Mix It Up!

by Herve Tullet

Ages: birth – 7 years (approximately grades preschool – 1st)

Our story begins with a smudgy gray spot of paint smack dab in the middle of the page, along with the instructions to “Tap that gray spot. Just a little, to see what happens.” Instantly joined by more dots (upon turning the page, of course), our story zips into what happens when different colors are mixed. First, readers experiment mixing paints with their fingers, rubbing red into blue and so forth. But then, the real fun begins as reader shake, tilt, press, and rub the pages to make more colors in more ways. The fun doesn’t end with the final turn of the page, as readers are encouraged to experiment on their own (parents and caregivers, beware!).

Mix It Up is the second of Herve Tullet’s innovative, interactive books. Preceded by Press Here, this newest addition to Herve’s collection packs the same literary punch in a world full of screen time technology. Putting an emphasis on physical interactions with the books, Mix It Up! presents the challenge of an i-device, the educational concepts of a beginning art class, and the literacy concepts of a book all in one, small, exciting package. Those who enjoyed Press Here, aspiring artists, or those who enjoy i-devices will enjoy Mix It Up! 

Find Mix It Up! in our catalog.

Extra Yarn

written by Mac Barnett
illustrated by Jon Klassen

Ages: birth – 8 years (approximately grades preschool – 2nd)

In a drab little town filled with while snow and black soot, Annabelle finds a box of yarn in every color. She takes to the task of knitting a sweater, first for herself and her dog, to find that the box was still filled with the extraordinarily colorful yarn. She then busies herself knitting for her naysayers, her classmates and teacher, her parents and neighbors, and eventually covers the entire town (yes, animals, trucks, and buildings, too) with knitted sweaters. And still her box remains full. This amazing feat draws the masses to shake Annabelle’s hand, including a mustachioed archduke who makes Annabelle an offer she can’t refuse for her magical yarn box. Except that she does refuse, and the Duke deigns to steal the box and sail with it to his faraway kingdom. Upon opening the box and finding it empty, the archduke angrily tosses the box out of his castle’s window and curses Annabelle. As if to spite the greedy archduke, the box almost magically returns to Annabelle, and who lives (and knits) happily ever after.

Jon Klassen’s Caldecott Honor illustrations are true to his simplistic, cut-out style. Both the drab hues of the town and the colorful splashes of yarn are perfectly attuned to the story’s quite simple narrative, and often times seem to tell a story in and of themselves. Paired with Mac Barnett’s words, a true deviation from his usual plotlines, makes this a truly winning title. Those who enjoyed the simplicity of Pom and Pim or the whimsy of Sparky! will enjoy this Caldecott Honor title.

Find Extra Yarn in our catalog.

Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons

by Jon J. Muth

Ages: 0-12 years (approximately grades preschool – 5)

Koo, a curious panda bear, takes a trip through the seasons and the alphabet in modified haiku. Starting in fall and easily transitioning through the remaining seasons, Jon J. Muth's illustrations and poems find Koo in interesting (but sometimes expected) circumstances as he eats warm cookies in fall, stomps through snow in winter, explores a rainy terrain with flashlights in spring, and draws wonderful chalk art in summer. Although each of the 26 haiku accompanies a picture, the book as a whole doesn't necessarily contain a plot. The seasons (and beautiful watercolor illustrations) are what drive the story forward in a gentle, playful way. Each modified haiku contains a capitalized letter of the alphabet, starting at A and ending in Z, giving an added depth to the motion of the story. Readers can easily separate each picture and poem from each other for an introduction to haiku or the alphabet, or can look at the book as a whole (including the clever play on words for a title!) for more advanced reading. This story is best suited for children who enjoy poetry, the changes in seasons, or enjoyed Firefly July or the collected works of Jon Muth.

Find Hi, Koo! in our catalog.

Exclamation Mark

by: Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld

Ages: 0 - 9 years (approximately grades preschool – 3)

A special little punctuation isn’t sure where he fits in. In fact, he always finds himself standing out, even when he tries so desperately to fit in. Even when he scrunches and squishes himself down, he never quite feels like part of the group… period. One day, he meets a very interrogative fellow who won’t leave even a moment of silence with all of his questions. Fed up, our punctual hero cries “STOP!” unleashing the very thing he knows he was born to do: stand out! After showing his friends his newfound talent for exclaiming, he goes off to make his mark on the world…

This very fun story explores punctuation in a way that is accessible for all ages. Younger readers will have their first meeting with the different forms of punctuation in a very personable way, while older readers will revel in the oh-so-clever puns and double entendres while the various forms of punctuation interact with each other. Overall, this book is simply about a lost soul finally finding himself, a message that we can all relate to and revel in its importance. Exclamation Mark will enthrall readers who enjoyed Little Red Writing and 123 Versus ABC, as well as those who like a zippy plot with a happy ending.

