48 Hour Book Challenge Summary

I ended up with 12 hours and 34 minutes of participation. My goal was twelve hours, and I wasn't quite sure I was going to make it...one thing that this Book Challenge (and keeping track of time spent reading) does, is remind you of all the little moments you have throughout the day to read. Fifteen minutes and here and there add up pretty quickly.

On Friday, I had 3 hours and 26 minutes of participation - reading and listening to an audiobook. On Saturday, I started my morning with 15 minutes of blog reading and commenting (and was reminded that it's hard to comment on blogs using my phone) and the rest of my time was spent reading and listening to an audiobook. I ended the day with a total of 3 hours and 20 minutes of participation. And today, I caught up with 5 hours and 48 minutes. I didn't spend any time posting reviews and would've liked to have spent more time reading other blogs and commenting, but hope to do more tonight and tomorrow.

I started listing to Hold Fast by Blue Balliet and really like it. I have to confess, though,  I'm not always the best audiobook listener, and I'm going to switch over to reading this. I love this family, and their family quote book - reading and quotes and poems are all so important to this family, especially the father. I feel like I'm missing clues as I read and just not getting as much of out of listening to this as I would if I were reading it. More to come on this book when I've finished it. (Side note - I listened to The Wright Three, also by Balliet on audio, and finished it thinking that I should have read it.) 

I also read:

Dog Days by Karen English, with illustrations by Laura Freeman - This was on my radar before the challenge, when I was looking for some good, shorter chapter books. And what I really liked about this one, is that race isn't a factor. It's about a kid who is starting a new school and having to make new friends and dealing with a scary older kid and a bossy sister, and he just happens to be African-American. English is also the author of the Nikki & Deja series, and the girls appear in this book. 

My Basmati Bat Mitzvah by Paula J. Freedman - A great middle school story about growing up and fitting in and figuring out who you are. Tara, who is both Indian and Jewish, prepares for her bat mitzvah and struggles with questions about God and how she can be both Indian and Jewish and not lose sight of either. It was a fun read, but with a serious side.

The Problem with Being Slightly Heroic by Uma Krishnaswami, with illustrations by Abigail Halpin - This is the sequel/companion? to The Grand Plan to Fix Everything. I read that one awhile back, and I was able to jump into this one pretty quickly and pick up where things left off; I think you could probably read this one first, but I always like to have the backstory. This is a fun, younger middle school read (or 4th or 5th grade really), absolutely perfect for Bollywood fans. 

Flying the Dragon by Natalie Dias Lorenzi - Skye is Japanese-American, and learns quite a bit more about her Japanese heritage and family when her cousin and his parents, and the children's grandfather, move to her city from Japan. This does a nice job of showing both sides of the story - Skye who is learning Japanese to communicate better with her relatives, and learning more about her family's history, and Hiroshi, who is learning English and adjusting to a new way of life. Kite fighting brings them together. Spoiler alert - sad ending. A 2013-2014 Texas Bluebonnet nominee.

The Secret of the Skeleton Key (#1 in The Code Busters Club series) by Penny Warner - Another book with a diverse cast of characters, where race isn't the focus. A group of kids have their own Code Busters Club to solve puzzles and decipher codes, and they find themselves solving a mystery. There are codes for the reader to solve (with the solutions in the back of the book). This is popular in my library.

The Whole Story of Half A Girl by Veera Hiranandani - Another Jewish-Indian teen. Sonia is staring sixth grade in a new school, changing from a very laid back private school to a public school, in part because her father lost his job. As she struggles with friends, her father is also struggling, but in his case with depression.Like Tara in My Basmati Bat Mitzvah, she's struggling to figure out what she wants and where she fits in. I think this was my favorite of all the books I finished this weekend.

My books this weekend skewed on the younger end, but I also started The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson, which I've heard great things about, and am eager to finish. I've started a list of books I've discovered on other blogs, and as I read more blogs and reviews, I know it's only going to grow. Thanks to MotherReader for hosting this wonderful challenge!

