Saturday, April 25, 2009

Books about using the Library & Books Ages 4-8

New to the Franklin County Public Library


"It started the summer of 2002, when the Springfield librarian, Molly McGrew, by mistake drove her bookmobile into the zoo."
In this rollicking rhymed story, Molly introduces birds and beasts to this new something called reading. She finds the perfect book for every animal--tall books for giraffes, tiny ones for crickets. "She even found waterproof books for the otter, who never went swimming without Harry Potter." In no time at all, Molly has them "forsaking their niches, their nests, and their nooks," going "wild, simply wild, about wonderful books." Judy Sierra's funny animal tale coupled with Marc Brown's lush, fanciful paintings will have the same effect on young Homo sapiens. Altogether, it's more fun than a barrel of monkeys!
Wild about Books
By Judy Sierra, Marc Brown
Translated by Marc Brown
Illustrated by Marc Tolon Brown, Marc Brown
Edition: illustrated
Published by Knopf, 2004
ISBN 037582538X, 9780375825385
40 pages Ages 4, 5, 6, 7, 8



Come Along! on a rhyming trip through the library where endearing animals show readers how to quietly select a book that's JUST RIGHT!, using shelf markers and good book care along the way.
We're Going on a Book Hunt
By Pat Miller
Published by UpstartBooks, 2008
ISBN 1602130078, 9781602130074 32 pages
The Library Doors
By Toni Buzzeo
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
Edition: illustrated
Published by Highsmith Inc, 2008
ISBN 160213037X, 9781602130371
32 pages
These are available from Highsmith Upstart Books

A lion starts visiting the local library but runs into trouble as he tries to both obey the rules and help his librarian friend.
Library Lion
By Michelle Knudsen, Kevin Hawkes
Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Edition: illustrated
Published by Candlewick Press, 2006
ISBN 0763622621, 9780763622626
42 pages
Knudsen and Hawkes pick a perfect ...
... setting to express the idea that breaking rules can sometimes be a good thing. When a lion wanders into a small town public library the Head Librarian, Miss Merriweather, brushes off the protestations of her realistically officious colleague Mr. McBee and allows it to stay—so long as it keeps quiet, doesn't run and makes itself useful cleaning books and licking envelopes while waiting for storytime to begin. Anxious-looking patrons of all ages quickly become accepting ones in Hawkes's soft toned watercolors, and if Miss Merriweather's hair and dress seem a bit stereotypical, occasional CRT monitors balance glimpses of rubber date stamps and a card catalog in his gracious, old style interiors. When Miss Merriweather takes a fall, the lion roars to attract help, then slinks out in shame—but McBee redeems himself by bustling out into the rain to inform the offender that Exceptions to the Rules are sometimes allowed. Consider this a less prescriptive alternative to Eric A. Kimmel's I Took My Frog to the Library (1990), illustrated by Blanche Sims—and it doesn't hurt that the maned visitor is as huge and friendly looking as the one in James Daugherty's classic Andy and the Lion. (Picture book. 6, 7, 8)
Kirkus Reviews Copyright (c) VNU Business Media, Inc.
PreS-Gr 2, Ages 4, 5, 6, 7 -Miss Merriweather, head ...
... librarian and decorum-keeper, first meets Lion when he saunters past his stone counterparts and into the stacks. Scowling circulation assistant Mr. McBee seems intent on having the enormous cat ejected, but his boss declares that as long as he breaks no rules, he is welcome. The beast does misbehave though, roaring loud displeasure when storytime ends. At Miss Merriweather's reprimand, the contrite-looking lion promises to reform. In fact, he becomes something of a fixture in the building, dusting with his tail, licking envelopes, and serving as a stepstool for small patrons. Everyone appreciates him-except Mr. McBee. When Lion lets out another tremendous "RAAAHHHRRR!," the man bursts into Miss Merriweather's office to snitch-and there he finds her in distress, having fallen from a stool and broken her arm. Lion, la Lassie, has saved the day, but he is so chagrined by his own rule-breaking behavior that he doesn't return to the library. People miss him. Even Mr. McBee. A feel-good ending and a reminder that "Sometimes, there is a good reason to break the rules" bring the story to its most-satisfactory conclusion. Hawkes's deft acrylic-and-pencil pictures have appeal for generations of library lovers. They are rich with expression, movement, and detail. The lordly, lovable lion is a masterful mix-regal beast and furry friend-and the many human characters are drawn with animation and emotion. This winsome pairing of text and illustration is a natural for storytime and a first purchase for every collection.-Kathy Krasniewicz, Perrot Library, Old Greenwich, CT




