Many libraries are still closed across the country due to COVID. We have just opened our doors to allow limited browsing opportunities, but, as is the case in most parts of the country, in-person programming is a thing of the distant future. I’m thrilled to highlight a tool that might be perfect for engaging your patrons outdoors: Rainworks!
This post is not sponsored–I just really appreciate this product. The easiest explanation:
Create or purchase a stencil.
Find a surface likely to get wet when it rains.
Secure your stencil to the surface while it is dry.
Wait 24 hours, dump water on the area you sprayed the day before and BOOM:
Make sure to follow their directions, spray lightly, and thoroughly cover the surrounding potential “overspray” areas. I had a lot going on while I was installing these, so I was more impatient than I should have been, and you can see some of my overspray spots (though, really, I don’t think it hurts the affect).
We’ve only had these installed for about two weeks, but they can last for up to three months! When the ground is dry, you can’t see any difference, but whenever the ground gets wet, your Rainworks shapes appear.
Rainworks Expenses
Nothing is free, however, with limited in-library offerings, I can see a lot of potential for this product over the coming months, especially as things get wet and rainy as we enter winter. Our chosen stencils were connected to our visiting dragon (more on that below), but some creative librarian types could make obstacle courses, hopscotch boards, book recommendations, and more.
The biggest (and required) expense is the spray. I definitely over-sprayed in places, but with about half of a 16 oz. bottle, I created nine 2 foot dragon footprints and three words on our steps. That bottle costs about $130.
Your other potential expense is your own stencils. Rainworks provides an extensive explanation on how to make your own stencils that, for a crafty librarian, might be easy enough to do:
However, time isn’t always on our side, so I took a look at the premade Rainworks stencils in their shop, available for purchase. There aren’t too many options, but they range from about $7-10 each.
Options are limited, however, so I decided to test my luck on a limited budget and ask about pricing for custom stencils. I was so happy with the pricing–all three words for “Kindness is Magic” were a combined $30 and the dragon footprint was just $18 (think about how long it would take you to make stencils by hand and how much you get paid by the hour, and this may really work out in your favor).
Back Up. Why Do You Have a Dragon on the Roof?
Hilda, our 30-foot roaring and smoke breathing dragon, is part of our annual Wizards & Wands Festival event. While I haven’t been too involved in Hilda’s creation or execution, I did chair this event in 2018-2019, creating something pretty cool. Last year, we had 3,000 people over four hours explore our library for one magical evening:
The 2020 Festival was supposed to be my last attempt at shaping this event, with my co-blogger Michala taking over in 2021. For pandemic reasons, there was no event this year. Assuming pandemic resolutions, I’m going to give this one last run in 2021 while relying much more heavily on Michala than I might have in 2020, especially with some exciting plans to keep the magic but move away from all things Harry Potter.
So instead of 3,000 visitors and a ton of magic, we have some footrprints and the return of a dragon whose roars echo through our quiet post-pandemic children’s space. Though that is still pretty cool, right?
#Baby by Michael Joosten (board book) Baby-Toddler. Adorable board book in it for the laughs. Each spread is simply a photograph of a baby paired with a hashtag–#lewk, #foodie, #fashionista, and my personal favorites #mondays and #holidayspirit:
This board book is the perfect mix of adult humor combined with those beautiful photographs of baby faces that will appeal to the intended audience. Quite a collection of diverse babies too! Not quite my storytime style, but this will definitely have a lot of audience appeal.
Becoming Muhammad Ali by Kwame Alexander and James Patterson Gr. 4-6. Cassius Clay was a kid, just like most kids. He struggled in school and dealt with bullies, but after his new bike was stolen when he was twelve, Cassius started training as an amateur boxer. Dual perspectives follow Cassius through his teens, with readers following his story from both Cassius’ point of view and the point of view of his best friend, Lucky. A final chapter, from the point of view of his friend, quickly sums up Cassius’ adult life and his transformation into Muhammad Ali.
A powerful, fun read showing Cassius discover confidence and strength. I am not a sports reader, and this book kept me fully engaged with so many humorous anecdotes that painted a beautiful picture of Ali’s childhood and teen years.
Unfortunately, this is the first title in a while that I wish I hadn’t listened to on audio. I feel bad starting a review that way, but due to the narration choices, I was very confused for the first half of my listen–I wasn’t entirely sure there were two perspectives since the voices were indistinguishable, and I just kept getting confused as we shifted from Cassius being described in the first and third person. I also missed out on the illustrations I see mentioned in many reviews–I will be tracking down the physical book soon to get a more complete view of this title.
Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border by Mitali Perkins (picture book) Gr. 2-4. Siblings Maria and Juan are thrilled to head to the US-Mexico border to visit their grandmother and celebrate Las Posadas with her. Even though they are divided by a fence, they are excited to swap stories, but when it comes time to leave, they realize that their presents won’t fit through the fence. Maria creates a cunning plan to get her younger brother’s beautiful picture across the wall.
A beautiful, heartwarming story about families, love, and celebrations that also highlights the conditions of families separated by a border wall, trying to celebrate the holidays together. A soft color palette makes the harsh realities of the story more palpable for young readers.
Bling Blaine: Throw Glitter, Not Shade by Rob Sanders (picture book) Gr. K-1. Blaine loves everything sparkly. Sue loves orange; Alberto loves high-tops; Marvin loves hoodies; and Blaine loves bling. While his classmates embrace Blaine’s love of bling, not everyone else does. After some bullies make fun of his accessories, Blaine decides to leave the bling behind. Can his classmates stand up for Blaine and help Blaine get his groove back?
A cute story about identity and gender norms. The understanding and support from Blaine’s classmates is fantastic. Illustrations are colorful and show a diverse collection of students and teachers. Back matter talks about what it means to be an ally and how you can practice standing up for others.
The Chicken Who Couldn’t by Jan Thomas (picture book) Gr. PreS-K. Chicken just CAN’T win a ribbon at the fair, CAN’T fly, CAN’T walk all the way home–chicken couldn’t possibly accomplish these things! With some help from new friends, chicken develops self-confidence that allows him to defeat the hungry fox that likes to eat chickens that walk down the road.
Lots of Jan Thomas humor. This book is entirely dialogue, making it a bit of a difficult read aloud choice. May work well as a reader’s theater script. Filled with Thomas’s standard, colorful, child-friendly illustrations.
Craftily Ever After: Making the Band by Martha Maker (first chapter) Gr. 2-3. Craft-loving friends Maddie, Bella, Emily, and Sam have to figure out an act for their school’s talent show! They are sure they can find some way to showcase their crafting talents on stage, but all of their ideas are just okay until Sam is inspired to start a band using instruments they make themselves.
