Kids
The soldier's friend : Walt Whitman's extraordinary service in the American Civil War
Gary Golio
j973.7 Golio
Kids, Picture Books, Nonfiction, History
When Walt Whitman saw his brother's name on a list of wounded Union soldiers, he went to see him in the war hospital, and did not stop visiting and ministering to Civil War soldiers for the next three years.
The Hotel Balzaar
Kate DiCamillo
jFICTION Dicamill Kate
Fiction, Mystery, Kids, Early Chapter Books, Picture Books, Short Story
At the Hotel Balzaar, Marta's mother rises before the sun, puts on her uniform, and instructs Marta to roam as she will but quietly, invisibly like a little mouse. One day, a mysterious countess with a parrot checks in, promising a story--in fact, seven stories in all, each to be told in its proper order. As the stories unfold, Marta begins to wonder: could the secret to her father's disappearance lie in the countess's tales? --
I am beyond excited for another Júlia Sardà illustrated title! I cannot wait to read this collaboration with incredible storyteller, Kate DiCamillo. -Casey
Godfather Death
Sally Nicholls
j398.20943 Grimm
Classics, Kids, Picture Books
A retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale in which a poor fisherman chooses Death to be a godfather to his son.
Júlia Sardà's illustrations shine in Sally Nicholls's retelling of a classic Grimm Brothers tale. It's a beautiful and chilling read, just right for the start of fall. -Casey
A mischief of mice
Christie Matheson
jE Matheson
Mystery, Kids, Picture Books, Animals, Nature
A menagerie of forest animals, whose temperaments match their collective nouns, try to solve the mystery of a missing group of mice.
Collective animal nouns, a mysterious disappearance, and beautiful autumnal illustrations make Christie Matheson's latest title for perfect storytime sharing this season! -Casey
Mr. S
Monica Arnaldo
jE Arnaldo
Humor, Kids, Picture Books
When a kindergarten class arrives for the first day at school, they are greeted only by the words "Mr. S" on the chalkboard and a delicious-looking sandwich, resulting in merry mayhem as the kids wonder if the sandwich is their teacher.
I missed this hilarious picture book when it came out last year! Perfect for back to school or anytime of the year, it will have kids and their adult laughing out loud with all of the antis. Make sure to pay attention to the pictures in the background- they are telling a story as well! -Angie
Lucy! : how Lucille Ball did it all
Amy Guglielmo
jBIOGRAPHY Ball, Lucille
Kids, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Biographies
"Lucy was not a proper little girl. She was sassy. She was bold. She was funny. She was a rule-breaking, chance-taking, comedy pioneer. Can't act? Can't sing? Can't dance? Lucy proves them all wrong - and then has the last laugh when she finally lets her inner funny girl shine. In 1951, the hit show I Love Lucy took television by storm, and has made millions laugh ever since. Lucy! is the true story of how Lucille Ball overcame the odds to become the world's Queen of Comedy"--
I appreciate this book's focus on the value and power of comedy as part of culture and history! I love to laugh and I think funny people don't get the cultural recognition they deserve beyond just entertainment - comedy is an art and a powerful agent of healing, community-building, and joy. This book highlights Lucille Ball's trailblazing career as an early female comedian, and also just shows how driven she was by the powerful feeling of making people laugh. Fun, loud, retro-style illustrations perfectly complement the text. -Anne W
Brown bears
Nick Crumpton
j599.784 Crumpton
Kids, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals
"Spring has arrived in Alaska, and a brown bear is waking up. She was alone when she fell asleep at the start of winter; now she is climbing out of her den with two cubs. Follow them as they discover how to survive in the wilderness, from climbing trees to catching salmon, as their mother teaches the cubs how to be bears"--Provided by publisher.
Enjoy learning about the lives of brown bears in this beautiful picture book, suitable for reading aloud to preschoolers and up. Gorgeous watercolor illustrations evoking the natural environment accompany interesting, straightforward information about bears' mother-cub bonds, behavior, hibernation, diet, and more. -Anne W
Sometimes we fall
Randall De Sève
jE Deseve
Kids, Picture Books, Self Help, Nature
Baby Bear wants to climb a tree and eat delicious plums with Mama Bear but is overcome with a progression of worrisome possibilities, until Mama Bear gently reassures Baby Bear about the importance of taking risks.
In her follow up to "This Story is Not About a Kitten", Randall de Sève weaves a tender tale about resiliency. The pacing and repetitive cadence of the text make this a wonderful candidate for storytimes, especially at the start of the new school year. Delicate gouache and colored pencil illustrations by Kate Gardiner round out a fabulous picture book right for sharing when the littles in your life need comforting. Sometimes we have problems, and it's okay! -Casey
Sour apple
Linda (Illustrator) Liu
jE Liu
Humor, Kids, Picture Books, Nature
"A . . . picture book about an apple who learns the importance of self-acceptance and patience after being left behind during picking season"--
Following the wonderful debut "Hidden Gem" Linda Liu's latest title does not disappoint! Perfect pacing, adorable illustrations, and a great message make for a quick and enjoyable read-aloud. Endsheets and secret covers provide extra fun for curious readers. -Casey
The Wee Free Men
Terry Pratchett
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Pratchett, Terry
Kids, Early Chapter Books, Fantasy
A young witch-to-be named Tiffany teams up with the Wee Free Men, a clan of six-inch-high blue men, to rescue her baby brother and ward off a sinister invasion from Fairyland.
The Tiffany Aching books are a delightful introduction to Pratchett's Discworld, and I wholeheartedly recommend the entire series. -Chelsea
A moving and fascinating story of poet Walt Whitman's service to wounded Union soldiers during the Civil War. In a period that would profoundly influence Whitman's development as a writer and person, after his brother was injured in the war, Whitman worked at a DC military hospital ministering to the wounded - reading to them, listening to them, helping them write letters, feeding them (many had never tried ice cream before, just one of many treats Whitman brought to the hospital to share), and helping to bury the dead. -Anne W