VOLUME 1, NUMBER 2 • DECEMBER 2008 jlgmonthly Books that Draw a Crowd When I was a member of the Storytelling Center of New York, I told stories in parks and other public spaces around New York City. It was deeply satisfying to draw a crowd of passersby and keep their attention. Th at’s how it often went—but Susan Marston, not always. Once, a colleague who was usually a gifted JLG Editorial Director storyteller was telling “Jack and the Beanstalk.” As Jack went up the very tall beanstalk, my colleague acted out the exhausting climb, repeating, “and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed. .” One little girl stood up, stomped her foot, declared, “Th ere’s too much climbing in this story,” and walked away in a huff . My own children have expressed their lack of interest in particular stories and books in slightly less dramatic ways—by playing with a toy, closing the book, or talking while I read. When we select books for JLG, we try to weed out those that readers will stomp away from, close without fi nishing, or talk over, in favor of riveting stories and engaging nonfi ction. During a recent weekend with my family, I took out one of our December selections, Dinosaur vs. Bedtime. My four-year-old son, who had seen it before, demanded that I read it to him again. As I did, my nine-year-old nephews drew close, along with my seven-year-old son and niece, and my fourteen-year-old niece. Each turn of the page was met with enthusiasm, even glee. We were all caught up in Dinosaur’s triumphs and (spoiler alert!) Dinosaur’s single defeat. Our other December selections will also draw crowds. For young readers we have laugh-out-loud Arthurian tales in Th e Adventures of Sir Givret the Short and for older readers the much darker Here Lies Arthur, . continued on page 2 Inside this issue: December Books ..................................................................................................... 3 JLG News & Notes ................................................................................................... 31 January 2009 Forthcoming Titles ........................................................................ 32 Junior Library Guild 7858 Industrial Parkway www.juniorlibraryguild.com • 866-205-0570 Plain City, OH 43064 JLG Monthly provides Junior Library Guild members with a detailed and incisive guide to the upcoming month’s selected books. continued from page 1 The Junior Library Guild an enthralling Carnegie Medal winner that proposes that the has provided school and King Arthur legend was intentionally created to promote a public libraries with a selection ruthless “real” Arthur. You’ll fi nd exciting graphic novels that of the very best in children’s vividly recreate the worlds of the pteranodon and tyrannosaurus. and young adult literature since 1929. JLG’s collection We have an involving adventure, Th e Other Side of the Island. development service helps Th ere’s the new Octavian Nothing (it’s amazing!), Fun with thousands of libraries across Roman Numerals, which is as fun as it is informative, the country put the very best and a riveting memoir, Th e Year We Disappeared. new-release hard-cover Th e following pages describe these and other great books on their shelves. Each year, JLG’s editors books in detail. We’d love to hear your reactions to read and review over 3,000 how they are presented, to our new Web site, to books prior to publication JLG Monthly overall, or to anything else that is on to identify the very best your mind at [email protected] for inclusion in one of Junior Library Guild’s 28 Reading Levels (ranging from Pre-K through YA). With each season’s books, we strive to build on a tradition of editorial excellence and integrity that stretches back to 1929. Over the years, more than nine out of ten JLG selections have gone on to win additional awards or earn starred or favorable reviews from respected review journals. For more information about JLG’s collection development service, to become a member, Tyrannosaurus: The Tyrant Lizard or for information about by Rob Shone • illustrated by James Field how to submit upcoming See page 10 books for consideration, visit www.juniorlibraryguild.com or call toll free 866-205-0570. [email protected] © 2008 Media Source Incorporated. All rights reserved. Contact Information: Neither this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, Subscriptions/Sales/Service: 866-205-0570 in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of [email protected] Media Source. JLG Monthly is published ten times each year (monthly except September and March) by Media Source JLG Monthly, 7858 Industrial Parkway, Plain City, Ohio 43064 Incorporated, 7858 Industrial Parkway, Plain City, Ohio 43064. 