Thursday, August 31, 2017

Nolen, Jerdine. CALICO GIRL

Nolen, Jerdine.
CALICO GIRL
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2017
IL 3-6, RL 4.2
ISBN 
1481459813


Callie is a 12 year old girl living as a slave in Virginia. The country is about to go to war as the southern states have voted to secede from the union. Some of the slaves on the plantation have been sold off to help pay for the war and now Callie is         wondering if the promise of her freedom is ever going to happen.  This is the story of Callie's journey to freedom.  Callie finds her way to Fort Monroe where slaves  find refuge as contraband of war and cannot be sent back to their "owners".  Here, Callie's life changes and she now has decisions to make about her future.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Naumann-Villemin, Christine. WHEN A WOLF IS HUNGRY

Naumann-Villemin, Christine.
WHEN A WOLF IS HUNGRY
Grand Rapids : Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2017
IL K-3

ISBN 0802854826



Edmond Bigsnout is a lone wolf who lives in the country.  One day he gets a craving for a city rabbit.  A
grain-fed, silky-haired rabbit, one with just a hint of sweetness. He jumps on his bike and off to the city he goes. He has his best knife and finds an apartment building with an apartment for Max Omatose, miniature rabbit. He rings the bell and gets in the elevator. But he drops his knife which is picked up by another resident. Back home he goes and grabs a chain saw. But on the elevator, he meets another neighbor who is in need of a chainsaw. Back and forth he goes and each time meets another neighbor. Will Edmond ever get his feast?

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Miles, Chris. SPURT

Miles, Chris.
SPURT
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2017
IL 5-8, RL 4.8
ISBN
1481479725



Meet Jack. A former reality television star and current 8th grader. Some people might feel he has it made with the tv bit but Jack is just trying to live a normal life. But that is not so easy when you think you are the only 8th grader who hasn't gone through puberty yet.  Jack is obsessed with this and he tries to fake it so the other kids won't make fun of him.  There are many cringe-worthy events along the way and Jack must also deal with a reunion show of the tv show he was on.  

Monday, August 28, 2017

Meshon, Aaron. DELIVERY

Meshon, Aaron.
DELIVERY
New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017
IL K-3
ISBN 
1481441752


Grandmother will go to any means to get her grandson his gift on his birthday. There are no words needed as we see the journey -- by truck...by train...by boat...by rocket...love can travel any road, ride any track, cross any ocean, and soar through any sky.

Sunday, August 27, 2017

McMullen, Beth. MRS. SMITH'S SPY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

McMullen, Beth.
MRS. SMITH'S SPY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
New York : Aladdin, 2017

IL 3-6, RL 5.8
ISBN 
1481490206



Abigail is not sure why her mother sent her to this elite boarding school.  She has never even heard of it. She is able to make a few friends but the work is hard and things are going on that she doesn't understand.  When she sneaks into the head mistress's office after hours, she learns that this school is not at all what she thought.  It is actually a school for training spies!  Children as spies. Now Abigail is caught up in the intrigue when she discovers a secret about her own mother.  Full of adventure and secrets, Abigail's middle school year is not like anything you may ever experience.

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Littman, Sarah. FAIREST OF THEM ALL

Littman, Sarah.
FAIREST OF THEM ALL
New York : Aladdin, 2017
IL 3-6, RL 6.0

ISBN 1481451308



Do you like fashion? Do you have your own style? Maybe you are that person who just knows how to dress and maybe even make your own fashion. Well, Aria is that person. She wants to make her own clothes and dreams of becoming a fashion designer. When a new club starts at school, she just knows she has to join.  The Couture Club is just the opportunity Aria needs to show her stuff. But there is one problem. One big problem. Aria is the daughter of Brier Rose and Prince Charming. They are now living in New York and have a fairly modern life after Rose's long sleep but Aria is not allowed near sharp objects. Especially needles. Just in case. Talk about a helicopter mother! How is Aria supposed to design fashion without touching a needle? Come on. That sleeping spell can't be handed down could it?

Friday, August 25, 2017

Lettice, Jenna. THE 12 DAYS OF KINDERGARTEN

Lettice, Jenna.
THE 12 DAYS OF KINDERGARTEN
New York : Random House Books for Young Readers, 2017
IL K-3ISBN 0399557334



Are you on your way to Kindergarten soon?  What do you think it will be like? Well, this book may give you some idea.  On the first day of kindergarten, a new student finds ONE classroom cubbie of his very own. On the second day, he sees TWO yummy snacks. The third day? Well, you'll have to come along and see.

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Mancusi, Mari. PRINCESSES, INC.

Mancusi, Mari.
PRINCESSES, INC.
New York : Aladdin, 2017
IL 5-8, RL 5.3


ISBN
1481479016



Eighth graders Hailey and her BFFs are all obsessed with Collin Prince, a youtube star.  They watch all his videos and Hailey and Sarah even write fan fiction about him. When they find out that he will be at Comic-pa-looza this summer, they know they just have to get there. When the parents say no, the girls come up with a way to make the money themselves.  They will babysit.  But most of the jobs are taken by older girls.  They need a hook. Something that will make them stand out. Something like Princesses and Pirates.  They will dress as princesses and make it more of a party than a babysitting gig. And boy is it popular. They are in demand and parents are now calling them instead of their regular sitters. This is such a great way to make the money they need to get to Houston and meet Collin Prince.  Or is it?

