I Wanna ROCK!!!

YOU GUYS!!!!  Holy cow, I discovered a very cool nonfiction picture book series about rock bands, and they are all groups that I LOVE!!!  Your girl loves rock 'n roll!  For three years in college I had my own radio show where I played classic rock, rock, and pop on 88.7 WJCU FM.  It was mostly me just playing some of my favorites, but I did have a loyal following.  Anyway, back to the books.  I got to see a preview copy of the Ramones one, and it led me to discovering three others, one of which is easily in my top three favorite group EVER!  So far two have been published.  The Ramones and Metallica have yet to come out.

 

 

This is so awesome because it introduces kids of today to groups from the past.  Not to sound like a crabby old man, but back in my day music was so much better than what they have today.  Okay, I have to admit that there are some current songs that I find catchy that I have discovered through TikTok browsing rabbit holes, but overall the quality and artistry just isn't the same as it was.  Seriously, I sound about 85 right now!  Now you're only counting three, but remembering that I said four.  The only thing that would be better would be if this was an Aerosmith book (my ultimate #1 favorite forever and ever), but this series has my #2.  Are you ready?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUEEN!!!!!

 

The love I have for this group is strong.  I am even a fan of the revamped Queen with Adam Lambert because he is a magical rock god that I feel could be Freddie himself reincarnated even though Adam was born in 1982 and Freddie passed in 1991.  I requested this and the Depeche Mode one through interlibrary loan, and I will be begging my collection development department to secure this series for my system.  Book reviews to come, but I had to share the joy now!

Picture Book Spotlight: Love is Powerful by Heather Dean Brewer

So I just happened to be walking back into my department when this book caught my eye.  The title is what really did it.  Life has been kicking my rear end lately, and the world isn't the greatest of places right now, so when I saw Love is Powerful, I had to pick it up and flip through it.

It just makes you smile, right?  This book did not disappoint at all.  For starters, it has free resources to go along with it!  The author, Heather Dean Brewer has a lesson plan, reading guide, and coloring pages available on her website at www.hbrewerwrites.com.  The story begins with a little girl named Mari who is about to start a coloring project.  Mama says they are going to make a message for the world, but Mari wonders how they will see and hear it.  Mama tells her that love is powerful.  Nestled in Mama's lap, she gets started and imagines her friends, her family, and people all around the world doing the same thing.  They create signs and take them down to the street where people all march together holding signs of their own.  From on top of mama's shoulders, Mari sees a sea of people spreading as far as she can see.  Before long, Mari learns just how powerful love can be as her message spreads far and wide.

LeUyen Pham's illustrations are beautiful, with hearts on every page, traveling along with Mari and getting bigger and more plentiful as the message gets louder and louder.  People of all colors and different backgrounds are represented, and sweet little Mari is just adorable.  You can actually see her happiness radiate off the page!  My favorite part of the book comes at the end where there is a note from the real Mari as well as a picture of her that reflects the illustrations in the book.  The real Mari tells us all to "believe in yourself, be confident, and don't be afraid to speak up.  And remember to speak up not just for yourself, but for other people too."  The world needs more Mari power!

It's book fate that I happened to walk by and see this title.  I needed it today.  Books continue to work that magic on me, finding me when I need them most.

Coming Soon: What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of Covid-19 by Erin Silver

I received a preview copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

 

What Kids Did:  Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of Covid-19 by Erin Silver

I love books that have stories about real life things kids are doing, especially when those stories are inspiring and hopeful.  We all could use some feel-good stories right now.  Reading stories about young people doing positive things gives me a positive outlook on the future.  I love talking to kids who come in to the library and tell us about volunteer projects and activities that they are working on.  With a considerable lack of these in-person encounters, books like these have to fit the bill.  This one doesn't disappoint.  These kids are total rock stars!

This book has full-color pictures of children and young adults from all around the world, a beautiful display of humanity that represents a multitude of cultures and backgrounds.  All of them have used their unique gifts and talents to spread joy to those most affected by the global pandemic.  Their creativity is innovative, and it is astounding for me to consider that these ideas came from kids not much older than my daughters.  But seeing my daughters, it is amazing to see just how differently their minds work from my own.  They've grown up with so much more than I ever did, especially when it comes to technology and how people are able to communicate now.  They don't know anything different which makes it easier for kids to use it in so many different ways.

