Jingle, Jingle by Sebastien Braun - OPTIONAL

Braun, Sebastien Jingle, Jingle (Can you Say it, too?). BOARD BOOK.  $9. 

Christmas has arrived and you can explore the sounds of the season with your littlest friends.  Five large flaps to lift are fairly sturdy – they won’t stand up to major abuse, but will last longer than many I’ve seen.

Pre-K – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Fright Club by Ethan Long - ESSENTIAL

Long, Ethan Fright Club.  PICTURE BOOK.  Bloomsbury, 2015.  $17.  

Vladimir has gathered his ghoulish friends for a last-minute pep talk before Halloween night, until a cute fuzzy bunny wants to join the club.  Vladimir is certain that adorable creatures just don’t have what it takes to make Halloween scary.

Yeah!  Another awesome book to add to a Halloween collection!  I can’t wait to read this one aloud, as Long has created another perfect melding of text and illustration.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnrvcLtvyA8

Mr. Pants: Trick or Feet! - ADVISABLE

McCormick, Scott  Mr. Pants: Trick or Feet!  127 pgs.  Illustrated by R. H. Lazzell  Dial Books for Young Readers, 2015.  GRAPHIC NOVEL $12.99  Content: G.   

Mr. Pants is exited for Halloween to come because he gets to be a zombie, go trick or treating, and he get to play zombie tag. So far Halloween is not going so good, all the zombie costumes. There is one thing that can save Mr. Pants’ Halloween, him and his family are going to visit their grandparents but when there is an unexpected snow storm that delays there flight they don’t get to go trick or treating.  They end up playing zombie tag inside of the airport and he is happy.  

I really liked the pictures especially the characters—animated cats—pretty adorable.  I liked the mom’s positive attitude about everything.  I wish that it would have been longer and I plan on reading more Mr. Pants books.   

EL (K-3)-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, Isabelle, age 11.

Dissonance by Erica O'Rourke - OPTIONAL

O’Rourke, Erica  Dissonance (Dissonance, #1), 484 pgs.  Simon and Schuster, 2014.  $10.99  

Content: Language: R (50 swears; 1 “F”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG.   

Every time people make a decision another dimension branches off creating an "echo" of what might have been. Del can walk among the dimensions, but isn't supposed to interact with the people there, but she breaks that rule and starts a relationship with her crush (Simon) from the real world.  Del knows she shouldn’t see Simon in the echoes, so she tries to avoid him, but he shows up in all the echoes.  The world of Walkers (Del’s people) are working hard to fight against a major rift in the echoes that is starting to affect the real world, and Del and her sister try to help.  

This is a creative world and it’s easy to understand and move around in.  The main character has spunk and her character growth is great.  My issues with the book are the token “F” word and Del goes from making out with Simon to willing to sleep with him quite fast.  It’s between advisable and optional, but I think its length will discourage a lot of readers.   

HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.   

Resonance by Erica O'Rourke - OPTIONAL

O’Rourke, Erica  Resonance (Dissonance, #2), 434 pgs.  Simon and Schuster, 2015.  $18.99.  Content: Language: R (51 swears; 3 “F”); Mature content: PG-13 (off page sex); Violence: PG-13 (torture).   

Del is a Walker, which means she can cross dimensions, and she has fallen in love with Simon, a half-Walker who is causing rifts in the real world.  Del cleaves Simon into an echo in the hopes of protecting him from the Walker leaders who want to preserve only the real world and cleave all the other dimensions, which would kill the echo people there.  But when she is separated from Simon, she realizes that she doesn’t want to live without him and that the other Walkers need to know that the echoes are real people too even if they don’t exist in the same dimension.  Del takes on the Walker leaders while searching among the dimensions for Simon and she finds herself in the middle of a war.   

This is a sequel to the first book in the series.  The world is creative and the author brings the reader along the different dimensions effortlessly.  The characters are interesting and the world is fascinating because it feels like it could be read, but at times the story line is bogged down with too much detail.  The ending also didn't have enough resolve. 

 HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson. 

Playful Pigs from A to Z by Anita Lobel - ADVISABLE

Lobel, Anita.  Playful Pigs from A to Z.  Alfred A. Knopf (Random House), 2015.  $16.99.  PICTURE BOOK

Twenty-six “playful pigs” wake up one morning and decide to go exploring.  They wander into a magically ABC field where each pig finds the letter that starts with their name from A to Z.  Each pig then plays with their letter using a word that starts with the same letter.   For example, “Imogen Pig Imitated an I.”  The pigs then went home to eat dinner and slept well because they had played all day.  