This is an adorable series, brimming with diversity and happy, positive messages about caring about the environment, being kind to others, making new friends, and embracing the activities you love. This particular title stands out for the kids’ perseverance after their first instruments are destroyed by rain. Also a good place to find lots of creative DIY ideas for young crafters.
Diary of an Ice Princess by Christina Soontornvat (first chapter)
The Big Freeze. Gr. 2-3. Lina has got a lot to figure out in just a few days! Her teacher at her human school wants her to create a piece of art representing Lina. Lina loves science and magic–but science won’t work for her project, and she can’t reveal her magical secret at her human school. Lina is stumped, but she doesn’t have too much time to focus on her art project because her grandfather wants Lina to pick her magical forever task. Her grandfather directs wind currents. Her mother brings the spring rains. Her cousin, Jack, makes intricate lace-like artwork out of ice. What does Lina want to do? And is she really ready to pick the job she wants to do…forever?
Slush Puppy. Gr. 2-3. Lina wants to get the perfect present for her best friend’s birthday. Claudia really, really wants a dog, and, luckily enough, Lina discovers that her winter magic can bring snow to life! Lina makes the most adorable snow puppy…but the puppy turns out to be a bit more trouble than the girls imagined. How to you train a magical dog made of snow?
This series is fun with a great combination of humor, everyday school adventures, magic powers, and a lovely message of self-acceptance. Plus, this series stars a biracial main character, is written by a diverse author, AND is a fantasy series–a combination very hard to come by in first chapter books. Recommending to anyone and everyone.
Ellie Ultra by Gina Bellisario (first chapter)
An Extra-Ordinary Girl. Gr. 2-3.Ellie Ultra is a superhero! She has spent her first eight years training in supervillain identification, combat skills, flying, and more, but now her parents think it is finally time for Ellie to start regular school. Ellie is thrilled–until she realizes that none of the other kids have superpowers. If Ellie wants to blend in, she is going to have to become a little less super. But is fitting in the best choice for Ellie?
Team Earth Takeover. Gr. 2-3. Ellie Ultra is a superhero! Ellie regularly uses her superpowers to stop supervillains, but this time she is faced with a different challenge: working with her classmates to help save the environment. Ellie and her best friend Hannah decide to build an animal habitat. Ellie loves the idea, but, as a superhero, she knows that she must really do all of the work–all of the earth saving–all by herself. It’s her superhero duty after all! Though, if she uses her dad’s cloning machine to make two Ellies that just means two superheroes will accomplish even greater results! Right?
Ellie is a cute, spunky young superhero. I prefer Mia Mayhem’s everyday adventures to this series, but, reading level wise, this is a good step up from the Mia Mayhem books. Lots of kid appeal, and I appreciate any diverse young superheroes.
Fiona, It’s Bedtime by Richard Cowdrey (picture book) Gr. Toddler-Pres. Howl! Roar! Squawk! Coo! The sun is setting at the zoo. Fiona travels around the Cincinnati Zoo to say goodnight to all of the animal families, including the cheetahs, sloths, tortoises, and more before falling asleep herself.
Come on…it’s an animal book with adorable illustrations about the baby hippo internet sensation that lives just a few hours away from my house. How can I not love it? The rhyme scheme and large illustrations (plus the local familiarity with Fiona) make this title a good storytime contender. Lots of animal identification and guessing as we turn each page and explore the zoo with Fiona.
I Love My Fangs! by Kelly Leigh Miller (picture book) Gr. PreS-K. Little Dracula loves his two, pointy, beautiful fangs! He brushes and flosses them every day, but suddenly one starts to wiggle. And then–oh dear–it falls out! How can Dracula be a vampire with just one tooth? He tries tape, string, and bubblegum to get his fang to reattach, but it just won’t go back in. How can he face the world with just one fang?!?
Lots of humor and drama surround our adorable young vampire including a hilarious battle with the tooth fairy. Bright, colorful illustrations will keep the youngest readers engaged. A great explanation about teeth for little ones soon to be visited by the tooth fairy themselves. Hoping for more adventures starring this little guy.
I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee (teen) Gr. 5-10. Skye has been told she is fat her whole life. For a while, she participated in her mom’s crazy diet schemes, but, since then, Skye has accepted herself as she is, even if her Korean mom and much of the Korean-American community find her body size alarming. Skye doesn’t have time to worry about the number on a scale because she is too busy preparing for auditions for a prestigious, televised Kpop competition. Skye knows she has the vocals and the dance moves to succeed–but will anyone in this stereotypically skinny field take her seriously? And why is hot, Instagram model Henry Cho auditioning anyway? And why is he so interested in Skye?
THIS BOOK! I powered through this title in just a few hours. This book is great mix of girl-power, strength, confidence, and pure awesomeness with a plus-sized, bisexual main character; an adorable love interest; and wonderful side characters. I love a good romance, and Henry Cho is adorable, but this book would have been just as successful without the romance because of the strength of the main character. I love the new trend in books featuring plus-size characters who are fully confident in their size. Skye is a force to be reckoned with–when she is body shamed, her confidence in herself and her appearance simply grow. Will be recommending.
A Journey Toward Hope by Victor Hinojosa and Coert Voorhees (picture book) Gr. 1-2. Children Alessandra, Laura, Nando, and Rodrigo travel, unaccompanied, north from Central America, nearly 1,000 miles through Mexico, to seek asylum in the United States. Although the children don’t know each other when the book begins, and language differences sit between them, they become fast friends as the band together to make the dangerous journey north.
Based on the true stories of the 50,000 children who make this journey each year, A Journey Toward Hope provides a unique view into these children’s experiences. Paired with four pages of back matter giving more details on the real kids who make these trips each year and information on how to help.
Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera (graphic novel) Gr. 10+. Juliet is leaving the Bronx and moving to Portland to intern for her favorite feminist author, Harlowe Brisbane. Just before leaving, Juliet came out to her Puerto Rican family and the results were…not exactly great. Juliet hopes that Harlowe will help Juliet figure out what it means to be a lesbian and Puerto Rican, but, while Harlowe definitely has a lot of ideas, Harlowe doesn’t really understand Juliet’s perspective. Even with a few bumps in the road, Juliet is sure that her experiences in Portland will help her figure out her place in the world.
Juliet is fun, vibrant character, and this is a lovely queer coming of age story that touches heavily on race and identity. I haven’t read the original book, which may have made the graphic novel experience feel a little disjointed at times. Many of Juliet’s Portland experiences felt a touch too quick, and I would have appreciated a little more detail (perhaps I just would have enjoyed this book better in novel form instead of as a graphic novel). The art is vibrant, with the colors matching the pace and setting of the story.
