Pantone Color Cards - GIFT

Pantone Color Cards: 18 oversized flash cards.  FLASH CARDS.  Abrams Appleseed, 2013.  $15.  Content: G.  Each jumbo-sized flash card comes with the official Pantone color number, a fanciful name and a matching game on the flip side.  Strong enough to chew on, any designer parent will be happy to own these beautiful cards.  They’d make a very nice gift for a baby-to-be.  GIFT – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

The Ghastly Dandies do the Classics by Ben Gibson - ADVISABLE

Gibson, Ben The Ghastly Dandies do the Classics.  Razorbill (Penguin), 2013.  $18.  PICTURE BOOK.  

Don’t expect to read this hilarious takes on the classics, as performed by monsters, and understand the plots of the different books.  Instead, be charmed by the illustrations and laugh at their antics.  This might be a funny book for some littles, but this is a perfect graduation or celebration present for your favorite English Lit grad or Language Arts teacher.  

EL – OPTIONAL; GIFT – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher.

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise by Jan Pinborough - ESSENTIAL

Pinborough, Jan Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children, illustrated by Debby Atwell.  Houghton, 2013.  $17.  PICTURE BOOK.  NONFICTION.  Content: G. 

 Modern children would probably be surprised to learn that there was a time when children weren’t allowed to checkout books from the library.  Miss Moore’s story is indicative of the pioneering work done by women around the country to bring libraries to children by building their collections and making special rooms just for them to read, listen and enjoy.  She and these other woman did herculean work to bring the importance of children’s librarianship to the attention of the world.  While this book is of particular interest to librarians, of course, it is also a very excellent opportunity for a lesson.  

EL (K-3)  - ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, School Day Math by McGrath - ADVISABLE

McGrath, Barbara Barbieri Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, School Day Math.  Charlesbridge, 2012, $7.95.  PICTURE BOOK. Content: G.  

The Teddy Bears are busy doing math.  Simple pattern recognition and predicting, grouping, weighing and even fractions are included in a very quick, limited manner.  While you couldn’t use this book to actually teach any of these concepts, it is a very quick introduction or review.  

I gave this to one of my math teachers at my middle school and she is adamant that we keep it here in our library for her to use every year – her kids enjoyed it that much.  This would make a fun gift for a math teacher, too.   

EL – ADVISABLE; MS, GIFT – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

An Awesome Book of Love by Dallas Clayton –GIFT

Clayton, Dallas An Awesome Book of Love 56 pgs. HarperCollins, 2012. $12.98.  Content: Language: G (0 swears);  Mature Content: G ;  Violence: G.

An illustrated poem about love, starting out with all the differences that things apart, how much one can love, what love means, and more. Its really hard to describe the quirky lyrical style of this author.

I really like this author’s books, I think he has a unique perspective and style! I read another of his books, An Awesome book, to almost all of the elementary students at my school to inspire them, but this one is a bit different. Its more like a speech you would give to someone you, yourself are in love with. I think students will be squeamish about the repeated “I love you’s”, then miss some of the more amazing subtle points (Such as “letting go when you want to hold on”). Give this as a gift!

GIFT Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Where’s Daddy’s Hair? By Matthew Allred –ADVISABLE

Allred, Matthew and Illustrated by Okamoto, Keiichiro Where’s Daddy’s Hair? 27 pgs. mha publishing;, 2013. $9.95.  Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G ;  Violence: G.

An adorable little boy is very worried about his dad’s lack of hair, where did it go?! He knows that other daddy’s have hair of every kind, but not his dad. So his mom sits down and explains to him, with examples, that each time his dad did a good deed, one hair left.

I won’t spoil the ending, but it’s downright touching. The story has a nice lyrical flow and compliments the illustrations nicely. I admit to being pretty curious myself, where did it all go!? Did I mention the illustrations? They are fantastic, like watching an anime movie, presenting as both fresh and current. This book would make a fun addition to a father’s day collection or as a gift.

Pre-K, EL- ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author

I Haiku You by Betsy Snyder –ADVISABLE

Snyder, Betsy I Haiku You 32 pgs. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2012. $9.99.  (Rating: G)

A collection of Haiku poems about love. From the love of friends, parent and child, and the love dogs have for their people.

This was an ADORABLE gift worthy little book. The illustrations are unique and just downright cozy. The poetry is so sweet and perfect. I think students will find the Haiku in this book extremely easy to understand and relate to, they might not even realize they are reading poetry! 

EL –ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Children’s Book-a-Day Almanac by Anita Silvey - ADVISABLE

Silvey, Anita Children’s Book-a-Day Almanac, 366 p. Roaring Book Press, 2012.  $20.  Content: G.  

Anita Silvey is my new hero.  The next time I am at ALA Annual, I am going to have to hunt her down and kiss her feet.  Or maybe I can just restrain myself to a heartfelt message of admiration.  Maybe.  She has a gorgeous book that not only tells you a few significant happenings, like any almanac does, but she also has written a thoughtful essay about a book or a series – EVERY SINGLE DAY since October 2010.  This particular book is a compilation of all of the essays for 2011.  Yes, I know you could go read it all on the website (http://childrensbookalmanac.com/), but I think I will have to buy the book every single year (hopefully), because I really want to own these essays, not just read them once.  What a GREAT gift for a librarians, children’s teacher, book enthusiast!  

GIFT – ADVISABLE. 

Show Me a Story! by Leonard Marcus - OPTIONAL

Marcus, Leonard S.  Show Me a Story! Why Picture Books Matter: Conversations with 21 of the world’s most celebrated illustrators, 293 p. Candlewick, 2012.  $23.  Content: G.  NON-FICTION.  

For teavhers, librarians and lovers of picture books who want to know about the history’s career paths and inner workings of the minds of these particular illustrators, there is much information to be gleaned from its pages.  Anyone else – not particularly.  I was hoping it was more a look at the role of the picture book and picture book art in general, but there isn’t even enough here for a student to write a biography from its pages.  Great gift idea, though, for a very particular clientele.  

GIFT – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher

Glamorous Glasses by Barbara Newman - OPTIONAL

Newman, Barbara Johansen Glamorous Glasses.  Boyds Mill Press, 2012.  $17.  Content: G.  PICTURE BOOK.  

Bobbie's best friend Joanie needs glasses and Bobbie is a little jealous.  She pretends that she needs glasses and even exchanges her purse for Joanie's glasses, but both girls realize that they might need just what they have.  

If you are married to an optometrist, as I am, you will probably buy this book for him to put in his office waiting room.  And if you are an elementary librarian you probably need this book to convince all those new glasses wearers at your school that they really are a good thing!  

EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher.

The Toy Story Films by Charles Solomon - ADVISABLE

Solomon, Charles The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey, 185 p. Disney Editions, 2012.  $60.  

With the first little tests in the 1980's to the third Toy Story movie in 2010, the story of computer animation is as much the story of John Lassiter, Pixar and Disney as it is the story of our love affair with Woody and his friends.  Gorgeous drawings and photographs combined with extensive text give a rich picture of the films.  And who didn't cling to their seat in the theater in #3 when the toys were headed to the fire???  It is an expensive book, but well worth every penny.  I you have any kind of graphics class or film-making, this would be a great addition.  And of course kids are going to pick it up just for fun.  

MS, HS - OPTIONAL, GIFT - ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher