Amanda – Youth Services Librarian

Greene, Stephanie.  Owen Foote, Super Spy.  Clarion Books, 2001.  J GRE

Owen and his best friends enjoy spying.  But they don’t like spying on easy targets.  One day, Owen and his friends decide to spy on their school principal, Mr. Mahoney.  Dressed in camouflage and armed with walkie-talkies, Owen and his friends head off to the principal’s house to spy.  They aren’t sure what to do when they actually see the principal outside working in the yard!  They quickly run and hide, but four boys behind one bush makes for a cramped space.  Suddenly, Owen is falling and he lands right at the feet of the principal.  Find out Owen’s punishment in Owen Foote, Super Spy.

Amy – Youth Services Librarian

Nieman, Christoph.  The Pet Dragon: A Story About Adventure, Friendship, and Chinese Characters.  Greenwillow, 2008.  E NIE

Learning a foreign language can be daunting, especially a complex language like Chinese.  But books like The Pet Dragon: A Story About Adventure, Friendship, and Chinese Characters can help. This nifty picture book follows a little girl named Lin on her quest to find her pet dragon.  As Lin’s adventure progresses, the book introduces the reader to simple Chinese written characters (and a bit of Chinese folklore too).  With the help of a friendly witch, Lin is reunited with her beloved dragon, and they celebrate in traditional Chinese fashion by watching a fireworks display.  This picture book would be fun to share with young children interested in language and also for a study unit on China.  For a “storystretching” activity, be sure to have a pad of paper and a brush pen to practice writing the simple Chinese characters with the kids.  For elementary school-aged children.

Lillian - Librarian Assistant

Taback, Simms.  Joseph had a Little Overcoat.  Viking, 1999.  E TAB

In this Caldecott Award winning book, the author’s inventive use of die cut pages shows off his distinctive artwork.  This story is an adaptation of a Yiddish folk song.  When Joseph’s overcoat becomes “old and worn” he snips off the patches and turns it into a jacket.  When his jacket is beyond repair, he makes it a vest.  Joseph remakes his garments until he has nothing left—except a story showing “you can always make something out of nothing.”  Cut outs provide clues as to what Joseph will make next.  The rhythm and repetition makes this a perfect read aloud story. 

Some copies of Joesph had a Little Overcoat come with a CD with amusing sound effects and musical accompaniment.  At the end of the story, Taback sings the Yiddish folk song that is the basis for the story.

Lois - Librarian Assistant

Roy, Jennifer.  Yellow Star.  Marshall Cavendish , 2006.  J ROY

Roy retells the true story of her Aunt Syvia’s experiences in the Lodz Ghetto during the Nazi occupation of Poland.  The story begins when Syvia is four years old in 1939 at the start of World War II.  A few months later, Syvia and her family are forced into the crowded Lodz ghetto with more than a quarter of a million other Jews.  Syvia relates her daily life which was filled with constant hunger, freezing cold conditions, and horror.  She recalls not being allowed outside for years while hiding from the Nazi soldiers which included hiding overnight in a hole in a cemetery and hiding in a cellar with other children after the Nazi’s believed all children were on trains to death camps.  At the end of the war, only 800 Jews remained in the once crowded Lodz ghetto.  Syvia was one of 12 surviving children.  This gripping novel filled with observations of a young child, successfully brings this period in history to life in a unique and memorable way.   

Susan - Librarian Assistant

Cazet, Denys.  Elvis the Rooster Almost Goes to Heaven.  Harper Collins, 2003.  E CAZ

Elvis the Rooster is proud of his work in making the sun come up each day--until the awful morning when he swallows a bug and can't crow.  When the sun comes up anyway, Elvis is convinced he has no reason to live.  His pals' plan to help Elvis recover his lost pluck results in a comic mash of wordplay from his hens (He's lost his pluck.  Cluck?  He's lost his cluck?  Pluck!  Pluck!  Duck?  You're giving my job to a DUCK? interjects Elvis) and a hilarious scheme masterminded by two benignly mafia-esque fowls named Little Willie and Rocky.  Loaded with pluck, cluck, droll illustrations and zany humor, this tale will tickle adults and children alike as a read-along!

Max - RPL Mascot

Bix, Daisy. Buddy Unchained. The Gryphon Press, 2006.   E BIX

Buddy lives with a kind family that takes him for walks, gives him food and fresh water, plays with him and tells him he’s a good dog.  Before he lived with that family, he lived with different people.  They chained him outside and didn’t give him fresh water.  No one played with him and sometimes things were thrown at him.   He was left outside in such cold weather his paws hurt and he became weak.  A man took him away from the terrible home and took him to a shelter where Buddy’s new family found him.  This a great book for any dog lover!       

For even more great book choices, check out our Bibliographies page, found under the Parent-Teacher tab!