The Last Kids on Earth and the Skeleton Road by Max Brallier Gr. 3-5. Newest addition to the Last Kids on Earth series! This time, Jack, Quint, June, and Dirk are on the road trip of their lives, determined to track down and stop the evil Thrull. The team finally have a lead that might take them to Thrull’s Tower (a portal to bring Rezzoch, Destroyer of Worlds, to Earth). But, of course, a road trip in this series combines new monsters and constant danger with a ton of snacks, lots of humor, and many, many kitschy roadside attractions.
I adore this series–a perfect mixture of humor, action, crazy fantasy, friendship, and sarcasm. Looking forward to more, particularly additional June standalone adventures.
The Talk: Conversations about Race, Love & Truth by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson (nonfiction) Gr. 4-8+. A beautiful collection of thirty short stories, poems, letters, and essays from an amazing group of diverse authors and illustrators about how they talk to young people, most often their children, about race.
Each story was unique and poignant, though for me, personal standouts include “Handle Your Business” by Derrick Barnes, “Mazes” by Christopher Myers, and “Our Inheritance” by Adam Gidwitz. In the first, Derrick Barnes’ son comes home and in passing talks about his teacher doing an entire unit on the book Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. A kid in class asks Derrick’s son if he is happy that they are finally reading a book with a character that looks like him. While the child stands up for himself and his history, this one really hit home why proper representation is so important. Myers talks about the story of the Minotaur and how stories are twisted by the tellers to create a view that most benefits them. Gidwitz talks about explaining to his young daughter how their white family has benefited from racism–historically and in the present–giving a sharp reminder that these “talks” about racism should not be limited to diverse parents warning their kids about what they will face now and in the future.
There is so much to unpack here–it isn’t really possible to write decent summaries of some of these stories, as they each have so many layers and nuances. An excellent book to read together as a family, one story at a time. A title I will be recommending to teachers, parents, librarians, and more.
Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper (picture book) Gr. 1-2. The day after a blizzard, young Lina awakens to silence–the silence created by a heavy layer of snow. Lina decides to walk to her grandmother’s house to make a special meal. Her grandmother can’t see very well, so as Lina walks, she focuses on listening to the sounds of the world around her, discovering ten different ways to hear snow.
A beautiful story with stunning illustrations and a great point of view. Lina and her grandmother have a wonderful relationship, and the blending of story, diversity, and even a science lesson about your senses would make this a wonderful storytime or classroom read.
Note: So…I came back to work last week to over 100 holds. These were just the picture books:
So many books. And another 25 came in yesterday. Now that I write at least brief reviews for each title on Goodreads, these take more time, so even with reading a lot of books this week, I feel like I haven’t made a dent. I always have a big stack of library books, but this feels excessive even for me.
Make sure to stop by on Tuesdays for short reviews of some of these titles!
Stats for the Week:
43 Books Read This Week
28 Books with Diverse Main Character (65%)
17 Books by Diverse Authors (40%)
16 Books by Own Voices Authors (37%) (to the best of my knowledge)
Note: It’s that time of year, can you sense a theme in my reads? Although all my Halloween picture books just came in so next week I might be listing a few stragglers that make the cut for good reads.
A handful of “spooky” storytime additions this week, mixed in with some old favorites. I have a lot of great new material for upcoming baby and toddler storytimes from the book Move, Play, Learn by Alyssa Jewell.
Early Literacy Tip: Toddlers need to move, so don’t worry if they act out stories or just skip, romp, or tumble as you read to them. They may be moving, but they are listening.
Book Recommendation:Five Little Monsters Jumping on the Bed by Bill Cotter
We’ve been exploring different ways to provide virtual programming to our patrons. Many libraries have been providing make-and-take kits, but, unfortunately, due to our library’s curbside setup and our patron demand, that isn’t an option for us. A few week’s ago, I shared my Baby-Sitters Club Membership Kits, and my Camp Half Blood Welcome Kits (Percy Jackson). These How to Train Your Dragon Kits follow a similar style.
Why dragons? As part of our annual Wizards & Wands Festival, we have a 30-foot, smoke-breathing dragon on our library roof. While our large event is not taking place in 2020, Hilda has returned, and we have a few events throughout the month with a magical feel.
Why send kits in the mail? Especially kits that focus more on fun than a specific learning concept? Read my thoughts in this post.
I had a lot of fun with these! Lots of dragon and viking magic will be found within. I focused on making sure each bag contained a tangible activity (not just something to read, no matter how cool that reading might be).
Downloads for most items can be found in the downloads section below. All files are PDFs, though you can email me (bookcartqueens@gmail.com) or post in the comments if you are interested in the originals for editing.
Each child received their own envelope, even if there were multiple kids in the same house registered. This made it more individual–not just that the oldest or youngest got to open the package from the library.
Each kit contained a general welcome kit, in a document envelope, as well as seven individual bags. Four bags focused on a different element of dragon training, two were related to Viking apparel, and one contained tools that were parts of multiple included crafts.
The general welcome kit included:
Personalized welcome letter from Hiccup and Toothless
Dragon Trainer ID Card
How to Train Your Dragon Activity Guide
Readalike Book Recommendations
Swag: Bookmarks, Buttons, Trivia Sheet, Viking Name Generator, Map of Berk
The kits contained two Viking bags to create Viking apparel, so dragons would be more comfortable in our young trainer’s presence. The first kit focused on Viking Helmets:
The second focused on Viking shields:
Our first dragon training bag focused on Identifying Dragons. These included a dragon identification guide as well as a BINGO game to help young trainers master their new dragon IDing skills.
Learn how to bond with your own dragon by getting to know Hiccup’s best friend, Toothless, through a paper bag craft.
Design your dream dragon by making an adorable paper plate craft dragon from Pink Stripey Socks.
Finally, train your dragon with the best training tool in all of Berk–sheep! Discover different ways to play with your sheep in the included training guide.
Each kit also contained a tools bag, which contained supplies needed to complete many of the included crafts, such as crayons, glue dots, and gem stickers. Scissors were also needed for most crafts, though those were not included.
Each kit’s Dragon Trainer Welcome Letter was personalized.
Downloads
Everything should be downloadable from the links below. Download all editable files here. They are all Publisher files, and as usual, I used a lot of fonts.
Materials: 4 Sheep (pre-made using a 2″ white pom pom, 4 black 0.5″ pom poms, black glitter foam, googly eyes, white paint marker, and lots of hot glue)
Animal Showdown: Round Three by Stephanie Warren Drimmer (nonfiction) Gr. 3-4. Which animal is most acrobatic? Loudest? Most venomous? Lives the longest? Find out in the newest round of animal matchups.
