“A is for Oboe: The Orchestra’s Alphabet” is a poetic journey through music and instruments. Each letter is on a page or two page spread with at least one musical word. Many are recognizable, such as drum and clarinet. Others are less obvious, like meter and motif. We are introduced to the notion that musical instruments can be a ‘he’ or ‘she’ or even somewhat gender-bending (glockenspiel) because to musicians the instruments are ‘beings’ with character and mood.
Illustrations are vibrant and full of detail, with a great diversity in orchestra members. Text flows and is rich in tone and meaning. This book, while not necessarily a quick read for a student, will be a wonderful read aloud for music teachers as an introduction to the orchestra and all its members/instruments. Recommended
Based on the novel by K.A. Applegate & Michael Grant, adapted by Chris Grine
This is the second volume in the new graphic novel adaptation of Katherine Applegate & Michael Grant’s popular series Animorphs, adapted by Chris Grine. Having never read the original series, I did read the first graphic novel to get the gist of the big problem, namely the alien ability of the 5 main characters, Jake, Marco, Cassie, Tobias, and Rachel, to now turn into animals. Their new abilities will help them fight the Yeerks, an alien race trying to take over Earth while our planet waits for the good aliens, the Andalites, to come join the fight. In the second volume, Rachel agrees to go undercover in a cat form to discover what they can from their assistant principal, Mr. Chapman, who has become a host to the main Yeerk. Illustrations are bright and bold. The transformation scenes are clever as we see part human and part animal morphing. Text bubbles are different when characters are talking vs when they are using mind reading, adding a visual element to inner dialogue. If the first book in the series is popular, students will definitely enjoy the second. And, if like me, you never experienced the original series, I think the animal element and the high action will appeal to new audiences. Some scenes might be visually scary for younger audiences, though I think this will be fine for upper elementary and middle school level readers.
Fred has learned so much in obedience class, things like “sit”, “stay” and “fetch”. But, there is one word that he can’t figure out…”Fred”. What does this mean? How can he do it if he doesn’t understand it? Perhaps the dog in the mirror or in the water knows? Oh, no! He falls in! Luckily, his person saves him and whispers the word “Fred” again and again. A light bulb goes on inside Fred’s head. It’s his name! And, boy, is he excited!
Told in short, accessible sentences, this story is told from Fred’s point of view. He is a pug-like dog, drawn with some pretty spiffy sweatbands on his legs. Expressive illustrations add to the story, which will resonate with young dog owners. A solid purchase, given the popularity of silly dog picture books. Recommended.
Poor Wolf! Sometimes, he gets really angry and the only way he knows how to calm down is to huff and puff. Unfortunately, he often blows things down in the process and other animals become afraid of him, which makes him feel sad when he should feel some relief from his anger.
One day, he loses his huff and puff. So, he looks for help and comes upon a piggy yogi posing outside her straw house. She tried to help him through yoga. But, he becomes frustrated and they move on together to the second yogi’s wood house. That yogi suggests cooling breaths and it works for a moment, until the wolf remembers he had lost his huff and puff. Together, they head over to the third yogi’s brick house (yep, brick) and there the wolf learns the way to calmness.
This book, with its recognizable story line, is a nice introduction to yoga and the benefits of breathing to calm oneself. Text is simple and illustrations are clean and colorful. An author’s note at the end explains the yoga positions and breathing addressed in the story. Use this story to introduce other ways for students to calm their anger and frustration. It is also a great addition to a fractured fairy tale unit – the whole class can practice breathing and yoga! Recommended
Allie and Amy are best friends and live in neighboring buildings. They are ready for summer with a list of “Things To Do This Summer”. Unfortunately, they find out that they will be separated for much of the summer when Allie gets a spot at Camp Merry Moose. They spring into action, first tying their legs together (think three-legged race style), which doesn’t work out well. They then resort to accomplishing as much on their list as possible before Allie leaves. Pesky classmate (and eventual friend) Marvin seems to be in many of the same places they are and manages to get in the way most of the time. But, they do their best to work through the list. But, wait! There is good news ahead, because Amy gets to go to camp as well! The next morning, the girls couldn’t be happier as they settle into their bus seats for the ride to camp. And, who else is on the bus? Marvin! Summer camp will be so much fun!
