Happy Spring!

It’s the first day of spring, and it truly feels like a glorious return of warm weather.  In honor of the day, here’s a fantastic book.

Fogliano, Julie (2012).  And Then It’s Spring (PreK-3)

Winter ends, leaving nothing but brown earth all around.  There aren’t many colors–maybe some blue in the sky–but there’s the hope of seeds and plants and wonderful green things.  Waiting for those flowers, however, is almost unbearably difficult.  Maybe birds ate all the seeds.  Maybe bears came along.  Or, just maybe, the seeds are waiting for exactly the right moment.

This is a sweet picture book for sharing again, and again, and again.  It’s a delightful reminder that, no matter how hard it is to wait for something, the reward is always worth the wait.

100 Best Books for Children

Scholastic Parent & Child has named its 100 best books for children.  How many have you read?  What would you add (or remove) from this list?

Harris Burdick … the mysteries continue

More than 25 years ago, Chris Van Allsburg wrote a book that captured imaginations and got kids writing stories.

Van Allsburg, Chris (1984). The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (Ages 5+).

Mr. Harris Burdick brought 14 pictures (complete with titles and captions) to a publisher, promising to bring the accompanying stories and some more pictures the next day.  He never returned.  Chris Van Allsburg, a friend of the publisher, saw the pictures and decided to put them all together in a book.  (That’s the story, at least, and Chris is sticking to it.)  This book has inspired creative writing assignments ever since.

It’s not only children who have found the pictures irresistible fodder for new stories.  Famous authors also think the pictures are intriguing.

Van Allsburg, Chris (2011). The Chronicles of Harris Burdick (Gr. 4-8).

That’s where this book comes in.  Take the 14 pictures from Mysteries, then add short stories from 14 well-known authors.  The stories are sometimes eerie, sometimes funny, and always just as mysterious as the original pictures.  Of course, no one knows what the real stories were, and even famous authors can only take their best guesses.  Would your stories turn out the same way?

The authors included in this compilation:
Lemony Snicket
Tabitha King
Jon Scieszka
Sherman Alexie
Gregory Maguire
Cory Doctorow
Jules Feiffer
Linda Sue Park
Walter Dean Myers
Lois Lowry
Kate DiCamillo
M. T. Anderson
Louis Sachar
Chris Van Allsburg
Stephen King

Jenkins, Martin (2011). Can We Save the Tiger? (Gr. 1-6)

This book blew me away with its simplicity, straightforward information, and stunning illustrations.  Endangered species are hardly a new topic, but Martin Jenkins has brought the facts together in a way that outshines most other attempts to discuss the issue.  Jenkins passes no judgement on human behavior, although he does suggest that we can make choices that best protect the world we live in.  You’ll learn about dozens of animals that are either extinct or endangered.  You’ll learn why these animals are in trouble, and how many are left (or when the animals were last seen).  You’ll learn about success stories like the American bison, and hopeful stories like the kakapo parrot.  I can’t recommend this book strongly enough–just read it.

As Martin Jenkins says, wouldn’t it be a shame to live in a world where there are no tigers, elephants, polar bears, or ground iguanas?

Cat Haiku

Wardlaw, Lee (2011). Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku (Gr. 2-5)

He’s a shelter cat, waiting for a home.  Like all cats, he’s picky, patient, and not about to admit that he’d like a nice family.  And, really, “Won Ton” is not a befitting name for an oriental prince (but he might tell you his real name if you’re lucky).  The highlight of this book is the format: each section is told in haiku with deliciously cat-like illustrations.

Read it for the cat, read it for the poetry, or read it for the gorgeous illustrations.  You’ll find something to enjoy!

More new books!

I am always excited when I see boxes of new children’s books waiting to go on the shelf.  They’re so beautiful!  They’re so new!  They’re waiting for people just like you to read them!  Here are a few titles to get you started: stop by the children’s room to see even more.

Sylver, Adrienne (2010).  Hot Diggity Dog: The History of the Hot Dog (Gr. 1-3)
The hot dog has been around for centuries, and it’s been a popular American food ever since immigrants brought to the new world with them. President Franklin D. Roosevelt even hosted a hot-dog picnic for the King of England! This book tells you all about hot dogs: how they’re made, what people put on them, and the most famous hot dog sellers in the country.

Rash, Andy (2009). Are You a Horse? (Gr. K-3)
Cowboy Roy gets a spiffy saddle for his birthday … but he isn’t sure how to find a horse! Walking around the desert, he meets some other very interesting animals. Do you think he’ll find a horse for his saddle? This is a very funny book–especially the last page!

 

Pilkey, Dav (2010). The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future (Gr. 3-6)
If you liked Captain Underpants, you need to pick up this new book from the same author. Ook and Gluk, two caveboys, are transported to the future, where they learn kung-fu and go home to save their village (Caveland, Ohio). It’s wild, it’s zany, and it’s a ton of fun with flip-o-ramas in every chapter.