I like that this series isn’t quite as clear cut as the Who Would Win books. While some of these questions have just one answer–like the loudest animal–the book makes the reader look at the stats and facts to figure that out (or, in the cases of less clear cut matchups, the answer is up to the reader). A great design paired with beautiful photographs and, of course, fascinating information, makes this series a win.
Goldie Vance: Larceny in La La Land by Hope Larson (graphic novel) Gr. 4-8. Goldie Vance is back and taking Los Angeles by storm! While her best friends have glamorous lives as movie stars or are off working at fancy internships, Goldie has to figure out her own summer plans. When she stumbles across a grown-up female detective, Goldie knows she is meant to spend the summer solving real mysteries! After a bit of convincing, Goldie manages to land her dream assistant job where she is quickly caught up in a pair of intertwining mysteries involving both sentimental and very lucrative thefts.
Goldie is back! Move aside Nancy Drew–Goldie Vance is the queen of teen detectives. I love the sweet alternate reality that Goldie lives in (that essentially looks a bit like a Hollywood version of the 1960s without racism, the Vietnam War, and all of those real-world issues). Goldie and her friends exude the diversity that is much needed in modern comics but probably wouldn’t have worked out well in real life at the time–Goldie is biracial, gay, curvy, and amazing (she also drag races, though that isn’t featured in this book). Her friends are equally unique and awesome. Plus these comics are just fun–a combination of Sherlock Holmes meets Nancy Drew mystery, a few high stakes action scenes, fun side characters to flesh out the plot, and a great color palate that brings the setting to life. More please!
Move, Play, Learn: Interactive Storytimes with Music, Movement, and More by Alyssa Jewell (professional development) Adult. Make your storytimes active through movement, music, and play! Think about how to make all parts of your storytime, not just some elements, an active experience, engaging little ones and caregivers throughout.
I wish I had read this book pre-COVID, but I am still glad to have found it now. Lots of great messages and ideas here (and a great list of children’s musicians!). The theory and research in this book help me put into words what I’ve been trying to do with my storytimes before and after COVID–create an active, engaging experience. The less passive listening, the better.
While I don’t agree with everything–I’m really not a theme person, and those are emphasized heavily in this text–the below paragraph really stuck with me, so much that I wanted to include it here to refer back to. I had a core set of storytime materials that I used pre-COVID, and I didn’t put that much effort into revitalizing those materials. While I still use a bit more repetition than is highlighted in this book, I’ve been taking a much more thorough effort into planning and carefully selecting materials for my virtual storytimes–finding quality materials that I enjoy that highlight new voices, cover an early literacy skill, and fit the appropriate developmental level. I’ve wondered a lot about the time commitment involved with this and how this will fit into my job when I am back on desk with the public many hours a week, and I’ve been coming to the conclusion that storytime content needs to remain a priority. Author Jewell sums this up nicely in her text:
“For me, selecting the best materials for storytime is at the core of what it means to be a good children’s librarian. My job is to showcase the best of what the library’s collection has to offer. This means not only keeping up to date with the newest books and music, but also performing rigorous searches of the collection for each storytime theme, as there are sometimes hidden gems published years ago hiding in the stacks and begging to be brought to life. This is not always easy to do if you, like most librarians and teachers, are strapped for time. Everyone falls into bad habits at some point, such as rushing through material selection, gravitating toward comfortable materials that you or others have used time and time again, or choosing materials that you think are cute but are really not developmentally appropriate for your storytime. If you find yourself falling into any of these behaviors, take a step back and remember: the building blocks of storytime are the materials you select. If you are not putting energy into that process, then your foundation will be shaky.” – page 51
Queen of the Spelling Bee (Ellie Ultra) by Gina Bellisario (first chapter) Gr. 2-3. Life isn’t always filled with daring rescues for young superhero Ellie Ultra. She has to go to school, and sometimes those school days are filled with spelling bee practice! Ellie is sure that her super talents will make her a spelling bee champion, but when Ellie decides she doesn’t need to practice, things don’t work out as planned. But is there more to this new substitute librarian than meets the eye? Something seems to be off about the plans for the upcoming school-wide spelling bee…will Ellie need to save the day?
Ellie is a cute, spunky young superhero. I prefer Mia Mayhem’s everyday adventures to this series, but, reading level wise, this would be a good step up from the Mia Mayhem books. I’m not sure if these books have to be read in order (no series number on the spine), but I definitely felt a bit confused by many of the references to what felt like previous books. This felt a little disjointed at times with a heavy focus on the fast-paced action, but I see the kid appeal, and I appreciate any diverse young superhero.
Rick by Alex Gino Gr. 4-5. Rick has always gone along with his best friend, Jeff. Even when his best friend is mean–best friends stick together, right? Now, Rick is in middle school. He learns that maybe things don’t all have to be one way, especially when a new friend leads him to a meeting of the school’s rainbow spectrum club. The kids in this club seem to be so sure of who they are (or they are comfortable in being not so sure). Rick longs to be just as understood–but can he figure out who he is while still keeping his life as it has always been?
This was fun and so sweet! I loved the call backs to George–even though its been a while since I read that title, hearing Melissa introduce the talent show with a few loud “salutations!” was lovely. Rick was a particularly great perspective to explore. While George was a bit stronger of a book for me, I like that Rick was–and still is–questioning who he is. That questioning is normal and such a part of growing up that isn’t focused on quite as often as the kids who “know” something about themselves. Rick’s relationship with his grandfather was particularly strong and nuanced. Looking forward to more books!
School for Extraterrestrial Girls #1: Girl on Fire by Jeremy Whitley Gr. 5-8. Tara Smith longs to be extraordinary–but, when she said that, she dreamed of becoming an astronaut, not spontaneously combusting in math class. She wanted to travel to space–not find out she is really an alien. She wanted her parents to be a little less routine-oriented–not really be kidnappers that tore her away from her home and hid Tara’s true identity from her for years.
But, things don’t always work out the way you expect. Such as when you discover all of these extraordinary things about yourself, while also finding out that you still have to go to high school (but now a high school for alien teenage girls). New friendships, drama, and confusion seem to follow Tara wherever she goes as she tries to figure out where she fits in among the big, wide universe.
A new series by the author of Princeless! This wasn’t quite as amazing as Princeless, but I am definitely looking forward to the sequel. Tara’s emotional ups and downs felt very real, and I’m excited to see more of the world created in this series, including the multitude of alien species (more cat people please!). I’m also ready for the strength of a united Tara, Summer, and Misako–their new school isn’t going to know what hit them.
