0; ebook $6.99. ISBN 978-0-385-37867-3.

ROECKER, Lisa & Laura Roecker. This Is W.A.R. 288p. SohoTeen. July 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-61695-261-7.

SAMPSON, Jeff. Ravage. Bk. 3. 388p. (The Deviants Series). HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-199280-3; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-220293-2. LC 2012028328.

SANDERSON, Brandon. Steelheart. 400p. Delacorte. Sept. 2013. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74356-3.

SCHEIBE, Lindsey. Riptide. 288p. glossary. Flux. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7387-3594-8. LC 2012048951.

SCHNEIDER, Robyn. The Beginning of Everything. 336p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. Aug. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-221713-4; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-06-221715-8.

SEAMON, Hollis. Somebody Up There Hates You. 256p. Algonquin. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-61620-260-6.

STANDIFORD, Natalie. The Boy on the Bridge. 256p. Scholastic. Aug. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-33481-5. LC 2012033037.

STEWART, Paul & Chris Riddell. Returner’s Wealth. Bk. 1. 372p. (Wyrmeweald Series). illus. Open Road. Sept. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4804-1610-9; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4804-1515-7.

SUN, Amanda. Ink. Bk. 1. 384p. (The Paper Gods Series). glossary. illus. Harlequin Teen. July 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-373-21071-8.

WENNICK, Elizabeth. Whatever Doesn’t Kill You. 208p. Orca. 2013. pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-1-4598-0083-0; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4598-0085-4. LC 2012952946.

Digger, Dozer, Dumper (Vestergaard)
©2013 by David Slonim

FLOCA, Brian. Locomotive. illus. by author. 64p. diags. maps. notes. S & S/Atheneum/Richard Jackson Bks. Sept. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9415-2; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-8522-8.
Gr 3-5–It all started with “a new road of rails/made for people to ride” where “covered wagons used to crawl.” Almost 150 years ago–just after the Civil War–the completion of the transcontinental railway radically changed both this country’s landscape and the opportunities of its people. The book traces the advent of cross-country train travel, focusing on an early trip from Omaha to Sacramento. As in Moonshot (2009) and Lightship (2007, both S & S), Floca proves himself masterful with words, art, and ideas. The book’s large format offers space for a robust story in a hefty package of information. Set in well-paced blank verse, the text begins with a quick sketch of “how this road was built” and moves abruptly to the passengers on the platform and the approaching train. The author smoothly integrates descriptions of the structure and mechanics of the locomotive, tasks of crew members, passing landscapes, and experiences of passengers. Simply sketched people and backgrounds, striking views of the locomotive, and broad scenes of unpopulated terrain are framed in small vignettes or sweep across the page. Though a bit technical in explaining engine parts, the travelogue scheme will read aloud nicely and also offers absorbing details for leisurely personal reading. Substantial introductory and concluding sections serve older readers. There’s also a detailed explanation of the author’s efforts and sources in exploring his subject. Train buffs and history fans of many ages will find much to savor in this gorgeously rendered and intelligent effort.–Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston

PINKNEY, Andrea Davis. Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song. illus. by Brian Pinkney. 40p. chron. discography. further reading. Little, Brown. Aug. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-316-07013-3. LC 2012005499.
Gr 2-4–As in Sit-In (Little, Brown, 2010), the Pinkneys present important figures and a pivotal moment during the Civil Rights Movement in a fresh and visually compelling manner. Readers are invited to follow a path and a dove throughout–both images being rich in multiple meanings. The narrative starts with Martin Luther King, Jr.’s upbringing, which trained him to speak the gospel. Rendered in cool blues and greens, the fluid watercolor and ink compositions are less about capturing a likeness than conveying the charisma and soul of this preacher. Mahalia Jackson is portrayed in warm oranges and reds. (When together, purples envelope the pair.) Readers learn that she sang the gospel, from church choirs to recordings, and performances for presidents. Overlaid with ribbons of key words and rounded lines suggesting ripples from the characters’ auras, the pictures provide emotional content for the author’s smart and stylized descriptions. This fascinating new lens for children on the often-depicted “Dream” speech during the March on Washington reveals how Jackson’s powerful voice stilled the crowds for King’s: “She rolled her brass and butter with a MIGHTY DOSE OF THUNDER.” Author and artist indicate how, in the call-and-response manner so familiar to both, it was Jackson who admonished King to, “TELL THEM ABOUT YOUR DREAM, MARTIN!” Ideas and fervor build and important phrases appear in bold colors. Historical context and artistic inspirations wrap up this informative approach to the two icons and the effect of their partnership on history.–Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library

