Sturdy for Common Things

Review: Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipies

Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes

by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson

Find it at: Your library | Amazon | Indiebound

Published: Tricycle Press (April 1, 1994)

Recommended reading age: 3 – 7 years old

In a nutshell: Little L has recently taken an interest in cooking. She gets out her crayons and scribbles recipes for pizza, cookies, and “salad sandwiches”. She also plays pretend cooking with whatever toys she has at her disposal, whether they resemble food or not. So, when I came across this cookbook, Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes for preschoolers the other day at the library, it was perfect timing to have this book enter our lives.

Nineteen easy-enough recipes for little hands including Zucchini Moons, Green Spaghetti, Hid and Seek Muffins, Number Salad, and our favorite, Pretend Soup. Within each recipe is a guideline as you would normally see with a note to grown-ups, tips and tricks, and a list of the ingredients and the actual recipe.

 

But when you turn the page, the recipe is transformed into a picture outline that young children can “read” and follow along. Enough so that the grown-up can take a backseat in the process and allow the child to create their own concoctions. There’s so much for a child to gain when they are introduced to cooking: Confidence and the feeling of accomplishment, early math skills, pre-reading skills, small motor skills, science skills, ability to follow directions, food literacy, and creativity. Pretend Soup is the perfect gateway into the art and joy of cooking.

Don’t take my word for it:  “[Pretend Soup is] a fun way to introduce cooking to kids.  It will make them feel capable, confident, responsible.  With younger kids, this is a great bonding activity; and with older kids you can sit back and reap the rewards of meals.” – The Design Tree

Source of book reviewed: My local library!

 

Review: One Came Home

One Came Home

by Amy Timberlake

Find it at: Your library | Amazon | Indiebound

Published: Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House (January 8, 2013)

Recommended reading age: 9 & up

In a nutshell: Okay… I don’t typically include excerpts from books I’m reviewing unless I come along a noteworthy passage that is just too good not to share. This is one of those times. These are the opening lines for One Came Home:

“So it comes to this, I remember thinking on Wednesday, June 7, 1871. The date sticks in my mind because it was the day of my sister’s first funeral and I knew it wasn’t her last —which is why I left. That’s the long and short of it.

But surely, you’d rather hear the long than the short.”

 

With a strong opening like that, I knew this book was going to be a page turner. I was sold from the very beginning.

It’s 1871 in the town of Placid, Wisconsin. Quick-tongued and honest to a fault, Georgie Burkardt has a business savvy way with working the family shop, and is a dead shot with a riffle. Her older sister, the beautiful, wild-at-heart, Agatha, has gone missing and later found dead by the sheriff  in another county. In refusing to accept that the mangled body that was buried was her sisters, Georgie sets out on a quest with Agatha’s old beau, Billy, to learn the truth of Agatha’s disappearance in hopes of finding her alive.

The curious element in this story is Placid is along the route of an enormous pigeon migration. Hundreds of thousands of pigeons. The imagery of this phenomenon in Placid reminds me of what it must have been like when swarms of grasshoppers occupied the plains during The Great Depression. Except this is a swarm of birds, and we all know where there are birds there is a good amount of bird poop. Their appearance is threaded throughout Georgie’s story and what you would think would be a bizarre element, fits seamlessly.

One Came Home will keep you wondering whether Georgie’s sister is truly is six feet under or if there’s a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel. I found myself wavering back and forth throughout the read wondering if Agatha was really dead or not, but in my heart I was rooting for Georgie’s sake that she wasn’t. The most enjoyable part of the book for me was the playful and endearing relationship between Georgie and Billy, as well as the the slight crush Georgie starts to harbor on Billy- which she also curses. Oh, and the horses! But I don’t want to give too much away about that scenerio – You’ll have to experience that for yourself. Pure comical. When I first started writing this review, I wanted to write about how much it reminded me of True Grit, but for young readers, but then I saw BookPage beat me too it when I came across the author’s website. Guess I wasn’t the only one with that reaction. If there was a grit lit genre for kids, file this book amongst the selected titles. It was not an action-packed western (an assumption I had before reading), but the pace was a steady trot, the historical storytelling vibrant, and the stubborn character of Georgie Burkardt unforgettable.

Don’t take my word for it: ” One Came Home is a great historical fiction, with lots of heart and soul poured into the characters. A touching story that really shows a young girl coming into her own as she struggles with loss and embarks on a life-changing adventure.” – review by The Book Monsters

Extras: Learn more about author Amy Timberlake here. There’s also a wonderful interview that goes into the inspiration behind One Came Home on Shelf Elf.

 Source of book reviewed: My local library!

Reading Together

***Reading Together is a sampling of books I’m currently reading aloud to L, my toddler daughter. Since I work in the children’s room of a public library, I’m always bringing home stacks and stacks of books to share together. Old and new. These are our favorites. Some of which have been read over and over and over again…. Times thirty. To the tenth power.***

It’s hard to believe that this series is going to expand beyond the books L and I are reading together to include books that I’ll be reading with her baby sister as well. Until that time comes, here is what we’ve been reading together in no particular order.

What are you reading together with your children/patrons/students? Please share!

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

I remember purchasing Chowder when it first came out and thinking… This illustrator has something. Something special. Years later and a Caldecott Honor under his belt, Peter Brown is turning out terrific picture books.

Night Light by Nicholas Blechman

A counting book about transportation vehicles and how many lights they have when it’s night. Pages flip from night to day. Can you guess which vehicle has 8 lights in the dark?

The Story of Fish and Snail by Deborah Freedman

Deborah Freedman’s latest picture book! A story about friendship and books in the library. There is a lot to love in this sweet and beautifully illustrated book.

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywelt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Duncan’s box of crayons have a bone to pick! He arrives at school to find a stack of letters from each crayon color upset by the way it’s being used. This is a book both kids and adults will find themselves chuckling at.

It’s a Firefly Night by Dianne Ochitree, illustrated by Betsy Snyder

This was a fast favorite of ours over the summer months, especially when the fireflies started to come out at night in mid-June. A sweet, short story about a little girl and her dad who catch fireflies one night.

The Happy Owls by Celestino Piatti

If you aren’t familiar with Celestino Piatti, please check him out. His illustrations are gorgeous. This is one of two children’s books he authored and illustrated. A group of birds cannot seem to understand why the owls are so happy. The key is to revel in the simple things in life.

A Funny Little Bird by Jennifer Yerkes

A little bird that is only visible  because of it’s eye and beak tries to decorate itself with various items in failed attempts to attract friends. But when a hungry fox comes along, this funny little bird learns to embrace it’s unusual characteristic and makes new found friends in the process.

Actual Size by Steve Jenkins

A book about the size difference between various animals. Each illustration is the actual size of the animal or animal part.

Hank Finds an Egg by Rebecca Dudley

A whimsical, wordless picture book. I wrote a full review of this gem here.

Nugget & Fang by Tammi Sauer and Michael Slack

Nugget and Fang are best of friends until Nugget goes to school and learns about a shark’s diet. Fang tries to convince his friend that he isn’t out to eat him in this story of an unlikely friendship.

Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kevin Cornell

The best counting book that has come out all year in my opinion. It’s funny and interactive too!

Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

L is just starting to get into Dr. Seuss books, and this was her gateway read.

What Happens When… Delphine Chedru

The French are so cool; especially French illustrators like Herve Tullet and Delphine Chedru. What happens when a balloon floats up into the sky? Or a sock gets stuck behind the radiator? This book explains it all.

The Moon Jumpers by Janice May Udry, illustrated by Maurice Sendak

Nighttime play before bedtime. This book reminds me of childhood summers. An oldie, but goodie.