There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon Gr. 7+. Ashish was recently dumped by his (now ex-) girlfriend. Ever since the breakup, nothing is working–he can’t seem to flirt anymore, he never feels happy, and basketball just feels routine. Even though he can’t ever imagine it working, he agrees to let his parent’s set him up with a new girl, hoping that a little bit of a flirting and a few dates (without the pressure of making those things happen himself) might help him find his groove again.
Sweetie doesn’t think too much about romance–she is too busy beating everyone on the track, hanging out with her friends, and singing in the shower. When Sweetie finds out that Ashish’s parents want to set the two of them up, she is mildly interested–until Sweetie’s mom denies the match because Sweetie’s traditional Indian mom thinks Sweetie is too fat for an attractive, rich boy like Ashish.
Sweetie is furious. She doesn’t care so much about dating Ashish, as she hates how her parent’s insecurities about Sweetie’s weight make them control her actions. She tracks down Ashish and proposes a deal–that they date, in secret, behind their parent’s backs. He gets his mojo back, and Sweetie proves that fat girls are datable. Ashish agrees. Obviously, love follows.
I love all of Sandhya Menon’s sweet romance novels, and I’m glad I saved this one for last (of what she has currently published). It was fun to see familiar characters again, but Ashish and Sweetie just have a great dynamic. Contrary to their names, Ashish was the one who was a little too sweet for me at times, especially toward the end of the book, but Sweetie’s self-confidence and determination make this book shine. At so many moments, Sweetie could have crumbled–but she never does, no matter who is trying to hold her back, because of her faith in herself. So much fun to read.
Fingerplays are awesome! Fingerplays are especially fantastic for toddlers and preschoolers, allowing them to practice controlling their fingers in specific ways while building those finger muscles they will need for writing. I sometimes include fingerplays in baby storytimes, but I’ve been able to explore fingerplays more since I’ve started presenting toddler and preschool virtual storytimes.
Looking for more storytime tools? Check out our Storytime Resources page for links to more content.
Problems with 10 Littles
Ten Little Indians. I’ve heard librarians use it (with those original words). For a while, I used adapted fingerplays to the same tune with different words, but I’ve stopped. I may attempt to avoid dehumanizing Indigenous people by not counting Indians like they are toys, but the few times I used this fingerplay, some caregiver would often mess up my new words and loudly use the original words because they are so associated with the tune.
At the beginning of virtual storytimes, I shifted to a different counting tune I found while watching other library storytimes (I have one, I have two, I have three little fingers). I adapted this a lot virtually because it was a quick, easy fingerplay that was just…easy to adapt.
But. Not everyone has 10 little fingers. Or 10 little toes. Or 5 little fingers. I’ve made storytime videos using ten fingers that I am not highlighting below. I’m including fingerplays that count up to five, though I want to eventually phase those out to or make videos where we count to five using two hands instead of always just using one. How do you think about inclusivity in your fingerplays and overall storytime plans? What other elements to this am I not thinking about?
Fingerplays
Thinking about some of the inclusivity lessons I mentioned above, plus that some kids can’t bend their fingers one at a time, I’m also including action rhymes that focus on hand motions.
One little red fish Swimming in the water, Swimming in the water, Swimming in the water.
One little red fish Swimming in the water, Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble (roll arms) POP! (clap)
Clap Them
Clap them, clap them, clap them so. Clap them high! Clap them low. Clap them left. Clap them right. Clap them, clap them, out of sight!
Continue with: roll them, shake them
Cool Cat
Hey there everybody, you’re a real cool cat. You got a lot of this, And you got a lot of that. So come on in And get down (ch ch ch ch ch ch) To the left (ch ch ch ch ch ch) To the right (ch ch ch ch ch ch) Up in the air (ch ch ch ch ch ch) And get down (ch ch ch ch ch ch)
Dance Your Fingers Up
Dance your fingers up. Dance your fingers down. Dance your fingers side to side. Dance them all around.
Dance them on your shoulders. Dance them on your head. Dance them on your tummy. And put them all to bed.
Five Fat Peas
Five fat peas in a peapod pressed. One grew, two grew, And so did all the rest.
They grew, and they grew, And they wouldn’t stop. They grew, and they grew, Until they popped! (clap)
Five Green and Speckled Frogs
Five green and speckled frogs Sitting on a spaced log. Eating the most delicious lunch, Yum, yum!
One jumped into the pool Where it was nice and cool Then there were four green and speckled frogs Ribbet, Ribbet.
Continue with: 4, 3, 2, 1
Five Little Caterpillars
Five little caterpillars wiggling on a leaf, One falls off, goes to sleep. Close her eyes and wait a week, Up come a butterfly floating on the breeze.
Repeat with: 4, 3, 2, 1, None
Five Little Hot Dogs
Five little hot dogs Frying in a pan. The grease for hot, And one went BAM!
Continue with: 4, 3, 2, 1
Five Little Pumpkins
Five little pumpkins sitting on the gate The first one said, “Oh, my it’s getting late.” The second one said, “There are witches in the air.” The third one said, “But we don’t care!” The fourth one said, “Let’s run and run and run.” The fifth one said, “Let’s have some fun!” Ooooooooo went the wind, and out went the light. And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.
Five Little Snowmen
Five little snowmen went out one day! Rolling through the snow They played and played.
Out came the sun, And it shined so bright, One little snowmen melted out of sight!
Repeat with 4, 3, 2, 1
Funky Spunky Monkeys
Funky spunky monkey Climbed up the coconut tree Down came the coconut And bonked him on his knee Along came his mama And kissed away the pain And the funky spunky monkey Climbed up the tree again.
Here is the Beehive
Here is the beehive, But where are the bees? Hidden away where nobody sees. Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…They’re alive! Buzzzzzzzzz
Here’s a Llama
Here’s a llama! There’s a llama! Llama Llama Red Pajama! Fuzzy llama! Funny llama! Llama, llama, duck!
I Built a Little Snowman
I built a little snowman. He had a carrot nose! Along came a bunny, And what do you suppose?
The hungry little bunny Looking for his lunch, Ate the carrot nose… Nibble, nibble, crunch!
Itsy Bitsy Spider
The Itsy Bitsy Spider Went up the water spout. Down came the rain and Washed the spider out. Out came the sun and Dried up all the rain And the Itsy Bitsy Spider Went up the spout again.
Itsy Bitsy Spider (Audiation)
The Itsy Bitsy Spider went up the water spout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out. Out came the sun and dried up all the rain. And the Itsy Bitsy Spider went up the spout again.
Leaves on the Trees
The leaves on the trees turn orange and red, Orange and red, Orange and red. The leaves on the trees turn orange and red, all around the town.
The leaves on the trees come twirling down, Twirling down, Twirling down. The leaves on the trees come twirling down, all around the town.