48 Hour Book Challenge!

Well, the blog is back...at least for the weekend...maybe. I'm really excited about MotherReader's 48 Hour Book Challenge. I participated a few years ago and had a lot of fun. This year, the focus is on diversity in books, and I think it will really generate some great reading lists. And, hopefully, it will get me back in the swing of blogging and reading blogs and commenting. I'm aiming looowwww...summer is underway and this week has been crazy busy, and we officially kick off our summer reading program tomorrow...but I've got a stack of some great looking books and hope to read at least twelve hours. I'm posting now, but will officially start at 5pm with an audiobook (Hold Fast by Blue Balliett) on my way to pick up craft supplies for tomorrow. 

SLJ's Battle of the Kids' Books

For the past several years, School Library Journal has hosted the Battle of the Kids' Books, and this year's contenders were announced today. I follow along each year, but usually have only read about half the titles. This year, I've decided I'm going to have all the books read by the time the competition starts in March, and make my picks. The best thing about this battle is reading what authors think of these books - their insightful, eloquent, sometimes humorous reviews. Check out the website and follow along!

I'm currently reading an adult mystery - Dandy Gilver and the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains by Catriona McPherson. So far, I'm loving it and will tell you more about it when I've finished. I'm also listening to Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt, which was just announced as an Odyssey Award Honor audiobook. I read the book back in April, and after following all the discussions on the Heavy Medal blog, I kept meaning to re-read it, and listening to the audiobook seemed to be the perfect idea. The narrator, Lincoln Hoppe, is amazing, and even though I know what's coming, I'm so completely drawn into Doug's story all over again.

Quick Thoughts on the ALA Youth Media Awards

You can find all the winners on the ALA website, but here are some of my first impressions. I was able to attend the announcements this morning, and it was exciting!

The Newbery went to Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos, which I mentioned briefly in a recap.

I LOVED this! The characters and the setting are so wonderfully created, and it's oh-so funny. What I loved, definitely outweighed the problems...that being said, I thought it was a surprise win.

The Robert F. Sibert Medal, for the most distinguished informational book for children, went to Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet.

Truly, I loved everything about this book!

One more book I really want to mention: See Me Run by Paul Meisel is a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book, a distinguished beginning reader.

I actually first read this in the Holiday House (the publisher of this title) booth yesterday. Honestly, I picked it up because, cute dogs on the cover! I made a note of it, to find a copy and review it later because I thought it was so good. It's bigger in size than the typical beginning reader, and it has full-page color illustrations, yet the text is very much that of an easy reader. And while it has some repetition in it, it's not overkill. It's funny, and it has a cute ending, and I am so glad it was recognized. It's part of a new series from Holiday House, I Like To Read. This is the only book in the series that I've read, but I'm eager to look for more.

I have had Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley sitting in my TBR pile since reading this review by Patti at Oops...Wrong Cookie. Which she wrote back in August! I keep renewing the book and not reading it, and I'm not sure why. But, now that it has won both the Printz Award, for excellence in literature written for young adults, and the William C. Morris Award, for a debut book published by a first time author writing for teens, and I got to hear Whaley accept the Morris Award this morning, it's what I'm reading tonight. Tonight!

What didn't win...I really expected Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt to get a Newbery Honor, and I'm surprised Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming didn't get any awards, but you never really know what goes on in the deliberation process.

What were you excited to see win this year?

Paisley's Pick: Waiting for the Magic

Waiting for the Magic by Patricia MacLachlan

illustrated by Amy June Bates

Atheneum, 2011

It's been awhile since I've had a Paisley's pick...and this book was an unexpected delight. It seems rare these days for me to pick up a book I haven't heard anything about, and this one was totally off my radar until it happened across my desk.

It's the summer before fifth grade when William's father goes away.