This picture book is a twist on typical ABC books where there is a picture of an item that starts with each letter, this book is more action oriented with an action for each letter.  The illustrations are warm and playful.  The pigs aren’t dressed at the beginning or end, but once they go into the ABC clothes they are anthropomorphized and wear and behave like humans.  A delightful addition to the ABC book genre.   

Pre-K, EL-ADVISABLE.  Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.   

Stink and the Shark Sleepover (Stink #9) by Megan McDonald -ADVISABLE

McDonald, Megan Stink and the Shark Sleepover (Stink #9) 157 pgs. Candlewick Press, 2014. $4.99 Content: Language: G Mature Content: G Violence: G CHAPTER BOOK
Stink and his family are sleeping over at an aquarium! One that has sharks! His friends are going too, and his nemesis. Stink learns a ton about different creatures at the Aquarium, enjoys a scavenger hunt, and tries to prank his big sister Judy. The big question is..will Stink be able to sleep!?
This is a fun and easy read for a chapter book and its surprisingly stuffed with fun facts and information without seeming teachy. Stink is an authentic character is a fully realized world. My only complaint is that the author chose to delve into the Bloody Mary myth and I think 1-2grade is way too young for that. I was scared of mirrors for years after hearing about it when I was in 6^th grade, I just don’t think younger readers are ready for it.
EL (K-3)  –ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Switch by Ingrid Law - ADVISABLE

Law, Ingrid Switch, 356 pgs. Penguin (Dial) 2015. $16.99. Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.  

13 year old Gypsy is trying to control her savvy - the ability to see someone’s future or past - and is quickly realizing that she has no control over changing anything that she sees about to happen.  Then, when the family gets the news that Poppa’s mother, Grandma Pat, will be moving in with them - in Grandpa Bomba’s room - everyone’s savvy changes to its opposite.  Samson, who used to be able to become invisible, now causes fires, perfect momma has become clumsy, and little Tucker, who hasn’t even got his savvy yet, suddenly grows into a giant when he gets mad.  And Gypsy, well, she can stop time. But getting it started again is a problem.  

Book #3 in the Savvy series is just as magical as the other 2.  Continuing the story of the Beaumont family, with their impossible savvies and the improbable situations make for a delightful fantasy read, and this time, there are people outside the family involved.  How will they ever keep the secret safe?  Don’t try this one without reading Savvy and Scumble first.  

EL, MS - ADVISABLE  Lisa Librarian

The Magic Box (Ghost and Max Monroe Case #1) by L.M. Falcone -OPTIONAL

Falcone, L.M. The Magic Box (Ghost and Max Monroe Case #1) 87 pgs. Kids Can Press, 2014. $12.95 Content: Language: G (0 swears but quite a few Hecks); Mature Content: G Violence: G CHAPTER BOOK
Max is not excited to stay with his grandfather, that is, until he finds the closed down office of the Monroe Detective agency in the backyard. Turns out it used to be owned by his great Uncle Larry before he died, and he hasn’t quite left yet. Max and Larry’s ghost take their first case together, quite by accident, and suddenly Max’s new move doesn’t seem so bad after all.
As an introduction to a series, I didn’t feel like I got to know the main characters very well at all, and even less so once the mystery solving started going. A little girl is missing and no one tells her parents or calls the police, the main character Max, a young boy himself, determining that it must have been an inside job not a kidnapper. Add to this quite a few ‘hecks’, given that this is a short chapter book, and you have a story that doesn’t work for my school library.
EL (K-3)  –OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Dressed to Frill (Sew Zoey #12) by Chloe Taylor -ADVISABLE

Taylor, Chloe Dressed to Frill (Sew Zoey #12) 170 pgs. Simon Spotlight, 2015. $6.99 Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: G
Zoey’s best friend Libby is going to have a Bat Mitzvah and has asked her to design her dress. In fact, all her friends want her to design their outfits for the event. But then Libby’s mom doesn’t like the design that Zoey has come up, a new thing for Zoey! Zoey must also deal with her brother’s breakup with Allie, a friend of hers.
I still really enjoy the Sew Zoey series and its been a fun addition to the library collection. Combine this series with some history of fashion and Kiki magazine and you have a future fashion designer! But I am not adding more to my collection, most student readers check out two or three and are ready to move onto other things. I do like the continued internet safety lessons (like cropping out the face of her friend for privacy reasons.
EL –ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

