Monday Children’s Book Reviews for February 6, 2017

A Dark, Dark Cave by Eric Hoffman

“On a cold night, under a pale moon, a brother and sister explore a dark, dark cave. Strange creatures skitter along the walls while bats brush past. A wild howl makes the cave feel just a teensy bit darker. But readers are in for a delightful surprise when a beam of light reveals a softer side of the cave.”                    [JPB HOFFMAN]

My Dad at the Zoo by Coralie Saudo

“The long-awaited follow up to My Dad Is Big and Strong, My Dad at the Zoo, is another tale of role reversal in which dad reverts to the unsocialized, wild ways of childhood. Probably tired from all of his wearying antics around bedtime, here Dad heads off to the zoo with his son and goes completely zany.”             [JPB SAUDO]

My Dog’s a Chicken by Susan McElroy Montanari

“Lula Mae wants a puppy, but times are hard and she’ll just have to make do. Her family has plenty of chickens, so she decides maybe a chicken can be a dog.

“Pookie, as Lula Mae names her, is an ordinary chicken, but Lula Mae thinks she is very doglike indeed. With a bow in Pookie’s hair, Lula Mae declares her a show dog. When she runs circles around the other chickens, Pookie is a shepherd dog. And when Cousin Tater sneaks up with a snake and Pookie starts bawk, bawk, bawking, well, she’s a guard dog, too. Then Lula Mae’s brother, Baby Berry, wanders away, and who do you think comes to the rescue?”                         [JPB MONTANARI]

Dipper and Mabel and the Curse of the Time Pirates Treasure by Jeffrey Rowe

“Once upon a time . . . travel, Blendin Blandin searches for the legendary Time Pirates’ Treasure, and he needs Dipper and Mabel’s help! They journey through time, exploring the dragon-infested medieval era, the weird-and-wild west, and the laser-and-giant-baby-filled future. Will they make the right choices to find the greatest treasure ever known? Or is it only a matter of time before the twins and Blendin are clutched by the hands of time?! This book features 272 pages of hilarious and thrilling adventures and original artwork!”                                    [J ROWE]

Ticket to India by N. H. Senzai

“A trip to India turns into a grand adventure in this contemporary novel about the Great Partition, from the award-winning author of Saving Kabul Corner and Shooting Kabul.

“A map, two train tickets, and a mission. These are things twelve-year-old Maya and her big sister Zara have when they set off on their own from Delhi to their grandmother’s childhood home of Aminpur, a small town in Northern India. Their goal is to find a chest of family treasures that their grandmother’s family left behind when they fled from India to Pakistan during the Great Partition. But soon the sisters become separated, and Maya is alone. Determined to find her grandmother’s lost chest, she continues her trip, on the way enlisting help from an orphan by named Jai.”               [J SENZAI,N]

Emergency Vehicles by Rod Green

“Lift the flaps and look inside to learn all about amazing emergency vehicles!

“Look inside an ambulance, police car, fire engine, rescue helicopter, lifeboat, and more to discover their inner workings. With more than forty flaps to lift, Stephen Biesty’s award-winning and best-selling artwork brings these rescue vehicles to life in a whole new way.”                    [J629.225 GREEN]

This is my last Monday Children’s Book Reviews blog entry. I have enjoyed sharing them, and I hope you have enjoyed reading them!

Monday Children’s Book Reviews for January 30, 2017

Library Day by Anne Rockwell

“One day, a young boy visits the library for the very first time. While he’s there he listens to stories, reads books and magazines, and learns that there are also movies, crafts, chess, and puppet shows—something for everyone! With simple, lyrical text and bright illustrations that jump off the page, Library Day brings the joys of reading vividly to life.”            [JPB ROCKWELL]

Bounders by Monica Tesler

“In the first book of a brand-new adventure series, 12-year-old Jasper and his friends are the first team of cadets—Bounders—to be trained as high-level astronauts, but they soon learn that Earth Force, the space-military agency that trained them, has an ulterior motive for sending them into space and they must decide whether to rebel against the organization that brought them together, or fulfill their duty and protect the planet at all costs.”                 [J TESLER,M]

It Can’t Be True! 2 by Margaret Parrish

“How many bees does it take to make a jar of honey? Did you know sharks are so sensitive that they can detect the current from batteries 1,000 miles apart? Believe it or not, it’s true!

