Fractions = Trouble! by Claudia Mills- ESSENTIAL

Mills, Claudia. Karas, G. Brian. Fractions=Trouble! 128 pgs.  Farrar Straus Ciroux, 2011.  $15.99.  Content: G. This book is about a boy named Wilson who has trouble with fractions and has to go to a math tutor.  Because he is focusing on his science fair project  instead of studying,  he missed a lot on the test. Wilson thinks his science fair project is going to be the best ever.  His little brother, Kipper, does a project with his tents to see which tents blow away the farthest in strong wind.   Wilson helps out his brother by allowing his stuffed animals to be in the tents.  Wilson had his bean bag penguin in the small tent, and his bean bag alligator in the big tent.  The big tent blew the furthest away.

I really liked this book.  I liked the illustrations- especially the hamsters.  It’s a funny and exciting book.  This book would help anyone struggling with fractions to know they aren’t alone. EL (K-3). ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer: JL-age 9. 

Listen to My Trumpet! by Mo Willems - ESSENTIAL

Willems, Mo. Listen to My Trumpet! Hyperion Books for Children, 2012 $8.99. Rated G-Picture Book. In this Elephant and Piggie book, Piggie gets a trumpet and tries to impress Elephant with his talent. Elephant has a hard time breaking the news to Piggie that although his trumpet is making noise, it’s not making music. Piggie isn’t trying to make music though; he’s trying to speak elephant. 

This book has simple pictures and simple text. It’s entertaining and super cute. If you are a lover of Elephant and Piggie you will definitely want to add this to your collection. 

ESSENTIAL - EL (K-3), Pre-K. Shauna, reading teacher.

Feelings and Colors by Julia Levine - ESSENTIAL

Levine, Julia Pimsleur Little Pim: Feelings.  Abrams Books for Young Readers 2011 $8.95. Content G-BOARD BOOK. Pim the Panda explores emotions such as surprised, sad, and scared in English, Spanish, and French. Each page is filled with examples and non-examples of a specific emotion using interactive flaps and slide outs. Although I’m new to the Little Pim books, I’m guessing they all have the French and Spanish translation.  This is a very fun and educational book. Pre-K - ESSENTIAL. Shauna, reading teacher.

Levine, Julia Pimsleur Little Pim: Colors.  Abrams Books for Young Readers 2011 $8.95. Content G-BOARD BOOK. Pim the Panda explores colors in English, Spanish, and French as he collects balloons. Each page is filled with examples and non-examples using interactive flaps and slide outs. Although I’m new to the Little Pim books, I’m guessing they all have the French and Spanish translation.  This is a very fun and educational book. Pre-K - ESSENTIAL. Shauna, reading teacher.

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf - ESSENTIAL

Wolf, Jennifer Shaw  Breaking Beautiful  Walker and Company $16.99, 2012. Rated PG-13 for mature content. When Allie and her boyfriend Tripp are involved in an accident leaving Tripp dead, all eyes turn to Allie since she’s the new girl in town and Tripp is the most popular boy at school. Allie’s amnesia about the night of the accident seems rather convenient and a detective from another city is brought in to investigate. 

I’m what you would call a reluctant reader and I couldn’t put this book down. I’ve recommended it all my teacher friends and they too have read it quickly and liked it. I hesitated to recommend it to everyone because it does deal with Tripp beating up Allie on a regular basis.  The text is not graphic and written in a way that leaves the imagination to infer the more graphic violence. With that being said I give the recommendation of 

ESSENTIAL - MS, HS. Shauna, reading teacher.

Water Balloon by Audrey Vernick - ESSENTIAL

Vernick, Audrey Water Balloon, 310 pgs. Clarion Books, 2011. $16.99 Language: PG-13; Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: G; It's the beginning of summer and Marley is living at her dad's house due to her parent's separation. Frustrated with the distance from her friends, her dad sets her up with a babysitting job. When things couldn't get any worse, they do.  Her relationship with her best friends is at a point where she wonders if they're really her friends after all but a budding friendship with a guy that lives in her neighborhood is maybe just what she needs. Can Marley handle everything going on or will she burst like a water balloon? Read Water Balloon to find out! 

This book was a a fun read with it's hilarious and heartfelt moments. MS-ESSENTIAL. Student Reviewer: HF

The Other Felix by Keir Graff - ESSENTIAL

Graff, Keir The Other Felix, 169 pgs. Roaring Brook Press, 2011. $16.99. Language: G; Mature Content-G; Violence: PG ; Everynight when Felix goes to sleep he discovers himself in dreamland. Dreamland is where he meets a boy that becomes his friend and where monsters roam freely. With the fear of his father losing his job and the bully, Felix can't wait till' he goes to sleep where he helps fights monsters with his new friend. While his life when he's awake gets more stressful, the same happens with Dreamland. Soon, he realizes his friend might not be who he thinks. 

