Friday, August 28, 2009

Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis

Some of my favorite books are what I call small town adventures. They're set in an older, more innocent time when kids could sneak out at night for adventures and build marvelous inventions in their backyards. Some of the best are the Mad Scientists' Club by Bertrand Brinley, Secret Agents Four by Donald Sobol, and the White Rose Rescue by Astrid Lindgren. Although some have tried to recapture this genre, it never quite works. Until now. Eleanor Davis has taken a classic genre, added some new elements, and captured the entire work of genius in a graphic novel.
  • Midnight adventures? Check.
  • Cool inventions? Check.
  • Loving but not-in-the-way-when-they're-not-wanted parents? Check.
  • An evil villain? Check.
  • A mysterious crime? Check.
  • Individual and well-drawn characters than transcend stereotypes? Check.
  • Gorgeous and detailed art? Check.
  • An adventure everyone will love? Double check!
Verdict: The smaller print will put off some children, but most will love this fun adventure that flips stereotypes and throws adventure, glue, and flying machines around in equal measure.


ISBN: 978-1599901428; Published September 2009 by Bloomsbury; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Thunder-Boomer! by Shutta Crum


Somehow I've never read anything by Shutta Crum before. I don't even recall hearing her name (and I would have remembered, don't you think?). Now I'm wondering what I missed, because I think this is going to be a classic! It's a hot and humid day on a midwest farm, until clouds begin to gather. It's a thunder-boomer! A giant storm that sweeps over the farm with thunder, lightning, torrential rain, and hail. When it's all over, they find something special out by the barn.

The language is evocative and lovely, but retains plenty of action and fun sounds for children to enjoy. There's genuine tension in wondering if the hail will damage the crops, but it doesn't detract from the family's appreciation of the cooling and majestic storm. A perfect read-aloud for hot summer days, or for kids feeling a little scared of a big storm.

Carol Thompson's illustrations are a great match for this fresh story. Her mixture of materials and techniques gives a realistic and textured feel to the illustrations and is perfect for showing the evolution of the storm.

Verdict: Recommended


ISBN: 978-0618618651; Published June 2009 by Clarion; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Summer Day in the life of a librarian; or, why I am exhausted and grumpy

8:30 - 12: Arrive at work. Work on filling in back to school displays. Tackle detritus of juvenile nonfiction weeding. Carry prizes over to community room. Move a few tables. Greet new aide who is being trained by current-but-soon-to-be-previous aide (who is going to college). Call Parks and Rec to reserve community room for fall programs. Talk to Parks and Rec about their Baby Sign program (we don't want to overlap). E-mail colleague the go-ahead to plan ours. Adjust fall brochures. Pass fall brochures out for review by staff. Continue juvenile nonfiction weeding. Shift juvenile nonfiction shelves. Shelf is stuck! Spend a while banging on it with aid of aide and accompanied by irritated looks from patrons at computer. Finally get it unstuck. Pull down all the old window art from summer reading. Organize prizes in community room. Grab something to eat.

12 - 2: On reference desk. Help girls find books on gymnastics. Help little girl find chapter books (put Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa and Cork and Fuzz on hold). Enter computer reservations for four people. Computer crashes, b/c someone tried to use Adobe on it (which it doesn't like). Poke around on computer. Poke around some more. Wander around library looking for people who have reservations. Talk to director about getting new computer system and replacing horrible computer-which-crashes.

2 - 3:45 Continue juvenile nonfiction weeding. Show off "I can be a computer operator" complete with 1980s keyboards to colleagues. Discuss weeding with director. Finish entering stats from summer reading program. Help aides move tables and chairs for grand prize drawing in community room.

3:45 Race to grocery store to get ice cream and cookies for program (we don't have a freezer big enough for the tubs and my car has no air-conditioning). Takes longer than I expect and I arrive back at...