“Discover more amazing and seemingly impossible facts in It Can’t Be True 2! By combining hard to believe facts with CGI renderings and photographs, this book places information with visual aids that puts everything to scale. Kids will love the weird, out-of-this-world facts for just about anything, and they will be excited to share them with everyone!”     [J031.02 IT]

Monday Children’s Book Reviews for January 23, 2017

Love is My Favorite Thing by Emma Chichester Clark

“Plum has lots of favorite things—catching sticks, her bear, her bed—but really, LOVE is her absolute favorite thing. She loves her family and all the things they do together. Sometimes, however, Plum’s exuberance causes trouble, and she just can’t help being naughty. But fortunately, love is such a great thing that even when she makes mistakes, Plum’s family still adores her.”                          [JPB CLARK]

Every Single Second by Tricia Springstubb

“Twelve-year-old Nella Sabatini’s life is changing too soon, too fast. Her best friend, Clem, doesn’t seem concerned; she’s busy figuring out the best way to spend the ‘leap second’—an extra second about to be added to the world’s official clock. The only person who might understand how Nella feels is Angela, but the two of them have gone from being ‘secret sisters’ to not talking at all.

“Then Angela’s idolized big brother makes a terrible, fatal mistake, one that tears apart their tight-knit community and plunges his family into a whirlwind of harsh publicity and judgment. In the midst of this controversy, Nella is faced with a series of startling revelations about her parents, friends, and neighborhood. As Angela’s situation becomes dangerous, Nella must choose whether to stand by or stand up. Her heart tries to tell her what to do, but can you always trust your heart? The clock ticks down, and in that extra second, past and present merge—the future will be up to her.”                                 [J SPRINGSTUBB,T]

Hello Ruby: Adventures in Coding by Linda Liukas

“Meet Ruby–a small girl with a huge imagination. In Ruby’s world anything is possible if you put your mind to it. When her dad asks her to find five hidden gems Ruby is determined to solve the puzzle with the help of her new friends, including the Wise Snow Leopard, the Friendly Foxes, and the Messy Robots.

“As Ruby stomps around her world kids will be introduced to the basic concepts behind coding and programming through storytelling. Learn how to break big problems into small problems, repeat tasks, look for patterns, create step-by-step plans, and think outside the box. With hands-on activities included in every chapter, future coders will be thrilled to put their own imaginations to work.”         [J005.13 LIUKAS,L]

The Random House Book of Fairy Tales adapted by Amy Ehrlich

“Nineteen of the best-known fairy tales, including ‘Rapunzel,’ ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ ‘Hansel and Gretel,’ and ‘Thumbelina’.”              [J398.21 EHRLICH,A]

Monday Children’s Book Reviews for January 16, 2017

I Am Not A Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer

“A picture book based on a true story about a young First Nations girl who was sent to a residential school. When eight-year-old Irene is removed from her First Nations family to live in a residential school she is confused, frightened, and terribly homesick. She tries to remember who she is and where she came from despite the efforts of the nuns to force her to do otherwise. Based on the life of Jenny Kay Dupuis’ own grandmother, I Am Not a Number brings a terrible part of Canada’s history to light in a way that children can learn from and relate to.”             [J DUPUIS,J]

Treasure of Maria Mamoun by Michelle Chalfoun

“Twelve-year-old Maria lives a lonely, latchkey-kid’s life in the Bronx. Her Lebanese mother is working two nursing jobs to keep them afloat, and Maria keeps her worries to herself, not wanting to be a burden. Then something happens one day between home and school that changes everything. Mom whisks them to an altogether different world on Martha’s Vineyard, where she’s found a job on a seaside estate. While the mysterious bedridden owner—a former film director—keeps her mother busy, Maria has the freedom to explore a place she thought could only exist in the movies. Making friends with a troublesome local character, Maria finds an old sailboat that could make a marvelous clubhouse. She also stumbles upon an old map that she is sure will lead to pirate’s plunder—but golden treasure may not be the most valuable thing she discovers for herself this special summer.”             [J CHALFOUN,M]

One Half From the East by Nadia Hashimi

“Forced to move from Kabul to a small village after her father lost one of his legs in a bomb explosion, Obayda, the youngest of her sisters, dresses as a boy to bring her family luck and encounters an entirely different outside world of play and exploration alongside a fellow bacha posh.”                               [J HASHIMI,N]