Find Exclamation Mark in our catalog.

I Want My Hat Back

by Jon Klassen

Ages: 0 - 8 years (approximately grades preschool - 2)

Bear has lost his hat. He wants it back. To achieve this, Bear goes from animal to animal, asking if any of them have seen his hat. “Not around here,” replies the frog. “What is a hat?” asks the armadillo. “I saw a hat once. It was blue,” chimes the snake. “Why are you asking me? I would not steal a hat! Don’t ask me any more questions!” snaps the rabbit. It isn’t until his questioning is nearly complete that Bear, wide-eyed, realizes that he has seen his hat! The next scene depicts bear with a very familiar red hat who, when asked if he’s seen Rabbit, replies, “Why are you asking me? I would not eat a rabbit! Don’t ask me any more questions.”

The very sparse nature of the illustrations goes swimmingly with the sparse text. Without quotation marks or other dialogue attributions, each animal’s words stands next to a very simple depiction of the conversation or actions that coincide. The simplicity of both the illustrations and text lend themselves to the somewhat complex nature of the plot, as Bear moves along on the road to discovering the whereabouts of his hat. Some animals throw readers slightly off the trail, giving comprehension skills a workout. The fate of the hat-stealing bunny is also left to the imagination, discovered only by an understanding of Bear’s denial versus Bunny’s. Although the grim retribution in this story might not be for the faint of heart, I Want My Hat Back is alternatively a comical depiction of what might happen to a thief or liar. If you enjoy Mo Willem’s plucky Pigeon or the muted illustrative works of Peter Brown (Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, Children Make Terrible Pets), you will love Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back.

Find I Want My Hat Back in our catalog.

A Home For Mr. Emerson

by Barbara Kerley

Ages: 5 and up (approximately grades K and up)

Many people know Ralph Waldo Emerson was a writer, essayist and poet. He was also a loyal friend, active community member, and avid naturalist. This engaging picture book biography illustrates how a city boy embraced nature and created a loving home in the friendly, tight-knit community of Concord, Massachusetts.

After moving from city to city while growing up, Emerson dreamed of a place he could make his own. This place would have open, grassy fields and deep, still woods. After college, Emerson and his new bride moved to Concord, Massachusetts. They bought a farmhouse and planted fruit trees, pumpkins, and flowers. They stocked the library with books and Emerson’s writing. Emerson’s vision was slowly coming to life. Once Emerson befriended his neighbors and fellow villagers, the buzz of happy chatting and laughing filled the house and it truly became his dream home. Years went by and all was well until disaster struck and fire ravaged the house. Devastated by the loss, Emerson embarked on an overseas trip with his eldest daughter as a way to rejuvenate his spirit. After two weeks, Emerson returned home to see that the entire village had come together to rebuild the house, a place that meant so much to everyone in Concord.

Emerson was a true literary pioneer, championing the ideas of speaking your own mind and encouraging other to embrace independence and self-reliance. While this particular version provides an overview rather than a detailed approach to Emerson’s life, the essence of his views are very apparent through direct quotes from his writings. The bright and cartoon-like illustrations convey Emerson’s spirit with intellect and whimsy. An author’s note with additional information about Emerson and a discussion guide about his writing is included in the back of the book. Overall, this picture book biography is a winning combination of Emerson’s heartfelt story and lively illustrations that are sure to engage readers. This title is recommended for grades K and up.

Find A Home For Mr. Emerson in our catalog.

The Hundred Dresses

written by Eleanor Estes
illustrated by Louis Slobodkin

Ages: 8-12 years (approximately grades 2-6)

The Hundred Dresses is a short tale of a young, foreign girl, Wanda Petronski, who misses school for a few days. Usually, nobody notices Wanda. She sits in the back corner and rarely makes a peep. That is until one day, she tells a group of girls who are admiring a classmate’s new dress that she has one hundred dresses at home. With this simple comment, Wanda opens a door to relentless taunting before and after class. Every day, Wanda’s classmates “have fun” with her by asking if she really has one hundred dresses at home. Hysterics ensue when she answers that yes, she does, “all lined up,” although she only ever wears the same faded blue dress that doesn’t fit her quite right. A girl like Wanda, with her funny name and ill-fitting dress, who lives on the wrong side of town, couldn’t possibly have a hundred dresses!

