Fancy Nancy Redux Times Two

FANCY NANCY, BONJOUR BUTTERFLY by Jane O'Connor with illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser. Harper, 2012.

FANCY NANCY AND THE POSH PUPPY by Jane O'Connor with illustrations by Robin Press Glasser. Harper, 2012.

Fancy Nancy's back
Still as fancy as ever
And loving her life.

<523> <524>

Growing Readers

SEED BY SEED: THE LEGEND AND LEGACY OF JOHN "APPLSEED" CHAPMAN by Esme Raji Codell with illustrations by Lynne Rae Perkins. Greenwillow, 2012.

Anyone looking for a text to share with children, especially one whose language sings even as it is discussing the real life exploits of John Chapman should look no further. This stunning combination of beautiful illustrations in deep, vibrant earth tones along with the careful wordsmithing makes this a must have. Codell begins by transporting readers back to a time when planes and phones were not heard, when it was possible to hear a wagon wheel "straining against the ruts in a road." Back then a young man named John Chapman said he had been called to be a messenger of peace and to offer fruits to those travelling west. And so begins the legend of Johnny Appleseed. "Use what you have," "make peace where there is war," and other ways to live are what ruled Chapman's actions. Codell tells of his acts with lyrical language that rivals the growing landscape. The book ends with a question: "What seed will you plant?" Pair this with MISS RUMPHIUS for a lovely call to action even among the youngest who can make changes in this world.

<522>

Easy and Fun

AMELIA BEDELIA SLEEPS OVER by Herman Parish with illustrations by Lynne Avril. Greenwillow, 2012.

Amelia sleeps over
Makes smores, does shadow puppets
Sleeps under the moon.

<519>

PENNY AND HER DOLL by Kevin Henkes. Greenwillow, 2012.

Penny gets a doll
But has trouble deciding
On a perfect name.

<520>

NOTHING EVER HAPPENS AT THE SOUTH POLE by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Harper, 2012.

Blank book beckons him
To write down all that happens
But things are too calm.

<521>

Animal, vegetable, mineral

FOXY by Emma Dodd. Harper, 2012.

Everyone needs
Someone like foxy to help
Get ready for school.

<515>

GRUMPY GOAT by Brett Helquist. Harper, 2012.

Grumpy goat grouches
Until one day he sees it
A small yellow friend.


<516>

BANG! BOOM! ROAR! A BUSY CREW OF DINOSAURS by Nate Evans and Stephanie Gwyn Brown with illustrations by Christopher Santoro. Harper, 2012.

Calling all dinos
There is work to be done now
Construction is fun.

<517>

LITTLE SWEET POTATO by Amy Beth Bloom with illustrations by Noah Jones. Katherine Tegen Books, 2012.

Sweet potato lost
Finds his way back home where he
Is loved for himself.

<518>

Teachers Make a Difference

BECAUSE YOU ARE MY TEACHERS by Sherry North with illustrations by Marcellus Hall. Abrams, 2012.

If teachers had access to all manner of transportation, imagine the places they could take their students! This book treks to all seven continents as a teacher and a small group of students explore the world around them. While this travel is not realistic, with a classroom as a "vessel" and a dedicated teacher, kids can still explore the world in which they live. This would make an excellent gift for teachers at the holidays (hint, hint). <514>

Out of this world

OUT OF THIS WORLD: POEMS AND FACTS ABOUT SPACE by Amy E. Sklansky with illustrations by Stacey Schuett. Knopf, 2012.

Skillful blending of fiction and nonfiction is always something to celebrate. These short poems are accompanied on facing pages by information about various aspects of space such as planets, comets, meteors, and the like. The poems take many shapes; some are rhymed, others unrhymed. Science teachers will certainly appreciate this book. <512>

Getting ready for the holidays

THE CHRISTMAS WOMBAT by Jackie French with illustrations by Bruce Whatley. Clarion Books, 2012.

I know I might be rushing the season a tad, but it is never too early to begin thinking about books to share during the holidays, right? Meet Christmas Wombat. He loves carrots and doscivers quite by accident that there are some creatures who have a nose for finding them (reindeer). Womabt has a lovely side courtesy of Santa's sleigh, and returns home safely and full of carrots. <511>

The time has come

If you wish to be considered for a YALSA committee, take the time now to complete the Volunteer Form:

https://www.ala.org/CFApps/Committee/volunteerform/volunteerform2.cfm?group1=YALSA

The deadline is almost here!