"He is a teacher of literature at the college, so he could have said words when he left. He didn't. And this time he didn't slam the door. He shut it with a small, soft sound that made me jump." (p.1)

After he leaves, William's mother takes him and his four-year-old sister, Elinor,  to the pound to adopt a dog. They leave with four dogs and a cat. Elinor is the first to realize the animals can talk. Now, that could easily take the story in a hokey direction, but it works. And one of the reasons is because the dogs' voices are spot on - they're short and to the point, and sound exactly like a dog would sound.

On page 76, when William's father is back, he is reading about dogs and says one of the things he learned is that chocolate is bad for dogs. One of the dogs, Neo, says, "I had a tiny taste of chocolate once. I took it off a table. And I didn't get sick." And another dog, Bryn, says, "I used to find M&M's in the cushions of the couch when I was fast enough." This is real! These are things my dog would say if she could talk!

The other things I really appreciate about this book is that when the father comes back, and it's not an easy adjustment. We see him work to fit back into the family, and we see William struggle his return. Kids know that sorry isn't always enough, and that it doesn't always automatically make things better, and we see the gradual changes and acceptance. It does end happily, and with everyone in the family able to hear the animals talk.

Amy June Bates has created delightful illustrations to accompany the story, and they're sprinkled throughout the book.

For grades 3-5, probably the younger end
Reviewed from library copy

A Good Resource for Picture Books

The 2012 2x2 Reading List has been announced. It's a selection of titles for kids age 2 through 2nd grade. It's always got a wide variety of titles, and I think it's always interesting to see because there's a pretty big difference between a 2 year old and a second grader.

Some of these, such as Blackout by John Rocco and Red Sled by Lita Judge, are books I'm still anxiously waiting for at my library. (Honestly, Red Sled is not even listed in the catalog as being on order...I can't figure that out...Obviously, I don't do any ordering.)

I am incredibly excited to see these two titles about dogs on the list:

RRRalph by Lois Ehlert - a funny tale that reads like a joke. Also, I don't think you can go wrong with Lois Ehlert.

Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley, illustrated by Roberta Angaramo - a cute little dog tries to find the perfect pair of shoes. So fun!

If you're looking for good picture books, be sure to check out the rest of the list.

Thoughts on the Comment Challenge

Yesterday was the first check in for the comment challenge. The goal is to leave five comments a day on blogs; I've averaged that. Some days I leave fewer, some days a few more. I'm impressed with the people that are leaving many more than that!

I've found some great new blogs to read, and I've loved getting comments on my blog! My additional challenge is trying to keep up with them and respond, but that's a good problem to have.

I read quite a few blogs before I started this challenge, and even before I started blogging. And while I knew there were tons of book blogs out there, this challenge has been a reminder of all the people that love reading and talking about books. Even though I spend my days in a library, it's sometimes easy to forget this...some days I have lots of people asking for books, and telling me about what they are reading, and other days it seems like all people want are dvds and help on the computer. (For the record - I totally don't have a problem with libraries circulating popular dvds, and I think - no, I know - there are so many people needing computers to use for homework and job searches and the library is their only option, and I'm glad that's a service we can provide. Just saying my job isn't always about books and reading.)

So whether you're blogging about picture books or young adult titles, or writing books, whether you're blogging about your personal reading or about getting books in the hands of kids, it's both wonderful and refreshing to see so many people passionate about reading and sharing that passion with others. It's been an additional benefit of this challenge to see and be reminded of all that enthusiasm for reading.

Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs

Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs

Simon & Schuster, 2010

This is one of the books on the 2012 Lone Star Reading List, a list of 20 suggested titles for 6th, 7th and 8th graders, and before the list came out, it wasn't a book familiar to me. Always up for a good mystery, I quickly put it on hold at the library.

Twelve-year-old Teddy Fitzroy has a murder to solve. Henry the Hippo, the mascot of FunJungle, the huge. new impressive zoo where both of Teddy's parents work, has been found belly up in his pool. And, there is no shortage of people who are not exactly fans of Henry.

Teddy sneaks into the hippo's autopsy, which is how he discovers the hippo was murdered, something FunJungle is trying to cover up. He has attempts on his life, and finds himself working with the beautiful daughter of FunJungle's owner, although he's not always sure he can trust her. 