These kids used technology to create 3D printed devices that help minimize touching frequently used surfaces as well as face shields that helped in terms of meeting demand for PPE.  Many of the kids used social media, YouTube, and games such as Minecraft to create hubs where people could share information, as well as things like fitness videos to stay active, a Good News Now broadcast that shared positive stories only, and even a Minecraft graduation ceremony where kids could still interact with each other despite quarantine.  One girl created art kids that could be delivered to kids in need while another developed craft kits.  Two sisters created a cookbook called Lockdown Leftovers that gave kids ideas for how to turn limited food options into new meals.  Proceeds were donated to charity.  In fact all of the funds raised from the various projects were donated to charity.  One of my favorite stories was about a 6 year old boy from British Columbia who set up a drive-by/walk-by joke stand.  He followed a regular schedule, taking time for a quick lunch break each day.

While the publisher has designated this book for grades 1-3, I think it would be great for older kids and even adults who enjoy inspirational stories and want more positivity in their lives.

This book is scheduled to be released on October 27, 2020 and is juvenile nonfiction.

Coming Soon: Covid-19 Helpers by Beth Bacon, illustrated by Kary Lee

I received a preview copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

 

Covid-19 Helpers by Beth Bacon, illustrated by Kary Lee

This book is a great tool for parents and caregivers to use with children to help start a conversation about what is happening in the world in regards to the current pandemic.  It highlights the changes that had the most impact on young lives during Spring 2020 such as schools, parks, movie theaters, and sporting events closing.  Kids weren't able to go to birthday parties and could only stay home where it felt like they were doing nothing.  This book explains that kids weren't doing nothing, and that they were actually doing something extremely important.  All of these changes were being done to help fight a new disease.  Author Beth Bacon does a wonderful job of explaining details of Covid-19 and the importance of our actions in preventing the spread in a way that is on their level.  The facts are accurate, but not complicated for young readers to understand.  She talks about things that are continuing to happen in the world such as wearing masks and social distancing while Kary Lee does a beautiful job of illustrating what the world looks like now through colorful and simple designs that are appealing to children.  A strong message in this book is that everyone in the community is working together as a team and highlights the essential workers such as grocers, farmers, truck drivers, and sanitation workers that were so important during the initial days of quarantine.  Kids are encouraged to continue doing their very important job of wearing masks, social distancing, and adapting to the changes.  Together we are a team, each doing our part.  This book would be appropriate for children in preschool through 2nd grade and for families to share together.

This book won 1st place in a competition that was issued by Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, director of the Emory Global Health Institute and vice president for global health at Emory University and his colleagues.  Dr. Koplan was inspired by questions that he was being asked by his grandchildren and believed that a children's book could help provide answers.  Over 250 entries were submitted by authors and illustrators.

This book is scheduled to be released on October 27, 2020 and is juvenile nonfiction.

www.blairpub.com

www.BethBaconAuthor.com

www.KaryLeeStudios.com

Pandemic status check

So here we are, a little over 6 months since the start of Covid madness.  It's amazing how fast time can fly and drag by all at the same time.  On the one hand, I am in total disbelief that we are displaying our Halloween books, but on the other I feel like I have been stuck in this Groundhog Day time warp where every day is the same as the one before.  This is what happens when Miss Jen doesn't get to create and lead programming!  I get even weirder than usual!  Yes, it apparently IS possible!

Slowly but surely, we are getting busier here at the library, although busy might be a stretch.  Most days there is still a bit of a ghost town vibe.  According to our system stats we are seeing crowds 40% of what we would normally be seeing.  Granted the whole school situation makes things even weirder.  Some of our local schools are in person, most are currently on a 100% virtual, although that will shift to hybrid soon.  Words and phrases like "masks", "social distancing", "synchronous learning", "hybrid model", and "contact tracing" are part of every day vocabulary now.  These are some all around weird times.  It really makes me wonder what kids will be like as adults, having experienced all this during fundamental developmental years.  My kids are 7 and almost 9.  I wonder what they will be telling my future grandchildren about their school years.  My grandchildren will hear stories that seem unbelievable to them just as I sat and listened to my own grandparents talk about their own youth.

This is definitely going to influence children's and young adult literature.  It already has.  Yesterday I was looking at some galleys for books coming out late this year and early next year.  Many of these books are nonfiction titles about community helpers, frontline workers, social distancing challenges, and Covid 19.  I plan on reviewing some in future posts.  What I really wonder about are the fiction books, in particular realistic fiction stories that are based on everyday life experiences.

