01.27.2018

2018 Winter Olympics

In celebration of the 2018 Olympics and Paraolympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, we’ve gathered together a list of books about Korea, the Olympics, and winter sports!

South Korea

Picturebooks

The Royal Bee by Frances Park

(Children + PZ7.P21977 Ro 2000)

In the days when only wealthy Korean children are allowed to attend school, a poor boy named Song-ho learns by listening outside a schoolroom door, which eventually earns him a chance to better himself and make life easier for his widowed mother.

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

(Children Picture Book + CHOI)

After Unhei moves from Korea to the United States, her new classmates help her decide what her name should be.

Where’s Halmoni? by Julie Kim

(Children Picture Book + KIM)

Searching for their missing grandmother, two Korean children follow tracks into a fantastic world filled with beings from folklore who speak in Korean. Includes translations and information about the folkloric characters.

The Firekeeper’s Son by Linda Sue Park

(Children Picture Book + PARK)

In eighteenth-century Korea, after Sang-hee’s father injures his ankle, Sang-hee attempts to take over the task of lighting the evening fire which signals to the palace that all is well. Includes historical notes.

A Piece of Home by Jeri Watts; illustrated by Hyewon Yum

(Children Picture Book + WATTS)

When Hee Jun’s family moves from Korea to West Virginia he struggles to adjust to his new home. He can’t understand anything the teacher says, and even the sky seems smaller and darker. Hee Jun begins to learn English words and make friends on the playground. One day at a classmate’s house he sees a flower he knows from his garden in Korea: mugunghwa, or rose of Sharon. Hee Jun is happy to bring a shoot to his grandmother to plant a “piece of home” in their new garden.

Chapter Books

Year of Impossible Goodbyes by Sook Nyul Choi

(Children PZ7.C44626 Ye 1991)

A young Korean girl survives the oppressive Japanese and Russian occupation of North Korea during the 1940s, to later escape to freedom in South Korea.

Echoes of the White Giraffe by Sook Nyul Choi

(Children PZ7.C44626 Ec 1993)

Fifteen-year-old Sookan, the heroine of Year of Impossible Goodbyes, adjusts to life in the refugee village in Pusan, a city in a southern province of Korea. The Korean War is raging, and Sookan has again been separated from her father and older brothers. She continues to hope that the civil war will end and her family will be reunited in Seoul. Her immediate concerns, though, are those of any teenage girl: friendships, studies, and most of all, a first romance.

A Gathering of Pearls by Sook Nyul Choi

(Children PZ7.C44626 Ga 1994)

Sookan struggles to balance her new life as a college freshman in the United States with expectations from her family at home in Korea.

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

(Children PZ7.P24 Si 2001)

Tree-ear, a thirteen-year-old orphan in medieval Korea, lives under a bridge in a potters’ village, and longs to learn how to throw the delicate celadon ceramics himself.

When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park

(Children PZ7.P24 Wh 2002)

With national pride and occasional fear, a brother and sister face the increasingly oppressive occupation of Korea by Japan during World War II, which threatens to suppress Korean culture entirely.

Olympics and Winter Sports

Picture Books

The Mud Flat Olympics by James Stevenson

(Children PZ7.S84748 Mu 1994)

At the Mud Flat Olympics if the animals don’t win the Deepest Hole Contest, the All-Snail High Hurdles, or the River-Cross Freestyle, they can still come to the picnic after the games and have ice cream for dessert.

Babar’s Celesteville Games by Laurent de Brunhoff

(Children Picture Book Lg BRUNH)

Babar’s children have all grown up. He and Celeste take them to the Celesteville Games. All the best animal athletes will be there to compete. Babar’s daughter Flora falls in love with a young athlete, Corriander, from the country of Mirza. They decide to marry and all of Celesteville is invited.

Hans Brinker by Bruce Coville; illustrated by Laurel Long

(Children Picture Book + COVIL)

A Dutch brother and sister work toward two goals, finding the doctor who can restore their father’s memory and winning the competition for the silver skates.

Chapter Books

Toad Rage by Morris Gleitzman

(Children PZ7.G4824 Tor 2004)

Determined to understand why humans hate cane toads and to improve relations between the species, Limpy embarks on a dangerous trek from his swamp to the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

(Children PZ7.J156 Ro 2015)

“A funny and inspiring graphic novel about friendship, girl power, and RRRR-ROLLER DERBY!” — Provided by publisher

Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed; illustrated by Barbara McClintock

(Children PZ7.O118 Twe 2012)

From the first ice, a thin skin on a bucket of water, through thickly-iced fields, streams, and gardens, a girl, her family, and friends anticipate and enjoy a winter of skating, ending with an ice show complete with costumes, refreshments, and clowns.

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

(Children PZ7.R333 Gh 2016)

“Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team—a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves. Ghost has a crazy natural talent, but no formal training. If he can stay on track, literally and figuratively, he could be the best sprinter in the city. But Ghost has been running for the wrong reasons—it all starting with running away from his father, who, when Ghost was a very little boy, chased him and his mother through their apartment, then down the street, with a loaded gun, aiming to kill. Since then, Ghost has been the one causing problems—and running away from them—until he meets Coach, an ex-Olympic Medalist who blew his own shot at success by using drugs, and who is determined to keep other kids from blowing their shots at life.” — Provided by publisher

12.30.2017

Seafaring

Picture Books

Tim & Lucy Go to Sea by Edward Ardizzone

(Children + PZ7.A682 Til)

Lucy is a lonely little girl who lived with an old friend, Mr. Grimes. Lucy longs for a playmate and adventure until she meets Tim. Tim encourages Mr. Grimes to buy a yacht, and they all go to sea where they do experience adventure.

Burt Dow, Deep Water Man by Robert McCloskey

(Children + PZ7.M1336 Bu)

Burt goes fishing, takes refuge from a storm in a whale’s stomach, and decorates a whole school of whales’ tails with striped band-aids.

Loud Emily by Alexis O’Neill; illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

(Children PZ7.O5523 Lo 1998)

A little girl with a big voice who lives in a nineteenth-century whaling town finds a way to be useful and happy aboard a sailing ship.

Moby Dick adapted and illustrated by Allan Drummond

(Children Picture Book DRUMM)

Retells the story of the ill-fated voyage of a whaling ship led by the fanatical Captain Ahab in search of the white whale that had crippled him.

The Further Adventures of the Little Mouse Trapped in a Book by Monique Félix

(Children Picture Book FÉLIX)

A mouse trapped inside the pages of a book chews his way out to an ocean and sails away in a paper boat.

Pirate Girl by Cornelia Funke; illustrated by Kerstin Meyer

(Children Picture Book + FUNKE)

Ferocious pirate Captain Firebeard THINKS that he and the ruthless crew of the “Horrible Haddock” rule the high seas. But Firebeard and his band meet their match when they kidnap a small but feisty girl named Molly.

Over the Ocean by Taro Gomi

(Children Picture Book GOMI)

A young girl gazes out over the horizon, and wonders what lands lie beyond the ocean, and what the people are like who live in those lands.

Boats by Patricia Hubbell; illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy

(Children Picture Book HUBBE)

Illustrations and rhyming text celebrate different kinds of boats and what they can do.

Pigs Ahoy! By David McPhail

(Children Picture Book + MCPHA)

A young man joins an ocean cruise on which some bad-mannered pigs create disaster while on board, and when the man returns home, a great surprise awaits him.

As Time Went By by José Sanabria

(Children Picture Book SANAB)

“Once upon a time there was a ship that sailed beside the sun with very important people on board. The spirit of reinvention—and the importance we place on things—is beautifully expressed in José Sanabria’s visually evocative story. A steamship makes a journey across time from luxury and exclusivity, industry and abandonment, to stewardship and inclusion as we see the evolving functions of the ship and the changing faces of the people who cherish it most of all.”—Book jacket.

