Monday, November 19, 2018

Trimmer, Christian. SNOW PONY AND THE SEVEN MINIATURE PONIES

Trimmer, Christian. 
SNOW PONY AND THE SEVEN MINIATURE PONIES
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL K-3, RL 2.3
ISBN
978-1-48146-268-6


"Once upon a time, there was a pony who had a coat as white as snow and a mane as black as ebony." Her name was Snow Pony. Children from far and wide came to see Snow Pony.  She was so beautiful. And she loved to dance and she loved to braid hair!  All the children loved her. Except one. She and her pony Queenie didn't like Snow Pony one bit. Queenie was jealous of all the attention Snow Pony got while no one paid any attention to Queenie. Something must be done. If Snow Pony wasn't around any more, the children would all love Queenie. So Queenie thought up a way to lure Snow Pony into the woods where she would be lost forever!  Oh no. What will Snow Pony do?

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Johnson, Richard. ONCE UPON A SNOWSTORM

Johnson, Richard.
ONCE UPON A SNOWSTORM
London : Faber and Faber 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 
9780571339280
In this wordless picture book, a young boy and his father live all alone in the woods in a cozy little cabin. When they go off for a walk in the woods, it begins to snow softly. And then the storm gets so bad that they lose sight of each other. The boy becomes terribly lost. He falls asleep but when he wakes up, he is surrounded by scary eyes. What it is in the woods?  
How will he survive?

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Johnson, Maddie. HOW TICKLES SAVED PICKLES : A TRUE STORY

Johnson, Maddie. 
HOW TICKLES SAVED PICKLES : A TRUE STORY
New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN
9781534436633
Do you like pigs? Do you or someone you know own a pig? This is the true story of a pig named Pickles. Pickles was adopted by a great family and lived a great life. He loves his life with his family and they all play together. But one day, Pickles got very sick after eating something he shouldn't have eaten. And he got very sick and it didn't look good for Pickles. The vet said he needed a blood transfusion. Where do you find pig blood for a transfusion?

Friday, November 16, 2018

Frazee, Marla. LITTLE BROWN

Frazee, Marla. 
LITTLE BROWN
New York : Beach Lane Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 
9781481425223


Little Brown is a grumpy little dog. None of the other dogs in the dog park will play with him. Do they ignore him because he is grumpy? Or is he grumpy because they ignore him? One day, Little Brown steals all the toys from the other dogs. What will happen now? 

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Fox, Mem. I'M AN IMMIGRANT TOO!

Fox, Mem. 
I'M AN IMMIGRANT TOO!
New York : Beach Lane Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN
9781534436022
There has been a lot of talk in the news about immigration. There are people who don't want more people in their country. And there are people who want to help the immigrants. This is a book about Australia and the many people who call it home. There are many people from many backgrounds all calling Australia home. 

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Levin, Jack E. OUR POLICE

Levin, Jack E.
OUR POLICE
New York : Aladdin Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 

9781534429505
I bet you all have had a chance to meet a police officer. You may have seen them helping keep traffic going the right way. Or helping kids cross the street safely. Did you know that police officers do all sorts of jobs? Some work with accident victims to get help. Some help out in disasters. Come along and meet our police.

Monday, November 12, 2018

Fleming, Meg. SOMETIMES RAIN

Fleming, Meg. 
SOMETIMES RAIN
New York : Beach Lane Books. 2018
IL K-3
IS
BN 9781481459181

I love watching the seasons change.  Do you? Maybe you live somewhere with there are not big changes among the seasons. In this story, a group of friends tells us what they like about the seasons. Sometimes it rains. Sometimes it snows. No matter what the weather, there is always something good going on.

Sunday, November 11, 2018

DiTerlizzi, Angela.  
JUST ADD GLITTER
New York : Beach Lane Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN
 9781481409674


"Bored, ignored, or feeling down?
Need some fancy in your town?
Want some shine upon your crown?
Just add glitter!"

