Blue Sky by Audrey Wood - OPTIONAL

Wood, Audrey Blue Sky 32 pg. The Blue Sky Press, 2012. PICTURE BOOK. $16.99. In this simple, bold book, our vision is shifted upwards to the many different colors and moods of the sky. Every illustration is a two page spread with a two word description of what kind of sky it is. Nice book, but not overly impressed with it. This would make a good bedtime book for the little ones. Pre-K/EL(K-3)- OPTIONAL. Whitney, Library Teacher.

Rubia and the Three Osos by Susan Middleton Elya - ESSENTIAL

Elya, Susan Middleton Rubia and the Three Osos illustrated by Melissa Sweet 40 pg. Hyperion Books, 2010. PICTURE BOOK. $15.99. This was a cute new English/Spanish rendition of the classic Goldilocks and the Three Bears story. Written in rhyme, there is a smattering of Spanish words throughout the story that are highlighted and bolded. Unique about Spanish words is that the English meaning isn't accompanied with the Spanish word which I thought was a fresh change up. There is, however, a glossary included at the back.  The rhyming was consistent throughout the story which made it a smooth, lyrical read. The story is the same until the end where there is a revised ending with a nice moral. The illustrations were fantastic and added a wonderful dimension to the story. This would be a fun one to have in a bilingual class. EL-ESSENTIAL. Whitney, Library-Teacher.

Look at That Building! A First Book of Structures by Scot Ritchie - ADVISABLE

Ritchie, Scot Look at That Building! A First Book of Structures 32 pg. Kids Can Press, 2011. NON-FICTION. $16.95. 

Five friends set out to build a doghouse for their dog, Max, but before they can start, they need to learn all they can about buildings. They head to the library (the perfect place to start! :)) and learn all about how buildings are made, what makes them strong, and what keeps them standing. Now they are ready to build Max an amazing doghouse! 

Great beginning book about structures because there is a perfect ratio of text to pictures. Younger students wouldn't be intimidated by the text, which is sometimes in comic-book-style discussion format, and would enjoy the illustrations as well. Each page includes interesting facts about buildings that are bolded on each page. The most fun thing about the book is that the last page teaches you how to make your own mini doghouse. Great non-fiction book for intermediate grades. 

EL-ADVISABLE. Whitney, Library-Teacher. 

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer - OPTIONAL

Cremer, Andrea  Wolfsbane 390 pages  Philomel Books, 2011.  $17.99 Language: PG-13 (62 swears; no “F”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  In this sequel to Nightshade, Calla is a wolf who has left her pack to save her boyfriend Shay.  When she left the city of Vail, it was against the wishes of the Keepers who are magical wizards who deal in dark magic.  To punish Calla for leaving they torment her pack and kill her mother.  When Calla returns with the truth about who the Keepers are, she finds that the alpha male she was to marry has turned on her and half of her pack has realigned themselves to another pack.  Calla works with the Searchers, who deal in good magic, to try and save the world they all love.   

I felt like the first 200 pages of this book were a lot of talking and meetings that explained the history of the Searchers and wolves, but it wasn’t until half way through the book that the action picked up and I felt like it was more the style of the first book of the series.  It was worth reading the first two hundred pages to get to the story in the last two hundred pages.  HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson. 

Mosquitoes Are Ruining My Summer by Alan Katz - ADVISABLE

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Katz, Alan Mosquitoes Are Ruining My Summer, 27 pgs.  Margaret K. McElderly Books, 2011.  $16.99. Language-G (0 swears, 0 “f”), Sexual Content-G; Violence-G; This book is a fun, sing-songy book that is perfect for kids.  The illustrations are fabulous and familiar by David Catrow.  Children everywhere will enjoy singing different words to the familiar tunes.  It is funny.  I read it to my fifth graders and they laughed and laughed, especially about one of the poems about a guy who doesn’t do his laundry.  This is a marvelous book.  EL - ADVISABLE.  Reviewer:  BMN

The L.A. Dodger by David Kelly - OPTIONAL

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Kelly, David A.  Ballpark Mysteries 3: The L.A. Dodger  105 pages  Random House, 2011. $4.99  Content: PG.  EARLY READER.  Mike and Kate fly to Los Angeles to see Kate’s father who scouts for the L.A. Dodgers.  While there Kate’s father is threatened that if he doesn’t quit his job that bad things will happen.  Kate and Mike keep their eyes open and see someone who is following Kate’s father as they are going to the different tourist sites.  Eventually Kate and Mike help catch the man and Kate’s father’s stolen possessions are returned and he is able to keep his job.   