Each of Wanda’s classmates plays a role in the taunting, whether it’s asking Wanda about her dresses, listening to the interrogation, or completely ignoring the situation. It isn’t until the winners of a drawing contest are announced that Wanda’s absence is noticed and appreciated: the winner of the drawing contest is Wanda, who has drawn one hundred different, beautiful dresses! In an astonishing turn of events, Wanda’s absence is explained in a letter to the class in Mr. Petronski’s broken English- their family has moved to the big city where their Polish heritage will not be mocked, but perhaps accepted and even respected. Seeing Wanda’s hundred dresses and hearing her letter sets off a chain of uncertain repercussions for the main antagonists in Wanda’s taunting, leaving the reader to wonder whether Wanda has forgiven her classmates, or will forever hold them in disdain.

This short, classic, 1945 Newbery Honor tale resonates with all involved in the childhood interactions spectrum: the bullied, the bystanders, the adults privy to the bullying, and the bullies themselves. The deeper meaning and moral message of this story is delivered between the lines, which make it a wonderful choice for older readers to practice their critical reading skills. In fact, the gentle and simple way this lesson is portrayed makes this book a wonderful choice as a read-aloud to younger readers, or an interesting enticement for reluctant readers, as well. Those who enjoyed the newer title Jane, the Fox, and Me, will no doubt enjoy this tale as well. All around, The Hundred Dresses is a timeless tale that has endured the test of time with its resonating truth, and is bound to continue to do so for generations.

Find The Hundred Dresses in our catalog.

The Day the Crayons Quit

written by Drew Daywalt
illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Ages: 0-8 years (approximately grades preschool – 3)

You’d be hard pressed to find any young reader who doesn’t enjoy coloring. For many of us (adults included!) all that’s necessary for a fun afternoon is a blank sheet of paper and a box of crayons. Unfortunately, the crayons themselves aren’t as easily satisfied. One day when our protagonist, Duncan, arrives to school, he finds a stack of letters addressed to him. These letters contain the grievances of all the colors in his crayon box. They quit! Red is overworked, beige is underused, white is misused, and yellow and orange are in an all-out war over who should be used to color the sun. It’s absolute chaos in the pigmented world of the crayons, and it’s up to Duncan to use his creativity to set things right.

Although this is Daywalt’s first (very successful, as a 2015 Monarch Award nominee) attempt as an author, The Day the Crayons Quit is just one of the many fantastic titles Jeffers has illustrated. Each letter is composed on a different type of paper (lined, coloring pages, etc.) in each crayon’s specific handwriting. With each letter comes a depiction of the crayon in question and his objections, in a creative, funny, and in true Oliver Jeffer’s style, childlike illustration, not to mention Duncan’s creations to boot! A wonderful, colorful story that any reader who has used crayons or lodged a complaint will connect with, The Day the Crayons Quit is not only relatable, but a laugh-out-loud funny tale that will encourage readers to use their imaginations the next time they sit down with their own box of crayons.

Find The Day the Crayons Quit in our catalog.

Deep in the Sahara

written by Kelly Cunnane
illustrated by Hoda Hadadi

Ages: birth-8 years (approximately grades preschool – 2)

A young girl, Lalla, who lives in Eastern Africa, wants more than anything to wear a malafa like the women she sees all around her in her daily life. Lalla believes that the traditional Muslim head covering will make her look beautiful, mysterious, grown up, and regal. As the women around her explain that a malafa is more than something worn to change how others view you, Lalla’s desire to wear a malafa only grows stronger and stronger. It isn’t until Lalla tells her mother at the evening call to prayer that she wants to wear a malafa to show her faith and pray with everyone that, finally, for the right reasons, does she want and get one.