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Krans, Kim. WHOSE MOON IS THAT?

Krans, Kim.
WHOSE MOON IS THAT?
New York : Random House, 2017
IL K-3, RL 1.7
ISBN 
1101932279

Whose moon is that, asks the cat. It seems that everyone in the forest believes that it is their moon. The bird and the bear think it belongs to them. The trees and the mountains believe it belongs to them. Just who does own the moon?

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Klostermann, Penny Parker A COOKED-UP FAIRY TALE

Klostermann, Penny Parker
A COOKED-UP FAIRY TALE
New York : Random House, 2017
IL K-3
ISBN
1101932325




William lives in the magical land of fairy tales. But he doesn't read them! He is more interested in reading cookbooks.  He dreams of being a chef. But no one takes him seriously. He tries working in various restaurants but none work out for him. He decides he needs to do something different. When he finds a box of fruits and vegetables, he knows just what to do with them. But will he end up ruining the fairy tales they were meant to be in?

Monday, August 21, 2017

Johnson, Rebecca L. CHERNOBYL'S WILD KINGDOM

Johnson, Rebecca L.  CHERNOBYL'S WILD KINGDOM
New York : Twenty First Century Books, 2015



It was just an ordinary Friday night in the small town Pripyat, Ukraine.  On April 26, 1986, a routine test on the nuclear power plant went horribly wrong.  In less than a minute, the plant exploded releasing radiation. The explosion released four hundred times more radioactivity than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II. But the locals did not know what happened. Radioactivity is invisible and may take awhile to kill.  The officials realized that they could not keep this a secret so by Sunday, the town was evacuated. The power plant was encased in concrete but an 18 mile radius around the plant was deemed uninhabitable and blocked off. This area was considered the Dead Zone. No life could live in it for years if ever. But thirty years after the disaster, scientists found something extraordinary. Life found a way. They found plants and animals flourishing in the dead zone.  How could that be? And what types of life is found there?

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Jacobs, Paul Dubois. THE BOW-WOW BUS

Jacobs, Paul Dubois.
THE BOW-WOW BUS
New York : Aladdin, 2017
IL K-3, RL 2.0
ISBN 148146230X


Meet the pets of Animal Inn.  There are two dogs, two cats, two gerbils and a macaw. And of course all the boarders.  Some stay for just a few days. Some stay for longer. But they are all so happy when their owners pick them up. This time, the pets overhear a conversation about going to Cassie's school. And that one of them will be donated.  What is going on here?


Podcast: http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/mp3/jacobs_bow.mp3

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Green, Tim. BASEBALL GENIUS

Green, Tim.
BASEBALL GENIUS
New York : Jeter Children's/Aladdin, 2017
IL 3-6, RL 4.8
ISBN
1481468642



Jalen was only doing this so he could afford to pay for the travel team this summer. No way could his dad afford to pay for the team.  They were living what his teacher had called "hand to mouth". But Jalen needed money to play on the summer travel team. Baseball was his life and he just had to be on the team. So he snuck onto James Yager's property to steal baseballs.  James Yager was giving these baseballs away anyway so it should be no big deal.  Just 10 signed baseballs and Jalen would have the money he needed.  He  hadn't counted on being caught -- by James Yager himself.  He gets away but that is not the end to this story.  When he meets James Yager again, the two strike up a deal to help both of them. What does Jalen have that could possibly save Yager's baseball career?

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Foster, Stewart. BUBBLE

Foster, Stewart.
BUBBLE
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2017
IL 3-6, RL 3.2
ISBN
1481487426
Joe has been in the hospital so long that he doesn't even remember what it is like to be outside. Joe has an autoimmune disease which means he is allergic to just about everything. He lives in a special room in the hospital in London that keeps him alive. The air is pure and everyone who comes in must wash with antiseptic soap and wear special clothes. It is hard for an 11 year old boy to be cooped up all the time. His sister and nurses are very good to him but it is  still hard.  When a new nurse is assigned to his case, Joe believes the nurse is crazy. Amir talks about aliens and crop circles and landing fields.  But as Joe gets to know Amir, he begins to find him exciting. And maybe a bit dangerous. When Amir suggests that Joe do something against all the rules, what will Joe do?

Friday, August 11, 2017

Cuyler, Margery. BONAPARTE FALLS APART

Cuyler, Margery.
BONAPARTE FALLS APART
New York : Crown Books, 2017
IL K-3
ISBN 
1101937688
Bonaparte has a big problem.  You see, he is a skeleton and he keeps losing his parts! When he catches a baseball, his hand falls off.  As each body part falls off and he sticks them back, he gets really worried about going to school. He just knows the kids will laugh at him.  He asks his friends for help but their solutions are not quite right. Will Bonaparte find the bona-fide solution to his problems?

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Cronin, Doreen. CYCLONE

Cronin, Doreen.
CYCLONE
New York : Atheneum Books 2017
IL 3-6, RL 5.8
ISBN
1481435256


Can she take it back? Nora just really, really wanted to ride the the Cyclone roller coaster at Coney Island. And this was her last chance. Her parents wouldn't ride with her so her cousin Riley was her only chance. But Riley really, really didn't want to ride the Cyclone. She was so scared. But Nora blackmailed her into it. It will be all over in a couple of minutes. It will be fine. But it wasn't. And Riley will never be the same. What do you do when you have blackmailed your favorite cousin to do something and it goes so wrong?