Friday, April 24, 2009

Cool Chameleons! Ages 4-8


This informative nonfiction book features a variety of interesting reptiles--including the Panther chameleon, Senegal chameleon, Mountain chameleon, and much more! This Level 2 Hello Reader! Science title tells how chameleons grow, where they live, what they eat, and how they survive in easy-to-understand language. The book also includes a complete colorful index that labels every chameleon shown in the book--a great resource for curious minds!
Cool Chameleons
By Fay Robinson
Illustrated by Jean Cassels
Edition: illustrated
Published by Scholastic, 2002
ISBN 0439330149, 9780439330145
32 pages Ages 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Starry Messenger Ages 6 - 12

"If they had seen what we see, they would have judged as we judge." -- Galileo Galilei
In every age there are courageous people who break with tradition to explore new ideas and challenge accepted truths. Galileo Galilei was just such a man--a genius--and the first to turn the telescope to the skies to map the heavens. In doing so, he offered objective evidence that the earth was not the fixed center of the universe but that it and all the other planets revolved around the sun. Galileo kept careful notes and made beautiful drawings of all that he observed. Through his telescope he brought the starts down to earth for everyone to see.

By changing the way people saw the galaxy, Galileo was also changing the way they saw themselves and their place in the universe. This was very exciting, but to some to some it was deeply disturbing. Galileo has upset the harmonious view of heaven and earth that had been accepted since ancient times. He had turned the world upside down.

In this amazing new book, Peter Sís employs the artist's lens to give us an extraordinary view of the life of Galileo Galilei. Sís tells his story in language as simple as a fairy tale, in pictures as rich and tightly woven as a tapestry, and in Galileo's own words, written more than 350 years ago and still resonant with truth.
Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei
By Peter Sis
Illustrated by Peter Sis
Edition: reprint, illustrated
Published by Farrar Straus Giroux, 2000
ISBN 0374470278, 9780374470272
40 pages
From Publishers Weekly
Extraordinary pictures light up this tribute to Galileo, telling the story of his discoveries, rise to prominence and excoriation by the Church. Sis (Follow the Dream), an experienced and sophisticated chronicler of history's visionaries, outdoes himself with his illustrations. Detailed and delicate, ingeniously conceived, his paintings convey abstractions with an immediate impact. The artist expresses the simultaneous wonder and prevision of Galileo's celestial observations, for example, in a luminous multipaneled composition: in the center, Galileo trains his telescope on the moon; surrounding panels replicate Galileo's notes about and sketches of the lunar surface. Other paintings take inspiration from contemporaneous maps and treatises; still others borrow historical imagery to convey the loneliness of the censored scientist. Handwritten passages from Galileo's own works embellish the pages and supply information missing from the text. Even with the powerful art, however, this volume does not open up Galileo's story to the uninitiated: the brief text oversimplifies the issues, even for a picture book, and seems to presume the reader's awareness of the historical significance of Galileo's struggles. While the book's usefulness may be limited, its strengths are not: it is a book with deep if not broad appeal. Ages 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Greg Hildebrandt's Book of Three-dimensional Dragons Ages 9-12, YA, Adult