I just love glitter, don't you? Glitter really sparkles everything up. But is there such a thing as too much glitter?

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Copus, Julia. MY BED IS AN AIR BALLOON

Copus, Julia.
MY BED IS AN AIR BALLOON.
New York : Faber and Faber, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN
9780571334841  

As they begin to drift off to sleep, twins begin to dream of a fantasy world where they are floating off. One twin dreams of being in an air balloon. The other dreams of being on a sailing ship. What I love about this book is that you can read it front to back or back to front and they meet in the middle.

Thursday, November 08, 2018

Burton, Jesse. TRUE COLORS! : THE STORY OF CRAYOLA

Burton, Jesse.
TRUE COLORS! : THE STORY OF CRAYOLA
New York : Simon Spotlight, 2018
IL 3-6
ISBN
9781534425675
I love to color, don't you? And I love crayons. There is just something so magical about getting that new box of crayons and opening it up.  All those perfect crayons and the smell of them just makes me want to grab some paper and color away. This book shows us the history of our favorite crayons. How did people draw before the crayon was invented in the 1700s? And how do they come up with all the colors? Find out the story behind Crayola crayons and all that the company has done for education.

Wednesday, November 07, 2018

Wilson, Karma. BEAR CAN'T SLEEP

Wilson, Karma.
BEAR CAN'T SLEEP
New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 

9781481459730


In winter, bears begin their long sleep. They hibernate in dens to keep them warm and safe through the winter. But Bear can't sleep. He tries everything he can think of. Do you have nights like that? One by one his friends stop over to help him fall asleep.  What do you think will happen?

Tuesday, November 06, 2018

Romito, Dee. POSTCARDS FROM VENICE

Romito, Dee.
POSTCARDS FROM VENICE
New York : Aladdin, 2018
IL 3-6
ISBN
9781534403383



Skyler can't believe she is here. In Venice! In Italy! She just wants to keep exploring all the wonderful sites. But her mother has to go to work sometime. They are here to spend the summer here while her mother works on a special project. If all works out, they may even get to stay for a year! To keep her busy, Skyler will work on an internship during the day. She is not sure what she wants to do but when the very cute Australian boy says he is going to intern in the social media department, Skyler is in. Skyler, Logan and Zara will be writing posts for the the company blog. At the end of the summer, two of them will go on to write a weekly column. But Zara decides to undermine Skyler's chances. See the beautiful city of Venice through Skyler's eyes as she explores the city and navigates friendships.

Monday, November 05, 2018

Koller, Jackie French. A DRAGON IN THE FAMILY


Koller, Jackie French.
A DRAGON IN THE FAMILY
New York : Aladdin, 2018
IL 3-6, RL 4.2
ISBN 

978-1-53440-065-8


Now that Darek has befriended a dragonling, it is up to the village to decide if he can keep him. The village has always considered the dragons the enemy. Each year, boys went on a rite of passage by going to the valley and killing a dragon. This year Darek's older brother has killed one and the celebration of his  manhood is set. But what Darek has learned could change things forever. Will the town elders vote to change their traditions based on what a 9 year old boy says?

Saturday, November 03, 2018

Koller, Jackie French. DRAGONLING

Koller, Jackie French.
DRAGONLING
New York : Aladdin, 2018
IL 3-6, RL 3.9
ISBN
978-1-53440-062-7

Darek was jealous of his brother Clep. Clep is going on his first dragon hunt. Darek can't wait until he is old enough to go on his first hunt. When the men return, he learns that Clep is the one who killed the Great Blue dragon. That night, when Darek sneaks out to look at the dead dragon, he finds something amazing. There is a baby dragon in the pouch. Darek decides to take the dragonling back to the valley of dragons before the men of the village can kill him. The journey is long and Darek is not sure how it will turn out. Journey with Darek and he tries to do what he thinks is right.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Stefoff, Rebecca. CHARLES DARWIN'S ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES

Stefoff, Rebecca.
CHARLES DARWIN'S ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES
New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL 5-8
ISBN 9781481462495

When Darwin's Origin of Species was published in 1859,  it shook the scientific world. Darwin introduced the theory of evolution. Darwin believed in the idea of natural selection. He hypothesized that only the strongest of animals survived and that they passed down traits to their young that helped them survive. In this way, species changed in order to survive changing environments. His theories were very controversial. As a matter of fact, they still are. But his theory is still very important even over 150 years on. 