This was a fun fast paced transitional reader and there are fun facts about baseball at the end of the story.  EL (3-6)-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Inside: Lightning by Melissa Stewart - ADVISABLE

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Stewart, Melissa Inside: Lightning, 46 p. Sterling, 2011.  $10.  Lightning is powerful and ,ysterious.  While scientists know what forces create lightning, predicting where, when and how lightning will strike is elusive.  Instead of making the words and pictures fit the page, the author and illustrator have pages that fold out or lift up to create more logical forms for the information.  Younger students will enjoy reading the facts, the strikes and the mysteries of lightning.  If you are looking for new science books, try this entire series from Sterling.  EL – ADVISABLE.

Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin - NO

Zeitlin, Meredith Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters, 282 pgs. G. P. Punam's Sons, 2012. $ 16.99. Language-PG-13 ( 32 swears), Mature Content-R; Violence-G; Kelsey has been waiting for her Freshman year for a long time. She's got a plan to get on top real quick, but that plan does not include an ugly sweater, a few unsightly pictures in the school newspaper, and being goalie. When her supposedly well thought out plan falls apart, how can Kelsey pull her year together for a spectacular end? I loved how close to reality this story is! I laughed out loud several times and was reminded of Junie B Jones's fresh and accurate look on school life. I was however disappointed in the fact that there was teen drinking in this book. It actually took away from the book, making it less enjoyable to read. NO Student Reviewer: KU

Meet the Cars - ESSENTIAL

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Meet the Cars.  Disney Press, 2011.  $13.  Content: G.  

For any Cars crazy little boy, this book is a MUST HAVE!  Meet all the cars of Radiator Springs, Ornament Valley and everyone the gang meets as the go around the world  as part of the World Grand Prix.  Each car has a little back story that fills in gaps that didn’t have time to make it into the movies.  

SO much fun!  

EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins - OPTIONAL

Hopkins, Ellen Perfect, pgs. 622. McElderry Books, 2011. $18.99 Language- R ( 125 swears, 28 "F" words) Mature Content- R What is perfect? Everyone's perception of perfect is different. Cara is under the pressure of her expecting parents. That pressure has already sent her brother towards the easy way out, suicide. Now she is ready to try something new and find a new kind of love. Kendra wants to be perfect in the sense of beauty. It doesn't matter what she has to do to get there, drugs or surgeries. Sean is risking everything to gain preformance in everything that he does. And Andre has a passion that no one would understand, but he has to follow his heart and achieve. What would you give up to be perfect??        Hopkins has a way with the poetic and diverse type of writing. I really enjoy reading her books to het away from the generic writing style in most books. I am looking forward to future books! This book is rated R for strong language, drug use, underage drinking and sexual content.  HS - OPTIONAL Student Reviewer: CG

Bizzy Bear: Let’s Go and Play by Benji Davies - ADVISABLE

Davies, Benji Bizzy Bear: Let’s Go and Play.  Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2011.  $6.99.  BOARD BOOK.  Content: G.  Bizzy Bear is off to play with his friends in the park.   While the rhymes left me a bit underwhelmed, they are spot on for the little hands these books are intended for.  The colors are bright and the pictures are happy – and the added dimension of sturdy pull tabs and slide-y rings mean that this movable board book will stand up under a lot of use.  Pre-K – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Moulton - ADVISABLE

Moulton, Courtney Allison  Wings of the Wicked, pgs. 528. Katherine Tegan Books, 2012. $17.99 Language PG-13(33 swears, 0 "F" words) Mature Content- PG-13 Ellie has been trying to handle her life as the Preliator. Will, her Guardian, and her long to be with each other but they have to keep their relationship strictly business. Reapers have been after her and they are Hell's strongest. Bastian has a plan to unleash the souls of the damned upon humanity and he wants to use a Ellie to do that. Ellie has to find away to fight off Bastian and save herself, the world and everyone around her.     This is the second book of the Angelfire trilogy. I really enjoyed continuing this trilogy and I really like the books. It kept me on edge and not wanting to put it down. I cannot want for the last book! MS ADVISABLE Student Reviewer: CG

Bizzy Bear: Fun on the Farm by Benji Davies - ADVISABLE

Davies, Benji Bizzy Bear: Fun on the Farm.  Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2011.  $6.99.  BOARD BOOK.  Content: G.  Bizzy Bear is off to visit the farm.  In short, repetitious rhyme he meets the animals and helps out.  While the rhymes left me a bit underwhelmed, they are spot-on for the little hands these books are intended for.  The colors are bright and the pictures are happy – and the added dimension of sturdy pull tabs and slide-y rings mean that this movable board book will stand up under a lot of use.  Pre-K – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Havoc by Jeff Sampson - ADVISABLE