Bugs by the Numbers

BUGS BY THE NUMBERS by Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss. Blue Apple Books, 2012.

Imagine opening a book about bugs and numbers and seeing this illustration about the cockroach. The number 168 is the number of hours a cockroach can survive without its head. This is simply ONE of the numbers that applies to this insect. Here are a few others: a cockroach can hold its breath for 40 minutes under water, can survive temperatures as low as 32 degrees.

Now you have a sense of what is in store inside the covers of BUGS BY THE NUMBERS. Here are lots of bugs and even more facts about them, all by the numbers. Illustrations combine numbers, using them as lines, hatching, and more. Readers will sit mesmerized as they leaf through the pages inspecting all of the tiny details brought to life. <510>

Little pig, little pig, let me come in?

THE THREE NINJA PIGS by Corey Rosen Schwartz with illustrations by Dan Santat. Putnam 2012.

Once upon a time, there were three pigs. All three pigs decided to take some lessons in self-defense. However, the first two pigs quit learning early. Only the third plucky pig went the full course and earned her black belt. Lucky for her two brothers, she is prepared to take on the Big bad Wolf! <509>

A Blue Kind of Day

STUCK WITH THE BLOOZ by Caron Levis with illustrations by Jon Davis. Harcourt 2012.

Ever have a day where nothing seems to go right? Someday, the Blooz just seems to linger. Your best crayon is broken. It's raining. May7be someone was mean to you? Take a tip from our main character: keep on trying to shake the Blooz. <508>

New picture books

HIT THE ROAD, JACK by Robert Burleigh with illustrations by Ross MacDonald. Abrams, 2012.

Jack Kerouac hit
The road and travelled across
Our great wide country. <503>

KEL GILLIGAN'S DAREDEVIL STUNT SHOW by Michael Buckley with illustrations by Dan Santat. Abrams 2012.


Kel can do many
Things that are incredible
Feats. He's a big boy. <504>

MOUSTERPIECE by Jane Breskin Zalben. Roaring Brook 2012.

Mouse loves to paint, gets
Inspiration from others
As he practices. <505>

THE EXTRAORDINARY MUSIC OF MR. IVES: THE TRUE STORY OF AN AMERICAN COMPOSER by Joanne Stanbridge. Houghton Mifflin 2012.

Mr. Ives heard it
Music all around him. He
Shared it with others. <506>

PAUL BUNYAN AND BABE THE BLUE OX: THE GREAT PANCAKE ADVENTURE by Matt Luckhurst. ABRAMS 2012.


Pancakes are the best
But Paul and Babe overdo
And learn a lesson. <507>

family Matters

THE SCHMUTZY FAMILY by Madelyn Rosenberg with illustrations by Paul Meisel. Holiday House 2012.

Meet the Schmutzy family. They do not mind a little dirt (schmutz) here and there. Paint, mud pies, and tracks from outside accumulate during the week. But Momma Schmutz demands that all the dirt be cleaned up before the Sabbath. Of course after all that, it is time for the family to enjoy getting down and dirty again. <500>




ON THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN by Nancy Tillman. MacMillan 2005.

All the creatures of the earth celebrate the momentous night of your birth. This is the message of the picture book which should be paired with ON THE DAY YOU WERE BORN by Debra Frasier. <501>





CROUCHING TIGER by Ying Chang Compestine with illustrations by Yan Nascimbene. Candlewick Press 2012.

Vinson is thrilled that his grandfather is coming from China for a visit. But Vinson is puzzled by Grandfather's "exercises". Vinson soon learns that Tai Chi is more than exercise; it is a way of life. Pair this one with GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY by Allan Say. <502>

Pushing the boundaries of nonfiction

A STRANGE PLACE TO CALL HOME: THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS HABITATS AND THE ANIMALS THAT CALL THEM HOME by Marilyn Singer with illustrations by Ed Young. Chronicle Books 2012.

Nonfiction and poetry? Strange bedfellows, right? Singer writes in various forms to describe ice worms, limpets, and blind cave fish: creatures that live in inhospitable places and manage to survive. Ed Young's collage illustrations are a perfect complement to the poetic language. <497>




A ROCK IS LIVELY by Donna Hutts Aston with illustrations by Sylvia Long. Chronicle Books 2012.

Igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary: rocks can survive for millions of years. Aston uses two sets of text. One is poetic while the other presents lots of facts about rocks for the reader. Beautiful illustrations of geodes, crystals, and other rock formations splash across the double page spreads. <498>





SEYMOUR SIMON'S EXTREME EARTH RECORDS by Seymour Simon. Chronicle Books 2012.

Coldest? Hottest? Most remote? These and other records (rainiest, iciest, etc.) are all presented in double page spreads. Kids who love Guinness Book will like this slice of trivia. <499>

Friendship

THE CLUELESS GIRL'S GUIDE TO BEING A GENIUS by Janice Repka. Dutton 2011.

Aphrodite is a genius. She has already graduated from college at the tender age of 13. To collect data for her thesis, she has volunteered to become a middle school math teacher. Thrown into the class others call boneheads, Dytee is determined to show them all that they can be successful. It will take a huge sales job, especially for Mindy. Though Dytee and Mindy are the same age, they belong in two different worlds. But being 13 just might connect them. Funny and fast paced, here is a book that goes beyond the usual friendship story to include math, baton twirling, and beauty salons. <496>

Rock on

HOW TO ROCK BRACES AND GLASSES by Meg Haston. Little Brown, 2011.

Kacey loses her title as queen of cool when she falls at a friend's birthday party. Now, she is consigned to braces and glasses while she recovers from the accident. Add in a lisp caused by the braces, and Kacey's life is pretty much ruined. How can she claw her way back to the top? Haston explores the mean girl jungle of school in her debut novel. <495?

Odds and Ends

MISS LINA'S BALLERINAS AND THE WICKED WISH by Grace Maccarone with illustrations by Christin Davenier. Feiwel and Friends, 2012.


She wants a star's role
And so wishes for more fame.
Careful with wishes. <490>




TOY DANCE PARTY by Emily Jenkins with illustrations by Paul Zelinsky. Yearling, 2009.

Lumphy, Stingray, and
Plastic worry about their
Owner growing up. <491>




ON THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN by Nancy Tillman. Feiwel and Friends, 2006.

Newborns are unique
Animals celebrate YOU
On the night you came. <492>




MAGIC SCHOOL BUS AND THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE by Joanna Cole with illustrations by Bruce Degen. Scholastic, 2010.

Global warming facts
Can help Ms. Frizzle decide
Teach it to the class. <493>




MAYBELLE AND THE HAUNTED CUPCAKE by Katie Speck with illustrations by Paul Ratz de Tagyos. Holt 2012.

Maybelle the cockroach
Assists a stranded ant and
Is promised cupcakes. <494>

Resistance is futile

VICTORY: RESISTANCE BOOK 3 by Carla Jablonski and Leland Purvis. First Second 2012.

Welcome to the waning days of the Nazi Occupation of France in World War II. This third GN in the series focuses on how members of the resistance collected intelligence and passed information on to others in an effort to win the war and save lives. Children, teens, and young adults also played pivotal roles as they could travel about relatively unchallenged. Colors range, letting readers know mood and tone and danger levels. Dialog is, of course, brief and to the point. Tie this one to the GN bio of Anne Frank, to CODE NAME VERITY, and also to DIVERGENT and other post apocalyptic novels where resistance to corrupt governments is key. <489>

Through a Glass Darkly

IN A GLASS GRIMMLY by Adam Gidwitz. Dutton, September 2012.

get ready for some more twists on familiar tales and tropes and archetypes in Gidwitz' follow up to A TALE DARK AND GRIMM. Jack (of beanstalk and other fame) and Jill (who went up a hill) enter into a series of adventures that include characters from other Grimm tales and a few by Hans Christian Andersen and other authors of folk tales. What makes this interweaving of stories work well is that even if readers do not know the original tales they can still enjoy the adventures and perhaps pick up some of their literary heritage along the way. Tie this one to other retellings and perhaps construct a ladder or PARCC model that include these titles:

THE STINKY CHEESE MAN AND OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES
THE THREE PIGS
A TALE DARK AND GRIMM
CLOAKED, BEASTLY
THE ANNOTATED MOTHER GOOSE
OTHER GOOSE

Or go in a different direction and include books with interrupting narrators (INTERRUPTING CHICKEN) or tales with motifs and archetypes.

