Thursday, December 26, 2013

Battle Bunny by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett

Co-authors Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett and have come up with a marvelously subversive take on the classic children's picture book with Battle Bunny, a fluffy tale about how all of Birthday Bunny's friends forgot his special day (but not really) nail-biting thriller about Battle Bunny's seemingly unstoppable Evil Plan.

With this book you're really two stories for the price of one:

There's the boring traditional story with a predictably happy and saccharine ending. The book is even designed to look like an old-fashioned children's book — the kind in vogue 50 years ago — complete with faded, worn edges on the cover and a personal note from "Gran Gran" to the book's owner, Alex, on the inside.

And then there's the story that every kid (and the kid in all of us) will appreciate, the one penned by Alex, who decided to take it upon himself to add his own edits to the story, including adjustments to illustrator Matthew Myers' pictures. The scene in which Birthday Bunny eats his favorite breakfast of carrot juice and a bowl of Carrot Crispies becomes Battle Bunny chowing down on brain juice and a bowl of greasy guts. Alex's scribbles morph Birthday Bunny from an adorable, wide-eyed ball of fur to a piratical villain complete with helmet, eye patch, a scar on the ear, walkie talkie and utility belt.

Sciezka and Barnett send up just about every Golden Book trope in the rewritten story to hilarious effect: They throw in gross details (refer back to the mention of brain juice), weapons (ranging from hacksaws to megatron bombs), questionable values (Battle Bunny sits on a throne that reads, "Power is good, power is mine") and violence (of the silly, cartoonish variety). Battle Bunny's taking no prisoners as he wreaks havok throughout the forest. Who will save the wild land creatures from his nefarious plan? You'll have to read it to find out.

Given the format of the book, this story could be a bit of a challenge to use as a read-aloud. In addition, there's also the possibility that younger kids might misunderstand the drawings and take it upon themselves to doodle over other books. But those caveats aside, Battle Bunny is a fantastic story that will appeal to younger kids for its ingenious way of taking a staid story and turning into a clever heart-pounder.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Books about How Things are Made and How They Work

Ever wonder how things are made or how they work? Well, if you have, here are some fascinating books that might be useful to you!

J 600 COOL
Cool stuff and how it works by: Chris Woodford
          













J 600 WOODFORD
Cool stuff 2.0 and how it works by: Chris Woodford


    











J 640 ERNST
How things work in the house by: Lisa Cambpell Ernst

        












J 670 SLAVIN
Transformed : how everyday things are made by: Bill Slavin         


Monday, December 16, 2013

Books about Winter

Looking for some books about winter? Texas City doesn’t experience the typical cold and snowy weather that is typical of the winter season in other parts of the world, but we sure can read books about it!

E BUTLER (in the board book section)
Snow Friends by: M. Christina Butle















E FERNANDES
Kitten’s Winter by: Eugenie Fernandes















E HILL (in the board book section)
Spot's snowy day by: Eric Hill














E KEATS
The Snowy Day by: Ezra Jack Keats













ER RYLANT
Annie and Snowball and the wintry freeze : the eighth book of their adventures by: Cynthia Rylant


Monday, December 9, 2013

Books about Counting

Are you teaching your child how to count? Here’s some great books to help:

E BAKER
1-2-3 peas by: Keith Baker


 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
E BARUZZI
Count by: Agnese Baruzzi


 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
E BRUNHOFF
Babar's counting book by: Laurent de Brunhoff

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
E LITWIN
Pete the cat and his four groovy buttons by: Eric Litwin


 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
E MURRAY
One two that's my shoe! By: Alison Murray

 

Monday, November 25, 2013

Books about Shapes

Learning about different shapes is one of the first things kids like to learn:

E BASHER (in the board book section)
Shapes by: Simon Basher














E BRUNA
Round, square, triangle by: Dick Bruna













E COIRAULT (in the board book section)
Shapes by: Christina Coirault














E SCHACHNER
Skippyjon Jones : shape up by: Judith Byron Schachner














E STICKLAN (in the board book section)
Dinosaur shapes by: Paul Sticklan


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Author Charlotte Zolotow Has Passed Away

Earlier this week, we wrote about author Barbara Park's passing on November 15. Unfortunately, another children's author has also passed away since then. Charlotte Zolotow passed away yesterday November 19. She wrote several children's books, including William's Doll and Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present.

