GARDEN STATE CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARDS
Booktalks for the 2016 Ballot
EASY READERS
Fly Guy and the Frankenfly by Tedd Arnold
After Buzz and Fly Guy spend the day playing games and making art, Buzz falls fast
asleep and dreams about a Frankenfly monster who has made Buzz his target! Despite
Buzz’s hilarious nightmare sequence, he awakens to a sleeping Fly Guy who had been
working on a sweet project of friendship.
Everything Goes: Henry on Wheels by Brian Biggs, illustrated by Brian Biggs and
Simon Abbott
It’s a big day for Henry—his mom gave him permission to ride his bike around the
block—by himself! What cool vehicles will Henry spot on his adventure? Maybe he’ll
even run into a friend.
Biscuit in the Garden by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Pat Schories
Biscuit is ready to explore the wonders of the garden! There are so many flowers to
smell, bugs to see, and birds to hear. This is another sweet adventure with Biscuit and
some bird friends—and you will not want to miss the adorable mess biscuit makes out of
a bag of seeds.
Katy Duck, Flower Girl by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Henry Cole
Katy’s Aunt Ella is getting married, and she has chosen Katy as her flower girl! Katy
does not want to disappoint, so she practices until the big day comes along. She sways
like a daffodil and stretches like a tulip down the aisle while tossing her flowers—will her
hard work and practice pay off?
Mia Sets the Stage by Robin Farley, illustrated by Aleksey and Olga Ivanov
Mia is very excited for the dance recital. She and her friends have been planning,
practicing, and trying on costumes. But something goes wrong—Mia slips on a patch of
ice and hurts her paw. The doctor says she can’t dance for three weeks and that she will
have to miss her recital. Mia’s teacher, Miss Bird, has a wonderful idea: Mia will be her
special helper!
Come Back, Ben by Anne Hassett and John Hassett
It’s a good day for travel, so Ben and his red balloon float right out the window and past
the trees—but he doesn’t stop there! His destination is up in space, can you guess
where Ben is headed? After everyone and everything pleads “Come back, Ben,” he
eventually returns safe and sound, but the red balloon marches on.
A Pet Named Sneaker by Joan Heilbroner, illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre
Sneaker lives in a pet store and longs for his forever home when he meets his pal Pete.
But Sneaker isn’t your average pet: he’s a snake, scales and all! He impresses Pete with
his twisting abilities and their adventures are endless. Sneaker learns to read at school
and accompanies Pete to the pool—but there’s trouble! Will Sneaker save the day?
Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes
Penny goes out for a walk and spots a beautiful marble in her neighbor’s yard. After
checking to make sure no one is looking, she scoops it up and takes it home. She
spends some time enjoying her new found treasure until she peeks out the window to
see her neighbor inspecting her yard—right where Penny had found the marble. This
makes Penny feel bad about taking the marble. What can she do to make it right?
Dig, Scoop, Ka-Boom! by Joan Holub, illustrated by David Gordon
Dozers, diggers, and loaders, oh my! They all have a lot of work to do at the job site—
pushing sand and moving rocks. But who’s behind all the work these big machines are
doing today?
Diary of a Worm: Teacher’s Pet by Lori Haskins Houran, illustrated by John Nez
Worm teams up with Spider and Fly to find the perfect present for his teacher’s birthday.
Imagine his joy when he finds the perfect gift and wait until you see what it is.
The Big Wet Balloon by Liniers
In this graphic novel for the youngest reader, Matilda sets out to show her younger sister
Clemmie a fun Saturday outside. Even when it rains, she shows Clemmie how much fun
playing in the rain can be.
Fancy Nancy: Too Many Tutus by Jane O’Connor, cover illustrations by Robin Preiss
Glasser, interior illustrations by Ted Enik
When Nancy’s mom wants her to get rid of some tutu’s she has outgrown, Nancy resists
until they have a swap and shop at school where she can trade some of her clothes for
others. While she shops, she sees the perfect new tutu, but Grace sees it, too. Who will
get it?
See Me Dig by Paul Meisel
A group of dogs love to dig, but everything they dig, they make others mad. Finally, they
find the perfect place where they can dig all they want.
