Playing with Words

I SCREAM ICE CREAM! A BOOK OF WORDLES by Amy Krouse Rosenthal with illustrations by Serge Bloch. Chronicle, 2013.

Look at the title and you have an idea of how this book works. I Scream and Ice Cream sound alike and so do the other wordles that are in the book. Readers will glimpse one variation: REINDEER for example. Then, after they turn the page they will see the same sounds but written differently and with a different illustration: RAIN, DEAR in this instance. The crazy word play continues. Some are easy to guess and others, not so much. See what you can make of this: SORRY, NO MORE FUNNEL CAKES. Want to know its wordle? Get the book!

Love and Lore

MONSTROUS BEAUTY by Elizabh Fama. MacMillan/FSG, 2012.

Hester is 17 and works part time as a re-enactor in a village fashioned after Plimouth Plantation. One night on the beach, she encounters Ezra, a young man with whom she feels a keen attraction immediately. Syrenka is a mermaid who becomes human in order to find happiness with a human, one named Ezra. Though set centuries apart, there is a strong connection between Hester and Syrenka and Ezra, too. Murder, betrayal, ghosts, and more make this a compelling read. With elements of gothic, wonderful romances at the epicenter, and plot twists, this is sure to be a hit with lots of readers.

Thanks you Censors

NEONOMICON by Alan Moore and Jacen Burrows. Avatar, 2011.

You might look at this cover and wonder. It is an adult GN. I do not read much adult stuff as there is already an overwhelming number of children's and YA titles on my shelves demanding to be read. But when I read that a librarian in South Carolina had removed this book after it had been challenged and a board had voted to RETAIN it, I used my Christmas gift card to Amazon to order a copy. You see, that is what I do when I read of outrageous violations of the FREEDOM TO READ: I buy copies of the books, read them, and donate them to our local public library (and I am in the middle of Republican territory here). So, Neonomicon will be donated to the public library shortly. This GN has it all: ritual murders, monstrous beings, depravity. Add to this incredible art and a compelling story, and you do have to wonder what that librarian thought this book should not remain in the ADULT section of the library (where someone had checked it out for a teen whose parent screamed bloody murder).

I hope others will do the same: if you hear about challenges, buy the books, donate them, add them back to collections. last year I purchased every copy of SPEAK and SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE and donated tem to libraries around the country. It is my duty to fight the ignorance of censorship by placing those dangerous books back into the hands of readers.

The return of Arnie the Doughnut!

THE ADVENTURES OF ARNIE THE DOUGHNUT, NOWLING ALLEY BANDIT by Laurie Keller. Holt, June 2013.

I fell in love with Arnie in the picture book, ARNIE THE DOUGHNUT. Back then, Arnie was sold to a man who attempted, to Arnie's horror, to eat him. Once Arnie convinced Mr. Bing that he could be much more, the two settled into a lovely relationship. Arnie is Mr. Bing's doughnut dog. In this chapter book adventure, Mr. Bing takes Arnie to the bowling alley for league nights. While Mr. Bing bowls on his team, Arnie sings karaoke. It is a wonderful life. Now that the league championships are coming up, Arnie hopes that Mr. Bing and his team will win. But something is afoot at the bowling alley, something that might prevent the truly best bowlers from winning. Funny, fast-paced, and even zany: here is a terrific book for early readers looking for some fun.

Hyde and Shriek

HYDE AND SHRIEK by David Lubar. Tor/Starscape, 2013.

Subtitled, a Monsterrific Tale, David Lubar combines elements of Jekyll and Hyde and injects the potion into a typical school setting. When Ms. Clevis somehow manages to put the wrong ingredients into her breakfast smoothie, she soon finds herself changing. She morphs from Ms. Clevis, beloved teacher, into a mean sub known as Ms. Hyde. And then there is the little matter of sometimes changing into one of the students from time to time. It certainly is a sticky wicket. But Lubar knows his way around monstrous humor. Short chapters, plenty of action, and great good humor make this a must have for middle level readers, even the most reluctant of them. Up next, THE VANISHING VAMPIRE.

