Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry Pratchett - OPTIONAL

Pratchett, Terry Dragons at Crumbling Castle, 367 p. Clarion (Houghton Mifflin), 2014.  $17.  

Back when he was a teenager, Terry Pratchett wrote lots of short stories, a few of which have been collected into this book.  Within their pages you can see the roots of Pratchett’s wit and sarcasm before he sets out to write his extremely funny, funny novels.

Unfortunately, Pratchett’s humor is wasted on children - I can’t get my students to read and share his series at all.  They just can’t see the brillance in the Bromeliad trilogy or of Discworld.  Too bad for them.

EL, MS - OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Peedie AND BooBoo by Dunrea - ADVISABLE

Dunrea, Olivier Peedie AND BooBoo.  EARLY READERS (Level 1).  Houghton Mifflin, 2004.  $3.99 (paper) or $13 (hardcover).  Content: G.  Peedie and BooBoo’s introductions have been reformatted as Green Light readers and reissued, including downloadable audio.  Dunrea’s corral of characters is extremely adorable and appealing.  

Pre-K - ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Gingerbread for Liberty! by Mara Rockliff - ESSENTIAL

Rockliff, Mara Gingerbread for Liberty! Pictures by Vincent X. Kirsch.  PICTURE BOOK.  Houghton Mifflin, 2015.  $18.  

The German baker in Philadelphia had the best bread and the best gingerbread in the entire city.  When the Revolution comes, he is willing to go and fight, even in his old, out of shape condition.  Instead, he rolls up his sleeves and feeds the troops.  His baking even convince at least one troop of hired Hessions to surrender and then defect to the American side.  

What a  great book to convince a high school or middle school history teacher that picture books have a place within their classroom!  The illustrations feel like gingerbread men and the author includes a short, but well-detailed true account of the German baker at the back of the book.  

EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Have You Seen My Dragon? by Steve Light - OPTIONAL

Light Steve, Have You Seen My Dragon? PICTURE BOOK, Candlewick Press, 2014. $17. CONTENT G. 

A little boy is hunting all through the streets of New York City to find his dragon, who has inexplicably disappeared.  As he pursues his friend, he introduces to many things to count in the city.  A combination of hide and seek and counting.  

Pre-K - OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Everything I Need to Know About Love I Learned From a Little Golden Book by Diane Muldrow

Muldrow, Diane Everything I Need to Know About Love I Learned From a Little Golden Book, 96 pgs. Random House, 2014. $9.99. PICTURE BOOK Content: G.  

If you grew up with a houseful of little golden books, this is a beautiful trip down memory lane.  With simple instructions about love matched with the memorable illustrations for many little golden books, adults will find the nostalgia irresistible.  That’s the beauty of this book, I’m not sure it would be engaging for children.  Give it to your favorite Valentine. 

 OPTIONAL GIFT  Lisa Librarian

One Big Pair of Underwear by Laura Gehl- ADVISABLE

Gehl, Laura One Big Pair of Underwear.  Illustrate by Tom Lichtenheld.  PICTURE BOOK.  Beach Lane Books, 2014. 17.99. Content : G. Two bears find a funny, big pair of underwear but do not want to share it with each other.  How will they solve this dilemma? Each page in this book not only explores counting, it also provides similar conflicts with sharing between fun animals participating in exciting activities. Goats, pigs, ducks and baboons alike find themselves in situations where one animal is left out of the fun.  How can they solve this problem? Who will set the example of finding solutions through the simple act of sharing? This book is a counting book that not only rhymes but teaches a lesson in sharing. We enjoyed not only the storyline, but the illustrations. Pre-K.  EL (K-3). ADVISABLE. Reviewer: SL.

Tickly Toes by Susan Barroux- OPTIONAL

Barroux, Susan Hood Tickly Toes. BOARD BOOK. Kids Can Press, Limited. 2014. $9.95. Content: G. Nothing makes a baby laugh quite like their ten tickly toes! Mommy and Daddy enjoy playing with baby and making him laugh.  His toes can be tickled, splash in the bath, and be reached when he bends one pudgy knee.  This is a cute board book for babies. It is written in rhyme. The illustrations are unique and simple.  Understandably the baby’s toes are the focus of this board book, but the baby’s toes are drawn to look a little odd. We aren’t sure we liked them! Pre-K.  OPTIONAL. Reviewer: SL. 

The Eternity Key by Bree DeSpain - OPTIONAL

DeSpain, Bree The Eternity Key, 368 p. Egmont, MAY 2015.  $19.  Content: G (2 swears, 0 ‘f’).

Daphne may have thwarted her destiny as a tithe for her father’s fame and avoided a life in the Underrealm, but things are by no means settled.  Daphne and her friends still need to find the Compass, which will lead her to the Key, which she can hopefully use to open Persephone’s Gate  and stop the Underlord’s plan to unleash the Keres on the mortal world.  Throw in a group of Skylords with their own agenda and Daphne’s inability to open her heart to Haden and a few more problems and the waters become very murky indeed.  

I loved book #1 so much that I felt guilty that I was so grateful when I reached the end of this book.  The plot has become pretty cluttered with characters and feels more like a vehicle to book three than a fulfilling novel in its own right.  I did, however, enjoy Garrick’s plot twist at the end.  No more spoilers from me, however.  Would publishers and author’s please rethink their devotion to the trilogy as a plot vehicle?  I have enjoyed DeSpain’s writing in the past; I am holding out hope for book 3 to redeem the series.  

MS, HS - OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS