Author Archives: Candy Ranney

About Candy Ranney

Candy is an elementary school librarian in Shelton, WA at the school where she was a student (so many years ago!). Her library is unique in that she brings her background and love of biology to her students in many ways. Not only does she have an awesome selection of science books; she also has a beaver, bobcat and mink sitting on her shelves and a variety of jarred specimens for her students to study. When she's not in the library, she is taking care of her baby trees on her tree farm and hanging out with her family and many pets. * 2025 WA Library Association School Librarian of the Year

Firefighter Heroes Book Set

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by Spencer Brinker

Do you need to update your community helpers section of your library? This four book set geared toward your youngest learners is perfect! Each of the four books focuses on a different type of firefighter. Titles include: Smoke Jumpers, Firefighters on the Water, Airport Firefighters and City Firefighters.

Simple text and exciting photos that illustrate each firefighter’s type of job in an emergency situation are very engaging. For example, Smoke Jumpers starts with a forest fire scenario and moves through the course of fighting the fire, showing equipment and the work of the smoke jumpers.

There are several important nonfiction text features in these books. A basic table of contents and index show the book’s organization for young readers. Headings are clearly identifiable and students can easily find the sections they want. Unfamiliar words are in bold type and defined in the glossary. Each two page spread has a short passage and large photo that illustrates the text. Many of the photos are labeled to further note the important details. Additional exploration is possible with suggested books and webpages noted at the end.

These books are a well-organized and appealing introduction to different firefighting jobs and a sound purchase for those libraries looking to update their collection. Teachers will appreciate the many nonfiction text features. Students will love these books, because they are exciting and fresh, with many different types of people doing jobs that kids might want to do in the future Highly recommended.

Torque: Music Superstars series

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18 book series written by Ariel Factor Birdoff (11) and Suzane Nguyen (7)

This engaging high-low series is full of facts and photos of today’s most popular musical superstars and will entice even the most reluctant reader. Each book follows the childhood and career of a singer or songwriter in short, accessible text blocks and color photos. Titles and subtitles are large enough to draw attention immediately to the topic addressed. Abundant illustrations are explained in the accompanying captions. Highlights of the musicians’ careers, including favorites (foods, shows, pets, etc.) and top hits are located throughout each book in sidebars. A timeline of the stars’ careers begins with their start in the industry and typically includes song releases, awards and big events. And, awards are also shown in a simple table. Bold words within the text help readers determine context within the text and are further defined in the glossary at the end. A Table of Contents and Index are helpful for organization and students will enjoy learning more from the resources listed on the “To Learn More” page.

These slim books will fly off the shelves in your library as they pack a lot of information in a very accessible and highly engaging format. Biographies of contemporary musical artists are immensely popular and students will be very motivated to read them. Students will love the content and teachers will love the clearly presented nonfiction text features. These books are highly recommended and will be great additions in an updated biography section at the elementary and middle school levels.

Catnip Mouse

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by A.J. Smith

Vera, (the cat) is playing contentedly alone with her catnip mouse and Gipp (the dog) is sneakily watching her. She notices and calls him out. He asks her to play and she makes it clear that she was playing alone. He doesn’t take no for an answer and waves around his wand (stick) which he swings around and accidentally breaks Vera’s catnip mouse. While trying to make things better, he comes up with some hilarious alliterations while trying to say ‘catnip mouse’. All of this is not hilarious to Vera, who walks away and Gipp sits dejectedly by a tree. Fortunately, Vera can’t stay angry at her friend for long and they apologize to each other. They get another magic wand (stick) and create even more silly word combos together – friendship fixed.

The boldly drawn characters are comic-like with word bubbles telling the story as a dialogue and their facial expressions helping to show their feelings. Their silly word play is illustrated along the way – envision a cattle blouse or massive louse! Endpapers hint at the storyline, with Vera playing alone with her catnip mouse (Gipp hiding in the background) at the front and both playing together happily at the end.

This is a very sweet and silly story about aspects of friendship. Sometimes, a friend just wants some alone time and it’s ok. Communication and empathy are part of being a good friend. Great for SEL discussions. Recommended.

Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat

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by Julien Chung

A, B, C and all the rest are together again in a Halloween story based on the original “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault. The alphabet is climbing a creaky tree and ready for Halloween with costumes, spider webs and pumpkins. They fall to the ground when a ghost shouts “Boo”, who then encourages them to come back up. They climb again and the story ends with “Chicka chicka tricks treat. Everybody – time to eat!”.

Colorful illustrations and catchy phrases will entice young readers to delve further into this amusing story. They will enjoy the extra fun of looking for the Halloween elements throughout the book. Each letter is ‘costumed’ in some way and there are spiderwebs, pumpkins and ghosts along the way. Recommended.

A Place For Us

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by James E. Ransome

A wordless picture book about a mother and son, who live with the reality of homelessness. The story begins with a mother waiting for her son outside his school, one of the many parents standing near the school. They walk to a fast food restaurant for dinner and then to the library, where the boy completes his homework as his mother reads a book. They leave as the librarian closes up and end at a bench to settle in for the night. The boy lays his head on his mother’s lap and sleeps while she watches over him protectively. The morning comes, he changes his shirt and brushes his teeth at a park fountain and they head to school for another day.

This beautifully illustrated book uses the power of pictures to tell a painful story. A loving mother that will maintain some sense of normalcy for her child in the harsh reality of homelessness that strikes a vast number (any number is too many) of people in the United States. An even larger group is the rather cliched “one paycheck away” from the same fate. A note from the author at the beginning of the story relates the intent of this book – to encourage thought and discussion about our responsibility to those that don’t have even the basic necessities. This book will certainly do just that. And, the youngest of readers will be able to reflect as a result.