Robot, Go Bot! by Dana Meachen Rau, illustrated by Wook Jin Jung.
In this comic reader, a young girl builds a robot and promptly begins to boss it around.
When it runs off, she sets off to find it and they soon become friends.
Tony Baloney: School Rules by Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham.
Penguin Tony Baloney is excited about his first day of school, but he soon finds out that
there are rules he has to follow as he unintentionally gets into trouble. In the end, he
learns to behave himself and finds out what it takes to be a friend.
Mr. Putter and Tabby Drop the Ball by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard
Mr. Putter believes he and Tabby nap too much and need something else to do. With
the help of neighbor Mrs. Teaberry, he finds a baseball team both of them can play on.
Can he really play at his age? What about Zeke and Tabby-how will they react to the
game?
I’m a Frog by Mo Willems
Elephant and Piggie are at it again as Piggie confuses Gerald by pretending to be a frog.
After finding out what pretending means and refusing to be a frog, Elephant surprises
Piggie with his own pretend animal.
FICTION
Strike Three You’re Dead by Josh Berk
Lenny, Mike and Other Mike are die-hard Phillie baseball fans. Lenny feels he is the
worst player ever, but is an amazing announcer. He wins a contest to be the broadcaster
for one live inning at a real Phillies game. Before Lenny can do his inning something
goes very wrong at the game. A young pitcher from the minor leagues drops dead. The
official statement is the young pitcher died of a heart attack. Lenny believes there is
more of a mystery going on. Who would kill the pitcher? Lenny, Mike and Other Mike set
out to find the real killer.
Serafina’s Promise by Ann E. Burg
Serafina lives in a rural village outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and her dream is to be able
to attend school and become a doctor. However, many obstacles stand in her way: little
money, never-ending chores, and natural disasters like floods and earthquakes. With a
baby brother on the way, how will her family ever do without Serafina’s help or afford her
school uniform? Luckily, Serafina has a warm family, a true friend in Julie Marie, and an
encouraging woman doctor, who all come to support her vision. Serafina quickly learns
that she can never give up if she wants to accomplish her dreams.
Magic Marks the Spot by Caroline Carlson
Miss Pimm’s Finishing School for Delicate Ladies is even worse than Hilary imagined.
Classes in bed-making, swooning and petticoat folding are a complete waste of time
when Hilary’s real dream is to become a pirate. She has all the skills it takes to be a
proper pirate—she can tread water for 37 minutes, already owns a pointy sword and is
an expert at knot-tying. If only The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates would
accept girls! One night, with help from a trusted friend, Hilary and her sidekick gargoyle
escape finishing school to answer an ad seeking a pirate crew. They set out to find the
most valuable treasure of all—magic—which is believed to be hidden in the Northlands.
But the only map they have doesn’t make sense at all. Will Hilary and the rest of her
pirate crew figure out the secret to reading the map? Will the magic ever be found? And
does Hilary have what it takes to be a pirate after all?
Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo
Flora’s afternoon starts out like any other. She’s lost in a comic book despite her
mother’s disapproval of them. After hearing a commotion outside, Flora looks out the
window to see her next door neighbor, a vacuum cleaner gone wild and a little squirrel
who is promptly sucked right up! Flora acts quickly and manages to resuscitate the
squirrel using CPR (which she learned from the back of a comic book). To her surprise,
the squirrel awakens with superhero abilities; he is extra strong, can fly and can even
write poetry! Flora names the squirrel Ulysses and sneaks him into her house. It doesn’t
take long before Flora’s mother discovers Ulysses and demands that the filthy animal be
taken outside. Even worse is when Flora’s mother gives her dad a shovel and asks him
to arrange Ulysses’ funeral. Flora knows that every story has a villain but why does it
have to be her mom? What will happen to Ulysses? Will Flora be able to save him
again?
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
Get ready for a rollicking time in the library! Kyle Keeley unexpectedly wins a coveted
spot in a sleepover inside the extravagant new public library designed by famous game
maker, Luigi Lemoncello. However, the next morning he and the other participants
discover that they must solve a myriad of puzzles in order to escape a library lock-in.
