Mostly Picture Books – Post 10

	Kali’s Song written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter”Thousands and thousands of years ago…a boy named Kali put down his arrows and plucked the string of his bow…” — front flap.

Every January, the American Library Association presents an award to the “most distinguished American picture book for children” – the Caldecott Medal. And every year, we like to seek out books that meet the criteria for this award. It is a GREAT way to learn about some of the newest and best picture books for children.

On Mondays, look for posts on this blog that highlight some of the picture books we’ve discovered.   We are maintaining an entire list of all the titles posted this year, click here to see it!

If you have thoughts to share about any of the books, feel free to do so in the comments field below. In addition, if you would like to suggest a title, please email.

17 Days Until the Kids’ Summer Reading Program Starts!!

If you’ve been reading this blog you already know about the three super gifts that we have to give you to congratulate you for keeping up with your reading for fun this summer.  Let’s review!  After you sign up for the ACPL Summer Reading Program, beginning June 4, keep track of your reading minutes on the log we give you and you will receive:

• A green, bouncy, jiggly, wiggly S-P-L-A-T ball (or a sippy cup)
• A very cool-looking backpack book bag — bright blue for you
• Your very own book-to-keep-forever-and-ever

Are those the only things you have a chance to receive for your efforts this summer?  No, of course not. You will also receive these things:

• Stories to play with in your imagination because you read or listened to books!
• Information about things you learned this summer because you read about it!
• Experiences that you won’t forget because you came to the cool programs we have planned
• The fun of sharing a story you wrote, art you created, or your own personal book review on our website (and for that there is also a chance that we’ll draw your name after the program ends at 6 p.m., July 27, and ask you to come to the library to pick up one of two Kindle Fire Tablets we’ll be giving away).

It’s going to be awesome!

June 4 through July 27 at all Allen County Public Library locations.

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

Pet the Cat is a new favorite here at my branch, Shawnee. His new book, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, is the third in the series. His illustrator, James Dean, has a real cat who is named Pete. All of the Pete books are songs written by Eric Litwin. You can read the book or you can sing the book! How fun!

Here are all the Pete titles:

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

Pete is published by HarperCollins. Pete has his own site on their page. There you will find the songs, coloring pages, games, and more! It’s all good! http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/feature/petethecat/

Princess Party

Look at these lovely princesses having a party last Wednesday at the Woodburn Branch Library!

New Ladybug Girl Book

The latest Ladybug Girl book is Ladybug Girl and Bingo by David Soman and Jacky Davis.  The illustrations are done with watercolors and gouache.  Gouache is a paint similar to watercolors, but it is very opaque, not a shiny paint.  The illustrations look like they have some black ink as well.

The art in the pictures is a pleasing combination of details and watercolor washes with muted colors. I especially like the full-page spread of the family in the canoe on the lake and the next page where we see Lulu and her brother peering over the canoe into the water. The page where the family is around the campfire is delightful also.

The Ladybug Girl series contains entertaining stories about Lulu (or Ladybug Girl) and her family.  Her adventures include going to the beach, playing with friends, and going camping.  Lulu is a preschooler and is just learning how to get along with others, stretch her imagination, and be responsible.

The Ladybug Girl books are good to read together as a family, or one-on-one with parent and child.  I would also use them in my storytime for preschoolers.  There is always a lesson to learn and the adventures are lively.

Try the Ladybug Girl Website .  There are rocks to paint, costumes to try on, and a leaf catching game.

Don’t forget to stop by your library and check-out a Ladybug Girl book!

Terrific and True New Books-Post 7

	Minette’s Fest: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat by Susanna Reich; Illustrated by Amy BatesMinette’s Feast capture Julia Child’s transformation into America’s most iconic chef through the tale of her beloved Parisian cat.  In some of Julia Child’s own words, Minette’s lively story is as large and rich as her appetite.
	Here Come the Girl Scouts! The Amazing, All-True Story of Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low and Her Great Adventure  by Shana Corey; Illustrated by Hadley Hooper Juliette gordon Low –Daisy to her friends–was not like Daisy loved the outdoors and she yearned for adventure!  Combining her ancestor’s passion for service with her own adventurous spirit and her belief that girls could do anything, she founded the Girl Scouts.
	Brothers at Bat:  The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team by Audrey Vernick; Illustrated by Steven SalernoThe Acerra family had sixteen children.  Twelve of them were boys, and they all played baseball.  It was the 1930s, and many families had lots of kids.  But only one had enough to field a baseball team…with three on the bench!  The Acerras loved the game, but more important, they cared for one another and stayed together as a team.

Every January, the American Library Association presents an award to the author and illustrator of “most distinguished informational book”– the Sibert Medal. And every year, we like to seek out books that meet the criteria for this award.

On Monday evenings, look for posts on this blog that highlight some of the newly published children’s & YA books we’ve discovered . If you have thoughts to share about any of the books or have a title to suggest, please feel free to do so in the comments field.

Mostly Chapter Books – Post 10

	The Case of the Deadly Desperados by Caroline Lawrence	Subject: In 1862 Nevada Territory, after finding his foster parents murdered and scalped, twelve-year-old Pinky Pinkerton, son of a railroad detective and a Sioux Indian, inherits a valuable deed and must hide from dangerous Whittlin Walt and his gang of desperados.

Every January, the American Library Association presents an award to the author of “the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children”– the Newbery Medal. And every year, we like to seek out books that meet the criteria for this award. It is a GREAT way to learn about some of the newest and best literature for children through age fourteen.

On Mondays at Noon, look for posts on this blog that highlight some of the newly published “Mostly Chapter Books” for children & young adults through age 14 which we’ve discovered. We are maintaining an entire list of all the titles posted this year, click here to see it!

Let us know what you think of these great new 2012 titles in the comments below. In addition, if you would like to suggest a title, please email us.