Tickle the funny bone

CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS AND THE REVOLTING REVENGE OF THE RADIOACTIVE ROBO-BOXERS by Dav Pilkey. Scholastic, 2013.

In the tenth epic novel, Harold and George have to go back into time to prevent the end of the world. Time travel looks easier than it really is. Of course, having Tippy Tinkletrousers and tiny Tippy to contend with are a large part of the problems the boys encounter. Flip-o-rama is here again (hurray for flip-o-rama) and the levels of humor range from the low level bodily function humor to references some younger reader will not "get." This series remains a guilty pleasure of mine and my grown up grandkids, too.

Pinch and Dash are back

PINCH AND DASH AND THE TERRIBLE COUCH by Michael Daley with illustrations by Thomas F. Yezerski. Charlesbridge, 2013.

Pinch is none too happy when P and S (for Push and Shove) Movers deliver a horrible red couch to his cozy house. But what can he do once the monstrosity has taken up all his living space? Perhaps there is a way? The humor is subtle, the characters are endearing. Kids who like this one should read PINCH AND DASH MAKE SOUP, too.

I See I Learn

GREAT CHOICE, CAMILLE! by Stuart Murphy. Charlesbridge, 2013.

PERCY'S NEIGHBORHOOD by Stuart Murphy. Charlesberidge, 2013.

Each of these picture books is part of the I See I Learn Series. Percy's Neighborhood teaches kids about community and community helpers (police, doctors, librarians, etc.). Camille has to learn about how to make good (and relatively quick) decisions.

biographes

YOU NEVER HEARD OF WILLIE MAYS? by Jonah Winter and Terry Widener. Schwartz and Wade, 2013.

From the cover which moves between two illustrations of Mays to the details of his childhood to his life in the majors, fans of the game will appreciate this biography. More about dedication and determination than simply sports, this is a good example to share as a mentor text with readers.

THE BEAUTIFUL LADY: OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE by Pat Mora with illustrations by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. Knopf, 2013.

Mora offers readers the story of the lowly peasant who was visited by Mary and asked to deliver a message to the bishop about the need for a church to be built. Fancher and Johnson's illustrations add depth to the story, mirroring the culture in which the story is set.

A SPLASH OF RED: THE LIFE AND ART OF HORACE PIPPIN by Jen Bryant with illustrations by Melissa Sweet. Knopf, 2013.

A self-taught painter, Horace Pippin's story shows grit and drive. Severely wounded during World War I, Horace had to learn to paint and draw using hi left hand. His work is featured in many modern museums of art.

unusual critters

HEY, DUCK! by Carin Bramsen. Random House, 2013.

If the adorable fuzzy duck on the cover does not lure you into the book, then the gentle rhyming story of an unlikely friendship between a duck and a cat (see his tail on the cover) will surely win you over. Both characters show some spunk that is perhaps more bravado than anything else. Perfect for reading aloud.

RIBBIT by Rodrigo Folgueira with illustrations by Poly Bernatene. Knopf, 2013.

What can you do with a pig who says RIBBIT and sits on a lily pad? That is the question that causes quite a bot of consternation among the animals. How dare a pig do this? After squabbling, the animals decide to consult with the wise old beetle who offers an explanation none of them had considered: perhaps the pig was simply seeking some new friends?

SNIPPET THE EARLY RISER by Bethanie Deeney Murguia. Knopf, 2013.

Snippet's family prefers sleeping in. Unfortunately, Snippet wants to rise and shine. Readers get to follow along and see how Snippet spends his day. End papers contain cool facts about snails.

Board instead of bored

Board books are lots of fun when interacting with kids during a lap storytime. These four books are all about animals.

MOONBIRD: A YEAR ON THE WIND WITH THE GREAT SURVIVOR B 95 by Phillip Hoose. FSG 2012.