VESTERGAARD, Hope. Digger, Dozer, Dumper. illus. by David Slonim. 32p. Candlewick. Aug. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5078-0. LC 2012947724.
PreS-Gr 2–These delightful, finely crafted, informative, fun verses can serve as Common Core exemplar texts while satisfying truck and poetry fans. Each rig’s function is described with great care and attention to language with seamless rhymes, alliteration, and assonance gracing the selections. Nothing seems forced about Vestergaard’s rhymes; they’re smooth and sure, and easy to set to memory: “After the asphalt’s dumped and spread/in sticky, long black lines,/the road must cure. You can be sure…/Steamroller’s close behind….” About the cherry picker, Vestergaard writes, “The picker pauses in the sky,/plucks its target,/then…/gently, slowly, gracefully, sets it down again,” and in a tour-de-force ending: “digger, dozer, dumper, grader/backhoe, roller, excavator/….” Each poem is presented on a spread with lighthearted acrylic and charcoal illustrations that often include a girl and two boys of various hues and a yellow hard-hat-wearing pup, as well as the rigs themselves with hints of personification in their headlight eyes. There are 16 machines in all: garbage truck, forklift, street sweeper, and so on. The cartoon children are depicted operating the machines, but the final illustration reverses the relationship of object to child; suddenly the children are quite big and their trucks are small and handheld. This book is intelligent and informative, with craft, rhythm, great art, and entertainment.–Teresa Pfeifer, The Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield, MA

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

Preschool to Grade 4 Nonfiction

CLAFLIN, Willy. The Bully Goat Grim: A Maynard Moose Tale. illus. by James Stimson. 32p. glossary. w/CD. August Little Folk. 2013. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-087483-952-4. LC 2012008626.

COLEMAN, Janet Wyman. Eight Dolphins of Katrina: A True Tale of Survival. illus. by Yan Nascimbene. 40p. bibliog. photos. Houghton Harcourt. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-71923-8.

CUMMINS, Julie. Flying Solo: How Ruth Elder Soared into America’s Heart. illus. by Malene R. Laugesen. 32p. bibliog. further reading. websites. Roaring Brook. July 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-509-4. LC 2012029743.

DEMIR, Cengiz. Tales from Nasreddin Hodja. tr. from Turkish by Serdar Aşlar. illus. by Öznur Kalendar. 144p. Tughra Books. 2013. pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-1-59784-285-3.

FORD, Bernette. reteller. Little Red Riding Hood. illus. by Tom Knight. 32p. (A Story House Book Series). Boxer Bks. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-907967-38-2.

GORDON, Nick. Army Night Stalkers. ISBN 978-1-60014-874-3. LC 2012032062.
––––. Marine Corps Force Recon. ISBN 978-1-60014-875-0. LC 2012032050.
––––.Marine Expeditionary Units. ISBN 978-1-60014-876-7. LC 2012032984.
ea vol: 24p. (Epic: U.S. Military Series). further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Bellwether Media. 2013. PLB $22.95.

HAMILTON, John. A-10 Thunderbolt II. ISBN 978-1-61783-685-5. LC 2012946022.
––––.AC-130H/U Gunship. ISBN 978-1-61783-686-2. LC 20129945705.
––––.B-52 Stratofortress. ISBN 978-1-61783-687-9. LC 2012945706.
––––.F-22 Raptor. ISBN 978-1-61783-688-6. LC 2012945865.
––––.UH-60 Black Hawk. ISBN 978-1-61783-689-3. LC 2012045707.
ea vol: 32p. (Xtreme Military Aircraft Set 2 Series). glossary. index. photos. ABDO. 2013. PLB $27.07.

HENEGHAN, Judith. Love Your Cat. ISBN 978-1-4777-0184-3. LC 2012026234.
––––.Love Your Dog. ISBN 978-1-4777-0185-0. LC 2012026233.
––––.Love Your Hamster. ISBN 978-1-4777-0186-7. LC 2012026641.
––––.Love Your Rabbit. ISBN 978-1-4777-0187-4. LC 2012026642.
ea vol: 32p. (Your Perfect Pet Series). glossary. index. photos. websites. Windmill. 2013. PLB $25.25.

HOLLAND, Mary. Ferdinand Fox’s First Summer. 32p. Sylvan Dell. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-60718-614-4; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-60718-626-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-60718-638-0. LC 2012030121.

JOSLIN, Mary. reteller. The Lion Classic Wisdom Stories. illus. by Christina Balit. 128p. Lion Children’s Books. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7459-6369-3.