Who will be the first to find the secret escape route? Can they work together, or will they
race to outwit each other? Join Kyle and the motley crew of other twelve year olds
trapped inside Mr. Lemoncello’s library for a labyrinth of fun. Includes bonus puzzles for
the reader to solve.
A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff
In this somewhat magical world, everyone is born with a Talent, as diverse and random
as the ability to spit with sniper precision, the gift of tying elaborate knots, or the capacity
for baking a cake that is the perfect match for each person one meets. The latter Talent
belongs to eleven year old Cady, the center character to this story. Cady is an orphan
surrounded by mystery, and each respective character introduced plays a role in the
intricate puzzle of her past, present and future. Complete with delectable cake recipes,
this book is an enchanted blend of Savvy meets When You Reach Me, while still being
uniquely its own story.
Words With Wings by Nikki Grimes
Gaby loves to daydream…it’s her escape. But daydreaming gets her in trouble, both at
home and in school. Then a caring teacher helps her transform her daydreams into
poetry, and from there Gaby’s words take flight. Written in simple yet poignant verse, this
book is the inspiring story of the possibilities of a creative mind, a nurturing teacher, and
the magic of writing.
Bowling Alley Bandit by Laurie Keller
As Mr. Bing's new pet "doughnut dog," Arnie couldn't be happier. When Mr. Bing joins a
bowling league, Arnie gets to go along to practices and competitions. But then Mr. Bing
starts rolling gutter balls. Someone or something is behind the madness. Arnie, together
with his team of goofball friends, must sort through the shenanigans and solve the
mystery. Get ready for some sleuthing and even some magic.
Listening for Lucca by Suzanne LaFleur
"I'm obsessed with abandoned things." Siena's obsession began a year and a half ago,
around the time her two-year-old brother Lucca stopped talking. Now Mom and Dad are
moving the family from Brooklyn to Maine hoping that it will mean a whole new start for
Lucca and Siena. She soon realizes that their wonderful old house on the beach holds
secrets. When Siena writes in her diary with an old pen she found in her closet, the pen
writes its own story, of Sarah and Joshua, a brother and sister who lived in the same
house during World War II. As the two stories unfold, amazing parallels begin to appear,
and Siena senses that Sarah and Joshua's story might contain the key to unlocking
Lucca's voice.
Elvis and the Underdogs by Jenny Lee, illustrated by Kelly Light
Benji Wendell Barnsworth is a small ten-year-old boy with a big personality. Born
premature, Benji is sickly, accident-prone, and at the hospital so often he even has his
own punch card. So when Benji wakes up one day from a particularly bad spell, his
doctors take the radical step of suggesting he get a therapy dog. But when a massive
crate arrives at Benji's house, out walks a two-hundred-pound Newfoundland who can
talk! And boy, is he bossy.
Athlete vs. Mathlete by W. C. Mack
Owen Evans lights up the scoreboards. His brother, Russell, rocks the school boards.
These twin brothers couldn't be more different. They've long kept the peace by going
their separate ways, but all that is about to change. The new basketball coach recruits
Russell for the seventh grade team and a jealous Owen has to fight to stay in the game.
When someone tries to steal Russell's spot as captain of the Mathlete team, will the two
be able to put aside their differences in order to save his position? Or will they be
sidelined?
Secrets at the Chocolate Mansion by Leslie Margolis
"Take your cookies elsewhere." That's what the note said in neat, block-like print,
attached to a box of Girl Scout Cookies. Someone is out to sabotage the new sweet
shop in the neighborhood, and Maggie Brooklyn is on the case. If only she weren't so
freaked out herself lately. Maggie's new dog sitting gig has her and her twin brother Finn
hanging out in what they fear may be a real haunted mansion. And it's hard to solve real
life mysteries when you think you're seeing ghosts!
Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace by Nan Marino
Eleven-year-old musical prodigy, Elvis Ruby, was supposed to win the most coveted
reality show on television, Tween Star. None of the other contestants even came close
to his talents. But in the middle of the biggest night, with millions of people watching,
Elvis panicked. He forgot the words to the song. He forgot the tune. He forgot how to
play every single instrument he'd ever known and froze on national TV. So Elvis must
run from the paparazzi camped outside his door and spend the summer working with his
aunt and cousin at Piney Pete's Pancake Palace in the remote wilds of New Jersey. It's
the perfect place to be anonymous, that is until Elvis meets Cecilia, a girl who can't seem
to help blurting out whatever's on her mind.
Nancy Clancy Sees the Future by Jane O’Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
One fateful evening, Nancy Clancy (yes, that’s our old pal Fancy Nancy!) predicts that
her father will bring home pizza for dinner—and lucky for them, he does! Yum! A few
other incidences of predicting the future have Nancy convinced that she is clairvoyant
(fancy for a fortune-teller). She decides to start a business using her talents at
recourses, but her good friend Bree isn’t so happy about Nancy’s supposed abilities, and
Nancy has to fix her (very fancy) mess after learning about coincidences.
Hello, Nebulon! by Ray O’Ryan
Moving to a new neighborhood is hard but moving to a whole new planet is the worst!
Zack is not happy when he has to say goodbye to Earth and move with his family to
Nebulon. Things are very different on Nebulon. Zack’s bed that comes down from the
ceiling at night, and the elevator in his house that goes in every direction. Starting
Sprockets Academy, Zach has to lean new customs and make new friends. Zack
misses his old home on Earth but soon he finds that perhaps there are things to love on
Nebulon.
Road Trip by Gary Paulson and Jim Paulson
Fourteen year old Ben is not happy when his dad wakes him up early one morning to
drag him on a road trip to rescue a border collie. Dad and Ben haven't been getting
along recently and Ben knows his Dad is hoping that this trip will help them
reconnect. Not wanting to be alone in the car with just his dad and the family border
collie Atticus, Ben invites his tough older friend Theo along for the ride. Things quickly
get out of hand as they pick up more and more quirky passengers. But not everyone on
this road trip is what they say they are and it seems that someone is following them! Will
the truth come out in time?
Sugar by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Sugar hates sugar. Sugar, the girl was raised on a sugar plantation as a slave and
watched sugar kill her mother. Sugar hates sugar. No longer a slave and watched over
by fellow plantation workers, Sugar uses her curiosity and outgoing personality to win
over some unlikely friends. Struggle with her as the sugar is planted, cry with her when
her best friend leaves the plantation, and rejoice with her when she sees a better future
for herself. Learn about a time and events in history that are rarely covered in textbooks.
Journey to the south after the Civil War and learn about Sugar.
Case File 13: Zombie Kid by J. Scott Savage
How would you feel if you were turned into a zombie? Nick thinks it’s cool at first and
then his body parts start to fall off and he learns his condition might become permanent.
After visiting his dead aunt’s house and finding her voodoo room he is tricked into
following a cat which leads to his transformation into a zombie. With the help of his two
best friends he has to figure out how to reverse his condition before he wants to eat their
brains. Will they reverse the voodoo curse in time or will Nick be a zombie forever?
The Sasquatch Escape: The Imaginary Veterinary: Book 1 by Suzanne Selfors
Ben thinks he will have the most boring summer ever when he is sent to stay with his
grandfather in a town where the most exciting event of the week is pudding day at the
senior center. All that changes when he spots a dragon on the way into town. He finds a
baby dragon and when trying to return it to the “Worm Doctor”, his new friend
troublemaker Pearl joins him, he accidentally leaves the door open and a Sasquatch
escapes. The two are now charged with returning the Sasquatch to the vet before
anyone sees him. Can the pair pull it off with items from a Sasquatch Catching Kit?
P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia
Following the events of One Crazy Summer, in which the Gaither sisters visit their
activist mother in 1960s Oakland, California, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern return to
Brooklyn with a newfound sense of independence. However, the girls aren’t the only
ones who have changed; back in Brooklyn, Pa has a girlfriend, Uncle Darnell returns
from Vietnam a very changed man, and Delphine must start sixth grade as the tallest girl
in class, just in time for her first dance. The only one who hasn’t changed is Big Ma, who
is in no way accepting of the girls’ new independent attitude. With all of these changes,
Delphine reaches out to her mother for advice. Will anything start to feel normal again?