Gibbs used to work at the Philadelphia Zoo, and his knowledge of animals is evident. An engaging, strong mystery, I think the sprinkling of facts throughout this book may also help it appeal to readers who typically lean toward nonfiction. And, for the boys, there are several references to animal poop.

Reviewed from library copy

2012 Comment Challenge & A Few Goals

Lee Wind and MotherReader are hosting the 2012 Comment Challenge, and I'm excited to be participating. I read a lot of blogs, but am not very good at commenting. Hopefully, by the end of these three weeks, I'll have a new habit! I know I'll have new blogs to read - I've already found some great ones.

I've been blogging for about a year now, although sometimes sporadically. I have a bare bones blog. I'm thinking it might be nice to finally add an About Me page...maybe a blogroll of bookish places I go...we'll see what happens.

I've never really set reading goals before (with the exception of the summer in elementary school when I read 100 books and got a James Avery dangle ring), but I have three very different books I'm determined to get read this year.

1. If you've been reading my blog, you may remember this post, when I re-read the first six Harry Potter books in about three weeks, and got pottered out. The whole reason I re-read them was so I'd be ready for the last one, which I still haven't read. I am going to read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows this year. Soon.
2. I've always liked biographies, and I was a journalism major in college. I've been wanting to read Personal History by Katharine Graham, so much so that the not-small book has moved five times with me. I've finally decided this is the year.
3. I've never read The Outsiders. Haven't seen the movie, either. Every year, when students come in looking for it, I decide I'm finally going to read it, but never do. And really, what finally made me decide to commit to reading it, was listening to Rob Lowe's Stories I Only Tell My Friends. (I'm not sure I would have stuck with the book, or maybe I'd just have skimmed, but I very much enjoyed listening to it on car trip. It is like Lowe is just right there, telling you these amazing stories.) Anyway, he talked a lot about the movie. This year, I'm going to read the book.

What about you? Do you set reading goals, or have any specific books you want to tackle this year?

A Beautiful Picture

One of my little library friends (she's five or six) came in the other day. I was at the reference desk, and she asked me for some scratch paper so she could draw pictures of her friends, and then she drew this picture of me. (After she finished, she told me it looked like the Magic School Bus teacher.) I was a little worried when she told me I was playing cards on the computer, but then she said it was okay because it was a free day which meant I didn't have to do any work.

I told her I was going to put it on my desk in the back, and she told me I should take it home and put it on my wall. Then, she said, when everyone sees it, they will say (read this next part in your most dramatic voice), "Oh! What a beautiful picture!"

WOW!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Doubleday, 2011

Have you read this yet? So, so good - my thoughts are still too jumbled to write a review that I think will give the book justice. It's incredibly imaginative...magical...completely engrossing. Bump it to the top of your TBR list if you haven't read it yet - you don't want to miss it!

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin





All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2011

young adult, first in a trilogy

 

I read this months ago...I really liked it. You can read on as I try to make sense of my jumbled notes, or you can trust me that it is great, skip the review and just read the book!

First, I really like this title, and the way it plays into the story.

Set in the future, where chocolate is illegal and water is scarce, this never really feels like a dystopian novel, which was a plus for me. (Although that has been a negative for other readers.) There were simply little details and moments throughout the book that made me remember it was set in the future.

Anya Balanchine's father is dead, but when he was alive, he was a notorious crime boss, something that deeply affected the family. Her mother was killed in a car accident (meant to take out her father) and her older brother suffered a brain injury as a result of the same accident. Anya's got a lot of responsibility, but still, things are going okay until her jerk of an ex-boyfriend almost dies from eating chocolate manufactured by Anya's family. To further complicate the situation, while a suspect in the poisoning, Anya is also falling in love with the assistant DA's son.