KIM, Young-Ah. Some Days Are Lonely. tr. from Korean. illus. by Ji-Soo Shin. 32p. Magination. 2013. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-4338-1287-3; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-4338-1288-0. LC 2012035886.

LEPPANEN, Debbie. Trick-or-Treat: A Happy Haunter’s Halloween. illus. by Tad Carpenter. 40p. S & S/Beach Lane. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3398-4; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3399-1. LC 2012004906.

LEWIN, Ted. What Am I? Where Am I? illus. by author. 32p. (I Like to Read Series). Holiday House. Sept. 2013. RTE $14.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-2856-4. LC 2012039289.

LYON, George Ella. Planes Fly! illus. by Mick Wiggins. 40p. S & S/Atheneum/Richard Jackson Bks. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5025-7; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5026-4. LC 2012030310.

MINOR, Florence. If You Were a Panda Bear. illus. by Wendell Minor. 32p. further reading. glossary. websites. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. July 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-195090-2.

NUNES, Shiho S. Chinese Fables: “The Dragon Slayer” and Other Timeless Tales of Wisdom. illus. by Lak-Khee Tay-Audouard. 64p. Tuttle. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8048-4152-8. LC 2012029059.

OWEN, Ruth. Arctic Foxes. ISBN 978-1-4777-0222-2; ISBN 978-1-4777-0240-6. LC 2012026936.
––––.Beluga Whales. ISBN 978-1-4777-0221-5; ISBN 978-1-4777-0239-0. LC 2012026640.
––––.Musk Oxen. ISBN 978-1-4777-0219-2; ISBN 978-1-4777-0237-6. LC 2012020685.
––––.Puffins. ISBN 978-1-4777-0224-6; ISBN 978-1-4777-0242-0.
––––.Snowy Owls. ISBN 978-1-4777-0223-9; ISBN 978-1-4777-0241-3.
––––.Walruses. ISBN 978-1-4777-0220-8; ISBN 978-1-4777-0238-3. LC 2012025846.
ea vol: 32p. (Polar Animals: Life in the Freezer Series). further reading. glossary. index. maps. photos. websites. Windmill. 2013. PLB $25.25; ebook $25.25.

PIVEN, Hanoch. Let’s Make Faces. illus. by author. 40p. S & S/Atheneum. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-1532-4; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-8186-2.

POLISAR, Barry Louis. Something Fishy. illus. by David Clark. 32p. glossary. Rainbow Morning Music. 2013. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-0-938663-53-9.

ROSE, Deborah Lee & Susan Kelly. Jimmy the Joey: The True Story of an Amazing Koala Rescue. photos by Susan Kelly. 32p. further reading. maps. websites. National Geographic. July 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-4263-1371-4; PLB $25.90. ISBN 978-1-4263-1372-1.

SHAPIRO, David. Tool. Time. Twist.: A Brief History of Tools Through Time. illus. by Christopher Herndon. 48p. Craigmore Creations. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-9844422-7-0.

WEGERIF, Gay. Up Close. illus. by author. 30p. Abrams/Appleseed. 2013. BD $12.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0391-1.

WHEELER, Jill C. Dav Pilkey. ISBN 978-1-61783-577-3; ISBN 978-1-61480-724-7. LC 2012946383.
––––.Rick Riordan. ISBN 978-1-61783-578-0; ISBN 978-1-61480-725-4. LC 2012946385.
––––.Yuyi Morales. ISBN 978-1-61783-576-6; ISBN 978-1-61480-723-0. LC 2012946367.
ea vol: 24p. (Children’s Authors Series). glossary. index. photos. reprods. websites. ABDO. 2013. PLB $17.95; ebook $17.95.

WILD, Margaret. The Dream of the Thylacine. illus. by Ron Brooks. 32p. photos. Trafalgar Square. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-74237-383-6.

WINTERS, Kari-Lynn. Buzz About Bees. 32p. charts. diags. further reading. glossary. illus. index. maps. photos. Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2013. RTE $19.95. ISBN 978-1-55455-202-3.

WORTH, Bonnie. Hark! A Shark!: All About Sharks. illus. by Aristides Ruiz. 48p. (The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library Series). further reading. glossary. illus. Random. 2013. Tr $8.99. ISBN 978-0-375-87073-6; PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97073-3. LC 2011048247.

WRIGHT, Danielle, ed. Korean Nursery Rhymes: Wild Geese, Land of Goblins and Other Favorite Songs and Rhymes. tr. by Jenny Wang Medina, Binna Lee et al. illus. by Helen Acraman. 32p. w/CD. Tuttle. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8048-4227-3. LC 2012029066.