Penny and her Marble by Kevin Henkes

L is a fan of Kevin Henkes’ Penny books. This is his latest and by far his best in our opinion.

Monkey Ono by J.C. Phillipps

This story is a whole lot of silly fun! We were sorry to have to return Monkey Ono back to the library. Poor little guy always has ideas that turn into “oh-no’s”!

Jamberry by Bruce Degen

A rhyming good time book with colorful illustrations about a bear, a boy, and lots of berries.

Hello in There by Jo Witek, illustrated by Christine Roussey

A good chunk of new sibling books focus on negative feelings associated with a new baby entering the family. This books talks about a little girl’s excitement towards her new sibling and all the things she is going to teach and show him/her as her mother’s belly grows. It’s a lift-the-flap, too! Within each page the mother’s belly grows, and you can peek inside at quirky illustrations of baby.

Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea

First of all, we really enjoy reading Bob Shea’s books. And this one is pretty much all the awesome and a great way to teach kids about jealousy. The grass always seems greener on the other side, but if you take a look inside you’ll find you don’t have it so bad afterall.

Crictor by Tomi Ungerer

Everyone’s favorite pet snake! A classic about a teacher and her pet boa constrictor.

Silence by Lemniscates

Beautiful Book Alert! The illustrations in this book are lovely and so is the message it carries about listening to the world around you.

Girl with a Gator by Sean Bryan, illustrations by Tom Murphy

L has started telling jokes lately. One of the jokes is: “What’s on your head? A (fill-in-the-blank with something weird, like “Pickle Car”)! Hahahahah!!!” It was time to check out this book anyway, and we have also been reading the companion books: A Boy and His Bunny and a Bear and His Boy.

Murrilla Gorrilla by Jennifer Lloyd, illustrated by Jaqui Lee

A new easy reader series about a silly gorilla detective that isn’t the most observant of detectives. I believe the second book in the series has been published, and another on is on the way.

The Big Balloon Race by Eleanor Coerr, illustrated by Carolyn Croll

Ariel wants to be a famous aeronaut like her mother, and is waiting for her chance to one day travel in a hot air balloon. She finds she gets the opportunity to soon enough when she falls asleep in her mother’s hot air balloon basket the day of a race.

The Black Rabbit by Philippa Leathers

We read a lot of The Black Rabbit over the summer months. A little rabbit wakes up, wanders outside, only to find a big, black rabbit is right behind him. He spends the day trying to escape this monster rabbit.

Once Upon a Northern Night by Jean E. Pendziwol, illustrations by Isabelle Arenault

Beautiful Book Alert, Round 2! The illustrations and prose in this book are stunning. While a child sleeps, a parent paints a picture of the winter’s night. I sobbed when I read the dedication.

When Mermaids Sleep by Ann Bonwill, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher

This was another one of those books we read night after night after night over the summer months. A goodnight lullaby to various mythological creatures. Mermaids, fairies, dragons, oh my!

Little Bear series by Elise Holmelund Minarik, illustrated by Maurice Sendak

I know I’ve talked about reading a few of the books above over and over again, but I think the Little Bear books win the prize for the most read. I haven’t read them for quite some time and am always amazed by how wonderful they are. True treasures of children’s literature. We likey.

What books are you reading together?

Review: Primates

Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas

by Jim Ottaviani & Maris Wicks

Find it at: Your library | Amazon | Indiebound

Published: First Second (June 11, 2013)

Recommended reading age: 11 & up

In a nutshell: Recently I’ve been seeing more and more non-fiction graphic novels pop up on the shelves in the kids room at the library. And for the most part, they have all have been impressive and well executed. I mean really good. Extraordinarily good. I naturally flock towards fantastical graphic novels, but have been amazed by what publishers have been cranking out into this slim genre. My current favorite is Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Gladikas, the true story of the most groundbreaking primate scientists of our time.