Why does Delphine’s mother advise her to be eleven, even after she turns twelve?
FICTION SERIES
The Ellie McDoodle Diaries: The Show Must Go On by Ruth McNally Barshaw
Ellie McDoodle becomes the student director in her school’s production of The Wizard of
Oz. Her best friend Mo thinks she should get the part of Dorothy. What happens to their
friendship when Mo gets the part of the Wicked Witch?
Ellie and her friends discover courage, brains, heart and that there’s definitely no place
like home while preparing for the play.
Infinity Ring: Curse of the Ancients by Matt de la Peña
Sera, Dak, and Riq are on a mission to correct the past to save the future. They need to
use the Infinity Ring to time travel back to the early days of the Mayan civilization to help
them save an ancient codex. But something feels wrong: as if they are in the wrong
year. At first, they cannot find any Hystorians around to help them. Enter Kisa, a Mayan
girl who believes in them and their willingness to help preserve the Mayan history.
However, the Time Wardens are working against them to destroy the codex forever.
Can Sera, Dak, and Riq save the Mayans and themselves before it is too late?
Princess Posey and the Tiny Treasure by Stephanie Greene
First grader Posey is super excited to show her friends at school her new tiny stuffed pig,
Poinky. But due to unforeseen events, Poinky ends up locked in her teachers
“consequences drawer” until Friday. Can Posey find the courage to explain to Miss Lee
her mistake and recover her tiny treasure? This fifth installment in the Princess Posey
series is treasure is an early chapter book and can certainly be read as a stand-alone.
Just Grace and the Trouble with Cupcakes by Charise Mericle Harper
Grace is back! And this time she’s made cupcakes. But everything is not sweet for
Grace due to a broken pinky promise and misunderstanding with her best friend, Mimi.
Now she’s stuck planning the much anticipated school fair with the dreaded Owen One
as a teammate instead of Mimi. Will she and Mimi repair their friendship? How can
superheroes and cupcakes have anything to do with each other? And will cupcakes ever
taste sweet again? This tenth entry in the popular Just Grace series is sure to please
seasoned fans and new readers alike. Grace’s grandmother’s scrumptious cupcake
recipe is included.
The Popularity Papers: The Awesomely Awful Melodies of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie
Graham-Chang by Amy Ignatow
The girls are back from their summer vacation road trip, turning thirteen and getting
ready for seventh grade, so why not start a band? The Macramé Owls are born with
brand new musicians guitarist Lydia and drummer Julie, and are soon joined by
classmates Roland on bass and Jane with vocals. The band’s first gig is a princess
birthday party for six-year-old girls that is a disaster. Their second gig is at Lydia &
Julie’s belated-birthday party and they are a hit, or at least very loud! Seventh-grade life
is very complicated and getting crazier by the minute, but best friends Lydia and Julie
have each other, as always, to lean on. Their story, written and illustrated as a shared
journal, comes to life with handwritten text and funny illustrations throughout.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney
Greg Heffley's on a losing streak. His best friend, Rowley Jefferson, has ditched him,
and finding new friends in middle school is proving to be a tough task. To change his
fortunes, Greg decides to take a leap of faith and turn his decisions over to chance. Will
a roll of the dice turn things around, or is Greg's life destined to be just another hard-luck
story?
Guardians of Ga’Hoole: The Rise of a Legend by Kathryn Lasky
An owlet hatches out onto Stormfast Island and into a world torn by war. For one
hundred years, his people have fought off enemy owls from the Ice Talons, but the tide
has turned. An invasion is coming, one the Kielian League won't have the strength to
resist. Soon the tyrant owl Bylyric will rule over everything, and no honorable owl will be
safe.
Only the small owl from Stormfast stands between Bylyric and total victory. Lyze is not
very impressive to look at, but he has a wild idea for a snake and owl strike unit that just
might give the soldiers of the Kielian League the edge they need.
This is his story, the story of an ordinary owl who rose to become Ezylryb of the Great
Tree. This is the story of what it takes to make a Guardian of Ga'Hoole.