YOLEN, Jane. Wee Rhymes: Baby’s First Poetry Book. illus. by Jane Dyer. 112p. index. S & S/Paula Wiseman Bks. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-4898-8. LC 2012015136.

SHEN, Prudence & Faith Erin Hicks. Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong. illus. by Faith Erin Hicks. 280p. First Second. 2013. pap. $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-659-6.
Gr 6-9–The next student-body president will decide if the school will fund cheerleader uniforms or a robotics competition, and the cheerleaders are forcing the basketball captain to run against his friend Nate, the robotics club president. The line between jocks and nerds begins to waver, however, when the two warring factions enter a robot rumble for the prize money. The robot death matches are suspenseful and, like much of this novel, effectively illustrated with cinematic paneling and few words. Hicks’s angular illustrations nod to manga and are wonderfully expressive: the haughty cheerleaders are truly chilling. Tweens, teens, and all robot fans should enjoy this good-humored play on the ongoing battle between jocks and geeks.–Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

YANG, Gene Luen. Boxers. 336p. ISBN 978-1-59643-359-5. pap. $18.99.
––––.Saints. 176p. ISBN 978-1-59643-689-3. pap. $15.99.
ea vol: illus. by author. (Boxers & Saints Series). further reading. First Second. Oct. 2013.
Gr 9 Up–Acclaimed graphic novelist Yang brings his talents to historical fiction in these paired novels set during China’s Boxer Rebellion (1899-1900). In Boxers, life in Little Bao’s peaceful rural village is disrupted when “foreign devils”–a priest and his phalanx of soldiers–arrive. The foreigners behave with astonishing arrogance, smashing the village god, appropriating property, and administering vicious beatings for no reason. Little Bao and his older brothers train in kung fu and swordplay in order to defend against them, and when Little Bao learns how to tap into the power of the Chinese gods, he becomes the leader of a peasant army, eventually marching to Beijing. Saints follows a lonely girl from a neighboring village. Unwanted by her family, Four-Girl isn’t even given a proper name until she converts to Catholicism and is baptized–by the very same priest who bullies Little Bao’s village. Four-Girl, now known as Vibiana, leaves home and finds fulfillment in service to the Church, while Little Bao roams the countryside committing acts of increasing violence as his army grows. Mysticism plays a part in both stories, and Yang’s spare, clean drawing style makes it clear that Vibiana’s visits from Joan of Arc and Bao’s invocation of the powerful Chinese gods are very real to these characters. The juxtaposition of these opposing points of view, both of them sympathetic, makes for powerful, thought-provoking storytelling about a historical period that is not well known in the West.–Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD

For all the latest reviews in this subject area and more, check out our new Book Verdict site! Book Verdict is fully accessible to all users, though certain content and functionality are only available to subscribers.To log in to your account, click here. To view the new subscription options, Get Started With Book Verdict ProToday.Don’t know if you have an account with us? It’s easy to check and verify your email, or create a new account.

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

Elementary and Middle School

CLIFF, Tony. Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant. illus. by author. 170p. First Second. Aug. 2013. pap. $15.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-813-2.

EATON, Maxwell, III. The Flying Beaver Brothers and the Mud-Slinging Moles. Bk. 3. ISBN 978-0-449-81020-0; ISBN 978-0-449-81019-4. LC 2012034046.
––––. The Flying Beaver Brothers: Birds vs. Bunnies. Bk. 4. ISBN 978-0-449-81023-1; ISBN 978-0-449-81022-4.
ea vol: illus. by author. 96p. Knopf. July 2013. PLB $12.99; pap. $7.99.

EMERSON, Sharon. SPF 40. illus. by Renée Kurilla. 128p. (Zebrafish Series). S & S/Atheneum. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9708-5; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9709-2; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5034-9. LC 2012014883.

GUIBERT, Emmanuel. Just a Donkey Like You and Me. Bk. 1. tr. from French by Joe Johnson. illus. by Marc Boutavant. 124p. (Ariol Series). Papercutz. 2013. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-1-59707-399-8.

HARDMAN, John. Little Miss Daredevil: The Incredible Race! illus. by Bryan Beach. ISBN 978-1-4215-4072-6.

KENNY, Michael Daedalus. Mr. Strong: Good Thing I Came Along! illus. by Gabriel Corbera. ISBN 978-1-4215-4073-3.
ea vol: 80p. (Mr. Men Little Miss Series). Viz Media. 2013. pap. $6.99.

KREDENSOR, Diane. Ollie & Moon: Aloha! illus. by author. 48p. (Step Into Reading Comic Readers Series). Random. 2013. PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97131-0; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97950-6; ebook ISBN 978-0-375-98129-6. LC 2012019152.