On the program front, my library system is slowing rolling out plans for regular virtual programs.  That should help my overall ennui that I am currently experiencing.  Sometimes it feels like I just don't have a purpose.  The moments where I can recommend books or see the smiling eyes of my library kiddos are few and far between, but man oh man do I savor them!  I got to read a book to my daughter's 3rd grade class, and I was so nervous because I hadn't read aloud to kids in ages!  It was a very strange feeling because I had been so used to always being "on" and ready to do a storytime with little to no notice.  It was second nature.  It's crazy how much things have changed, and how we have had to adapt to these new ways of doing things.  It's so bizarre that it's shocking to see entire faces during Zoom meetings because we are so used to just seeing eyes.  My normally bustling children's play area is now blocked off by caution tape and slightly resembles a crime scene.  During this time of year the hours between 2 and 5 can get a little wild with big crowds of kids coming in after school, but now we get a handful.  Of course, when our local schools go from virtual to hybrid, that will increase which should be interesting with our new social distance protocols.  When I became a librarian almost 15 years ago, I never even imagined something like this.  The two libraries I have worked in are normally crazy busy.  Usually the big thing to do on my program list is program planning and storytime prep.  Now I write blogs, review books, and film TikTok videos alongside our teen librarian who got me hooked.  Granted, a change of pace is nice, but it is definitely not the norm.  Of course, this might be the new norm.

How are all of you?  How are you holding up during this continued madness?

Miss Jen's Favorite Things: Graphic Novels

Graphic novels are awesome.  Not only are they great for those who like visuals, but they are also great for reluctant readers.  Graphic novels are also a visual depiction of sequencing in a story which can even help with overall comprehension.  We are seeing more and more of them come in with our new books, and the kids are checking them out almost as quickly as they are shelved.  There are your big name series titles like Babymouse, Dog Man, and Big Nate, but there are more and more being published that are based on classic titles, popular titles, movies and television characters, and even nonfiction subjects.  Here are some of my favorite graphic novels for kids and young adults.

FICTION

The Magical Adventures of Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson (https://www.gocomics.com/phoebe-and-her-unicorn)

I can't even begin to tell you how much I LOVE this series.  I was introduced to it by a teen librarian that I used to work with.  She loved it and felt that I would too.  The first book, Phoebe and Her Unicorn introduces us to 9 year old Phoebe.  One day she skipped a rock across a pond, and it hit a unicorn in the face, distracting her from staring at her own reflection.  To thank Phoebe, the unicorn named Marigold Heavenly Nostrils grants her one wish.  Phoebe uses that wish to make Marigold her best friend.  Magical adventures ensue in 12 awesome books (as of 2020.)  Marigold might be one of my favorite characters in children's literature.  She is magical, beautiful, witty, and full of sass.  My daughter turns 9 next month and just started reading the first book.  She said that Marigold is her spirit animal.  Trust me, it's true!

Anything and everything by Raina Telgemeier 

• Smile
• Drama
• Sisters
• Ghosts
• Guts (Nonfiction - see other list)

I was lucky enough to see Raina speak at a conference and get a book signed by her.  She is a total rock star.  I adore her books.  She totally nails how it feels to grow up and all the trials and tribulations that go along with it.  She writes and illustrates stories that are based on her own experiences that readers of all ages can relate to.  Her books are checked out all the time and reread over and over by the kids in her target demographic (tween, middle school.)  She also illustrated the first couple of titles of the Baby-Sitters Club graphic novel series which absolutely increases her cool factor.

 

 

The Baby-Sitter's Club Graphic Novel series based on the books by Ann M. Martin, illustrated by Raina Telgemeier and Gale Galligan

 

Between the updated graphic novels and the new Netflix series, The Baby-Sitters Club is reaching a whole new generation, and let me tell you, I AM HERE FOR IT!  This was one of my absolute favorite series growing up.  It is also being re-released in book form with updated covers.  While the order of the graphic novels deviates from the original lineup, the stories remain true to each classic title.  So far 8 titles have been released in the graphic format.  It is a comforting dose of nostalgia that is welcome during these crazy and uncertain times.  I know that several of my customers have been reading them alongside their daughters, and so have I!  My oldest is most definitely a Claudia/Stacey hybrid with some Jessi dance talent.  My youngest is 100% a Kristy, no doubt.

Baby-Sitter's Little Sister Graphic Novel series based on the books by Ann M. Martin, illustrated by Katy Farina

The newest addition to the BSC graphic world comes in the form of little sister, Karen Brewer herself!  So far, two books have come out, Karen's Witch and Karen's Roller Skates, but I am hoping for more!  While not quite as popular as the originals, these are definitely gaining popularity with my younger customers.

