Friday, September 25, 2020

Fast Five Fiction: Observe the Moon Night

It's FRIDAY, so it's time for Fast Five Fiction. Tomorrow is International Observe the Moon Night so I've got five lunar titles for you. 


Click the title to be directed to the books in the library's catalog if you'd like more information or to put the books on hold.

The Girl who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

This Newbery award winner is an epic fantasy about a young girl raised by a witch, a swamp monster, and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, who must unlock the powerful magic buried deep inside her. Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule--but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her--even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she's always known.


Moon: A Peek-through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup

Over deserts and forests, Arctic tundra and tropical beaches, the moon shines down on creatures around the world. Children will love discovering how it changes from day to day as the lunar cycle is shown through clever peek-through holes, each revealing the moon in a different size and shape.

It's the perfect light nonfiction book for young stargazers--and an ideal bedtime book, ending with a giant moon hovering over a sleepy town hunkered down for bed.


Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room -- to the picture of the three little bears sitting on chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one -- the little bunny says goodnight.

In this classic of children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.

Moon Base Alpha series by Stuart Gibbs

It’s a murder mystery on the moon in this humorous and suspenseful space adventure. Like his fellow lunarnauts—otherwise known as Moonies—living on Moon Base Alpha, twelve-year-old Dashiell Gibson is famous the world over for being one of the first humans to live on the moon.

And he’s bored out of his mind. Kids aren’t allowed on the lunar surface, meaning they’re trapped inside the tiny moon base with next to nothing to occupy their time—and the only other kid Dash’s age spends all his time hooked into virtual reality games.

Then Moon Base Alpha’s top scientist turns up dead. Dash senses there’s foul play afoot, but no one believes him. Everyone agrees Dr. Holtz went onto the lunar surface without his helmet properly affixed, simple as that. But Dr. Holtz was on the verge of an important new discovery, Dash finds out, and it’s a secret that could change everything for the Moonies—a secret someone just might kill to keep...

Happy Friday, and happy reading!



Friday, September 18, 2020

Fast Five Fiction: Pirate Stories

It's FRIDAY, which means it's time for Fast Five Fiction.  Tomorrow is International Talk like a Pirate day so I've got five of my favorite stories featuring pirates! Click the title to be directed to the books in the library's catalog if you'd like more information or to put the books on hold.  


How to be a Pirate by Isaac Fitzgerald

CeCe dreams of being a pirate. When the neighborhood boys tell her that she can't, she wonders where to begin. Luckily, she suspects her grandpa must know something about being a pirate--why else would he have all those tattoos?

As he shares each tattoo, Grandpa and CeCe are transported from adventure to adventure, and CeCe discovers that there are all kinds of ways to be a pirate--Be BRAVE! Be QUICK! Be INDEPENDENT! And FUN!--and most of all, whether you're a pirate or not, the most important thing you can do is to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.


Pirate Jack gets Dressed by Nancy Raines Day

It’s the crack o’ dawn, and dapper Pirate Jack is ready t’ get dressed for a day out on the high seas with his motley crew. He’ll need every color of the rainbow to make his outfit complete—from his itchy gray long johns and his toasty pink socks to his bright red sash and his cozy purple coat. And he won’t be forgettin’ his black eye patch and trusty brown peg leg, either!

But just as he’s about to step outside, he realizes he’s still missing one color: green! Thank goodness a certain feathered friend is ready to jump from her swing and onto his shoulder to complete his colorful look. Squawk!

How to be a pirate (train your dragon #2)

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Don't even think of starting this book unless you're sitting in a comfortable chair and have lots of time. Afast-paced, impossible-to-put-down adventure awaits as the young orphan Peter and his mates are dispatched to an island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They set sail aboard the Never Land, a ship carrying a precious and mysterious trunk in its cargo hold, and the journey quickly becomes fraught with excitement and danger. Discover richly developed characters in the sweet but sophisticated Molly, the scary but familiar Black Stache, and the fearless Peter. Treacherous battles with pirates, foreboding thunderstorms at sea, and evocative writing immerses the reader in a story that slowly and finally reveals the secrets and mysteries of the beloved Peter Pan.


The Map to Everywhere series by Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis

To Master Thief Fin, an orphan from the murky pirate world of the Khaznot Quay, the Map is the key to finding his mother. To suburban schoolgirl Marrill, it's her only way home after getting stranded on the Pirate Stream, the magical waterway that connects every world in creation. With the help of a bumbling wizard and his crew, they must scour the many worlds of the Pirate Stream to gather the pieces of the Map to Everywhere--but they aren't the only ones looking. A sinister figure is hot on their tail, and if they can't beat his ghostly ship to find the Map, it could mean the destruction of everything they hold dear!


How to be a Pirate and the rest of the How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was a Viking Hero--dashing, brave, and ever so clever. But even Viking heroes have to begin somewhere. In this rip-roaring adventure he recounts his early days--when he still had a lot to learn about swordfights, shipwrecks, and homicidal dragons....

Happy Friday and happy reading!


Friday, September 11, 2020

Fast Five Fiction: Fall Picture Books

It's FRIDAY! The weather is starting to cool which mean fall is on the way. Today I'll be sharing five of my favorite Fall Picture books. Click the title to be directed to the books in the library's catalog if you'd like more information or to put the books on hold.



Full of Fall by April Pulley Sayre

With gorgeous photo illustrations, award-winning author April Pulley Sayre explores the transformation trees undergo in fall. The book takes readers through the leaves’ initial change from green to red, yellow, and orange, the shedding of the leaves, and the leaves crumbling as winter approaches. Extensive back matter explains the science behind this process to the youngest of budding scientists.