This lyrical, enchanting story portrays the wish of so many children: to grow up and be like the adults around them as soon as possible. The malafa, as shared by Cuannane in the author’s note, is a veil that Muslim women wear to adhere to the modesty and earnestness of their internal faith, not an external ornament or show of oppression as many might mistake it to be. Hadadi’s paper collage illustrations capture the narration’s passion, and the malafa’s beauty so perfectly that readers might spend more time gazing at the art than reading the simple-yet-powerful story about growing up. Earning multiple starred reviews from professional review journals (such as Booklist and Publisher's Weekly), Deep in the Sahara is best suited for ages birth to eight years old, and would entice readers who enjoy the works of Patricia Polacco (especially The Keeping Quilt and The Blessing Cup) or Allen Say (especially Tea with Milk), who want to learn more about East African cultures, or who might be trying to grow up too quickly.

Find Deep in the Sahara in our catalog.

Start Your Kid with a Classic!

by various authors

Ages: 6-11 years (approximately grades kindergarten - 6)

Have you ever read a story with your child, only to find yourself flooded with memories of you reading that very same book when you were young? This happens so often when parents introduce classic children’s books to their own children. Classic literature can stir up images, experiences, and memories from our childhood in a way that modern fiction simply cannot. But that is one of the benefits of reading the classics with your child—it encourages conversation, connection, and memory-making. One of the challenges, however, is that length, reading level, and sometimes even content of these older titles may not always be appropriate for a young reader. Thankfully, the Classic Starts series gives young readers the opportunity to experience these timeless stories from an early age.

The Classic Starts series is a collection of beginning chapter books, which are abridged retellings of traditional children’s fiction. In these books, chapters are brief, font size is larger, and there are even pencil drawing illustrations interspersed throughout the text. And no one book is more than 160 pages long. Each novel is adapted and rewritten with language that has a more contemporary feel for easier reading. Even so, the magic from the original stories remains. There is truly something for every reader in this series. Children can be introduced to new favorites in a variety of genres, including Moby Dick, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Secret Garden, Treasure Island, and A Little Princess. Readers could also find short story compilations written in a similar format, such as Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Greek and Roman Myths, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and Arabian Nights. The appeal of these books primarily targets readers in second to fourth grade; however, they could also work as great read alouds for even younger children. Older children who are reluctant readers would find this series accessible, yet engaging, as well.

Just the same, nothing quite compares to the original! So, if you are interested in sharing the unabridged versions with your young reader, stop by the Children’s Desk and ask about our new circulating Kindle preloaded with classic children’s fiction. It is available to Glencoe Public Library cardholders for a two-week checkout.

 Find the entire Classic Starts series in our catalog.

Star Wars: Darth Vader and Son & Vader’s Little Princess

by Jeffrey Brown

Ages: 3-10 years (approximately grades preschool – 4)

Laugh your way through the joys (and mishaps) of parent-and-childhood through the eyes of Darth Vader and his son and daughter, Luke and Leia. These books will appeal to any level of Star Wars fan: from those who are not at all familiar with the workings of the Galaxy, to those who are able to use the Force themselves (or at least wish they could…). Whichever side of the fandom you fall into, Jeffrey Brown’s hilarious duo of books show the Star Wars characters you love and loathe are just like you and your kids!

In these two books, you will see Darth Vader deal with the everyday trappings of parenthood in a way that only a Sith can. View the younger side of parenthood with Darth Vader and Son, where Darth pours Luke cereal (using the Force), answers tough questions like “where to babies come from?”, and fends off a bothersome Luke during an important holo-call from Darth Sidious. In Vader’s Little Princess, Darth teaches a mostly school-or-teenage Leia how to drive, meets her scruffy-looking boyfriend (Han Solo), and fields complaints from Luke about Leia taking forever in the bathroom.

Not enough Star Wars for you? Fear you should not, young Padawan! The books are both peppered with actual Star Wars references from Darth telling Luke “It is pointless to resist, my son” as Luke throws a tantrum, to a horrified Darth finding Luke playing in the trash compactor, to Darth listening sympathetically to Leia’s dilemma of telling her boyfriend she loves him, and "all he said back was, 'I know.'" Full of laughs for parents and children already in love with the Star Wars world, and a great primer for those who want to learn more, Darth Vader and Son and Vader’s Little Princess fit the bill for anyone looking for a quick read between the ages of three to ten years old, and is a wonderful pairing with this week’s previous Kid Lit Pick, Star Wars: Jedi Academy.

Find Darth Vader and Son or Vader’s Little Princess in the catalog.