Monday, October 15, 2018

Odanska Barbara. CONSTRUCTION CAT

Odanska Barbara.
CONSTRUCTION CAT
New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 9781481490948

Construction Cat wakes up and gets ready for her day. She says goodbye to her family and is off to work. Join Construction Cat as she works during the day. She is very good at her job and she enjoys her day.

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Montgomery, Sy. INKY'S AMAZING ESCAPE : HOW A VERY SMART OCTOPUS FOUND HIS WAY HOME

Montgomery, Sy.
INKY'S AMAZING ESCAPE : HOW A VERY SMART OCTOPUS FOUND HIS WAY HOME
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN
9781534401914


Have you ever seen an octopus? They are very interesting looking. This is a story based on a real life story.  Inky was living in the Pacific Ocean enjoying everything around him. He was a very curious octopus and loved to squeeze into places. One day he found a box with a lobster in it. He loved lobsters so he squeezed in and ate the lobster. But, he was in a lobster trap and was pulled onto a boat. The fisherman who caught Inky saw that he had been hurt so decided to bring him to an aquarium to be helped. This is Inky's story about his life in and out of the aquarium.

Friday, October 12, 2018

Holm, Jennifer L. THE THIRD MUSHROOM

Holm, Jennifer L.
THE THIRD MUSHROOM
New York : Random House, 2018
IL 3-6, RL 5.3
ISBN 
978-1-52471-980-7


Ellie's grandfather is back for a visit. He is a genius in the body of a 14 year old boy but the personality of a grumpy old man. And he is back in Ellie's life. Her family and her best friend Raj are the only ones who know about what has happened to Melvin. Ellie is so happy to have him around. They even go to school together. When they find out about the upcoming science fair, they work together. Neither can even expect the results that they will find.

Thursday, October 11, 2018

DePaola, Tomie. QUIET

DePaola, Tomie.
QUIET
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN
9781481477543

Do you think that sometimes the world is just too noisy? There are people talking and laughing. The tv is playing. There are videos to watch and everything is just too noisy. What happens when a grandfather and his grandchildren decide to experience quiet?

Thursday, October 04, 2018

Barton, Chris. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A VOICE LIKE THAT? : THE STORY OF EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA JORDAN

Barton, Chris.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A VOICE LIKE THAT? : THE STORY OF EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA JORDAN
New York : Beach Lane Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 9781481465618


Barbara Jordan was a powerful force. Born in Houston,Texas, it was obvious as a young girl that she had a powerful voice and the ideas to match it. At one point, she thought she would be a pastor and preach the word of God. But as she grew up, she saw that there was work to be done here. And she decided that the best way to get things done was through politics. But was that the right road for her?

Wednesday, October 03, 2018

Miedoso, Andres. SCARY LIBRARY SHUSHER

Miedoso, Andres.
SCARY LIBRARY SHUSHER
New York : Little Simon, 2018
IL K-3
IL 
9781534426924

Andres loves libraries but when he learns that the library in his new town is haunted, he is not that anxious to visit it. But a school assignment send Andres and his friend Desmond to the library to research the history of the library. Desmond just loves libraries and is hoping to find one in the library. The boys split up to look around the library, and Andres feels someone watching him. And then he sees her. She has to be a ghost and she is shushing Andres when he tries to call for Desmond. Is this a real ghost? 