Filled with dragon lore, this oversized pop-up fantasy book explores the mystical and frightening worlds of the Chinese Dragon, the Amphiptere, the Lindworm, the dreaded Wyvern, and the famous Dragon of Saint George.
Greg Hildebrandt's Book of Three-dimensional Dragons
By Greg Hildebrandt, Keith Moseley, Gail Peterson
Illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt, Keith Moseley
From Publishers Weekly
Greg Hildebrandt's Book of Three-Dimensional Dragons (Little, Brown, $18.95, 10p, all ages ISBN 0-316-15240-4) presents five striking pop-ups of fantastical creatures, each set against a lushly illustrated backdrop and accompanied by a description of the beast. Of the Wyvern, for example, Hildebrandt observes: "Savage claws armed its wing joints, and its weight can only be guessed at."
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-7 Ages 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Bone-crunching and brimstone-belching dragons have captured the popular imagination for more than a millennium. So, logically, a collection of 3-D dragons from Hildebrandt should be a sure thing. And it is. This large-format picture book features five quasi-historical creatures: Wyvern, Amphiptere, Lindworm, the dragon slain by St. George, and a Chinese dragon that delightfully pop up and jump off the pages. Dragons is great for classroom or story-time reading; the figures are well engineered, colorful, and large (the Chinese dragon measures 27 inches from crest to tail). Peterson occasionally alludes to some real people and events?Marco Polo is said to have confronted Lindworms on his travels, but, mainly, these brief introductions to dragon lore should lure readers to explore the fascinating genre further. John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TX
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Renaissance Unit: Castles, Kings, Queens, Knights, Princesses. Dragons










FCPL = Franklin County Public Libraries; WCPL = Wake County Public Libraries
1-2-3 Draw Knights, Castles, and Dragons FCPL
Biltmore Estate
Castle by David Macaulay WCPL
Creating Clever Castles & Cars from Boxes and Other Stuff Kids ages 3-8 make their own pretend-play spaces by Mari Rutz Mitchell, Illustrations by Michael Kline WCPL
The Fairy Tale Catalog
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village book and 2 CDs, Grades 4-8, Ages 10-14 Google Books Amazon Table of Contents WCPL
Greg Hildebrandt's Book of Three-Dimensional Dragons
I Wonder Why Castles Had Moats and Other Questions About Long Ago
Kids Draw Knights, Kings, Queens & Dragons FCPL
The King's Commissioners
King Midas and The Emperor's New Clothes
Knights and Castles Things to Make and Do
The Knight with the Lion: The Story of Yvain
The Middle Ages Read Aloud Plays: 8 Short Plays for the Classroom with Background Information, Writing Prompts, and Creative Activities by Jeannette Sanderson Grades 4-8 WCPL
My Princess Craft Book Sue Hunter-Jones
A Practical Guide to Dragon Riding
Princess Coloring and Activity Book
The Princess Knight
The Princess Mouse: A Tale of Finland READERS THEATER ONLINE AGES 8-12
Princess Prunella and the Purple Peanut
Princess Smartypants
Princess Things to Make and Do
Renaissance Eyewitness Books: Discover the world of the Reaissance - an age of creativity, experimentation, and discovery. by Andrew Langley WCPL
Robin Hood Timeless Classic Stories for Today DK
The Royal Nap
St. George and the Dragon from The Children's Book of Virtues
The Sea King's Daughter: A Russian Legend READERS THEATER ONLINE AGES 10+
PROPS:
Princess Canvas
Royal Coach Picture

Drawing and Paper Crafts Unit

1-2-3 Draw Knights, Castles, and Dragons
The 3-D Paper Book: Fun things to Make and Do with Paper
Collage Unleashed
Doodle a Zoodle: A Step-by-Step Drawing Book by Deborah Zemke FCPL
Drawing Fun! Things that Go: From Cars & Trains to Boats & Planes
How to Draw and Paint People
How to Draw Speed Machines
How to Make Pop-Ups by Joan Irvine FCPL
I Can Draw Wild Animals
Kids Draw Knights, Kings, Queens & Dragons
Origami: The Art & Fun of Japanese Paper Folding
Papercrafts and Origami
The Shrinky Dinks Book
Sketching Outdoors in Summer by Jim Arnosky FCPL
Sketching Outdoors in Winter FCPL

Spot What! Ages 4-8

"A picture tells a thousand words ... can you spot a ball and a bird? Find a clock, a fish, a hook ... picture challenge fills this book"--Cover.
Spot What!
By Nick Bryant, Rowan Summers
Published by Lemon Drop Press, 2001
ISBN 0439357578, 9780439357579
Ages 4, 5, 6, 7, 8


Not every book is quite the same,
And this one here is more a game,
A picture hunt that's lots of fun,
A game that's great for everyone.
The pictures are of different kinds,
And full of many things to find.
You start the search with a clue,
But after that it's up to you,
There's a challenge here for everyone,
When finished you have just begun,
As once you're through and have the lot,
You can start again to play Spot What!