Phillip Hoose is one of the finest nonfiction writers in the youth market. He proves his talent once again in MOONBIRD. Hoose addresses the plight of shorebirds and their shrinking habitats and threatening environments by introducing readers to B 95, a a rare rufa red. What makes B 95 even more rare is that scientists have been able to track him and his annual migration of more than 9000 miles. Great illustrations, wonderful storytelling (and in this case, the story is real), and riveting detail make this a compelling read.

Freedom Heroines

FREEDOM HEROINES: ONE MOVEMENT, SIX BIOS by Frieda Wishinsky. Scholastic, 2013.

Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Jane Addams, Ida B. Wells, Alice Paul, and Rosa Parks are each featured in short biographies about their contributions to freedom. This is a good book to show kids the features of nonfiction texts: call out boxes, illustrations, subheadings, etc. Tie it to FREEDOM'S CHILDREN by Ellen Levine, CLAUDETTE COLVIN: TWICE TOWARD JUSTICE by Philip Hoose, and WE'VE GOT A JOB TO DO among others.

Variations on a theme

IF THE SHOE FITS by Sarah Mlynowski. Scholastic, 2013.

The series is called "Whatever After." In the first book in the series, Abby and Jonah travel through a magic mirror to the land of Snow White. Here, the story involves Cinderella. Abby and Jonah travel through the mirror to a palace where a fancy party is being held. Sure enough, there is Cinderella, but the Prince seems to be interested in someone else. How can that be? Before long, of course, Abby and Jonah's presence have changed the course of the story. Now, it is up to them to set things right. Dropped bricks, clownies, and characters who do not fit into their stereotypes make this a humorous addition to the variants on this story. Be sure to let students know about Grimm, Perrault, and others who have shared versions of Cinderella. Philip Pullman's new book with retellings of Grimm is also a good resource.

Hi-Low

COMING CLEAN by Jeff Ross. Orca, 2012.

RAT by Lesley Choyce. Orca, 2012.

SHALLOW GRAVE by Alex Van Tol. Orca, 2012.

For those of you who are not familiar with the series from Orca, Orca Soundings, all of the preceding books are written at about the 2nd to 3rd grade level. The short chapters and non-stop action keep the plot moving forward at breakneck speed. The books deal with ghosts (Shallow Grave) seeking revenge, drug runners brought to justice (Coming Clean) and dealing with bullies (Rat). Also try the Bluford series if you are searching for some more hi-lo books. Bear in mind, though, that there are many accessible YA novels, not part of series, that might be tied to these books. For kids who liked SHALLOW GRAVE, recommend CONNECTION by Charlie Price. A good tie in to COMING CLEAN might be GO ASK ALICE by Anonymous (Beatrice Sparks) or CRANK by Ellen Hopkins. RAT could be tied to the novel by the same title by Jan Cheripko.

Zolotow winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 9, 2013

Jacqueline Woodson Wins 2013 Charlotte Zolotow Award


Madison, WI -- Each Kindness, written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by E. B. Lewis, is the winner of the sixteenth annual Charlotte Zolotow Award for outstanding writing in a picture book. The award is given by the Cooperative Children's Book Center, a library of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and will be formally presented on April 6, 2013 in Madison, WI.


In Jacqueline Woodson’s poignant picture book story, Chloe ignores new girl Maya’s
smile the first day at school and rejects her friendly overtures every day after as well. Chloe’s friend Kendra calls Maya “Never New,” because her clothes and possessions come from a secondhand store. After a teacher compares the widening ripples caused by a stone dropped into water to the effects of kindness, Chloe resolves to smile back the next time she sees Maya, but never has the chance: Maya has moved away. Chloe is left feeling regret for kindnesses undone, but also is surely changed. Woodson’s narrative is much like the ripples in a pond: quietly forceful, with a measured tone that packs a punch because of its carefully crafted restraint. Each Kindness was edited by Nancy Paulsen and published in the United States in 2012 by Nancy Paulsen Books / Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

The 2013 Zolotow Award committee named three Honor Books: Flabbersmashed About
You, written by Rachel Vail, illustrated by Yumi Heo, edited by Liz Szabla, and published by Feiwel and Friends / Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group; Me and Momma and Big John, written by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by William Low, edited by Karen Lotz, and published by Candlewick Press; and Sleep Like a Tiger, written by Mary Logue, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, edited by Ann Rider, and published by Houghton Mifflin.