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish, Swish, swish, swish, Swish, swish, swish. The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish, all around the town.
Little Mousie Brown
Little Mousie Brown Little Mousie Brown Climbed up the big, white candlestick And couldn’t get back down.
So she called to her Grandma, “Grandma! Grandma!” But Grandma was not around. So she curled into a little ball, And rolled herself back down.
Mix a Pancake
Mix a pancake. Stir a pancake. Pop it in a pan. Fry a pancake. Toss a pancake. Catch it if you can!
My Garden
Here is my garden. Rake it with care. And then, some seeds We’ll plant in there!
The sun will shine, The rain will fall, And then my garden Will grow big and tall.
Open Shut Them
Open, shut them. Open, shut them. Let your hands go clap, clap, clap!
Open, shut them. Opem, shut them. Drop them in your lap, lap, lap!
Walk them, walk them, Walk them, walk them, Right up to your chin, chin, chin!
Open up your little mouth, But do not let them in!
Point to the Ceiling
Point to the ceiling. Point to the floor. Point to a window. Point to the door!
Point to your elbow. Point to your knee. Now sit down, And point at me!
Put Your Claws
Put your claws in the air. Put your claws on the ground. Put your claws in the middle, And wiggle them around.
Put your claws to the side, And pretend to soar! Put your claws to your mouth, And give a big ROAR!
Rain Is Falling Down
The rain is falling down splash (clap) The rain is falling down splash (clap) Pitter-patter, pitter, patter The rain is falling down splash (clap)
The sun is peeking out peek The sun is peeking out peek Peek-a-boo, Peek-a-boo The sun is peeking out peek
Roll Roll Sugar Babies
Roll roll sugar babies, Roll roll sugar babies, Push and pull And clap, clap, clap!
Roll roll sugar babies, Roll roll sugar babies, Push and pull And clap, clap, clap!
Roll up high! Roll down low. Roll real fast! Roll real slow.
Roll roll sugar babies, Roll roll sugar babies, Push and pull And clap, clap, clap!
Shapes
A circle is a shape that is round A circle is a shape that is round A circle is round, no corners can be found A circle is a shape that is round
A triangle has three sides, three sides, three sides A triangle has three sides, 1, 2, 3 A triangle has three corners, three corners, three corners A triangle has three corners, 1, 2, 3
I am a square. A lovely square! I have four sides. They are all the same! I have four corners, four lovely corners. I am a square, and square is my name.
Slowly, Slowly
Slowly, slowly, very slowly, Creeped the garden snail. Slowly, slowly, very slowly Up the wooden rail.
Quickly, quickly, very quickly Ran the little mouse. Quickly, quickly, very quickly, Round about the house!
Snowflakes and Icicles
Snowflakes float so smoothly to the ground Smoothly to the ground Smoothly to the ground Snowflakes float so smoothly to the ground Twirling round and round.
Icicles are sharp and cold Sharp and cold Sharp and cold Icicles are sharp and cold Sparkling like gold.
These Little Fingers
These little fingers go Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle These little fingers go Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle And now they’re on my…HEAD!
Continue with: tummy, feet
There Was a Crocodile
There was a crocodile, An orangutan, A flying eagle, And a silvery fish.
A bunny, A beaver, A crazy elephant, Da na na na na na Da na na na na na
This is Big
This is big big big. This is small small small.
This is short short short. This is tall tall tall.
This is fast fast fast. This is slow slow slow.
This is yes yes yes yes. This is no no no no.
Tiny Tim
I have a friendly frog. His name is Tiny Tim! I put him in the bathtub, To see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water! He ate up all the soap! And now he’s home sick in bed, With bubbles in his throat!
Another themed Saturday storytime special! This was a little different for me because I was not a Pete the Cat fan before this storytime–but I have been won over! Pete the Cat Storytime was a ton of fun, though a little more low key than some of my past virtual Saturday storytime specials.
I made another “commercial” for this program, which you can view below:
I’m not sure how much these videos contribute to the audience for these programs, but I am looking forward to some in-person marketing when our library reopens for browsing next week. This may give some new life to all of our virtual storytimes.
To help continue the Pete the Cat fun at home, I curated a PDF packet that we shared with event participants. Download it here.
The general storytime layout is below, with videos where applicable. This was a bit more chill for me, with me reading two books and retelling one more. No color-changing unicorns or flattened dinosaurs this time!
Backdrop Setup: Pete the Cat pennant banners, posters, and images. I’m happy to share these printable files if anyone is interested–just let me know in those comments or send us an email.
Pete the Cat Intro: Instead of my regular storytime intro song (Shake Your Sillies Out), we started with something a little more cool and grooving–Clap Your Hands by They Might be Giants.
Book: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by James Dean and Eric Litwin *I read this book, but I am including a previous video of this story being retold in flannel form below.
Song: Go Pete Go!
Book Retelling: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
Action Rhyme: Cool Cat Boogie (During storytime, we did not include the music for sake of time and so that I could include music in our last read aloud.)
Magnet Activity: Pete the Cat Playing Hide and Seek
Book: Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes I synced up the music for this book so that I read the sentences, and we all sang along with the music each time Pete sang a song.
Boys Dance! by John Robert Allman (picture book) Gr. PreS-K. Travel through a day of ballet practice for a group of young boys.
This book stands out by focusing on diverse, male ballet dancers. The story is simple–going through the daily routine of a standard kids’ ballet practice, except all the kids are boys (not traditionally shown in picture books about ballet, except maybe one child seemingly as an afterthought). Highlights real, diverse, male ballet dancers from throughout history. A fun read for young dancers and a great choice for anyone looking to diversify their dance titles.
Cheer Up by Heather Ayris Burnell (reader) Gr. K-2. Unicorn and Yeti are best friends, going on many adventures. In three short episodes, Unicorn gives Yeti a special present, Yeti helps unicorn get warm after an icicle-chewing incident, and the two friends take a walk down a trail together.
I appreciate the bright, colorful illustrations and kid-appealing characters of the recent Acorn beginning reader series by Scholastic. These books are designed with kids in mind, in addition to containing elements of a good beginning reader title. Unicorn and Yeti might be one of my favorite Branches series. The characters are adorable, and each book focuses on kindness and friendship. Vocabulary and sentence structure is slightly more advanced than similarly packaged Frog and Dog books.
