New Book: Vivaldi and the Invisible Orchestra

We just got an awesome new book about music! It is Vivaldi and the Invisible Orchestra by: Stephen Costanza (E COSTANZA). It’s set in Venice, Italy many years ago and is about a girl named Candida who accidentally inspires the great composer Vivaldi to write a concerto.  You will have to read it to find out how!  As always with new books, if it is not checked out, it will either be on the shelf (E COSTANZA) or on the new books display.

New Book: Just Ducks!

We just got a new book in called Just Ducks! by: Nicola Davies and illustrated by: Salvatore Rubbino (E DAVIES). It is an engaging and informative story with beautiful illustrations that tells children about mallard ducks through the eyes of the child narrator.  The book is relatable to any child who loves watching ducks and/or feeding them leftover bread.  Even a child who does not particularly like birds will learn something from this book because it describes birds in a kid-friendly and fun way.  As always with new books, if it is not checked out, it will either be on the shelf (E DAVIES) or on the new books display.

New Book: Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow?

A fun and educational new book you should know about is Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow? by: Susan A. Shea and illustrated by Tom Slaughter (E SHEA). It has bright illustrations on each page and tells a witty and interactive story by asking questions to your child. The story and pictures help a child understand what things grow (such as an animal) and what things do not grow (such as a watch). This is a fabulous book to help a child make better sense of living things versus non-living things. As always with new books, if it is not checked out, it will either be on the shelf (E SHEA) or on the new books display.

Check Out This New Book!

An Awesome Book

By: Dallas Clayton

(E Clayton)

In this book the author emphasizes how you should always dream and that it doesn't matter what or how you dream. You can dream for something outrageous like a rocket powered unicorn or just simply a new hat. You can have one dream or a hundred the choice is up to you. There are limitless possibilities to what you can dream and no dream can ever be too big. No matter what anyone says you should never give up on your dream.This book is great for all ages because at some point in time everyone has some kind of dream. Maybe this book can help motivate or inspire you to go after a dream you may have given up on. So remember to always keep dreaming because you never know one day your dream may come true.

New Book: One World Kids Cookbook: Easy, Healthy and Affordable Family Meals

We have a new book that will interest kids who like to help adults cook. One World Kids Cookbook: Easy, Healthy and Affordable Family Meals by: Sean Mendez (J 641.59 MENDEZ) has kid-friendly recipes from around the world with fun information and pictures about each country included that will catch their interest when you cook a recipe from the book together. It is a cookbook, but also a book that teaches about different cultures, so it is like a two-for-one book!  As always with new books, if it is not checked out, it will either be on the shelf (J 641.59 MENDEZ) or on the new books display.

New Book: Yawn

We also are always excited to tell you about new books.  One that you should check out if a toddler or preschooler ever asks you why they yawn is a board book called Yawn by Sally Symes and illustrated by Nick Sharat (E SYMES). It shows a little boy yawning on the first page and different animals yawning on the following pages.  It ends with the boy realizing he needs to go to bed. This book is a simple way to help a child understand that yawning means they are tired. As always with new books, if it is not checked out, it will either be on the shelf (E SYMES) or on the new books display.

New Way of Looking at Things

 

 

  

Clara and the Curandera= Clara y la Curandera

by Monica Brown and illustrated by Thelma Muraida

This is a bilingual book in both English and Spanish. Clara was very grumpy when she had to take out the trash, share her toys with her brothers and sisters, and read one book a week for school. When Clara’s mother gets tired of seeing Clara so grumpy all the time, she sends Clara to the curandera in another apartment. Clara’s mother tells Clara to ask the lady about what to do. Clara tells the curandera that she is tired of having no space or time to herself. The curandera tells Clara for a whole week, Clara needs to take out her trash and the neighbors’ trash, share all her favorite toys with her siblings, and read five books in one week. The following week is very busy and a little hard for Clara, but she also finds that her brothers and sisters are really nice to her for sharing with them, the neighbors are so thankful for the help, and Clara learns so much from reading the books, that she might want to be a veterinarian when she grows up. When Clara goes to see the curandera again, the curandera tells Clara to go back to the way things were. Clara does go back to the old way of doing things, but she finds that she misses the way she felt that week. Will Clara go back to helping everyone out like before? Will she feel happier that way?