        

I Survived Graphic Novel series / based on the books by Lauren Tarshis, adapted by Georgia Ball, illustrated by Haus Studio

• I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912
• I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916
• I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944

The I Survived series is already a hit with the kiddos at my library, so of course they are all about the graphic novels.  So far there are only three, but I hope they do more. 

 

Other fiction titles to check out:

• Roller girl / Victoria Jamieson
• All's faire in middle school / Victoria Jamieson
• Babymouse series / Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm
• Sunny series / Jennifer L. Holm
  
• White bird / a wonder story / R.J. Palacio
• Dog Man series / written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey as George Beard and Harold Hutchins ; with color by Jose Garibaldi
• Big Nate graphic novel series / Lincoln Peirce
  
• Awkward / Svetlana Chmakova
• Brave / Svetlana Chmakova
• Crush / Svetlana Chmakova 
• Lunch Lady series / Jarrett J. Krosoczka
• Narwhal and Jelly series / Ben Clanton
• Real Friends / Shannon Hale ; artwork by LeUyen Pham ; color by Jane Poole
• Best Friends / Shannon Hale ; artwork by LeUyen Pham
• Madeleine L'Engle's A wrinkle in time : the graphic novel / adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson
• Anne of Green Gables : a graphic novel / Mariah Marsden & Brenna Thummler
• The Giver : Graphic Novel / Lois Lowry ; adapted and illustrated by P. Craig Russell   
• New Kid / Jerry Craft
  

 

NONFICTION 

Guts / Raina Telgemeier   155.4189042 T237g

I told you Raina would be making an appearance in this section.  This book addresses the issue of being afraid and having to face your fears.  It is done from the point of view of the author herself who wakes up with a stomachache that just doesn't go away and gets worse when she is worried or nervous.  This book addresses the issue of mental health in a way that is relatable and accessible to tweens who are learning more about themselves and what it means to grow up.  As someone who struggled with similar issues when I was that age, I could relate.  It was still a good read as an adult.  Sometimes a kids book hits home more than a complicated self help book.  It's also a very quick read.  I literally read it in one sitting while waiting for parent teacher conferences last year.  It was kind of crazy that I was reading it in the same school I attended as a kid.  It was all very meta.

Hey Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction / Jarrett J. Krosoczka  306.8745 K928h

Being a huge fan of his picture books such as Punk Farm and Punk Farm on Tour, when I heard Jarrett J. Krosoczka was coming out with a graphic novel for teens, I knew that I had to read it.  When I heard it was nonfiction, I was even more intrigued.  Wow.  It is powerful, sad, heartbreaking, and inspiring all at the same time.  I had no idea that this author/illustrator who wrote picture books about farm animals starting a rock band had such a complicated and troubled past.  I also didn't know that he was raised by his grandparents.  His mom struggled with addiction and his father was not in the picture.  This book details his journey throughout his youth and into adulthood and how he used his art to survive.  Even if you don't share his experiences, this book will still have an impact on you.

Hazardous Tales / Nathan Hale  900s

This nonfiction graphic novel series highlights events in history including the American Revolution, Civil War, World War I, and World War II.  These books make history come alive and easier for kids to relate too.  Normally you probably wouldn't have your typical tween wanting to read history books for fun, but this series is fun to look at.  It's one of those trick them into learning moments!

  

Graphic Library:  Graphic History series / various authors 900s

This is another series that spans different periods of history and highlights different historical figures.  We have a few of them at my library, and I am looking to see if more can be ordered from the system.  Anything that makes history more interesting and easy to comprehend works for me!

 

I am also including some bonus adult graphic novels that could be good for older teens.  While I have not personally read any of these, they have come highly recommended by some of my colleagues.

• They Called Us Enemy / written by George Takei, Justin Eisinger & Steven Scott ; [art by] Harmony Becker

 

• March. Book One / written by John Lewis & Andrew Aydin ; [art by] Nate Powell 
• March. Book Two / written by John Lewis & Andrew Aydin ; [art by] Nate Powell 
• March. Book Three / written by John Lewis & Andrew Aydin ; [art by] Nate Powell  

Miss Jen's Favorite Things: Children's & YA Strong, Sassy, and Self-Reliant Female Characters

This one goes out to determined, hardcore, rock star female characters that are not at all afraid of what other people think, who believe in themselves, and even have a little bit of badass within!  They can hold their own in just about any situation.  Who are your favorite female characters?