I believe this book has a very interesting plot. I also belive that many readers can relate to having vivid dreams which probably seems more happier than when we're awake. I would recommend it because it would be a fun book to read with parents and children. EL- ESSENTIAL. Student Reviewer: HF

Hannah’s Way by Linda Glaser - ESSENTIAL

Glaser, Linda Hannah’s Way, illustrated by Adam Gustavson.  Kar-Ben (Lerner), 2012.  $18.  PICTURE BOOK.  During the Great Depression, Hannah and her family have moved out to the country – away from he city where everyone understands the family’s Jewish ways.  When the school plans a picnic on Saturday and arranging carpools, Hannah is unsure what to do, because  she is not allowed to ride in a car on the Sabbath.  She is afraid that if she tells anyone that they will ostracize her.  

Based on a true story from the Minnesota History Center, this is a very tender book that is a great way to introduce children to the ways of different religions – especially if all they have ever known is one way.  If I had an award to give, I would give this book one, because I have read it several times and I still get teary eyed when I read the end.  EL – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher

Worst of Friends by Suzanne Jurmain - ESSENTIAL

Jurmain, Suzanne Tripp Worst of Friends: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and the True Story of an American Feud.  PICTURE BOOK.  Dutton (Penguin), 2012.  $17.  At the beginnings of America, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were best of friends.  Somewhere along the way, however, the two’s differences became magnified and they quit speaking to each other about the time John was elected President.  When Tom ran against him and won, that sealed the enmity for more than a decade.  

Read about these two friends-enemies-friends who were so important to the founding of our country.  A great look at a bit of American history.  EL, MS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher

Storybound by Marissa Burt - ADVISABLE

Burt, Marissa Storybound, 416 p. HarperCollins, APRIL 2012.  $17.  Content: G.  Una has been shuffled from foster home to foster home since she was a baby.  When she finds a hidden book in the local library, she literally finds herself transported to another world.  There she finds the land of Story, a place where the inhabitants lives used to be scripted by the Muses, but with their defeat many years earlier, the characters are supposedly free – at least that’s what the Tale Masters have told them for all of these years.  With Una’s arrival, events have been set in motion that will change Una and Story forever.  Lies will be uncovered – enemies may even be friends.  

The back cover compares this book to Inkheart or the Neverending Story – but since I personally didn’t like either book, I think this is much better.  Interesting without being confusing, dangerous and enlightening.  I am ready for number two already!  EL – ESSENTIAL, MS – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Abraham Lincoln by Mary Pope Osborne - ADVISABLE

Osborne, Mary Pope Abraham Lincoln (Fact Tracker), 113 p. Scholastic, 2011.  NON-FICTION.  Created as a companion to Magic Tree House #47: Abe Lincoln at Last! This short non-fiction book is a valuable addition to almost any collection.  Now that I have read it, I want to go back and see what other subjects Osborne has covered, but this one was excellent!  I can see my reluctant middle school students using these when they are require to read non-fiction.  And maybe they will pick another one up just for fun.  EL – ESSENTIAL.  MS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

The Galahad Legacy by Dom Testa - ESSENTIAL

Testa, Dom The Galahad Legacy, 292 p. TOR, 2012.  $18.  Content: G.  The Galahad is going to explode – if nothing else changes, all of the hard work and sacrifice of the tens and their families and all of Earth will be for nothing.  But Triana has come winging back through the wormhole – bringing with her a visitor.  An alien visitor with an offer and with an ulterior motive.  The offer may save them all, but the motive may tear them apart.  Before they can step foot on the planet of their destination, they have choices to make and heartache to face. 

For all of the teen melodrama of the first books, it was well worth it to reach this last (?) book in the series.  This will never be a big seller – unfortunately science fiction never is – but I thoroughly enjoyed it at its end.  And Testa sets up plenty of wiggle room for many more books, so should he be so inclined.  MS, HS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher

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

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai - ESSENTIAL

Lai, Thanhha Inside Out and Back Again, 262  p. Harper Collins Children's Books, 2011. $15.99 Language: G (0 swears, 0 'f') Violence: G, Mature Content: G.  This is a 2012 Newbery Honor.  10-year old Ha is a refugee from Vietnam.  She escaped with her mother and brothers on the eve of the fall of Saigon.  Inside Out and Back Again follows her story from living in Saigon, to the evacuation boat,  Guam and eventually America.   She left behind what she loves most, and Ha must learn to assimilate into the strange American culture, so different from what she was used to in Vietnam.  The language was "invented by snakes" the food is canned or processed; America is not what she or her brothers expected.  