Tuesday, October 02, 2018

Burleigh, Robert. SYLVIA'S BOOKSHOP : THE STORY OF PARIS'S BELOVED BOOKSTORE AND ITS FOUNDER (AS TOLD BY THE BOOKSTORE ITSELF!}

Burleigh, Robert.
SYLVIA'S BOOKSHOP : THE STORY OF PARIS'S BELOVED BOOKSTORE AND ITS FOUNDER (AS TOLD BY THE BOOKSTORE ITSELF!}
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN
9781481472456
This is a story told from the perspective of a bookstore!  You heard me right. The Shakespeare and Company Bookstore in Paris was opened by Sylvia Beach in 1919.  Sylvia loved books and wanted to create a bookstore that would welcome everyone. And did it ever. Many famous authors spent time in the bookstore through the years. The bookstore is still open but in a new spot. It was closed in 1940 when the Nazis invaded Paris. But it reopened after the war ended.  

Monday, October 01, 2018

Khan, Hena. BOUNCE BACK

Khan, Hena.
BOUNCE BACK
New York : Salaam Reads, 2018
IL 3-6
ISBN 
9781534412064

Zayd is so excited that his family have gotten the brand new basketball hoop in his own driveway. Yes the DIY part of the process is not going well, but they are not giving up. Zayd knows that having a regulation hoop to practice on will really up his game. He is already one of the best players on his team but he really wants to be captain.  He practices and dreams. And the team is doing really well and is sure to make the championships this year. But when Zayd is injured in practice, he is devastated.  Sidelined for four weeks!!  Will the team be able to hold on? And then there is his brother's wedding.

Sunday, September 30, 2018

McGhee, Alison. DEAR SISTER


McGhee, Alison.
DEAR SISTER
New York : Atheneum, 2018
IL 3-6
ISBN 9781481451420

An 8 year old boy is not too excited about his new baby sister. His parents want him to write a note to her to put in her baby book. They do not like the picture he draws and want him to rewrite the note. Through the years, he continues to write notes that the "wardens' do not approve. As the years go by, the notes show a change in their relationship. Will he ever come to love his little sister?

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Maker, Martha. THE UN-FRIENDSHIP BRACELET

Maker, Martha.
THE UN-FRIENDSHIP BRACELET
New York : Little Simon, 2018
IL K-3, RL 4.0
ISBN 
978-1-53440-908-8


Do you like to do crafts? Emily and Maddie certainly do. They love to create . They even have a craft room that they stock with supplies. They are so full of ideas. They are best friends and have made friendship bracelets to prove it. But a new girl in school may change all that. Bella becomes friends with Maddie first. Maddie wants to hang around with Bella and Emily feels left out. When her friendship bracelet falls apart, is this a sign?

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Del Rosario, Juleah. 500 WORDS OR LESS

Del Rosario, Juleah.
500 WORDS OR LESS
New York : Simon Pulse, 2018
IL YA
ISBN
9781534410442

Nic is a senior in a high school where everyone is obsessed with getting into an Ivy League college. Nic is taking all AP courses and studying whenever she can. She tries not to think about Ben, her ex-boyfriend. The love of her life that she cheated on. He has transferred to another school and many of her classmates won't let her forget it. As she tries to figure out who she is, she finds an escape. She starts writing college essays for those same kids who blame her for Ben leaving. But in writing the essays, Nic finds she is getting to know the kids better and maybe learning about herself.


Saturday, September 22, 2018

Rylant, Cynthia. ECCLESIASTES : TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON

Rylant, Cynthia. 
ECCLESIASTES : TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON
New York : Beach Lane Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN
9781481476546



You may be familiar with the text of this book. It is from the Bible but is also a well-known song. Cynthia takes this text and illustrates it as only she can. The illustrations are simple but bold. See what you think.

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Rundell, Katherine. ONE CHRISTMAS WISH

Rundell, Katherine. 
ONE CHRISTMAS WISH
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 
9781481491617

Theo is all alone. Well, he has a baby sitter but she fell asleep on her phone. His parents are working and there is no one around. When he sees a shooting star, he wishes with all his might. His wish -- to not be alone. He has spent the evening decorating the Christmas tree with the old, broken ornaments and it looks OK. But now, the ornaments are coming to life.  What is happening?

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Joyce, William. BUDDY

Joyce, William. 
BUDDY
New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017
IL K-3, RL 4.4
ISBN
978-1-48148-961-4



If you lived in the 1930s in New York City, you may have come across a smartly dressed women walking with a gorilla. Yes, I said gorilla. Gertie Lintz loved animals. Her home included chimpanzees, birds, and lots of other animals. When she adopted a baby gorilla, she fell in love immediately. Buddy was tiny and not very healthy. With the help of the other animals, she was able to raise him up to be a healthy gorilla.  Gertie didn't believe in cages and she raised her animals as humans. They wore clothes and ate at the table. When Buddy grew up, he was very big and sometimes got upset. What will happen when he gets too big to be safe?

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

DiTerlizzi, Tony. THE BROKEN ORNAMENT

DiTerlizzi, Tony. 
THE BROKEN ORNAMENT
New York : Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 
9781416939764

Jack wants to make this the best Christmas ever. When he finds an old ornament, he decides to unwrap it and put it on the tree. But, crash! It falls on the floor and breaks. His parents come running in and his mother is very  upset. He doesn't know why, but Jack knows that instead of making this the best Christmas, he has made his mother very, very sad.  What is going on? Why is his mother so sad? Can he make it right?

Monday, September 17, 2018

Calandrelli, Emily. ADA LACE AND THE IMPOSSIBLE MISSION

Calandrelli, Emily.
ADA LACE AND THE IMPOSSIBLE MISSION
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young , 2018
IL K-3, RL 3.9
ISBN
978-1-53441-685-7
Third grader Ada Lace is at it again.  She and her her best friend Nina are back in school and have a new social studies teacher. The teacher just loves group projects. Of course Ada and Nina will team up but why does Milton have to be in their group?  Ada really wants the project to be the best but Milton has a habit of pulling pranks. Their model of an old silver mine is very realistic. Hours are spent on getting everything just right. All the models have been locked into the teacher's storage room. Even though Milton promises that he did not rig the model to do something awful, can the girls trust him?

Sunday, September 16, 2018

White, Dianne. WHO EATS ORANGE?

White, Dianne.  
WHO EATS ORANGE?
New York : Beach Lane Books, 2018
IL K-3, RL 1.9
ISBN
978-1-53440-408-3



Who eats orange?  What types of foods are orange? Carrots, oranges, pumpkins. What about red foods? Like lobsters. What about yellow food? Corn. What color food do you eat?

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Callaghan, Cindy. POTION PROBLEMS

Callaghan, Cindy.
POTION PROBLEMS
New York : Aladdin, 2018
IL 5-8, RL 5.3
ISBN 978-1-53441-740-3

Kelly Quinn and her friends Darbie and Hannah are not having a good day. Their special Secret Recipe Book has gone missing and ended up in Charlotte's hands. As if this were not bad enough, they learn that their favorite class at school is being cut because of budget cuts. Kelly comes up with an idea to enter a cooking contest to earn enough money to save the cooking class. TV chef Felice Faoudini is Kelly's favorite and she just knows that they can win with the help of the Secret Recipe Book.  They just have to get it back and cast a spell on Charlotte to get her to leave them alone. This series of books are the basis for the popular television show, Just Add Magic.

