Otis and Rae and the Grumbling Splunk by Laura Espinosa - ADVISABLE

Espinosa, Laura and Leo Otis and Rae and the Grumbling Splunk. PICTURE BOOK, Houghton Mifflin, 2008.

EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

Two friends go on a camping adventure, encounter a fearsome creature, solve the problem of finding their way back to camp, and make a new friend using the PB&B (banana) sandwich.

The book shows many characteristics of manga - text/picture panels, work bubbles, flat-color illustrations, and cartoon-like characters and plot. The story is appropriate for sharing with young children one-on-one or in a small group.

Beverly Stout, Area Library Media Specialist.

Chuck's Band by Peggy Perry Anderson - ESSENTIAL

Anderson, Peggy Perry Chuck's Band. PICTURE BOOK, Houghton Mifflin, 2008.

EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

What Fun! Farmer Chuck goes to town, buys a banjo and starts a chain reaction that ultimately involves all of the animals, each with a musical instrument including a washtub, a washboard and a bucket - "With a strum and a hum, / a peck and a pluck, they / all played a tune / while the chicken / went 'cluck." Except Fat Cat Pat, who refuses all offers, holds out for something that suits her better and provides a comical ending to the story.

Short rhyming phrases and bold, bright illustrations make for vivid scenes and fun reading.

Beverly Stout, Area Library Media Specialist.

The River by Brigitte Sidjanski - ADVISABLE

Sidjanski, Brigitte and Bernadette Watts, Ill. The River. PICTURE BOOK, Minedition - Penguin, 2008.

EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

This story tells how a trickle of water high in the mountains gradually grows into a streamlet, a stream, a river cascading down into a deep gorge, and finally part of the sea. Five little pinecones drop from a tree near the beginning and each find a favorable spot to land, the last on the seashore.

Descriptive language and beautiful illustrations make this a warm and sweet book.

Beverly Stout, Area Library Media Specialist

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great by Gerald Morris - ESSENTIAL

Morris, Gerald and Aaron Reiner, Ill. The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great. 92 pp. Houghton Mifflin, 2008.

EL - ESSENTIAL

In this absolutely delightful first of his Knights' Tales series, Morris brings to a younger audience his love of the Arthurian legend. Light, humorous, and clever, the tale starts with Lancelot's desire to join Arthur's knights, who have "the bravest hearts, the noblest souls, and the shiniest armor in all the world." With his lance in his left hand - because he is cleaning the mud from his armor with a towel in his right - Lancelot accidentally becomes the best knight in the kingdom. From that point in rapid succession he goes from one adventure to another, from being imprisoned by female admirers to foiling a plot to get rid of Arthur's beloved queen.

You'll find very little darkness here, and Reiner's fanciful drawings aptly reflect the tone.

Beverly Stout, Area Library Media Specialist.

Train Stop by Barbara Lehman - ADVISABLE

Lehman, Barbara Train Stop,. WORDLESS PICTURE BOOK. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, c2008.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

In this wordless picture book, a young girl takes a train ride. She experiences an unusual train stop and returns home to an unexpected visit from new friends. The reader must study the pictures carefully to understand the story. Attention to detail opens up the plot so that the reader says, "ahaa" when the story ends.

Marilyn Mann, Elementary Library Specialist

Lucky Monkey, Unlucky Monkey - ADVISABLE

Kaczman, James Lucky Monkey Unlucky Monkey. PICTURE BOOK. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, c2008.

EL - ADVISABLE

Two monkeys, Ed and Ted, have opposite experiences. Ed has a splendid day, a pleasant walk, and makes a lucky find. Ted has a not so splendid day, an unpleasant walk and makes an unlucky find.

This story has a lot of humor in both the story line and the illustrations. The story also states a unique perspective about animal characters found in children's stories. This story makes a great classroom discussion starter.

Marilyn Mann, Elementary Library Specialist.

Bear's Picture by Daniel Pinkwater - ADVISABLE

Pinkwater, Daniel. Bear's Picture. PICTURE BOOK. Boston Houghton Mifflin Company, c2008.

EL (K-3) -ADVISABLE

A bear wants to paint a picture, and he proceeds to do just that. He is criticized by two very fine and proper gentlemen, but the bear holds his own and guess what happens to his critics?

The illustrations are great. In fact, much of the story is told not by words, but by the art. This story is not just for the younger children. -

Marilyn Mann, Elementary Library Specialist.

Animals Christopher Columbus Saw by Sandra Markle - ESSENTIAL

Markle, Sandra Animals Christopher Columbus Saw, illustrations by Jamel Akib. Chronicle, 2008. PICTURE BOOK

EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

With simple, concise language Ms. Markle lays out the course and circumstances of Columbus's first journey to find a sea route to China and Japan.

That part by itself would be enough to make this a valuable book to almost any class studying the World Explorers or American Explorers in particular. Instead, however, Ms. Markle has added information on each page about at least one animal that Columbus and crew encountered during that part of the voyage, ranging from the mundane (rats) to the fantastic (manatees thought to be ugly mermaids).

Cindy, Library-Teacher

Snoring Beauty by Bruce Hale - ESSENTIAL

Hale, Bruce. Snoring Beauty.  PICTURE BOOK.  Orlando, Florida : Harcourt, Inc., c2008.

EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

What's a kingdom to do when their princess gets cursed and the spell must be broken? Nobody's perfect, but this is a perfect story.

Clever language and clever illustrations make for a great take on the typical fairy tale. Pair this story with a traditional fairy tale and have a lively discussion with your students, especially the older elementary students.

Marilyn Mann

There's No Such Thing as Ghosts by Eeckhout - ADVISABLE

Eeckhout, Emmanuelle There's no Such Thing as Ghosts! Kane/Miller, 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

A little boy moves into a neighborhood with a supposed haunted house and is determined to prove that there is no such thing as ghosts. He makes a determined search of every square inch and marches away confident in his pronouncement. What he doesn't see, however, is the audience that he had every step of the way.

The stalwartness of the boy's attitude is a nice counterpoint to the antics of the friendly spirits every step of the way. Younger children will have a good laugh at his expense.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Wangari's Trees of Peace by Jeanette Winter - ESSENTIAL

Winter, Jeanette Wangari's Trees of Peace: a true story from Africa. Harcourt, 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

By the time that Wangari returns from her college education in America, most of the trees of Kenya had been cut down to make room for modernization. Now she saw that the women of the villages suffered in poverty, due in part to the loss of those trees. Starting with her own back yard and her own village, Wangri plants one sapling at a time and encourages others to join. After thirty years, thirty million trees have been planted, returning a canopy of green to Kenya. In 2004, Wangair was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts.

Buy this book now and give to every science teacher you have! Its message is laid out so simply that the power of its truth has a chance to reach every student.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness by Colin Thompson - ADVISABLE

Thompson, Colin The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness. Kane/Miller, 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

George lives with his grandmother, and though they love each other, there are both still lonely in their own little universes. Then George finds a friend - someone who George him as much as George needs someone. But George's new friend has challenges to face first.

There's no information in the book that I can find about the medium or process that Thompson used to create his illustrations, but they have an odd, intriguing quality about them that I can't resist. Even more so after I read that he is colorblind. George, his grandmother and the dog, Jeremy, are a quirky bunch and any child can relate to the wish of owning a pet.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Yoon and the Jade Bracelet by Recorvits - ADVISABLE

Recorvits, Helen Yoon and the Jade Bracelet, pictures by Gabi Swiatowska. Farrar, Strauss, Giroux, 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

EL - ADVISABLE

Yoon is new in America from Korea. For her birthday she receives a beautiful jade bracelet that had been passed down from her grandmother. An older girl at school sees the bracelet and tricks Yoon into "sharing" it with her. Yoon has to find her courage in order to reclaim her possession.

The message within this picture book is an important one for children of any age - the fact that some people will use you just to get what they want and that you can and should stand up for yourself.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Vunce upon a Time by J. Otto Siebold - ESSENTIAL

Seibold, J. Otto and Siobhan Vivian Vunce Upon a Time. Chronicle Books, 2008. PICTURE BOOK

EL - ESSENTIAL

A young vampire is extremely fun of candy, but one day his stash runs out. A passing skeleton clues him in to the upcoming Halloween night. Dagmar enjoys his evening out with the ghost he met on the street, until the ghost takes off her costume, revealing a human underneath. Scared, Dagmar runs off and then the human proves herself to be a good friend.

This is a lovely little Halloween book. I love the funky illustrations from the man whose work you might remember from Olive, The Other Reindeer. And Dagmar is an endearing vampire.

Cindy, Library-Teacher

You're a Grand Old Flag by George M. Cohan - OPTIONAL

Cohan, George M. You're a Grand Old Flag, illustrations by Norman Rockwell. Atheneum (Simon), 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

The words to Cohan's song are illustrated with Rockwell's iconic illustrations. Any lesson on American symbols or patriotism could add this to their collection, otherwise it's interest is incidental, maybe for fans of Rockwell or as a gift.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

A Child's Day by Ida Pearle - ADVISABLE

Pearle, Ida A Child's Day: An Alphabet of Play. Harcourt, 2008.

Pre-K - ADVISABLE

Ida Pearle has created an abecedarian of verbs to delight a young child all day. I can totally see a parent and child laughing and acting out each and every page. This would make a terrific board book.

Cindy, Library-Teacher

Turtle's Penguin Day by Valeria Gorbachev - ADVISABLE

Gorbachev, Valeri Turtle's Penguin Day. Knopf Rrandom House), 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

Little Turtle loved his bedtime story about turtles. At school the next day, his turtle costume intrigues the other children and they spend a day practicing their turtle best. What will the next day hold? Well, tonight's story is all about monkeys!

An absolutely adorable picture book that celebrates the imagination and enthusiasm of the young.

Cindy, Library-Teacher

Mystery Ride! by Scott Magoon - NO

Magoon, Scott Mystery Ride! Harcourt, 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

NOT RECOMMENDED

A young bear and his siblings sometimes enjoy going on car rides with their parents. But other times, when mom and dad say, "Mystery Ride," they know it is not going to be so much fun. Sometimes at the end of errand running, though, there is a special treat waiting.

I didn't get the whole thing of a parent calling a trip of errands a mystery ride. I wasn't enchanted.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Snow by Cynthia Rylant - OPTIONAL

Rylant, Cynthia Snow, illustrated by Lauren Stringer. Harcourt, 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

Pre- K, EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

Beautiful drawings of children playing and running in the snow are the best part of this homage to winter. The text is not as strong, however.

Cindy, Library-Teacher

Twenty-Odd Ducks by Lynne Truss - ESSENTIAL

Truss, Lynne Twenty-Odd Ducks: Why Every Punctuation Mark Counts, illustrated by Bonnie Timmons. Putnam (Penguin), 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

Truss and Timmons score another home run with another companion to the Eats, Shoots and Leaves book. This time all punctuation marks are involved in this wonderful new book. English teachers at levels need this book right now!


Cindy, Library-Teacher

The Knaveheart's Curse by Adele Griffin - OPTIONAL

Griffin, Adele The Knaveheart's Curse, 131 p. Putnam (Penguin), 2008.

EL - OPTIONAL

Maddy, a vegan vampire in New York, is on track to becoming a full-fledged human. She decides, however, that she is lonely, so she bribes another girl, Dakota, to be her friend. Maddy gets more than she bargains for, when it seems as though her older sister, Lexie, is changing and rumors are flying that the Knaveheart elder is in search of an heir.

This second installment of the Vampire Island Story is much better than the first. Younger children who like spooky stories may enjoy this too.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Independent Dames by Laurie Halse Anderson - ESSENTIAL

Anderson, Laurie Halse Independent Dames, illustrated by Matt Faulkner. Simon and Schuster, 2008. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK.

EL – ESSENTIAL, MS – ADVISABLE, HS – OPTIONAL

Slowly the women of the American Revolution are gaining the recognition that they deserve. Anderson’s book brings these women’s storied to the elementary age with her picture book which can be read on several levels. Each page has an illustration, accompanying explanation, a more detailed blurb about a particular woman and detailed information on the timeline running below each page. The information is rich enough that almost every level of American History teacher can use this in their classroom.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

The Magic Pillow by Demi - ADVISABLE

Demi The Magic Pillow. McElderry (Simon), 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE

A young is given a gift of sleep on a magic pillow that shows him a life of fame, power and fortune. Upon waking, the boy can decide to follow that path or choose a different type of life.

A powerful life lesson wrapped up in a neat little package accompanied by Demi’s stylized Asian drawings.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Amigurumi Animals by Annie Obaachan - ADVISABLE

Obaachan, Annie Amigurumi Animals, 128 pgs. St. Martin's Griffin

EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE

This book teaches you how to crochet animals. Amigurumi was developed by the Japanese. Now you can learn on how to make creative and cute animals. First, they show the history of Amigurumi animals. Then, it's on to tips and instructions. Finally, in the back of the book, there is a gallery full of cute pictures! This book is really detailed in the instructions. It can be used by beginners and experts. But one thing I didn't like was that there were so many abbreviations. It made it a bit confusing.

Student Reviewer: CW

The Sister Switch by Jane B. Mason - OPTIONAL

Mason, Jane B. and Sarah Hines Stephens The Sister Switch, Pgs. 150. Scholastic.

Content- G

EL - OPTIONAL

Caitlin and Andie are identical twins. Andie is athletic, and Caitlin isn't. Although, she is going to try out for the Jazz ensemble, but the P.E. teacher said that everyone has to go though an assessment. Caitlin doesn't think she will pass, so she asks her sister to do it for her. They promise that it would be a one time thing, then they both like being each other more than themselves.

I really didn't care for this book, because I prefer less predictable books. Even though, I think that it teaches kids that they can do anything that they set their minds to.

Student Reviewer: SH

Fartiste by Kathleen Krull and Boris Kulikov - ADVISABLE

Krull, Kathleen and Paul Brewer Fartiste: An Explosively funny, mostly true story, illustrated by Boris Kulikov. Simon and Schuster, 2008. BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK.

