Ellen the Librarian's Choices

Science Fair Audiobook by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

2009-07-08T05:29:00.000-07:00

A fun and quirky audiobook, Science Fair by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Toby is a typical middle school student at Hubble Middle School in Maryland, who decides to participate in the school science fair in order to win the large cash prize. Why does Toby need the money? Well, he's being stalked by one D. Arthur Vadarian (Darth Vadar) and the Wookiee for selling an item from his father's prized Star Wars collection. And that's just a subplot. There are additional characters from the country Kprshtskan who are planning to use Hubble's science fair in order to destroy the United States. Its a wacky story, and you need to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy the story, but I really liked this audiobook. The narrator is excellent as Toby, and as the Kprshtskan agents. I recommend this audiobook for families.

Faith Hope and Ivy June by Phyllis Naylor

2009-07-08T05:25:00.001-07:00

I'm back to reading and listening to children's books after a long hiatus. I just finished Faith, Hope, and Ivy June by Phyllis Naylor, a book that takes place in Kentucky. Its about two girls Ivy June and Catherine, who participate in a student exchange program. Ivy June lives in an area without a phone line, without indoor plumbing, while Catherine lives in modern Lexington. Can the two girls make it in an unknown environment without falling into the stereotypes that exist for the two areas? Can the girls be friends? A subplot about the mines in Kentucky is suspenseful, and the book is very well written. I recommend Faith Hope and Ivy June for kids in 4th grade and up.

Heartbeat audiobook by Sharon Creech

2009-03-17T05:25:00.000-07:00

Heartbeat, by Sharon Creech is about Annie, a 12 year old girl who is dealing with the upcoming arrival of her baby brother, and not wanting to join the track team despite her love of running. Her art teacher assigns her to draw an apple a day for 100 days. While at first her apples all look alike, she soon gains perspective and begins to look at the apple, and the world, from different angles. The novel is written in free verse, which is not clear on the audiobook. Instead, the audio sounds like pure poetry. Beautiful. While the reading level is for kids 4th grade and up, I'd recommend this audio book for kids in lower elementary grades as well.

A Toad for Tuesday by Russell Erickson

2009-01-11T17:53:00.000-08:00

What a great book! In A Toad for Tuesday, Warton the toad sets off on a journey to visit his aunt, and he gets caught by an owl who plans to save him for his birthday on Tuesday. Warton decides to be friendly with the owl in an attempt to save his life? What happens? Read the book to find out! I really enjoyed this book, it was sweet and had a happy ending. This book is especially recommended from 1st and 2nd graders new to chapter books.

Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry

2009-01-06T06:17:00.000-08:00

Gooney Bird Greene loves to be the center of attention (just like most second graders) and only tells absolutely true stories. Gooney Bird is an excellent storyteller and tells a new story to her classroom every day. What's interesting is how Gooney Bird shows that words can mean different things than you might expect, for example, how Gooney Bird moved to her new home from China in a minivan.

A good book for second grade students who are ready for short chapter books.

The Phantom Tollbooth audiobook by Norton Juster

2009-01-05T18:37:00.000-08:00

I just love the Phantom Tollbooth. The new audio edition by HarperCollins Publishers is excellent. I am sometimes wary of celebrity narrators, but David Hyde Pierce does a fantastic job voicing all the characters. The absolute best part of this edition is the interview with Norton Juster at the end of the last CD. Don't take out the disc too early!

For the uninitiated, the Phantom Tollbooth is about a boy named Milo who is often bored. One day a tollbooth appears in his room and he drives through (in his electric car). Milo first travels to the land of Dictionopolis, where he learns about the importance of words. Milo ends up going on a quest to save the princesses Rhyme and Reason, who have been banished due to the arguing of the King of Dictionopolis and the Mathemagician, leader of Digitopolis. It is a magical, fantastical book that I read over and over again.

If you listen to this audiobook, let me know what you think!

Stuart's Cape by Sara Pennypacker

2009-01-05T18:35:00.002-08:00

Stuart's" Cape by http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/92198.Sara_Pennypacker">Sara Pennypacker

My'>http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/41337539?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Stuart is getting ready to start the third grade and is very nervous. Will he make any friends? He decides he needs a cape to make things better and makes one by stapling together his dad's ties (not recommended!). Stuart has several grand adventures and by the end of the book is all ready to start school. While this is not an outstanding book, and its certainly not as funny as Pennypacker's Clementine, I still like Stuart a lot. He's imaginative and uses his creativity wisely.

View'>http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/945244?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.

Why haven't I blogged lately?

2008-12-29T19:41:00.001-08:00

A few followers of this blog have asked me why I haven't blogged lately. A couple reasons: first I only blog about children's books that I think are outstanding. Haven't read too many lately. I am obviously reading the wrong books! I've read several that are okay, but just aren't up to my high standards. In the meantime, when I read outstanding picture books I put them up on my goodreads account http://www.goodreads.com/profile/EllenJepson, and I write a short review on those.

