Some New Books for December

Deep-Space Disco
by Erik Craddock

This graphic novel has spaceships, robots, and mistaken identity. One day while Stone Rabbit is playing a game with his friends, a shape shifter named Melvin takes his place and sends him off into space. There he is caught by intergalactic enforcers and faces the crimes that Melvin had committed. When he is found guilty, he is sentenced to a place where robots try to destroy him. Meanwhile, Stone Rabbit’s friends are in danger with Melvin. Will Stone Rabbit be able to get away from the robots? Will he be able to make it home and save his friends and stop Melvin and his plans to destroy Stone Rabbit’s home and planet?

Imogene’s Last Stand
by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

Imogene has loved history since she was very small. In fact, her first words were, “Four score and seven years ago…” In school, she lectured about important women in history during show-and-tell. Imogene decided one day to, with the help of her father, clean up the Liddleville Historical Society that was in a old house that was not being used. She cleaned and organized all of the historical items she found in the house, and then waited to give tours to the people of Liddleville. Unfortunately, no one came. Then one day, Imogene finds that the city is going to tear down the house to build a shoelace factory. The mayor believes the factory “will put the town on the map.” Imogene decides to fight for her society building. Will she be able to stop them from tearing the house down? Can she stand against the other members of the town who believe the shoelace factory is the right way to go? At the beginning and end of the book is information about individuals that Imogene quotes to others.

Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle
by Major Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson, and Mary Nethery

There was a dog that lived at a fort in Iraq who had his ears cut to make him a dog of war. This dog was the leader of a pack of wild dogs. Then one day a marine named Major Brian Dennis and ten other Marines arrived at the fort. Major Dennis became friends with “Nubs,” which he named the dog. Nubs liked the belly rubs that he got from Major Dennis, and Nubs stayed with Major Dennis during his turn at guard duty. Soon Major Dennis had to leave, and Nubs could not go with him. When they came back again, Major Dennis saw that Nubs had been hurt, and the Marines helped him to get better. One time after they left, Nubs decided to follow the Marines. It took him two days and seventy miles, but he found Major Dennis. Nubs stayed with the Marines, until someone else told about the dog. Major Dennis was ordered to make Nubs leave. Major Dennis then decided to send Nubs to the United States. It would cost $2,000, though, and Major Dennis and his men worked to raise the money. Was Major Dennis successful in getting Nubs sent to the United States? Where is Nubs now?

The Circus Ship
By Chris Van Dusen

One day, while on a boat traveling to their next show, fifteen animals are stranded in the water when the boat they are riding in smashes into a ledge that no one could see in the fog. The animals manage to swim all night to an island beach. The walk to the village nearby and the people in the village are very surprised to see them. The animals start creating problems for the people in the village by eating their flowers or playing with their laundry. Then one night, there is a fire, and the tiger, which is used to jumping through fire, saves a little girl. The people and the animals get along just fine after this. Then the people hear that the mean owner of the animals is coming to take them away. The people come up with a plan. Will the animals be able to hide from their owner? Will they be able to stay in the village with the people they like so much?

First Day of Winter

First Day of Winter is December 21st!

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder
By Mark Cassino with Jon Nelson, Ph.D. and illustrations by Nora Aoyagi

This nonfiction book talks about snowflakes and how they are made. There are lots of little “specks” in clouds, and one of these “specks” is needed to create a snowflake. The book discusses the step-by-step process of the creation of a snow crystal. The book also tells how snow crystals all have different shapes, and what the different shapes are. The book also tells how many sides a snowflake has, and why it can only have that many sides. Finally, the book tells what happens to a snowflake after it falls to the ground. There are pictures of snowflakes throughout the book that have been enlarged by a microscope in order to see what they look like. At the end of the book, there are tips on how to catch your own snow crystals.