Star Wars: Jedi Academy

by Jeffrey Brown

Ages: 8-12 years (approximately grades 2-7)

This week’s review comes to you a little early, to pay tribute to a very special holiday across time and space: May the 4th.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a young boy named Roan Novachez kept a diary detailing his desire to attend Pilot Academy Middle School and become a great star pilot, just like his brother and dad! To Roan’s extreme disappointment, his application to Pilot Academy is rejected and he believes he will be stuck on Tatooine forever… until, that is, Master Yoda caught wind of Roan’s situation and extended him admittance to another school for kids on Roan’s side of the galaxy: Coruscant Jedi Academy. In classes with other young Jedi-in-training, many of whom started their schooling at birth, Roan sticks out like a sore tentacle. He can barely even lift a pencil using the Force, everyone notices, and not everybody is nice about it. Little does Roan know that Jedi Academy is filled with non-Force related activities such as student council, where he creates posters promoting elections and school dances, and the school newspaper, where he creates funny comics strips about pilot Ewoks. Steadily, like any Earth-bound middle-schooler, Roan learns the value of working hard and believing in himself, and eventually builds a solid foundation for his education, his budding friendships, and his future not as a star pilot, but as a real Jedi Master!

Written as a middle-schooler’s journal, this graphic novel is filled with interesting and funny doodles, comic layouts, and full pages of handwritten text outlining the life of a beginner Jedi. This book is wonderful for longtime Star Wars fans, or those just beginning to follow the Star Wars phenomenon, as it is filled with the different species, robots, and planets of the Star Wars universe, but not in a way that assumes prior knowledge. Even if Star Wars isn’t of interest, this story could be appreciated by any kid starting a new school, figuring out where he or she fits in, or who has faced disappointment in not being selected for a school, team, or other activity. A great fit for those readers who enjoy Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants series, or Rachel Renee Russell’s Dork Diaries series. This also would be enjoyed by those interested in, but not quite ready for, the Harry Potter or Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. If Jedi Academy doesn’t satisfy your reader’s Star Wars appetite, be sure to check out Brown’s other hilarious, slightly younger Star Wars titles: Darth Vader and Son, and Vader’s Little Princess.

 Find Star Wars: Jedi Academy in our catalog.

And of course, May the 4th be with you!

Feathers: Not Just for Flying

written by Melissa Steward
illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen

Ages: 4-9 years (approximately grades preschool – 4)

It’s spring, and all the birds are coming back from their winter vacations. Just look up and you’ll see them all across the sky. Have you ever noticed how many different types of birds there are, and wondered why some of them fly, some of them swim, and some of them waddle? Or how some of them live in the tropical oceans and some of them live in the snowy arctic? Feathers: Not Just for Flying, is a brilliant, easy introduction into the versatility of the many types of feathers there are on birds who live all over the world.

Each feather is presented on a scrapbook-formatted page with a detailed illustration accompanied by a large-print explanation of what the it does, often likened to an ordinary object that young readers are sure to be familiar with (ex: “Feathers can shade out the sun like an umbrella…”). Along with these big, coverall descriptions, is a smaller, seemingly handwritten blurb going further into depth about the science behind the feather’s function, and on which bird the feather might be found. With this wide range of presented information, Feathers is a great read for bird lovers of all ages, abilities, shapes, and sizes.

Find Feathers: Not Just for Flying in our catalog.

The Snatchabook: Who's Stealing All the Stories?

written by Helen Docherty
illustrated by Thomas Docherty

Ages: 0-8 (approximately grades preschool – 1)

A beautifully illustrated woodland setting provides the enticing backdrop for this charming tale. Each night all the creatures of the woods settle into their beds for a goodnight story only to be interrupted by a tiny little animal, snatching their books! Eliza Brown, a rabbit living in tree burrow number three, confronts the thief, only to find out it is a wee, winged creature called Snatchabook. In truth, Snatchabook is not scary at all! He just longs for someone to read to him each night. Eliza Brown helps him return the stolen books to their rightful owners in Burrow Down. He apologizes to the owl, hedgehog, badger, squirrel and rabbit. After making a “wrong into a right”, each night Snatchabook is invited into some animal’s burrow or home for a bed time story.

This charming, enchantingly illustrated book is set in imperfect yet pleasing verse. It reminds of a series written in 1999, Brambly Hedge, of woodland animals in their forest homes. Snatchabook was first published in the U.K. by Alison Green Books, an imprint of Scholastic, Ltd. In 2013, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky of Naperville, Illinois produced it for distribution in the U.S. This story is a delight no matter what side of the pond you hail from.