I love the following conversation between Anya and her friend:

"isn't that OMG?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Um, it stands for something. Dad said it used to mean, maybe, 'amazing'? Or something like that? He wasn't sure. Ask your nana, okay?" (p. 15, 16)

and then later when her Nana explains:

"Oh my God," Nana said. "Life used to move much more quickly when I was a girl. We needed to abbreviate just to keep up." (p.227)

What Zevin does best here is create really well-developed characters, especially Anya. I worried about her! She has so much responsibility, and I'm just not sure who she can trust - her family, the Japanese chocolatier...I hope she chooses wisely and I'm really excited to see how things play out in the rest of the trilogy.

Here's what didn't work (or felt out of place): there's an aside on page 209 where Anya speaks directly to the reader. It's the first time this happens and it just seems random.  Then, later, Anya speaks directly to the reader again, ending with, "Unlike some, I pride myself on being a very reliable narrator." (p. 266). This left me going, "What? Did I miss an indication that she's not a reliable narrator?" Up to this point, I'd been believing her...and so I started to wonder if we'd find out some really different things in the next book.
The things I liked definitely outweighed the things I didn't, and I can't wait for the next book!

Reviewed from library copy

Lots of Reading, Little Blogging!

This week is where I play catch up...telling you about lots of great things I've read, so I can start the new year off on track!

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan - I really liked this! It's the start of a new series, back at Camp Half-Blood. I'm anxiously waiting for it to be my turn to get the second one. Funny story - I was at a high school for a visit, and I overheard a couple of girls talking this. I mentioned I was reading it, and one of them got really excited and started to say something. I cut her off, "I'm not that far into it...I don't know why Jason has no memory or where Percy is...don't tell me anything!" Her eyes got big and she literally put her hand over her mouth to keep from telling me something.

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos - Okay, before reading this, I wasn't a huge Jack Gantos fan...I've read some Joey Pigza and some Rotten Ralph, and they just haven't worked for me. But this book? This book I LOVED. It has great characters and is laugh out loud funny...yes, the plot kind of falls apart and yes, the "murder mystery" at the end didn't work so well, but it still manages to be a terrific read about a boy who is grounded for the summer and only allowed to dig his family's bomb shelter in the backyard and help an elderly neighbor write obituaries for the local paper. It's one of my favorites of the year.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys - A moving story of how 15-year-old Lina and her mother and brother are taken from their home in Lithuania and sent to Siberia, a time during Stalin's reign which I knew little about.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor - A story of angels and devils that manages to be so different from all of the other angel books that have been published lately. I absolutely never really knew where the story was heading and couldn't put the book down. One of the best young adult books of 2011.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater - Violent races with water horses (a "summary" that probably doesn't do the book justice)...what I liked most were the fully-drawn characters, the relationship between Puck and Sean, and the village life.

Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy by Albert Marrin - A hugely detailed look at not just the actual fire, but the events leading up to it (immigration and why people left their home countries), immigrant life during this time, and then the reform movement after the fire. Lots of good sidebar information on related topics. If the Triangle Fire interests you, but you'd rather a more fictionalized account try Threads and Flames by Esther Friesner, in which 13-year-old Raisa leaves Poland to join her sister in America, and eventually takes a job for the Triangle Shirtwaist Company.

The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure - McClure takes the reader along as she visits all of the sights from the Little House books. Highly entertaining and chatty at times...other times, I skimmed. I didn't remember much about the surveyor's house, which is from By the Shores of Silver Lake, which I haven't read nearly as many times as all the others. So, I picked up a copy to re-read...Mary is blind, Jack dies...and I realized why this was never a favorite.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness - Conor's mom is dying...and he isn't dealing with it very well. A monster comes in the middle of several nights, and tells Conor stories to help him find the truth. Brilliantly written, this was so powerful and so emotional, it's hard for me to see beyond the strong reaction it evoked.

What have you been reading lately?

Wow! Said the Owl

Wow! Said The Owl by Tim Hopgood

Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009



While not a newly published book, this is one that's new to me. I do an owl-themed storytime almost every year, and I came across this when looking for something different to use. It would also work really great for colors.

