Monthly Archives: November 2021

Elem. – Pumpkin Heads!

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Minor, Wendell. Pumpkin Heads! Charlesbridge. 2021. 978-1-58059-935-2. $11.99. Gr. PreK-2.

As fall rolls in, we start to see something all around. What are those round, orange things? Why, they are pumpkins of course! When Halloween looms closer, all of those carved pumpkins become pumpkin heads! Pumpkin heads come in all shapes and sizes, with all sorts of faces. Why, those silly pumpkins may even be found in the strangest of places! Happy Halloween, pumpkin heads!

THOUGHTS: This book shows the magical element of pumpkins! This picture book shows all sorts of pumpkins and gourds and makes it the highlight of the spooky season!

Picture Book          Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD

Elem. – You Might Be Special

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Kokias, Kerri. You Might Be Special. Illustrated by Marcus Cutler. Kids Can Press, 2021. 978-1-525-30333-3. $17.99. Unpaged.  K-3. 

In this playful and silly story, a quiz is given to determine whether or not the reader or listener is special. A young girl ponders these questions along with her diverse cast of classmates. The answer of course is that everyone is special. Positive message about self acceptance for young students.

THOUGHTS: This would make an excellent choice for a lively and interactive read aloud.

Picture Book          Nancy Summers, Abington SD

YA – Strong  Healthy Girls (Series NF)

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Strong  Healthy Girls. ABDO Publishing, 2021. $25.95 ea. $312.00 set of 12. 112 p. Grades 8-12.

Emily, Lauren. Dealing with Drama. 978-1-532-19215-9.
Johnson, Anne E. Being a Leader. 978-1-532-19213-5.
Myers, Carrie. Coping with Stress and Pressure. 978-1-532-19214-2.
Allen, Rebecca J. Earning an Income. 978-1-532-19216-6.
Morrow, Kate. Finding your Identity. 978-1-532-19217-3.
Rowell, Rebecxa. Handling Family Challenges.   978-1-532-19218-0.
Huddleston, Emma. Healthy Friendships. 978-1-532-19219-7.
Burling, Alexis. Healthy Romantic Relationships. 978-1-532-19220-3.
Huddleston, Emma. Nutrition and Exercise. 978-1-532-19221-0.
Berg, Shannon. Surviving and Thriving at school.  978-1-532-19222-7 .
Ford, Jeanne Marie. Understanding Reproductive Health. 978-1-532-19223-4.
Huddleston, Emma. Using Social Media Responsibly. 978-1-532-19224-1.

The Strong Healthy Girls reference set focuses on positivity and wellness for a YA audience. Written in a conversational style, this set presents issues girls may find themselves facing during their teen years. Dealing with Drama focuses on navigating difficult relationships with peers and family. Realistic scenarios involving bullying, teasing, and other personal conflicts are described, and readers are presented with questions to consider about these difficult situations. Then an expert weighs in with effective strategies for handling these problems. Includes a glossary, a list of additional resources, and an index.

THOUGHTS: A solid resource for self help and mental health for young adults.

300s/600s          Nancy Summers, Abington SD

Elem. – 1, 2, 3 Off to School

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Dubuc, Marianne. 1, 2, 3 Off to School. Kids Can Press, 2021. 978-1-525-30656-3. $17.99  unpaged. PreK-3.

This whimsical picture book conveys the excitement of the first day of school. Pom, a young girl, wants so badly to start kindergarten, though she will not be a student herself until next school year. Off she goes to explore how the school day goes for different animals in the forest including the frogs for their music lessons and the wolves in library class. Early elementary students will find much to pore over as dozens of animals on each page are engaged in observations and conversations about their school day activities. The detailed illustrations are reminiscent of Richard Scarry’s children’s books.

THOUGHTS : A good choice for first read aloud of the school year. 

Picture Book          Nancy Summers, Abington SD

YA – The Castle School (for Troubled Girls)

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Sheinmel, Alyssa. The Castle School (for Troubled Girls). Sourcebooks Fire, 2021. 978-1-728-22098-7. 400 p. $17.99. Grades 9-12.

Content warning: This book contains depictions of mental illness, including but not limited to addiction, anorexia, self-harm, and trichotillomania.

Moira (Moor-a, not Moy-ra) has been skipping school, meals, and leaving her apartment for hours at a time. Her parents stage an intervention where they share that they’re sending Moira to The Castle School, a school for girls going through a “rough patch” not a reform school. Though two bodyguard types look ready to spring into action should Moira bolt, she willingly packs her things and gets on a plane heading to a remote part of Maine. There she meets eleven other girls who like her are experiencing their own struggles, each unique and told in her own voice in a sporadic chapter throughout the novel. When asked why she’s at The Castle School, Moira reports it’s because she got a tattoo. She does not share that she lost her best friend. With a very regimented schedule which includes lights out and individual therapy sessions, Moira struggles to adjust at first. She has some time on her own, though, as her roommate Eleanor is staying in the infirmary. While reading by a secret flashlight, Moira hears music in the distance and notices that the padlock on her window’s security bars is broken. The next night Moira and Eleanor head out to investigate and discover a castle that seems a lot like theirs, only happier, warmer, and with twelve boys. The Castle Schools may not be what Moira thought. Moira notices that she feels more like herself than she has in a long time when she’s at the other Castle School (Castle South); it seems to have the same effect on Eleanor. What type of experiment is Dr. Prince conducting with two schools run so differently, and why – other than the fact that she’s a girl – is Moira at Castle North? Why does Dr. Prince’s son Randy live at Castle North instead of with the boys in Castle South? As Moira gets to know the girls and attends sessions with Dr. Prince, she struggles through her grief and begins to come to terms with why she’s at The Castle School.