Here Comes Jack Frost
by Kazuno Kohara

A little boy lives in a house in the woods, and he has no one to play with, because his friends are all hibernating. Then one morning he sees strange patterns on the window. He goes outside to see who is making those patterns, and sees a white figure putting frost and ice on his house. The boy asks who the figure is, and the figure replies that he is Jack Frost. Then Jack Frost runs away, and the boy chases after him. The boy ice skates across the pond, and then he sleds over the hill after Jack Frost. Then he and Jack Frost have a snowball fight. The boys ask if Jack Frost will play with him, and Jack Frost will. He tells the boy not to mention anything warm, though, or he would have to leave. Will the boy remember not to talk about anything warm? Will Jack Frost stay and continue to play with him?














Chaucer’s First Winter
by Stephen Krensky and illustrated by Henry Cole

Chaucer was a curious bear who liked to look at everything around him. Then one day his friends, Nugget and Kit, tell him that they will miss him during the winter. He asks why, and they tell him that bears usually sleep during the winter. Chaucer’s parents tell him that it is true, but he is not convinced. When his parents went to sleep, Chaucer was not sleepy, so he went outside. He catches snowflakes on his nose and tongue, and as they melt away, he thinks they are magic. Nugget and Kit are surprised to see, and they decide to teach him about snow. They slide down the hill over the snow and slide around on the frozen pond. Chaucer loves winter. One morning, its starts to snow and the wind blows really hard, but Chaucer builds them a safe place to stay. Soon the spring comes, and Chaucer is very disappointed. He goes to tell his parents all about winter, but he soon falls asleep.












Winter is the Warmest Season
By Lauren Stringer

A little boy believes the winter, not summer, is the warmest season. During the winter, he wears warm coats, hats, boots, and mittens. The animals and plants of summer are sleeping under the snow, but the snowmen he builds wear warm scarves. He eats grilled cheese sandwiches, pies, and breads, and he drinks hot chocolate and soup that warm him up inside. During the winter, the radiators keep his house nice and warm, and cats like to sleep in people’s laps instead of the windowsill. There are also fires in the fireplace and candles to help keep the house warm. During the winter, he takes hot baths, and his pajamas have nice warm feet. There are lots of blankets on his bed to keep him warm, people sit closer together to read stories together. This is why he believes that winter is the warmest season.

Sweets

The Kids’ Holiday Baking Book: 150 Favorite Dessert Recipes from Around the World
by Rosemary Black

In this recipe book there are hundreds of recipes for desserts for all occasion from around the world. At the beginning of the book, the author lists the different equipment, cooking terms, basic ingredients, and safety tips that children will need before they start making any of these delicious desserts. At the beginning of each holiday, the author provides some facts about the holidays and some history, too. She also tells you about how different people around the world celebrate these holidays. There are recipes for fun drinks, as well as the desserts. Some of the recipes include: Pretty in Pink Fresh Strawberry Cheesecake for Valentine’s Day, Emerald Isle Irish Soda Bread for St. Patrick’s Day, Italian Easter Pie, Patriotic Pound Cake with Three Berries for Independence Day, and Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake with Cranberry Glaze for Thanksgiving.

All for Pie, Pie for All
by David Martin and illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev

One day, Grandma Cat makes an apple pie. After everyone has a slice, there is one slice left. The Cat family takes a nap after eating their pie. The Mouse family smells the apple pie. After everyone is a piece, there are some crumbs left over. Then the Mouse family takes a nap after eating their pie. The Ant family smells the apple pie. After everyone in the Ant family has a crumb, there is one crumb left. Then Baby Ant woke up and took the last crumb of the pie. Grandma Cat wakes up hungry and asks everyone if they would like another pie. The reply from everyone, even the Mouse family and Ant family, is yes. Everyone helps to make the pie, and then everyone helps eat the pie.