LEMKE, Donald. The Invincible Boy-Bot. illus. by Douglas Holgate. 128p. (Zinc Alloy Series). Capstone. 2013. pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-1-4342-4597-7.

ROMAN, Dave. Re-Entry. illus. by author. 192p. (Astronaut Academy Series). First Second. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-621-3.

SCHWARZ, Viviane. The Sleepwalkers. illus. by author. 96p. Candlewick. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6230-1. LC 2012947253.

SHELLEY, Mary. Gris Grimly’s Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus: Assembled From the Original Text by Mary Shelley in Three Volumes. adapt. by Gris Grimly. illus. by adapter. 208p. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. Aug. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-06-186297-7; ebook $11.99. ISBN 978-0-06-223922-8. LC 2010046237.

TATULLI, Mark. Liō: Making Friends. illus. by author. 224p. Andrews McMeel/Amp! Comics for Kids Series. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4494-2558-6. LC 2012952343.

TENNAPEL, Doug. Tommysaurus Rex. illus. by author. 144p. Scholastic Graphix. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-545-48382-7; pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-545-48383-4. LC 2012945113.

VANSANT, Wayne. The Graphic History of Gettysburg: America’s Most Famous Battle and the Turning Point of the Civil War. illus. by author. 96p. charts. diags. maps. Zenith. 2013. pap. $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7603-4406-4.

High School

CHEN, Wei Dong. The Family Plot. Vol. 2. ISBN 978-8-9942-0891-6.
––––.Revenge and Betrayal. Vol. 4. ISBN 978-8-9942-0895-4.
––––.To Pledge Allegiance. Vol. 3. ISBN 978-8-9942-0893-0.
ea. vol: illus. by Xiao Long Liang. 172p. (Three Kingdoms Series). maps. JR*Comics. 2013. pap. $9.99.

DURIEUX, Christian. An Enchantment. tr. from French by Joe Johnson.illus. by author. 72p. notes. NBM/ComicsLit. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-56163-705-8. LC 2012950214.

LARSON, Hope. Who Is AC? illus. by Tintin Pantoja. 176p. S & S/Atheneum.2013. Tr $21.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-6540-4; pap. $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2650-4. LC 2011052616.

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

Grades 5 & Up Nonfiction

ALOIAN, Molly. George Washington: Hero of the American Revolution. ISBN 978-0-7787-0799-8.
––––.Phillis Wheatley: Poet of the Revolutionary Era. ISBN 978-0-7787-0803-2.
COCCA, Lisa Colozza. Marquis de Lafayette: Fighting for America’s Freedom. ISBN 978-0-7787-0802-5.
ROBERTS, Steve. King George III: England’s Struggle to Keep America. ISBN 978-0-7787-0800-1.
ea vol: 48p. (Understanding the American Revolution Series). bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. maps. photos. reprods. websites. Crabtree. 2013. PLB $30.60.

CORNIOLEY, Pearl Witherington with Hervé Larroque. Code Name Pauline: Memoirs of a World War II Special Agent. ed. by Kathryn Atwood. 208p. appendix. bibliog. index. maps. notes. photos. Chicago Review. Aug. 2013. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-61374-487-1.

CRAFT, Jerry & Kathleen Sullivan. Pitching for the Stars: My Seasons Across the Color Line. 136p. bibliog. index. photos. Texas Tech Univ. 2013. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-0-89672-787-8; ebook $14.95. ISBN 978-0-89672-788-5.

DOESCHER, Ian. William Shakespeare’s Star Wars®: Verily, A New Hope. illus. by Nicolas Delort. 170p. Quirk. July 2013. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-59474-637-6; ebook $14.95. ISBN 978-1-59474-655-0. LC 2012953985.

EVYAGOTAILAK, Darla & Mindy Willett. No Borders: Kigliqangittuq. 34p. (The Land Is Our Storybook Series). diags. glossary. illus. maps. Fifth House. 2013. RTE $19.95. ISBN 978-1-92708-307-9.

FITZGERALD, Michael Oren. Children of the Tipi: Life in the Buffalo Days. 40p. maps. photos. Wisdom Tales. 2013. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-937786-09-0.