Monday Children’s Book Reviews for January 9, 2017

Because of an Acorn by Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer

“Because of an acorn, a tree grows, a bird nests, a seed becomes a flower. Enchanting die-cuts illustrate the vital connections between the layers of an ecosystem in this magical book. Wander down the forest path to learn how every tree, flower, plant, and animal connect to one another in spiraling circles of life. An acorn is just the beginning.”             [JPB SCHAEFER,L]

Hurry Up, Henry by Jennifer Lanthier

“Henry’s mother and father and sister are always telling him to hurry up, and his best friend, Simon, never slows down. Henry doesn’t like to be late. But he doesn’t want to hurry, either. He likes to take his time and often sees things that his family miss in the rush. For Henry’s birthday, Simon arranges for a special present that lets Henry take the time he needs — with his whole family!”         [JPB LANTHIER,J]

Freddie Ramos Rules New York by Jacqueline Jules

“Freddie and his mom are visiting Uncle Jorge in New York City! Just before they leave, Mr. Vaslov gives Freddie a new pair of zapatos to replace the ones that were getting too small. But Freddie worries if his new zapatos will work as well as his old ones. Will Freddie be able to save the day when Uncle Jorge misplaces an engagement ring in the middle of a New York City traffic jam?”                           [J JULES,J]

The Best Bear in All the World: in Which We Join Winnie-the-Pooh For a Year of Adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood by Paul Bright, Brian Sibley, Jeane Willis and Kate Saunders

“The Trustees of the Pooh Properties have commissioned four authors to write in the timeless style of A.A. Milne to create a quartet of charming new adventures for Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their friends. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall: take a trip back to the Hundred Acre Wood with a collection of tales sure to delight year-round.

“One story finds Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet on a quest to discover the ‘Sauce of the Nile’ (they suspect it’s apple). And in another, all the animals rally around poor Eeyore when he thinks he sees another donkey eyeing his clover. Readers of all ages will love rediscovering old friends and making new ones in this essential new volume of Pooh stories.”       [J BEST]

Vanished: True Tales of Mysterious Disappearances by Elizabeth MacLeod

“No one loves a mystery more than Elizabeth MacLeod, author of the award-winning Bones Never Lie and Royal Murder. In her newest book, she presents six compelling stories about some of the world’s most bewildering disappearances.

Readers will be captivated by such true tales as the Alcatraz prison break, where three dangerous convicts engineered a daring escape. Did they live to see freedom, or did they perish in the icy waters surrounding the prison? And will anyone ever know what happened to the captain and crew of the SS Mary Celeste? In 1872, it set out from New York for Genoa, Italy, but everyone on board disappeared for no apparent reason.”         [ J031.02 MACLEOD]

Monday Children’s Book Reviews for January 2, 2017

The Darkest Dark by Astronaut Chris Hadfield

“Young Chris loves pretending he’s a brave astronaut, exploring the universe. Only one problem–at night, he’s afraid of the dark. Only when he watches the moon landing on TV does he realize how exciting the unknown can be. Inspired by the childhood of real-life astronaut Chris Hadfield.”                 [JPB HADFIELD]

Paddington Plays On by Michael Bond

“Paddington is having a wonderful time while on vacation with the Browns in a small French town. He loves exploring and meeting new friends. So how exactly does he end up marching through town as a drummer in the local band? Sure he can keep the beat on the drum. But can keep up with the band?”                 [JE BOND,M]

Big Wish by Brandon Robshaw

“When a shooting star grants Sam a million wishes (as long as they are logically possible) he thinks that he will be able to make his life better at his new school–but he soon learns that you have to be very careful, because wishes can have unexpected consequences.”     [J ROBSHAW,B]

Animal Atlas by James Buckley, Jr.

“Animal Planet’s definitive atlas of animal life takes readers on a continent-by-continent and habitat-by-habitat passport to adventure! Meet fierce snow leopards in the Tibetan mountains, giant helicopter damselflies in the rain forests of Central America, majestic eagles in the temperate forests of North America, and hundreds more fascinating creatures. What is a habitat? How is the North Pole’s animal life different from the South Pole’s? How and why do animals adapt to their environment? Is a food web different from a food chain? Animal Planet Animal Atlas answers all these questions and more in a kid-friendly, accessible format that young readers, parents, teachers, and librarians will adore.”             [J590 BUCKLEY]

 

 

Monday Children’s Book Reviews for December 26, 2016

Kwanzaa is a unique African American celebration that focuses on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement. It is celebrated daily from December 26 to January 1. 

