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?