Friday, September 14, 2018

Halligan, Katherine. HERSTORY : 50 WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO SHOOK UP THE WORLD

Halligan, Katherine.
HERSTORY  : 50 WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO SHOOK UP THE WORLD
New York  : Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL 3-6
ISBN 
9781534436640

Come along and learn about 50 amazing women who changed the world. All through history, women have been told what they can't do. These woman didn't believe that. They wanted to show what they could do.  There are authors, poets, scientists, and activists. From ancient Egypt to the 21st century, women have been shaking up the world.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

McNamara, Margaret. ELIZA : THE STORY OF ELIZABETH SCHUYLER HAMILTON

McNamara, Margaret.
ELIZA : THE STORY OF ELIZABETH SCHUYLER HAMILTON
New  York : Schwartz and Wade Books, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 
9781524765897
With the popularity of the Broadway play Hamilton, books are being written about Alexander Hamilton and his family. Not much is known about Hamilton's wife Eliza, but this book aims to introduce her. She was born to a wealthy family in 1757. She was expected to marry well. When she met Alexander, she knew that he was the one for her. She stood with him through troubled times. After his death, she did what she could for the poor of New York. Learn about this remarkable woman who had an effect on so many.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Hood, Susan. LIFEBOAT 12

Hood, Susan.
LIFEBOAT 12
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL 5-8, RL 4.8
ISBN 978-1-48146-883-1

The year is 1940 and the Germans have started bombing England. The Germans are now in France and it is just a short trip across the English Channel between Britain and invasion. To keep their children safe, parents have agreed to have them sent to Canada to escape the bombing.  Ken's parents have applied to the Children's Overseas Reception Board to get him transport to safety.  Ken doesn't know how he feels about this. At first he believes that it is just his stepmother's way to get rid of him. She doesn't seem to like him very much. But then he realizes that it could be a great adventure. Sailing across the Atlantic with the Royal Navy guarding them. Maybe he'll just stay in Canada and never come back. The ship is amazing and the food is something the kids had never experienced before.  Some children have trouble adjusting to life at sea but seem to be settling in. On day four, they are miles away from the U-boats and bombers that can hurt them so they can now begin to enjoy their life aboard a luxury liner. But then the torpedo shatters the night and the ship begins to sink. Ken gets separated from his friends and his lifeboat launches without him.  But does get on the last lifeboat before the ship sinks.  And now they are alone in the ocean with no one around, very little water, and getting sicker by the day. This story is based on a real life event that happened in World War II.

Monday, September 10, 2018

Turley, Beth. IF THIS WERE A STORY

Turley, Beth.
IF THIS WERE A STORY
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL 3-6
ISBN 
978-1-53442-061-8


Hannah is a fifth grader who is just a bit different from most of her class. She is very bright and believes she contains magic. When she gets the note that says "Nobody like Hannah", things change. Her parents focus on her more and they tend to fight less. Most people suspect that Kimmie sent the note. Kimmie's mother has died and she now lives with her grandmother. Kimmie is angry all the time. And Hannah is the only one who can beat her in the spelling bee. The notes continue and we are introduced to Hannah's inner world where her stuffed animal can talk as can coins and street signs. The school counselor tries to help Hannah but she becomes more withdrawn. This is an unusual tale of bullies, family problems, and imagination.

Tuesday, September 04, 2018

Ward, Jennifer. MAMA DUG A LITTLE DEN

Ward, Jennifer.
MAMA DUG A LITTLE DEN
New York : Beach Lane Books, 2018
IL K-3, RL 3.0
ISBN 
978-1-48148-037-6


What kind of animal digs a den for her family? And I say her since it is usually the female that digs the den.  You probably think of bears rights away. They spend winters in their dens. But there are so many animals that dig underground to keep their families warm. Some build dens in hollow trees or logs. Some dig in sand. Come along and see which mamas dig a little den.

Monday, September 03, 2018

McCanna, Tim. BOING : A VERY NOISY ABC

McCanna, Tim.
BOING : A VERY NOISY ABC 
New York : Simon & Schuster, 20158
IL K-3
ISBN
978-1-48148-755-9



This is a very noisy alphabet! It starts out with a young boy and his grandfather in the garden. When the grandfather sneezes, the boy loses control of the bouncing ball and now he is trying to catch it. Join the chase and go through the alphabet as well.