FURGANG, Adam & Kathy Furgang. Cultivating Positive Peer Groups and Friendships. ISBN 978-1-4488-8311-0; ISBN 978-1-4488-8317-2; ISBN 978-1-4488-8324-0. LC 2012017872.
LANDAU, Jennifer.Dealing with Bullies, Cliques, and Social Stress. ISBN 978-1-4488-8313-4; ISBN 978-1-4488-8321-9; ISBN 978-1-4488-8325-7. LC 2012009244.
MEYER, Terry.Navigating a New School. ISBN 978-1-4488-8312-7; ISBN 978-1-4488-8319-6; ISBN 978-1-4488-8326-4. LC 2012018548.
WATSON, Stephanie.How Not to Choke on Tests: Achieving Academic and Testing Success. ISBN 978-1-4488-8310-3; ISBN 978-1-4488-8315-8; ISBN 978-1-4488-8323-3.
ea vol: 64p. (The Middle School Survival Handbook Series). bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Rosen Central. 2013. PLB $31.95; pap. $12.95; ebook $31.95.

GAY, Kathlyn. Bigotry and Intolerance: The Ultimate Teen Guide. 182p. (It Happened to Me Series). bibliog. notes. photos. websites. Scarecrow. 2013. Tr $50. ISBN 978-0-8108-8360-4; ebook $49.99. ISBN 978-0-8108-8361-1. LC 2012043200.

GIBSON, Karen Bush. Women Aviators: 26 Stories of Pioneer Flights, Daring Missions, and Record-Setting Journeys. 240p. (Women of Action Series). bibliog. further reading. glossary. photos. websites. Chicago Review Press. July 2013. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-61374-540-3.

HILMERS, David with Rick Houston. Man on a Mission: The David Hilmers Story. 144p. photos. Zonderkidz. 2013. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-310-73613-4.

HODGES, Henry & Margaret Engel. How to Act Like a Kid: Backstage Secrets of a Young Performer. 256p. further reading. glossary. photos. reprods. websites. Disney. 2013. pap. $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-6320-6.

KENNEY, Karen Latchana. David Karp: The Mastermind Behind Tumblr. 48p. (Gateway Biographies Series). bibliog. chron. further reading. index. notes. photos. reprods. websites. Lerner. 2013. RTE $26.60. ISBN 978-1-4677-1285-9; ebook $19.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-1286-6. LC 2012038057.

KOVACS, Lawrence. Inca: Dicover the Culture and Geography of a Lost Civilization with 25 Projects. illus. by Farah Rizvi. 128p. (Build It Yourself Series). chron. further reading. glossary. index. maps. websites. Nomad. 2013. Tr $21.95. ISBN 978-1-61930-141-2; pap. $15.95. ISBN 978-1-61930-140-5.

LATHAM, Donna. Canals and Dams: Investigate Feats of Engineering. illus. by Andrew Christensen. 128p. (Build It Yourself Series). charts. chron. further reading. glossary. index. maps. websites. Nomad. 2013. Tr $21.95. ISBN 978-1-61930-169-6; pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-1-61930-165-8.

MOONEY, Carla. Forensics: Uncover the Science and Technology of Crime Scene Investigation. illus. by Sam Carbaugh. 128p. (Inquire and Investigate Series). chron. further reading. glossary. index. websites. Nomad. July 2013. pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-1-61930-184-9; Tr $21.95. ISBN 978-1-61930-188-7.

MULDER, Michelle. Pedal It!: How Bicycles Are Changing the World. charts. diags. index. ISBN 978-1-4598-0219-3.
TATE, Nikki. Down to Earth: How Kids Help Feed the World. ISBN 978-1-4598-0423-4.
ea vol: 48p. (Orca Footprints Series). bibliog. illus. photos. reprods. websites. Orca. 2013. Tr $19.95.

MUNDURUKU, Daniel, retel. Amazonia: Indigenous Tales from Brazil. tr. from Portuguese by Jane Springer. illus. by Nikolai Popov. 96p. glossary. Groundwood/House of Anansi. 2013. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-1-55498-185-4.

O’REILLY, Bill. Kennedy’s Last Days: The Assassination That Defined a Generation. 336p. bibliog. chron. diags. further reading. index. maps. notes. photos. reprods. websites. Holt. July 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9802-0.

OWINGS, Lisa. The Black Mamba. ISBN 978-1-60014-877-4. LC 2012035841.
––––.The Black Widow Spider. ISBN 978-1-60014-878-1. LC 2012034292.
––––.The Deathstalker Scorpion. ISBN 978-1-60014-879-8. LC 2012035264.
––––.Killer Bees. ISBN 978-1-60014-880-4. LC 2012031234.
ea vol: 24p. (Nature’s Deadliest Series). further reading. glossary. index. maps. photos. websites. Bellwether Media. 2013. PLB $22.95.

