Kids Blog : books

Celebrate National Young Readers Week!

Blazer@evpl — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:10:00 GMT

Celebrate National Young Readers Week with EVPL! Visit any of our 8 library locations or the book bus this week to vote for your favorite books. Children ages 2 - 8th grade may select their top 3 choices on a picture ballot. Submit that ballot for a chance to win Prizes! All votes will be tallied and the EVPL top book choices will be announced. Voting takes place Saturday, November 5th through Monday, November 14th.

Book selections were taken from the 2011-2012 Young Hoosier Book Award Nominees. The Nominees are divided into three age categories: ages 2 through 2nd grade, Intermediate and Middle Grades. Please select the appropriate ballot to fill out, and be sure to include your name and information on the back. Only one ballot per child will be accepted.

I've chosen my favorites....have you?

Stick to the schedule

HipChick@evpl — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:12:00 GMT

Mister Bud likes things the way they are...his house, his toys, his schedule. But when a new dog comes to live with him, there's trouble. Zorro is bossy, Mister Bud is grumpy, but something surprising happens. Say Hello to Zorro! is about two complete opposites who find out they could be best friends. Anyone who has ever had a dog will love the charming illustrations in this book. Check it out today!

Turtle in Paradise

bookmarkbeck@evpl — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:08:00 GMT

The title is misleading. No, this book is not about terrapin, but it is about paradise-the Florida Keys. The main character is a little girl named Turtle. During the Depression jobs are hard to find, but Turtle's mother gets another house cleaning job. This time the lady hates children, so Turtle is sent to live in a place she knows nothing about with people she has never met. To appreciate this book, the reader needs a picture of Hemingway's Key West. By 1934, Key West was bankrupt and declared a welfare state by the governor. Paying jobs were hard to find. Cigar and sponging industries had moved. The Navy and Coast Guard had left. Henry Flagler's railroad was bankrupt and Mallory Steamship lines no longer stopped. Key West, once Florida's most affluent city, was 5 million dollars in debt. The city could not pay police, firemen, garbage collectors. Most residents were on welfare. The streets were littered and filthy. Homes were run down and industry gone.

This is the Key West Turtle comes to. The reader will think they are reading an island version of Huckleberry Finn as they enjoy Turtle's enterprising, free-footing, cousins, neighbors, and colorful characters of Depression era Key West. By the end of the book, Turtle really does find paradise. You'll enjoy this touching, well written read with historical notes at the end. Written by Jennifer Holm.

Books to Warm your Heart

mrsweasley@evpl — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:57:00 GMT

February is full of holidays and special events, and we have books for every occasion. Here are some heart-warming books for that chilly mid-winter holiday, Valentine's Day ( February 14) and a bonus book for Black History Month.

Dog meets Cat (and falls in love). They don't speak the same language. Are they doomed to misunderstand each other, or is there hope for this mismatched pair? Ahhh...but there is a universal language. Find out what it is in Woof: a Love Story by Sarah Weeks.

Henry in Love is another gentle story of young love. In this book, a blueberry muffin, a football player and a teacher's penchant for rearranging her classroom all figure in advancing Henry's dream romance. By Peter McCarty, the Caldecott Honor recipient for Hondo and Fabian.

"Silly as a seal/rugged as a moose/happy as a herd of hippos drinking apple juice...." Those are just a few of the ways your heart can feel according to author/illustrator Michael Hall in My Heart is Like a Zoo. Heart-shaped art graces the pages while nimble verse describes a range of emotions in terms easily grasped by children. Try counting the hearts, exploring the colors and shapes, or making your own heart-shaped art.

For Black History month, check out Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds. I've been a fan of Reynolds since his first book, Chicks and Salsa, a wacky barnyard tale complete with recipes for Mexican fare from this chef-turned-writer. In Back of the Bus he surprised me with his range as a writer, serving up a thoughtful, sometimes poetic retelling of the Rosa Parks story from the perspective of a young boy on that same bus. He deftly captures the thoughts and emotions of a little boy whose ordinary bus ride (and consequently, his life) is transformed by one courageous action. Back of the Bus is illustrated by the inimitable Floyd Cooper, whose warm, sunlit palette evokes a dawning of aspiration through the colors of a workday sunset.

Bless You!

HipChick@evpl — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:52:00 GMT

Do you have the flu? Achoo! Did you know that teaching your children to cover thier mouths when they cough or sneeze is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs? Achoo! Did you know that with the current H1N1 flu issues, having your child wash thier hands and use a tissue (not their sleeves) can go a long way to stop the spread of viruses? Achoo! And just in case you are already home in bed, here are some great books about being sick and how to get well soon! If you need more information use the following link, and click on Flu Education for brochures in English and Spanish!

http://www.vanderburghgov.org/Index.aspx?page=77

Achoo! Good Manners Can Be Contagious! Stay in Bed, Davy

Elmo says Achoo! Mr. Putter and Tabby Catch the Cold

How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? Wash your Hands!