In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes

Explore the sounds, sights, smells, and textures of a new season—fall—in this picture book. In the middle of fall, the sky is nearly gray, the leaves have already turned, and all it takes is one gust of wind to turn the world yellow and red and orange.


Mouse's First Fall by Lauren Thompson

One cool day Mouse and Minka venture out to play. From leaves of all colors red, yellow, orange, and brown to leaves of all shapes and sizes -- from pointy to round -- Mouse learns that fall is a season full of fun! And before the day is done he just might take the biggest "leap" of all. Hooray for fall!


The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri

Squirrel is too busy getting ready for winter to nibble a pumpkin with Mouse, run in the field with Dog, or otherwise play with any of the other animals. The leaves have started to fall. The air is cold. Squirrel needs to get ready for winter. He cannot nibble with the mice. He does not have time to hop with the frogs or run with the dogs. But there is one thing he can do!


Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson

It's autumn, and Fletcher's favorite tree is slowly changing colors and losing its leaves.

Fletcher is very worried.

He tells the tree he'll help. But when the very last leaf falls to the ground, Fletcher feels as though he's let down his friend . . .

. . . until the first day of winter, when Fletcher sees that his tree has turned into a shining, glittering surprise.


Happy Friday, and happy reading!!

Friday, September 4, 2020

Fast Five Fiction: Graphic Novels

It's FRIDAY! To celebrate the release of the newest Dog Man, Grime and Punishment, I thought for today's Fast Five Fiction I'd share a little bit about some of the benefits of Graphic Novels and tell you about five of my recent favorites. Click the title to be directed to the books in the library's catalog if you'd like more information or to put the books on hold. 

  • Graphic Novels can improve your child's reading skills just like any book. They are full of text and the drawings and pictures actually help your child decode, analyze, and comprehend the material. 
  • They are perfect for reluctant readers and lend extra support for those kids who need it. Having the combination of text and picture helps kids to understand something they might not have been able to completely comprehend otherwise. 
  • Graphic Novels are full of literary merit and many have won many awards.  The 2020 Newbery winner was a graphic novel, New Kid by Jerry Craft. Others have won the Pulitzer Prize and Hugo Award.  
If you'd like to know more about some of the other benefits of graphic novels, check out the display Miss Violet put together in our children's department above.




I, of course, had to mention Dog Man as this book was the inspiration for this post. Dog Man is a favorite for many children, including my son.  He read it three times in one day, this series is one that he will read again and again and still enjoy. 

In Grime and Punishment, the Supa Buddies bamboozled the baddies, but all's not right in the world. Dog Man has a new problem to pound, and he's going to need his entire pack to help him. Will he go barking up the wrong tree? This series appeals to readers of all ages and explores universally positive themes, including empathy, kindness, persistence, and the importance of doing good.

In December Pilkey will introduce us to a whole new adventure with Cat Kid Comic Club. Li'l Petey, Flippy, and Molly will introduce twenty-one rambunctious, funny, and talented baby frogs to the art of comic making. As the story unwinds with mishaps and hilarity, readers get to see the progress, mistakes, and improvements that come with practice and persistence.



Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley

Jen is used to not getting what she wants. So suddenly moving to the country and getting new stepsisters shouldn't be too much of a surprise.

Jen did not want to leave the city. She did not want to move to a farm with her mom and her mom's new boyfriend, Walter. She did not want to leave her friends and her dad.

Most of all, Jen did not want to get new "sisters," Andy and Reese.

If learning new chores on Peapod Farm wasn't hard enough, then having to deal with perfect-at-everything Andy might be the last straw for Jen. Besides cleaning the chicken coop, trying to keep up with the customers at the local farmers' market, and missing her old life, Jen has to deal with her own insecurities about this new family . . . and where she fits in.
 



The Loud House by Chris Savino

Ever wonder what it’s like having a big family? 11-year-old Lincoln Loud lives with his 10 sisters. The trick to surviving the chaos is to remain calm, cool, and collected. But most importantly for Lincoln, you’ve got to have a plan. With all the chaos, and craziness, one thing is always for sure: there is never a dull moment in the Loud house! Fans of the show will love these graphic novel adaptations. 




White Bird by R.J. Palacio

Fans of Wonder will definitely remember the character of Julian. In Palacio's collection of stories Auggie & Me, she expanded on some of the characters in Wonder, and we were introduced to Julian's grandmother, Grandmère. This is Grandmère's story as a young Jewish girl hidden away by a family in Nazi-occupied France during World War II told in graphic novel form. 



Baloney and Friends by Greg Pizzoli

From three time Geisel award winning author/illustrator Greg Pizzoli comes the start of a new series for younger graphic novel readers. 

Meet Baloney! He's the star of this book, along with his best buddies: empathetic Peanut the horse, sensible Bizz the bumblebee, and grumpy Krabbit -- he'd rather not be here, but what can you do?
In this graphic novel for newly independent readers, Baloney and friends step into the spotlight and embody all the charm of childhood in three short tales and three mini-comics that invite readers to join the fun! Giggle with Baloney as he performs some questionable magic, give him a boost when a case of the blues gets him down, cheer him on as he braves the swimming pool, and at the end, learn to draw all the characters with clear step-by-step instructions!

Happy Friday, and happy reading!



Fast Five Fiction: National Picture Book Month

It's Friday and time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme....