A4- What's New in Books.Pdf

Inside This Book (Are Three Books) by Barney Saltzberg Releasing April 2015, Recommended for ages 3-6 Three siblings create three books of their own using blank paper that they bind together (in descending sizes to match birth order, of course). One sibling’s work inspires the next, and so on, with each book’s text and art mirroring the distinct interests and abilities of its creator. Upon completion of their works, the siblings put one book inside the other, creating a new book to be read and shared by all! The Legends of Lake on the Mountain, by Roderick Bens (Leaders & Legacies series) – Recommended for boys grades 3 – 5 This series is surprisingly good with all of the fast paced elements that readers look for in a paranormal adventure story. This series is a great way to pique young readers’ Interest in Canadian history with notes in back that separate fact from fiction and provide more historical detail. I found myself Googling some of the events mentioned in this book to see if they really happened! Under the Pig Tree, by Margie Palatino, Releasing April 2015, Recommended for ages 3-6 The publisher and author of Under a Pig Tree seem to be having communication issues. The author has written a clear, no-nonsense history of figs. But the publisher is sure she meant pigs. After all, what’s the difference between two measly letters? What results is a hilarious illustrated history of pigs, from the earliest times (“Pigs were presented as ‘medals’ to the winners of the first Olympics”) to the present day (“There is nothing better than enjoying a cup of tea or glass of milk with one of those famous Pig Newtons”). The author, needless to say, is not happy about this “little mix-up” and makes her feelings very clearly known—by scrawling all over the book! With sticky notes from the publisher, angry scribbles from the author, wrinkles, and pages askew, Under a Pig Tree is a funny read about the consequences of small mistakes. What to do with an Idea, by Kobi Yamada Ages 4-infinity This book has a 2013 pub date but I question why I haven’t seen this before!!! Have you seen this yet??? It’s AMAZING!!!! Beautiful and inspirational, this is a great conversation starter on the care and feeding of ideas! You Are Not My Friend, But I Miss You, by Daniel Kirk – ages 3-6 This book is SO cute and is a great book to open up conversations about friends and forgiveness with young readers. The illustrated characters are very expressive, helping to enhance the message of understanding and empathy. Plus, there is a good dose of humour to balance everything out as Sock Monkey realizes that he may have played a role in the falling out with his best friend. Vegetables in Underwear by Jared Chapman, Releasing April 2015, ages 2 and up This book makes me smile just thinking about it. — the art and story are both so fresh and fun. It differs from other potty training books in that the story focuses on different types/styles of underwear and what a BIG DEAL it is to wear underwear because BABIES WEAR DIAPERS! It goes without saying that the art is super fun, super silly, and beautifully bright! The Swallow: a Ghost Story by Charis Cotter, Fiction – Recommended for girls, grades 3-5 A spooky story about the friendship between Rose and Polly, one of whom may be a ghost! Young readers will love the mystery that unfolds as the girls try to piece the supernatu- ral evidence together. A cross between the “Sixth Sense” and “The Others”, this story provides enough creepiness to raise the hairs on the back of your neck while also providing enough reprieve to catch your breath. Boys of this age range will also pick this book up, after the girls tell them about a creepy vengeful ghost that makes her way into the story. Take Away the A By Michael Escoffier, Illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo Recommended for grades K-3 In this clever take on an alphabet book, letters are taken away to make a “beast” the “best”, a “glove” fall in “love”, and “stairs” to the “stars”. Readers, both young and old, will enjoy the clever wordplay and witty illustrations as they work their way from A-Z. My Pen by Christopher Myers, Recommended for boys and girls, grades K – Infinity, “There are a million pens in the world and each one of them has a million worlds inside it.” This book is the end result of a conversation that Christopher Myers had with young people at a juvenile detention center on the topic of achieving power and unlocking creativity through art. Following a young artist through the pages of his sketchbook, we see the true power of art and transformation. The black and white drawings are gorgeous and the ideas presented capture how limitless one’s imagination can be: “My pen rides dinosaurs and hides an elephant in a teacup.” This book is sure to inspire artists of any age. The Witch’s Boy by Kelly Barnhill, 10+, Fantasy – Recommended for girls and boys, grades 3-5 (Reviewed by Emily, age 13) The book is about a boy named Ned and girl named Aine. Ned is the wrong boy or at least that’s what the villagers say when he and his twin brother fall off their raft into the river and only Ned survives. When the Bandit King tries to steal his mother’s magic that she protects, Ned has to guard the magic and protect both his family and his village. Aine lives across the forest, she is the Bandit King’s daughter. She is haunted by the last words her mother said to her. “The wrong boy will save your life and you will save his”. Will Ned and Aine work together to stop the war about to happen between their two kingdoms, despite their differences? Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, by Mac Barnett, Illustrated by Jon Klassen – Recommended for grades K-2 boys and girls On Monday, Sam and Dave begin to dig a whole and are determined to keep digging until they find something spectacular. So they dig, and keep digging, and keep digging and...they find nothing. John Klassen’s illustrations are an integral part of this story, as you will see that, on every page, Sam and Dave change direction just before finding something big! Yet the day turns out to be pretty spectacular after all as they end their adventure with chocolate milk and animal cookies. The Blue Whale by Jennie Desmond Releasing April 2015, Ages 4-8 This is a beautifully illustrate picture book that will draw children in the world of the enormous blue whale in a fun and engaging way. Young readers are given exam- ples that help explain the whale’s size in relation to trucks, cars, and hippos! It has accurate and engaging text, with stunning illustrations. It’s tempo is like a pleasing melody, which means that the information never becomes to weighty or exhausting and will absolutely hold a child’s attention. To This Day, by Shane Koyczan This powerful poem went viral on YouTube, has won numerous spoken word poetry awards, was performed on stage for the 2010 Winter Olympics, and is now, finally, set to print. Pairing each line of the poem with the interpretation of a different artist adds a whole new layer of meaning and emotion to each word, and the result of this collaboration is nothing short of breathtaking. An important, heartbreaking, and empowering book that deserves a place and a voice on bookshelves everywhere. Revenge of the Fly by Sylvia McNicoll, Recommended for girls and boys, grades 3-5 Based on a real contest sponsored by the Hamilton Sun in 1912, this book tells the story of a young boy, determined to win the fly catching contest in honour of his mother and sister who tragically died of disease on their voyage to Canada. Convinced that flies were contributing to the spread of Typhoid, many children participated in the “war of the flies” in order to contribute to reducing the risk of disease. I was captivated by this story about a piece of Canadian history that I was not aware of, and I found myself Googling for more information on this contest! Arcady’s Goal by Eugene Yelchin, Recommended for boys and girls both grades 3-5 (Reviewed by Miranda, age 16) Arcady is an orphan at a house for children whose parents have been declared “enemies of the state”. In order to win extra food rations he has taught himself to play soccer. When he finds himself adopted he needs to find ways to readjust to his new life and soccer is left as a connecting thread of old to new. It is a sweet story with interesting characters who all manage to have a notable impact on Arcady’s life (both good and bad) as you watch him come to trust his adopted parents and work towards his goal. Gracefully Grayson, Ami Polonski Realistic Fiction/LGBTQ – Recommended for grades 4-7 girls and boys. It is refreshing to see novels featuring LGBTQ characters finally starting to emerge for middle-grade readers, and Ami Polonsky’s book is a welcome addition to this genre. Having been orphaned at three years of age, Grayson struggles to fit into the home of his aunt and uncle while trying to understand his attraction to girl’s clothing.

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