Saturday, September 01, 2018

Calkhoven, Laurie. LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA

Calkhoven, Laurie.
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA
New York : Simon Spotlight, 2018
IL K-3, RL 2.9
ISBN 
978-1-53442-242-1
Have you heard of the musical Hamilton? Or the man behind it, Lin-Manual Miranda?  Even if you haven't, he is someone who you should get to know about. Lin-Manual Miranda was born in New York City in 1980. Both his parents were from Puerto Rico and Lin-Manual grew up listening to the sounds of his Hispanic neighborhood. Lots of Spanish songs, Broadway tunes and hip hop. His love for music was so strong, he dreamed of being on Broadway himself. He attended a special school for gifted students and he dove into theater arts. In college, he wrote a play that he hoped would appear on Broadway. Through hard work and the help of friends, Lin-Manual did make it to Broadway. Follow his journey from birth to fame.

Friday, August 31, 2018

Alexander, William. A FESTIVAL OF GHOSTS

Alexander, William.
A FESTIVAL OF GHOSTS
New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2018
IL 3-6, RL 4.9
ISBN
978-1-48146-918-0

Rosa has been raised in libraries -- literally. Her mother is a well-known ghost appeaser and every library has one. But now her mother is telling her that she must start school in the fall. What? She has never been to school. She is becoming an appeaser herself and would rather work on that than go to school. But her mother insists that the school needs Rosa. So, along with her best friend Jasper who is also studying to become an appeaser, off to school they go. But from the very start, we just know something is wrong with the school. It tries to keep Rosa out but Jasper is able to get the door open. When students start losing their voices, Rosa knows she is up against some strange haunting.

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Simon, Coco, CRACKS IN THE CONE

Simon, Coco,
CRACKS IN THE CONE
New York : Simon Spotlight, 2018
IL 3-6, RL 5.2
ISBN  
978-1-53441-750-2
The Sprinkle Sundays Sisters are back at the ice cream shop. This time, Tamiko is telling the story. She is looking forward to working at Allie's mom's ice cream shop with Allie and Sierra. But something is off.  Allie seems to be in a bad mood and is not very nice to Tamiko.  When she gives a boy a sample of an ice cream flavor, Allie is cross and tells Tamiko not to do that because it is wasting money. Tamiko is just trying to get the customers to try new flavors.   Nothing she does seems right.  When she accidentally drops a sundae, Allie is upset and reminds Tamiko that the ice cream costs money and she can't be dropping things and giving away large samples. Even Allie's mother doesn't appreciate Tamiko's efforts.  Maybe she should just quit.

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Simon, Coco, SUNDAY SUNDAES

Simon, Coco,
SUNDAY SUNDAES
New York : Simon Spotlight, 2018
IL 3-6, RL 5.0
ISBN  978-1-53441-747-2



Allie is looking forward to coming home after summer camp. Sure she enjoyed her time at camp but she misses her friends and family. But things have changed in ways she could never have imagined. And it all happened while she was away. Her parents tell her they are getting divorced. She can barely believe it. And that is not all. They are selling the house and moving away. Her mom has bought a house in a nearby town and her dad will be living in an apartment in town. And she will have to go to a new school and make all new friends.  Can this get any worse? Well it can when the mean girls target her from day one at the school.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Guglielmo, Amy. HOW TO BUILD A HUG : TEMPLE GRANDIN AND HER AMAZING SQUEEZE MACHINE


Guglielmo, Amy.
HOW TO BUILD A HUG : TEMPLE GRANDIN AND HER AMAZING SQUEEZE MACHINE
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL K-3,
ISBN
978-1-53441-097-8

As a child, Temple Grandin was different from most kids. The things that didn't bother other kids, were like torture for her. Even wearing socks or a hug from her mother was a horrible experience. At school, she couldn't handle the sound of the school bell or the fan, or the loud cafeteria.  You see, Temple has autism. We hear the term all the time now but back in the 1950s when she was in school, people didn't really know about it. Temple was sent to a private boarding school that specialized in children who were different. Here Temple blossomed. She was very bright and loved the animals. But she still wondered why a simple hug was so awful for her. She watched others enjoying hugs but still could not stand the thought of people hugging her. One summer, she finally discovered a way to enjoy hugs.