Harry Potter #Girlbosses

I have five female characters in the Harry Potter series that totally fit the bill, and I am daring to rank them in order. Now I will freely admit that my decision was heavily influenced by the movies in addition to how they were portrayed in the books.  All of these women were strong and fearless, willing to face danger to protect the people they love, with Mrs. Weasley being the biggest Mama Bear there ever was.

• Mrs. Weasley
• Professor McGonagall
• Hermione Granger
• Nymphadora Tonks
• Ginny Weasley
  

 

The Members of the Baby Sitters Club

Okay, so you could really argue for all of the girls in The Baby Sitter's Club series because they all in their own way brought some serious girl power to the table, but I have my favorite.  You might automatically say Kristy, but I am going to say that Claudia takes the number one spot for me.  Her daring fashion choices alone set her apart, but she also faced a lot of adversity.  I would even have to give little sister, Karen some props for being well on her way to taking over the world!

 

Cassie Hobbs - The Naturals series

Cassie is awesome at being able to read people, even with the tiniest of details.  She is recruited along with some other teens with extraordinary abilities to help the FBI solve cold cases.  This is an awesome young adult/teen series that I highly recommend, especially if you like crime thrillers.

Felicity Montague - The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, The Montague Siblings series

You meet Felicity in the first book of the series.  She is the younger sister of the main character and is a bit on the fringes at first, but you really get to know her in the second book.  She is the epitome of a total badass who wants to be a doctor during a time when it was unheard of for a woman to even be considered a possibility for attending medical school.  I mean, she did on the fly surgery in the middle of battle, for goodness sake!

Katniss Everdeen - The Hunger Games trilogy

From the moment she first volunteered to take the place of her younger sister and face almost certain death, you knew Katniss wasn't about to take anything from anyone.  She defines what it is to be a survivor and is willing to stand up for what she believes in.

Cinder - The Lunar Chronicles series

This is a retelling of sorts of Cinderella except in this case Cinder is a cyborg!  Now I am not normally a fan of the sci-fi genre, but if you give me a strong character with a great backstory, I will read every single book in the darn series.  Her past is a mystery that slowly develops and is totally worth the wait.

Pippi - Pippi Longstocking

Now every time I hear Pippi Longstocking or someone requests the book, I 100% think of the episode of Gilmore Girls where Lorelai and Rory watch the movie with their boyfriends and are absolutely fascinated with her.  This character would totally be someone that these two would idolize!  Beyond her crazy and wild hair and sense of style, she literally has no one to tell her what to do and adventures follow her wherever she goes.  She is a true free spirit.  I loved this book as a kid and still do today.

Blue Sargent - The Raven Cycle series

Blue comes from a clairvoyant family and grew up being warned that she will cause her true love to die.  Her own powers come to fruition when she begins to see the soon to be dead walk by in her visions and is soon drawn to a boy from a local private school who is on a bit of a personal quest.  She gets pulled into his world as well as that of his friends, The Raven Boys and finds dangerous adventures ahead.

Honorable Mentions

• Penryn Young - Angelfall (Penryn and the End of Days series)
• Daisy Goodnight - Spirit and Dust (The Goodnight Family series book 2)
• Vivian Apple - Vivian Apple at the End of the World & Vivian Apple Needs a Miracle
  
• Alaska Young - Looking for Alaska
• Meg Murry - A Wrinkle in Time
• India Opal Buloni - Because of Winn-Dixie
• Claudia Kincaid - From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
• Jessica Wakefield - Sweet Valley Twins & Sweet Valley High series
  

Book Review: The Power of Joyful Reading by Eric Litwin and Dr. Gina Pepin

 

Okay, so this book is geared towards teachers and librarians, but parents and caregivers would benefit from giving it a read or two as well.  One of the authors is one of my absolute favorites, Eric Litwin.  He wrote this book with Dr. Gina Pepin, an award winning teacher and university instructor.  Both have experience working with children in grades K-3, Eric as a former 3rd grade teacher and best selling children's author and Gina as a K-3 reading teacher.  In the book as well as during a webinar I attended, Eric talks about his experience of walking by a kindergarten classroom where the kids were super excited about reading, one girl even hugging a book.  When he got to his 3rd grade classroom and asked his students if they wanted to hear a story, he was met with mostly silence and a couple of no responses.  He was shocked that the joy of reading was gone and wondered what had happened between kindergarten and third grade.  From that point, it became his mission to focus on reading and find ways to engage readers so they could find the joy again.  If you have read any of his books, you notice right away that they are filled with music and repetition and are very interactive which gets kids involved in the story.  Kids become familiar with them and eagerly seek them out.  In short, they find fun in reading.