Large font and numerous half page illustrations make this a fine book for early chapter book readers. While the story isn’t very elaborate or thought-provoking, it does what it intends to do – provide a book for those ready to move on from picture books. A word list and questions are in the back, providing some extra help for young readers. Characters are diverse – Allie and her family are Black and Marvin appears to be Hispanic (last name is Lopez). Buy this book for your collection if you are in need of those ‘bridge’ books.
Thomas is a beautiful baby and his sister, Mollie, makes a mistake one day and tells him that. People are never supposed to tell the children how wonderful they are, because the Kinde Folk (a group of evil fairies) will carry off the child and replace it with a horribly ugly and ill-behaved one of their offspring.
This is exactly what happens to baby Thomas and the family is left with a biting, screaming changeling that Mollie calls “Guest”. This being throws the family into an upheaval as it wears Mollie’s mother down and drives her father away. Granny Hedgepath advises to keep the child safe and happy, so that the Kinde Folke will possibly (although highly unlikely) return Thomas. Mollie and her mother are near the breaking point, when Mollie decides to travel with Guest to the Darklands and hopes for a trade to bring her brother home.
Her journey is dangerous and may end in death. But, Mollie is determined to reclaim her brother, return Guest and make things right again for her family. Along the way, she meets some that may help and others that will try to kill her and keep her brother. The ending is a twisting and turning series of events that will surprise the reader almost as much as Mollie herself.
This is not a typical ghost story by Mary Downing Hahn. It is based on Irish myths and appears to be set in a village in the middle ages. Therefore, there is magic, both evil and good. An afterward explains the background of the story and might lead to further exploration. The fantasy elements work well and the story moves along. The scary parts are just scary enough and the reader’s imagination will paint some wonderfully dark pictures as the story progresses.
Recommended for libraries looking for more scary stories that have a bit of fairy dust (not the good kind!). Students will become invested in the journey and eventual, somewhat surprising, ending.
Fall into the weird world of dreams and nightmares with this graphic novel. Under the guise of a hospital that helps victims of debilitating nightmares, Estaban and Tristan journey into patient’s bad dreams to help them solve the root cause of the dreaming. There is also more to discover about the hospital and the head doctor, Tristan’s father. Who is the creepy non-sleeper locked away in the basement? Why has the doctor adopted Estaban, a young man who has amnesia? I liked the way the story unfolded. The nightmare worlds the children navigate are weird and metaphoric, giving us a glimpse into our own dreams and fears. The graphic style showing the world both in and and out of the dream is clever and clear for the reader. Characters’ faces are large eyed & expressive with a light Goth style that includes plenty of detail. Students will definitely enjoy this first book of this new series. I can already tell I’ll be looking for future additions!
Since this book is the sequel to Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found , it took me a bit to figure out the plot at the beginning of the book. This is one that I think would be better read AFTER the first book in the series. Eventually, enough clues about what had happened to Kingston and his friends in the previous book allowed me to move forward with this one. The story is full of time portals, magical items, echo loops, and missing people. Kingston and his friends must save the world from another magician trying to reset it in an alternate reality. I enjoyed the dive into Egyptian mythology and the fast pace of the story though the twists in the plot may leave some readers puzzled. There were LOTS of twists and turns and characters met at different points in their lives which could be confusing if the reader isn’t really paying attention. If the reader loved the first in the series, I think this will help finish answering questions that must have been left unanswered. Skip this one if you don’t also have Book 1.
Written by Padma Lakshmi, the host of Top Chef and Taste the Nation, Tomatoes for Neela is a reminder that food brings us together, transcending time and place. Young Neela enjoys working in the kitchen with her amma (mother) where they share the recipes and customs passed down from her grandmother in India.
The story of Neela’s tomato sauce reinforces the benefits of local sourcing, home cooking and preserving. The simple, when done right, nourishes the spirit and the connectedness of family and community. Enjoying the preserved fruits of the kitchen in winter brings back the sense of fulfillment and family mixed into each jar of sauce.
Endnotes include paati’s (grandmother’s) child friendly tomato sauce and tomato chutney recipes as well as Tomato Fun Facts, About Farmworkers, and Author’s Note.
Stuck inside because of rainy weather, a young boy is bored with his same old inside toys. Making the most of it, he decides to “make something really tough – like a whole new world in a different place.”
To get to this new place, he needs a rocket ship. He uses a rocking chair, a box, and some socks for a ship and swimming trunks with goggles for a space suit. Mom and dad are supporting in the background as the boy zooms off to Planet XYZ and arrives at B-E-D in the Land of ZZZZZZs.
A celebration of imagination and imaginative play.