The Chocolate Cat
by Sue Stainton and illustrated by Anne Mortimer

There is a chocolate maker who lives alone with his cat and never smiles. His shop is starting to look worn and his chocolates are piling up, as no one really ever stops to buy any. The people thought his cat was lazy, and the cat did not like the people very much. Then one day the chocolate maker makes some chocolate mice with pink-sugar tails. The cat thinks he sees one of the mice move, and then he tries part of a tail. The chocolate made the cat happy. So he takes one of the mice to the greengrocer. Eating the mouse makes the greengrocer come up with an idea, and he takes some fruit to the chocolate makers and dips it in raspberry syrup and chocolate. This did not make the chocolate maker smile, and cat decided to try again. He takes a mouse to the baker. The baker makes some delicious cakes at the chocolate makers. The chocolate maker still does not smile. Cat takes one mouse after the other to different businesses around town, and each person goes to the chocolate shops to make something special. The man at the hardware store also fixed up the chocolate store. After this, the children come and give them chocolate maker ideas. He makes all kinds of different chocolate for them, and one day, the chocolate maker sees one of the mice move, and he tries it and has a great idea. Will this idea cause the chocolate maker to smile again? How will his chocolate shop do in the future?

This Little Bunny Can Bake
by Janet Stein

Class is about to start at Chef George’s famous dessert school. Students have come from all over to study with Chef George. Chef George shows them all about how to create desserts, but the students do not understand. So he decides to start from the beginning. He shows them a pot, spoon, egg, stove, and some of his recipes. Then he tries to teach them to train their noses by covering their eyes and having them figure out what kind of food they have. Then it is time to bake. He tells them to measure carefully, work as teams, concentrate, and make the dessert smell good. He also tells them to keep the kitchen neat as they cook. How will the students do? Will they be able to follow his advice and cook some delicious desserts?

December is National Hi Neighbor Month

December is National Hi Neighbor Month!

Ruby and the Sniffs
by Michael Emberley

One day when Ruby and her babysitter Mrs. Mastiff are reading, they hear a loud sound coming from the apartment above them. Ruby is convinced there are cat burglars, but Mrs. Mastiff does not want to go and check it out. Ruby decides to play hide and seek. While Mrs. Mastiff is counting, Ruby disappears upstairs. Soon she meets her new neighbors, the Sniffs, and she tells that about the burglars. The Sniffs see that someone has been stealing their food. Ruby hears a noise coming from the door. When she opens it what will she find? Will she be able to help her new neighbors find their missing food?














Heron & Turtle
by Valeri Gorbachev

Heron and Turtle are neighbors, and they are also good friends. One day Turtle invites Heron to go for a walk with him. Heron’s legs are much longer than Turtle’s, and soon she is walking really far ahead of him. So he decides to go on for a ride in his boat instead. Then on another day Heron decides to pay Turtle a visit at his house. He decides to make them both a delicious lunch. Heron worries that Turtle is going to too much trouble for her, but Turtle does not mind. Finally, one evening both Heron and Turtle sit on a log by the lake. There they talk about all the things they love about their lake, especially spending time together as friends.














Eddie’s Kingdom
By D. B. Johnson

King Eddie decides one day to draw a picture of the people that live in his kingdom. He does not usually like to draw people, because they are not nice to him or each other. He goes to every neighbor that he has in the building. Each neighbor is unhappy about something that the other neighbors do, such as leaving trash in the hallway and playing their music too loud. He tries to solve each problem as he goes from door to door, and he says he is sorry to each of his neighbors, even when he is not the one to make them mad. Finally, he decides to show his picture to all of his neighbors. Will they like his picture? Will they learn to be nicer to one another and to Eddie?
















The House of Joyful Living
by Roni Schotter and pictures by Terry Widener

The little girl, her parents, and their neighbors all call their building The House of Joyful Living. Her family and her neighbors liked to be on the roof of the building where there were gardens, sculptures, and the buildings that were all around them. They would also enjoy listening to music and dancing. One of her neighbors is sculpting a surprise for someone in the building, and the little girl hopes it is her. Soon it is the Roof Party that the building has every year, and everyone makes some good food to bring to the party. Her neighbor gives his sculpture to her mother for the new baby. The little girl believes that everyone will pay attention to the baby and forget about her. Will her parents be able to convince her that they will not forget her and neither will her neighbors? Can the little girl be happy about the new baby?