EL – ADVISABLE

In turn-of-the-century France, a gentleman arrives in Paris with a highly unusual talent. He gained instant fame and was highly successful.

This tongue-in-cheek book with its terribly amusing illustrations looks at a real man with an unorthodox talent. If your library has Everyone Poops or the Gas We Pass, you can certainly carry this one!

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Teeth by Sneed Collard - OPTIONAL

Collard, Sneed B. III Teeth, illustrated by Phyllis V. Saroff. Charlesbridge, 2008. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK.

EL, MS – OPTIONAL

Collard explores all kinds of teeth in all kinds of mammals in this picture book. The information is helpful without being overwhelming. The only thing I wonder is how it would have looked if the illustrations were photos instead of drawings.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Monarch and Milkweed by Helen Frost - ADVISABLE

Frost, Helen and Leonid Gore Monarch and Milkweed. Atheneum (Simon), 2008. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK.

EL – ADVISABLE

With beautiful illustrations and simple words, the authors explain the cycle of birth and regeneration for the monarch butterfly and the butterfly’s relationship with the milkweed plant.

If you have a teacher who loves living science, this is a perfect book to accompany a lesson on lifecycle. There are even kits available online to grow live monarch butterflies.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Gorilla Doctors by Pamela Turner - ESSENTIAL

Turner, Pamela S. Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes, 64 p. NON-FICTION. Houghton Mifflin, 2005, 2008.

EL, MS, HS – ESSENTIAL

Copious amounts of full-color pictures accompany detailed information about the rewards and challenges of tending to the mountain gorillas of east-central Africa. Instead of being clinical, the book is peppered with first person stories of the gorillas and their doctors which are entertaining and educational to read. Any teacher who covers endangered species will be delighted to know about this book.

Cindy, Library-Teacher

This is Your Life by Heather Miller - ADVISABLE

Miller, Heather Lynn This is Your Life Cycle: With special guest Dahlia the dragonfly, illustrated by Michael Chesworth. NON-FICTION. Clarion, 2008.

EL (K-3), EL – ADVISABLE

In the style of an old game show, Dahlia Dragonfly meets the insects and animals that were instrumental to her life to this point.

This comically illustrated book is not only amusing, but also contains the factual details of the dragonfly’s life. Younger students will be highly entertained by this lively offering. Perfect for an elementary school lesson.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

The Duck Who Played Kazoo by Amy E. Sklansky - ADVISABLE

Sklansky, Amy E. and Tiphanie Beeke, Ill. The Duck Who Played the Kazoo. PICTURE BOOK, Clarion, 2008.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

In this rhyming story a duck is left alone after a hurricane with nothing but a kazoo to keep him company. He plays solitary songs each day with the recurring refrain, "zu zu." As the season changes and the days shorten, he packs his things and flies south to a river and some fellow ducks. He plays his kazoo for them and is invited to join their "fine-feathered crew." Again the season begins to change, so our kazoo duck invites his new fellows to visit his former home.

Rhyming and refrain give the story rhythm and continuity, and I love the illustrations, though the message is nebulous.

Beverly Stout, Area Library Media Specialist.

What the World Eats by Faith D'Aluisio - ESSENTIAL

D’Aluisio, Faith What the World Eats, photographed by Peter Menzel, 160 p. NON-FICTION. Tricycle Press, 2008.

EL, MS, HS – ESSENTIAL

From the creators of Material World and Hungry Planet comes this knockout book about what25 families around the world grow, make and buy to feed themselves for a week. Each family is photographed with all of the makings for their weekly meals. Full of details about nutrition and lifestyle without ever being boring.

This book is utterly fascinating and I really want posters of all of the family portraits and the ingredient lists for a fabulous display! I hope that Tricycle comes up with some related materials for this must-have title!

Cindy, Library-Teacher

Buffalo Music by Tracey Fern - ADVISABLE

Fern, Tracey E. and Lauren Castillo, Ill. Buffalo Music. PICTURE BOOK, Clarion, 2008.

EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

The main character, Molly, is a fictionalization of Mary Ann Goodnight, who actually settled in the Texan Panhandle in 1876 when buffalo were still numerous in the area. Molly loves hearing "buffalo music" as the massive herds graze nearby. Within about six years, however, buffalo hunters have slaughtered the animals, and Molly is grief stricken. When a fellow settler brings her two orphaned buffalo calves to raise, Molly accepts the challenge, taking them into her dugout home to warm by the fire. The buffalo thrive, eventually more are added until Molly's herd numbers 100, and some are eventually sent to Yellowstone to help build the herd in the park.

Castillo's mixed-media illustrations enhance Fern's homespun expressions, making this an appealing book.

Beverly Stout, Area Library Media Specialist.