Little Tug by Steven Savage

(Children Picture Book SAVAG)

Little Tug knows what to do when the tall ship, the speedboat, and the ocean liner need him, and at such times, he is indispensable.

Middle Grade

Keeper by Kathi Appelt

(Children PZ7.A6455 Ke 2010)

On the night of the blue moon when mermaids are said to gather on a sandbar in the Gulf of Mexico, ten-year-old Keeper sets out in a small boat, with her dog BD and a seagull named Captain, determined to find her mother, a mermaid, as Keeper has always believed, who left long ago to return to the sea.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

(Children PZ7.A953 Tr 1990)

As the lone “young lady” on a transatlantic voyage in 1832, Charlotte learns that the captain is murderous and the crew rebellious.

The Wanderer by Sharon Creech

(Children PZ7.C8615 Wan 2000)

Thirteen-year-old Sophie and her cousin Cody record their transatlantic crossing aboard the Wanderer, a forty-five foot sailboat, which, along with uncles and another cousin, is en route to visit their grandfather in England.

Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck

(Children PZ7.P33 Sec 2011)

In 1887, the social-climbing Cranstons voyage from New York to London, where they hope to find a husband for their awkward older daughter, secretly accompanied by Helena and her mouse siblings, for whom the journey is both terrifying and wondrous as they meet an array of titled humans despite their best efforts at remaining hidden.

Young Adult

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, Ship’s Boy by L.A. Meyer

(Young Adult PZ7.M55 Bl 2002)

Reduced to begging and thievery in the streets of London, a thirteen-year-old orphan disguises herself as a boy and connives her way onto a British warship set for high sea adventure in search of pirates.

Nonfiction

The Longitude Prize by Joan Dash; illustrated by Dusan Ptericic

(Children QB107 .D28 2000)

The story of John Harrison, inventor of watches and clocks, who spent forty years working on a time-machine which could be used to accurately determine longitude at sea.

Recounts the true story of eight bottlenose dolphins and their trainers who survived the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Ship by David Macaulay

(Children Lg VM311.C27 M33 1993)

Describes wooden ships or caravels of the fifteenth century and follows archaeologists as they uncover a lost caravel in the Caribbean Sea.

Poetry

Sea Songs by Myra Cohn Livingston; illustrated by Leonard Everett Fisher

(Children + PS3562.I945 S4 1986)

Poetic images of cresting waves, mermaids, sunken ships, and other aspects of the sea.

11.29.2017

Food

Picture Books

The Turnip by Jan Brett

(Children Picture Book + BRETT)

Badger Girl is delighted to find the biggest turnip she has ever seen growing in her vegetable garden, but when the time comes to harvest the giant root, she is unable to pull it up without help from family and friends.

Today is Monday by Eric Carle

(Children Picture Book Lg CARLE)

Each day of the week brings a new food, until on Sunday all the world’s children can come and eat it up.

How My Parents Learned to Eat by Ina R. Friedman; illustrated by Allen Say

(Children Picture Book FRIED)

An American sailor courts a Japanese girl and each tries, in secret, to learn the other’s way of eating.

Bon Appétit!: The Delicious Life of Julia Child by Jessie Hartland

(Children Picture Book + HARTL)

A picture book biography of Julia Child, the famous chef –Provided by publisher.

Happy Belly, Happy Smile by Rachel Isadora

(Children Picture Book ISADO)

Sitting in the kitchen of his grandfather’s Chinese restaurant, a young boy enjoys watching the chefs and waiters prepare and serve mouth-watering dishes.

The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin

(Children Picture Book LIN)

A little girl thinks her mother’s garden is the ugliest in the neighborhood until she discovers that flowers might look and smell pretty but Chinese vegetable soup smells best of all.

If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff; illustrated by Felicia Bond

(Children Picture Book NUMER)

Chaos can ensue if you give a moose a muffin and start him on a cycle of urgent requests.

The King’s Taster by Kenneth Oppel; paintings by Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher

(Children Picture Book + OPPEL)

The royal chef takes Max the dog, the royal taster, on several international journeys to find a dish for the land’s pickiest king.

Minette’s Feast by Susanna Reich; illustrated by Amy Bates

(Children Picture Book REICH)

While Julia is in the kitchen learning to cook up elaborate, delicious dishes, the only feast Minette is truly interested in is that of fresh mouse. Includes biographical information about Julia Child.

The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza retold by Philemon Sturges; illustrated by Amy Walrod

(Children Picture Book + STURG)

In this version of the traditional tale, the duck, the dog, and the cat refuse to help the Little Red Hen make a pizza but do get to participate when the time comes to eat it.

Pizza Kittens by Charlotte Voake

(Children Picture Book VOAKE)

Kittens Lucy, Joe, and Bert prefer pizza to peas.

Beginning Reader

In Aunt Lucy’s Kitchen by Cynthia Rylant

(Children PZ7.R982 In 2004)

While staying with their aunt for a year, three nine-year-old cousins keep busy baking and selling cookies, putting on a poetry and singing performance, and trying to encourage a romance between their aunt and one of their former customers.

Chapter Books

Granny Torelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech

(Children PZ7.C8615 Gr 2003)

With the help of her wise old grandmother, twelve-year-old Rosie manages to work out some problems in her relationship with her best friend, Bailey, the boy next door.

A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff

(Children PZ7.G751577 Tan 2013)

“Destiny leads 11-year-old Cady to a peanut butter factory, a family of children searching for their own Talents, and a Talent Thief who will alter her life forever”–Provided by publisher. Includes cake recipes.

Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles by Rupert Kingfisher; illustrated by Sue Hellard

(Children PZ7.K59 Mad 2008)

Forced to work in her unpleasant uncle’s horrible restaurant, a Parisian girl finds comfort and companionship in a shop nearby that sells otherworldly foods prepared by a mysterious cook and her cat.

The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe’s Very First Case by Alexander McCall Smith; illustrated by Iain McIntosh

(Children PZ7.M1255 Gr 2012)

Before becoming the first female private investigator in Botswana, eight-year-old Precious Ramotswe tracks down a thief who has been stealing her classmates’ snacks.

Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres

(Children PZ7.T626 St 2017)

“Seventh grader Estefania ‘Stef’ Soto is itching to shake off the onion-and-cilantro embrace of Tia Perla, her family’s taco truck. She wants nothing more than for her dad to get a normal job and for Tia Perla to be put out to pasture. It’s no fun being known as the ‘Taco Queen’ at school. But just when it looks like Stef is going to get exactly what she wants, and her family’s livelihood is threatened, she will have to become the truck’s unlikely champion. In this fun and multicultural middle grade novel, Stef will discover what matters the most, and ultimately embrace an identity that even includes old Tia Perla.”–Publisher’s website.

YA Books

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

(Children PZ7.H21834 Li 2016)

On an island off the south coast of Victorian England, Faith investigates the mysterious death of her father, who was involved in a scandal. She discovers a tree that bears fruit only when she whispers a lie to it — and the fruit, in turn, delivers a hidden truth. Does the tree hold the key to her father’s murder? Or will it lead the murderer to Faith herself?

Informational Books

The Adventurous Chef: Alexis Soyer by Ann Arnold

(Children + CT1018.S686 A76 2002)

A biography of a flamboyant, successful French chef and inventor of kitchen tools who opened soup kitchens during the Irish potato famine and taught the army how to feed itself during the Crimean War.

The Pooh Cookbook by Virginia H. Ellison

(Children TX767.H7 E44 1969)

Recipes for beverages, sandwiches, desserts, soups, and meat and vegetable dishes, most of which use honey.

Fanny at Chez Panisse by Alice Waters, with Bob Carrau and Patricia Curtan; illustrations by Ann Arnold

(Children + TX652.5 .W359 1992)

Seven-year-old Fanny describes her adventures with food and cooking at her mother’s restaurant in Berkeley, California. Includes forty-two recipes.