Now yes, there is a lot of technical knowledge and research based information in the book.  You may not be as fascinated with all that as I am, but it provides a solid foundation for the activities and tips both authors share.  It doesn't read like a textbook.  It's actually a very engaging and easy to follow read.  The authors explain and illustrate their points clearly.  There are a lot of examples of books you can share and activities you can do along with children to promote early literacy.  The love and joy of reading needs to be established even before a child starts school as I have highlighted in many other posts.  The authors provide additional resources on the Scholastic website (www.scholastic.com/joyfulreadingresources) and suggestions for books that encourage participation.  The authors encourage finding moments throughout your day to add music and movement, taking time to make up a silly rhyme or even just wiggle your body along with a song.  It may not seem like it, but it promotes joy which leads to literacy success.

Readers of this book will enjoy the personal stories and examples of how children benefit from joyful reading, including a story of a girl who at 15 months old was completely nonverbal.  Today she reads above grade level and is quite a chatterbox.  Joyful reading and sharing books together is so incredibly powerful!

A reader of this book is encouraged to activate their reading superpowers to help teach children.  Reading superpowers are not limited to those who may be teachers, librarians, or other educators.  It is something that anyone can achieve.  The authors provide a concrete and easy to follow guide for how to gain and maximize those powers.  If you want to find out how you can become a reading superhero and harness your superpowers, check out this book at your local library.

The Power of Joyful Reading:  Help Your Young Readers Soar to Success! / Eric Litwin and Dr. Gina Pepin.  New York:  Scholastic Inc., 2020.   372.427 L737p

	372.427 L737p 2020

Board Game & Books: Twister

Twister, the game where you are the game piece!  I thought this game would pair itself quite nicely with books about exercise, yoga, and meditation.

FICTION 

• I yoga you / by Genevieve Santo
• Yoga bear : simple animal poses for little ones / Sarah Jane Hinder
• Yoga bunny / by Brian Russo
• Zach and Lucy and the yoga zoo / by the Pifferson Sisters ; illustrated by Mark Chambers
• I am yoga / by Susan Verde ; illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
• I am peace : a book of mindfulness / by Susan Verde ; art by Peter H. Reynolds
  
• Bee calm : the buzz on yoga / by Frank J. Sileo, PhD ; illustrated by Claire Keay   
• Yoga whale : simple poses for little ones / Sarah Jane Hinder 
• Zoo zen : a yoga story for kids / by Kristen Fischer ; illustrated by Susi Schaefer
• A morning with grandpa / Sylvia Liu ; illustrations by Christina Forshay
• Wiggle / Doreen Cronin ; art by Scott Menchin
• Stretch / Doreen Cronin and Scott Menchin
• Mindful day / by Deborah Hopkinson ; illustrations by Shirley Ng-Benitez    

 

NONFICTION

• Yummy yoga : playful poses and tasty treats / by Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, CDN ; photography by Bonnie Stephens  613.7046 B326y
• Yoga animals / by Paige Towler   613.7046083 T659y
• Unicorn yoga / written by Gina Cascone and Bryony Williams Sheppard ; illustrated by Jennifer Sattler   613.7046 C266u
• Anytime yoga : fun and easy exercises for concentration and calm / Ulrika Dezé ; Illustrations by Simon Kroug  613.7046 D534a
• Yoga friends : a pose-by-pose partner adventure for kids / Mariam Gates and Rolf Gates ; illustrated by Sarah Jane Hinder  613.7046083 G223y
• Yawning yoga / written by Laurie Jordan ; illustrated by Diana Mayo  613.7046 J764y
• Good morning yoga : a pose-by-pose wake-up story / Mariam Gates ; illustrated by Sarah Jane Hinder  613.7046083 G223g
• Good night yoga : a pose-by-pose bedtime story / Mariam Gates ; illustrated by Sarah Jane Hinder  613.7046083 G223g
• Yoga games for children : fun and fitness with postures, movements, and breath / Danielle Bersma and Marjoke Visscher ; translated by Amina Marix Evans ; illustrated by Alex Kooistra   613.7046 B46y
• Master of mindfulness : how to be your own superhero in times of stress / Laurie Grossman, Angelina Alvarez, Mr. Musumeci's 5th Grade Class ; foreword author Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD  155.4189042 G914m
• Happy : [a beginner's book of mindfulness] / Nicola Edwards ; [illustrated by] Katie Hickey  158.12 Ed97h
• Breathe and be : a book of mindfulness poems / by Kate Coombs ; illustrations by Anna Emilia Laitinen  811.6 C781b
• A world of pausabilities : an exercise in mindfulness / written by Frank J. Sileo, PhD ; illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin  158.1 Si33w
• What's in your mind today? / written by Louise Bladen ; illustrated by Angela Perrini   158.12 B569w
• Meditation is an open sky : mindfulness for kids / Whitney Stewart ; illustrated by Sally Rippin   158.12 St49m
• Meditate with me : a step-by-step mindfulness journey / Mariam Gates ; illustrated by Margarita Surnaite  158.128 G223m
• Just breathe : meditation, mindfulness, movement, and more / Mallika Chopra  158.12 C455j            
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Remembering September 11, 2001 in books