4:10 to discover approximately 85 people milling about the community room, our face-painter has arrived, and the kids are getting bored. Hastily bring in ice cream, aides, director, and adult services librarian start scooping, I get the kids' attention with the aid of a teacher (I'm a librarian. I have a library voice.) and tell them to line up for ice cream and look at the prizes.

4:30 - 5:00 Draw for prizes. We have 2,000 drawing slips and 36 prizes. Kids enjoy taking turns pulling out names, but more than half of the winners aren't there. My top five readers all won a prize as well as several others.

5:00 Face-painter generously agrees to stay later and finish the line. Encourage kids to finish ice cream. Crying kid (there's always one) is born off by parent. Aides clean up (you guys are great!) while I lug all the prizes left back to my office out of sight.

5:30. Everybody finally leaves . Help face-painter carry equipment out to car.

5:30 - 6:00. Type list of names of winners who weren't there, post list at reference desks (people will hear from friends they won a prize and many will call and ask if they won). Move all prizes to closet by youth reference desk so they're accessible. Discuss cataloging of Boys of Steel by Nobleman. Biography - but then which person? Nonfiction - 741s?

6:00. Go home. Collapse. Remember thankfully that I work 12 to 8 on Wednesday. Remember that I'm going to have to call all the prize-winners. I hate making phone calls.

See? I can be grumpy if I want to.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Sam & Friends Mystery: Dracula Madness & Lake Monster Mix-Up by Mary Labatt, illustrated by Jo Rioux

I actually received the second Sam & Friends Mystery, Lake Monster Mix-Up, for review, but couldn't figure out what was going on with the talking dog, so I dug around and borrowed the first from another library in our consortium.

In the first of these two graphic mysteries, Jennie is sad because her best friend, Sarah, has moved. A new couple has moved into Sarah's house and they don't even have any kids! Instead, they have a big, shaggy sheepdog, Samantha (Sam for short). Jennie and Sam quickly become friends, especially after Jennie discovers she has "the gift" and can hear Sam's thoughts. Sam eggs on Jennie and their new friend, Beth, to discover the mystery of the mysterious Mr. McIver and his creepy house.

In their second adventure, Sam, Beth, and Jennie are off to a boring weekend by the lake. But with Sam along, they quickly discover an old diary and a creepy mystery!

There's nothing particularly new about these stories; both use well-worn plots for children's mysteries; the creepy old hermit who hates people but likes animals and the mysterious lake monster complete with warning from a local. The text is all dialogue and the art is expected to convey all the action and emotions. This leaves quite a few loose ends in both stories; in the first, we never find out how Jennie feels about the complete absence of her old friend Sarah, where Beth came from, or why they weren't friends previously. In the second story, the local's mysterious warning and the clues in the diary peter out into nothing; even the characters wonder at the end what they meant and hint at a possible explanation in a sequel.

Verdict: So, these are boring, cliched stories, right? Nope. They're actually quite good and I enjoyed reading them. The art is black and white with crisp, clean lines and does an excellent job of filling in the story behind the dialogue. Sam provides a dash of humor and a unique hook for the story; Jennie's ability to hear Sam's thoughts is perfectly done and fits naturally into the story. These are excellent mysteries for readers ready for beginning chapters who aren't yet interested in a lot of character development and emotional exploration. These readers will be looking for a story that feels familiar with humor, fun characters, and an exciting plot and these graphic novels are the perfect match. Recommended for juvenile graphic novel collections that include younger readers in their audience.

Dracula Madness
ISBN: 978-1554534180; Published February 2009 by Kids Can Press; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Lake Monster Mix-Up
ISBN: 978-1553378228; Published August 2009 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by the publisher through Raab Associates

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Have I got a book for you! by Melanie Watt

When I heard Melanie Watt had a new book coming out, I was delighted. I have long been a Chester fan; he is a staple for all my school visits and tours, and I frequently recommend Scaredy Squirrel.

I got my first glimpse of Watt's newest story when I was at ALA last summer. My first thought was...but...but...it's not pretty!