Chocolate: Riches from the Rainforest by Robert Burleigh

(Children + TX767.C5 B94 2002)

Traces the history of chocolate from a drink of the Olmec and Maya and later in Europe to its popularity around the world today.

10.31.2017

LGBTQ

Board Books

Baby’s First Words by Stella Blackburn

(Children Picture Book BLACK)

Come spend the day with a busy baby and her two dads and learn the words for all the things you see along the way. Includes seek-and-find pictures.

Daddy, Papa, and Me by Leslea Newman; illustrated by Carol Thompson

(Children Picture Book NEWMA)

The story of a toddler’s daily activities with two loving fathers.

Mommy, Mama, and Me by Lesléa Newman; illustrated by Carol Thompson

(Children Picture Book NEWMA)

A baby enjoys a number of fun activities with her two mothers.

Picture Books

Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian

(Children Picture Book AUSTR)

Two worms in love decide to get married, and with help from Cricket, Beetle, Spider, and the Bees they have everything they need and more, but which one will be the bride and which the groom?

Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesléa Newman; illustrated by Laura Cornell

(Children Picture Book + NEWMA)

“Heather’s favorite number is two. She has two arms, two legs, and two pets. And she also has two mommies. When Heather goes to school for the first time, someone asks her about her daddy, but Heather doesn’t have a daddy. Then something interesting happens. When Heather and her classmates all draw pictures of their families, not one drawing is the same. It doesn’t matter who makes up a family, the teacher says, because ‘the most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love one another.'” —Provided by publisher.

A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O’Leary

(Children Picture Book + OLEAR)

“When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways—but the same in the one way that matters most of all. One child is worried that her family is just too different to explain, but listens as her classmates talk about what makes their families special. One is raised by a grandmother, and another has two dads. One is full of stepsiblings, and another has a new baby.” —Provided by publisher.

This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman; illustrated by Kristyna Litten

(Children Picture Book PITMA)

“A picture book illustrating a Pride parade. The endmatter serves as a primer on LGBT history and culture and explains the references made in the story.” —Provided by publisher.

Chapter Books

Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee

(Children PZ7.D351 St 2017)

When Mattie is cast as Romeo in an eighth-grade play, she is confused to find herself increasingly attracted to Gemma, a new classmate who is playing Juliet.

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle

(Children PZ7.F314 Bet 2013)

“Nate Foster has big dreams. His whole life, he’s wanted to star in a Broadway show. (Heck, he’d settle for seeing a Broadway show.) But how is Nate supposed to make his dreams come true when he’s stuck in Jankburg, Pennsylvania, where no one (except his best pal Libby) appreciates a good show tune? With Libby’s help, Nate plans a daring overnight escape to New York. There’s an open casting call for E.T.: The Musical, and Nate knows this could be the difference between small-town blues and big-time stardom.” —Provided by publisher.

George by Alex Gino

(Children PZ7.G379 Ge 2015)

“When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she’s not a boy. She knows she’s a girl. George thinks she’ll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte’s Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can’t even try out for the part . . . because she’s a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte—but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.” —Provided by publisher.

Young Adult

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

(Children PZ7.A334 Si 2015)

“Sixteen-year-old, not-so-openly-gay Simon Spier is blackmailed into playing wingman for his classmate or else his sexual identity—and that of his pen pal—will be revealed.” —Provided by publisher.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

(Children PZ7.B52878 Dar 2015)

In the town of Fairfold, where humans and fae exist side by side, a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives awakes after generations of sleep in a glass coffin in the woods, causing Hazel to be swept up in new love, shift her loyalties, feel the fresh sting of betrayal, and make a secret sacrifice to the faerie king. —Provided by publisher.

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown

(Children PZ7.B815 Ge 2016)

“Joanna Gordon has been out and proud for years, but when her popular radio evangelist father remarries and decides to move all three of them from Atlanta to the more conservative Rome, Georgia, he asks Jo to do the impossible: to lie low for the rest of her senior year. And Jo reluctantly agrees. Although it is (mostly) much easier for Jo to fit in as a straight girl, things get complicated when she meets Mary Carlson, the oh-so-tempting sister of her new friend at school. But Jo couldn’t possibly think of breaking her promise to her dad. Even if she’s starting to fall for the girl. Even if there’s a chance Mary Carlson might be interested in her, too. Right?” —Provided by publisher.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

(Children PZ7.D2136 Mi 2012)

In the early 1990s, when gay teenager Cameron Post rebels against her conservative Montana ranch town and her family decides she needs to change her ways, she is sent to a gay conversion therapy center.

The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle

(Children PZ7.F314 Gr 2016)

“Teenaged Quinn, an aspiring screenwriter, copes with his sister’s death while his best friend forces him back out into the world to face his reality.” —Provided by publisher.

Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard

(Children PZ7.G4395 Gi 2016)

“In Ontario, Pen is a sixteen-year-old girl who looks like a boy. She’s fine with it, but everyone else is uncomfortable—especially her Portuguese immigrant parents and her manipulative neighbor who doesn’t want her to find a group of real friends.” —Provided by publisher.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green

(Children PZ7.G8233 Wi 2010)

When two teens, one gay and one straight, meet accidentally and discover that they share the same name, their lives become intertwined as one begins dating the other’s best friend, who produces a play revealing his relationship with them both.

Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story by David Levithan

(Children PZ7.L5798 Ho 2015)

“Larger-than-life Tiny Cooper finally gets to tell his story, from his fabulous birth and childhood to his quest for true love and his infamous parade of ex-boyfriends, in the form of a musical he wrote.” —Provided by publisher.

When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore

(Children PZ7.M224 Wh 2016)

“To everyone who knows them, best friends Miel and Sam are as strange as they are inseparable. Roses grow out of Miel’s wrists, and rumors say that she spilled out of a water tower when she was five. Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees and for how little anyone knows about his life before he and his mother moved to town. But as odd as everyone considers Miel and Sam, even they stay away from the Bonner girls, four beautiful sisters rumored to be witches. Now they want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin, convinced that their scent can make anyone fall in love. And they’re willing to use every secret Miel has fought to protect to make sure she gives them up.” —Provided by publisher.

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

(Children PZ7.N433835 Il 2014)

“Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways … until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah’s story to tell. The later years are Jude’s. What the twins don’t realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.” —Provided by publisher.

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

(Children PZ7.R91 If 2016)

“Amanda Hardy is the new girl in school. Like anyone else, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. But Amanda is keeping a secret, and she’s determined not to get too close to anyone. But when she meets sweet, easygoing Grant, Amanda can’t help but start to let him into her life. As they spend more time together, she realizes just how much she is losing by guarding her heart. She finds herself yearning to share with Grant everything about herself, including her past. But Amanda’s terrified that once she tells him the truth, he won’t be able to see past it.” —Provided by publisher.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

(Children PZ7.S1273 Ar 2012)

“Fifteen-year-old Ari Mendoza is an angry loner with a brother in prison, but when he meets Dante and they become friends, Ari starts to ask questions about himself, his parents, and his family that he has never asked before.” —From title page verso.

History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

(Children PZ7.S594 Hi 2017)

Even though Theo had moved to California for college and started seeing Jackson, Griffin never doubted Theo would come back to him when the time was right. But when Theo dies in a drowning accident, the future he’s been imagining for himself is gone. To make things worse, the only person who truly understands his heartache is Jackson. As Griffin loses himself in his obsessive compulsions and destructive choices, the secrets he’s been keeping are tearing him apart.