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Monday, November 18, 2013

Thanksgiving Books

Thanksgiving is almost here!  Here are some of the many books about Thanksgiving we have.


 



E BATEMAN
Gus, the Pilgrim Turkey by: Teresa Bateman













E FRIEDMAN
Thanksgiving Rules by: Laurie B. Friedman










ER MARZOLLO
I spy Thanksgiving : riddles by: Jean Marzollo










ER PARISH
Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey by: Herman Parish










J FIC PARK
Junie B., first grader : turkeys we have loved and eaten (and other thankful stuff) by: Barbara Park


Author Barbara Park Has Passed Away

Barbara Park, the author of the popular Junie B. Jones series and other popular books, passed away on November 15. If you're interested in reading some of her books, they are located in J FIC PARK. The first Junie B. Jones book is Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus.


Monday, November 11, 2013

Books about Rainbows

Rainbows are awesome, just like these books about rainbows.


 


E ASCH
Skyfire by: Frank Asch








 



E BAGULEY
Little Pip and the rainbow wish by: Elizabeth Baguley














E MCKEE
Elmer and the Rainbow by: David McKee







 


J 551.567 KRUPP
The Rainbow and You by: E.C. (Edwin C.) Krupp


Monday, November 4, 2013

Books about Emotions and Feelings

Here are some great books about emotions and feelings.

E BOYNTON^ (In the board book section)
Happy hippo, angry duck : a book of moods by: Sandra Boynton













E HAUSMAN
A to Z: do you ever feel like me? : a guessing alphabet of feelings, words, and other cool stuff by: Bonnie Hausman













E JOOSSE
Love is a good thing to feel by: Barbara M. Joosse












   
 E TANKARD
Grumpy Bird by: Jeremy Tankard













ER WILLEMS
My friend is sad by: Mo Willems













J 155.4124 LAMIA
Understanding myself : a kid's guide to intense emotions and strong feelings by: Mary C. Lamia

Monday, October 28, 2013

New Activity Cube in the Children's Department

Check out our new activity cube toy in the Children's Department! It has 6 different sides, including a maze at the top. We don't usually like to brag, but one child who played with it today thought it was so fun that it was made by Willy Wonka!  Willy Wonka sadly did not make it, but we think he would approve (aside from the fact that there's no candy in it, of course...)


In the mood to read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (featuring Mr. Wonka)? Look for it in J FIC DAHL. What about watching a movie about Mr. Wonka? The classic movie with Gene Wilder, Willy and Chocolate Factory, can be found in the J DVD W section (J DVD WILLY) and the newer version with Johnny Depp, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, can be found in the J DVD C section (J DVD CHARLIE).

Books about Learning Manners

Looking for some books on good manners and etiquette for kids? Look now further! Here are just a few of the books we have in the Children’s Department:


E BJORKMAN

Dinosaurs don't, dinosaurs do by: Steve Bjorkman















E SENNING

Emily's out and about book by: Cindy Post Senning


















E WILLEMS

Time to say please! by: Mo Willems



 










J 395.122 MANNERS












J 395. 122 ZIEFERT

Mother Goose manners by: Harriet Ziefert



Monday, October 21, 2013

Books about Birthdays

Everyone has a birthday, so here are some books about birthday anyone would like!

E HOSFORD
Big Birthday by: Kate Hosford














E WALKER
I love Birthdays by: Anna Walker

 












E YOLEN

 












J FIC BRUEL

 












J FIC MASS
11 Birthdays  by: Wendy Mass