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Babies, Burglars, and Other Bumps in the Night by Lenore
Look
Alvin, an Asian-American second grader who's afraid of everything, has started to notice
his mother getting bigger . . . and bigger. Alvin's sure it's all the mochi cakes she's been
eating, but it turns out she's pregnant! Alvin knows that there are lots of scary things
about babies. There's learning CPR for the newborn and changing diapers (no way). But
the scariest thing of all is the fact that the baby could be a GIRL. As a result of the
stress, Alvin puts on a few pounds and thinks that he might actually be pregnant, too!
The Last Present by Wendy Mass
Grace has fallen into a strange frozen state on her birthday, and Amanda and Leo must
travel in time in order to fix whatever's wrong. As they journey back to each of Grace's
birthdays, they start seeing all sorts of patterns . . . which raise all sorts of questions.
Can Amanda and Leo unravel the threads of the past and present in order to save to
save Grace?
Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout by Megan McDonald
Stink is back and he’s getting his swim on! But he just can’t seem to advance past his
Pollywog level—why would he want to get water up his nose on purpose? But strange
things are afoot in town, and Stink is spotting frogs EVERYWHERE! His dad takes Stink
and some pals to the local nature center where they learn all about frog species and
their special sounds. Stink’s new hobby is all fun and games until he is licked by what he
believes is a mutant frog that could give him super powers like Peter Parker
(Spiderman)…will this fateful lick give him the skills to conquer the pool?
Awesome Blossom: A Flower Power Book by Lauren Myracle
The flower-friends are truly a fab four: we have Katie-Rose, Milla, Yasaman, and Violet,
all who bring their own quirky personalities to the table. Everyone in this friendship circle
is happy until a new girl, Hayley, comes in to mix things up. The girls are concerned: will
Hayley end up being an Evil Chick? Then, another mystery peeks its head out when
Katie-Rose starts getting plush hedgehogs as gifts! This book is filled to the brim with
drama, fun, and even a little bit of middle-school romance. Flower Power books also
have a cool twist: the text is interspersed with web chats and texts between characters.
Clementine and the Spring Trip by Sara Pennypacker
Clementine is back and in her sixth book, she has a new batch of problems! She’s
excited about the big spring trip to Plimoth Plantation until she finds out that the fourth
graders have strict rules about eating - no crunching of any food allowed! Then there’s
friend drama: her best friend Margaret is going crazy with spring cleaning and new girl
Olive is stealing Clementine’s thunder at school by teaching all the kids Olive-language.
All this is making Clementine dread her school trip. Can she solve her problems and
survive The Cloud on Bus 7? Or will this be a field trip disaster?
Binky Takes Charge by Ashley Spires
Binky, a cat, takes on his first trainee in the newest installment of the Binky Adventure
series. Binky and the F.U.R.S.T. Agency (Felines of the Universe Ready for Space
Travel) are trying to protect his home from the alien invaders (flies). What Binky doesn’t
realize is, his trainee is a dog! Gordon, the dog, seems impossible to train and Binky
catches him doing some odd things. Is he a spy, is he helping the aliens? Binky is
shocked when he learns the truth about Gordon.
NONFICTION
Shimmer and Splash: The Sparkling World of Sea Life by Jim Arnosky
From jellyfish to sharks, dolphins, stingrays, fighting fiddlers and more, readers will
experience these amazing sea creatures up close in large color illustrations, many
opening up into 4-page gatefolds depicting actual size. Arnosky includes basic
information about each creature and various features of the sea. Smaller, labeled pencil
illustrations accompany each spread. This is an amazing book that may whet the
appetite of readers to learn more about the ocean and the fascinating creatures that
inhabit it.
