Kids
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"--
Brown bears
Nick Crumpton
j599.784 Crumpton
Nonfiction, Animals, Kids, Picture Books
"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
Picture Books, Humor, Nature, Kids
"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
In the garden
Emma Giuliani
"From season to season, children follow the life of a garden as each page reveals new treasures hiding under lift-up flaps. Peek inside the curious tulip bulb and discover the peas inside a peapod. Watch a ladybug help with pesky aphids and search for ripe strawberries under the leaves"--Publisher marketing.
I happened upon this giant book on a cart to be shelved, and was drawn in by its bold colors and the word "garden," which has quickly become an obsessive hobby of mine. I leisurely read through the gardening tips and fruit, vegetable and flower vocabulary, particularly tickled by the cute lift-the-flap moments revealing the secret, inside petals or what a seed will look like as it grows into fruition. Every once in a while I have an older kid at the children's desk asking for a lift-the-flap book, and this nonfiction, yet whimsical, read is the perfect answer. -Mari
Moomin : the complete Tove Jansson comic strip
Tove Jansson
COMIC Moomin
Graphic Novels, Adventure, Kids
A cute and quaint comic series that's not just for kids! I loved accompanying the Moomin family on their hilarious adventures through Moominvalley. Also a good Pride Month read from the artist and writer Tove Jansson, a queer icon! -Annie
Five stories
Ellen Weinstein
j813.54 Weinstein
Picture Books, History, Kids, Nonfiction
"Five children, from five different cultures and in five different decades, grow up in the same building on the Lower East Side of New York City"--
Fascinating look at the generations who arrive and make New York their own - the neighborhood businesses changes, cultures ebb and flow and blend, but the vibrancy and character remain and build year after year! -Anne W
This is not my lunch box!
Jennifer Dupuis
j591.73 Dupuis
Nonfiction, Kids, Animals, Picture Books
"Join in on a surprising camping trip and discover the favorite meals of your favorite forest creatures--from the wood frog to the moose. Rich art illustrates the beautiful biodiversity found in our forests and expressive, repetitive text helps even the youngest naturalists learn all about herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores"--
A cute book about animal diets that keeps kids guessing from page to page! -Anne W
I Hear a Búho
RAQUEL MACKAY
ON ORDER BOOK
Kids, Picture Books
As a child and adult caregiver snuggle together in a hammock at night, it’s a chance to share various animal sounds, introduced throughout MacKay’s effectively rhyming bilingual phrases. In English and Spanish, a repeated pattern of exchange unfolds between the companions: “Meow/ meow/ meow/ I hear a gato/ Could it be?// Sí, mamita/ That gato is me.” Fonseca’s mixed-media art employs contrasting colors, and incorporates textures of stamping and etching. Minimally detailed figures, cast in black and white, are captured busily engaging in creaturely pursuits until the call and response game, which has ranged from ducks to frogs and beyond, gives way to the actual sound of an animal that “is NOT me!” The result is a vibrantly artsy wind-down book. A pronunciation guide and glossary conclude. Ages 5–7. Publishers Weekly
This book is perfect for storytime with your little one! The rhyme, rhythm, and flow of the story are crafted by an author who knows what they are doing when it comes to storytelling. Raquel was a children's librarian at ICPL, leading our weekly Spanish Bilingual Storytime and now teaches ELL classes here in Iowa City. The story also mixes in a perfect amount of Spanish and includes a pronunciation guide in the back. Illustrations are engaging and striking, sure to keep everyone's attention! -Angie
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