RICHARDSON, Gillian. 10 Plants That Shook the World. illus. by Kim Rosen. 129p. bibliog. chron. further reading. index. maps. photos. Annick. 2013. RTE $24.95. ISBN 978-1-55451-445-8; pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-1-55451-444-1.

RIVKIN, Jennifer. Physical Bullying. ISBN 978-0-7787-7914-8; ISBN 978-0-7787-7919-3. LC 2013000562.
STUCKEY, Rachel. Cyber Bullying. ISBN 978-0-7787-7913-1; ISBN 978-0-7787-7918-6. LC 2013000584.
WEBB, Margaret. Social Bullying. ISBN 978-0-7787-7915-5; ISBN 978-0-7787-7920-9. LC 2013000583.
ea vol: 48p. (Take a Stand Against Bullying Series). further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Crabtree. 2013. PLB $30.60; pap. $10.95.

SANFORD, William R. Apache Chief Geronimo. ISBN 978-0-7660-4093-9. LC 2011048759.
––––.Hunkpapa Lakota Chief Sitting Bull. ISBN 978-0-7660-4097-7. LC 2011050446.
––––.Nez Percé Chief Joseph. ISBN 978-0-7660-4092-2. LC 2011048763.
––––.Oglala Sioux Chief Crazy Horse. ISBN 978-0-7660-4094-6. LC 2011048758.
ea vol: 48p. (Native American Chiefs and Warriors Series). further reading. glossary. index. maps. notes. photos. reprods. websites. Enslow. 2013. PLB $21.26.

SETTERINGTON, Ken. Branded by the Pink Triangle. 196p. appendix. bibliog. charts. chron. map. notes. photos. reprods. Second Story. 2013. pap. $15.95. ISBN 978-1-926920-96-2.

WALKER, Jackie & Pamela Dittmer McKuen. Expressionista: How to Express Your True Self Through (and Despite) Fashion. 224p. appendix. illus. Beyond Words. Sept. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-58270-429-6; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-58270-428-9; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-8523-5.

WEISMAN, Stefanie. The Secrets of Top Students: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Acing High School and College. 288p. charts. notes. Sourcebooks. 2013. pap. $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4022-8079-5.

WEXLER, Bruce. The Hatfields & the McCoys. 176p. charts. photos. reprods. Skyhorse. 2013. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-62087-600-8.

Fiction

APPELT, Kathi. The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp. illus. by Jennifer Bricking. S & S/Atheneum. July 2013. p. 76.

BECKER, Aaron. Journey. illus. by author. Candlewick. July 2013. p. 55.

CLEMENT-MOORE, Rosemary. Spirit and Dust. Delacorte. p. 90.

DAYWALT, Drew. The Day the Crayons Quit. illus. by Oliver Jeffers. Philomel. July 2013. p. 59.

HENKES, Kevin. The Year of Billy Miller. illus. by author. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Sept. 2013. p. 63.

HERRICK, Amy. The Time Fetch. Algonquin. Aug. 2013. p. 82.

KELLER, Laurie. Bowling Alley Bandit. illus. by author. (The Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut). Holt/Christy Ottaviano. p. 64.

LAFEVERS, Robin. Dark Triumph. Bk. 2. (His Fair Assassin Series). Houghton Harcourt. p. 95.

MADISON, Bennett.September Girls. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. p. 96.

MILLER, Pat Zietlow. Sophie’s Squash. illus. by Anne Wilsdorf. Random/Schwartz & Wade. Aug. 2013. p. 67.

PECK, Richard. The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail. illus. by Kelly Murphy. Dial. July 2013. p. 84.

SEEGER, Laura Vaccaro. Bully. illus. by author. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. Aug. 2013. p. 70.

SULLIVAN, Tara. Golden Boy. Putnam. p. 102.

TUCHOLKE, April Genevieve. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Dial. Aug. 2013. p. 102.

WASSERMAN, Robin. The Waking Dark. Knopf. Sept. 2013. p. 102.

WISSINGER, Tamera Will. Gone Fishing. illus. by Matthew Cordell. Houghton Harcourt. p. 74.

WOODSON,Jacqueline. This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration. illus. by James Ransome. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. Aug. 2013. p. 75.

Graphic Novels

PHELAN,Matt. Bluffton. illus. by author. Candlewick. July 2013. p. 104.

SHEN, Prudence & Faith Erin Hicks. Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong. illus. by Faith Erin Hicks. First Second. p. 105.

YANG, Gene Luen. Boxers.pap. $18.99.
––––.Saints. pap. $15.99.
ea vol: illus. by author. (Boxers & Saints Series). First Second. Oct. 2013.