Second, I'm starting to read more adult books for the Wisconsin Library Association's Literary Awards Committee. Even though I've read a few truly outstanding books so far, I won't blog on them because I don't think its fair to talk about books I've read for the committee where anyone can read them. When we announce the winner, then I'll blog about those!

Now, stay tuned for my next blog post about a truly great children's book!

WLA Book Cart Drill Team Competition

2008-11-14T07:46:00.001-08:00

WLA Book Cart Drill Team Competition
Who says librarians can't have fun? Check out this link to Youtube for the Wisconsin Library Association's first annual Book Cart Drill Team competition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOf2XpRmI

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

2008-11-04T19:41:00.000-08:00

I finished listening to Coraline, by Neil Gaiman, yesterday. Definitely one of the best horror books written for children. While exploring her flat, Coraline finds her way into a parallel world where she has an "other mother" and "other father" both with black button eyes. The evil other mother tries to keep Coraline from escaping back into her real world, and Coraline must save herself and her real father and mother from the other mother. I am not a huge fan of scary stories, or science fiction, but I whole heartedly recommend this book, especially to those who love R.L. Stine, but need something a little more mature. I especially loved the audiobook. Neil Gaiman narrates the book himself, and his British voice is just spooky enough to send a few shivers down the spine. Recommended for fifth grade and up.

Over in the Jungle by Marianne Berkes

2008-10-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Over in the Jungle by Marianne Berkes is a neat picture book, a play on the traditional song Over in the Meadow made nicely into a book by Ezra Jack Keats. In Berkes' book, rainforest animals hang out with their mothers who give them instructions which are immediately obeyed. The book works best when sung, although it can be chanted as well to great effect. It includes a search and find at the end, as well as ideas for embellishing the book with actions, and information about the animals. All in all, an excellent package.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

2008-10-28T07:11:00.000-07:00

In The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson finds out that he is a half-blood--half human, half mythological god. Turns out that the gods really do exist in this series. Percy learns that he must find Zeus' lightning bolt (he's the main suspect in the theft) and goes on a quest running into Ares and Hades along the way. I recommend this book for 5th grade and higher. Its a strong adventure fantasy, very good for reluctant readers.

The Hoboken Chicken Emergency

2008-10-28T05:54:00.001-07:00

The Hoboken Chicken Emergency is the story of a boy who brings home a 266 pound live chicken for Thanksgiving. When Henrietta escapes, she manages to terrify the entire city of Hoboken. It is hilarious! The city finally figures out how to catch Henrietta, and the day is saved. Its a funny book, and I recommend it to readers of all ages.

Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix

2008-10-20T07:56:00.000-07:00

In Palace of Mirrors, Cecilia knows she is the true princess of her nation. She has been brought up by her nanny and a protective knight who teaches her all about the etiquette of being a princess, even though she is in hiding in a small village, pretending to be a peasant. Cecilia decides one day that it is time for her to take her throne, allowing Desmia, the acting princess to resume her life. Cecilia learns that all is not as it seems, when Desmia claims that she is truly the princess.

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys princess stories!

The Dragon's Child by Jenny Nimmo

2008-10-14T03:36:00.000-07:00

I'm not a huge fan of fantasy books, but its a common request at the library, so I've been trying to find good fantasy books to recommend to patrons. The Dragon's Child by Jenny Nimmo is a good choice for young readers. In this book, the dragon's child is the youngest dragon in his group, and has not yet learned to fly when his group needs to migrate. His mother tries to carry him away but does not realize he has fallen off her back. When humans invade the area where he has been living, the dragon's child must fend for his life. This is what I consider "gentle fantasy", its good for 2nd through 4th grade.

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

2008-10-13T14:32:00.001-07:00

Okay, The City of Ember has been on my "to-read" list ever since it was first published. Last week I saw it on a cart of books waiting to be shelved and decided it was time to read it. What a fantastic book! Lina and Doon live in an underground city called Ember where the light is dying. People are beginning to run out of food, and all items that used to be plentiful are disappearing from storehouses. When Lina finds a letter in her home that appears to have some type of instructions on it, she and Doon decipher the instructions which end up leading them out of Ember into a green land where light comes from the sky. And the book ends. Time to start the sequel!

Piper Reed, Navy Brat

2008-10-13T01:34:00.001-07:00

In Piper Reed, Navy Brat by Kimberly Willis Holt, Piper Reed is a child of a navy chief, who is moved across country to Pensacola, Florida. She is sad to leave her friends, but knows that she will find new friends in Florida with her spunk and a little bit of magic. I recommend Piper's books for children in 3rd through 5th grade.

Airhead by Meg Cabot

2008-10-13T01:28:00.000-07:00

Airhead, by Meg Cabot, is the story of Emerson Watts, an honors student in NYC who is involved in a tragic accident with Nikki Howard, a teen supermodel. Its difficult to explain the plot without giving away major details, so you'll have to trust me when I say you'll have to suspend disbelief (not too hard) and just enjoy the ride. I like this book better than I've enjoyed several of Meg Cabot's last books... Recommended for young adult readers.