The 2012 Zolotow Award committee also cited nine titles as Highly Commended: Auntie
Yang’s Great Soybean Picnic, written by Ginnie Lo and illustrated by Beth Lo (Lee & Low Books); Helen’s Big World: The Life of Helen Keller, written by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by Matt Tavares (Disney / Hyperion); Monet Paints a Day, written by Julie Danneberg and illustrated by Caitlin Heimerl (Charlesbridge); No Go Sleep! written by Kate Feiffer and illustrated by Jules Feiffer (A Paula Wiseman Book / Simon & Schuster); Oh, No! written by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Eric Rohmann (Schwartz & Wade); Spike, the Mixed-up Monster, written by Susan Hood and illustrated by Melissa Sweet (A Paula Wiseman Book / Simon & Schuster); Tea Cakes for Tosh, written by Kelly Starling Lyons and illustrated by E. B. Lewis (Putnam); Underground, written and illustrated by Denise Fleming (Beach Lane); and We March, written and illustrated by Shane W. Evans (A Neal Porter Book / Roaring Brook
Press).

Established in 1998, the Charlotte Zolotow Award honors the work of Charlotte Zolotow, a distinguished children's book editor for 38 years with Harper Junior Books, and author of more than 70 picture books, including such classic works as Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present (Harper, 1962) and William's Doll (Harper, 1972). Ms. Zolotow attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison on a writing scholarship from 1933 to 1936, where she studied with Professor Helen C. White. The award is given annually for outstanding writing in a picture book for children in the birth through seven age range published in the United States in the preceding year.


Members of the 2013 Zolotow Award committee were: Merri Lindgren, chair
(Librarian, Cooperative Children’s Book Center, Madison, Wisconsin); Amy Alt (Early
Childhood Specialist, 4-C, Community Coordinated Child Care, Madison, Wisconsin); Lynn
Montague (Youth Services Librarian, Sun Prairie Public Library, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin); Duy Nguyen (Teacher, Franklin Elementary School, Madison, Wisconsin); and Kristine Wildner (Librarian, Holy Apostles School, New Berlin, Wisconsin).


http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/zolotow.asp

Ch-ch-chapter books

AMELIA BEDELIA MEANS BUSINESS by Herman Parish with illustrations by Lynne Avril. Greenwillow, 2013.

Amelia Bedelia books are back and feature a young Amelia Bedelia who is just as literal as her adult self will be. When Amelia decides she needs a new bike, her father tells her he will meet her half way. He is finally able to explain what that means to the highly literal minded Amelia. Chapters are short, there is non-stop action and, of course, terrific good humor.

RICKY VARGAS: BORN TO BE FUNNY by Alan Katz with illustrations by Stacy Curtis. Scholastic, 2013.

Ricky is back and he is still the class cut-up. Lucky for him, he has a sensitive teacher who allows him to clown around and tell jokes from time to time. And then one day, his beloved teacher is not there. Will this be the end to Ricky's stand up career?

Paulsen and son

ROAD TRIP by Gary Paulsen and Jim Paulsen. Wendy Lamb Books (Random House), 2013.

Father and son Gary and Jim Paulsen team up for this riotous road trip. Dad announces the road trip early one morning. He does not give his son time to pack, but the two are off to rescue a puppy. They are accompanied by their "owner" dog, who also joins in as a narrator in this novel. Slowly, the road trip companions become 3 and then 4, a more diverse group of characters never before seen. From family relationships, to engine repair, to money problems, ROAD TRIP offers something for everyone, especially those less than avid readers.

GN-ius

CHICKENHARE by Chris Grine. Scholastic, 2013.