The book begins with, "At night, when we are feeling tired and ready for bed, owls are just waking up." I love the simplicity in this statement. It goes on to talk about how owls can see in the dark, giving just enough background information on owls for youngest listeners.

One night, this curious little owl decides she will take a nap and then stay up to see what the day has to offer. She wakes up just before dawn and says, "Wow!" when she sees the pink sky. Each new color that she sees makes her say, "Wow!" The repetition of the word makes for great interaction, as kids can say it with you each time. And when night falls, the owl finds that it has some pretty beautiful colors of its own.

The illustrations are big and bold and work well for a large group. Individual readers will notice a color wheel at the end of the book, with a note that all of the colors can be found in the book if they want to look through it again and notice and name them.

Reviewed from purchased copy

Readers Are Everywhere!

You probably know by now that I'm a dog person. Cats aren't really my thing. However, even I will admit that this is a really cute story about a cat who reads.


I was in the "lobby" of an auto body shop the other day. (I was waiting for an estimate on some damage after being rear-ended, in case you were wondering. Body shops aren't my typical hangout.) Anyway, it was early and as the guys (probably mid-twenties to mid-thirties) were turning on computers, etc., I heard one mention that he's reading the second Enemy book by Charlie Higson, and that it's really good. I love unexpectedly hearing people talk about books, especially when they are adults talking about young adult titles.

Catching Up

Things have been crazy! Lots going on...I changed branches on October 1, and one of the things that came with that change is a new program - an afterschool program for elementary school age kids, at yet another branch. So far, it's going great and I'm having lots of fun with it.

I haven't been doing much reading...partly because I've had lots of other things to do, but also partly because of new fall t.v. shows...and watching t.v. cuts into my reading time...

Here's a little of what I have read:

The first three Myron Bolitar novels by Harlan Coben...and then I read his first young adult book that was recently published - Shelter. It focuses on Myron's nephew Mickey, and I liked it better than the others. I think in part, because it seemed to move faster. You can absolutely read it without having read any of Coben's adult titles...but after finishing, I read the newest Myron novel - Live Wire - which was really interesting because it parts of it were Shelter from a different perspective. While I'm not in a rush to finish the rest of the Myron novels, I always like having a series to fall back on.

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles - This was smartly and gorgeously written. Really, some of the sentences were just so beautifully crafted. I do think the writing surpassed the actual story, which was good, but just didn't have the wow factor I was expecting. That being said, I'll absolutely read Towles's next book.

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier - a really fun ya time travel book...first in a trilogy

What have you been reading and really enjoying? Any recommendations? Or, what new shows are you watching? I'm really hooked on Revenge and am enjoying Pan Am, too.

Favorite Dog Picture Books

In honor of the birthday girl, here are some of my favorite picture books featuring dogs. (It is slightly ridiculous how much time I spent trying to take this picture - she got a treat to keep her sitting still and from trying to take off the hat, but then I could not get her to look at the camera. Oh well, she's still cute!)

The Great Gracie Chase: Stop That Dog! by Cynthia Rylant (who does great dog books), illus. by Mark Teague - Gracie Rose loves her nice quiet house, which is not so quiet when the painters come. Even though she knows it is against the rules, Gracie leaves the yard on her own, leading lots of people on a chase.

Dog's Colorful Day by Emma Dodd - Dog is white with one black spot. After a messy day, he finds himself with ten colorful spots. I love using this one in toddler storytime - with colors and counting, it provides for lots of interaction. Also look for Dog's Noisy Day.

Digby Takes Charge by Caroline Jayne Church - Digby, a sheepdog, tries all kinds of things to get the sheep in their pen. Nothing works, until he learns the magic word. A cute, understated story about saying "please."

Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley, illus. by Roberta Angaramo

Move Over, Rover by Karen Beaumont, illus. by Jane Dyer - When it starts to rain, animals begin to pile into Rover's dog house. Although they keep crowding in, all is well until the arrival of a smelly guest. An especially fun read aloud because of the rhythm and rhyme.

