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