Anne W
My Shelf
Tomfoolery! : Randolph Caldecott and the rambunctious coming-of-age of children's books
by Michelle Markel
j741.6092 Caldecott
Kids
Quick! If you don't move fast, you're going to miss him -- there he goes-- Randolph Caldecott, future famous illustrator. His sketchbook is full of hurly-burly; wild weather, frisky animals and people so sprightly they can barely hold on to the pages. But in the 1850s, there are no children's books like that. Not yet. Many are published, but their pictures look still, full of pretty poses and cluttered scenery. No one has imagined how much fun an illustrated book can be ... Because the future hero of children's book illustration is just a lad.
Flubby will not take a bath
by J. E. (Jennifer E.) Morris
jREADER Morris J. E.
Early Readers
Armed with bubbles, shampoo and a cat toy, Kami is determined to give Flubby the fussy feline a bath, even if she has to get creative!

This book and its sequel, Flubby Does Not Like Snow, hilariously depict a chubby cat and their human companion engaging in activities. It's a challenge to craft an entertaining story with such limited language, but this easy reader accomplishes it deftly. This is a very early reader, appropriate for fairly new beginners, with repetitive phrases, picture support, and simple words. Yet it manages to be funny, relatable, and charming! -Anne W
Our Italian Christmas Eve
by Danielle Sedita
j394.2663 Sedita
Picture Books
In a bustling house of relatives, Danielle and Francesco's excitement turns to a mission as they race against time to remember their mother's cheesecake recipe, saving Christmas with a mouthwatering Italian feast. Includes a recipe for cheesecake.

I am not Italian and I firmly believe that the Christmas season should begin the day after Thanksgiving, but this new picture book just arrived and I just can't resist a plug for this delightful celebration of Italian food and family on Christmas Eve. Two siblings describe, in simple language, their childhood traditions of preparing and ingesting a seafood- and dessert-centric holiday feast together with a big extended family. (Right away, when the kids arrive in the afternoon, "Aunt Babe hands us each a coffee mug with a piece of Italian bread inside, covered in tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese" and things proceed from there.) The illustrations are humorous and spirited, and the vibe is festive and cozy. Mangia! -Anne W
The snow man : a true story
by Jonah Winter
CATALOGING /
Science, Biographies
"Discover the true story of a man who lived alone in the mountains with a hobby of measuring snowfall that led to groundbreaking data tracking in climate change studies"--

I am obsessed, I tell you, OBSESSED with this new picture book biography of billy barr, who moved alone to a rustic, isolated cabin in the Rocky Mountains and ended up doing some of the earliest and most groundbreaking tracking related to the heating of the planet when he measured snowfall over time. Jonah Winter has penned more than forty picture book biographies related to environmental, social, and racial justice. Jeannette Winter's illustrations in predominately shades of purple and blue are a phenomenal accompaniment. Check it out! -Anne W
Hidden gem
by Linda (Illustrator) Liu
jE Liu
Picture Books
"When a small pebble sees others gathering on the steps of the Museum of Rocks, he grows curious. Once inside the esteemed halls, he is shocked by what he discovers. The only rocks on display are glittering gemstones, geodes, and crystals! These beautiful stones make him wonder: Can he be special, too? Perhaps he'll find an answer in the World's Most Beautiful Gem exhibition . . . or maybe, just maybe, he will find the answer inside himself."--Amazon.

Rocks with cute, cartoony eyes! What's not to love? This is a fun, short book with a good message delivered through the crowd-pleasing medium of rocks. -Anne W
Dim Sum Palace
by X. Fang
jE Fang
Picture Books
"A picture book about a girl and her love of food, set in a restaurant."--

Reminiscent of In the Night Kitchen, with fabulous blocky illustrations and a weird, fantastical story, a girl falls asleep at the beginning of the book and is pictured falling through a series of pages featuring mouth-watering dim sum dishes. -Anne W
Raymond
by Yann Le Bec
jE Lebec
Picture Books
After reading an issue of Dogue magazine, Raymond the dog, wanting more from life, decides to get a job reporting for the magazine, and soon his growing celebrity has him yearning for the simple life of a dog again.