Nonfiction

FLOCA,Brian.Locomotive. illus. by author. S & S/Atheneum/Richard Jackson Bks. Sept. 2013. p. 108.

HOYT, Erich. Weird Sea Creatures. Firefly. July 2013. p. 116.

PINKNEY, Andrea Davis. Martin & Mahalia. illus. by Brian Pinkney. Little, Brown. Aug. 2013. p. 110.

VESTERGAARD, Hope. Digger, Dozer, Dumper. illus. by David Slonim. Candlewick. Aug. 2013. p. 112.

From the Adult Books 4 Teens blog

WOLITZER, Meg. The Interestings. Penguin Group. (May 13 post)

CORVINO, John. What’s Wrong with Homosexuality?. Oxford Univ. (May 29 post)

MILLAY,Katja. The Sea of Tranquility. Atria. (June 5 post)

DVD

Amazing Science! Volume 1. AV Café.p. 43.

Central Park Five. PBS Dist. p. 45.

Fun Foundations for Handwriting. The TV Teacher. p. 41.

Les Misérables. Entertainment One Home Video. p. 43.

YERT: Your Environmental Road Trip. First Run Features.p. 44.

Audio

Bomb. By Steven Sheinkin. Listening Library. p. 52.

Code Name Verity.By Elizabeth Wein. Brilliance Audio. p. 48.

Fox Forever. By Mary E. Pearson. Macmillan Audio. p. 48.

Mojo. By Tim Tharp. Listening Library. p. 49.

Mountains Beyond Mountains. By Tracy Kidder and Michael French. Listening Library. p. 52.

Requiem: Delirium, Book 3. By Lauren Oliver. Listening Library. p. 50.

Scowler. By Daniel Draus. Listening Library. p. 50.

Sha Doo Be Doop.Performed by Miss Nina. Little Monster Records. p. 52.

In my region, I have seen two school districts vote to eliminate school library media specialists in the last months. The problem we encountered when trying to engage in and support advocacy is that we could not locate a clear, brief, impactful, compelling statement describing why school library media specialists are essential.

We could not find an op-ed like piece that said these are the three reasons why school media library media specialists are necessary for children’s success in school. The studies are good, but alone they aren’t sufficient. We found nothing that would stir the public to action or tell them why they should care. This should be easy to find on the ALA or the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) web pages, but it’s not. Until ALA gets out a brief, clear, powerful message, things will only get worse. And ALA is capable of doing incredibly effective advocacy communications. This is not rocket science—just put the message out!

Charlie Parker,
Executive Director
Tampa Bay Library Consortium, FL

Well said and well timed, Rebecca! We can all gain by pushing ALA to strengthen support for school libraries. Effective education is in everyone’s best interests, and teacher librarians are at the heart of student learning. Thanks also for SLJ’s article on the Strengthening America’s Schools Act (“New Education Bill Calls for Effective School Libraries, Extra Helping, June 5, 2013), introduced in the Senate on June 4 by Tom Harkin (D-IA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Jack Reed (D-RI). It includes strong provisions for effective school library programs and is the first piece of legislation to recognize the role school library programs play in student learning since 1965, according to ALA.

Craig Seasholes,
Sanislo Elementary
Seattle Public Schools, WA

Thank you for your compelling editorial. I agree! Barbara Stripling’s ALA presidency is timely and her expertise and passion for school libraries will chart new thinking about the value of school library programming and literacy instruction in the education of youth.

Della Curtis, Coordinator
Office of Library Information Services
Baltimore County Public Schools, MD

Cover design

I love getting the latest copy of School Library Journal, but I am often confused by your choice of covers. There are so many creative possibilities. Although photographs of notable people are interesting, they don’t necessarily serve as a great introduction to the latest issue. How about considering covers which show more about our students and various school environments?

Jill Millard, Librarian
Shaler Area Middle School
Glenshaw, PA

Mark Tuchman, SLJ’s art director, responds: Our cover strategy is simply to create compelling covers that accurately represent the lead feature (or in the case of this month’s SLJ, the issue theme). You’re right that there have been more portrait covers lately, but this hasn’t been intentional. See some of my favorite covers.

Correction: “Test Drive: Is This It for the Nook?” (June 2013, p. 13) included some erroneous information. The statement “Boasting the only E Ink display as readable in the dark bedroom as on a sunny beach, the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight…is the best dedicated ereader on the planet” is incorrect. Since the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight debuted in April 2012, competitors have released similar front-lit E Ink products: Kindle Paperwhite became available in Oct. 2012; Kobo Glo began selling in the U.S. about Nov. 2012; and the Onyx Boox i62HD Firefly is now available in Europe.