And it's definitely not. The color scheme is a revolting orange, green and brown and the main character - the only character - is smarmy, oily salesman Mr. Al Foxword whose whole aim is to pressure you, the reader, into buying the one thing you desperately need: this book.

Like Mac Barnett's delightfully illogical picture books, Billy Twitters and the Blue Whale Problem and Guess Again!, this book is wasted on the toddler and preschool crowd. Some kids might pick up a few jokes, but the ideal audience is a group of second graders who have just figured out the whole concept of "subtle humor".

Verdict: An older audience is going to pick up on the parody of a pushy salesman, offering useless incentives, weird uses, and all-out hilarity as Mr. Al Foxword convinces you to buy his book....one way or another!

ISBN: 978-1554532896; Published August 2009 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by publisher through Raab Associates

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Can YOU make a scary face? by Jan Thomas


Jan Thomas is not exactly a newbie - she's been delighting the toddler crowd (and those older) for some time with such scary delights as The Doghouse, word play in Rhyming Dust Bunnies, and responsive reading in What Will Fat Cat Sit On?

But I feel she has reached her zenith in Can YOU Make a Scary Face? An apparently giant bug encourages the reader (or listener) to use their imagination....but sometimes your imagination can get out of hand! Like Thomas' other books, the text and illustrations are deceptively simple, with bright, bold colors and heavy black lines.

Verdict: This is going to be a wow in storytime - I'm kicking off my programs with it this fall!


ISBN: 978-1416985815; Published August 2009 by Beach Lane Books; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library (three copies - one for the professional collection, two for general circulation)

Monday, August 17, 2009

Gumbles in Summer by S. A. Wakefield

I discovered S. A. Wakefield's classic Australian children's nonsense last year, when I first read Bottersnikes and Gumbles. "That was lovely" I thought. "Pity there aren't any more". Then a little Bookmooch wishlist popped up on my email. Gumbles in Summer. Oh, the delight! Took a little while to get my hands on this book, but I am so happy it is here!

It's hot. Very, very hot. Australian bush hot. Even the Bottersnikes are getting irritated (or more irritable than usual). With delightful humor and insane logic, the Gumbles and Bottersnikes interact through seven connected stories as the Bottersnikes try to catch the Gumbles, select a new king, and cool off; without shrinking in the water. Meanwhile, the Gumbles just want to enjoy a splash and paddle in the pond they have built; and maybe play a few tricks on the nasty Bottersnikes.

Verdict: These sound like they should be cutesy and boring, but the odd details and fresh humor keep the stories silly without being insipid. Delightful read-alouds or summer reading for kids who like a little nonsense.
ISBN: N/A; Published 1988 by Collins (out of print); Copy received through Bookmooch; Added to my personal library

Friday, August 14, 2009

Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon


Danny Dragonbreath is the only mythical creature in a school of reptiles. He and his best friend Wendell (an iguana) are at the bottom of the heap, constantly bullied by Big Eddy the Komodo dragon and his dreepy friends. Danny also hasn't quite managed to breathe fire yet.

But that's not really important. Other people (or reptiles) around Danny may worry about such things, but not him! He's just waiting for the next adventure, whether it's dreaming about pirates, protecting himself from attacking potato salad, writing his ocean report at the last minute and getting an F...

Uh-oh. Danny has one chance to rewrite his report. And who better to help than his Cousin Edward, who just happens to be a sea serpent? Danny and Wendell are off on the ultimate adventure undersea, where they'll encounter artistic octopi, vicious sharks, massive whales, the Kraken, and a host of other exotic, gross, and terrifying creatures.

The story is told in a mixture of green and black comics and text, each blending smoothly together. The wacky humor and factual information is excellently and smoothly mixed.

Verdict: Hand this to fans of Captain Underpants, kids interested in the ocean, comic-lovers, and fans of Cressida Cowell. This review sounds rather bland but...seriously this is an AMAZING story!

ISBN: 978-0803733633; Published June 2009 by Dial; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library (2 copies); Purchased for my personal collection

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by David Roberts

This is an...odd book. It's a little too long for a picture book, but a little too short for a beginning chapter book. It doesn't have enough illustrations to be a graphic novel, but too many to be regular fiction.

It has a Dahlesquian teacher but other than her legendary horridness, we don't find out anything about her. It has an army of children with unique talents, but we never really discover anything about the narrator, other than that he is good at planning and likes chess.

It has a triumphant conclusion, wherein the underdogs are...well, triumphant, but no clues as to the consequences of their daring actions in the future. It has the broken-off feeling of a series, but I have difficulty imagining future adventures.

Verdict: We catalogued it in juvenile fiction and it has checked out several times since it arrived a few weeks ago. So, good?

ISBN: 978-0763624989; Published June 2009 by Candlewick; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Monday, August 10, 2009

Nonfiction Monday: Which way to the wild west? by Steve Sheinkin, ill. by Tim Robinson

I've been looking forward eagerly to Steve Sheinkin's newest history book for quite some time. Although I was personally a little disappointed with Two Miserable Presidents, I thought King George: What was his problem? one of the best middle grade history books I've read. And now Steve Sheinkin has done it again.

Which Way to the Wild West? is a balanced, cohesive, enthralling story of America's westward expansion. The story covers famous events, such as the Donner Party, discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill, Battle at Wounded Knee, and the life of Chief Crazy Horse, as well as lesser-known movements, such as the Exodusters, Ghost Dance, and a fascinating look at the building of the trans-continental railroad.

Loaded with original sources and quotations, personal stories, battles, and the struggle to survive of many different people, this overview will only whet reader's appetites for more. Interspersed with fun illustrations, and humorous captions, this is the perfect book to introduce a reluctant reader to history. The sources and bibliography are arranged simply and efficiently for readers who want to find out more about the various personages and events.

Verdict: Highly recommended for reluctant readers, students interested in western history, or anyone who likes a good story!

ISBN: 978-1596433212; Published July 2009 by Flash Point; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Tall Tales by Karen Day


If Jacqueline Wilson's Cookie is a fluffy fairy tale with extra frosting, Karen Day's Tall Tales is a healthy loaf of bread.

Meg's family has moved yet again and she's having trouble, as always, making new friends. Especially since she can't seem to stop telling stories. Or are they lies? But it's better to make something up than tell people what's really going on in her family. When she finally makes a friend, she starts seeing what life could be like. But will she and her family have the courage to make changes?

This story of a family suffering with an alcoholic and abusive father doesn't sugar-coat the pain or demonize anyone. Meg and her family love their dad and they have good times and wonderful memories together. Meg's mother loves her family, but has made some bad decisions over the years and is suffering for them. As Meg and her family begin to break the silence that has imprisoned them, they begin to grow and change and hope. There are no easy answers and completely happy endings, but there's courage and a will to change.

Verdict: A good story for tweens who like strong realistic fiction that's not too graphic.


ISBN: 0375837736; Published May 2007 by Wendy Lamb; Borrowed from the library

Monday, August 3, 2009

Magic Box by Katie Cleminson

Eva's birthday present is a box...but not just any box. A magic box, one that can make her a magician. With her new magic, she creates a friend called Monty and the most wonderful birthday party ever!

This delightfully magic story is simple and sweet. Eva's magical antics are logically silly - if you were a magician, of course you would pull rabbits out of your hat....and more rabbits, and more rabbits, and....

The illustrations are what really grabbed me. The basic characters are in black, white, and gray, with faint touches of reds. Around, over, and behind them, magical splashes of color represent Eva's new-found magic and her delight in her wonderful birthday present.

Verdict: Perfect for preschool storytime, bedtime, or a special birthday present!

ISBN: 978-1423121091; Published June 2009 by Hyperion; Borrowed from the library; Added to the library's wishlist