Nightmare at the Bookfair

2008-10-05T18:05:00.000-07:00

Nightmare at the Bookfair by Dan Gutman (a favorite author of books for children) does not disappoint. When Trip is hit over the hit at the bookfair, he falls into a series of different genres of books, including horror, fantasy, sports, etc. I enjoyed reading all the different genres and I can see using this book to explain the genres to students. An enlightening read.

Betsy and the Great World by Maud Hart Lovelace

2008-10-03T15:31:00.000-07:00

Betsy and the Great World by Maud Hart Lovelace is the second to last book in the fantastic Betsy Tacy series. I typically re-read the series once a year because I love it so much! In this one, Betsy is now twenty one and is off to Europe for a year. She has broken off communication with her longtime beau, Joe Willard. The story starts off with the trip across the Atlantic Ocean and leads her through time at Munich, Italy, and Great Britain. Betsy makes new friends, suffers homesickness, and nearly gets married, all the time wondering about Joe.

Check out the 1996 edition of the book to read Anna Quindlen's foreword. From the foreword: "Could there be better books, and could there be a better girl, adolescent, young woman, to teach us all those things about choices than the Betsy-Tacy books and Betsy herself, along with her widely disparate circle...All these different women, who go so many different ways, with false starts and stops, with disappointments and limitations, and yet a sense that they an find a place for themselves in the world. Do you realize that not once, in any book, does any individual, male or female, suggest to Betsy that she cannot as she so hopes to do, become a writer? Can anyone possibly appreciate the impact that made on a child like me, wanting it too but seeing all around me on the bookshelves the names of men and seeing all around me in my house the domesticated ways of women?"

Sigh. I love the Betsy Tacy books.

Escape from the Carnivale by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

2008-09-24T03:12:00.000-07:00

Escape from the Carnivale by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson is a fun "in between" story about the boys who live in Never Land, while Peter is off having other adventures. In this book, Little Scallop and two mermaids, Aqua and Surf, decide to go past the reef that they've been forbidden to pass. Surf is captured by a ship seeking interesting creatures for their carnival, and Little Scallop and James of the Lost Boys must rescue Surf from the ship.

This book is for children younger than Barry and Pearson's other Peter books. I still like it. It didn't get the best reviews, but I liked it anyway. I haven't heard the audiobook version, but its read by Jim Dale, and I look forward to listening to next few books on audio.

Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

2008-08-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

Peter and the Shadow Thieves is an excellent audiobook by Brilliance Audio read by Jim Dale. Peter knows that Molly and her father are in danger from the evil Lord Ombra, so he leaves the safety of Never Land to search for her in London, bringing Tinkerbell with him. Peter struggles to find Molly and worries that Lord Ombra will attack her if the starstuff is allowed to be returned to the heavens. Lord Ombra is a shadow thief--he takes control of a person via their shadow.

I highly recommend this audiobook for families and adults as well. Jim Dale's voices of the characters are well developed, and he skillfully tells the story in a way that makes you want the story never to end!

Nancy Drew--the Movie

2008-08-27T16:30:00.000-07:00

This was just a fun movie to watch. I liked how Nancy enjoyed old fashioned things and didn't quite fit in in Hollywood. I thought the mystery was suffciently challenging for Nancy, and I really liked Emma Roberts in the title role.

Recommended for anyone!

Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

2008-08-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

Because I enjoyed Peter and the Starcatchers so much, I decided to go back and listen to Peter Pan, the original story. I liked it much better as an adult than I did as a child. Perhaps because I listened to it as an audiobook? I listened to the Blackstone version, not the Jim Dale version. I recommend this audiobook to all adults.

Horrible Harry and the Dragon War by Suzy Kline

2008-08-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

Horrible Harry and the Dragon War is about Harry and his best friend Song Lee. They both decide to write a report about dragons, but Harry and Song Lee disagree about dragons and their niceness/not niceness. Harry uses the "s" word (stupid) and he and Song Lee are officially fighting. Harry finally decides to apologize and surrender and he and Song Lee become friends again, especially after discovering that dragons in different cultures are considered good/bad. I enjoyed the recording and think that beginning readers would also enjoy the recording.

Peter and the Starcatchers

2008-08-21T07:48:00.001-07:00

I just finished a fantastic book called Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. I fully expected to not like this book, as I am not a fan of Peter Pan, and I never liked Dave Barry's humor columns, but after the umpteenth patron asking for the book I decided to give it a try. What a fun story! This tells the story of how Peter came to become Peter Pan. The book explains "starstuff", the most powerful stuff in the world, and this is how Peter comes to meet Molly and the pirates who are after the starstuff. How did Peter go from being just an orphan to a boy who never grows up and can fly? This book explains it all.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun fantastical story.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

2008-08-20T16:15:00.000-07:00

Austenland, a whimsical audiobook, is written by Shannon Hale, who is probably best known for writing YA fairy tales such as the Goose Girl and Princess Academy. In this book, a thirtysomething Jane has an unhealthy crush on Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, especially the BBC version on DVD. Jane's wealthy aunt leaves her a vacation in her will--Jane is to visit England for three weeks at a place affectionately called Austenland in the book. Everyone is playing a character who could be found in Pride and Prejudice. Jane becomes Miss Erstwhile amid a cast of regular players. Jane experiences romance and other emotions while acting, but is any of it real?

I laughed throughout this audiobook. The reader has perfect inflections and I could feel all of Jane's emotion deeply. What a fun book for anyone who is a fan of Jane Austen!

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

2008-08-13T15:42:00.000-07:00

I almost always enjoy recordings by Full Cast Audio. Book of a Thousand Days, by Shannon Hale, is no exception. The servant Dashti is banished to a tower for seven years with her Lady Saren, who is being punished for refusing to marry the man her father has chosen for her. Lord Kazan (sp?) is an evil man, and a scary influence in the book. During their time in the tower, Dashti makes the acquaintance of Lord Taygus (sp?), the man with whom Saren had been communicating, and her choice of mate. Saren is unable/unwilling to speak to Tagus directly, and orders Dashti to impersonate her. The title comes from the journal kept by Dashti. Dashti is an extremely strong female character, a character for young women to emulate.

Do Saren and Dashti escape the tower? Will they escape from Lord Kazan? What will happen to the two ladies once out of the tower? Can Lady Saren and Tagus live happily ever after, if Saren refuses to talk to him herself?

This story is scary, exciting, suspenseful, and just plain fun. The recording was perfect, I wouldn't have changed any of the characters' voices.

Edward's Eyes by Patricia MacLachlan

2008-08-13T05:27:00.001-07:00

Edward's Eyes, by Patricia MacLachlan, is a touching story of a special boy who grows up and blesses his family with his presence. Edward loves baseball and learns to throw a perfect knuckleball, spends time with his neighbor, a retired ball player, and predicts that the new baby will be a baby sister, who will be named Sabine. I hate to spoil an ending, but it can be seen a mile away and needs to be mentioned especially since this is not a typical sports story. When Edward passes away, his family makes the brave decision to donate his organs and tissues and corneas, which makes the narrator, Edward's older brother, quite angry. Until, he meets the recipient of Edward's eyes, which I won't give away here.

Who do I recommend this book to? Anyone! However, when I'm at the library and don't know the kids I'm talking to, its much more difficult to talk about this type of book. Kira Kira is another example. A good book, worth reading, but enough students don't like sad stories and no one has ever asked me for a depressing book or a book that will make them cry. I get far more readers advisory requests for a funny book, or a princess story, or a fantasy read alike. If you read Edward's Eyes and like it, let me know what you think!

Igraine the Brave

2008-08-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

In Igraine the Brave, Cornelia tells the story of Igraine, a young girl who wants to be a knight. Her magician parents have accidentally turned themselves into pigs, and are unable to protect their castle from their scheming neighbors, meaning Igraine is responsible for finding the materials necessary to turn her parents back into humans, and then helping them keep their home safe. A gentle fantasy for all readers.

Baby! Baby!

2008-08-02T06:24:00.000-07:00

Vicky Celeen's board book for infants and toddlers, Baby! Baby! has no text, but it definitely doesn't need it. Each set of two pages shows a baby animal next to a baby human. Turns out that baby animals and baby people can show emotions in exactly the same way. My favorite page shows a bunny rabbit with teeth in exactly the same place as a baby boy.

Great book for infants...

Lost and Found

2008-08-02T06:15:00.000-07:00

Lost and Found by Andrew Clements is a fun story about a set of twin boys, absolutely identical, Jay Ray and Ray Jay. The boys move to a new school and on the first day of school, Ray stays home sick. Jay discovers that the school accidentally merged Jay and Ray's files and thinks there is only one boy. Jay and Ray decide to try out being and individual instead of always being "the twins". They take turns going to school each day and discover that they have different tastes in friends, sports, etc. I liked the book up until the ending, which I felt was a cop out and didn't hold the boys responsible enough for their deception. However, I know this book will be popular among Andrew Clements' many fans, and is a good school story for 3rd to 5th grade.

Henry Builds a Cabin

2008-07-23T07:26:00.000-07:00

Henry Builds a Cabin by D. B. Johnson is about a bear (Henry David Thoreau) who builds a cabin in the woods. What a fun story. I love the illustrations and I love the theme, where everyone asks Henry if the cabin isn't too small for all of his activities. Henry always replies that the cabin is bigger than it looks. The audio is perfect and I enjoyed the voice of the narrator. I recommend this five minute audiobook as a read along and as appropriate for car trips.

Yo! Yes?