Broken into three individual accounts of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Gladikas and a few overlapping scenes with two or all three of the characters together, Primates digs deep into the adventures, the struggles, the observations, and the triumphs of these determined women. All recruited by anthropologist Louis Leakey, not one of the women had backgrounds in their research before they set off in their studies, yet made some of the biggest advances known today of gorillas, orangutangs, and chimpanzees.  They shared a fierce dedication to their craft, were meticulous in their research, and had a whole lot of heart. A truly inspiring book, which after reading kinda makes you feel like you could do almost anything if you put your mind to it. Exactly the kind of book you want to put in the hands of young people.

Don’t take my word for it: “Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas will surely evoke an urge to learn more about these three fascinating women and the primates to whom they devoted their lives.” -review by Shelf-employed

Source of book reviewed: My local library!

image sources: LA Times, Dig Boston

Small Press Stories: Hank Finds an Egg

Hank Finds an Egg

by Rebecca Dudley

**Small Press Stories” on Sturdy for Common Things is a new regular series featuring children’s books from small, independent publishers. They aren’t often on everyone’s radar, so this is my way of giving a shout out to the little dudes.**

Find it at: Your library | Amazon | Indiebound

Published: Peter Pauper Press (June 1, 2013)

Recommended Reading Age: 3 & up

In a nutshell: I have an affinity for the use of diorama’s in children’s books and I wish there were more of them. They tend to be infrequent gems that pop up year to year. Last year, You Are Stardust  was this gem. This summer, when Hank Finds an Egg was released, I whooped for joy as it is yet another gorgeous and whimsical picture book to add to the collection.

Artist Rebecca Dudley has been posting a story in photographs on her blog storywoods for over three years. She builds the dioramas, lights them, and takes the pictures. A one (wo)man band. Her main cast of woodland characters, who look part bear cub and part monkey, include Hank, Skipper, Li’l Smokey, and a few more to boot. She originally self-published a of couple books, Li’l Smokey’s Special Box and Hank Finds an Egg and Makes Several Friends, which are now out of print. Hank Finds an Egg and Makes Several Friends was picked up by Peter Pauper Press, given a breath of new life, and now we have this lovely book:

Entirely wordless, the story all begins when Hank finds an egg  in the forest and makes it his mission to get it back to where it belongs. The effects are truly spectacular. The lighting and construction of each frame is truly spellbinding. We’ve cherished reading this book the entire time it was granted to us from the library. It will be added it to our personal collection ASAP.

Do you have a favorite children’s book that uses diorama? Please share in the comments below!

Don’t take my word for it: “This is a story about the mystery in the everyday, the excitement that can ring through a peaceful nature walk and the sometimes unexpected interplay between living creatures and their environment. ” –  via Pamela Paul, NY Times

Trailer:

Extras: Visit Hank (and friends) on Rebecca Dudley’s blog, storywoods.

Source of book reviewed: My local library!

Quantrill’s Raid Book List for Young Readers

[Also appears on the Lawrence Public Library Children’s Room blog]

There are many things I love about living in Lawrence, Kansas, one being that it is a town rich with history; a history that is celebrated and honored. This August the city of Lawrence is all a buzz for the 150th anniversary of Quantrill’s Raid, the commemoration of a ruthless Civil War raid of the city by confederate guerrilla soldiers that ended with 200 dead Lawrencians and a town left in ashes.

Current residents of Lawrence have a passionate understanding of the border war between Kansas and Missouri, a rivalry that began during the Civil War and lingers in various forms to this very day. It all began when a massive rush of anti-slavery abolitionists from the northeast and pro-slavery settlers moved in on Kansas when the territory opened for settlement in 1854. These mad dashed were efforts to sway whether Kansas would be a free state or a slave state, and thus began the bloody conflict between pro-slavery Border Ruffians and anti-slavery Jayhawkers in the era appropriately titled “Bleeding Kansas”.

