Mrs. D’s Reads

I was a little disappointed in the new picture books Scholastic sent us for our book fair, but there were a few things that stood out…

Some Dog

by Mary Casanova

Grades K-2

This is a sweet story about a mellow old dog who starts to doubt his place in the family when an energetic little stray shows up and shows off.  In the end, though, it’s the old dog who saves the day.  Great illustrations.

Purplicious

by Elizabeth Kann

Grades K-2

I was pretty impressed with this follow up to Pinkalicious.  Our heroine still loves pink, but the other girls in her class are teasing her because they say liking black is cooler.  After a week of angst, she meets a girl who shows her how powerful pink can be.

If you Give a Cat a Cupcake

by Laura Numeroff

Grades K-2

There’s nothing new in the pattern here, but these books seem to please kids no matter what the subject is.  Some modern elements here (the cat goes to the gym to work out) and some fun new settings (the beach, a park).

Yes We Can!

by Sam McBratney

Grades K-2

This book has a nice lesson without being too didactic.  The three friends challenge each other to do things, but when one of them fails, the other two laugh.  Pretty soon everyone is cranky and hurt.  The mother kangaroo comes up with a way to make things better. Wonderful expressive illustrations with lots of energy!

Here are some of the things that came through the book fair and will soon be available in the library…

Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller

by Sarah Miller

Grades4-10

This is historical fiction in that it tells the story of Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller’s teacher, from Annie’s point of view. However, the events, conflicts, and even much of what Sullivan thought, are well-documented in other accounts, so this feels as much like a memoir as anything. A quick and lively read.

Chronicles of Vladimir Tod

by Heather Brewer

Grades 5-YA

We now have the first two of this series in the library. It’s a vampire book, yes, but it’s also a book about a teenage boy trying to cope with loss and growing up and the pain of being different. This isn’t going to be a classic, but it’s a worthwhile read for both boys and girls.

Chains

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Grades 5-YA

I think Anderson is writing some great stuff for young adults. Her contemporary fiction (most famously the novel “Speak”) is spot on, and her historical fiction is both compelling and interesting. This novel, the first in what will obviously be a series, tells the story of a Revolutionary War slave who is supposed to be freed when her master dies, but is instead sold off to a cruel Loyalist where she is overworked and beaten. In the meantime, the war is raging and both sides are trying to use her for their own purposes. This was a National Book Award finalist this year. A great read.

Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies

by Erin Dionne

Grades 5-8

I was wary of this one, but the story takes a pretty healthy approach to the topics of teenagers, body image, and beauty. An overweight teen puts up with teasing and the loss of her best friend, but is basically ok with herself until her Aunt enters her in a plus size beauty pageant. She starts to eat healthier and exercise in order to sabotage the pageant and make herself ineligible. In the mean time she also learns some lessons about believing in herself and speaking up for what she wants. A nice story about empowerment.

An a podcast worth noting:

The Moth

http://www.themoth.org/

This one is not for kids, but I have been listening obsessively to all the backlist stories from this wonderful show. The concept is simple: people tell a true story about themselves on stage without notes. Most of the stories run 10-15 minutes. They range from hilarious to heartbreaking. The language can be rough, as can the content, but the stories are compelling.