This is a hilarious picture book about a dog who finds himself a demi-celebrity and a workaholic after getting sucked in by the trappings of the human world. Luckily, his family stands by him while he re-assesses his priorities. -Anne W
Bridges
by Marc Majewski
j624.2 Majewski
Nonfiction
"Bridges can be high or low, long or short, straight or curvy. Some are designed to blend in, while others stand out. But each one tells a story: a reminder of our history, a testament to ingenuity and engineering, an invitation to imagine the possibilities of the future. Literally and symbolically, bridges connect us-to new places, new cultures, and new people. With poetic text and sweeping illustrations, Marc Majewski delivers a unique, accessible look at bridges from all around the world: from the incredible structures that connect San Francisco's Golden Gate and Zambia's Victoria Falls, to England's Tower Bridge and Japan's Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, and many in between. Both informational and thought-provoking, Bridges shows how these awe-inspiring structures unite the manmade and natural worlds, and how they bring humanity together"--

Nonfiction is for all ages - even our youngest readers! Case in point: the new picture book "Bridges" by Marc Majewski. Highlighting 21 bridges around the world, each page contains a lush, colorful, sweeping illustration of the bridge; its name and location; and two short sentences with plainly-stated, succinct and simple - yet fascinating! - facts about the bridge. Example: "Bridges stand out. Golden Gate Bridge, USA. The unmistakable color of this bridge is called 'international orange.'" On the next page: "Bridges blend in. Umshiang Double-Decker Root Bridge, India. This living bridge grows and gets stronger year after year.") You can admire the pictures, spark the imagination, and leave it at that, or you can research each bridge (there is back matter with a little more information about each bridge) and learn more. I know I googled that root bridge immediately because I wanted to see a photograph! Young kids will probably have lots more questions about bridges after this reading experience. Enjoy! -Anne W
Is it okay to pee in the ocean? : the fascinating science of our waste and our world
by Ella Schwartz
j612.4 Schwartz
Nonfiction, Science
"Explore the human systems that make pee happen, tackle environmental questions about the impacts of human waste, discover surprising uses of urine throughout history-like in mouthwash and skin creams-and even try out at-home, hands-on experiments (with no bodily fluids required, of course!)"--

Did you know that in ancient Rome, buckets were set up along public streets to collect urine from passersby, to use for laundering clothes? That's right, once enough urine was collected, a person would stand in a giant tub filled with pee and dirty clothes, stomping on them to remove stubborn stains. Maybe next time you spill ketchup down your front, try rubbing a little pee on it. That's just one of the many fascinating facts about #1 you can learn from this new book! I won't spoil it by answering the titular question, but you can read to find out the effects of your waste on various bodies of water, how your body makes and eliminates pee, the scientific makeup of pee, and much, much more. -Anne W
The Monkey Trial : John Scopes and the battle over teaching evolution
by Anita Sanchez
CATALOGING /
Kids, Science, History
"Arrested? For teaching? John Scopes's crime riveted the world, and crowds flocked to the trial of the man who dared to tell students about a forbidden topic--evolution. The year was 1925, and discussing Darwin's theory of evolution was illegal in Tennessee classrooms. Lawyers wanted to challenge the law, and businessmen smelled opportunity. But no one imagined the firestorm the Scopes Trial would ignite--or the media circus that would follow. As reporters, souvenir-hawking vendors, angry protestors, and even real monkeys mobbed the courthouse, a breathless public followed the action live on national radio broadcasts. All were fascinated by the bitter duel between science and religion, an argument that boiled down to the question of who controls what students can learn--an issue that resonates to this day."--Page [2] of cover.

Who controls what students can learn - parents or the government? What takes precendence, science or religion? What happens when scientific evidence is turned into a political battle? Find out in this book for young readers about - you guessed it! - the 1925 trial of science teacher John Scopes, who defied the law by teaching about Darwin's theory of evolution in the classroom. Whether the cyclical nature of these struggles provides a comfort or makes you feel hopeless, there's no doubt that history repeats itself. Find out what lessons the "Monkey Trial" holds for us today in this new book aimed at 8-12-year-olds. -Anne W
A tulip in winter : a story about folk artist Maud Lewis
by Kathy Stinson
j759.11 Lewis
Art / Art History, Kids, Biographies
"A celebration of a beloved folk artist, and her artistic expression of joy and beauty. Known for her vibrant and cheerful paintings of landscapes, plants, and animals, Maud Lewis' iconic folk art is celebrated around the world. Despite her beautiful art, she spent much of her life living in poverty with rheumatoid arthritis. In this stunning picture book, author Kathy Stinson and illustrator Lauren Soloy bring Maud's world to life: how she captured in her art what she loved most, while navigating the mobility issues caused by her condition. From bright paintings of the sea and countryside, to the flowers and birds she painted on the walls of the small house she shared with her husband, Maud's work continues to delight and inspire viewers young and old."--