<488>

Tom Angleberger Strikes Again

THE SECRET OF THE FORTUNE WOOKIE: AN ORIGAMI YODA BOOK by Tom Angleberger. Amulet 2012.


If you will recall, Dwight is no longer at McQuarrie Middle School. However, he sends a new origami figure via Sara to the school and his friends and classmates. This time, the origami is in the form of Chewbacca and is a fortune teller (remember these?)Chewie seems to dispense advice almost as if Dwight were still there with his Origami Yoda. How can that be? Leave it to Tommy to issue an official report. Angleberger continues to develop and hone his characters in another book in this wildly popular (Origami Yoda won the Texas Bluebonnet Award this year) series. Along the way, he manages to examine some incredibly important subjects without being didactic or pedantic, no mean feat to be sure. The final chapter includes a letter home to all the students about the new curriculum to begin at the first of the year: FUNTIME, TIME to focus on the FUNdamentals. Teachers will groan and perhaps chuckle in rueful recognition of what might come in the next book. Angleberger humanizes middle school in a way that middle school teachers and kids get and everyone else needs to get. <487>

New Landscapes for Literacy

HAUNTED HISTORIES: CREEPY CASTLES, DARK DUNGEONS, AND POWERFUL PALACES by J B Everett and Marilyn Scott-Waters. Holt, 2012.

The call for more nonfiction in the ELA and reading classrooms has many people scurrying for suitable books to share with readers and to use to meet curricular needs, especially those demanded by CCSS. Like this situation or not, the good news is that there is great NF out there that is changing the landscape of literature and literacy. HAUNTED HISTORIES is one of those books. In this interesting combination of fact and fantasy, readers will encounter a poltergeist tour guide who will take them to castles and other historic structures and provide them with plenty of facts about their construction and use (as well as some info about the ghosts who are said to haunt them still). History and science and architecture combine to create a fascinating book, one kids could browse, use as a model for some research reporting, or just sit and enjoy. <486>

Volunteer Now for a YALSA Committee

YALSA President-Elect Shannon Peterson is taking applications right now for members of next year's selection committees. See her blog post (http://bit.ly/OlIBPA) for details about which committees and what the qualifications are.

But if you have ever wanted to be on a committee that selects the best books, audiobooks, films, graphic novels, etc., for YALSA's lists, now is the time to volunteer. The deadline is September 30.

NEW THIS YEAR: Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults will be a virtual committee, meaning you can be on it and not be required to attend ALA Midwinter and ALA Annual.

Read the blog post (http://bit.ly/OlIBPA), fill out the form (http://bit.ly/OlJdoj) and let Shannon know why she should appoint YOU to be on one of these committees!

Sarah Flowers
YALSA Immediate Past-President

Time Travel Made Easy

MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY by Rachel Harris. Entangled Publishing, 2012.

Cat is heading to Italy for her sixteenth birthday accompanied by her high profile father and her stepmother-to-be. The trip is a bribe of sorts; Cat needs to spend more time with her potential new parent. it is a small price to pay so that Cat can see the paintings and statues she has only seen in books. She is transfixed by the beauty of the town. But a visit with a mysterious gypsy fortune teller lands Cat back in the 16th century. Can Cat make her way back to contemporary Florence? Does she even want to? Harris gives teen girls an interesting mix of romance, art, culture, and teen angst. <485>

Lemony Snicket poses some questions

"WHO COULD THAT BE AT THIS HOUR?" BOOK ONE OF ALL THE WRONG QUESTIONS by Lemony Snicket. Little Brown, 2012.

Lemony Snicket is astonished when a strange woman enters the Hemlock Tearoom and Stationery Shop and drops a note into his lap. he is instructed to crawl out of the bathroom window and meet her in the alley in 5 minutes. Off he goes and manages to make the deadline imposed by S. Theodora Markson to whom he will become an apprentice. Their first case, the Case of the Bombinating Beast will determine if Mr. Snicket can measure up. Of course, all is not at all what it seems to be or not to be.