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer - Poor George. He can make a lot of animal sounds, but he can't bark. Poor George's mom. She is so frustrated! A trip to the vet gets everything sorted out...for a short while at least. Both text and illustrations are perfect; the end result is hilarious for kids and adults.

RRRALPH by Lois Ehlert

Please Take Me For A Walk by Susan Gal - One of my absolute favorites! A must read for dog owners of any age, it gives all the reasons you should take your dog for a walk.

Buster by Denise Fleming - Buster has a great life...until the day a kitten comes to live at his house. Buster is terrified of this kitten, and escapes one day to spend a fun, kitten-free afternoon. But when he gets lost, it's the kitten who comes to his rescue. Also look for Buster Goes to Cowboy Camp.

Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats - A classic tale of a boy who wants to learn how to whistle so he can call his dog. Like Peter, I cannot whistle to call for my dog; unlike Peter, I have given up trying to learn.

Daisy 1, 2, 3 by Peter Catalanotto - Mrs. Tuttle has 20 dogs in her obedience class and they are all named Daisy. Luckily, each dog has a unique characteristic. This is a clever counting book with a cute twist at the end.

Skunkdog by Emily Jenkins, illus. by Pierre Pratt - Dumpling has no sense of smell, and thus has a hard time making friends with other dogs. (She's not interested in smelling flowers or garbage or anything else.) When she and her family move to the country, she finally makes friends...with a skunk, much to the dismay of her people.

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion, illus. by Margaret Bloy - An oldie but goodie: Harry does not want a bath, buries the brush and runs off. When he comes home completely dirty, he has to take a bath to get his family to recognize him. Also look for No Roses for Harry, and my favorite, Harry by the Sea.

Reel Life Starring Us by Lisa Greenwald

Reel Life Starring Us by Lisa Greenwald

Abrams, 2011

As a fan of Greenwald's previous novels (My Life in Pink & Green and Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes), I was excited to read her latest. This one, Reel Life Starring Us, is just as delightful.

Dina has just moved to a new city and is starting eighth grade at a new school, a month late. She's artistic, enjoys filming videos, and is having to make the adjustment from a small school that encouraged differences (and where she was popular) to a bigger school filled with cliques. Chelsea is also starting eighth grade a month late, having just recovered from mono. Unlike Dina, she's starting school as one of the most popular girls, with tight group of friends. She's also starting school with a big secret. As the story unfolds, we get hints about this secret, such as her dad having traded his pin-stripe suits for work out clothes and her not having the latest pair of designer jeans.

Chapters alternate between the girls; one of the things Greenwald handles so well is changing the point of view. While Dina's chapters start with a film tip and Chelsea's start with a tip from a popular teen star, each girl also a distinct voice and you always know which one is talking.

Dina is aware of Chelsea from the moment the popular clique chants for during a badminton game as Dina watches from the sidelines. Their stories really begin to merge when the two are assigned to work on a video project together. Chelsea's reluctant about the project (she'd much rather be working with her friends than the unpopular new girl) and Dina's excited (she's got lots of great ideas and thinks this is her ticket to becoming Chelsea's friend and thus popular). Each girl thinks she can figure the other out in ten seconds, but slowly discover that's not the case.

Friendships, popularity, boys, school, family - it's all here. We (adults) hear so many real stories about kids growing up too fast, and a lot of them are...but a lot of them aren't. Greenwald excels (in all of her books) at capturing that true middle school experience for these kids - where you go over to a boy's house to study and are a little nervous about being alone in his room with him, and where parents ask about your day (even if you don't want to tell them).

Reviewed from digital copy provided by publisher on NetGalley

Ready for Fall

Maybe it's the gazillion days of triple-digit temperatures we've had, but I am so ready for fall. Definitely the cooler weather and sweaters and sweatshirts, but also the changing leaves, pumpkin spice lattes and yellow mums. Fall also has some of the best storytime themes: fall itself, as well as apples and pumpkins, and in October, spiders and monsters...I can't wait. Here are some of my favorite fall picture books to read aloud.

