This is the Game by Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander. "Let's play ball!" Baseball is what this new poetry book is all about. Each poem highlights a different aspect of the game and makes you feel like you are there experiencing it in person. It definitely "hits a home run"!
Book reviewed by Barb M., Youth Outreach and Programming Assistant
If you like Shel Silverstein (and who doesn’t!?!), you’ll love his new collection of poems called Every Thing On It. Though the author is no longer alive, members of his family were able to put together some of his work that had not yet been published. The poems and drawings are as hilarious and strange as his others. In the title poem, a boy imagines a hot dog with literally "everything on it." The author seems to have an affinity for pelicans because there are quite a few poems about them.
Book reviewed by Erin E. Youth Services Programming Coordinator
The Story Behind Toilets by Elizabeth Raum. Tired of reading yet another biography of George Washington or Amelia Earhart? Why not try a “biography” of toilets? There’s a real story to how people learned to treat their “waste products” (i.e. urine and excrement – we know what those are, right?). Once people began building bigger and bigger settlements, what to do with this stuff became a really big deal. And some of their ideas just didn’t work that well. This is an interesting (if you like toilets - and who doesn’t?) and quick reading book, with lots of diagrams and photos. Check it out! Maybe you can read it while you’re in the bathroom!
Book reviewed by Loreen S., Youth Services Assistant
Did you know that the most notorious traitor in American History, Benedict Arnold, was also one of our greatest heroes? I didn’t! He was one of George Washington’s most trusted generals—he was utterly fearless in battle, a genius at strategy, and beloved by his soldiers. Without his daring early victories the American Revolutionary War would have been quickly lost. But he had no political skill—he wasn’t careful about hurting people’s feelings. He was blunt, egotistical, and had a bad temper. Some of the people he upset began to spread rumors about him (some true, some not). He felt insulted and he felt that he wasn’t getting the credit he deserved. With his fame and power slipping away he came up with a desperate plan that would have given victory to the British—a plan that very nearly worked. This is a fast moving, easy read that you won’t want to put down. It’s an incredible action adventure--part extreme survival story, part spy thriller--and 100% true.
Book reviewed by Brad J., Youth Technology Librarian
Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting by Jim Murphy. World War I was a tragic war for many reasons. It was the first war in which modern weapons like machine guns were used. Sadly, the military leaders of the time would not change their tactics—they still expected soldiers to overwhelm the enemy by charging as a group directly at the enemy’s position. Not only were casualties horrific, the whole war could have easily been avoided if not for the ambitions of a few world leaders. But when Christmas day came in 1914, something amazing happened. The soldiers simply stopped fighting. Jim Murphy does a great job of explaining World War I so clearly that you can easily understand how the soldiers felt when they called their own truce on Christmas Day.
Book reviewed by Brad J., Youth Technology Librarian
Click here to read part of Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting.
If you’re in search of ways you can help preserve and protect our Earth, then you should pick up a copy of 50 Ways to Save the Earth because it’s full of great ideas. Tip number 15 suggests using recyclable paper when wrapping birthday or holiday gifts as one way to conserve paper. To make the wrapping paper even cooler you could always personalize it with your own decorations. Not only are there things you can do at home, but there are also tips on how you can respect and limit your impact on nature, like keeping your dog on a leash while you’re walking to prevent any wildlife from being frightened or not throwing litter in gutters or streams because it pollutes animals homes and our water supply. If you’re looking to take action now to protect the earth then fill your head with green ideas by checking out this book today!
Book reviewed by Renee N., Youth Services Assistant
Ever wondered what a kid can do to do save the planet? Well True Green Kids: 100 Things You Can do Save the Planet has 100 different projects, activities and actions any kid can do to help preserve the environment. If you have an MP3 player, cell phone or any toy that uses batteries then you can make use of thing number 8; use rechargeable batteries! They may cost more but they can be reused thousands of times and when you don’t dispose of regular batteries correctly the heavy metals from them can soak into the ground and pollute water supplies. If you like crafts then things 81-90 are for you! They offer all different ways you can be creative and green like making art out of found objects or using natural elements in your masterpieces. If you’re ready to be an activist for the Earth then come in the Library and grab, True Green Kids and soon you’ll be greening up your room, shopping habits, school and even vacations!
Book reviewed by Renee N., Youth Services Assistant
William Marshal, Medieval England's Greatest Knight by Myra Weatherly. William Marshal’s incredible life story begins when he was sentenced to be hanged at age 5. His father, who was rebelling against the King, had given William as a hostage to guarantee a truce. William’s father then broke the truce anyway—luckily the King couldn’t bring himself to execute the boy. William went on to become the greatest knight of his time. He served 4 Kings, was the only knight to ever unhorse Richard the Lionhearted in a joust, and later was with that same King Richard when he visited Sherwood Forest (and, legend has it, met with Robin Hood). He was the body guard of Eleanor of Aquitaine, and eventually became Regent of England, when he was assigned to protect the new child king and rule in his place until the child grew older. This true biography is an action-packed adventure story as incredible as any fantasy novel—if you like knights and castles, don’t miss this amazing book!
Book reviewed by Brad J., Youth Technology Librarian
Click here to read a few pages of William Marshal, Medieval England’s Greatest Knight.
My Hippo Has the Hiccups and Other Poems I Totally Made Up by Kenn Nesbitt. This new poetry book is filled with funny poems that you will enjoy like, My Dog Likes to Disco and My Elephant is Missing! It also includes a DVD with the author reading many of the poems and a web address for more fun activities.
Book reviewed by Barb M., Youth Outreach and Programming Assistant
Guess what?! Kenn Nesbitt put his book online so you can totally read this whole book on your computer and listen to the poems too! Just click here to go to the book, click the arrows at the top to turn pages, and click where it say "Track..." in the corner of a page to hear that poem. Cool! Thanks, Mr. Nesbitt!
Hurricane Hunter, Cave Woman and Skywalker, three things that seem to have nothing in common, or do they? Steve Sillet, “Skywalker,” scales Redwood trees, Paul Faherty, “Hurricane Hunter,” tracks dangerous storms across the country and Hazel Barton, “Cave Woman,” is mining microbes while crawling through treacherous caves. These three people do all have one thing in common. They're EXTREME scientists. In this new book you'll find about all the daring things these scientists do in order to make important discoveries about trees, microbiology and weather. To get in on these exciting adventures in science come check out Extreme Scientists: Exploring Nature’s Mysteries from Perilous Places today!
Book reviewed by Renee N., Youth Services Assistant
Click here to read a few pages of Extreme Scientists.
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