May 2015 Kids Booktalks Hug You, Kiss You, Love You Dear Dragon

May 2015 Kids Booktalks

Ages: 0-3 Call Number: Juv BoardBk Wan

Board book: The book explores different ways that parents say “I love you” to their children. It can be by kissing, hugging, or a daily task like bathing. Bright colors on each page catch the child’s eye. The front cover is tactile with sparkly glitter and the raised outline of the Mommy Bear and her baby.

Ages: 3-5 Call Number: Juv Primer Hillert, Margaret

Primer: This day at the aquarium encompasses horses, cats, clowns, gold and stars. Read the book to see how these typically non-aquarium items are actually found there! The book has brightly colored drawings and a fun story to capture the child’s attention. A phonics word ladder, text comprehension questions, choral reading suggestions, and story-related words are included at the end.

Ages: 5-8 Call Number: Juv Reader Foreman, Niki

Reader: This is a DK Readers ‘Level 1: Beginning to Read’ book. The various dinosaurs in the museum’s North Hall come to life after closing time. Each one tries to outdo the other by roaring, biting or clawing. That is, until they hear footsteps. Read the book to see what happens. The book includes a glossary, index and pronunciation guides for all the dinosaur names. There are color illustrations on each page as well as actual pictures of fossils.

May 2015 Kids Booktalks

Ages: 4-8 Call Number: Juv PicBk Escoffier, Michael

Picture Book: This picture book by the author of other amusing titles like The Day I Lost My Superpowers is a clever combination of alphabet book and wordplay. The book’s premise is that a letter of the alphabet is taken away from each highlighted word, completely changing the meaning of the word in a fun and inventive way. The illustrations are humorous and engaging and will encourage young readers to enjoy and play with language. Each page presents a different story that communicates a great deal with just a small amount of language and very ingenious artwork. This is a thoroughly enjoyable and original book that gives us something new in the alphabet book genre.

Ages: 3-7 Call Number: Juv PicBk Vernick, Audrey

Picture Book: Hazel couldn’t wait for her new baby brother to come so she could do so many things with him especially read to him. But when he was born, he wasn’t much different than her stuffed animals. So Hazel waited again and read to her baby brother, Edgar. Until, he finally said his first word, “NO”. Hazel was so excited that he was talking she imagined all the cool things she could do with him. But every time she asked him to do something he yelled “No”. Little Hazel was very patient and persistent with him and at the end of the story; her persistence pays off when Edgar says his second word to her while she is reading to him. (Again, ‘azel) The text is in Kid print and the illustrations are simple, charming and colorful. Every time Edgar says “NO”, you can figuratively hear it. There is also some humor in the story for adults. (See page 13 and 23.) This is a wonderful book to share with children especially those children with younger siblings or expecting a new baby in the family.

May 2015 Kids Booktalks

Ages: 7-11 Call Number: Juv Step-up Mass, Wendy

Step-up: Archie Morningstar is so excited about “Take Your Kid to Work Day” that he can’t get to sleep. He’s about to go to work with his dad, who’s an overnight taxi driver. After they leave the house Archie soon realizes that his dad is not just a taxi driver; he’s a space taxi driver! His dad drives aliens around the universe. It turns out that Archie’s a natural space taxi co-pilot. He’s able to read the weird space maps and help his dad navigate the universe and avoid the wrong wormholes, asteroids, and other space traffic problems. As he and his dad pick up the first passenger on Delta Three, Archie meets a space cat that is not what he appears to be. Archie and his dad soon find themselves helping the Intergalactic Security Force (ISF) to fight a criminal who works with one of the biggest criminal organizations in the universe: B.U.R.P. Can Archie and his dad help the ISF save the day?

Ages: 8-12 Call Number: Juv Schulz, Heidi

Graphic Novel: Jocelyn is a twelve year girl who lives in England of the olden days. She is being raised by her grandfather because her mother has died and her father has always been away at sea. Because Jocelyn enjoys dressing messily and practicing bad manners, her grandfather sends her away to boarding school so that she will learn to become a “Lady.” Jocelyn hates it! Her bedroom is all decorated in sickening pinks, she must wear tight dresses that restrict her movement, and she has a snooty roommate named Prissy who delights in making Jocelyn’s time there even more miserable. She dreams of her father coming to carry her off to his pirate ship where she can embark on grand adventures with him. She does enjoy dropping his name every now and then and seeing the look of terror in people’s eyes, for her father is none other than Captain Hook, the most feared criminal in all the land. Yes, that Captain Hook, the arch-nemesis of Peter Pan!

Alas, one day Jocelyn learns that her father has just been killed by the same crocodile that had previously eaten his hand. The crocodile has now eaten the whole Captain Hook. Jocelyn must take up the mantle of avenging his death. Off to the Netherland she goes! With the help of her father’s former

May 2015 Kids Booktalks

right hand man, Mr. Smee, she gathers together a rag tag assortment of pirates, dons her father’s coat, and sets sail as Captain of her own ship. Thinking her task won’t be too difficult, she changes her mind upon first meeting with the crocodile, for her father’s villainous blood has made the crocodile not merely a regular crocodile, but a true monster.

Full of robust dosages of adventure, humor, and girl power, this novel is sure to keep young readers turning the page! (Peter Pan does make some appearances, and Jocelyn finds him quite annoying.)

Ages: 7 and up Call Number: Juv Schulz, Charles

Graphic Novel: If you’re a fan of Charles Schulz’s, Peanuts, this series of books is for you! Volume Four includes "New Peanuts adventures from an all-star lineup of writers and artists, and classic strips by Schulz himself". Lots of bright colors entice the reader. Biographical information about Schulz is included for young readers along with a Cover Gallery. Several “From the Drawing Board” pages with a picture of Schulz, his drawings and quotes are part of this exciting comic that includes Charlie Brown and the whole Peanuts gang!

Ages: 9-12 Call Number: Juv 332.49 J52h

Nonfiction: Jenkins’ book, The History of Money, makes economics a fun and entertaining topic. He covers the evolution of money from a time when no one had or even had the need for money to present time. Although he takes a lighthearted approach, the book is informative and factual.

Kitamara’s cartoon-like illustrations break the narrative and are a valuable part of the explanation. Chapter headings such as Chapter Three -- In which we start counting the things that count or Chapter Ten -- Which might be a little big taxing, are a cleaver lead-in to the text. This well-written book is a good addition for 4th through 6th graders attempting to understand the concept of currency.

May 2015 Kids Booktalks

Ages: 7 and up Call Number: Juv Bio R732.5b

Biography: This version of Peter Roget’s life began with the sadness of his father’s death. Due to Peter’s family moving often, he had trouble making new friends. Soon, Peter chose many friends in the form of books. At eight years of age, he began writing his own book. In his book, he included lists of words on various topics. Peter found that making a list of words helped him to remember his lessons. During his teen years, he was extremely shy and read science books. After he finished medical school, he accepted a job as a traveling tutor for two teenage boys. Then, Peter began practicing medicine during the day and worked on his lists at night. He published his first big book of word lists in 1805. Later, he joined science societies and attended lectures given by famous inventors and thinkers. At 45, Peter married Mary Hobson. Shortly thereafter, they became the parents of a daughter, Kate and a son, John. Peter’s desire was to create a word book for everyone’s use to be able to find the right word to use.

This book won the following awards: The Robert F. Sibert Medal Caldecott Honor Book Orbis Pictus Honor Book