Sampson, Jeff Havoc, pgs. 352. Balzer & Bray, 2012. $17.99 Language PG (27 swears, 0 "f" words) Mature Content- PG Now that the guy that was trying to kill Emily is dead, she thinks everything will be normal again. But she is wrong, finding that the lurking shadowmen are still watching her. Emily and her packmates what to know the truth of why they were made and who made them. But the closer they get to finding everything out, the more that comes at them. They aren't the only ones with powers or special abilities. Now they have to uncover what the company has been hiding, and Emily has to make a tough choice... But it isn't over yet.     Left on the edge of my seat once more! This is the second book to Vesper and there has to be another one! I am excited to read the next book! MS - ADVISABLE Student Reviewer: CG

Lala Salama by Patricia MacLachlan - ADVISABLE

 MacLachlan, Patricia Lala Salama: a Tanzanian Lullaby, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon.  Candlewick, 2011.  $17.  PICTURE BOOK.  Content: G.  The life of a child in Tanzania is unimaginable for the little children of the USA – except that MacLachlan’s words and Zunon’s illustrations paint a vivid picture for them.  Whether during story time or in a multicultural unit, children should enjoy learning about a faraway land – and maybe creating a soft rhythm of their own to accompany it.  PRE-K, EL(K-3) – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

Triangles by Ellen Hopkins - ADULTS

Hopkins, Ellen Triangles, pgs. 533. Atria Books, 2011. $26.00 Language- R (71 swear, 16 "F" words) Mature Content- R

Holly regrets her life as a stay at home mom. Now she decides to lose herself in a world of sex. Andrea, a single mom, watching Holly throw away what she has been dreaming about: a commited relationship. What if Andrea picks up what Holly is throwing away? Then Marissa - Dealing with a gay son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband that chooses work over the fact of hard life. All facing their challenges, falling apart, coming together and learning the meaning of friendship, betrayal and forgiveness.

Hopkins expresses her work in a unique poetic form that really gets her point across.  I really enjoy reading her novels and know that it is a great book as soon as I see her name. I would recommend her books! This book is rated R for strong language, sexual content, and drug use.

ADULTS - Student Reviewer: CG

The Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers by Lisa Ernst - NO

Ernst, Lisa Campbell. The Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers Dutton Children’s Books, 2011. $16.99. Content G- PICTURE book.  The gingerbread girl receives animal crackers as a birthday gift and they run away.  This sets the stage for disaster when a hungry fox tries to trick the animal crackers into coming with him leaving Gingerbread Girl to save the day.  I suppose if you are into talking cookies and crackers this would be a great book. The story is written in rhyming couplets but seemed forced and the flow was choppy at times. NO. Shauna, reading teacher.

Shelter by Harlan Coben - ADVISABLE

Coben, Harlan  Shelter (A Mickey Boltair novel), 304 pages  Penguin Young Reader’s Group, 2011.  $18.99  Content: Language PG-13 (9 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence PG-13.  Mickey Bolitar is a 6’4” sophomore who is living with his uncle because his father recently died in a car accident and his mother’s way of coping is to do drugs.  On the first day of registration Mickey meets a new girl named Ashley and they become friends.  Three weeks into school Ashley mysteriously disappears and nobody can give Mickey a good enough answer to where she went, so he starts an investigation of his own.  Along the way he befriends a social outcast girl who becomes his best friend and a computer nerd named Spoon.  The clues these three friends find lead them to a strip club where they uncover an abusive and violent manager’s hold over his women employees.  This book was a fun mystery with characters that are enjoyable to follow and it is hard to put down.  This book has a few violent moments and although the strip club is all implied seedy behavior, I believe it should probably be kept in the high school setting.  HS-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

A Very Babymouse Christmas by Jennifer and Matthew Holm - OPTIONAL

Holm, Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm  A Very Babymouse Christmas  90 pages GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2011.  $6.99  Content: G.  Babymouse is excited for Christmas and has set her eyes on the Whiz Bang electronic toy.  She spends all day in line to talk to Santa about it and in her efforts to get a Whiz Bang she almost loses sight of the true meaning of Christmas time.  On Christmas morning she wakes up to find her Whiz Bang, but she is unable to play with it because it doesn’t have batteries.  She spends the day playing with her little brother and decides that the best part of Christmas is being with family.  This book was all over the place.  The narrator talks to Babymouse and it’s hard to tell where the storyline is headed because sometimes Babymouse is dreaming.  It was confusing to follow and although the illustrations are cute, it doesn’t make up for the confusion. EL (3-6)-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson

Francis Scott Key's Star-Spangled Banner by Monica Kulling - ESSENTIAL

Kulling, Monica.  Walz, Richard.  Step Into Reading: Francis Scott Key’s Star-Spangled Banner, EARLY READER/NON-FICTION.  Randon House for Young Readers, 2012.  $3.99.  

This is a great condensed version of the true story our national anthem.  The story details the life of Francis Scott Key and how the War of 1812 influenced his writing America’s most beloved song.  The end of the book details the whereabouts of that infamous flag and its current home at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.  

EL (K-3).  ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer: SL.