2008-07-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

In Yo! Yes? two boys have a conversation consisting of very few words. I like the book by Chris Raschka because it shows the boys who are different races becoming friends after discovering that one boy has no friends, but why was this book turned into an audiobook? It lasts less than three minutes, because of the brevity of the text. It can't be recommended as a good audiobook for a car trip, although I think I can still recommend it as a nice audio for a read-along, especially for beginning readers. I should mention that the narrators do a very nice job giving feeling to the text.

Enchanted: the Read Along

2008-07-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

The Enchanted Read Along is truly enchanting. In about twenty minutes, the story is told by a narrator and the rest of the cast. I recommend this audio for car trips or for individual listening.

Annie and Snowball

2008-07-22T07:10:00.000-07:00

I am a general fan of Cynthia Rylant, and her new easy reader series about Annie and Snowball does not disappoint. In Annie and Snowball and the Prettiest House, Annie and her pet rabbit Snowball need to decorate Annie's house. With the help of Henry and Mudge, Annie makes her home beautiful.

I listened to the recording of this book by Recorded Books, and its a good solid effort. My only complaint is that Recorded Books issues not 1 but 2 cds with the book. One CD has page turn signals, the other does not. Could all of this not fit on one CD????

When My Name Was Keoko

2008-07-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

When My Name Was Keoko, by Linda Sue Park, is one of my favorite novels, and now the audiobook is one of my favorite audios as well. This book tells the story of Sun-Hee and Tae-Yul, who become Keoko and Nobuo when the Japanese tell all Korean citizens during the 1940s that they may no longer use their Korean names, and must choose a new Japanese name.

I learned so much from this novel because I knew so little about the Japanese occupation of Korea before and during WWII. Sun-Hee's uncle works in the Korean underground movement, her father is a teacher, she has neighbors who support the Japanese and Japanese friends. When Tae-Yul joins the Japanese army during the war, the listener learns about kamikaze pilots.

Two narrators, one for Sun Hee and one for Tae-Yul, do an excellent job telling the story. Their voices convey just the right amount of emotion.

Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park

2008-07-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I finished listening to Linda Sue Park's excellent novel, Project Mulberry. This book tells the story of a young Korean girl, Julia, and her best friend Patrick as they try to come up with a state fair project in the category of animal husbandry. When Julia's mother suggests raising silkworms, Patrick is excited but Julia is a reluctant participant. She feels that the project is too Korean and would rather do an American project. The book raises the topics of ethnic pride, racism, and even death in an appropriate, touching manner.

The best part of this book is what happens between the chapters. Julia has conversations with the author, Linda Sue Park! The narrator and Park converse energetically about the story, where its going, and how even Park might not know where the story will head next. What a fun way of illustrating how a story is born!

WLA LITA Winner

2008-06-30T08:18:00.001-07:00

Check out this book! Ghost Mountain Boys was this year's choice by the Wisconsin Library Association's RR Donnelley winner. Excellent choice for teens and adults.

Anne of Green Gables--the radio version

2008-06-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

Ah, the power of audiobooks. I may be the only children's librarian in the world willing to admit that she did not enjoy Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery when she was a child or an adult (although I was a huge fan of the Emily of New Moon series by the same author). Generally, whenever I admit I didn't like a classic, I hear gasps of shock, so I keep trying to enjoy them and failing miserably.

However, I really liked Focus on the Family's greatly abridged radio production, found here in Infosoup. The actors did a fine job portraying the characters, and even though I still don't think teenagers like Anne exist in the world, I was able to put that thought aside and just enjoy the story as I drove to the airport.

I recommend this audiobook wholeheartedly!

Starlight by Erin Hunter

2008-05-25T16:58:00.000-07:00

What's interesting about Starlight by Erin Hunter is how long it took me to get into the story. However, once I got into it I really enjoyed it. This incredibly popular series was hard for me to read, so once again, I tried audio. The book was perfect for a long trip to Milwaukee and back.

Redwall Book on CD

2008-05-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

I have tried reading the Redwall series several times, but have never gotten into it. That has now changed. I listened to Redwall on CD recently and fell in love. I've now checked out Martin the Warrior and that will be my next listening experience. The story of Matthias and the rest of the mice defending Redwall Abbey from Cluny the Scourge was enchanting, even if it was a story of war. I found myself not wanting to turn off the car when getting home from work. My only complaint with the production has to do with the cast. Brian Jacques (pronounced Jakes) is a fantastic narrator, however this is a full cast production, so there are multiple parts. The voices of Cluny, Sparrowbeak, and the shrews were so harsh to my ears that I found myself turning down the sound whenever they spoke and then turning up the sound again when Jacques began to narrate. That's a small quibble, though. I highly recommend listening to Redwall, even if you haven't been able to get into the books.