Unlike Mr. Snicket, words are failing me as I try to capture accurately the wonder of this first book in a new series. I love it at the word level, the sentence level, the chapter level. I took my sweet time reading it because I wanted to make it last. I resisted turning down pages as I did not want to the book to be totally dog-eared. I even managed to curb the desire to tweet out lines such as this:

"It (a suit) had hung in my closet for weeks, like an empty person." p.2 Add in the Clusterous Forest in Staind-by-the-Sea, a young reporter named Moxie and another characters named "Feint" and a librarian who is Qwerty and you are not even close to understanding the treat that awaits readers within the covers of this book. In a time when we are all talking about close reading and complex texts, here is a book worthy of scrutiny.

Bravo, Mr. Snicket (both of you) and please, sir, may I have some more?

<484>

Poetry ALIVE!

THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY: POEMS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH CONNECTIONS TO CCSS (AND TEKS FOR TEXAS), K-5 by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong. Pomelo, 2012.

Do you want to include more poetry in the classroom but do not know where to begin and what to include? Here is the resource for you. Vardell and Wong have assembled a poem for each Friday of the school year for each grade K through fifth. Included with the poem are suggestions for pre and post reading activities and connections to other poems kids might like if they liked one of the Friday suggestions. Resources online and in print are also part of this must-have professional text. <483>

Narrative Nonfiction

IF YOU SPENT A DAY WITH THOREAU AT WALDEN POND by Robert Burleigh with illustrations by Wendell Minor. Holt, November 2012.

Thoreau at Walden
Surely the best adventure
A young boy could have.

<479>



SEAHORSES by Jennifer Keats Curtis with illustrations by Chad Wallace. Holt, September 2012.

The life of seahorses
From small fry to fully grown
Living in the sea.

<480>



LENORE FINDS A FRIEND: A TRUE STORY FROM BEDLAM FARM by Jon Katz/ Holt, September 2012.

Poor Lenore the dog
All she wants is a good friend.
Brutus, the ram, friend?

<481>



FROM THE GOOD MOUNTAIN: HOW GUTENBERG CHANGED THE WORLD by James Rumford. Roaring Brook Press, September 2012.

Paper, ink, and press
Bring books to many to read
And cherish and own.

<482>

Junie B, first grader

JUNIE B., FIRST GRADER: TURKEYS WE HAVE LOVED AND EATEN (AND OTHER THANKFUL STUFF) by Barbara Park with illustrations by Denise Brunkus. Random House 2012.

When Mr. Scary announces a new contest, Junie Band the rest of her first grade class, are excited. Each class in the school is to make a list of thins they are thankful for to prepare for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, the first graders learn that the reward is a pumpkin pie. Ewww! Who wants slimy pumpkin pie. But the class does want to win and so they begin to make their list: money, toilet paper, exploding biscuits, and Nipsy Doodles among other things. Funny, short chapters make this a perfect choice for kids who want to read "big kid" books. <478>

Witches!

WITCHES by Rosalyn Schanzer. National Geographic, 2011.

Schanzer relates the story of the mass hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts. From the religious zealots to the jealous neighbors, and the testimony of those involved, Schanzer brings readers directly to the time and place, into the courtroom and into history. An exploration of possible explanations for this hysterical behavior is provided readers without pointing to any one answer, letting kids know that sometimes the events of history remain shrouded in mystery. This is a perfect narrative nonfiction accompaniment to THE CRUCIBLE. <477>

Wheels of Change

WHEELS OF CHANGE by Sue macy. National Geographic, 2011.

Macy explores not only the evolution of the bicycle but also how their evolution paralleled the increase in freedom for women. Archival photographs, newspaper clippings, and more primary resources make this not only an informational but an entertaining examination of how the bicycle changed the landscape. With the demand of narrative nonfiction, teachers and librarians should be familiar with this and other works by veteran author Sue Macy. <476>

Fitz

FITZ by Mick Cochrane. Knopf, November 2011.

Fitz (short for Fitzgerald, one of his mother's favorite authors) has a gun and a plan. Fitz plans to kidnap his father, a man who has never been a part of Fitz' life. He will take his father at gun point. Unfortunately, Fitz has not thought much farther than that one act, so once he gets his father and they head to the city zoo, Fitz' mind is in a whirl trying to think about what to do next. In the span of just one day, how much can Fitz change his life and his father's? Cochrane explores the inner workings of a young man who needs to know WHY his father elected to remain apart from the family. <475>