Informational

Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Prager; illustrated by Zoë More O’Ferrall

(Children HQ73 .P73 2017)

World history has been made by countless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals — and you’ve never heard of many of them. Queer author and activist Sarah Prager delves deep into the lives of 23 people who fought, created, and loved on their own terms. From high-profile figures like Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt to the trailblazing gender-ambiguous Queen of Sweden and a bisexual blues singer who didn’t make it into your history books, these true stories uncover a rich queer heritage that encompasses every culture, in every era.

09.28.2017

Natural Disasters

Recent natural disasters, and those most impacted by them, have been at the front of our minds. Knowing that many families have been discussing these tragedies together, we offer the following list of books.

Picture Books

Out of the Woods: A True Story of an Unforgettable Event by Rebecca Bond

(Children Children Picture Book + BOND)

“Inspired by the author’s grandfather’s experiences living in a lodge in the woods, a story of how people and animals survive a forest fire in a small Canadian town.” — Provided by publisher.

Tsunami by Kimiko Kajikawa; illustrated by Ed Young

(Children Picture Book + KAJIK)

A wealthy man in a Japanese village, who everyone calls Ojiisan, which means grandfather, sets fire to his rice fields to warn the innocent people of an approaching tsunami.

Mama by Jeanette Winter

(Children Picture Book WINTE)

A true story in which a baby hippo loses his mama during the tsunami, but finds a new home and a new mama.

Chapter Books

A City Tossed and Broken by Judy Blundell

(Children PZ7.B627146 Cit 2013)

It is 1906, and when her family is cheated out of their tavern, fourteen-year-old Minnie Bonner is forced to become a maid to the Sump family, who are moving to San Francisco—three weeks before the great earthquake.

Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury

(Children PZ7.S15225 Ni 2007)

In 1975, eleven Boy Scouts, their leaders, and some new friends camping at Halape, Hawaii, find their survival skills put to the test when a massive earthquake strikes, followed by a tsunami.

Young Adult

Exodus by Julie Bertagna

(Children PZ7.B4627 Exo 2008)

In the year 2100, as the island of Wing is about to be covered by water, fifteen-year-old Mara discovers the existence of New World sky cities that are safe from the storms and rising waters, and convinces her people to travel to one of these cities in order to save themselves.

Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesca Lia Block

(Children PZ7.B61945 Lo 2013)

After a devastating earthquake destroys the West Coast, causing seventeen-year-old Penelope to lose her home, her parents, and her ten-year-old brother, she navigates a dark world, holding hope and love in her hands and refusing to be defeated.

In Darkness by Nick Lake

(Children PZ7.L185 In 2012)

In the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake, fifteen-year-old Shorty, a poor gang member from the slums of Site Soleil, is trapped in the rubble of a ruined hospital, and as he grows weaker he has visions and memories of his life of violence, his lost twin sister, and of Toussaint L’Ouverture, who liberated Haiti from French rule in the 1804.

Nation by Terry Pratchett

(Children PZ7.P8865 Nat 2008)

After a devastating tsunami destroys all that they have ever known, Mau, an island boy, and Daphne, an aristocratic English girl, together with a small band of refugees, set about rebuilding their community and all the things that are important in their lives.

Beneath a Meth Moon: An Elegy by Jacqueline Woodson

(Children PZ7.W868 Ben 2012)

“A young girl uses crystal meth to escape the pain of losing her mother and grandmother in Hurricane Katrina, and then struggles to get over her addiction.” —Provided by publisher.

Informational Books

Eight Dolphins of Katrina: A True Tale of Survival by Janet Wyman Coleman

(Children QL737.C432 C563 2013)

Recounts the true story of eight bottlenose dolphins and their trainers who survived the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, and Dr.Paula Kahumbu; photographs by Peter Greste

(Children QL737.U57 H38 2006)

“A one-year-old hippo calf christened Owen was found alone and dehydrated by wildlife rangers near the Indian Ocean at Malindi, Kenya, in the days after the Asian Tsunami. He was placed in an enclosure at a wildlife sanctuary in Mombasa where he befriended a male tortoise. The tortoise is named Mzee, which is Swahili for ‘old man’. Mzee ‘adopted’ Owen and they are still rarely seen apart. Their unusual bonding has surprised and delighted zoologists in Kenya and become worldwide news.” —Provided by publisher.

How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming by Lynne Cherry and Gary Braasch

(Children QC981.8.C5 C475 2008)

“When the weather changes daily, how do we really know that Earth’s climate is changing? Here is the science behind the headlines – evidence from flowers, butterflies, birds, frogs, trees, glaciers and much more, gathered by scientists from all over the world, sometimes with assistance from young citizen-scientists. And here is what young people, and their families and teachers, can do to learn about climate change and take action. Climate change is a critical and timely topic of deep concern, here told in an age-appropriate manner, with clarity and hope.” —Provided by publisher.

An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming by Al Gore

(Children QC981.8.G56 G675 2007)

Young readers’ version of the documentary film’s companion adult volume.

Storms by Seymour Simon

(Children + QC941.3 .S55 1989)

Describes the atmospheric conditions which create thunderstorms, hailstorms, lightning, tornadoes, and hurricanes and how violent weather affects the environment and people.

Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans by Don Brown

(Children + HV636 2005.N4 B75 2015)

“On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina’s monstrous winds and surging water overwhelmed the protective levees around low-lying New Orleans, Louisiana. Eighty percent of the city flooded, in some places under twenty feet of water. Property damages across the Gulf Coast topped $100 billion. One thousand eight hundred and thirty-three people lost their lives. The tale of this historic storm and the drowning of an American city is one of selflessness, heroism, and courage—and also of incompetence, racism, and criminality. Don Brown’s kinetic art and as-it-happens narrative capture both the tragedy and triumph of one of the worst natural disasters in American history.” —Provided by publisher.

08.30.2017

School

Picture Books

David Goes to School by David Shannon

(Children + PZ7.S52865 Dav 1999)

David’s activities in school include chewing gum, talking out of turn, and engaging in a food fight, causing his teacher to say over and over, “No, David!”

I Am Absolutely Too Small for School by Lauren Child

(Children Picture Book + CHILD)

When Lola is worried about starting school, her older brother Charlie reassures her.

Back to School for Rotten Ralph by Jack Gantos; illustrated by Nicole Rubel

(Children Picture Book GANTO)

Afraid of being left alone, Rotten Ralph, the nasty red cat, follows Sarah to school and tries to prevent her from making new friends.

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes

(Children Picture Book + HENKE)

A mouse named Wemberly, who worries about everything, finds that she has a whole list of things to worry about when she faces the first day of nursery school.

Flight School by Lita Judge

(Children Picture Book + JUDGE)

Little Penguin, who has the “soul of an eagle,” enrolls in flight school.

School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex; illustrated by Christian Robinson

(Children Picture Book + REX)

“It’s the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone’s just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself.” —Provided by publisher.

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate; illustrated by Ashley Wolff

(Children Picture Book + SLATE)

Introduces the letters of the alphabet as Miss Bindergarten and her students get ready for kindergarten.

Ming Goes to School by Deirdre Sullivan; illustrated by Maja Löfdahl

(Children Picture Book + SULLI)

Ming goes to preschool, where she bravely plays all kinds of games with new friends and old, but she is still not quite ready for the big red slide.

Emily’s First 100 Days of School by Rosemary Wells

(Children Picture Book Lg WELLS)

Starting with number one for the first day of school, Emily learns the numbers to one hundred in many different ways.

Yoko Learns to Read by Rosemary Wells

(Children Picture Book WELLS)

Despite the doubts of some classmates and her native-born Japanese mother’s inability to read English, Yoko finds the key to reading and catches up with the other students in putting new leaves on the classroom’s book tree.

Middle Grade

Booked by Kwame Alexander

(Children PZ7.A3771 Bo 2016)

“In this middle grade novel-in-verse by the Newbery Medal-winning and Coretta Scott King Honor Award-winning author of The Crossover, soccer, family, love, and friendship, take center stage as twelve-year-old Nick learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams.” —Provided by publisher.