Rosa--Weston Woods DVD

2008-05-12T18:21:00.000-07:00

I showed Rosa to a group of 5th graders recently on a field trip to the library. They had finished their research and their scavenger hunt and had twenty minutes before catching the bus. The teacher offered them a choice between Rosa and an Andy Warhol biography, and the students chose Rosa. Its a powerful book, but the film is so much more powerful. It is quiet and reverent, yet strong and passionate. The students listened and watched the entire film without comment, and after the film was over, the teacher led a brief question and answer session about the civil rights movement. Rosa was a great way to jump-start their discussion.

Tomo: My Double Edged Life by Jim Krueger

2008-05-12T18:15:00.000-07:00

I like graphic novels even though I'm not as big a fan as many people are. Tomo, My Double Edged Life, is a Christian graphic novel (published by Zondervan) drawn in manga style. The story revolves around Hana, the new girl in school who faces difficulties with new friends while fighting to save a sword at home from evil (not from our planet) visitors. I have to admit, while I liked the story, I hope there are sequels coming to answer the multitude of questions left very much unanswered!

Baby Animals Black and White

2008-04-29T14:43:00.001-07:00

Recently I gave this book, Baby Animals Black and White by Phyllis Tildes, to two friends at a baby shower. The high contrast images are perfect for a young infant's eyes to focus on. When my niece Cassie was 4 months old she came to visit us in Wisconsin and I checked out dozens of books to see what she liked best. This book was her favorite. She would gaze at the images for long stretches, then would bat at the page to turn to the next. Most books of this genre don't have any plot, but this one does! All of the animals on the pages end up on the last page as part of baby's mobile. What a sweet book for a baby.

Beautiful Blackbird and Other Folktales

2008-04-29T14:36:00.000-07:00

I listened to Beautiful Blackbird and Other Folktales while filing a couple days ago. Sometimes an audiobook is better than music when working! Ashley Bryan (the author of Beautiful Blackbird, and multiple Coretta Scott King Award Winner) narrates his book and the other folktales. I read Beautiful Blackbird frequently with school age groups, and Mr. Bryan sure reads it better than I do. I love the texture of his performance, and it is truly a performance, not just a reading of the stories. I also enjoyed hearing more Zambian folklore. If you get a chance, check out the original book format of Beautiful Blackbird and look at Mr. Bryan's beautiful paper cutting.

The Tale of Desperaux--audio!

2008-04-29T13:15:00.001-07:00

Just finished listening to The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. This is one of my favorite audiobooks. I love the narrator's voice! Despereaux is a mouse, a tiny mouse, who falls in love with the Princess Pea. When a rat named Chiaroscuro plots against the Princess, it is Despereaux who must come to her rescue. What a fairy tale! This book won the Newbery medal for 2003, and the audio version is just as delightful as reading through the book. I also just learned that the book is being made into a movie, to be released sometime near the end of the year!

Two Fun Audiobooks

2008-04-07T17:23:00.000-07:00

I finished two audiobooks recently that I recommend. In Archer's Quest by Linda Sue Park, Kevin is startled to find Koh Chu-mong, an ancient Korean ruler in his bedroom ready to shoot his bow and arrows. Kevin learns about his Korean heritage while racing against time to send Chu-mong back to the correct century. The reader of the book tells the story well, with an appropriate lilt for each character.

In The Kite Fighters, also by Linda Sue Park, it is 1473, and two brothers love kite-flying. I learned about the history of kites and kite fighting from this book. The king is young and asks one of the two boys, Kee-sup, to make him a kite to fly in the New Year's Kite Festival. Young-sup is asked to fly the king's beautiful new dragon kite in a kite fighting competition. Young-sup has great skill, and Kee-sup used great artistry in his design. Can Young-sup earn great honor for the king? Again, the audio version is excellent, and is truly a pleasure to listen to in my car.

The biggest problem with these two books? I had to look up the books to find the spelling of Chu-mong, Young-sup, Kee-sup, etc. Not that looking up books is a bad thing, but it would be nice if the publisher would include a spelling guide. :-)

Just Grace by Charise Mericle Harper

2008-04-07T17:19:00.000-07:00

Grace is one of four Graces in her classroom. There is Grace W., Grace L., and Grace F. When Grace is asked what she would like to be called, she answers, "Just Grace". And so Just Grace became her name. I like Just Grace by Charise Mericle Harper because Just Grace resonates with me as a true character. The book is interspersed with comics, pictures, and lists (Grace is great at making lists). I highly recommend this book for third grade students.

2008-04-04T05:54:00.000-07:00

I listened to Lilly's Big Day and Other Stories recently and enjoyed it greatly. I'm a big fan of Kevin Henkes (a Wisconsin author), and I especially like his Lilly books. The two readers did an excellent job sharing Mr. Henkes' books, which included A Weekend with Wendell, Sheila Rae the Brave, Chester's Way, Julius the Baby of the World, Chrysanthemum, Owen, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Wemberly Worried, and Lilly's Big Day

I also recommend all the picture book/CD kits the library owns published by Live Oak of Kevin Henkes' work. All of these have different readers from the audiobook referenced above.