Bear Feels Sick Berenstain Bears Sick Days

Linnea

Shh_ImReading@evpl — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:57:00 GMT

Linnea's Windowsill Garden and Linnea in Monet's Garden by Christina Björk and Lena Anderson are two garden books that are great even in cold weather!

Linnea and I have something fun in common. We've both received amaryllis bulbs as Christmas presents. Amaryllis bulbs are not very pretty, but if you plant one and take good care of it, it grows a big, beautiful flower! I was about 9 or 10 years old when I got my amaryllis bulb and my copy of Linnea's Windowsill Garden for Christmas. When I opened the box, a bag of dirt was on top and I thought that's all I got! I had a lot of fun telling people I got dirt for Christmas. My mom helped me plant my bulb in a pot over Christmas break, but first we read about planting and taking care of the amaryllis on page 38 of the book. The amaryllis is just one neat plant project in this book of green growing activities.

Linnea in Monet's Garden is all about Linnea's trip to see the garden of the famous painter Claude Monet. Monet made his own garden very famous with his paintings. Some of his best-known paintings, beautiful impressionist paintings of water lilies and Japanese bridges, were done in his own garden. Now people travel to see the garden that inspired his painting. This book is a great introduction to Claude Monet, but if it leaves you wanting to know even more about Monet and impressionist painting, just ask! We have more books!

Books are the BEST Presents!

kiya@evpl — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:24:00 GMT

At our house, we give a lot of books as gifts - that may be a librarian thing, or maybe just because our whole family loves to read. Some of the books we're giving this year:

For a nearly 11 year old:

When You Reach Me and First Light, both by Rebecca Stead

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle

The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen, by Eric Berlin

Do you have favorite books you like to give as gifts? What has been your favorite book you received as a present?

Counting to Christmas

mrsweasley@evpl — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:13:00 GMT

Waiting for an anticipated event (like Christmas) can be very difficult for young children, who have not developed a sense of the passage of time. Here are some books to help them count down the days.

Counting to Christmas by Nancy Tafuri is a large-format book with bright, simple illustrations. A little girl spends the days before Christmas preparing to share and give. One of her projects is a tree filled with treats for the wildlife near her home. Recipes for outdoor animal treats and other projects are included.

Snowbear finds numerous ways to fill his days in Snowbear's Christmas Countdown by Theresa Smythe. From decorating his house to cracking nuts with his new nutcracker (and including spending couple of days in bed with a cold, watching holiday movies), Snowbear stays busy preparing to enjoy Christmas with his friends. Kids will like the lively illustrations, and may be inspired by Snowbear's creativity and caring. A plus for parents and teachers is that this book uses ordinal numbers (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, etc.) for the countdown.

Karen Katz's Counting Christmas features her trademark folk art-like illustrations. Charming round-faced, rosy-cheeked children take part in traditional Christmas activities in a warm, family-centered setting. Nothing new here, but Katz's illustrations are worth the trip.

Uno, Dos, Tres, Posada! introduces the Hispanic custom of the nine-night posada and its traditions, such as the candy-filled piñata and fuego artificiales (fireworks). Spanish words share the page with the mostly English verse, with abundant clues in the context and illustrations to clarify their meanings.

And here's a simple craft idea you can use at Christmas, or leading up to any special event, like a birthday or vacation. Make a paper chain using colored strips of paper, one link for each day before the event. Decorate as you please, perhaps putting numbers on each link, or adding stickers, etc. Hang the chain in a conspicuous place, and allow the child to tear off one link each day. It will serve as a tangible reminder of the approaching event, and help children visualize the concept of time passing.

Kissing Coyotes (& otherwise keeping your word)

myzticrhythmz@evpl — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:19:00 GMT

Kissing Coyotes by Marcia Vaughan

Jack Rabbit likes to brag. First he tells his friend Roadrunner he can dance with a rattlesnake. Next he tells Gila Monster he can scare a herd of longhorn cattle, all by himself. Finally he boasts to Fox that he can run through a skunk's den without getting sprayed.

His friends finally get tired of Jack Rabbit's bragging and challenge him to "walk his talk". Jack Rabbit starts with the coyotes, and all goes well until the recently-kissed coyotes wake up. Read the story to see how Jack makes good on the rest of his boasts.

This is a really fun book to read, and the pictures are great, too. My kindergarten-aged daughter loved it, and Jack's visit with the skunk always cracks me up!