Frindle by Andrew Clements

(Children PZ7.C59118 Fr 1996)

When he decides to turn his fifth grade teacher’s love of the dictionary around on her, clever Nick Allen invents a new word and begins a chain of events that quickly moves beyond his control.

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

(Children PZ7.C34874 Sc 2013)

Best friends Sophie (princess wannabe) and Agatha (witchy loner) are headed (via kidnapping) to the School for Good and Evil, but their assumed destinies are reversed.

George by Alex Gino

(Children PZ7.G379 Ge 2015)

“When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she’s not a boy. She knows she’s a girl. George thinks she’ll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte’s Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can’t even try out for the part . . . because she’s a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte — but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.” —Provided by publisher.

Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream by Jenny Han

(Children PZ7.H185 Cl 2014)

Korean American fourth-grader Clara Lee longs to be Little Miss Apple Pie, and when her luck seems suddenly to change for the better, she overcomes her fear of public speaking and enters the competition.

Amina’s Voice by Hena Kahn

(Children PZ7.K496 Am 2017)

“A Pakistani-American Muslim girl struggles to stay true to her family’s vibrant culture while simultaneously blending in at school after tragedy strikes her community.” —Provided by publisher.

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead

(Children PZ7.S80857 Go 2015)

Bridge is an accident survivor who’s wondering why she’s still alive. Emily has new curves and an almost-boyfriend who wants a certain kind of picture. Tabitha sees through everybody’s games—or so she tells the world. The three girls are best friends with one rule: No fighting. Can it get them through seventh grade?… This year everything is different for Sherm Russo as he gets to know Bridge Barsamian. What does it mean to fall for a girl—as a friend?… On Valentine’s Day, an unnamed high school girl struggles with a betrayal. How long can she hide in plain sight?

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

(Children PZ7.S80857 Wh 2009)

As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1980s television game show, “The $20,000 Pyramid,” a twelve-year-old New York City girl tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of time and space.

Young Adult

New Boy by Julian Houston

(Children PZ7.H823 Ne 2005)

As a new sophomore at an exclusive boarding school, a young black man is witness to the persecution of another student with bad acne.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

(Children PZ7.L79757 Dis 2008)

Sophomore Frankie starts dating senior Matthew Livingston, but when he refuses to talk about the all-male secret society that he and his friends belong to, Frankie infiltrates the society in order to enliven their mediocre pranks.

Lucy and Linh by Alice Pung

(Children PZ7.P98 Lu 2016)

“Lucy is a bit of a pushover, but she’s ambitious and smart, and she has just received the opportunity of a lifetime: a scholarship to a prestigious school, and a ticket out of her broken-down suburb. Though she’s worried she will stick out like badly cut bangs among the razor-straight students, she is soon welcomed into the Cabinet, the supremely popular trio who wield influence over classmates and teachers alike. Linh is blunt, strong-willed, and fearless—everything Lucy once loved about herself. She is also Lucy’s last solid link to her life before private school, but she is growing tired of being eclipsed by the glamour of the Cabinet. As Lucy floats further away from the world she once knew, her connection to Linh—and to her old life—threatens to snap. Sharp and honest, Alice Pung’s novel examines what it means to grow into the person you want to be without leaving yourself behind.” — Provided by publisher

Informational

Tinker vs. Des Moines: Student Protest by Leah Farish

(Children KF228.T56 F37 1997)

Considers the landmark case that dealt with the rights of students to wear arm bands to protest U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

The Forbidden Schoolhouse: The True and Dramatic Story of Prudence Crandall and Her Students by Suzanne Jurmain

(Children LA2317.C73 J87 2005)

Narrative nonfiction, supplemented by black-and-white photographs and engravings, about Prudence Crandall’s school for African American girls opened in 1833.

Poetry

Miss Crandall’s School for Young Ladies & Little Misses of Color by Elizabeth Alexander & Marilyn Nelson; pictures by Floyd Cooper

(Children PS3551.L3494 M57 2007)

The story of Prudence Crandall’s school for African American girls, told in verse.

Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson

(Children PS3573.O64524 L63 2003)

In a series of poems, eleven-year-old Lonnie writes about his life, after the death of his parents, separated from his younger sister, living in a foster home, and finding his poetic voice at school.

07.26.2017

Folk and Fairy Tales

Picture Books

Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest by Gerald McDermott

(Children + E99.N77 M33 1993)

“Raven, the trickster, wants to give people the gift of light. But can he find out where Sky Chief keeps it? And if he does, will he be able to escape without being discovered? His dream seems impossible, but if anyone can find a way to bring light to the world, wise and clever Raven can!” —Provided by publisher.

The Girl of the Wish Garden: A Thumbelina Story by Uma Krishnaswami; illustrated by Nasrin Khosravi

(Children PZ8.K9116 Gi 2013)

A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale about a girl who is only one inch tall.

Issun Bôshi: The One-Inch Boy by Icinori

(Children Lg PZ8.1.I25 Is 2014)

This classic Japanese fairy tale tells the story of Issun Bôshi, the tiny son of an old, long childless couple. He is tested in several adventures and handles himself so bravely that, in the end, he is rewarded with just the right princess!

The Talking Eggs by Robert D. San Souci; illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

(Children + PZ8.1.S227 Tal 1989)

A Southern folktale in which kind Blanche, following the instructions of an old witch, gains riches, while her greedy sister makes fun of the old woman and is duly rewarded.

Sugar Cane: A Caribbean Rapunzel by Patricia Storace; illustrated by Raúl Colón

(Children + PZ8.1.S864 Su 2007)

A version of the folktale Rapunzel, set in the Caribbean.

Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal by Paul Fleischman; illustrated by Julie Paschkis

(Children Picture Book + FLEIS)

The author draws from a variety of folk traditions to put together this version of Cinderella, including elements from Mexico, Iran, Korea, Russia, Appalachia, and more.

Princess Furball by Charlotte Huck; pictures by Anita Lobel

(Children Picture Book + HUCK)

A princess in a coat of a thousand furs hides her identity from a king who falls in love with her.

Puss & Boots by Ayano Imai

(Children Picture Book + IMAI)

“It’s all about the shoes! A poor shoemaker and his cat lived together. Business was bad. ‘Don’t give up so easily,’ advised the cat. ‘Make me some beautiful boots, and I will do the rest!’ This clever cat can deal with anything, even a shoe-loving monster. Ayano Imai’s delightful twist on the classic Puss in Boots story, sees the loyal cat taking on a terrible monster—and winning.” —Provided by publisher.

Little Red Riding Hood by Jerry Pinkney

(Children Picture Book + PINKN)

A sweet little girl meets a hungry wolf in the forest while on her way to visit her grandmother.

Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith

(Children Picture Book + SCIES)

Madcap revisions of familiar tales.

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by Jon Scieszka; illustrated by Lane Smith

(Children Picture Book + SCIES)

The wolf gives his own outlandish version of what really happened when he tangled with the three little pigs.

Can You Guess My Name? By Judy Sierra; illustrated by Stefano Vitale

(Children Picture Book + SIERR)

A collection of fifteen folktales from all over the world, including stories that resemble “The Three Pigs,” “The Bremen Town Musicians,” and “Rumpelstiltskin.”

Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith(Children Picture Book + SMITH)

In this version of Little Red Riding Hood, set on the African plains, Little Red realizes what the Very Hungry Lion is up to, and teaches him a lesson before generously sharing her donuts with him.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs translated by Randall Jarrell; illustrated by Nancy Ekholm Burkert

(Children Picture Book Lg SNOW)

Retells the tale of the beautiful princess whose lips were red as blood, skin was white as snow, and hair was black as ebony.

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe

(Children Picture Book + STEPT)

Mufaro’s two beautiful daughters, one bad-tempered, one kind and sweet, go before the king, who is choosing a wife.