2 jlgmonthly • DECEMBER 2008 866-205-0570 DECEMBER GRADES K–3 • PRIMARY SPANISH PS Marco Flamingo / Marco Flamenco written and illustrated by Sheila Jarkins Raven Tree • ISBN: 9780979446252 • Dewey: E • 32 pp • 9" x 11" Scheduled Month: December Marco Flamenco is happy to see the snowbirds arrive at his tropical home, as they do every year. He is curious about why they fl y south every winter, but there’s one question he can’t get an answer to: what is snow? “No quieras saber,” they tell him, “You don’t want to know.” So Marco decides to fl y north to fi nd out for himself. Th ere Marco discovers many fun winter activities—and also runs into an old friend. Full-color illustrations. JLG REVIEW Th is quirky and engaging book does more than introduce a unique character and give readers the opportunity to read Spanish and English side by side. It also shows what a joy it can be to explore a new place. Marco’s excitement at seeing his garrulous friends from the north and his curiosity about them make him stand out among the other fl amingos, who lament the end of their peace and quiet. For their part, the snowbirds are happy to be back in warm waters. “Ay, fl amenco,” Goose says to Marco, “esto es el paraísio.” But their reticence about snow stimulates Marco’s curiosity, and after doing some research, he heads north. Th ere, in a mostly wordless sequence, Marco tries everything from snowboarding to ice fi shing. Sheila Jarkins’s illustrations delightfully juxtapose the sparse and forbidding winter landscape with pink, exuberant Marco trying new things and enjoying himself. Readers will love this curious, adventurous bird and will learn an important lesson about feeling at home in a foreign place. Sheila Jarkins has worked as a science illustrator, musical theater performer, and art educator. Marco Flamingo / Marco Flamenco is her fi rst published picture book. Ms. Jarkins says, “Since Marco entered my life, I see pink everywhere.” In her free time, Ms. Jarkins enjoys yoga, nature walks, antique shows, garage sales, and taking art classes. She also enjoys trips to visit her children and grandchildren. Ms. Jarkins lives with her husband in Rochester, New York. CURRICULUM INDICATIONS Book type: Bilingual picture book. Curriculum areas: Language arts. Genre: Fiction. Classroom units: Animal migration. Seasons. Journeys. New experiences. Main characters: Marco, a fl amingo who wonders about the North. Topics: Migratory birds. Seasons. Snow. Curiosity. New experiences. Setting: In the warm South; in the snowy North. Winter sports. Postcards. Varying tastes. Summary: Every year the snowbirds come south for the winter. Whenever Comprehension skills: Author’s purpose. Compare and contrast. Marco asks about snow, his snowbird friends tell him, “You don’t want to Sensitive areas: None. know.” But Marco does want to know, so he fl ies to the snowy North—and loves it. www.juniorlibraryguild.com DECEMBER 2008 • jlgmonthly 3 K KINDERGARTEN • GRADES PreK–K DECEMBER Dinosaur vs. Bedtime written and illustrated by Bob Shea Hyperion • ISBN: 9781423113355 • Dewey: E • 40 pp • 8 1/2" x 10 1/2" Scheduled Month: December “ROAR! I’M A DINOSAUR! ROAR! NOTHING CAN STOP ME!” A young dinosaur takes on a pile of leaves . a big slide . a bowl of spaghetti . and “wins” every time. Even grown-ups stop talking and run away when Dinosaur comes along! Dinosaur displays a comically terrifying set of teeth at each new challenge and accepts each triumph with a bashful bow. Th en Dinosaur faces the toughest challenge of all: bedtime. Full-color illustrations. JLG REVIEW Even without reading the author’s dedication to “Ryan, my little dinosaur,” one would know that Bob Shea is familiar with the sensibilities of young children. Dinosaur is Bob Shea is serious about making reading fun for a perfect stand-in for an energetic kid: loud, rambunctious, a little overwhelming to children. He created a PBS grown-ups, but cute, too—especially at bedtime, when the child gives in to sleep. KIDS spot with a pig that With the word “Roar!” repeated in the book nearly ninety times (including on the runs around and eats things cover and endpapers) this is not a quiet, before-bedtime story. Th e simple pattern of that start with the letter p the book begins with “Dinosaur versus . .” on the right-hand page, requiring a page and helped PBS develop a national literacy campaign. He has also done turn to reveal the leaves, slide, or other challenge. Dinosaur approaches and conquers animation and graphics work for Nick Jr. said obstacle, then another page turn reveals the exclamation “Dinosaur wins!” in and NOGGIN. When Mr. Shea isn’t working varying celebratory fonts. on projects for television, he writes and Th is exuberant book invites dramatic readings and will get kids laughing and illustrates books. Titles include New Socks and Big Plans, which was illustrated by Lane Smith. shouting along as Dinosaur triumphs again and again.