February 2016 Kids Booktalks Please, Open This Book! Area 51

February 2016 Kids Booktalks

Ages: 3-7 Call Number: Juv PicBk Lehrhaupt, Adam

Picture Book: With the same cast of characters as the first book, Warning! Do Not Open This Book!, Adam Lehrhaupt writes the story in the opposite perspective. This time, the animals are begging the reader to open the book and leave it open. They plead with the reader, saying that closing the book can even cause harm to the animals.

Ages: 7-11 Call Number: Juv 358.417 H237a

Nonfiction: Area 51 is a book more about the suspense and secrecy of Area 51 than proven facts about the place itself because there is little known about this place in Nevada. It begins with a brief narrative about a random young woman and her friend not being able to catch a radio station because there is a suspected unidentifiable space craft in the area. It continues with some facts about Area 51 and more of speculative rumors and assumptions about it and nearby sightings. What makes the book intriguing is the inclusion of the fact of secrecy concerning Area 51 as it is today, and in contrast to what was shared about it during the 1950s through the 90s. The United States Air Force is believed to have created a home for workers who have taken an oath not to tell anything about Area 51, what they do, or what can be found there. Since it has been inactive for some time few things have been released about it but not much. Most characteristics concerning Area 51 are hidden, and its purposes are mainly concealed. The illustrations are realistic photos of signage surrounding the area and on roads leading to a highly guarded and forbidden land. Area 51 includes a Table of Contents that clearly outlines the topics in the book, but some information is redundant. It also includes a Glossary in the back of the book. Words included in the glossary are highlighted in red in the text of the book. This book would be good for young patrons looking for a Nonfiction book that is suspenseful, about aircrafts, and/or spy planes.

February 2016 Kids Booktalks

Ages: 8-11 Call Number: Juv Meyerhoff, Jenny

XFic: The setting is in Chicago, where people don’t have room for backyard gardens. So Anna, Kaya, and Reed decided to create a community garden with their third-grade teacher, Mr. Hoffman. They called it “Shoots and Leaves”. These children want to enter their garden’s perfect pumpkin, Herbert, in the city’s Pumpkin Fest contest to win the prize for the most perfect pumpkin. But one day the children discovered Herbert was missing. They made fliers to post and they questioned their classmates. By being direct, as children are known to be, they found out who stole Herbert. Did Herbert win the grand prize for the most perfect pumpkin? Read the book and see!

Ages: 7-10 Call Number: Juv Graphic Bird & Squirrel

Graphic Novel: Bird & Squirrel On the Run is the first graphic novel in a series about a bird and squirrel and their adventures. In this first installment, they meet and end up on a road trip to the south. Squirrel is preparing for winter but when bird runs into him he is forced into taking the trip south with him. Throughout their road adventures, they are chased by Cat, meet new friends and save each other from some scary situations. In the end, they become friends and continue on more adventures. Based on the reading level and content, this graphic novel would be enjoyed by young readers about the age of 7 through 10 who like zany animal characters. On a personal level, it reminded me of some of the Saturday morning cartoons I used to watch. I wasn’t sure if I liked it at the beginning. Bird was using phrases like “bring everything but the kitchen sink” which I don’t think young readers have ever heard but I warmed up to the characters and how they bonded. “This is Squirrel. He’s afraid of his own shadow. This is Bird. He doesn’t have a care in the world. And this is Cat. He wants to eat Bird and Squirrel. Of course, he’ll have to catch them first, and that’s not going to be easy. Join this trio as they head south for the winter on a hilarious road trip. But watch out! Cat is waiting around every bend and he’s one pesky feline!

February 2016 Kids Booktalks

Ages: 4-8 Call Number: Juv Bio A571.4

Biography: Troy Andrews grew up in the Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans where music floated through the air both day and night. His big brother, James, played the trumpet and led his own band which Troy and his friends wanted to join but they didn’t have any instruments so they decided to make their own. One day when Troy was four, he found a broken trombone and took it home, ready to play. Troy carried his trombone everywhere and never stopped playing. He even played it in the street during a parade. His brother, James, noticed him and shouted, “Trombone Shorty!” a nickname he got by wielding an instrument twice as long as he was high. When Troy was six, his mom took him to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival to see Bo Diddley. While watching Bo Diddley, Troy began to play along and was asked to join him onstage. After that, Trombone Shorty started his own band, then joined his brother’s band, eventually joined the horn section of Lenny Kravitz’s band, and finally formed his own band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. Troy “Trombone Shorty” proves “that as long as you work hard, you can make your dreams take flight.” (Author’s Note) Would be a great read aloud especially if paired with Trombone Shorty’s music.

Ages: 7-9 Call Number: Juv Step-Up Nolen, Jerdine

Step-Up: This is a new series to the library. The characters in the story are diverse: It contains African American, Hispanic, and white characters. In this volume, the children are getting ready for a block party, and Jamal and Jada’s father will be bringing a surprise to the party. The children soon find out that the surprise is several large mechanical dinosaurs, and that the refreshments and decorations of the party reflect a dinosaur theme. When the truck that is supposed to deliver the mechanical dinosaurs to the party breaks down, the children have to try to figure out a way to still deliver the dinosaurs. Will they succeed? Read and find out! The book contains colorful pictures and is divided into short chapters.