Meet Chickenhare, part chicken, part bunny. His sidekick is a bearded turtle. The two are captured and sold to Mr. Klaus a collector of rare animals and taxidermist. They escape and end up helping other citizens of Mr. Klaus' world escape from his vicious clutches. Tie this one to GIANTS BEWARE and offer it to fans of CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS as well.

STARRY RIVER OF THE SKY by Grace Lin. Little Brown, 2012.

A runaway named Rendi, worried he will be found stowing away on a wagon, flees just in time to become stranded in the Village of Clear Sky. The innkeeper has secrets, is warring with his neighbor. The entire village seems to be at odds with one another. and what has happened to the Moon? It seems to have disappeared. Rendi thinks he can hear the Moon howl every night. What is going on and what role will the new guest at the inn play as she weaves her stories and demands that Rendi tell his own, too? As she did in WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON, Lin effortlessly weaves traditional folk tales, interrupting the tale of Rendi and the village. But is it really an interruption? The visitor's stories seem to point to some of the very real people Rendi has come to know.

NANCY CLANCY AND THE SECRET ADMIRER by Jame O'Connor with illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser. Harper, 2013.

Fancy Nancy is growing up. When she learns that her babysitter and her guitar tutor are without a date for Valentine's Day, she switches into high gear to have the two meet "accidentally" at the Sweete Shoppe. Is she a good matchmaker or will it all come to naught?

Amulet
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE THIRD WHEEL by Jeff Kinney. Amulet, 2012.

Greg's school is having a Valentine's Day Dance. He is trying hard to find a date, but he seems to keep striking out time and again. How can he find someone who will go to the dance with him? What is a wimpy kid to do?

THE LIGHTNING DREAMER by Margarita Engle. Harcourt, March 2013.

In her usual novel in verse format, Engle tells the story of Tula, a girl who yearns for an education in a time and place where girls' educations are not valued. She is determined, though, to learn more about the words she loves, the books she reads, and more. When Tula stumbles across the work of a poet, her life changes. The words affect her deeply, and she knows she must escape from her promised marriage and become a writer. Based on the work of a Cuban woman, Engle once again demonstrates her prowess at making characters come to life.

2012 Final Books Read

Here is the final spate of books I read in 2012. Total is over 800 books (and some are missing from my lists). About 150 were YA. I also read tons of early chapter and middle grade books, lots of nonfiction, and MANY picture books.