Quantrill’s Raid could have been the end of Lawrence, but the young city was determined. Lawrence rose from its ashes and eventually Kansas entered the Union as a Free State in 1861. Today Lawrence is thriving and (is in my opinion) the best college town in the country. I mean… We have the University of Kansas Jayhawks and a freaking phoenix on our city’s seal. How cool is that?

And you don’t have to be an adult to delve into the history behind Quantrill’s Raid or participate the 1863 Commemorate Lawrence activities. Here is a nifty list of books for kids, both fiction and nonfiction, that will take you back to this remarkable time in Lawrence’s history.

Quantrill’s Raid Book List for Young Readers:

John Brown: His Fight for Freedom by John Hendrix

A picture book published on the 150th anniversary of John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, this biography explores the life of one of American history’s most controversial figures. John Brown died before Quantrill’s Raid, but his story gives a great insight of the Bleeding Kansas time period. (Ages 8 & up)

 

Blue Creek Farm by Carrol Thomas

With her mother dead and her brother riding for the Pony Express, Matty must face the dangers of the Civil War alone, on the family farm near Lawrence, Kansas. (Ages 9 & up)

 

Tragic Prelude: Bleeding Kansas by Karen Zeinert

Read the history of Kansas territory as the Civil War approached. Would it enter the union as a free state or a slave state? (Ages 11 & up)

Bleeding Kansas and the Violent Clash Over Slavery in the Heartland by Jeff C. Young

Learn about Kansas and the violence over slavery before and during the Civil War. Easy text and website resources.  (Ages 10 & up)

A Voice for Kanzas by Debra McArthur

Lucy’s family moves to Kansas Territory and into the conflict between proslavery Border Ruffians and anti-slavery Insiders, like her father. See my lovely staff member Miss Linda’s review. (Ages 11 & up)

Lawrence: Survivors of Quantrill’s Raid by Katie H. Armitage

An illustrated history of William Quantrill’s guerrilla raid on abolitionist Lawrence on August 21, 1863, and brief stories of the survivors. (Ages 14 & up)

Be sure to check out the 1863 Commemorate Lawrence website for more information as well as a list of events offered throughout the city. Although this is more of a grown-up event, my personal favorite is the live Twitter reenactment of Quantrill’s Raid on August 21st. If the voices of the past could tweet, what would they say? New characters join the conversation every day leading up the the event. Follow the conversation using the hashtag #QR1863.

Rumors abound that Quantrill will make a full-moon ride into Lawrence. #QR1863

— Mayor Collamore 1863 (@MayorCollamore) August 12, 2013

If you’re interested in going for a historical walk down memory lane, Kansas Travel has a Self-Guided Walking Tour of Quantrill’s Raid which includes a downloadable map and pictures of local landmarks.

 

image sources: Quantrill’s Raid, 1863 Commemorate Lawrence

Review: The Real Boy

The Real Boy

by Anne Ursu

Find it at: Your library | Amazon | Indiebound

Published: Walden Pond Press (September 24, 2013)

Recommended reading age: 8 & up

In a nutshell: I’ve been looking forward to reading The Real Boy all year. I read it back in June and now I’ve dilly-dallied writing this here review. But I’m pleased I did, because it’s provided a lot of time for the story to linger in my mind. Anne Ursu has a way of creating a story that not only sticks to your thoughts, but her innovative and fantastical storytelling grows large enough that it leaves one with the side-effects of daydreaming and wonder.

Oscar is a working boy for one of the most powerful magicians in the Barrow. Antisocial and awkward, Oscar prefers the company of his many cats. His focus is his work of grinding herbs and plants for his Master to sell in his shop to the pockets of needy customers. The Barrow is a forest filled with old and magical trees that at one time used to be living and breathing wizards from days gone. It is also where “the Shining People” of Asteri frequently visit for magical goods. Asteri is a large fortress of a city that was originally a saving grace, imbued with magic to protect the people from a plague epidemic. Now, it is a utopian community of people that are so polished in their clothing and attitude that they literally “shine”.

