Who Gives a Hoot? by Jacqueline Kelly - ESSENTIAL

Kelly, Jacqueline Who Gives a Hoot? 106 pgs. Henry Holt and Company (Macmillan), 2017. $15.99. Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G. 

Calpurnia Tate and her grandfather are looking for dinosaur bones. While rowing on the river, suddenly an owl drops into the water right in front of them.  Owls don’t swim or dive for their food, so this is strange.  Rescuing the owl in a butterfly net, they take the sopping bird to the vet.  Nothing seems physically wrong with it, so Calpurnia takes it home for a few days to make it’s well before releasing it, but what caused the owl to fall from the sky in the first place? 

Book 3 in the Calpurnia Tate Girl Vet series has less drama than Skunked or Counting Sheep, but the simple story works itself into an interesting mystery with an environmental message.  This whole series is a definite buy for your elementary library - no need to read the longer fiction books first, and these can be read in any order.  

EL - ESSENTIAL  Lisa Librarian

Counting Sheep by Jacqueline Kelly - ADVISABLE

Kelly, Jacqueline Counting Sheep, 104 pgs. Henry Holt and Company (Godwin), 2017 $15.99 Language: G (0 swears 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G. 

It’s spring in 1904 Texas and Calpurnia Tate is busy keeping her little brother Travis out of trouble (he wants to keep every animal he catches).  But on an afternoon walk with her grandfather, she discovers what are probably butterfly eggs on a leaf, and collects them to study. When one of the butterflies has an injured wing, Calpurnia and her grandfather figure out what to do.  

The 2nd in a new series (Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet)  this heartwarming easy reader is a sweet story.  A little bit of action when a ewe has trouble delivering a lamb, but so well handled and not gross at all.  A spin off of the older book (The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate) no prior understanding of that book or of Skunked is required to enjoy this fun historical read.   

EL - ADVISABLE  Lisa Librarian

Skunked by Jacqueline Kelly - ADVISABLE

Kelly, Jacqueline Skunked! (Calpurnia Tate #2), illustrated by Jennifer Meyer. 106 pgs. Macmillan (Henry Holt) 2016. $15.99. Content: G.  

When Calpurnia’s brother Travis brings home an orphaned baby skunk, Calpurnia scrambles to help care for the secret pet - an animal no one wants, but is so cute! But when Travis goes back to the hollow tree, there’s another surprise.  

The first in a new series (Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet)  this heartwarming easy reader is a sweet story with enough action and skunks that the boys will like it too. A spin off of the older reader (The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate) no prior understanding of the book is required to enjoy this fun historical read.  

EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE  Lisa Librarian

The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly - ESSENTIAL

Kelly, Jacqueline The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate, 309 pgs. Macmillan (Henry Holt), 2015, $16.99.  Language: PG (2 swears, 0Fs); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.  

13-year-old Calpurnia Tate is a very busy young lady.  Between her science lessons (including dissections) with Grand-daddy, keeping track of her younger brother Travis and all the stray animals he brings home she hardly has time for herself.  Now, her cousin Aggie is living with them (Aggie’s family’s home was destroyed in the hurricane that hit Galveston) and she is sharing Calpurnia’s room, and Calpurnia is starting to notice how much differently she is treated than her brothers.  Her parents have much different expectations for Callie’s future than she does.  

This books is a joy to read! Well written in a voice that clearly reflects the turn of the century vocabulary and mannerisms. Nostalgic and sentimental, the sequel to The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, it does stand well on its own, but don’t miss out on her story, read them both.  

MS, HS -  ESSENTIAL Lisa Librarian