DECEMBER 2012 BOOKS READ

752. HENRY GOES SKATING
753. MITTENS AT SCHOOL
754. CAPTAIN AWESOME TO THE RESCUE
755. DUCK FOR A DAY
756. NEVER TRUST A TIGER
757. PENNY AND HER SONG
758. IVY AND BEAN: NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS
759. THE CASE OF THE DIAMONDS IN THE DESK
760. FOLLOWING GRANDFATHER
761. THE TORTOISE’S GIFT
762. MAYA MAKES A MESS
763. A TRIP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD WITH MOUSE
764. BENNY AND PENNY IN LIGHTS OUT
765. TICK TOCK CLOCK
766. DIXIE WINS THE RAVE
767. PIPER REED: FOREVER FRIEND
768. THE YEAR OF THE BOOK
769. JINXED
770. WEDDING DRAMA
771. IVA HONEYSUCKLE DISCOVERS THE WORLD
772. HOOEY HIGGINS AND THE SHARK
773. CINDERELLA SMITH: THE MORE THE MERRIER
774. WINTER’S TIDE
775. BOMB
776. WE’VE GOT A JOB
777. BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY
778. FIFTY CENTS AND A DEAM
779. SQUIRREL’S FUN DAY
780. WING WING BROTHERS: CARNIVAL DE MATH
781. RABBIT AND THE NOT-SO-BIG BAD WOLF
782. THE KINDHEARTED CROCODILE
783. FISH FOR JIMMY
784. WE GO TOGETHER
785. TALES OF FAMOUS ANIMALS
786. A PERFECT DAY
787. BOXCAR CHILDREN BEGINNING
788. WHO SAYS WOMEN CAN’T BE DOCTORS
789. HENRY AND THE CANNONS
790. VIOLET MACKEREL’S BRILLIANT PLOT
791. STELLA BATTS NEEDS A NEW NAME
792. PUG AND OTHER ANIMAL POEMS
793. SEEDS, BEES AND BUTTERFLIES
794. THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER
795. PRINCESS PUPPY
796. NO DOGS ALLOWED RULE
797. DROWNED CITIES
798. CHEER UP, MOUSE
799. WEIRD BUT TRUE STUPID CRIMINALS
800. BEN LOVES BEAR
801. A YEAR WITH FRIENDS
802. HELP THANKS WOW
803. INCH AND ROLY MAKE A WISH
804. THE LIGHTNING DREAMER
805. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, THE THIRD WHEEL
806. MOONBIRD
807. AFTER ELI
808. WHO NEEDS LOVE?
809. GIDDY-UP DADDY
810. PIRATES VS. COWBOYS
811. HEY DUCK
812. RIBBIT
813. WANT TO BE IN A BAND?
814. CHICKS
815. WEDGIEMAN TO THE RESCUE
816. THE BEAUTIFUL LADY: OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
817. I HAIKU YOU
818. SNIPPET THE EARLY RISER
819. ZIGZAG ZOOM
820. THE LONGEST NIGHT: A PASSOVER STORY
821. THE PASSOVER LAMB
822. A SPLASH OF RED
823. YOU NEVER HEARD OF WILLIE MAYS?
824. STARRY RIVER OF THE SKY
825. CONFUSION OF PRINCES
826. NANCY CLANCY SECRET ADMIRER
827. FREEDOM HEROINES
828. GOBLIN SECRETS
829. HIGH SKIES ADVENTURES OF BLUE JAY THE PIRATE

Totals: 161 YA

Chapters

GOONEY BIRD IS ABSURD by Lois Lowry with illustrations by Middy Thomas. Sandpiper/Houghton Mifflin, 2009.

Love the reissue of this Gooney Bird book. Gooney is unchanged, she of the underwear on the head as a brain warmer, of the mismatched on purpose socks. fortunately, her teacher, Mrs. Pidgeon, deals with all manner of different kids in her second grade classroom. Right now, the kids are studying poetry. Mrs. Pidgeon is reading some of the poems her mother wrote, and the students are taking cues from her writing for their own. Lowry celebrates the individual in this series. Short chapters, lots of good humor, and a few tears makes this a terrific book to read aloud. <725>

SQUIRREL'S FUN DAY by Lisa Moser with illustrations by Valeri Gorbachev.Candlewick Press, 2013.

Squirrel wants all of his friends to take some time off and have fun with him. The problem is that squirrel's idea of fun is different from rabbit, mouse, and turtle. Of course, all works out in the end and the friends enjoy a fun day with squirrel. <726>

Celebrate

TALES OF FAMOUS ANIMALS by Peter and Connie Roop with illustrations by Zachary Pullen. Scholastic 2012.

Smokey the Bear, Koko the signing gorilla, and Balto are among the famous animals who stories populate this nonfiction collection. From the tortoises of the Galapagos Islands to the weather predicting groundhog of Pennsylvania, here are short pieces that would be perfect to read aloud to kids. <718>

WE GO TOGETHER: A CURIOUS SELECTION OF AFFECTIONATE VERSE by Calef Brown. Houghton Mifflin 2012.

Brown's stylized illustrations accompany poems and verses about friendship and romance. The pairs might be aliens or a dog and cat or even a toothless teacher and two naughty students. Warm humor makes this a good choice for Valentine's Day, too. <719>

A PERFECT DAY by Carin Berger. Greenwillow 2012.

It is a perfect winter's day. Kids go about sledding, skiing, skating, and building snowmen. Look carefully at the illustrations for some surprises among the characters. <720>

Odds and Ends

FIFTY CENTS AND A DREAM: YOUNG BOOKER T. WASHINGTON by Jabam Asim with illustrations by Bryan Collier. Little Brown, 2012.