Kwanzaa by Lisa M. Harrington

“Introduces the youngest readers to the traditions, festivities, and history of Kwanzaa”         [JE 394.2612 HERRINGTON]

Kevin’s Kwanzaa by Lisa Bullard

“Kevin is excited for his turn to light the candles on the last night of Kwanzaa. As he narrates through the week of Kwanzaa, readers learn about the origins, purpose, and rituals of this holiday.”                 [ J394.2612 BULLARD]

Kwanzaa by Sheila Anderson

“The Cultural Holidays illustrated nonfiction book Kwanzaa teaches young readers about the background, traditions, foods, and celebrations of the African-American holiday. Easy-to-read text combines with colorful illustrations to provide entertainment and facts for even the youngest audience.”             [J394.2612 ANDERSON]

How to Celebrate the African-American Holiday Kwanzaa

“Observed December 26th through January 1st, Kwanzaa celebrates the joy of family living and honors the contributions of African Americans. Features symbols of the holiday, gift giving guidelines, Kwanzaa foods, and much more.”     [DVD J394.261 HOW]

Arthur’s Perfect Christmas

“Arthur the aardvark’s one-hour Christmas special shows the many ways one can celebrate the holidays. Arthur and his family and friends plan gifts, parties and traditions for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and ‘Baxter Day.'”         [ DVD J ARTHUR’S]

Monday Children’s Book Reviews for December 19, 2016

Time for some fun holiday reading!

Madeline’s Christmas by Ludwig Bemelmans     [JBB BEMELMANS,L]

Penguin’s Christmas Wish by Salina Yoon     [JPB YOON,S]

This First Christmas Night by Laura Godwin     [JPB GODWIN,L]

Christmas for Greta and Gracie by Yasmeen Ismail    [JPB ISMAEL,Y]

Mickey’s Christmas Carol     [J MICKEY’S]

The Biggest Smallest Christmas Present by Harriet Muncaster   [JPB MUNCASTER,H]

The Gingerbread Christmas by Jan Brett     [JPB BRETT,J]

Nonna’s Hanukkah Surprise by Karen Fisman     [JPB FISMAN,K]

Oskar and the Eight Blessings by Richard and Tanya Simon     [JPB SIMON,R]

The Parakeet Named Dreidel by Isaac Bashevis Singer     [JPB SINGER,I]

Bear’s Winter Party by Deborah Hodge     [JPB HODGE,D]

Winter Wonders by Kate Hannigan      [J HANNIGAN,K]

10-Minute Seasonal Crafts for Winter by Annalees Lim     [J745.5 LIM]

Fun and Festive Winter Crafts: Snow Globes, Groundhog Puppets, and Fairy Masks by Randel McGee     [J745.5 McGEE,R]

Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman       [J811.54 SIDMAN]

Monday Children’s Book Reviews for December 12, 2016

The Branch by Mireille Messier and Pierre Pratt

“When a severe ice storm knocks a special branch from her favorite tree, a girl refuses to let it be discarded, and with the help of her neighbor, Mr. Frank, makes something new of it.”               [JPB MESSIER,M]

Buddy and Earl Go Exploring by Maureen Fergus

“Buddy and Earl are safely tucked in for the night; Buddy on his blanket and Earl in his cage. But just as Buddy settles in for a nice, long sleep, Earl says it’s time to say Bon voyage.

“Soon these mismatched pals are at it again, exploring the wilds of the kitchen and defending a lovely lady hedgehog – who may or may not be Mom’s hairbrush – from imminent danger. When they’ve finally vanquished the greatest monster of all – the vacuum cleaner – it’s time for some well-earned shut-eye.

“This second book in the Buddy and Earl series reunites this odd and loveable animal couple: a dog who likes to play by the rules and a hedgehog who knows no limits.”                     [JPB FERGUS,M]

The Water Princess by Susan Verde

“With its wide sky and warm earth, Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is a beautiful land. But clean drinking water is scarce in her small African village. And try as she might, Gie Gie cannot bring the water closer; she cannot make it run clearer. Every morning, she rises before the sun to make the long journey to the well. Instead of a crown, she wears a heavy pot on her head to collect the water. After the voyage home, after boiling the water to drink and clean with, Gie Gie thinks of the trip that tomorrow will bring. And she dreams. She dreams of a day when her village will have cool, crystal-clear water of its own.