THOUGHTS: Readers will root for Moira as she adjusts to her new life at The Castle School and works through her grief. As an adult reader, I felt like Moira’s semester ended a bit too tidy (though she does work through a lot). I’m interested to talk to a student reader about their thoughts of authenticity. Purchase for high school collections where character driven, mental health titles are popular.

Realistic Fiction          Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

Elem. – Flip! How the Frisbee Took Flight

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Muirhead, Margaret. Flip! How the Frisbee Took Flight. Charlesbridge. 978-1-580-89880-5. 32 p. $17.99. Grades K-3. 

Toss, glide, catch, repeat! Frisbees are some of the top-selling toys of all time, and this title explores their history. In the 1920s, east-coast college kids began flinging empty pie plates from the Frisbie bakery. The fad soon spread from campus to campus. Around the same time, in California, a high school football player named Fred Morrison began tossing a flat, tin popcorn lid with his girlfriend. They were amazed how the lid hovered, dipped, and glided through the air. When the tin lid became too dented to fly straight, the pair experimented with pie plates and cake pans. When someone offered to buy the cake pan from Fred after seeing him tossing it around on the beach, Fred was hooked with the idea of introducing the fun to others. Over the next several years, Fred tweaked the materials for the flying discs and capitalized on America’s obsession with aliens and flying saucers. Eventually, he sold his design to the Wham-O toy company who helped give the toy national recognition. Full-page retro-style gouache illustrations capture the excitement of a game of frisbee from all angles, making readers feel like they are ready to fling the flying disc themselves. An Author’s Note includes details about other colleges that claim to have invented the game of frisbee as well as additional information about Fred’s persistence and creative energy. 

THOUGHTS: This title will be an asset to units about inventions, and it also highlights STEM concepts, particularly ideas about creating prototypes and perfecting designs. It also can be integrated into social-emotional discussions, particularly those centering on resilience and perseverance. 

Picture Book          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD
796.2 Activities and Games

Elem. – Animal Architects

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Cherrrix, Amy. Animal Architects. Illustrated by Chrish Sasaki.  Beach Lane Books, 2021. 978-1-534-45625-9. Unpaged. $17.99. Grades K-3.

This charming picture book gives the reader a glimpse into the intricate and wondrous creations of over 12 different animal species across the globe. Some animals work on teams and some on their own to create their unique structures. Each animal is given a four page spread showing the work they do and then the amazing end result of their labors. Includes a bibliography of additional resources on the topic.

THOUGHTS: Could be used in conjunction with a unit on animal homes and habitats to inspire student artwork.

591.56 Ecology          Nancy Summers, Abington SD

Elem. – Archie Celebrates Diwali

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Ruths, Mitali Banerjee. Archie Celebrates Diwali. Illustrated by Parwinder Singh. Charlesbridge, 2021. 978-1-623-54119-4. Unpaged. $16.99. Grades K-3. 

Archimena invites a few friends from school to celebrate her favorite holiday, one that many had not heard of before. Archie and her family prepare for the celebration with lights, decorations, and special recipes, but when all the guests arrive, a sudden storm knocks out the power. Archie worries the party will be ruined, but her friend’s question about the story of Diwali gives Archie a chance to explain the customs and traditions of the Hindu festival of lights. The text features descriptions of the delicacies and rituals common to the celebration and the brightly colored illustrations highlight the festive focus of the occasion. Also includes a glossary and directions to complete a Diwali craft. 

THOUGHTS: A good choice to highlight diverse cultures by sharing some of the details of a lesser known holiday. 

Picture Book          Nancy Summers, Abington SD

Elem. – Eureka! The Biography of an Idea (Series NF)

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Eureka! The Biography of an Idea. Kane Press, 2021. $17.99 ea.  32 p. Grades PK-3.

Driscoll, Laura. Camera. Illustrated by Hector Borlasca. 978-1-635-92428-2.
Haskins, Lori Houran. Bicycle. Illustrated by Aaron Cushley. 978-1-635-92394-0.
—.  Glasses. Illustrated by John Joven. 978-1-63592-424-4.
Zoehfeld, Kathleen Widener. Lightbulb. Illustrated by Stephanie Dehennin. 978-1-635-92395-7.

Camera is a colorfully illustrated history of the development of the camera from the first observations of a natural phenomenon up to the invention and use of lenses, special papers, and chemicals to create a photographic image. Technical facts clearly are explained in simple language for an elementary audience. Includes two pages of quick facts and some helpful tips for taking better photos.

THOUGHTS: This series provides an engaging introduction for early elementary students into the development of many of our popular inventions or technologies.

771.3 Cameras & Accessories          Nancy Summers, Abington SD

Elem./MG – Big Shot

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Kinney, Jeff. Big Shot (Diary of a Wimpy Kid). Amulet Books, 2021. 978-1-419-74915-5. 217 p. $13.99. Grades 3-6. 

Greg Heffley’s never been much of a joiner or a kid who enjoys hard work and exercise, but his middle school field day earns the winning homeroom a day off school! Student trading, super pumped lunch ladies, and disastrous trips to the gym with his dad are all part of Greg’s field day, but his mom decides afterwards that Greg could use some experience as part of a real team and encourages him to choose a sport to try. Greg, sensing he’ll easily be cut from the team, chooses basketball. Greg’s worst nightmare happens when another team is formed from all the kids who were cut, and Greg is forced to live out the rest of the basketball season on a series of teams doomed for failure. Somehow, Jeff Kinney continues to make hilarious Greg Heffley adventures.

THOUGHTS: Venturing into the sports world with Greg will be sure to give your readers some good laughs. 

Humor          Lindsey Long, Lower Dauphin SD