 

Penelope Popper, Book Doctor

by Toni Buzzeo and illustrated by Jana Christy

Penelope Popper really wants to be a doctor, and she even has a doctor’s coat, bag, and badge. It seems to Penelope, though, that no one has time to let her doctor them. Even her teacher is too busy for a check-up. When Mr. Hempel, Penelope’s teacher, sees her looking depressed, he tells her to go visit the library. When Penelope gets to the library, she tells the librarian, Ms. Brisco, that she wants to be a doctor. Ms. Brisco asks Penelope what kind of doctor she wants to be. Penelope did not know there were lots of different kinds of doctors. Ms. Brisco tells Penelope that there are even book doctors. Then Ms. Brisco shows Penelope what book doctors do. The next week, Penelope finds some books on the shelf that need a book doctor. Ms. Brisco asks Penelope if she wants to be her medical resident and learn to be a book doctor. Penelope even practices on the books in the classroom. The next day, Penelope and Ms. Brisco work on taping up torn pages. What other things does Penelope learn about being a book doctor? Will she be able to help the other students take better care of the books? What will be her special surprise from Ms. Brisco and Mr. Hempel?

 

Wild Rose’s Weaving

by Ginger Churchill and illustrated by Nicole Wong

Grandma wants to teach Rose how to weave, but Rose tells her grandmother that she is too busy. Rose runs through the meadow after the sheep and tells herself that the running is better than weaving. Grandma tells Rose to come help her warp the loom, but Rose is too busy playing with the sheep. Then Rose sees a storm coming. Grandma wants to show Rose how to work the sticks when weaving, but Rose would rather stay out in the storm. Rose stays out in the rain as her grandmother builds more and more of her picture with the weaving. Rose runs through the little streams that the storm made, and she feels that it has to be better than weaving. By the time the storm is over, Rose’s grandmother has finished the rug she was working on. Will Rose like her rug? Will she still think that all of those other things are better than weaving?

 

Crafty Chloe

by Kelly DiPuchhio and illustrated by Heather Ross

There are several things that Chloe is not good at, such as sports, video games, or dancing, but Chloe is very good at crafts and can make clothes. Chloe uses her father’s old shirts to make clothes for her dog, Bert, and coffee filters to make flowers for a flower hat for show-and-tell. One day Chloe goes shopping for a present for her best friend’s (Emma) birthday party. Chloe thinks she has found the perfect present when she finds a Violet doll from the Flower Girls doll series that Emma collects. Unfortunately, another classmate, London, has already decided to buy Violet for Emma. Chloe tells London that she is going to make something purple and special for Emma’s present, but London does not sound very convinced. When she gets home, Chloe is really not sure what to make for Emma. Chloe gets so worried that she pretends to have “chicken pops” after drawing blue dots all over herself. Chloe’s mom reminds her that there will be a pony, and Chloe suddenly feels much better. Chloe sits down to doodle for some inspiration. Will she make something perfect for Emma’s present? Will this present come in handy for something that happens on the day of the party?

More New Books

 

 

 

I Wish I Knew That: Geography: Cool Stuff You Need to Know

by James Doyle     (J 910 DOYLE)

There are a lot of questions that we have as humans, and the author sets out to answer a lot of those questions. Of course, as the title states, these answers involve geography. According to the author, “Geography is the science that explains where in the world things are and how they got there.” The author starts by discussing Earth, the parts that make it up (crust, mantle, core), continents (North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia/Oceania, and Antarctica), the oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern (Antarctic), and Artic), and much, much more. There are also fun little facts added, such as, who is the tougher animal that lives in the arctic regions: the polar bear or the penguin. Read to find out. Then the author discusses continental shifting and disasters (earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis). The next chapter is on oceans, and the issues that come up with them, such as tsunamis and hurricanes. There is a lot of fun information all through this book, and you will feel so much smarter once you are finished. I know I did. There are also drawings throughout the book.