The Happy Egg by Ruth Krauss

2008-04-01T15:07:00.000-07:00

The Happy Egg by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Crockett Johnson is one of the books I read in first grade that I remember fondly. So few words used to tell a beautiful story! The illustrations are spare and remind me of the way Mo Willems draws his Gerald and Piggie books.

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Fly Guy

2008-04-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, the Fly Guy series by Tedd Arnold has to be another of my new favorite early readers series. What fun! I shared two Fly Guy books with a first grade classroom today. They laughed in all the right spots, and asked for more! I like these because of their shiny covers, fun titles, silly premises, and fun characters. They are perfect for young kids learning how to read.

Easter Books at APL

2008-03-09T18:16:00.000-07:00

Go to Infosoup to see which sacred and secular Easter books and DVDs are available at the library.

Cookie Monster at the Library

2008-03-09T17:54:00.001-07:00

All right, since I'm into Sesame Street right now, I have to share my favorite Cookie Monster clip:

Bedtime with Mr. Bocelli and Elmo

2008-03-09T17:52:00.000-07:00

Enjoy! My niece loves to listen to this before bedtime.

The Pushcart War

2008-03-09T17:28:00.000-07:00

The Pushcart War by Jean Merrill is the kind of book I recommend to "thinkers", kids and adults who are looking for a book that creates discussion, that really makes you stop on the page to ruminate on the text. At Houdini last week, my first issue was that there really aren't any pushcarts here in Appleton, but we do have OctoberFest and a Farmer's Market that have things similar to pushcarts. In the story, New York City is being taken over by huge trucks, and the traffic is stopping as the trucks clog the streets. The trucks try to blame the pushcarts for taking up space in the streets, and people start to believe it. After Morris the Florist's pushcart is destroyed by a Mighty Mammoth truck, the pushcarts declare war on the trucks, deciding to show New Yorkers who is really slowing down traffic. Through the use of cunning devices and simple weapons (pea-pins/tacks), the pushcarts fight valiantly against the trucks.

I would love to read this book as part of a book club some day. What fun it would be to discuss the trucker's motives versus the pushcart owners' motives!

A Child's Garden of Verses

2008-03-09T17:17:00.000-07:00

My favorite poem from childhood came from Robert Louis Stevenson's book, A Child's Garden of Verses. Its called, The Swing.

HOW do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

Rivers and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside—

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down on the roof so brown—

Up in the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!

Half of my love for this poem came from the illustrations associated with the poem. They were colorful, lovely paintings, and my mom no longer has the book. I've tried to find this particular edition but to no avail. At least the poetry is still beautiful.

The Tale of Despereaux

2008-03-04T18:48:00.000-08:00

I love this book and have loved it since the first time I listened to it on audio. Yes, that's right--when the Newbery medal was announced in 2004 I had not yet read The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo, but the audiobook was on shelf. The subtitle itself was enough to draw me in: being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread. I fell in love with the very first stanza:

The world is dark, and light is precious.

Come closer, dear reader.

You must trust me.

I am telling a story.

Despereaux is a mouse who was born "with his eyes open". He is different from other mice, loving books, words, and music, and in love with the Princess Pea. Because he is different the other mice are frightened of him and he is banished to the dungeon of the castle, where he wonders if he will ever again see his love, Princess Pea. The tale is enchanting, and I love every word.

2008-03-02T13:04:00.001-08:00

The reviews for Previously by Allan Ahlberg only confirm what I thought I knew: Previously is just a great book. However, the reviews suggest that the book is for younger elementary age students and I read it to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students quite successfully. This pictue book tells a story starting with Goldilocks running away from the Bears' house, running into other fairy tale characters and then goes back in time, all the way to when the characters were born.

Bug Jokes

2008-03-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

Reading jokes to kids never fails! My favorite joke that I read to the kids was "What do you get when you swallow caterpillars?" "Butterflies in your stomach!"

Bug Jokes is from the Laughing Matters series.

Read Across America

2008-03-01T13:56:00.000-08:00

I spent most of Friday at a local elementary school and read some truly great books to the students. Because most the of students were older (3rd-5th grade), I chose chapter books, poetry and picture books for this older audience. I love being the school age librarian!

Here are the books I read: (longer descriptions of each will be separate posts)
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Handsprings by Douglas Florian
Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman
A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson
Previously by Allan Ahlberg
The Pushcart War by Jean Merrill
Bug Jokes by Pam Rosenberg
Mary Had a Little Jam by Bruce Lansky

How to Read to a Baby

2008-02-25T03:10:00.000-08:00

My niece Cassie is like a lot of other toddlers in that she has a hard time sitting still and listening to a book all the way through. She is exactly like other toddlers in that she loves electronics. With that in mind, we watched a few stories on the Between the Lions' Website. I've shared some of these stories with my pre-K classes at the library as well.

1st Grade Visit--What should I read?