An Abundance of Light: A Story of Matisse in Morocco

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by Lauren Stringer

Matisse is weighed down by the drab dreariness of a grey, wet French day. He can’t see the light and, therefore, can’t paint. A friend suggests a trip to Morocco, where the light is beautiful and bright. Unfortunately, he arrives to more drab, dreary weather and feels trapped by it all. He awakens one morning to the bright light and colors he needed. He sketched and painted and the colors were glorious. Interestingly, he realized that so many of the colors around him in Morocco reminded him of home. He packed up his completed paintings and sketches an returned to France, where he continued to create and remember the vivid colors of Morocco even when it was drab and dreary outside.

This story of Matisse is well told in accessible language and beautiful accompanying illustrations that lead the reader to feel the a hint of the weight of darkness and grey and the burst of light and color that Matisse must have felt. In these illustrations, he is as grey and drab as his surroundings and becomes as colorful as his new environment in Morocco. Upon his return to France, he remains colorful amid the the grayness, still painting his beautifully colorful pieces. The illustrations tell the story alongside the written words.

More information is given about the artist at the end. The endpapers at the back of the book define unfamiliar words for the reader and are accompanied by colorful drawings.

This book is a wonderful addition to your biography section, especially if you are in need of books about the Arts. It won’t disappoint!

School’s in Session

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Written by Elizabeth Dennis and illustrated by Clarice Elliott

How do kids around the world go to school? What do they do when they get there? These questions and more are answered in this Ready-to-Read (level 2) book. Three short chapters the daily lives of school children worldwide. Chapter one shares kids walking, riding bikes, gondolas, boats, trains and buses and even a snow machine to school. Chapter two talks about what school looks like, i.e. where it’s held and who is there. Chapter three is about lunch, recess, homework and school day length. In the end, it’s noted that whatever school looks like around the world, it’s still kids learning just like the reader. A map and added activity (create your own school) are nice extras.

Three simple chapters have longer sentences and color illustrations. High interest vocabulary and unfamiliar words are bolded with pronunciation in parentheses. Characters are diverse and the schools span the world, giving a nice global perspective that is not Eurocentric. This interesting book will be a great addition to your library and a nice opening book for the new school year. Highly recommended.

Central Park Ghost

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Written by Ellen Potter and illustrated by Sara Cristofori

Cordelia and Isaac receive a message via carrier pigeon from their friend, Fenton (a rat), asking for their help in Central Park Zoo. A mysterious creature is scaring the animals. This time, the sea lions saw the scary creature with glowing white eyes and the with pointy ears and a bushy tail. Cordelia offers to catch it. They meet Viola, the Central Park Zoo groundskeeper , and tell her all about it. She solves part of the mystery by telling them that the sea lions must have seen a coyote, the same one that has been spotted all around Central Park. She also shares that it is lonely, because it doesn’t have a pack. Cordelia and Isaac vow to help. They want to question other animals and decide to enlist Fenton’s help asking the dogs in Central Park if they know anything. After all, Fenton know s how to speak dog language. Princess Cha-Cha leads them to the coyote’s den after Fenton helps her dodge her owner by being chased by other dogs. They locate the coyote, named Ghost, and decide that the best way to help him find his pack is to take him to Viola. How to do that? Dress him up in Princess Cha-Cha’s spaghetti and meatball outfit and join a parade with dogs and baseball players. All goes well until the dogs realize that Ghost is a coyote and things get a dicey. Cordelia asks the dogs (through Fenton) to help Ghost find his pack – first, by protecting him from an approaching dog catcher. The dogs rally round Ghost and chase the dog catcher away and the parade resumes. Cordelia, Isaac, Fenton and Ghost finally make their way to Viola, who promises to help Ghost and plans to take him to a wildlife rehabilitation center where he can get the help he needs.

Cordelia, Isaac and Fenton end the day in the tree house in Central Park for a sleepover. Shakespeare, the squirrel, tucks them in and Cordelia thinks about her next adventures, knowing that wherever they take her, she’ll always come home to Central Park and the Squirrel that raised her.

This sweet story is the third in a series, Squirlish, about an intriguing young girl that lives in Central Park, knows squirrel language and helps her animal friends whenever they ask. This is a great book for younger readers that are moving into chapter books that are a little longer. Black and white illustrations are scattered throughout the story and chapters are short. Kids will love that Cordelia is not only a friend to animals, she can also speak to some of them! How cool is that? Add this to your library. It won’t stay on the shelves very long. Highly recommended.

Alpacas Here, Alapacas There

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Written by Carrie Tillotson and illustrated by Elisa Chavarri

Everything a young reader would want to know is packed into this picture book! Simple, rhyming text winds through the pages of alpacas in both Peru and North America. Denser informative text blocks run along the bottom of the right page (recto) of each two page spread. The end of the book includes a glossary, author and artist notes, select sources and more about the alpacas (including their origin as domesticated animals in both areas).

This highly informative book takes a different approach than the typical nonfiction book for younger readers. It can be read as a simple story or a reader can delve much more deeply into the facts about this prized camelid. The accompanying illustrations are vibrant and bold and culturally appropriate.

There is much to learn about alpacas and this book takes on the topic in a unique and playful way. Readers won’t even realize how much they are learning until they reach the end of the book! Recommended.

Qué es un poema?

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Written and illustrated by Jovi de la Jara

What is a poem? This question is answered, first in Spanish and then in English. Short, playful text tells us the many things a poem can be. In the end, we see that a poem can really be anything. As the author notes, “A poem is a mirror inside your head”.

Black line illustrations on a vast white background playfully draw the reader along through the pages. They add to the whimsy of the words and together open a world of creative thought. Recommended.