 

I Know It's Autumn by Eileen Spinelli, illus. by Nancy Hayashi

This book discuss all the things that signal autumn, going beyond changing leaf colors, to include "morning light that comes late," getting out jackets, classroom art projects, blooming mums and more. This will really make you ready for fall!

Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky

Sometimes I wait and use this one closer to winter, with Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and other bear/hibernation books. It very simply tells, and shows, the activities of a bear and the animals he sees as he walks through the woods. As more and more snow starts to fall, the bear ends up asleep in his den.

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

The story of Leaf Man, who blows away - everything he blows past, such as chickens, orchards, and cows, is made of leaves. Perfect for reading before letting kids make their own leaf creations.

Mouse's First Fall by Lauren Thompson; illus. by Buket Erdogan

In this short and simple story, Mouse and his big sister Minka play in the leaves. It has basic colors, shapes and counting, and gorgeous illustrations. In the end, Minka hides in a pile of leaves, and kids will have fun looking for her and spying her tale. It's one of the "Mouse's First..." books, a great series for toddlers that introduces seasons and holidays.

 

 Fall is Not Easy by Marty Kelley

Such fun! Kids always get a kick out of this tale of tree who has a hard time with fall. His leaves never seem to do right thing, but instead change into displays that look like rainbows, hamburgers and other silly things.

Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell, illus. by Lizzy Rockwell

A young girl and her family visit a local farm to pick apples and pumpkins. When they get home they carve their pumpkin. The books ends with trick-or-treating, so I usually use this one closer to Halloween. (Or sometimes I simply end the book when the family leaves the farm...)

In November by Cynthia Rylant, illus. by Jill Kastner

This is a calm, quiet story about the things in November. It's not one I usually use for storytime, but it is a lovely book for one-on-one sharing, or a small group.

Fall Leaves Fall! by Zoe Hall, illus. by Shari Halpern

Two kids talk about their favorite season and how they know it's coming - by watching the leaves. When the leaves finally fall from the trees, the kids show us all the things they do with them.

Ska-tat! by Kimberly Knutson

Another book about leaves, this one begs to be read aloud, with words like sha-shoo and ska-tat, as three children play in the falling leaves.

Red Are the Apples by Marc Harshman & Cheryl Ryan; illus. by Wade Zahares

The illustrations, pastels on paper, are gorgeous in this book, which discusses the colors of fall as seen in a garden. Some foods are familiar, like apples and corn, and others, like eggplants and beets, may be new depending on your audience.

 

My New Favorite ABC Book

Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray

Disney/Hyperion, 2011

ABC books are sometimes hard to pull off, and there aren't a lot of them that I really like - this one, I LOVE. And yes, it does have a dog in it...

The dog is curled up sleeping while the little girl puts the finishing touches on an apple pie. The dog wakes up when he smells it baking, and they both watch it "cool." While the girl gets a piece, the dog does not. The illustration here, of the dog determinedly pushing his bowl across the floor, "eager" for a piece, is one of my favorites. Soon, we see him curled up in his bed, "miserable" without any pie. But he is "not giving up", and we see him "pine for it", and "ogle it." X is often tricky, and in this case, a true X word isn't used (it's exit) but in this book, I'm not so bothered by it.

The letters are a good size, and each one stands for a word or short phrase. It easily works as a story, instead of just a collection of things to show off the letters of the alphabet. It's also a cute and clever introduction to new vocabulary - how often do you use the word ogle, especially when talking to a child?

The slightly retro-looking illustrations are just delightful, and the dog's personality just shines through in his antics.

This book is actually based on an old, really old, alphabet rhyme (yes, I did just do an un-librarian type thing and use wikipedia as my source) but it's been updated brilliantly and is a million times better than the books that use this rhyme and seem quite out-dated. You can also visit the book's website, where you'll learn the dog is named Georgie and the girl is Grace. You can also print a coloring page, and make your own Georgie.

Reviewed from library copy