Some New Books

Otto the Book Bear

by Katie Cleminson

Otto is a great book bear. He really enjoys it when the children in the house where he lives on a bookshelf read his story. What the children did not know, is that Otto can leave his book at travel around the house. Otto enjoys exploring the house, reading his favorite stories, and working on his writing skills. Unfortunately, the day comes when the people leave Otto behind at the house. Otto does not like not having people around. So Otto packs his bag and takes off for adventure. Sadly, Otto is so small that no one seems to notice that he is there. Everywhere that Otto travels never seems to feel like home to him. There are lots of reasons why. Otto starts becoming discouraged, and he really wants to go back to his book. Then Otto decides that it is best to keep going, instead. Finally, Otto finds a place to rest. Inside this place, there is row after row of books. Otto starts climbing on the shelves to look at the books, when he finds something even more exciting. What is this place that Otto has found? What did he find there that made him excited? Will Otto want to make this place his new home?

Tex

by Dorie McCullough Lawson

Luke lives in a house by the ocean in a family of five with two dogs. Luke likes to imagine, though, that he is “Tex.” Tex lives near the mountains and wide open spaces that he loves. Tex works at a ranch, where he sleeps in a bunkhouse, has a cowdog named Sue, rides a horse all day, and works really, really hard. He makes sure there is plenty of water, makes sure the fences are fine, and rounds up all the cows. Tex also has a horse named Thunder that is his best friend. Tex is a really hard worker who loves his job. What does Luke imagine that he is? What do you imagine that you are? The pictures in this book are incredibly adorable, too.

Tashi and the Tibetan Flower Cure

by Noami C. Rose

Tashi loves spending time with her Popola (her grandfather). Unfortunately, Tashi’s Popola is not feeling well. Tashi is really worried about him. Tashi asks her grandfather about a story he told her about sick people in his village in Tibet using flowers to get better. Popola tells Tashi that the people would sit downwind of the flowers and let themselves be dusted by the pollen. Tashi tells her friend, Ben, that she wants to help her Popola feel better this way. The two children pick daisies from Ben’s mom’s garden and take them to Tashi’s house. Tashi blow the pollen onto Popola, but nothing seem to happen. Tashi’s mother tells her the next day that it will take a lot more flowers than that for the healing to work. While out riding their bikes, Tashi and Ben find a sign that says “Flowers.” It is a flower nursery. Tashi and her mother go to visit the man that owns the nursery, and they ask him if they can bring Popola to visit the flowers. Sam Wong, the owner, tells them to come visit the next Saturday. Tashi tells Popola about their plan, but Popola does not believe the flower cure will work when they are not in Tibet. Eventually, though, he gives in for Tashi’s sake. On Saturday, Tashi and her mother pack some tea and cookies, and they take Popola to the nursery. The shoppers at the nursery seem to just ignore them, and Popola does not feel that being there is going to help him. Mr. Wong , though, asks them to come back the next Saturday. That week, more and more people start to join them and talk. Will Tashi’s idea about the flower garden “cure” work for her Popola? Will they make lots of new friends?

Suppose You Meet a Dinosaur: A First Book of Manners

by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Tim Bowers

If you are shopping at a grocery store, and you happen to see a dinosaur, what should you do? A “hello” is a great way to start. If the dinosaur is standing in your way, what should you say? Saying “excuse me” works very well. If the dinosaur accidentally knocks over some apples, and you help her pick them up, what do you think she would say? How about, “Thank you.” There are several situations where the little girl meets up with the dinosaur. Will she be able to think of the proper things to say and do to be polite to the dinosaur?

Green Things

It is almost spring. All around us the trees and grass are turning green, the flowers are starting to bloom, the air is feeling warmer, and there are even signs of bees and other bugs. In the children's department, the theme of the bulletin board is "All Things Green." When you visit the Children's Department, make sure to stop at the crafts table and create a "green" picture for the bulletin board. We always enjoy sharing your wonderful artwork, and we look forward to seeing all of the creative drawing and colorings.

Jan Berenstain

Jan Berestain, the co-creator of the Berenstain Bears series, passed away of a stroke on February 24, 2012. She was 88 years old. Jan’s husband, Stan Berenstain, had passed away on November 26, 2005. The couple created the Berenstain bears series to help parents and children understand childhood behaviors with a little humor added in. The book series began in 1962, and Jan Berenstain had still been writing with her son, Mike Berenstain,on the series until her death. In the children’s department, there is a little display of the Berenstain books. Stop by and check it out.

How do you like your green eggs and ham?

Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss! The beloved author and illustrator, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, was born on March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Mass. He gave us the Cat in the Hat, Horton the elephant, the Christmas-averse Grinch, the determined Sam-I-Am, with his green eggs and ham, and many more unforgettable characters.

According to his biography, available through the library's Gale Biography in Context database, his books have been translated into nearly every language in the world, with more than 100 million copies sold. Animated TV specials of his stories have won Emmys and Peabody awards.

In 1984, Geisel earned a Special Award and Citation from the Pulitzer Prize committee recognizing his contributions to children's literature. Until Geisel, books for children beginning to read had been dull affairs. The Cat in the Hat, with its humor, imagination and wordplay— changed all that.

Later, Geisel would talk about the process:

"Writing children's books is hard work, a lot harder than most people realize, and that includes most writers of children's books. And it never gets any easier. I remember thinking that I might be able to dash off The Cat in the Hat in two or three weeks. Actually, it took over a year. You try telling a pretty complicated story using less than two hundred and fifty words! No, don't, not unless you're willing to rewrite and rewrite and rewrite."

Geisel passed away at the age of 87 in 1991.

In honor of Dr. Seuss' achievements, the National Educational Association celebrates his birthday each year as Read Across America Day. Edcators, families, city officials and celebrities come together to read his works aloud to children to encourage literacy. The Houston Chronicle has posted a video of several local celebs — including former first lady Barbara Bush, Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, activist and minister Quanell X, Mayor Annise Parker and Lakewood Church's Victoria Osteen — reading Green Eggs and Ham:

Feel like picking up some Seuss yourself? You'll find many of them in our children's department under E SEUSS (children's picture books)and ER SEUSS (children's beginning readers). Please check with a librarian if you have any questions. Happy reading!