Diana and the Island of No Return by Aisha Saeed Gr. 3-4. Princess Diana is thrilled that it is time for Themyscira’s annual festival, where female leaders from around the world celebrate on the island of the Amazons. Every year, Diana’s best friend, Princess Sakina, comes for the festival, and Diana has a week of excitement planned–until everything goes wrong. A boy followed the ships to Themyscira, and men are not allowed on the island. The boy has a nefarious goal, and he successfully puts the Amazons under a sleeping spell. Everyone is asleep except Diana and Sakina, who agree to travel to his home to save his people, in exchange for the antidote that will save their families. Diana’s first trip off Themyscira is filled with danger as she faces down a lava river, hypnotized minions, and a demon determined to capture Diana alive.
Fast-paced and filled with adventure, this serves as a wonderful origin story for Wonder Woman. There have been a slew of these lately, and Saeed’s tale holds up. I’m glad to see a diverse voice brought into Diana’s story, and I’m very happy to recommend this to young readers. A great readalike for Diana Princess of the Amazons by Shannon Hale or Shuri by Nic Stone.
Do Not Open This Book by Andy Lee (picture book) Gr. PreS-K. DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOK! Well, of course, you want to open it, and the main character just cannot convince you to stop turning the pages no matter what tricks they try.
This fun, interactive book would work well for a preschool or kindergarten read aloud. Each page encourages the reader to ask a child whether they want to turn the next page. The increasing anger and frustration of the main character creates lots of humor, which will appeal to the intended audience. Kids will have fun with this one, particularly fans of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.
Dungeon Critters by Natalie Riess (graphic novel) Gr. 3-4. Meet the Dungeon Critters:
Juniper – The healer. Nervous in large crowds. Loves botany. Terrible at lying. Looks eerily similar to the reclusive Duchess Helena von Fancypaws.
Rose – Arson loving cat. Doubles as a defense attorney when needed. May have a tiny crush on Juniper.
Prince Chirp – Heiress to the throne of the [redacted] Kingdom. Impulsive. Hates to apologize. Tends to not think before acting. Avoids responsibility.
Goro – Gentle giant. Generally quiet, but when he speaks, his words are profound.
These four, with the occasional assistance of other creatures who are quickly forgotten (even by the main four characters), are determined to discover the nefarious plot of the (maybe?) evil Baron Foxworthy. What is this mysterious plant they discover in his dungeon?
Lots of chaos and humor fill this jam-packed fantasy adventure story. Readers will be engaged, if sometimes a little lost (a lot is happening very quickly, and I felt like I didn’t have that much time to get to know the characters outside of action scenes). I love that all of the characters have some kind of romantic interest–and every one of them (whether crush or serious relationship) is interested in someone who is their same gender (yay representation!). I’m hoping for more books to give these characters more depth. Great for fans of Adventure Time, Gravity Falls, or even kids who miss the humor of Dog Man but are a few steps past those books.
Field Trip(Mr. Wolf’s Class) by Aron Nels Steinke (graphic novel) Gr. 3-4. Mr. Wolf’s class is going on an extra special field trip to a local campground! Everyone gets to sleep in cabins, make s’mores, and hike through the woods. The forest may be sort of magical, but everyday drama follows the students on their trip, making things a little more chaotic than usual.
Another fun read following (animal) students and their everyday hijinks. Aziza and Randy are arguing; someone else isn’t feeling too well; other students are getting to know kids from another visiting school. Author Steinke does an excellent job capturing the feel of an elementary school classroom, including the mild chaos, blunders, and funny (but sometimes awkward) conversations between teacher and student. A comforting, wholesome series for anyone looking for a sweet, quick read.
Icing on the Snowflake (Diary of an Ice Princess) by Christina Soontornvat (first chapter) Gr. 2-3. Lina’s cousin Wendy is getting married, and everyone is determined to create the most perfect, most traditional magical wedding ever. Lina and her best friend Claudia feel like they might be doing more harm than good, but they are determined to turn things around and make the wedding day as perfect as possible. But is that what Wendy really wants?
Another amazing Diary of an Ice Princess adventure! Lots of shenanigans between Lina and Claudia (like putting cornstarch on their legs to make their formal dresses stop itching!). I appreciate the diversity and accessibility of this first chapter fantasy series. I’m looking forward to many more new titles to come!
Isadora Moon by Harriet Muncaster (first chapter) Isadora Moon Goes to the Ballet Young Isadora–half-fairy, half-vampire–and her magical pink rabbit love all things ballet but especially their favorite dancer, Tatiana Tutu. Isadora is so excited that her class gets to go on a field trip to a local ballet. Soon after they arrive, Isadora loses Pink Rabbit. Can she find him before the curtain rises?
Isadora Moon Has a Birthday Isadora Moon wants a birthday party, but she would really like a human party. Her mom is a fairy, and her dad is a vampire, and they are both sure that either a fairy party or a vampire party would be a much better idea. After some convincing by Isadora, Isadora’s parents agree to host a human party, but will they be able to pull off a non-magical event?
Isadora Moon Has a Sleepover Isadora Moon is going to her best friend Zoe’s house for her very first sleepover! It isn’t all fun and games, however. The girls have to work together to make a cake for their school’s baking competition! When they get a little carried away using Isadora’s magic to make the cake extra special, Isadora starts to doubt if it is really fair to submit their magically-improved creation into the contest at their human school.
Gr. 2-3. More great additions to the sweet Isadora Moon series. I enjoy the twist on the traditional realistic fiction first chapter book. The only difference between these titles and other everyday school adventures is that Isadora’s mom is a fairy and her dad is a vampire-but those changes are enough to make this series hold its own.
Keep It Together, Keiko Carter by Debbi Michiko Florence Gr. 5-6. Keiko is ready to tackle seventh grade with her two best friends, Audrey and Jenna, by her side. Unfortunately, things aren’t quite that simple. Audrey decides they all need boyfriends before the fall dance, and Jenna isn’t so sure about this plan. Audrey and Jenna don’t seem to be getting along, but Keiko is sure it will all work out–and maybe the cute new boy in Keiko’s math class will even ask her out!
But…things don’t get better. Soon Audrey and Jenna are arguing, and Keiko is forced to choose sides. Keiko’s crush is spending a ton of time with Audrey, and Keiko is starting to remember why she used to be friends with Audrey’s brother, before Audrey made Keiko choose between him and Audrey. Keiko wants to talk to her mom, but her mom hasn’t been home much lately. Can Keiko keep everyone happy on her own?
This was excellent. I spent a good part of the book frustrated at Keiko for not seeing Audrey’s true personality, but Keiko’s coming to terms with her friend’s cruelty, and Keiko’s character development, felt raw and honest. This felt like a Real Kid figuring out what makes a good friend, not a quick solution to a messy problem. Florence explores so many great relationships without dipping into drama for drama’s sake, while adding a perfect sprinkling of middle school romance. Will be recommending to many 5th-6th grade readers.