As we all know, paradise doesn’t last forever. Something unspeakable happens to his Master’s apprentice which launches a sequence of unfortunate events. Oscar and new friend Callie are left to discover the origin of these developments, some of which are linked back as far as the time of the great wizards centuries ago.

Perhaps I’m reading too much into the story, but I found The Real Boy to be one giant metaphor for over consumption. A major theme of the book is the magic of the Barrow and how it has sustained and protected the people of the land since the age of the wizards, the most powerful and wise keepers of the magic. But no one thing is infinite and once it is consumed and eventually mistreated, one has to cope with regrettable results. It is a good reminder that we, too, come from a place that is only able to provide so much. The earth gives us so much beyond our basic sustenance. It is our magic. We must care for it.

I have to admit the ending left me hanging. Every book doesn’t need to conclude with a bright red ribbon tied in a bow. I know this. But I did want a little more. I fear I’ll say too much and spoil it for those that haven’t read the book, but if you have/when you do, I’m interested to know if you feel this way too.

After reading Breadcrumbs and The Real Boy, I can confidently say that Anne Ursu has carved a niche of fantasy prose that is unique all to itself. Rich, transformative, and wondrous. I’ll happily stride right into future worlds her pen creates.

 Don’t take my word for it: “Pick this book up because you love to read beautiful and smart books. Or pick it up because you need a story about friendship and courage. Or truly, pick up The Real Boy because it is a book that should not be missed – this is one to treasure.” – review from Read, Write, Reflect

Extras: Behind the scenes look at the creative process behind cover art for The Real Boy by Erin McGuire via The Nerdy Book Club.

Source of book reviewed: Advanced reader’s copy provided by Walden Pond Press.

Review: Doll Bones

Doll Bones

by Holly Black

Find it at: Your library | Amazon | Indiebound

Published: Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster for Young Readers (May 7, 2013)

Recommended reading age: 9 & up

In a nutshell: I picked up Doll Bones by Holly Black not knowing what to expect and without having any prior knowledge as to what it was about. I’ve seen a few reviews pop-up here and there, but I admit I didn’t read them. Not so much as a skim. Actually, I couldn’t get past the cover and the image of that eerie doll. For awhile, every time I saw it, it would send shivers up my spine.

I prefer to read books this way. Cracking the spine having neither expectations nor any idea what it’s about.

I’ve been terrified to write this review as I don’t want to reveal too much. Now that I’ve read it, when I read synopses online I feel like they reveal too much. So, this is what I’m going to do. In this review, I’m giving you the option to opt out of learning anything more about this book so that you can enjoy it in the same way I did. Diving in unknowingly. If you choose this option, go pick up a copy. It’s spectacular. Holly Black did a masterful job. Doll Bones is as hauntingly beautiful as it is riveting. That’s all you need to know.

STOP READING NOW

For the rest of you folks who like a little insight before you commit to reading a book, or have had the pleasure of reading Doll Bones already, let’s talk.

Zack, Poppy, and Alice are best friends. In most ways they’re like every other middle school-er, little budding identities with their fair share of insecurities- but they also harbor a secret that makes them different for other kids at their school; they still play with toys.

But it’s more than that. They have fabricated an entire fantastical story filled with pirates, thieves, mermaids, and deadly quests, using old Barbies, action figures, and anything else they have accumulated over time. Behind closed doors they become their characters and it was as real to them as anything. Out of all the toy accomplices in their tale, there is one doll they do not play with. Poppy’s mother found an old doll at an estate sale and is convinced it will make her rich one day. Poppy is not permitted to even touch it, but nonetheless the old doll, “the Queen”, made her way into Zach, Poppy, and Alice’s stories.

All is in jeopardy when one day when Zach’s dad decides it’s time for Zach to grow up. Turmoil spawns within the group, and the trio’s story looks to be coming to an abrupt end. That is until Poppy has a startling dream about “the Queen” that launches them into an entirely different story, a real-life quest to put an old ghost to rest.