The Royal Cup (Last Man #2) by Balak and Michael Sanlaville and Bastien Vives -ADVISABLE

Balak and Sanlaville, Michael and Vives, Bastien The Royal Cup (Last Man #2) 207 pgs. First Second, 2015. $9.99 Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: R Violence: PG GRAPHIC NOVEL
Adrian and Richard are getting closer to the championship cup as they face a variety of contestants. Despite Adrian's lack of skill and Richards complete lack of magical ability, the two are making headway. In the meantime Richard is romancing Adrian's mom and that is confusing for him. When Richards travel pack is stolen, will it derail him from his goal of winning the cup?  
I loved the first book, and the second book is a great read as well, but it goes in the R rating zone for mature content with nudity and sex. This series is going to have to be public only, its totally not appropriate for a school. That being said, If I was a public librarian in the teen section I would question adding it there and would consider putting it with the adult graphic novels. It is odd to follow the adventures of cute little boy but then get hit with a ton of adult romance. Too bad.  
PUBLIC/ADULT  –ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation: The Transcontinental Railroad by Martin W. Sandler - ADVISABLE

Sandler, Martin W. Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation: The Transcontinental Railroad NON FICTION 211 pgs. Candlewick Press, 2015. $22.99. Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: G; Violence: G.  

The great race to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by railroad in the 1860s is masterfully described in this beautifully presented book.  Lots of photographs, maps, biographies of the key players, side bars and information. Sandler covers the organization of both the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads, the difficulties and successes; the corrupt organizers, politicians and shareholders; the hardworking Irish and Chinese immigrants, the brilliant designers, surveyors and inventors, trouble with mother nature, deserts, mountains and indians.  The whole story is here.

So well put together, I couldn’t put it down. A great read. Includes an index, bibliography, source material and photography credits. 

EL - Optional MS, HS - ADVISABLE  Lisa Librarian

How to Babysit a Leopard by Ted and Betsy Lewin - ESSENTIAL

Lewin, Ted and Betsy How to Babysit a Leopard NON FICTION 136 pages. MacMillian (Roaring Brook Press) 2014. $22.99. Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: G; Violence: PG. (Bullfighting described, also animals killing and eating other animals)  

Ted and Betsy Lewin, authors of over 200 books have traveled the world together since the 1970s.  This book is full of short vignettes and stories about their many experiences with people, animals and places all over the globe. From the african jungles to the Mongolian desert, we learn about interesting animals, giant bugs, the best way to eat something gross, what is making that strange noise, how to get your driver to stop for a drink of water when he doesn’t speak your language, where giant mushroom grow over night, and how to babysit a leopard.  

It’s like having these two for dinner and they regale the dinner party with their great and interesting experiences. A perfect book to pick up for a minute, and then put down (if you can.) Illustrated with sketches, drawings, photographs, and maps.  

EL - ADVISABLE MS, HS - ESSENTIAL  Lisa Librarian

Cassidy’s Guide to Everyday Etiquette (and Obfuscation) by Sue Stauffacher - OPTIONAL

Stauffacher, Sue Cassidy’s Guide to Everyday Etiquette (and Obfuscation) 294 pgs. Random House (Knopf) 2015. $16.99. Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: G; Violence: G. 

When Cassidy’s great grandmother dies, 11-year-old Cassidy receives Emily’s Post’s books and 10 weeks of etiquette lessons as her inheritance.  She would have rather had hobo lessons. Cassidy wants to be a “knight of the open road” when she grows up.  Not willing to make the best of it, Cassidy goads a friend into helping her play a prank on Miss Melton-Mowry, the manners teacher,  which goes terribly awry.  Now Cassidy is in real trouble! Her punishment? She has to be the example of a worst case etiquette makeover and show that she has learned perfect manners at a fancy dinner at a country club! 

This is book is full to bursting with subplots, all about Cassidy. The new girl next door has caught the eye of Cassidy’s best friend (12-year-old Jack); Cassidy has an extreme fear of bugs; Delton, the weird kid from school is in her etiquette class, and wants to get some “daring do” lessons from Cassidy. Also, Cassidy is naughty and quite rude and seems to think that she has no control over that.  That it's her titanic karma not her choices that cause all her problems.  I hope a middle school reader can see through this.  Several funny situations, adventurous and quirky Cassidy will probably irritate adults, but kids may find her endearing.  

MS - OPTIONAL Lisa Librarian