Chapter Books

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

(Children PZ7.L578345 El 1997)

In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.

Baba Yaga’s Assistant by Marika McCoola; illustrated by Emily Carroll

(Children PZ7.M134 Ba 2015)

“Most children think twice before braving a haunted wood filled with terrifying beasties to match wits with a witch, but not Masha. Her beloved grandma taught her many things: that stories are useful, that magic is fickle, that nothing is too difficult or too dirty to clean. The fearsome witch of folklore needs an assistant, and Masha needs an adventure. She may be clever enough to enter Baba Yaga’s house-on-chicken-legs, but within its walls, deceit is the rule. To earn her place, Masha must pass a series of tests, outfox a territorial bear, and make dinner for her host. No easy task, with children on the menu!” —Provided by publisher.

I Was a Rat by Philip Pullman

(Children PZ7.P968 Iw 2002)

A little boy turns life in London upside down when he appears at the house of a lonely old couple and insists he was a rat.

Young Adult

Bound by Donna Jo Napoli

(Children PZ7.N15 Bo 2004)

In a novel based on Chinese Cinderella tales, fourteen-year-old stepchild Xing-Xing endures a life of neglect and servitude, as her stepmother cruelly mutilates her own child’s feet so that she alone might marry well.

Zel by Donna Jo Napoli

(Children PZ8.N127 Ze 1996)

Based on the fairy tale Rapunzel, the story is told in alternating chapters from the point of view of Zel, her mother, and the nobleman who pursues her, and delves into the psychological motivations of each of the characters.

Poetry

Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer; illustrated by Josée Masse

(Children + PS3569.I546 M57 2010)

A collection of short poems which, when reversed, provide new perspectives on the fairy tale characters they feature.

Collections

The Seven Wise Princesses: A Medieval Persian Epic retold by Wafaʹ Tarnowska; illustrated by Nilesh Mistry

(Children + PZ8.T178 Se 2000)

A lonely king, inspired by seven mysterious portraits, invites seven lovely princesses to live with him; their stories entertain and educate him in the ways of a wise ruler.

The People Could Fly: The Book of Black Folktales told by Virginia Hamilton; illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

(Children + PZ8.1.H154 Pe 1985)

Retold Afro-American folktales of animals, fantasy, the supernatural, and desire for freedom, born of the sorrow of the slaves, but passed on in hope.

The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit as told by Julius Lester; illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

(Children PZ8.1.L434 Las 1994)

“Whether he is besting Brer Fox or sneaking into Mr. Man’s garden, Brer Rabbit is always teaching a valuable lesson. These classic tales are full of wit, humor, and creativity, and Julius Lester brings an added contemporary sense to these forty-eight timeless stories.” —Provided by publisher.

The Serpent Slayer and Other Stories of Strong Women by Katrin Tchana; illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

(Children Lg PZ8.1.T19 Se 2000)

A collection of twenty traditional tales from various parts of the world, each of whose main character is a strong and resourceful woman.

Land of the Long White Cloud: Maori Myths, Tales, and Legends by Kiri Te Kanawa; illustrated by Michael Foreman

(Children + PZ8.1 .T23 1989)

A collection of nineteen tales from various Maori tribes of New Zealand about the trickster Maui, the Creation, monsters, birds, animals, and special places.

06.29.2017

Art

Picture Books

Radiant Child: the Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe

(Children + CT275.B3774 S73 2016)

“Jean-Michel Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocked to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen. But before that, he was a little boy who saw art everywhere: in poetry books and museums, in games and in the words that we speak, and in the pulsing energy of New York City. Now, award-winning illustrator Javaka Steptoe’s vivid text and bold artwork echoing Basquiat’s own introduce young readers to the powerful message that art doesn’t always have to be neat or clean—and definitely not inside the lines—to be beautiful.”—Provided by publisher.

Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America by Carole Boston Weatherford; illustrated by Jamey Christoph

(Children + CT275.P375 W42 2015)

“Gordon Parks is most famous for being the first black director in Hollywood. But before he made movies and wrote books, he was a poor African American looking for work. When he bought a camera, his life changed forever. He taught himself how to take pictures and before long, people noticed.”—Provided by publisher.

Cloth Lullaby: The Woven Life of Louise Bourgeois by Amy Novesky; illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault

(Children + CT1018.B69 .N68 2016)

“Louise Bourgeois (1911–2010) was a world-renowned modern artist noted for her sculptures made of wood, steel, stone, and cast rubber. Her most famous spider sculpture, Maman, stands more than 30 feet high. Just as spiders spin and repair their webs, Louise’s own mother was a weaver of tapestries. Louise spent her childhood in France as an apprentice to her mother before she became a tapestry artist herself. She worked with fabric throughout her career, and this biographical picture book shows how Bourgeois’s childhood experiences weaving with her loving, nurturing mother provided the inspiration for her most famous works. With a beautifully nuanced and poetic story, this book stunningly captures the relationship between mother and daughter and illuminates how memories are woven into us all.”—Provided by publisher.

My Name is Georgia: A Portrait by Jeanette Winter

(Children ND237.O5 W56 1998)

Presents, in brief text and illustrations, the life of the painter who drew much of her inspiration from nature.

The Theft of the Mona Lisa by Cyriel Verleyen; illustrated by Henry Branton

(Children ND623.L5 V513 1971)

Describes Leonardo da Vinci’s efforts to get the Mona Lisa to smile, the trouble the smile caused him, and the speculation it aroused in the Louvre for three centuries until the painting was mysteriously stolen.

Dinner at Magritte’s by Michael Garland

(Children + PZ7.G18413 Di 1995)

Young Pierre spends the day with surrealist artists René Magritte and Salvador Dalí.

The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau by Jon Agee

(Children Picture Book + AGEE)

An unknown artist becomes an overnight sensation when his painting comes to life.

Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell; illustrated by Rafael Lopez

(Children Picture Book +CAMPO)

“Mira lives in a gray and hopeless urban community until a muralist arrives and, along with his paints and brushes, brings color, joy, and togetherness to Mira and her neighbors.”—Provided by publisher.

Eyes of the Dragon by Margaret Leaf; illustrated by Ed Young

(Children Picture Book LEAF)

An artist agrees to paint a dragon on the wall of a Chinese village, but the magistrate’s insistence that he paint eyes on the dragon has amazing results.

Matthew’s Dream by Leo Lionni

(Children Picture Book + LIONN)

A visit to an art museum inspires a young mouse to become a painter.

Brush of the Gods by Lenore Look

(Children Picture Book + LOOK)

During the Tang dynasty, master painter Wu Daozi creates an extraordinary mural for the emperor.

Lulu and the Flying Babies by Posy Simmonds

(Children Picture Book + SIMMO)

Stuck waiting for her family in the art museum when she would much rather be playing outside in the park, a little girl is picked up by two cherubim and taken for a wild romp through several paintings.

You Can’t Take a Balloon Into the Museum of Fine Arts by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman; illustrated by Robin Preiss Glaser

(Children Picture Book + WEITZ)

While a brother and sister, along with their grandparents, visit the Museum of Fine Arts, the balloon they were not allowed to bring into the museum floats around Boston, causing a series of mishaps at various tourist sites.

Art & Max by Davis Wiesner

(Children Picture Book WIESN)

Max wants to be an artist like Arthur, but his first attempt at using a paintbrush sends the two friends on a whirlwind trip through various media, with unexpected consequences.

Frida by Jonah Winter; illustrated by Ana Juan

(Children Picture Book WINTE)

Discusses the childhood of Frida Kahlo and how it influenced her art.

The Magic Brush by Kat Yeh; illustrated by Huy Voun Lee

(Children Picture Book YEH)

Jasmine’s grandfather teaches her Chinese calligraphy by drawing and making up stories together. Includes Chinese characters and pronunciation key, brief history of Chinese art, and descriptions of Chinese treats.