Find Snatchabook in our catalog.

Clementine

written by Sara Pennypacker
pictures by Marla Frazee

Ages: 7-10 years (approximately grades 1-4)

Ivy and Bean. Beezus and Ramona. Bink and Gollie. As a parent of a beginning reader, you may already be familiar with these humorous and light-hearted tales of family and friendship. But if you are looking for something new to entice your young reader, try Clementine.

Clementine tells her own story in this first-person narrated, realistic fiction book. She is an eight-year-old girl with spunk, a short attention span, and a fruit for a name. Although she is well-intentioned, things never seem to go her way. When she accidentally gets glue in her fourth-grade friend and neighbor Margaret's hair, she thinks that she has a wonderfully clever idea to help her friend out. Unfortunately, her idea involves a pair of scissors… So, you can guess what Margaret thinks of her new hairdo after Clementine tries to “help.” But what I really like about this series is that it is as poignant and sweet as it is funny. In this case, at the end of the book, Clementine makes up for her mistake by cutting off her own hair so that Margaret won’t be feel ostracized at school. The story is full of situations and scenarios that do not work out at all as Clementine plans.

Any reader will definitely laugh out loud during Clementine’s hilarious antics and misadventures, but it’s also an excellent book to use in a children’s book discussion group. The Clementine series is perfect for both boys and girls ages 7 to 10 who are chapter book readers and who love a good laugh. It is humorous, fast-paced, and offers a lot of food for thought about the meaning of the phrase “good intentions” and what it means to be a good friend. Since reading a good book is like making a new friend, why not introduce your child to some new friends? 

If you liked Clementine, try one of these other series:
Allie Finkle
Ruby Lu
Clara Lee
Clarice Bean
Gooney Bird Green
Horrid Henry
Just Grace
Lulu
Marty McGuire
Ready Freddy
Stink

Or find Clementine in our catalog.

Seeds, Bees, Butterflies and More! Poems for Two Voices

written by Carole Gerber
illustrated by Eugene Yelchin

Ages: 4-7 years (approximately grades preschool – 1)

It’s April and spring is finally here! Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? If your reader loves spring and poems as much as I do, they will go bananas for Seeds, Bees, Butterflies, and More! Poems of all different rhyme schemes and meters describe many of the things you will find in spring: bugs, flowers, weather, and more! Hey, that sure does sound familiar…

Each poem is accompanied by a lively, cheerful illustration, which really brings the poems' action and the information they convey to life. But it’s not just the spring poems or illustrations that make this read so special. Each poem is written specifically for two readers, printed in two colors that correspond with the person who should be reading, alternating between lines, stanzas, and sometimes words. At times, the two voices will read together, creating the perfect environment for sharing this book with beginning or strong readers alike. Together, readers will organically learn about the cadence of speech and rhythm of poetry. Seeds, Bees, Butterflies, and More! can be enjoyed by the whole family, but is best suited for readers ages four to seven.

Find Seeds, Bees, Butterflies, and More! in our catalog.

I Am...

written by Brad Meltzer
illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos

Ages: 0-8 years (approximately grades preschool - 1)

Number 1 New York Times Bestselling author of multiple adult fiction and non-fiction books, Brad Meltzer, has done it again in a whole new way! Wanting to give his own children books that featured real heroes for them to look up to, Melzer was inspired to begin the Ordinary People Change the World series, beginning with none other than the biographies of Abraham Lincoln and Amelia Earhart. With their brief, fun outlines of our featured heroes’ lives, and their kid-friendly, cartoon-like illustrations, both of these little books are the perfect introduction to the lives of outstanding individuals that children will no doubt become familiar with later in life. Laugh along with tiny Amelia as she describes how “AWESOME!” her homemade flying machine is, and root for little Lincoln as he takes on ALL of the neighborhood bullies single-handedly.

Although both of these biographies touch on facts that you might not have already known, neither of them is by any means a complete biography. Amelia’s leaves out the story of her last, fatal flight, Lincoln’s lacks preserving the Union as a reason for the Civil War, and both attribute quotations (via speech bubble) to the individuals that may not have actually been said by them; however, the intended audience of ages 0-8 (roughly preschool – 1st grade), may not be ready to handle such heavy concepts, and the books serve their purpose as a fun stepping stone to further interest and investigation.