A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin written by Jen Bryant, illustrated
by Melissa Sweet
This inspiring story of self-taught artist, Horace Pippin describes his difficult childhood
growing up with few resources, the tribulations he overcame after sustaining a crippling
injury during World War I, and his ultimate artistic success. As a child, his love of
drawing led him to enter a contest in which he won a set of colored pencils, paints and
brushes. When Horace was in eighth grade, his father left the family, forcing him to quit
school and work at backbreaking jobs. Still, Horace drew and painted until a bullet
permanently damaged his right (painting) arm during World War I. Through hard work
and determination, he trained himself to grasp his right wrist with his left hand and move
the injured arm to create beautiful paintings. He hung them in stores and restaurants in
his town, and while people admired them, no one purchased them until the president of
a local artists’ club saw his paintings and introduced them to N. C. Wyeth. Pippin
became a nationally known artist whose work is displayed in museums across the
country. Quotes by Pippin are incorporated into the illustrations: “Pictures just come to
my mind . . . and I tell my heart to go ahead.” This book offers a beautiful introduction to
this remarkable artist.
The Price of Freedom: How One Town Stood Up to Slavery written by Judith Bloom
Fradin and Dennis Brindell Fradin, illustrated by Eric Velasquez
John Price, his cousin, Dinah, and their friend, Frank, escaped Kentucky on a cold night
in January 1856, making a difficult journey to the free state of Ohio. No one knows what
happened to Dinah, but John and Frank wintered in Oberlin, Ohio waiting for the ice to
melt so they could travel to the only safe place for fugitive slaves at the time, Canada.
Oberlin was a welcoming place, and with about four hundred of its two thousand
residents being African Americans, most escaped slaves, John and Frank decided to
stay. Trouble began in September 1858, when slave hunters came into town looking for
John and Frank. John was eventually captured. While being taken away in a wagon, he
yelled out to an Oberlin College student walking along the road that he’d been
kidnapped. Would the young man pass along his appeal for help? Would anyone be
willing to rescue a runaway slave who, according to the Fugitive Slave Law, should be
returned to his owner? The story is at once exciting and informative, shedding light on a
little known event in American history.
The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius by Jan Greenberg and Sandra
Jordan
George Ohr was a potter with a wildly creative personality and a willingness to break the
rules. His clay pots looked like stubby plants and melted candles. He grew a moustache
he could wrap around his ears and wore his beard so long he could tuck it into his shirt.
Who was this mad potter? How did he come to be so weird?!
When the Beat Was born: DJ Kool and the Creation of Hip Hop by Laban Carrick
Hill, illustrated by Theodore Taylor III
How did rap music get to be rap music? How did DJs get to be necessary to have a
rockin’ party? DJ Herc Kool grew up in New York City loving high-spirited parties and the
music that made people hip and hop. So he became the DJ that sent shout outs to
dancers, gave them the music that moved them and encouraged the first break-dancers
and rappers. Where would the music scene be today without the Herc?
The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest,
Shyest—and Most Surprising—Animals on Earth by Steve Jenkins
Animal lovers gather round! Steve Jenkins has brought us a treasure trove of animal
facts and pictures in this new book which covers many aspects of the animal world! You
will learn about family life, the senses, predators and defenses, and evolution and best
of all, all about wild and weird animal extremes! For example, did you know that Darwin
frogs’ fathers carry their tadpoles in pouches in their throats until they are ready to hop
out? The Malaysian soldier ant carries toxins in its body ready to explode itself just to
protect its colony! The world’s longest animal is the giant ribbon worm, which reach up to
180 feet long but is as thick as your finger! Bowhead whales can live over 200 years
while a mayfly usually dies in less than a day! Discover more amazing facts like these
with this wonderful book!
Go: A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design by Chip Kidd
Ever want to learn graphic design? In this book by graphic designer Chip Kidd, you’ll
learn why designers do things the way they do. Why are some things small? Big? Light?
Dark? What is positive and negative space? What about color? Why do designers use
the type fonts they do? Find out the answers to these and many other design questions
as you explore this creative and very well “designed” book.
Benjamin Franklin by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Boris Kulikov
If you thought Ben Franklin was just one of the founding fathers, this book shows him as
the scientist he really was. Did you know his first love was science, that he not only
discovered that lightning was electricity, but that he did many more experiments with
electricity which made him admired worldwide for his scientific discoveries? If you like
science and/or Ben Franklin, you’ll love this book.
Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton by Meghan McCarthy
Which do you think is the coolest job ever: stunt pilot, racecar driver, boat jumper, or
astronaut? An amazing woman named Betty Skelton did them all! In the 1940’s and
50’s, when women were not allowed to do many of those things, daredevil Betty broke
down barriers—often while barefoot!
Barbed Wire Baseball by Marissa Moss, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu
Kenichi “Zeni” Zenimura may have been barely 5 feet tall and 100 pounds soaking wet,
but he held his own with baseball giants like Babe Ruth—until the Japanese attacked
Pearl Harbor and many Americans of Japanese descent, like Zeni and his family, were
sent to internment camps during the war. Zeni’s love of baseball proved to be so strong
that not even the barbed wire fences could keep him from building a baseball diamond in
the desert camp.
To Dare Mighty Things: The Life of Theodore Roosevelt by Doreen Rappaport
Follow the path of the 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt, a trailblazer at home and
around the world. Author Doreen Rapport and illustrator C. F. Payne captures Teddy’s
passion for life and his love of our nation through picturesque telling of events from
boyhood to President. Learn why conservation of America’s outdoors was his passion.
Discover his success and failures as a politician. This is the story of a “monumental
man.”
Jimmy the Joey: The True Story of an Amazing Koala Rescue by Deborah Lee Rose
and Susan Kelly
Photos of Jimmy, the adorable orphaned koala, illustrate his recovery at the Koala
Animal Hospital and eventual return to his native habitat. Information about koalas is
interwoven into Jimmy’s story. Includes maps, notes from photographer, and resources
that include books and websites as well as places to see koalas and ways to help them.
Electrical Wizard: How Nikola Tesla Lit Up the World by Elizabeth Rusch, Illustrated
by Oliver Dominguez
Many people know who Thomas Alva Edison was. His inventions and work are well
known. The inventions and work of Nikola Tesla are not as well-known and in some
ways, are more important to science than Edison’s contributions would ever be. As a
child, Tesla dreamed of using electricity to do great things. He never stopped dreaming
and worked hard to bring the power of electricity to everyone. Thanks to his
revolutionary ideas, we can continue to expand on his work to make the world a better
place for everyone.
Eruption!: Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives by Elizabeth Rusch,
Photographs by Tom Uhlman
Have you ever thought of being a volcanologist? Have you ever wanted to be a scientist
in the field learning how to predict eruptions and helping people? Or if that is too
intense, would you prefer to read about volcanoes and their brave scientists from the
safety of a fascinating book? Then this book is for you! Volcanoes exist around the
world and scientists strive to learn as much as possible in order to keep people safe. If
you are brave enough to venture out into the field to see a volcano, don’t forget to check
out the list of essential tools and supplies on page 58!
Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems by Marilyn Singer
Marilyn Singer provides another festival of language in Follow, Follow: A Book of
Reverso Poems. This companion to Mirror Mirror, adds flip-flop style to fables along
with more fairytales. A clever practice of punctuation and perspective through poetry
that is sure to brighten any poetry study.
Tracking Tyrannosaurs: Meet T. rex’s Fascinating Family, from Tiny Terrors to
Feathered Giants by Christopher Sloan
This detailed look at Tyrannosaurs will appeal to all dinosaur lovers, providing
information on new research and new discoveries that revise previous assumptions
about this king of dinosaurs. Includes pronunciation and meaning of names, as well as
where fossils were discovered, how long ago each dinosaur lived, and how they
compare in size to the most famous member of the family.
Becoming Babe Ruth by Matt Tavares
If you love baseball, listen up! If you love baseball history, well hold on to your hats!
Babe Ruth is one of the biggest names in baseball history and as a baseball history
lover, you may be able to rattle off all of his stats but do you know what made Babe Ruth
The Babe? Did you know that Babe Ruth was a troubled kid? Did you know he skipped
school just about every day? Well, lucky for him, he had parents who cared and sent him
to a special school for boys like George ([‘m sure you ball lovers knew his real name was
George, right?) At this school, a kind teacher played ball with George just about every
day and helped make him into the Great Bambino! This biography is short and easy to
read but still tells you about his whole life and how important this school was to him. It
also has fun, detailed pictures that will bring Babe Ruth to life for you!