 My First Cupcake Decorating Book: 35 Fun Ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cake Pops, and More, For Children Aged 7 Years +   

(J 641.86539 MY)

Have you ever served really decorated cupcakes for a party or special event? This book is full of great ideas for making your cupcakes or cake pops the talk of the whole party. The chapters are divided into three: cupcakes, cake pop, and then brownies, cookies, and gingerbread. Warning: This book will make you hungry and excited to decorate your baked goods. There are also some safety tips, supply lists, and basic recipes at the beginning of the book. Some of the cupcake designs include: pink piggy cupcakes, princess cupcakes, a rainbow of cupcakes, sparkling diamond cupcakes, and many more. Some of the cake pop designs include: sheep pops, flower pop, and goldfish pops. Finally, some of the other designs include: brownie owls, ladybug cookies, and rocky roadies. Enjoy making some of the great ideas for decoration.

 

The Girl Who Owned a City

by O.T. Nelson; adapted by Dan Jolley; illustrated by Joëlle Jones; coloring by Jenn Manley Lee   (J FIC NELSON)

The Girl Who Owned a City was originally a novel published in 1975 by O.T. Nelson. It has been adapted into the graphic novel. A virus spread around the planet and has killed every adult. The story takes place a couple of weeks after this disaster strikes. This leaves the children to fend for themselves in a world with no direction or assistance. Lisa Nelson is left to take care of herself and her seven-year-old brother, Todd. She knows that they need the basics like food and water, and so, Lisa goes around to the outlying farms to look for food, too. Unfortunately, there are children that are joining gangs, which are going around and stealing supplies from other children that were able to find anything. Lisa wants to create a safe place for the children of her neighborhood. Lisa decides first to make the houses of the neighborhood harder to get into, but the gangs just end up burning the houses down. Then Lisa finds the Glenbard High School and decides to use that as a base to defend and protect. They will also bring more children in, if they are willing to pitch in and help. There are gangs that try to attack the school, but all the defenses that were put into place seem to be holding them back. Unfortunately, Lisa is drawn out of the school, and one of the gangs attacks her and takes over. Will Lisa be able to get her “city” back? Will she be able to get everyone to work together for the benefit of all?

Twist It Up: More Than 60 Delicious Recipes from an Inspiring Young Chef

by Jack Witherspoon with Lisa Witherspoon and photographs by Sheri Giblin

(J 641.5123 WITHERSP)

When Jack was two years old, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Jack took treatments for three and a half years and became healthy again. Unfortunately, in first grade, Jack found out that the leukemia had come back. This was bad news, because the doctors had told him that he would only have a fifty percent chance, if the leukemia were to come back. Jack fought hard to get through his treatments and hospital stays. It was during one of the stays that he found Food Network. This got Jack interested in food and cooking. Jack would write down recipes, and his mother would help him create them. Jack told his parents that he wanted to become a chef one day. One of Jack’s mother’s friends told Jack that they could use his cooking for a benefit dinner for the Miller Children’s Hospital for the Jaques Children’s Cancer Center. The dinner was a huge success, and Jack ended up being on the news, too. Jack finished his treatment in January 2009. Since then, he has still participated in fundraisers, and Jack has become the pediatric spokesperson for the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation.

Jack takes recipes for normal things that you might have in the morning, like a bowl of cereal, and “twists” them up. In his recipe, you mix three kinds of cereals together. There are also recipes for Norwegian pancakes, tarragon chicken salad, baked five-cheese macaroni and cheese, rockin’ chili, Caesar salad cups, and even a berry delicious parfait. The pictures will make you very hungry, so check out this book and start trying some of Jacks “twisted” recipes.  