As excited as I am to recommend I am Amelia Earhart and I am Abraham Lincoln, I am even more excited for the next additions to this series: I am Rosa Parks and I am Albert Einstein, both due out in fall of 2014.

Find the series in our catalog.

Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great

written and illustrated by Bob Shea

Ages: 0-8 years (approximately grades kindergarten - 2)

Unicorn and Goat, best of friends! But not at first, no siree. Goat thinks he’s pretty cool –doing magic tricks, riding his bike, and busting a dance move or two- until Unicorn moves into town and shows him up in every way imaginable. What a bummer! Goat decides that Unicorn is obviously much cooler than he could ever be and resigns himself to eating a nice piece of goat cheese pizza. Unicorn walks his wonderful self on by and wonders what could possibly smell so wonderful. As Goat explains his ability to make cheese, Goat discovers all of the unique things he can do that Unicorn just isn’t cut out for (such as head-butting a soccer ball and climbing mountains). As a matter of fact, it sounds like Unicorn thinks Goat is pretty great! After the revelation that everyone is good at different things, Goat decides that he and Unicorn would be a great crime-fighting team and they become, well, the best of friends!

Bob Shea, author of the Dinosaur vs. books (as well as many others!), takes on the challenging topics of overcoming jealousy, discovering your own unique talents, and making friends in the least likely of places in his new Unicorn Thinks Hes Pretty Great. In this librarian’s opinion, he hits all of those targets with flying, rainbow glittery, unicorn colors. Illustrations are fun, colorful, and sway to the comic book/graphic novel side of the art spectrum with Shea’s signature, scribbly style throughout. This title is best suited for children ages 5-8 (roughly kindergarten through second grade) who enjoy Shea’s other funny titles, superheroes and crime fighting, goats, or unicorns.

Find Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great in the catalog.

Warning: Do Not Open This Book!

written by Adam Lehrhaupt
illustrated by Matthew Forsythe

Ages: 0-8 years (approximately grades preschool - 1)

With the very binding of the book containing warning signs and traffic cones, the narrator has to wonder why on earth you would open this book when it explicitly says not to. Seriously, opening this book and turning the pages will only lead to bad things in the form of monkeys and toucans and alligators. But it figures, you just kept on reading and making things worse and worse until, finally, you and the narrator set a trap, reign in the chaos, and put everything back to the way it was. Now, isn’t that better? Oh, please, whatever you do, do NOT read it again! And again! And again!

This is a simple yet hilarious, interactive story that is a great read-aloud for one-on-one sessions or to a group, best for ages 0-8 years (preschool through first grade). The winning aspect of this book is exactly what makes it so fun and engaging: readers are kept guessing at every turn of the page and literacy skills are built as readers decide what exactly might happen when you go against the narrator’s urges to just not turn the page anymore. With surprises around every corner and a clever triumph in the end, it’s no wonder you will want to read it again, and again, and again!

Find it in our catalog.

The Show Must Go On!

written by Kate Klise
illustrated by M. Sarah Klise

Ages: 6-8 years (approximately grades 1-4)

Kate Klise (author of the 43Old Cemetery Road & Regardingthe Fountain series) has done it again with a delightful new series targeted for a younger audience. The Show Must Go On! is the first of The Three-Ring Rascals, a fun-filled series for readers transitioning into chapter books. 

Sir Sidney’s Traveling Circus is the world’s best, but Sir Stanley, a “prince of a man,” needs a rest.  Who could replace him? After all, “no one treats animals better than Sir Sidney does.”  Leo the lion gets his mane brushed with only the finest Italian brushes, Elsa the elephant eats only specially grown peanuts from a farm in Georgia, and only the Famous Flying Banana Brothers can train on their custom made bunks beds.  So when Barnabas Bramble, the certified lion tamer is temporally hired for a week, things turn grim!  Bramble’s idea for running a circus has everything to do with profit and short-cuts rather than the well-being of the circus animals.  It soon becomes apparent that the lion tamer is a fraud and the circus is spiraling out of control under his management.  Fortunately, the circus folk stick together, Sir Sidney returns, and Mr. Bramble gets a second chance.  Sir Sidney says to Barnabas Bramble, ”I also know that underneath it all there was a good man.”  Whimsical illustrations throughout by M. Sarah Klise, the author’s sister, enrich this well-written, humorous chapter book. The show will go on. Watch for the Three-RingRascals: Book 2 – The Greatest Star On Earth in May of 2014. 

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