Ellen—School Age Librarian

This adorable Penguin Young Readers Level 2 Early Reader about a red balloon and a yellow kite who fall in love is delightful.  The simple, brightly colored illustrations will attract young readers, and the story will soften the hardest of hearts.  The ending makes this librarian hope for some kind of sequel, either with kite and balloon again, or with another set of similar objects falling in love. 

This superb factual tale of John Price is fascinating.  John Price escaped from slavery in January 1856.  After crossing the frozen Ohio River, he was in Ohio, was slavery was not allowed.  He wasn't completely safe though, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 allowed slave owners to capture their runaway slaves anywhere in the United States, even in states where slavery was against the law, like Ohio.  Canada was Price's destination; slavery was completely outlawed there.  Price stopped for the winter in Oberlin, Ohio.

This bilingual poem by the late author of the famous Brown Bear, Brown Bear series, Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson tells some of the very descriptive reasons our Earth is so beautiful.  Dan Lipow's photographs are lush and bright with color.  The children featured in the pictures are from multiple cultures, although the photos do not identify them.  This book was recently successfully shared in a Spanish/English bilingual storytime.  For all ages.

"HEY! I'm a chicken. Yes, it's true. Tell me!  Tell me!  What are you?"

And so begins Are you a Cow? by Sandra Boynton, a fun call and response board book for the very youngest toddlers to enjoy.  Children will love answering the silly questions posed by the silly chicken with one of their favorite words (no).  And the book ends with the best message of all, that you are you.  This book deservedly received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, and receives high praise from this librarian.  For ages 1-3.   

In the Perspectives Flip Book series, readers look at critical times in history and in essence read two books, each looking at the time period from a variety of perspectives.  In this book, we start with the allies perspective, and when we flip the book we get the axis perspective.  The series currently includes a book about the American Revolution, the Civil War and about Westward Expansion.

In this fun Level 1 Starting to Read reader published by Stone Arch (Guided Reading Level E), Fire Truck and Tractor are getting ready for the big parade with the help of their friends Train and School Bus. They get clean and decorated, but they are missing something.  What could it be?  There are several early readers about these characters, which are just right for the child who is getting ready to read, plus loves transportation vehicles. 

This early chapter book is an abridged version of the 1964 collection, “The Adventures of Spider: West African Folktales” written by Joyce Cooper Arkhurst and illustrated by Caldecott and Coretta Scott King award winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney.  It’s part of the level 4 Passport to Reading series.  According to the i

Roger, a long sausage dog, is looking for more meaning from life.  When life hands him potatoes, he creates a French fry stand, and his French fries become famous around the world.  But Roger worries that people only love him for his fries, and he looks for even more from his life.  When Roger meets Charlotte the Corn Cob Queen, a whole new adventure begins.  The illustrations are charming, and this book has been a hit with every school age group I've read it with.  A recipe is included at the back of the book.

Oluwalase Babatunde Benson is the Number One car spotter in his tiny African village, hence his nickname, No. 1. (In his free time, No. 1 and his grandfather like to identify cars by their sounds before they drive past). While he knows that things like skyscrapers, tap water, and electricity exists, in his village they can only dream of such luxuries. When the village's market cart breaks down, No. 1 comes up with a plan that saves the village and allows them to get to the market to sell their goods, involving an old broken-down Toyota Camry.

The characters from Gordon Korman’s Swindle are back in Zoobreak, a novel about children fighting for animal rights.  When the kids visit a floating zoo, they discover that the animals are living in deplorable conditions and decide to break out the animals and bring them to another zoo.  A subplot featuring the disappearance of a main character’s pet monkey  brings excitement to the story.
This moving, yet funny story is recommended for 5^th grade and up, and younger for reading aloud.

5 year old Lotta becomes angry with her mother when assigned to wear a scratchy sweater. She cuts the sweater up and runs away to find a new home. Her next door neighbor lets her set up a little house in the backyard, and Lotta decides she will live there forever. Lotta ends up going home in the end, of course! I like this short chapter book by the author of Pippi Longstocking, because I think so many children can relate to Lotta's anger.

Recommended for 1st to 3rd grade students, younger for reading aloud.

In The Princess Plot, a German bestseller, Jenna is recruited to play the role of Princess Malena of Scandia in a new movie. She becomes suspicious when she finds herself impersonating the princess at a public event. What has happened to the real princess? A subplot involving rebels looking for equal rights in Scandia adds to the excitement.
Recommended for 5th grade and up.

In the fifth book of their adventures, Annie discovers that birds are building a nest on her porch. Every day, Annie and Henry check on the nest to see who lives there. They discover a robin and five eggs residing in the nest! What will happen as Annie continues to check the nest? 

This humorous chapter book takes us in the life of 3rd grade student Sophie Simon. While Sophie is incredibly smart, she struggles with making friends. Sophie finds herself solving problems for her classmates that they have with their parents. The book includes “Sophie Simon’s Encyclopedia of Things She Can’t Believe You Don’t Know Already” and a recipe for Madagascar Ground Boa Taffy.
For students in 3rd thru 5th grade.

The picture books series about Pinkalicious is available as part of the “I Can Read” series. This Level 1 reader tells about Pinkalicious’ time at school. While Pinkalicious enjoys school, she thinks she would enjoy it more if Goldilicious, her unicorn, came to school with her. What will happen when Goldilicious visits the classroom? 
Kindergarten and 1st grade students will enjoy read about Pinkalicious and Goldilicious.

This book by Newbery winning author Lois Lowry features Princess Patricia Priscilla, who will soon turn sixteen and choose a suitor to marry. The Princess is bored with her life and disguises herself as Pat, a poor peasant girl. Pat discovers a love for school and is disappointed that she will not be able to continue. This book is filled with alliteration, rhymes, and wordplay.

This beginning reader is a continuation of the Stinky Face picture book series. The main character, Stinky Face, asks “what if” questions to his mother about going to Kindergarten. The questions get sillier and sillier as the book progresses, including a question about a hungry armadillo and art class.