Monday, August 27, 2018

Boldt, Mike. ATTACK OF THE 50-FOOT FLUFFY

Boldt, Mike.
ATTACK OF THE 50-FOOT FLUFFY
New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2018
IL K-3, RL 1.7
ISBN
 978-1-48144-887-1

When Claire is happy, so is Fluffy.  When Claire is sad, so is fluffy. But you don't want to see Claire or Fluffy when she is angry. And today is not going well. There is no Super Choco Puff cereal left. A button fell off Fluffy's dress and there is a long line at the swings.  And Claire got angry. And so did Fluffy!

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Weatherford, Carole Boston. BE A KING : DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S DREAM AND YOU

Weatherford, Carole Boston.  
BE A KING : DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S DREAM AND YOU
New York : Bloomsbury, 2018
IL K-3, RL 1.7
ISBN 978-0-8027-2368-0 

You have probably heard Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic "I have a dream" speech. He dreamt of equality. When there was no walls between the races. Where children of any color or creed could work together to make the world a better place. Can you be like that? Can you work towards equality? Can you be a King?




You can be a King. Stamp out hatred. Put your foot down and walk tall.

You can be a King. Beat the drum for justice. March to your own conscience.

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Wilson, Jamia. YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK : MEET 52 BLACK HEROES FROM PAST AND PRESENT

Wilson, Jamia. 
YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK : MEET 52 BLACK HEROES FROM PAST AND PRESENT
New York : Wide Eyed Editions, 2018
IL 3-6, RL 8.9
ISBN
978-1-78603-158-7



 “All children deserve to see themselves represented positively in stories. That’s why we’re highlighting the talent and contributions of black changemakers from around the world—for readers of all backgrounds to discover”



This book introduces us to 52 people from the past through today. Some of these people are well known but other may be new to you.  They are scientists, inventors, artists, singers and athletes. And they all have made a difference in the world.

Friday, August 10, 2018

Ness, Patrick. THE REST OF US JUST LIVE HERE


Ness, Patrick.  
THE REST OF US JUST LIVE HERE
New York : HarperTeen, 2017
IL YA
ISBN
978-0-06-240316-2

Mikey and his friends just want to get through the next few weeks.  Prom and graduation and then off to college. But things are happening in the town that are going unnoticed by many. If you aren't the Chosen One, it's easy to ignore things. But the Indie kids are there to help. All Mikey wants to do is go out with Henna. The story is told in separate narratives -- one about the Indie kids and the coming of the Immortal Ones. And then the rest of the kids who just live there.


Thursday, August 09, 2018

DiPucchio, Kelly. SUPER MANNY CLEANS UP!

DiPucchio, Kelly.
SUPER MANNY CLEANS UP!
New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2018
IL K-3, RL 3.3
ISBN
978-1-48145-962-4

Every weekend, Manny and Gertie put on their capes and saved the planet from danger. They tame the giant lions at the library. They fight the fierce veggie monsters. And they even calm the giant yeti. But when they see the turtle caught up in plastic, they decide to change their game. How can they really save the world from danger?

Saturday, August 04, 2018

Florian, Douglas. FRIENDS AND FOES : POEMS ABOUT US ALL

Florian, Douglas.
FRIENDS AND FOES : POEMS ABOUT US ALL
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN
9781442487956
"What are best friends for/For sharing/For caring/For giving/Forgiving."  


Do you have a good friend?  What about someone you don't like? You may find a poem here that shows just how you feel.