2008-02-24T15:49:00.000-08:00

Since I'm still a newbie when it comes to school age programming, I always think when choosing books to share. However, there are a few books that are a hit no matter to whom you read them.

The first book I read was Say Hey: a Song of Willie Mays by Peter Mandel. Its reviews weren't all that great, and it isn't very good for writing reports, but I like the book. Kids respond well to the book (there is always a funny reaction from the kids when they find out that the New York Giants used to be a baseball team), and I like the repeating phrase, "Say hey, Willie, say hey!", which the kids enjoy chanting.

I then read I am Invited to a Party by Mo Willems followed by the Geisel Medalist, There is a Bird on Your Head. I personally would have chosen Party over the other, but I'm just glad Mo won. While I've read these books with many different age groups, there is nothing like a first grade child to understand the humor of an easy reader. These books are also good for team reading. I asked a teacher on the spur of the moment to read the book with me, and the kids loved it!

Before our scavenger hunt began, we read There was an Old Lady who Swallowed Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold. I am a huge fan of the Fly Guy Series. They have bright shiny covers (and I could write an entire entry on the importance of a good cover and good title), fun characters and cute situations. Many of the kids already know that series, but didn't know there was a new book out! I am always very pleased when a child asks me if they can please take home the book I read in the program.

After our scavenger hunt, the kids picked out books with their brand new library cards. Thank goodness for such wonderful new authors who are producing such spectacular new books to read.

What comes next in a series?

2008-02-20T06:23:00.000-08:00

A parent asked me how I always know what comes next in a series without clicking on every title in Infosoup. I let her in on a little secret. Mid-Continent Public Library's Juvenile Series and Sequels page is one of the best resources I know about online. I have no idea how they keep the pages up to date but I am so impressed.

Need to know which title is #12 in the Magic Tree House series? Click here to find out.

Ever have to decide whether to read the Chronicles of Narnia in chronological or publication date order? MCPL's site will give you the order of both options. Same with Brian Jacques' Redwall series: chronological or publication date.

I use this site all the time. Thank you MCPL!

Linda Sue Park

2008-02-17T18:37:00.000-08:00

Linda Sue Park is a Korean American author who has written three of my favorite books: A Single Shard, about a boy named Tree Ear living in 12th century Korea who begins to work for a potter. This book receives starred reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and Kirkus. It was the recipient of the 2002 Newbery Medal. I didn't think I would like it--its about 12th century Korea. Instead I found it to be inspiring and the characters were real to me.

In When My Name Was Keoko, I learned about an aspect of World War II history I didn't know existed. In 1940, Sun-Hee is told her name is now Keoko. Korea is occupied by the Japanese and the children are forced to learn Japanese, change their names, and forsake their culture. I like to recommend this book to kids looking for historical WWII fiction. Along with Number the Stars, its an excellent alternative to the Anne Frank story.

Project Mulberry is another excellent story by Linda Sue Park. Julia is a Korean American girl. When she and friend Patrick have to pick a project to do together, Patrick suggests a silk worm farm, and Julia isn't sure she wants to draw attention to her heritage. The oddest, yet most intriguing parts of the book are the sections between chapters when Julia and Ms. Park have discussions regarding how the book is turning out. You have to read it to really get what I'm describing. I loved this book, and its another I just didn't expect to like.

Mo Willems

2008-02-17T18:24:00.000-08:00

Mo Willems may be my favorite picture book author and illustrator of all time. Ever since Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus hit the literary scene and started getting starred reviews from all the major journals, he has been at the top of my recommendation list. He has won three Caldecott honor awards, one Carnegie medal in 2007 (the committee I served on in 2008), and was the winner of the Theodor Geisel award for There is a Bird on Your Head. I've used the Piggie and Gerald series with all ages of student--preschoolers, first graders, fourth graders, and with my afterschool reader's theatre group.

His books are so simple, often text and illustrations, yet the themes are universal and understood by so many kids. I enjoy sharing Knuffle Bunny with young children and discussing what a laundromat is, and talking about their favorite stuffed animals, and how they think Trixie feels.

The Knuffle Bunny DVD and Leonardo the Terrible Monster DVD are both fun to watch as well. While I prefer the book to the movie in Knuffle Bunny's case (although the movie is fantastic), I almost prefer Leonardo as a video. I shared it with two classes of first graders and a daycare storytime group, and they loved it. The video told the story better than I could have.

Which author will make the biggest impact in this century?

2008-02-17T18:08:00.001-08:00

What a tough question to be asked off the top of your head!

How to handle a book

2008-02-17T18:04:00.000-08:00

I love my little niece. She is learning to love books and she is behaving exactly the way she should. Her current favorite is Barney's Wheels on the Bus.

For my First Post

2008-02-17T17:45:00.000-08:00

I'd like to tell about a fantastic experience--I served on my first ALSC committee, and we were charged with selecting winner of the Carnegie Medal, given to the best video produced for children in the preceding year. What an experience this was. I highly recommend the DVD we chose for the medal, Jump In.