I’d had an advanced reader’s copy of Doll Bones on my nightstand for a good 5-months before deciding to give it a shot. What took me so long? That freaking doll on the cover; with her droopy, pathetic one-and-a-half-eyed stare. My husband likes to say that I’m “easily affected.” Translation: I’m a wuss. I wanted to read it, but that doll made me nervous. When I was in fourth grade, I went to a friend’s house for a sleepover. She was older than me naturally I thought everything she did was cool. We watched Chuckie that night and I had nightmares for a year. Around that age I also owned quite a few Madame Alexander dolls. They were gifts given at Christmas or on my birthday, but they rarely were played with. They stood on a my dresser in their upright stands and I would faun over them occasionally, but they mostly went untouched. I could barely look at them when the lights went out. I finally decided to give Doll Bones a go when our library received the audiobook version. For some reason that was less intimidating? Once I started listening ,about half-way through the book, I tore through that neglected ARC that has been sitting on my nightstand. While the audiobook version is fantastic, I wasn’t patient enough to listen when I could read the book at twice the speed.

Other than my initial doll phobia, this is a coming-of-age tale really hit home for me. I played with toys throughout middle school and had an extremely hard time giving up my imaginary worlds. Leaving your childhood behind is hard, especially when peers and parents are encouraging you to “just grow up”. The thing I love the most about Zach, Poppy, and Alice’s story is that it tells kids that it’s not all or nothing. You don’t have to leave anything behind. Sure, growing up is a natural part of life, but telling a story is a universal that can be done at any age. And if you are able to create a story with friends, what a valuable and unique experience that is to have.

Holly Black captures the limbo of adolescence perfectly. The prose is pitch-perfect. Evocative, filled with heart, and a dash of ghoul, Doll Bones is easily a best read of the year and one that will delight readers of all ages for many years to come.

Don’t take my word for it: “Creepy and atmospheric, this story has just the right amount of horror mixed in with a good deal of adventure and friendship.” – review from Abby the Librarian

Extras: Visit Holly Black on her website.

Source of book reviewed: Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher AND audiobook from my local library.

Review: Miss Moore Thought Otherwise

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children

by Jan Pinbourogh, illustrated by Debby Atwell

Find it at: Your library | Amazon | Indiebound

Published: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (March 5, 2013)

Recommended reading age: 6 & up

In a nutshell: The plan was to write about this book on Annie Carroll Moore’s birthday yesterday (July 12, 1871), but I’m going to pull a Dunn family tradition of celebrating a birthday the entire week. (We never mean for it to happen that way. It just does.) I couldn’t help myself but reveal many of the beautiful illustrations and tell you a little about Anne Carroll Moore’s story though this gem of a picture book.

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise is a colorful, new nonfiction picture book that celebrates the life of Anne Carroll Moore, one of the most celebrated pioneers of children’s librarianship. Anne Carroll Moore, also known as Annie, was an independent thinker and lover of people from very early on in her life. As a girl, her father read a great deal to her even though it was not thought important for children to read. This was shared notion across the country as libraries did not allow children within the establishment.

In the early part of Miss Moore’s life, she wanted to be a lawyer. But the death of both her parents and her sister-in-law delayed that dream. She stayed with her brother and helped care for his children until he found a wife. When that time came, it was around the same time there was a bigger need for librarians. Annie set off for New York City to study at the Pratt Institute Library  in Brooklyn.

Upon completing her course work libraries were just beginning to allow children in the library – but with restrictions. Children were not allowed to check out books, and they were not allowed to do much of anything upon entering a library. Well, Miss Moore thought otherwise! She took down the silence signs and urged librarians to take time telling children stories and talking with them about books. She also thought children should be able to check out books, so she instituted a pledge that each child would take when checking out a book.