Chapter Books

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett ; illustrated by Brett Helquist

(Children PZ7.B2128 Ch 2004)

When seemingly unrelated and strange events start to happen and a precious Vermeer painting disappears, eleven-year-olds Petra and Calder combine their talents to solve an international art scandal.

Masterpiece by Elise Broach

(Children PZ7.B78083 Mas 2008)

After Marvin, a beetle, makes a miniature drawing as an eleventh birthday gift for James, a human with whom he shares a house, the two new friends work together to help recover a Durer drawing stolen from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

(Children PZ7.K8352 Fr)

“Claudia knew that she could never pull off the old-fashioned kind of running away…so she decided not to run FROM somewhere, but TO somewhere. And so, after some careful planning, she and her younger brother, Jamie, escaped—right into a mystery that made headlines!” —Provided by publisher.

The Old Man Mad About Drawing: A Tale of Hokusai by François Place

(Children PZ7.P6899 Ol 2004)

Tojiro, a young seller of rice cakes in the Japanese capital of Edo, later known as Tokyo, is amazed to discover that the grumpy and shabby old man who buys his cakes is a famous artist renowned for his sketches, prints, and paintings of flowers, animals, and landscapes.

Young Adult

Still Life With Tornado by A. S. King

(Young Adult PZ7.K573 St 2016)

“A talented 16-year-old artist slowly discovers the history of domestic violence behind why her brother left the family years earlier and why she suddenly cannot make art.” — Provided by publisher

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

(Young Adult PZ7.N433835 Il 2014)

“Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways … until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else — an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah’s story to tell. The later years are Jude’s. What the twins don’t realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.” — Provided by publisher

Informational Books

Virginia Lee Burton: A Life in Art by Barbara Elleman

(Children + CT275.B8745 E44 2002)

Examines the life, career, artistic style, and literary themes of the twentieth-century author and illustrator of such classic picture books as “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel” and “The Little House.”

Chuck Close: Face Book by Chuck Close

(Children + CT275.C585 A3 2012)

Presents an autobiography about the author’s artistic life, describing the creative processes he uses in the studio and his struggles with his disabilities. Includes a self-portrait mix-and-match section that demonstrates his techniques and images.

Story Painter: The Life of Jacob Lawrence by John Duggleby

(Children + CT275.L38653 D83 1998)

A biography of the African American artist who grew up in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance and became one of the most renowned painters of the life of his people.

Randolph Caldecott: The Man Who Could Not Stop Drawing by Leonard S. Marcus

(Children Lg CT788.C1443 M37 2013)

Available in time for the 75th anniversary of the Caldecott Medal, an utterly unique biography of the remarkable artist the award honors: Randolph Caldecott, the father of the modern picture book. Includes never-before-published drawings by Caldecott himself.

Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer by Robert Byrd

(Children + N6923.L33 B97 2003)

Illustrations and text portray the life of Leonardo da Vinci, who gained fame as a artist through such works as the Mona Lisa, and as a scientist by studying various subjects including human anatomy and flight.

Cave Paintings to Picasso by Henry Sayre

(Children + N7440 .S29 2004)

Introduces fifty celebrated works of art, including King Tut’s sarcophagus and Andy Warhol’s paintings of Campbell’s soup cans, with historical and interpretive information for each piece.

Romare Bearden: Collage of Memories by Jan Greenberg

(Children + N6537.B4 G74 2003)

Recounts the life of the twentieth-century African-American collage artist who used his southern childhood, New York City, jazz, and Paris to influence his bold and meaningful art.

Don’t Hold Me Back: My Life and Art by Winfred Rembert

(Children + ND237.R35 A2 2003)

Through words and paintings, an artist tells about growing up on a cotton plantation in Cuthbert, Georgia, serving time in prison for his actions during a civil rights demonstration, and finding a purpose and direction in life.

Grant Wood: The Artist in the Hayloft by Deborah J. Leach

(Children + ND237.W795 L43 2005)

This tour through Grant Wood’s Cedar Rapids hayloft studio welcomes young readers into the world of an iconic, rural American artist whose rich, stylised paintings have an immediate appeal to children.

Monet by Jude Welton

(Children + ND553.M7 W39 1999)

“Explore Claude Monet’s life and art, and the influences that shaped his work.” —Provided by publisher.

Van Gogh by Bruce Bernard

(Children + ND653.G7 B47 2000)

“Explore Vincent van Gogh’s life and art, and the influences that shaped his work.” —Provided by publisher.

Four Pictures by Emily Carr by Nicolas Debon

(Children ND249.C3 D42 2003)

Written and illustrated in comic strips, the book traces Carr’s life through four of her famous paintings.

05.30.2017

Architecture

Picture Books

Building Our House by Jonathan Bean

(Children Picture Book Lg BEAN)

A young girl narrates her family’s move from the city to the country, where they have bought a piece of land and live in a trailer while they build a house from the ground up, with help from relatives and friends.

Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty; illustrated by David Roberts

(Children Picture Book + BEATY)

Ever since he was a baby, Iggy Peck has built towers, bridges, and buildings, which comes in handy when his second grade class is stranded on an island during a picnic.

Arches to Zigzags: An Architecture ABC by Michael J. Crosbie; photography by Steve and Kit Rosenthal

(Children Picture Book + CROSB)

A rhyming alphabet of architectural elements, from arches and doors to I-beams, mantels, and urns.

Henry Builds a Cabin by D.B. Johnson

(Children Picture Book JOHNS)

Young Henry Thoreau appears frugal to his friends as he sets about building a cabin. Includes biographical information about Thoreau.

What’s Inside? Fascinating Structures Around the World by Giles Laroche

(Children Picture Book + LAROC)

An introduction to architectural structures and the stories behind their creation.

Informational Books

Julia Morgan: Architect of Dreams by Ginger Wadsworth

(Children CT225.M67 W32 1990)

Recounts the life of the architect whose projects included designing the Hearst Castle at San Simeon, California.

Spiderwebs to Sky-scrapers: The Science of Structures by David Darling

(Children TA634 .D37 1991)

Hands-on experiments introduce natural and manmade structures such as a bird’s nest and skyscraper and such structural elements as arches, domes, trusses, and beams.

Building: The Fight Against Gravity by Mario Salvadori

(Children TA634 .S24 1979)

An introduction to the basic principles of architecture and engineering including a discussion of structural materials and their properties and such problems as how skyscrapers are kept from swaying excessively and buildings prevented from sinking into the ground.

Castle by Christopher Gravett; photography by Geoff Dan

(Children + GT3520 .G738 2000)

A look at these fascinating structures through full-color photos.

Castle by Richard Pratt; illustrated by Stephen Biesty

(Children Lg GT3550 .B54 1994)

Detailed cross-sections allow readers to explore how people lived and defended themselves in medieval castles.

Great Building Stories of the Past by Peter Kent

(Children Lg NA2555 .K46 2001)

Explains the stories and principles behind some the world’s greatest structures, including the Great Pyramid at Giza, the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Building Big by David Macauly

(Children + NA2555 .M24 2000)

“Why this shape and not that? Why steel instead of concrete or stone? Why put it here and not over there? These are the kinds of questions that David Macaulay asks himself when he observes an architectural wonder. These questions take him back to the basic process of design from which all structures begin, from the realization of a need for the structure to the struggles of the engineers and designers to map out and create the final construction. As only he can, David Macaulay engages readers’ imaginations and gets them thinking about structures they see and use every day—bridges, tunnels, skyscrapers, domes, and dams. In Building Big he focuses on the connections between the planning and design problems and the solutions that are finally reached. Whether a structure is imposing or inspiring, he shows us that common sense and logic play just as important a part in architecture as imagination and technology do. As always, Macaulay inspires readers of all ages to look at their world in a new way.” — Provided by publisher.