Washington had a dream. From his earliest years, he loved letters and words and reading. However, being a slave meant learning was forbidden to him. And so he began to save money so he could attend school. Even though attending meant walking hundreds of miles and backbreaking work along the way,Washington persevered. Collier's blend of collage and watercolor add depth to the story of one young man's dream. <711>

GRANDMA AND THE GREAT GOURD by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni with illustrations by Susy Pilgrim Walters. Roaring Brook Press, 2013.

Grandma decides to travel through the forest to see her daughter and her grandchildren. Along the path she encounters animals who wish to devour her. She begs them to let her live until her return trip when she is sure to be plumper. Thanks for some quick thinking on her part, Grandma manages to avoid fate as food for the beasts. <712>

Stepping back in time

I'M IN LOVE WITH A BIG BLUE FROG by Leslie Braunstein with illustrations by Joshua S. Brunet. Song performed by Peter, Paul, and Mary. Imagine: A Peter Yarrow Book. Charlesbridge, 2012.

So much of my adolescence is tied to folk music and especially to Peter, Paul, and Mary. Here is one of the tunes they covered in their career. Like much of the music of the 60s, what passes as a cute children's song is, in actuality, a song about an adult issue. In this case, interracial relationships are the focus of the story of a girl in love with a blue frog. While others look askance, they see nothing wrong with their romance. While young readers will not see the issue, they will enjoy the rollicking language about the romance. A CD features the song performed by Peter, Paul, and Mary and two bonus tracks. Now to go home and dig up my Peter, Paul, and Mommy disks!

Easy chapter books

INCH AND ROLY MAKE A WISH by Melissa Wiley with illustrations by Ag Jatkowska. Simon Spotlight, 2012.

Inch and Roly wish
For something to do because
They are bored right now.

ZIGZAG ZOOM: Zigzag Kids #8 by Patricia Reilly Giff with illustrations by Alasdair Bright. Wendy Lamb Books, 2013.

ZigZag zebras run
To compete against the kids
From Timpanzi school.

Poetry

SEEDS, BEES, BUTTERFLIES AND MORE! POEMS FOR TWO VOICES by Carole Gerber with illustrations by Eugene Yelchin. Holt, 2013.

The world of insects is given a poetic treatment in this collection meant to be read by two people. Bees, caterpillars (and, therefore, butterflies), roots, seeds, and more are the focus of this poetry book. Great for science class. <708>

THE HIGHWAY RAT by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler. Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic 2013.

A greedy rat steals food from all the animals he passes on the road. The animals, though, have a plan to get their food back. <709>

PUG AND OTHER ANIMAL POEMS by Valerie Worth with illustrations by Steve Jenkins. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2013.

The perfect pairing of author and illustrator makes this a terrific choice for reading aloud to kids. The language is extraordinary; the illustrations distinctive. <710>

Easy Reading

All of the following picture books are part of the I LIKE TO READ series from Holiday House. Authors and illustrators in the seris include Caldecott winners (Emily Arnold McCully and Betsy Lewin) and other veterans of children's literature. Simple text, beautiful illustrations and a STORY set these apart from many of the basal textbooks being used in schools. Even better, they are designed for 1:1 sharing.
<703-707>

Learning Things

EVERYONE CAN LEARN TO RIDE A BICYCLE by chris Raschka. Schwartz and Wade, 2013.

The two time Caldecott artist is back in a book about gaining confidence and learning to ride a bike. <694>

SNOWBOY 1, 2, 3 by Joe Wahman with illustrations by Wendy Wahman. Holt 2013.

Counting is made simple with Snowboy who counts up to ten and then back again. <695>

THE WORLD BELONGS TO YOU by Riccardo Bozzi with illustrations by Olimpia Zagnoli. Templar, 2013.

Simple words and illustrations convey a message to the reader: the world belongs to you. You can elect to love and be loved. You can be happy or sad. You can play and learn. <696>