Please Say Please! by Kyle T. Webster - ADVISABLE

Webster, Kyle T. Please Say Please! PICTURE BOOK.  Scholastic Press, JULY 2016.  $18. 

When a little girl is highly demanding, the kind gentleman reminds her to say “please” in order to get what she wants. 

If you are having a hard time with someone in your life not being polite, this is a fun choice to open up the discussion.  Of course, unlike the girl in the story, the children will not get a tiger instead of a cat just for saying ‘please”, but that is what discussion is for, right?

Pre-K, EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library teacher

Run for your Life! Predators and Prey on the African Savanna by Lola Schaefer – OPTIONAL

Schaefer, Lola Run for your Life! Predators and Prey on the African Savanna Holiday House, 2016. $16.95 PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION
This simple story shows the prey animals of the savannah moving away from predators in a variety of ways such as springing, bounding, scurrying, leaping, and more. The large illustrations are a harmonious and subdued color scheme.
I don’t care for these illustrations, the Savannah is such a striking and beautiful habitat, but this washed out bland thing is pretty boring. The story has a lot of movement which I really like, but some of the predator prey duos strike me as a bit off like jackals chasing giraffes? Elephants running from snakes? This would still be a fun read for Kindergartners and could even be acting out with all the movement words.
EL (K-3) –OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Glow: Animals with their own Nightlights by W.H. Beck – ADVISABLE

Beck, W.H. Glow: Animals with their own Nightlights Houghton Mifflin, 2016. $17.99 PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION
This fascinating books features mostly black pages so the images of a variety of creatures light up the pages with their glow. The simple and large words teach the reader about how these creatures glow and why. Stellar color photographs.
This book is very is a fun and interesting read. It could be used by a teacher for K-2 graders, and many of those may be drawn to this book and could easily read it alone. The imagery is just stunning, especially the firefly larvae lighting up a cave in New Zealand and bioluminescent waves.
EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Legacy of Secrets by Ridley Pearson - ADVISABLE

Pearson, Ridley Legacy of Secrets (The Return), 391 pages.  Disney, 2016.  $18.  Langauge: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some fighting).

Finn has finally convinced the other Kingdom Keepers that there really is way to travel into the past and that they need to all go back to Disney’s opening day so that they can find Walt’s magic pen and put it in place for them to find in the future.  We they make their way back, however, the swiftly realize that the pen is only a small part of their problems.  The originator of the Overtakers is also there at the beginning – on the look out for opposition from Disney or others.  Meanwhile, back in our present day, Amanda and Jess know that the Keepers are stuck in the past with no way to return – yet.  And they are also battling opposition from the Overtakers.  The girls need to find a few people to trust if they are ever going to bring the Keepers back.

I am so glad that the Kingdom Keepers books are still going strong.  I am, however, mightly annoyed the Tia Dalma plays such a large role in the overall plot.  Continue buying the series for your fantasy fans and your Disney fans.

EL, MS - ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

Safe in a Storm by Stephen Swinburne - ADVISABLE

Swinburne, Stephen R. Safe in a Storm, illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell.  PICTURE BOOK.  Cartwheel Books (Scholastic), APRIL 2016.  $11.

As the storm starts to rage and howl, mother and father animals find safe places to harbor with their little ones. 

When you read that this book is dedicated to the children of Sandy Hook Elementary, it becomes even more tender and more tear-inducing.  Each family pair is sweetly drawn and are the focus as the terror of the storm fades to the background.  

This would be a great choice to replace “I’ll Love you Forever”  (because I find that book positively creepy), so as soon as this is published, start buying it for your expecting friends and your grandchildren!

Pre-K, GIFT – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library teacher

Lost Stars by Claudia Gray - ESSENTIAL

Gray, Claudia Lost Stars (Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens), 560 pages.  Disney, 2015.  $18.  Language: PG-13 (35 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (beating).

Thane Kyrell and Cierra Ree have dreamed of nothing but leaving their tiny planet and becoming star fighter pilots for the Empire.  They both make it to the Imperial Academy, but end up on very different paths.  Cierra becomes more loyal to the Empire and its goal with each passing day, while Thane quickly becomes disillusioned in the Empire after witnessing acts of brutality.  Circumstances keeping the pairs’ paths crossing, but can love or friendship survive a rift the size of a galaxy?

Become even more of a Star Wars insider as Gray brings in some familiar scenes told from new points of view, and weaves a bridge between the 2^nd trilogy and the 3^rd trilogy.

MS, HS – ESSENTIAL. 

The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright - ESSENTIAL

Bright, Rachel The Lion Inside, illustrated by Jim Field.  PICTURE BOOK.  Scholastic Press, MAY 2016.  $17.

No one in the jungle ever notices Mouse.  He is so meek and so tiny that everyone ignores him.  But Mouse decides that if he can learn to roar like Lion, then he will finally get noticed.  When Mouse comes to Lion in order to ask for help, however, something very unexpected happens. 

While this may kind of seem like a riff on Aesop, this is truly a charming story all of its own.  Text and picture work together harmoniously in an almost cartoon style that will appeal to all students come story time.

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

A Party for Clouds: Thunderstorms (Bel the Weather Girl) by Belinda Jensen – ADVISABLE

Jensen, Belinda A Party for Clouds: Thunderstorms (Bel the Weather Girl) Millbrook(Lerner) 2016. $20.00 PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION
Bel and his cousin Dylan are having a sleepover when a thunderstorm strikes. Dylan is scared and hides in their blanket fort, but Bel knows all about this kind of weather. She tells him why thunder is loud and teaches him how to count how far away a thunderstorm is. Not only does Dylan feels much better when the storm starts moving away but he knows what to do next time a storms strikes.
I am becoming a big fan of the series and am going to add the rest of the books to my must purchase list. I love how knowing more about the storms makes them less scary. There is lots of easy to understand information and great illustrations.
EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Raindrops on a Rollercoaster: Hail (Bel the Weather Girl) by Belinda Jensen – ADVISABLE

Jensen, Belinda Raindrops on a Rollercoaster: Hail (Bel the Weather Girl) Millbrook(Lerner) 2016. $20.00 PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION
Bel and her cousin Dylan are playing outside when it starts to storm. When they go inside hail starts to fall. The cousins learn about hail from Bel’s mother, a meteorologist. She explains how hail is just rain with an icy jacket, nothing to be scared of. She explains why they fall to the ground and when.
This is a wonderful book for K-2 readers, it makes hail simple and interesting to understand. Besides I am sucker for the non-fiction facts told in the guise of a story. The illustrations are pretty cute, like a pbs kids cartoon. I would add this series to my library collection in a heartbeat.
EL (K-3) –ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.