Mosque by David Macaulay

(Children Lg NA4670 .M33 2003)

An author and artist who has continually stripped away the mystique of architectural structures that have long fascinated modern people, David Macaulay here reveals the methods and materials used to design and construct a mosque in late-sixteenth-century Turkey. Through the fictional story and Macaulay’s distinctive full-color illustrations, readers will learn not only how such monumental structures were built but also how they functioned in relation to the society they served.

Cathedral by David Macaulay

(Children Lg NA4830 .M32)

Text and detailed drawings follow the planning and construction of a magnificent Gothic cathedral in the imaginary French town of Chutreaux during the thirteenth century.

City: A Story of Roman Planning and Construction by David Macaulay

(Children Lg TA16 .M33)

Text and black and white illustrations show how the Romans planned and constructed their cities for the people who lived within them.

The Story of Buildings by Patrick Dillon; illustrated by Stephen Biesty

(Children + TA149 .D54 2014)

Examines how architecture has evolved over time by looking at buildings that typify each period, from the pyramids and the Parthenon to the Chrysler Building and the Sydney Opera House.

Building by Philip Wilkinson

(Children + TA634 .W54 2000)

Take a tour of world architecture from the slender minarets of Turkish mosques to the earthquake-resistant skyscrapers of Tokyo.

Underground by David Macaulay

(Children + TD159.3 .M3)

Text and drawings describe the subways, sewers, building foundations, telephone and power systems, columns, cables, pipes, tunnels, and other underground elements of a large modern city.

Bridges: From My Side to Yours by Jan Adkins

(Children + TG148 .A35 2002)

A look at bridges throughout history, from simple arrangements of stepping stones, to famous landmarks such as London Bridge, to marvels of engineering such as New York’s Brooklyn Bridge.

Unbuilding by David Macaulay

(Children Lg TH153 .M23)

This fictional account of the dismantling and removal of the Empire State Building describes the structure of a skyscraper and explains how such an edifice would be demolished.

Mill by David Macaulay

(Children Lg TS1324.R4 M33 1983)

The mills at Wicksbridge are imaginary, but their planning, construction, and operation are quite typical of mills developed in New England throughout the nineteenth century.

Castle by David Macaulay

(Children Lg UG405 .M18)

Text and detailed drawings follow the planning and construction of a “typical” castle and adjoining town in thirteenth-century Wales.

04.20.2017

Ocean

Picture Books

The Serpent Came to Gloucester by M.T. Anderson; illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

(Children Picture Book Lg ANDER)

Rhyming text tells of a sea serpent that plays off the coast of Massachusetts the summer of 1817, and is hunted upon its return the next year. Includes a page of facts upon which the story is based.

The Merbaby by Teresa Bateman

(Children Picture Book BATEM)

When he and his brother Josh find a mer-baby caught in their fishing net, Tarron, rejecting his brother’s plan to sell the baby and make a profit, discovers that there are greater treasures than gold.

Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea by Chris Butterworth; illustrated by John Lawrence

(Children Picture Book BUTTE)

An informative overview that’s also a great read aloud, with colorful hand-printed illustrations.

The Mermaid and the Shoe by K.G. Campbell

(Children Picture Book + CAMPB)

Each of King Neptune’s 50 mermaid daughters boasts a special talent, except for little Minnow, who seems to be good only at asking questions. When she finds a strange object, Minnow follows her questions to a wondrous place and finds answers, including the answer to the most important question of all: Who am I? A gorgeously illustrated story about finding one’s purpose.

10 Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle

(Children Picture Book Lg CARLE)

When a storm strikes a cargo ship, ten rubber ducks are tossed overboard and swept off in ten different directions. Based on a factual incident.

Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle

(Children Picture Book Lg CARLE)

After Mrs. Seahorse lays her eggs on Mr. Seahorse’s belly, he drifts through the water, greeting other fish fathers who are taking care of their eggs.

Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins

(Children Picture Book Lg COUSI)

Little Fish has all sorts of fishy friends in his underwater home, but loves one of them most of all.

Big Blue Whale by Nicola Davies ; illustrated by Nick Maland

(Children Picture Book + DAVIE)

Examines the physical characteristics, habits, and habitats of the blue whale.

Surprising Sharks by Nicola Davis; illustrated by James Croft

(Children Picture Book + DAVIE)

Introduces many different species of sharks, pointing out such characteristics as the small size of the dwarf lantern shark and the physical characteristics and behavior that makes sharks killing machines.

Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies

(Children Picture Book LIES)

On a night when the moon can grow no fatter, bats pack their moon-tan lotion and baskets of treats and fly off for some fun on the beach.

If You Want to See a Whale by Julie Fogliano; illustrated by Erin Stead

(Children Picture Book FOGLI)

Advises the reader about what to do, and not do, in order to successfully spot a whale, such as wrapping up in a not-too-cozy blanket, ignoring the roses, and especially, being patient.

Wave by Suzy Lee

(Children Picture Book LEE)

A wordless picture book that shows a little girl’s first experiences at the beach, as she goes from being afraid of the roaring waves to playing on the shore while gulls soar overhead.

All You Need for a Beach by Alice Schertle; illustrated by Barbara Lavallee

(Children Picture Book + SCHER)

Rhyming text describes items essential for fun at the beach, from the first grain of sand, to a beach umbrella, to a bucket and shovel, to the waves rolling in to tickle your toes.

Flotsam by David Wiesner

(Children Picture Book WIESN)

The story of what happens when a camera becomes a piece of flotsam.

Beginning Readers

Henry and Mudge and the Forever Sea by Cynthia Rylant

(Children Picture Book RYLAN)

Follows the seaside adventures of Henry, Henry’s father, and Henry’s big dog, Mudge.

Middle Grade

The Clambake Mutiny by Jerome Beatty, Jr.; illustrated by Tomi Ungerer

(Children PZ7.B380542 Cl)

When his uncle is caught in a trap and taken out of the ocean, a young lobster decides to get in the next trap and see what happens to caught lobsters. Together they lead a mutiny at a clambake.

The Sea Egg by L.M. Boston

(Children PZ7.B6497 Se 1967)

A sea triton hatches from a special egg-shaped stone, to both the expectation and amazement of two little English school boys on holiday at the coast.

Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman

(Children PZ7.H6533 Aq 2001)

A love-struck mermaid named Aquamarine supplies adventure and insights to two twelve-year-old girls, life-long friends who are spending their last summer together before one of them moves away.

Dear Dolphin by Herbert A. Kenny

(Children PZ7.K3958 De)

A girl searching for the Lost Atlantis is accompanied by a witty dolphin who introduces her to the sea creatures.

The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler

(Children PZ7.K4842 Tai 2004)

After finally convincing her mother that she should take swimming lessons, twelve-year-old Emily discovers a terrible and wonderful secret about herself that opens up a whole new world.

Informational Books

Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion by Griffin Burns

(Children GC232 .B87 2007)

Describes the work of a man who tracks trash as it travels great distances by way of ocean currents.

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children by Thornton W. Burgess

(Children QH91 .B8)

An entertaining tale describing the Atlantic Coast and the seashore’s natural history.

Fossil Fish Found Alive:Discovering the Coelacanth by Sally M. Walker

(Children QL638.L26 W36 2002)

Describes the 1938 discovery of the coelacanth, a fish previously believed to be extinct, and subsequent research about it.

Eight Dolphins of Katrina: A True Tale of Survival by Janet Wyman Coleman; illustrated by Yan Nascimbene

(Children QL737.C432 C563 2013)

Recounts the true story of eight bottlenose dolphins and their trainers who survived the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Shark by Miranda MacQuitty

(Children + QL795.S46 M78 2000)

Describes, in text and photographs, the physical characteristics, behavior, and life cycle of various types of sharks.