Tia Isa Wants a Car

Meg Medina and Lucinda Whitehurst at bbgb Tales for Kids bookstore 

Summertime is the perfect time for Meg Medina's new picture book.  Tia Isa announces that she wants a car "to take us to the beach!"  Her niece thinks a car is a terrific idea and creatively finds several jobs on her own to help Tia Isa save up the money.  As the story continues, we see how the car and the beach mean more than a simple outing.  Several family members still live far away on an island.  As they wait for them to move to America and as they wait to save the money for the car, the girl observes, "Sometimes it's hard to wait for good things to happen."  The young girl and Isa receive a letter with news of Mami, Papi, and Abuelo.  They think of those loved ones in the "breezy house by the sea."  For the girl and her aunt, getting to the beach helps them connect with the home and people they miss.  Claudio Munoz's sun-splashed, energetic illustrations, rendered in pencil, watercolor, and ink, extend the story perfectly.  He shows the warm relationships between the characters, captures both homes, and makes that car look just as wonderful as the girl thinks it is! For an entertaining story, as well as gentle lessons about love and responsibility, look for Tia Isa Wants a Car--Lucinda Whitehurst.  (Picture book, gr. preK-3; Candlewick, 2011)

Meg Medina celebrates her birthday at the Tia Isa book launch party at bbgb Tales for Kids in Richmond, VA

Fabulous Frogs

Leap Back Home to Me, in sprightly rhyming text, features a young frog exploring the world for the first time.  He begins with safe things like leaping over a ladybug or a bee.  Each adventure ends with his mother saying, “Then leap back home to me.”  (Written by Lauren Thompson; illustrated by Matthew Cordell;  Simon & Schuster,  2011)

 The Hokey Pokey is a favorite children’s singing game which is enjoyed as much today as it was two generations ago.  Actually, the origins of this game go back much farther.  The oldest known version is “Hinkum-Booby” which appeared in a collection of Scottish rhymes in 1842.  The oldest known American printed version appeared in a collection of American games and songs in 1883.  The Croaky Pokey! is based on these earlier versions.  Frogs sing the Croaky Pokey, playing instruments and chasing flies with those amazing froggy tongues.  The unlikely lyrics and funny pictures will provide endless amusement.  (Written and illustrated by Ethan Long; Holiday House, 2011)

Rain Brings Frogs reminds us that we have a choice:  look on the dark side or look on the bright side.  Be a complainer or be happy.  Always want more or be grateful for what you have. Nate always looks on the bright side.  When Mom says, “I hate rain.”  Nate says, “Rain brings frogs.”  This picture book with its simple text and colorful illustrations teaches a gentle lesson that many children and adults need to hear.  (Written and illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler; HarperCollins,  2011)--Wilma Snyder.

Book Expo

Book Expo America is a joint production of the American Booksellers Association, the Association of Authors' Representatives, and the Association of American Publishers. Luckily those nice people invite librarians to join their party!  In two days, I got to meet and/or hear an amazing array of children's authors.  My list of luminaries included Brian Selznick, Chris van Allsburg, William Joyce, Katherine Paterson, Sarah Dessen, Kevin Henkes, Jon Scieszka, Jarrett Krosoczka, Jack Gantos, Eoin Colfer, Mac Barnett,  Matt Phelan, Mo Willems, David Lubar, Nick Bruel, Gordon Korman, Bruce Lansky, Harry Bliss, Ridley Pearson, Carmen Deedy, N. D. Wilson, Temple Grandin, Barry Moser, Jan Brett, and even Julianne Moore.

Although I'm usually not happy about celebrities writing children's books, Julianne Moore, author of the Freckleface Strawberry series, won me over talking about her girlhood reading.  She said, "I remember the day I was in the kitchen with my mother and she told me I was old enough to appreciate Louisa May Alcott.  After Little Women, I read ALL the Alcott books, including Rose in Bloom and Jack and Jill.  Anyone else remember those books?"  My eleven-year-old self responded, "I do! I do!"  My parents have a great picture of me at Christmas buried in my boxed set of Alcott while others busily open presents around me.

My acceptance of Moore grew when Brian Selznick presented an illustrated tribute to her and Freckleface!  If she's BFFs with Brian, she must be OK.

As to the rest of the list, if you are not familiar with all of those authors, I will be featuring their books in upcoming blog posts.  If you ever get the chance to go to Book Expo, say yes!--Lucinda Whitehurst

Spring Picture Books

Before spring passes quickly into summer, take a look at two new springtime picture books.  In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb (Holiday House, 2011) teams Newbery Honor winner Marion Dane Bauer with Caldecott Medal winner Emily Arnold McCully for a romp in which the roaring lion is lulled to sleep when it is time for the gentle lamb.  Spring is Here (Holiday House, 2011) by Will Hillenbrand is a celebration of friendship as the mole wakes his friend Bear so that they can enjoy spring together—Wilma Snyder. 

For Alex Rider fans--Try Steel Trapp

Scorpia Rising, the final entry in Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider series, hit stores last month.  If you have finished that series and are ready for a new one, check out Steel Trapp by Ridley Pearson.  Book one The Challenge was published in 2008, followed by The Academy in 2010.  Hopefully Steel’s adventures are just getting started. 

The Challenge begins with Steel and his mother on a train heading to Washington,   D. C., for a science project competition.  Steel tries to do a good deed when he notices a woman leaving the train without her briefcase.  No, the briefcase does not explode, but its contents do ignite complications for Steel.  Soon the woman, a dangerous gang leader, and U. S. Marshals all are looking for Steel and the mysterious briefcase.  On the trip, Steel finds an ally in Kaileigh, a girl who was supposed to be part of the science competition until her project was stolen.  Fast-paced and full of twists, Steel’s story will keep readers engaged until the last breathless page—Lucinda Whitehurst.  (Fiction, grades 4-8; Disney Editions, 2008)

Children's Choice Awards

The Children's Choice Book Awards were announced last night!  See list below.  For more information, go to http://www.cbcbooks.org/news/102

Don't miss host Jarrett Krosoczka's face as "Snookie" (aka Jon Scieszka) makes a special appearance at the Awards Gala http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2011/05/03/the-childrens-book-council-2011-awards/

Author of the Year

Rick Riordan for The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus, Book 1) (Disney-Hyperion)

          

Illustrator of the Year

David Wiesner for Art & Max (Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)                                                                          

Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year

Little Pink Pup by Johanna Kerby (Putnam/Penguin)                                                

                                                        

Third Grade to Fourth Grade Book of the Year

Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Knopf/Random House)  

Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Book of the Year

The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, Book 1) by Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion)

Teen Choice Book of the Year

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan (Dutton/Penguin)

Last Few Days of Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month.  For the last few days of celebration, consider reading Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman.  The 2011 Newbery Honor book is filled with beautiful poetry and marvelous scientific information about the natural world at night.  It is a rich combination of literature, art and factual observation which will be a fine addition to school and classroom libraries as well as a great read-aloud picture book for use at home.  It is appropriate for all ages.  Even the scientific information, when read aloud to a young child, will hold the interest and help with concept building.  The art, created by a process of relief printing, invites close inspection and offers new discoveries with every look.  I highly recommend this lovely book and commend the Newbery Committee for thinking slightly outside the box in their selection--Wilma Snyder.  (Illustrated by Rick Allen; Houghton Mifflin, 2010)

Also consider:  Emma Dilemma by Kristine O'Connell George (Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter; Clarion, 2011)
Give Me Wings selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins (Illustrated by Ponder Goembel; Holiday House, 2010)
Amazing Faces selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins (Illustrated by Chris Soentpiet; Lee & Low, 2010)
Switching on the Moon collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters (Illustrated by G. Brian Karas; Candlewick, 2010)