Kids in school (elementary, middle, high school, and even some college students) had not even been born yet when the events of September 11, 2001 took place.  If they had, they were not old enough to remember them.  I myself had only just graduated from college that past May and turned 22 in July.  It is unbelievable to think that it has been 19 years.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  It's the event of my generation that compares to that of my parents when JFK was assassinated.  You remember exactly where you were and what you were doing.  The feelings of that day can still be recalled easily and felt just as deeply.  It was a life changing event.

Today, children in school, both in person and virtually are most likely talking about 9/11, Patriots Day.  Like so many others in history, you learn about these events, but it's hard to connect to them and really understand them.  The kids in your life may be asking you questions today.  The events of 2020 are their life changing event that their kids will be asking them about 20 years from now.

Many books about September 11 have been written, as will books about 2020 events.  These books are both fiction and nonfiction titles that span age levels.  There is something here for everyone to help them learn and understand more about the events of this tragic day in our nation's history.  There are also inspirational stories of heroes, both human and canine.  I encourage you to read them and share them with your children to help foster conversation.  I am also providing links to the memorials in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Somerset County, PA.  Several years ago I visited the memorial site in Pennsylvania.  It was very powerful to know that I was in the presence of heroes who fought back.  Their spirits are definitely felt there.  May we never forget.

FICTION

• I survived the attacks of September 11, 2001 / by Lauren Tarshis; illustrated by Scott Dawson
• Nine, ten: a September 11 story  / by Nora Raleigh Baskin
• Escape from the Twin Towers / by Kate Messner; illustrated by Kelley McMorris
• Throwback / by Peter Lerangis
• Towers falling / by Jewell Parker Rhodes
• Somewhere among / by Annie Denwerth Chikamatsu
• Just a drop of water / by Kerry O'Malley Cerra
• September roses / by Jeanette Winter
• Eleven / by Tom Rogers
• 14 cows for America / by Carmen Agra Deedy and Thomas Gonzalez
• The usual rules / by Joyce Maynard
• All we have left / by Wendy Mills
• September 12: we knew everything would be all right / by H. Byron Masterson Elementary School; illustrated by M.O. Kennet
• 9-11: artists respond / by Dark Horse Comics
• Time riders / by Alex Scarrow
• Love is the higher law / by David Levithan
• We all fall down / by Eric Walters
• The red bandana (young readers adaptation) / by Tom Rinaldi
• Extremely loud and incredibly close / by Jonathan Safran Foer

NONFICTION

• The National September 11 Memorial / by Ellis M. Reed 974.71 R251n
• The September 11 attacks transform America / by Whitney Sanderson  973.931 Sa56s
• September 11 through the eyes of George W. Bush / by Emily O'Keefe  973.931 Ok2s
• Seven and a half tons of steel / by Janet Nolan; illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez  623.8256 N711s
• The 9/11 terror attacks / by Laura K. Murray  973.931 M964n
• Heroes of 9/11 / by Allan Zullo  973.9310922 Z84h
• Ground zero dogs / by Meish Goldish  636.70886 G569g
• Hero dogs:  courageous canines in action / by Donna M. Jackson  636.7 J133h
• A nation challenged:  a visual history of 9/11 and its aftermath / the New York Times; introduction by Howell Raines; photographs edited by Nancy Lee and Lonnie Schlein  973.931 N213
• One World Trade Center / by Julie Murray  720.48309 M964o
• America is under attack:  September 11, 2001:  the day the towers fell / by Don Brown  973.931 B812a
• Fireboat:  the heroic adventures of the John J. Harvey / by Maira Kalman  974.71044 K126f
• Saved by the boats:  the heroic sea evacuation of September 11 / by Julie Gassman; illustrated by Steve Moors  974.71044 G216s
• September 11 / by Mary Englar; content adviser, Barbara Elias; reading adviser, Rosemary Palmer  973.931 En34s
• September 11, 2001 / by Andrew Santella  973.931 Sa59s
• The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 / by Sabrina Crewe and Dale Anderson  973.931 C867t
• Me and the sky : Captain Beverley Bass, pioneering pilot / by Beverley Bass with Cynthia Williams ; pictures by Joanie Stone   B B2931m
• What were the Twin Towers? / by Jim O'Connor ; illustrated by Ted Hammond  725.23097471 Oc5w