We see how cultures clash, the response of neighbors, the perception of Government help, the influence of religion.  She learns how mean bullies can be and how wonderful friends are.  Based on Thanhha Lai's real experience we get a balanced perspective of the prejudice and acceptance that is our American culture of the 60's.  Told in poetry, this well written novel reads quickly.  Highly recommended for upper Elementary and Middle School. There are a lot of Vietnamese phrases.    EL/MS - ESSENTIAL.  Lisa, Reading Teacher

Dead end in Norvelt by Jack Gantos - ESSENTIAL

Gantos, Jack Dead End in Norvelt, 352  p. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011. $15.99 Language: G (0 swears, 0 'f') Violence: PG, Mature Content: G.  This is the 2012 Newbery Winner.  Jack makes a big mistake at the beginning of the summer which gets him grounded indefinitely.  His only ticket out of his room is to help his elderly neighbor, Miss Volker write the town obituaries.  Set in a "dying" small town in Pennsylvania, Jack gets involved with Hell's Angels, a possible murder mystery, a refurbished airplane, an old man who rides a giant tricycle and more adventures than a grounded boy is entitled to  have.  

I loved this book.  He has successfully mixed fact and fiction, (Jack Gantos is the main character and Norvelt, Pennsylvania is a real place) Gantos has peppered the story with historical references.   He tells how this small town has changed over time, since it's founding during the Depression until Jack's childhood of Post WWII.  There were several places where I laughed out loud. His depiction of Old Miss Volker and her arthritic hands is one of the best parts of this book.  I would recommend Dead End in Norvelt to any middle school student and Elementary 4th grade and above. It's a great boy read as well.  There is some "fake" cussing.   This is a delightful book, well deserving of this prestigious award.    EL/MS - ESSENTIAL.  Lisa, Reading Teacher

Hourglass by Myra McEntire - ESSENTIAL

McEntire, Myra  Hourglass 390 pages Egmont, 2011.  $17.99  Content: Language PG-13 (31 swears; no “F”); Sexual Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  Emerson hasn’t had an easy life, seeing dead people has her wondering if she is crazy, add the loss of her parents in a tragic accident that she narrowly misses and it makes for some teenage angst.  However, Emerson’s sweet older brother Thomas doesn’t give up on her and he brings in a college-aged man, named Michael, who claims he can help.  Michael makes a connection with Emerson that has her looking at her craziness in a more productive way and they band together to solve a problem that will help others like them.  

Great characters, great storyline and fun romance.  This book pulls you in and you can’t put it down.  MS-ADVISABLE.  HS-ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson

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

Zombie Tag by Hannah Moskowitz –ESSENTIAL

Moskowitz, Hannah Zombie Tag, 240pgs. Roaring Brook Press, 2011. $11.93. (Language-G Violence-G; Sexual Content-G).
Wil and his friend’s are enjoying playing their newest game; Zombie Tag. The rules are simple –if you are a human you want to escape the zombies, if you are a zombie –eat brains.
When it’s suggested that zombies can be created -with a simple ring of a bell, Wil becomes very interested. He recently lost his older brother, who he was quite close to, and misses him dreadfully. As Wil starts to search for this bell he wonders if having his brother back, but as a zombie, will be worth risking everyone’s lives.
This book is like those delicious brownies that sneaky mom’s make, which include gross foods like spinach or black beans, but mixed in such as way that kids would never know. It’s fun, easy to read, and even silly –with lots of zombie talk, but with a heartfelt message hidden inside. It’s really about losing someone you love and finding a way to acceptance and even peace.
Elementary – ESSENTIAL Reviewer: Stephanie MLS graduate.

Forbidden by Syrie James - ESSENTIAL

James, Syrie and James, Ryan M. Forbidden, 410. Harper Teen, 2012. $8.99 Language PG-13(50 swears), Sexual Content G; Violence PG; Claire has finally settled in at her new school and is silently praying that her mom will find some reason to stay put. Claire loves it here, she loves her school and friends and when a new guy shows up she wants to stay even more desperately than before. When Alec arrives at school he plans on just blending in and making no strong connections with anyone. That was his plan until he saw Claire. When the two find out who each really is angel and half angel, their love explodes but they must keep is a secret. How can they do that though when everyone is after Clair's life pushing Alec to try to protect her. But how far is too far? 

Forbidden is a wonderfully amazing story that I absolutely adore. A love story that explodes off the page making me and all other readers unable to exit this world that we've been transported into. An ending that laves readers itching for more. MS HS - ESSENTIAL. Student Reviewer: KU

The Hot List by Hillary Homzie - ESSENTIAL

Homzie, Hillary The Hot List, 244 pgs. Mix, 2011. $6.99. Language G(0swears), Sexual Content G; Violence G; Sophie and Maddie thought it'd be just a fun quick thing that wouldn't last for more than a day two at most. The Hot List however, had other ideas. After one afternoon of writing up a hot list together on a bathroom stall at school Sophie thought she and Maddie would now be inseparable like never before. Before Sophie could blink the Hot List had spun out of control turning already crazy middle school into even more of a place of popularity contests. Now loosing Maddie is more of a reality than ever, but can Sophie stop the Hot List? 

A funny overexaggeration of middle school that is a refreshing view on how fickle popularity is in reality. Makes me glad that my middle school years weren't like Sophie's. Wonderfully demonstrates how groups can be created and changed. Very funny. EL, MS - ESSENTIAL. Student Reviewer: KU