-
Jacobson, Jennifer Richard. SMALL AS AN ELEPHANT
Jacobson, Jennifer Richard. SMALL AS AN ELEPHANTSomerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2011IL 5-8, RL 6.3ISBN 0763641553Imagine you’re 11 years old. You’ve had a long car ride with your mother to a Maine camp ground and during the trip the two of you argue over a stop at a wild animal park to see an elephant. Now imagine you wake up the next day at the campground to find your mother, her car and all the camping gear gone. This is the situation Jack Martel finds himself in. He figures she’s probably just moved all their stuff to another campsite, so he sets out to enjoy himself…alone. But as time goes by and despite his efforts to contact his mom, there’s still no sign of her, and Jack grows increasingly afraid other campers will discover he’s been abandoned. He finds some comfort in a small, plastic elephant he has in his possession; it’s a reminder of a trip with his mother to the circus when he was four. Jack’s mother has a history of mental illness while Jack has an obsession with elephants. He loves his mother, in spite of her erratic behavior. When Jack realizes he won’t be able to find his mother, he decides to return to his home in Boston, and in need of food and shelter starts to make his way south. (Booktalk written by Suzanne Wall-GSF Committee/Merrimack Public Library)
Monday, June 04, 2012
Today's Podcast 06/04/2012
Sunday, June 03, 2012
Today's Podcast 06/03/2012
-
Stanley, Diane. THE SILVER BOWL
Stanley, Diane. THE SILVER BOWLNew York : Harper, 2011IL 5-8, RL 6.0ISBN 0061575437Molly is sent away at age seven to be a scullery maid for the King of Westria. When she is sent away, her Mother gives her a necklace that Molly wears secretly under her dress.Molly has another secret, she sees visions and what’s more, her visions come true. Early on in her days at the Castle, Molly makes friends with a stable boy named Tobias. One day Tobias takes Molly into the royal family’s living area as he is setting the fires. Molly stares at the young Prince Alaric who tells the young scullery maid to mind her place. After a time, Molly is taught to polish the royal silver. A large, beautifully crafted silver bowl makes Molly very uneasy. When she polishes the silver bowl, Molly is transfixed by terrible visions! What does the future hold for Molly, Tobias and the Royal Family of Westria? The Silver Bowl is a tale of mystery and adventure set in the middle ages that will keep you turning the pages. (Booktalk written by Lorreen Keating-GSF Committee/North Hampton Public Library)
Saturday, June 02, 2012
Today's Podcast 06/02/2012
-
Hyde, Natalie. SAVING ARM PITNew York : Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2011IL 3-6, RL 5.7ISBN 155455151XArm Pit isn’t a body part…it’s the name of a town. On April Fool’s Day, some jokers had painted out a few letters on Harmony Point’s town sign. And they seem to be living up to the name…their hapless baseball team, the Terriers, have never won a game! Just once, they’d like to show up those Barton Bulldogs! Things begin to look up when the new postmaster, Mr. Blackmore, becomes their new coach…finally, someone who knows something about baseball! Just when the team begins to learn better skills and gain some confidence, a new crisis looms: they overhear a town official saying that their sleepy little town post office may be closed, “unless the numbers work out”. The Terriers spring into action to save their coach’s job, and their team’s chances of winning a game. They begin flooding the mail with inquiries and requests for all sorts of goods and services… free trials, magazines, camp brochures, fudge recipes, and even improved road conditions for Highway 51!Their letter campaign turns out to be a smashing success…but yields some entirely unexpected results! A delightful, warm-hearted sports story filled with lots of kid power! (Booktalk written by Luci Albertson- GSF Committee/Bedford Public Library)
Friday, June 01, 2012
Today's Podcast 06/01/2012
-
Weeks, Sarah. PIENew York : Scholastic, 2011IL 3-6, RL 6.6ISBN 0545270111Aunt Polly is the Pie Queen of Ipswitch. No one can make a better pie, that’s what Alice thinks of her Aunt Polly’s delicious pies. When Aunt Polly dies, she takes her secret pie crust recipe with her. Well, not quite. Polly’s will states that the recipe belongs to her cat Lardo. The will also says that Lardo now belongs to Alice. How can you leave a recipe to a cat? Many people in town want to be the next big pie contest winner. Everyone is going pie-crazy. Someone is trying to steal the secret pie crust recipe. Lardo’s in danger! Can Alice and her friend Charlie put all the pieces together before it’s too late? (Booktalk written by Susan MacDonald- GSF Committee/Weeks Public Library)
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Today's Podcast 05/30/2012
-
Applegate, Katherine. THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN
Applegate, Katherine. THE ONE AND ONLY IVANNew York : Harper, 2012IL 3-6, RL 4.0ISBN 0061992259 Attention animal fans! Meet Ivan! Ivan is a silverback gorilla who lives in a glass and metal enclosure at the Big Top Mall and Video Arcade which is “conveniently located off I-95”. Ivan lives there with an old elephant named Stella and Bob, a stray dog. Ivan watches TV, draws pictures and sometimes he throws me-balls (dried balls of gorilla dung) at the humans coming to see him. This story is told by Ivan and his story changes when Ivan promises his friend Stella to take care of Ruby, a newly arrived baby elephant Ivan’s story is based on a true story of a Gorilla now living at Zoo Atlanta. The real life Ivan is also a painter of pictures Read about Ivan and his animal and human friends in “the One and Only Ivan”. (Booktalk written by Lorreen Keating-GSF Committee/North Hampton Public Library)
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Today's Podcast 05/29/2012
-
Haworth, Danette. ME & JACKNew York : Walker & Co., 2011IL 3-6, RL 4.5ISBN 080279453XTwelve-year-old Joshua Reed was used to being the new kid in town, and he knew he needed to keep under the radar until kids got to know him. His dad was a US Air Force recruiter, and they moved around a lot. His widowed father didn’t have it easy, especially since the Viet Nam War broke out; not only was the war unpopular, but he also worried constantly about Joshua’s safety and wellbeing while he was at work. Much to Joshua’s delight, his dad let him pick out a guard dog to protect him and keep him company. The big dog, which he promptly named Jack, looked a little strange; especially his ears, which glowed red when he got excited. People seemed to be spooked, even a little afraid of him. Joshua soon learned that Jack was a Pharaoh hound, a very rare breed of hunting dog.Just as Joshua was beginning to make friends with a guy down the street named Ray, Ray’s rich, spoiled cousin Prater began bullying tactics to prevent the new kid from breaking into their closed society. So when neighbors reported overturned trash cans, a ransacked chicken coop and other complaints, Prater was all too ready to point the finger at Joshua’s dog, Jack. When a cat was killed and Prater’s beloved horse was attacked, it became an all-out witch hunt. Joshua’s dad didn’t seem to know what to believe, so it was up to Joshua to clear Jack’s name. (Booktalk written by Luci Albertson- GSF Committee/Bedford Public Library)
Monday, May 28, 2012
Today's Podcast 05/28/2012
-
Oliver, Lauren. LIESL & PONew York : Harper, 2011IL 3-6, RL 6.5ISBN 006201451XLiesl lives in an attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Liesl’s only companions are mice until one night a ghost appears. It is Po, a lonely ghost looking for someone to be with. Then, there’s Will, the alchemist’s apprentice. He delivers potions and magic to customers. One night, he bungles a delivery, switching powerful magic with something that is not magical at all. Liesl is able to escape her prison with Po’s help. Will is running for his life after his mistake is discovered. These three are drawn together on an adventure like no other. (Booktalk written by Susan MacDonald- GSF Committee/Weeks Public Library)
Posts