AUDIO VISUAL

• 9/11 and the War on terror  / Learn Our History series  973.931 N6224 
  

https://www.911memorial.org/visit/memorial

https://www.nps.gov/flni/index.htm

https://www.defense.gov/Experience/Pentagon-Memorial/

Miss Jen's Favorite Things: First Readers

First readers, easy readers, leveled readers, or whatever you want to call them are great books for beginning readers.  Short text, use of common sight words, and simple stories that are easy to comprehend are things you will find.  While definitions of each level vary slightly from publisher to publisher, leveled books all gradually build in both word count and complexity and prepare children for longer text.  Levels usually range from 1-3, but many publishers have pre level or "my first" level books.  Then there are non leveled books that are still considered easy reader or introductory chapter books.  The books I am highlighting today are a bit more advanced than your basic primers (i.e. Bob Books) and letter sound books, but are still something a new reader can realistically work towards.  Here you will find a mix of some classic series titles as well as some newer ones.  To know whether or not your child is reading on an appropriate level, I like to talk about the five finger rule.  This can apply to other books as well.  If you count more than five words on a page that you are struggling to read, this could be an indicator that the level might be too high.  In addition to the books listed below, young readers are able to find more and more leveled readers based on favorite characters, movies, or television shows.  My library kiddos love superheroes, Lego, Star Wars, Fancy Nancy, Pinkalicious, and Disney themed first readers among others.  What can you find at your library?

 

Frog and Toad are Friends, Frog and Toad Together, Frog and Toad All Year, and Days with Frog and Toad /Arnold Lobel

I absolutely loved these books as a child and continue to recommend them to new readers.  I love that my kids have read them too!  These definitely fall into the category of classic titles.

Amelia Bedelia series / Peggy Parish

Amelia continues to thrive today.  Along with the classic first reader titles, the same character can be found in new picture books and chapter books for older readers written by Herman Parish!  She is just as wonderful as ever!

  

Books by Cynthia Rylant

• Henry & Mudge
• Mr. Putter & Tabby
• Annie & Snowball
• Brownie and Pearl
• Poppleton
  

Good heavens, Cynthia Rylant is one busy woman!  She has written over 100 children's books, and a quick Google search tells me that she is only 66 years old.  Wow!  She has picture books, first readers, and chapter books that can be found all over your local library.

Nate the Great series / Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

These are a great introduction to the mystery genre!

Fly Guy series / Tedd Arnold

My 2nd grader has plowed her way through every Fly Guy book she could get her hands on.  They made up a big part of her AR test reading list!

Elephant & Piggie series / Mo Willems

Gerald and Piggie are two of my favorite children's book characters of all time!  I got plush versions of them as a gift at my first baby shower that my girls still play with to this day!  We LOVE these books in our house.

The Berenstain Bears series / Stan and Jan Berenstain with Mike Berenstain

In addition to the many picture books featuring our favorite bear family, there are leveled readers too!

Biscuit series / Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Sweet little Biscuit!  These books were a hit with my girls when they first started reading.  This is another series they couldn't get enough of.

Danny and the Dinosaur series / Syd Hoff

I mean, it's a dinosaur.  Need I say more?

The Adventures of Otto series / David Milgrim

Similar to how my one daughter hit all the Fly Guy books in her quest for AR greatness, my oldest went through this entire series when she was in 1st grade!

Dear Dragon series / Margaret Hillert

I don't know what it is about this series, but I can't seem to keep them on the shelves of my library!

We Both Read series / written and adapted by Sindy McKay

This is an awesome series for caregivers and children to read together.  The adult reads one page and the child reads the other.  These books are geared towards kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade.  I've seen them in both fiction and nonfiction titles.

Books by Dr. Seuss

Where do I begin?  I love them all!  You can't go wrong with any of them, but if I had to choose, these are some of my favorites.