“Inspired by the childhood of Burkina Faso–born model Georgie Badiel.”                      [JPB VERDE,S]

The Best Man by Richard Peck

“Archer Magill has spent a lively five years of grade school with one eye out in search of grown-up role models. Three of the best are his grandpa, the great architect; his dad, the great vintage car customizer; and his uncle Paul, who is just plain great. These are the three he wants to be. Along the way he finds a fourth—Mr. McLeod, a teacher. In fact, the first male teacher in the history of the school.

“But now here comes middle school and puberty. Change. Archer wonders how much change has to happen before his voice does. He doesn’t see too far ahead, so every day or so a startling revelation breaks over him. Then a really big one when he’s the best man at the wedding of two of his role models. But that gets ahead of the story.”       [J PECK,R]

Irena’s Children: A True Story of Courage by Tilar J. Mazzeo

“This young readers edition of Irena’s Children tells Irena’s unbelievable story set during one of the worst times in modern history. With guts of steel and unfaltering bravery, Irena smuggled thousands of children out of the walled Jewish ghetto in toolboxes and coffins, snuck them under overcoats at checkpoints, and slipped them through the dank sewers and into secret passages that led to abandoned buildings, where she convinced her friends and underground resistance network to hide them.

“In this heroic tale of survival and resilience in the face of impossible odds, Tilar Mazzeo and adapter Mary Cronk Farrell share the true story of this bold and brave woman, overlooked by history, who risked her life to save innocent children from the horrors of the Holocaust.”                            [JB SENDLEROWA,I]

Monday Children’s Book Reviews for November 28, 2016

Buddy and Earl and the Great Big Baby by Maureen Fergus

“Mom’s friend Mrs. Cunningham is coming for a visit, and she’s bringing her baby! While Buddy the dog tries to explain the ins and outs of babydom to Earl the hedgehog, neither of them is prepared for the chaos the small and adorable creature brings with it. When the baby manages to escape from its cage– which Buddy gently suggests is really just a playpen– it’s up to our favorite odd couple to save the day.” The third book in the Buddy and Earl series.         [JPB FERGUS,M]

Fly Guy’s Ninja Christmas by Todd Arnold

” It is Christmas Eve and Fly Guy realizes that he does not have a present to give to his best friend Buzz–but when he looks around the house searching for something suitable he discovers a stranger in a red suit, and decides to attack with some ninja moves.”  From the Fly Guy series.             [JE ARNOLD,T]

The First Last Day by Dorian Cirrone

“The magic of summer comes to life in this enchanting middle grade debut about an eleven-year-old girl who must save the future by restarting time after she realizes that her wish to relive the last day of summer may not have been such a great thing after all.

“After finding a mysterious set of paints in her backpack, eleven-year-old Haleigh Adams paints a picture of her last day at the New Jersey shore. When she wakes up the next morning, Haleigh finds that her wish for an endless summer with her new friend Kevin has come true. At first, she’s thrilled, but Haliegh soon learns that staying in one place—and time—comes with a price.

“And when Haleigh realizes her parents have been keeping a secret, she is faced with a choice: do nothing and miss out on the good things that come with growing up or find the secret of the time loop she’s trapped in and face the inevitable realities of moving on.

“As she and Kevin set out to find the source of the magic paints, Haleigh worries it might be too late. Will she be able to restart time? Or will it be the biggest mistake of her life?”                 [J CIRRONE,D]

Everything You Need to Ace American History in One Big Fat Notebook: The Complete Middle School Study Guide by Lily Rothman

“An exciting book for all middle schoolers (6th-8th grade) who wish they had taken better notes in american history class or just want to jump to the head of the class. Each Big Fat Notebook is like getting to borrow the notebook of the best student in American history class, the one who not only writes down the important points the teacher makes—noting those crucial “you will get tested on these” facts—but also meticulously transcribes key points from the chalkboard and pastes teacher handouts into her notebook. Part “CliffsNotes,” part workbook, this study hack will help kids focus on the things they need to remember in order to rock their middle school exams and ace american history.

Everything You Need to Ace American History in One Big Fat Notebook covers the following topics and more:

Native Americans
The Colonies
The Revolutionary War
American Expansion
The War of 1812
Civil War Reconstruction
The Industrial Revolution
Immigration Imperialism
World War I & II
The Great Depression
The New Deal
Civil Rights
The Vietnam War
The Cold War
9/11
War in Iraq
Universal Healthcare                                                                [ J973.071 EVERYTHING]