Miss Moore worked at the Pratt library until taking a position at the New York Public Library at the now famous landmark location on 5th ave and 42nd street.  This new library would have a special area entirely devoted to children, so when the library was under construction before it opened in 1911, Miss Moore had special tables and chairs made, chose warm and inviting colors to decorate the room, as well as look for display items such as shells and butterflies. Most importantly, she looked for the best children’s books to put on shelves and in all languages.

My favorite part of this story is the recounting of Miss Moore’s famous doll, Nicholas Knickerbocker, a wooden doll that immigrant children could talk to. Nicholas was a good listener for those ESL students who were shy or embarrassed when learning to speak English.

As a person who has decided to devote herself to being a children’s librarian, this was a story of inspiration and also served as a reminder of the innovative thinking that came from a few spectacular women during the beginning of children’s libraries. These champions of children in the library stepped outside the library’s walls and engaged their communities, promoted the best of children’s literature, created innovative programming, and always put the needs of a child first. Children’s librarians today do just as their predecessors, and are faced with some of the same struggles that those pioneers had to overcome at the turn of the century. Being an proponent for change is one battle that stands out. You have to be an advocate and a person who thinks outside of the box. You have to redefine today for tomorrow’s future, just like Anne Carroll Moore.

Don’t take my word for it: Review from The Nonfiction Detectives.

Extras: If you are interested in this book and the life of Anne Carroll Moore, please check out the Miss Moore Thought Otherwise website which includes a virtual exhibit of Miss Moore’s doll, Nicholas’s Treasures.

There is also a wonderful article written about Anne Carroll Moore featured in The New Yorker.

Source of book reviewed: My local library!

Review: A Tangle of Knots

A Tangle of Knots

by Lisa Graff

Find it at: Your library | Amazon |Indiebound

Published: Philomel, an imprint of Penguin Books for Young Readers (February 5, 2013)

Recommended Reading Age: 8 & up

In a nutshell: Magic, mystery, and… CAKE! A Tangle of Knots is set in a world that seems like the one we live in with one exception; each person harbors a special Talent, an activity or ability that is far superior in one way or another. Cady is an eleven-year-old orphan who has a Talent for baking prize-winning cakes that perfectly match the person the cake is baked for. She has been living at Miss Mallory’s orphanage since she was a baby, watching other orphans come and go. Miss Mallory has a Talent for placing children in homes, but has never seemed to find one for Cady. After a brief turn of events, Cady is placed temporarily with an odd man named Toby who lives in an upstairs bedroom of the town’s Lost Luggage Emporium. There she meets a crew of misfit characters who’s fates have seemed to cross paths and will reveal the mystery of Cady’s history.

A Tangle of Knots has been on my to-read list for awhile. Lucky me, just the other day I was happy to find it available at the library, so I checked it out and was finished reading it within a few days. It’s a very quick read, and one that fans of Savvy would enjoy immensely. Each chapter  is written from a different character’s perspective (and there are a few of them), which in the beginning shows only glimpses of the direction the story is going in. But as the book progresses the plot starts to mesh together and characters that seemed separate at first, come together in a truly original storyline. Plus, since Cady’s talent is baking cakes, the author included a handful of Cady’s recipes. Toby’s (Not Quite Perfect) Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting almost had me drooling on the book. I’m a nut for frosting.

Each character in A Tangle of Knots is a key ingredient that when mixed together makes a delightful tale with many sweet surprises. Graff has crafted a story with all the elements to make a book whimsical, fun, and delectable for all ages.

Don’t take my word for it: “Lisa Graff will charm and delight tween readers in her book A Tangle of Knots.  Graff was able to weave a bit of humor and magic into a tale about fate, talent, and connectivity that will inspire tween readers to ponder what their own special talent could be.” – review from heatherthelibrarybelle

Extras: Test out the recipes included in A Tangle of Knots via Lisa Graff’s website.

Source of book reviewed: Checked out a copy of this title from my local library!