Pantone Colors by Abrams Appleseed

Pantone Colors by Abrams Appleseed.  BOARD BOOK.  $10.  The people at Abrams have partnered with the professional color people – Pantone - to create a board book of the basic colors matched with twenty variations, each with the official pantone number and a real life name.  

When my daughter was little, she was always very precise – “These aren’t shoes, Mom.  I am wearing sandals,’” she would say.  Thank goodness this book wasn’t around then, because them every single color in the world would have had a specific name!   I would have never heard the word ‘green’ again – instead it would have been pistachio, olive, lettuce, leaf, grass, emerald and so on.  And I would have loved every minute of it!  I can’t imagine an art teacher that wouldn’t love to share it with their classes.  

PRE-K, EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL; EVERYONE – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Velchin - ESSENTIAL

Velchin, Eugene Breaking Stalin's Nose, 151 p. Henry Holt and Company, 2011. $15.99 Language: G (0 swears, 0 'f') Violence: G, Mature Content: G.  This is a 2012 Newbery Honor.  10-year old Sasha Zaichik can hardly wait to join "The Pioneers" and show that he is a true and loyal Communist like his Father.  He even writes a letter to Stalin,  thanking him for the opportunity and promises to be useful.  On the night before the ceremony, Sasha's father is arrested and Sasha finds himself alone and out in the cold.  Can he still be a loyal communist with a Father in prison? There are spies everywhere, even at school.  No one can be trusted if they find out his secret.  Is Sasha brave enough to denounce his father?  

This book, written and illustrated by a former resident of the Soviet Union catches the reader immediately in the frenetic and fearful world of communist Russia.  Sasha's perfect world falls completely apart in less than 24 hours.  This quick read will be easily understood by upper elementary students, while older readers will be drawn in by the message, the writing, the illustrations and the ride.  I couldn't put it down.  EL/MS/HS - ESSENTIAL.  Lisa, Reading Teacher

Drawing From Memory by Allen Say

Say, Allen Drawing From Memory, 63  p. Scholastic Press, 2011. $17.99 Language: G (0 swears, 0 'f') Violence: G, Mature Content: G.  Caldecott Medal winner Allen Say has written another autobiographical book!  this one, Drawing From Memory,  recounts his early youth and his experiences in Tokyo, Japan learning to be an artist at the young age of 12. 

Well written and exquisitely drawn (as always), Say pays tribute to his Sensai, a professional cartoonist, and his fellow artists who helped him develop his artistic talents.  I loved this book, a quick read, but in a more informational style than a regular picture book.  I laughed and I cried!  I highly recommend this as essential in any library.  Say received the Robert F. Sibert Informational Honor Book  Award in 2011 for this title.   EL/MS/HS - ESSENTIAL.  Lisa, Reading Teacher

Titanic Sinks! by Barry Denenberg - ESSENTIAL

Denenberg, Barry Titanic Sinks! 69 p. Content: G.  Composed around the construct of a imaginary magazine, Denenberg has a created a fascinating and detailed look at the origins, the launching and the subsequent sinking of the Titanic.  All of the facts and figures are real, the photographs are real – the only inventions are the “Modern Times” and its on-the-spot reporter, S.F. Vanni.  Everything else is based on actual circumstances.  It is utterly fascinating and a rich resource for any collection.  EL, MS, HS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher

What You Wish For: Your Favorite Authors Write to Honor Darfur - ADVISABLE

Books Wish Foundation, What You Wish For, 252 p. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2011.  $17.99.  Language:  PG (2 swears,0 “f”), Violence:  G, Mature Content: PG-13.  This book is a compilation of heartwarming and insightful poems and short stories of wishes made by story characters of elementary through high school age.  The variety of authors provides many settings and writing styles, and the issues looked at include bullying, compassion, trust, fairness, and coping with the loss of parental employment.  This delightful book is best appreciated by teachers to demonstrate effective writing styles.  EL, MS, HS (depending on the story ) – ADVISABLE.  Rebekka, Jr. High Resource Teacher

Poems I Wrote When No One Was Looking by Alan Katz - ESSENTIAL

Katz, Alan Poems I Wrote When No One Was Looking, 145 pgs. Margaret K. McElderry, 2011. $18.00. Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content G; Violence G; This is a laugh-out-loud book full of fun poems for people of any age. The poems are written about simple everyday occurrences like: avoiding homework, listening to your sister practice the violin, driving in the car with Mom and Dad, and hoping for snow days so you don’t have to go to school. The book plays with words, sounds, and meanings which is what we want kids to do as they develop language skills. The book could also be used in the upper grades to get students excited about poetry. The poems are short and easy to read. It’s a delightful book. EL, MS, HS (appropriate for everyone) – ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: M. Mathews teacher librarian

Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite by Anna Calenza - ADVISABLE

Calenza, Anna Harwell Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite, illustrated by Don Tate.  Charlesbridge, 2011.  $20.  PICTURE BOOK with CD.  Content: G.  Celenza uses history, liner notes and a little imagination to recount how Duke Ellington and his orchestra ended up reimagining Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite for the jazz era.  I have to say, instead of the classic ballet or the Nutty Nutcracker, I would much rather see Ellington’s piece as the backing for a ballet or modern dance performance during Christmas.  A great inspiration for a band, orchestra, dance troupe.  And a refreshing change from an over-performed “Christmas” piece.  EL, MS, HS – ADVISABLE. 

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle - ADVISABLE

Carle, Eric  The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse  Philomel Books, 2011. $17.99  PICTURE BOOK Content-G.  Beautiful paintings of animals in different colors than they are normally painted; for example, a blue horse, a yellow cow, a polka dotted donkey.  This book conveys the freedom and creativity that an artist can enjoy.  There are around four to five words per page, so it concentrates on the pictures.  This could be used in the art classroom, to show how great artists sometimes go against the norm.  I wish it was also available in a board book.  EL, MS, HS -ADVISABLE. Reviewer, C. Peterson.