Mindy Kim, Class President (Mindy Kim) by Lyla Lee (first chapter) Gr. 2-3. Mindy Kim has adjusted to her new school, miles and miles away from her old home in California. In fact, now that she is in third grade, Mindy is ready to run for class president! Mindy learns all about how to run a great campaign (with a platform focused on kindness and snacks), but she is extra nervous about having to make a speech in front of her whole class. Can Mindy face her fears and win over her classmates?
I adore this series. Mindy Kim is a Korean American elementary school student, going through the ups and downs of everyday school drama, elements of her culture easily woven into the storytime, and personal and familial adjustments to her mom dying before Mindy and her Dad moved to Florida. Great for fans of Jasmine Toguchi–though I really, really hope the Mindy Kim series doesn’t end with just four books like that series. More Mindy Kim please! Already a regular book talk title for me, I will be passing these books to more and more kids.
Not Your All-American Girl by Wendy Wan-Long Shang Gr. 4-6. Lauren and Tara are best friends. They do everything together–referring to themselves as the “royal we.” Of course, they try out for the school musical together, hoping to maybe both be cast in the ensemble. Lauren knocks her audition out of the park, but Lauren is assigned to the ensemble, while Tara is cast as the leading lady. Why? The drama teacher feels that half-Chinese, half-Jewish Lauren doesn’t look like an “All-American Girl.” Heartbroken, Lauren tries to make the best of it, but eventually she just can’t bring herself to sing anymore. Why bother when she can never be a star?
This book! Lauren’s voice rang true for me. I felt the heartbreak in her character and eventually her determination to succeed. Little details brought this story to life, even though it is not my genre of choice (historical fiction–and yes, sorry, but the 80s are historical fiction now). The 80s backdrop created a vivid image of Lauren’s day-to-day life, with her bickering, loving, live-in grandmothers adding humor while also helping Lauren find the motivation to keep trying. A small detail, but I was confused when John Hughes movies were highlighted at the beginning as something Lauren loved (all I could think of was Sixteen Candles’ racist characters), and I appreciated how this issue was confronted when the girls went to see Sixteen Candles in theaters with friends. Lauren’s intersectionality–as both Chinese and Jewish–helps make this book stand apart from similar works. Will definitely be recommending.
Pacey Packer: Unicorn Tracker by J.C. Phillipps (graphic novel) Gr. 3-4. Pacey Packer dreams of adventure, but she is stuck babysitting her little sister, Mina, and being wrangled into tea parties. Pacey turns her back for just one minute, and when she turns around, her sister is on the back of a giant unicorn running over a magical rainbow bridge. Pacey chases them down and manages to hitch a ride to the magical unicorn land of Rundalyn. Pacey quickly loses her sister and is stuck trying to catch up to Mina on foot, with just her sister’s (apparently magical) stuffed unicorn, Slasher, as her guide. They have to traverse a dangerous jungle to rescue Mina–but all is not as it seems.
A cute, fast-paced adventure filled with lots of unicorn humor and dramatic betrayals. Fun for fans of Phoebe and Her Unicorn looking for more drama or readers who like the wonky adventures of Aster and the Accidental Magic.
Real Pigeons Nest Hard by Andrew McDonald (graphic novel) Gr. 3-4. The Real Pigeons are back with three new mysteries. First, who stole a vulture nest? (And how did they manage to pull off the stunt?) Also, who is this mysterious, pigeon-loving child alone at the park? Finally, is that lonely photo in the river a picture of Homey’s long lost family? The pigeons will need all of their amazing pigeon powers to defeat villains new and old.
Perfect for fans of Dog Man, this series continues to combine humor, superhero antics, and line drawings designed to appeal to young readers looking for fast-paced action and lots of laughs. Originally published in Australia. I’m eagerly awaiting the in-the-works TV adaptation.
RESPECT: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul by Carole Boston Weatherford (biography) Gr. 1-3. So beautiful! This biography of Aretha Franklin is visually stunning. The illustrations, the headers, type face, and framing of the text in words (spelled out RESPECT style) and rhyming couplets all blend together for a truly wonderful reading experience. I’ve been itching to plan a Little People, Big Dreams Aretha Franklin program, and this is most definitely going to be featured.
The Worrysaurus by Rachel Bright (picture book) Gr. PreS-K. Worrysaurus is a planner. He likes to know what might happen each day, as those plans help keep his worries away. Worrysaurus is all set for an adventure, when a nervous lizard tells him it is going to storm! Worrysaurus didn’t prepare for a storm. Will his new worries stop him from having a great day?
This is a sweet, rhyming book that approaches worries and emotions in a wonderful, child-friendly way. It subtly weaves in great ways for children to handle their worries–thinking about helpful words from a grown-up, finding objects that comfort and calm them, and figuring out if something is a real worry or more unrealistic (such as being worried it might storm when the sun is shining). A fun read aloud or a great one-on-one book for a child who might be worried about their own worries.
Note: Lots going on in real life. Reading is still happening, though I’m currently just trying to power through the books that have sat on my nightstand or all of the ebooks that are due back essentially tomorrow. Not a great showing on diversity in my reading this week, though the chapter books that I read are all diverse authors and/or own voices, and all three are titles I want to book talk to kids, so I call that a reading win.
Make sure to stop by on Tuesdays for short reviews of some of these titles!
Stats for the Week:
29 Books Read This Week
11 Books with Diverse Main Character (38%)
7 Books by Diverse Authors (24%)
6 Books by Own Voices Authors (21%) (to the best of my knowledge)
Lost Beast, Found Friend by Josh Trujillo illustrated by Nick Kennedy and Melanie Lapovich
Bubble Trouble by Brooke Vitale illustrated by Fabrizzio Petrossi
Evie’s Field Day: More Than One Way to Win by Claire Annette Noland illustrated by Alicia Teba
In the Garden by Emma Guilani
Sharko and Hippo by Elliott Kalan illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi
All Year Round: A Book of Season by Amy Pixton illustrated by Carolina Buzio
Sherlock Bones and the Natural History Mystery by Renee Treml
Dog Diaries: Mission ImPAWsible by James Patterson
What If You Could Sniff Like a Shark? by Sandra markle illustrated by Howard McWilliam
Alicia Alonso Takes the Stage by Nancy Ohlin illustrated by Josefina Preumayr
The Wizenard Series. Season One by Wesley King
Not Your American Girl by Madelyn Rosenburg and Wendy Wan-Long Shang
Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono translated by Emily Balistrieri illustrated by Yuta Onoda
Note: I will be coming back to link the books later this week. Every time I try to go to Goodreads this past couple of days I get the error message stating there are too many people on the at the moment. Whomp whomp.
