When Bitsy Bat is facing her first night at a new school, she is sent off by a loving family full of encouragement. But in a classroom full of assorted other nocturnal creatures, she’s the only one used to hanging upside down, and at the painting table she’s the only one who tries to paint with her toes. Lunch and recess provide more pitfalls leading her to feel she’ll never fit in, which results in a five-star meltdown. Reluctant to return the next day, her family and teacher help her enact a plan to help everyone in class celebrate that which makes them unique, that which makes them shine. Written by an autistic author illustrator, it’s got an author’s note in the back explaining a bit about autism, including some definitions of relative terms. Autism doesn’t overtly come through within the story itself, except in Bitsy’s aversion to too-bright light and too-loud noises.
Category Archives: Additional Purchase
Merry Christmas, Strega Nona
If you’ve got the original Strega Nona in your library, this makes a fine Christmas sequel, that fans of the original will enjoy. Without first knowing Strega Nona and Big Anthony from their first story, I’m not sure readers who pick this one up first will really connect them, as the character development pretty much assumes you already know them and will understand Big Anthony’s repeated urging of Strega Nona to just use her magic to accomplish the chores to prepare for Christmas. In the end, Big Anthony, known for his laziness/foolishness, proves the hero this time, as he arranges a Christmas surprise for Strega Nona.
The Littlest Weaver
The illustrations a soft and pretty, offering an inviting, if romanticized image of old-time live in the Appalachian mountains. The story tells of a young girl and her pa who live alone in the mountains, weaving story rugs that they take to town on market days to sell. It’s suggested that the reason Laurel makes such beautiful rugs is by they guidance of “her mama’s angel hands.” When a gloomy new neighbor moves to town with a look of loss in his eyes, Laurel recognizes it and she and her father set out to try to welcome him with their rugs but they are rebuffed. Eventually they created a design into which they poured their own tears, which spoke to the man. The gift of it seemed to help move him through his grief, and in the end he accompanies Laurel and her pa on their next visit to town.
Angelina and Henry
Fans of the other Angelina Ballerina books will enjoy this one, and will be drawn to the familiar characters and illustrations, but in looking for some trait on which to recommend it for it’s own sake, I’m coming up a bit blank. It’s not a bad little story. I just can’t think of anything that makes it stand out as a must-have. It tells of Angelina and Henry off on a camping adventure with Uncle Louie. It’s a longer hike than Angelina would’ve liked, and then they still need to pitch their tents and gather firewood before they can have their campfire, but when they’re sent off to gather wood, Angelina and Henry get distracted playing until they are lost and there’s a storm, and eventually Uncle Louie comes to find them and they get back to camp and have a campfire (no explanation for where the wood came from) and dinner and all is well.
Penny & Pip
By Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann
When Penny goes on a field trip with her class she sees an egg hatch in the dinosaur wing of the Natural History Museum. As she enters another area she finds that a small dinosaur is following her. Pip is alone in the world and worried about Penny leaving without them. Together, the devise a plan to be together forever.
This book could be a nice introduction to seeing a museum. The illustrations are lovely and the characters are quite expressive. This would be a wonderful extra purchase if one had a little bit extra in their budget.
The Dreams We Made
“Every night a little girl and her daddy built dreams out of paper, scissors, and glue.” So begins story of an extra special relationship between a father and daughter that ends suddenly with the death of the father.
The little girl does not understand the concept of death and continues waiting for her father’s return. Eventually she destroys the last unfinished project they were working on together.
‘ “I miss Daddy,” said the little girl. “I do too,” said Mommy. “But Daddy is still with us, even when we can’t see him. We can meet him in our dreams and take him with us as we create new memories.” ‘
Some time later, the little girl starts to rebuild the destroyed project with the help of her mother and daddy looking on in her dreams.
Submitted by Mary Pong
Everyone Hates Kelsie Miller by: Meredith Ireland
Reviewed by OHS Substitute
This novel is definitely light reading with lots of fluff: romantic inclinations, rules of friendship, and the pressures to be perfect. Two rivals, Eric and Kelsie, find themselves on a roadtrip to U Penn to visit their exes who have recently ghosted them. Along the way, these high school seniors reveal haunting memories and insecurities to one another that leads them to an unexpected friendship.
The book attempts to warn teens of the pressures of growing up and accepting yourself and others. The author touches on relevant issues for a high school audience: prejudice, friendship demands, perfectionism, fear of failure, underage drinking, and risky sexual behaviors. Although these themes and topics are in the book they are mentioned superficially and without depth, making characters seem pretty shallow as well.
Class Pet
Harvey the Hammerhead Shark is busy drawing his latest Iron-Manta-Ray comic book when he gets caught not paying attention in class. His teacher, Ms. Lumpy, chooses this time to teach Harvey a lesson in responsibility by having Harvey take the class parrotfish Pirate home for the weekend. Pirate is annoying with his squawking, to say the least. Harvey’s parents don’t want pets and are upset that Harvey was not paying attention in class. As a consequence, Harvey’s parent make the decision that Harvey choose between taking care of Pirate at home or take care of Pirate at the big birthday party Harvey’s been looking forward to going to all week.
Flash, the birthday boy, has already asked Harvey not to bring Pirate to the party. Harvey chooses to go to the party. The party’s DJ, Sea J. Marsh-shallow, has an allergic reaction to Pirate and leaves immediately.
The party is ruined! but NO! Pirate is a terrific DJ. Problem solved.
And Harvey has the rest of the weekend to put the finishing touches on his Iron-Manta-Ray comic.
This series includes: a Cast of Characters list ( character’s names are in bold the first time they appear in the story), word list (glossary), glossary words featured in bold type in the story, statements said with strong emotion are in larger font in bold type, five chapters, three or more black and white illustrations per chapter, and questions at the end.
My biggest problem is with Ms. Lumpy. I realize this is a children’s story but in real life Ms. Lumpy would be in hot water for sending the class pet home for the weekend without the parents’ consent.
Submitted by Mary Pong
Into the Deep!
Dr. Ick is excited to introduce the reader to “…all things that might make other people say, “Ick!” ‘ (4) This time Dr. Ick is exploring sea creatures. Along the way Dr. Ick gives a tiny bit of information about “five regions: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern Oceans.”(7) , its terrain, and depths.
Dr. Ick tells a little about the oarfish, blobfish, the red-lipped batfish, frogfish, leafy sea dragon, and mimic octopus.
“There are so many more species waiting to be discovered in our ocean!” (22)
Much of the book is illustrated in cartoon characters with eight inserted photos of the actual sea creatures giving this book more of a whimsical presentation of a factual one.
Submitted by Mary Pong
Adventures with Linus and Friends!
By Charles M. Schultz, et. al.
With old and new stories, this is a nice introduction to The Peanuts gang that young and old will enjoy. There are eleven tales in one graphic novel. Most all of them revolve around Linus and his love of his blanket and Lucy with her demands that he grow up. This is one of three books in a set that are familiarly illustrated. The new comics blend well with the original Schultz comics that are within the book.
This would be a nice add on to any graphic novel section in the library.