Two Books for Boys (and Adventurous Girls)

mrsweasley@evpl — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:53:00 GMT

Kids who enjoy stories about knights in armor and medieval life will want to read Roland Wright, Future Knight. Ten-year-old Roland longs to be knight, but that's an honor reserved for the noble class, and not the son of a blacksmith. When armor made by Roland's father saves the king's life, the unthinkable happens: the king invites the blacksmith to send his son to the castle to be trained as a page, the first step in becoming a knight. But which son? Roland has a brother, and both want to go to the castle. How will their father decide?

Roland Wright, Future Knight is the first book in a series by Tony Davis. Scattered skillfully into the narrative are nuggets of factual information about medieval life, chivalry, armor-making and the training of knights. Young readers won't even know that they're learning history as they follow the adventures of Roland Wright, Future Knight.

For readers who like their action non-stop and over-the-top, check out Doc Wilde and the Frogs of Doom. Grandpa Wilde is missing (again!), so Dr. Spartacus Wilde and his children Brian and Wren set out for the rainforests of South America to save him from ...frogs? The fantastic plot is matched with comic book-style action, snappy dialogue and the preposterously perfect Wilde family. Lots of fun for would-be adventurers!

Animals and ABCs

mrsweasley@evpl — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:51:00 GMT

Kids love animals, so Creature ABC will fascinate them with its range of familiar and not-so-familiar beasts.Photographs from Andrew Zuckerman's 2007 work Creature are arranged alphabet-book style, with a letter and photograph on facing pages, then another photograph and a word on the next 2-page spread.

The photographs have to be seen to appreciate their detail, clarity and expressiveness. Some of the smaller animals (fish, bird, frog) are about life size and all are reproduced in brilliant color. Kids and adults will enjoy looking at this book together. I predict that the kids will not want to put it down, and adults will sneak back for another peek.

Cursed

HipChick@evpl — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:19:00 GMT

The Pire family was perfectly happy living on Nostfer Avenue. But, when the new neighbors move in, things change quickly. The Wolfson's stay up all night, they lock their windows, and they love sunshine! What's a happy vampire family to do? They are too different in too many ways to get along. Little Pire Bram writes to his Grandfather in Transylvania, "Dear Vampa...mom asks if you can get the guest crypt ready for us." This story is a funny book for Halloween, but also could be used to talk about differences, acceptance and finding common ground. Much to the dismay of the Wolfson's, who are not who they seem, the vampire family moves out. It is so hard to find good neighbors. Check this one out, you'll love it!

Today's the perfect day

HipChick@evpl — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:24:00 GMT

See that awful weather outside? Feel that chilly nip in the air? Today is the perfect day! Let's do nothing! This story is about two little boys who have spent their day doing everything. Now what? They try to do the near impossible task of ten whole seconds of nothing! Hold their breath, not a blink of an eye, remain absolutely still. The cartoon like illustrations will humor all ages as they come to realize doing nothing is a lot harder than it seems.

Can you do it?

There is just so much dirt in the world…

HipChick@evpl — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:56:00 GMT

The farmyard is a dirty place. Can you imagine? Louisa, the pig with the pretty pink purse, writes letter after letter to upper management only to get this response…..”Dear Disgruntled, if you don’t like it, you can clean it up yourself.” Louisa huffs off to the big city, but learns that the farm really isn’t that bad. Just needs a good dusting! Your truly, Louisa

Mercy Watson to the Rescue!

mrsweasley@evpl — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:50:00 GMT

When my husband and I travel, I always bring audiobooks to pass the time. Last week we took a trip to Michigan with two of our grandchildren, ages 4 and 6. I knew I would need audiobooks to keep them occupied, but how could I please everyone? What could I bring that would entertain both children and adults?

Mercy Watson to the Rescue!

I was very familiar with books by Kate DiCamillo, who penned the Newbery honor book Because of Winn-Dixie and Newbery Medal winner The Tale of Despereaux, but I had never gotten around to reading her easy chapter book series about Mercy Watson. I checked out the three audiobook CDs that contain all six of the Mercy Watson stories. We were not disappointed!

Mercy Watson is a pig who lives with Mr. & Mrs. Watson. They treat her almost as a daughter, to the vexation of their neighbor Eugenia Lincoln and the secret delight of Eugenia's sister Baby. Mercy is an unassuming pig who cares about little more than where to get her next helping of toast with a great deal of butter on it. Nevertheless, Mercy gets involved in a number of hilarious adventures (with the occasional oblique cultural reference thrown in for the adults to chuckle over).

We listened to all six stories at least twice and found ourselves quoting lines from the books throughout the vacation. I recommend that you check out a book or audiobook from the series, make yourself some toast with a great deal of butter on it, and sit down for a nice visit with Mercy, the Watsons, Eugenia & Baby Lincoln, and -oh, yes-the fire department.