  

New Books for April

Dear Cinderella
by Marian Moore and Mary Jane Kensington and illustrated by Julie Olson

In this picture book Cinderella and Snow White have become pen pals. They mail letters back and forth discussing the ways that their stepmothers are treating them and all of the work they are expected to do. They also share their hopes and dreams with one another. Then one day, Cinderella writes Snow White about a ball, and Snow White writes Cinderella about a huntsman taking her out in the woods. Both girls are excited for the other. Snow White still writes to Cinderella about living in the little cottage with the seven dwarfs, and Cinderella writes about all of her experiences at the ball. Unfortunately, Snow White is unable to write any more letters to Cinderella, and she soon finds out why when the seven dwarfs send a letter, instead. Will Snow White ever be able to write Cinderella another letter? Will Cinderella’s letters have a happy ending?


















The Cabinet of Earths
by Anne Nesbet

In Paris in 1944 little Henri-Pierre learns what it is to be the “keeper” of the Cabinet of Earths. He watches as his grandmother collects her “bottle of earth” (or time) and becomes older right before his eyes. After losing his grandmother, Henri-Pierre grows up, grows old, and he waits for the day that someone else can take over his position as keeper.

Maya Davidson is in Paris, and she is not very happy about it. Maya’s mother was very sick, and Maya knows that it will make her mother happy to live in France for a year. So, Maya is dealing with it. After taking a short walk with her brother, Maya sees a strange man in dark glasses (the director of the Society of Philosophical Chemistry, where her father will work) and a woman (Cousin Louise) who is very hard to see (even when you are looking right at her). Cousin Louise soon gets Maya to help her look for “Uncle Henri,” in order to ask him questions about why she is the way she is. They find Henri-Pierre, but instead of answers, Maya finds the Cabinet of Earths. Then Henri tells Maya a lot of stories about their family and their abilities that she does not understand. Maya does know, though, that seeing that cabinet has changed her life. At school, she manages to make a friend named Valko, who is the son of diplomats who travel all over the world. Then one day, they meet Henri de Fourcroy with his purple eyes. Maya wants to ask him so many questions about the society, Henri-Pierre, and those bottles in the Cabinet of Earths that Henri-Pierre won’t accept anymore, but she cannot seem to get them out. She witnesses many strange things in Henri de Fourcroy’s home, and she becomes alarmed by the things she sees and Louise’s reaction to Henri. Then she learns of the “immortality” of the bottles in the Cabinet of Earths, and she is told
that she can help turn other people into “immortals.” Will Maya ever be able to figure out what all of the weird things going on around her mean? Will she be able to find out what Henri de Fourcroy is planning to do with her brother after taking his picture, and what he did with all of other children whose pictures Maya found?

















Do You Have a Dog?
by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Geraldo Valério

The author first asks, “Do you have a dog?” Then she tells you about
the dogs of famous explorers, adventurers, musicians, and even queens. Billie Holiday had a boxer named Mister, who liked to listen to her sing, and he loved to hang out with everyone backstage. Empress Josephine Bonaparte used her little dog, Fortune, to pass notes back and forth with her husband, Napoleon. Jackson Pollock had a little black poodle named Ahab, which loved to play with Jackson and his wife. There are also lots of other famous people who had dogs. What kind of dog do you have? What kinds of cool things does your dog do?

















What Happens to Our Trash?
by D.J. Ward and illustrated by Paul Meisel

Did you ever wonder what happens to all of those things that you throw away into the trash can? Take some time to look in to the trash can and see what is being thrown out. In the United States, the author says that we make almost five pounds of trash a day per person. In the landfill, which your trash goes to after the garbage people take it away, the trash is buried under dirt in layers of clay and plastic that keeps the harmful liquids from leaking from the landfill. There are some kinds of trash, like car batteries or paint, that need to go to special places to be disposed of. When the landfills are full, they are completely covered up and might become something like a park in the future, even with the trash still underneath it. Some cities have their trash taken off on barges, and other cities burn their trash. The book also lists the three ways to help out with the trash problems: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Things like boxes, papers, and plastic bottles can be used again and again. What are some of the other ways you think can accomplish these three things?

A New Month, A New Bulletin Board

Last month, everyone did a great job of creating green pictures to hang up on the bulletin board. This month, we have a swamp on the board, and we need to fill that swamp with lots and lots of alligators. Please stop by the children's department and color an alligator for us to hang up!