Maud Lewis' lively, colorful paintings were inspired by the countryside around her tiny house in Nova Scotia. Disabled by severe rheumatoid arthritis, and with options further limited by poverty, Lewis lived in a tiny house she decorated by painting flowers all over the stairs, walls, and many of her belongings, along with creating landscapes on scraps of wood and cardboard from the dump. Today, her house can be seen, in its entirety, inside the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, where it was moved after her death in 1970. -Anne W
Leeva at last
by Sara Pennypacker
jFICTION Pennypacker, Sara
Kids
What are people for? That's the burning question on the mind of Leeva Spayce Thornblossom. Fame! says Leeva's mom, the mayor of Nutsmore. Money! says her dad, the town treasurer. With the help of an orphaned badger, a risk-averse boy in a hazmat suit, and the town's librarians, Leeva sets off to discover her own answer--setting off a chain of events that will change Nutsmore forever.

If you enjoy the spirited early-chapter-book Clementine series about an eccentric and opinionated 8-year-old girl and the people in her apartment building, or Pax, the moving middle grade story of the bond between a boy and a fox and the lengths they'll go to in order to reunite after tragedy, try Sara Pennypacker's new middle grade novel, Leeva at Last. Perfectly paired with Matthew Cordell's scratchy illustrations, Leeva at Last is a quest/coming-of-age story that is totally hilarious, profound, and features some fantastic librarians. -Anne W
Tree, wildflower, and mushroom spotting
by Mary Kay Carson
j582.13 Carson
Nonfiction, Nature, Science
"With 448 full-color, highly illustrated pages, Outdoor School is your indispensable tool for the outdoors. This interactive field guide to plant and mushroom spotting includes: immersive activities to get you exploring, write-in sections to journal about experiences, next-level adventures to challenge even seasoned nature lovers. No experience is required--only curiosity and courage. Inside you'll find easy-to-follow instructions on how to: grow mushrooms with cardboard, compare bark types, count tree rings, survey leaf patterns, create fern spore prints, press and preserve wildflowers--and so much more!"--

It's spring! Get out there and look at some flowers! I recommend Turkey Creek Nature Preserve (Bur Oak Land Trust) for bluebells. There's a whole series of these Outdoor School books that are worth your time. -Anne W
The first case
by Ulf Nilsson
jFICTION Nilsson Ulf
Mystery, Early Chapter Books
When Vladimir the squirrel's stockpile of nuts disappears, the portly Detective Gordon deputizes his young, enthusiastic friend Buffy the mouse to help him discover the identity of the thieves.

This is the first in a four-book series about the bumbling, often flustered (but totally endearing) Detective Gordon (a frog) and his sidekick Buffy (a mouse). The mysteries (translated from the original Swedish) are clever and funny, gentle but contain enough action to sustain interest, and are heavily illustrated and perfect for those just getting comfortable with chapter books (around first and second grades). They also make great family read-alouds. The newest (and last) book, A Case with a Bang, just hit ICPL shelves. -Anne W
The untold story of Larry Itliong : labor rights hero
by Cristina Oxtra
j331.88 Itliong
Biographies, History
"You may have read about Cesar Chavez's leadership in organizing the well-known Delano Grape Strike and Boycott of the 1960s. But did you know it began as a strike led by Larry Itliong? He was a Filipino labor organizer who had also been working with grape pickers in California at the time. With key biographical information and related historical events, this Capstone Captivate book will uncover Itliong's story and show how it connects to Chavez's story"--

Take this opportunity to learn about an unsung hero of history and glean more information about where your food comes from! -Anne W
One winter up north
by John Owens
jE Owens
Picture Books, Kids
"In winter the Boundary Waters, way up north in Minnesota, is not the same place you canoed last summer--but still it beckons and welcomes you. Grab a pack, strap on snowshoes, make a path (Oh! they take some getting used to!), and venture out across the frozen lakes and through the snowy woods. The vast wintery world here is so still and quiet, you might think you're all alone--but no! Who made these tracks? A deer? A hare? A fox? And far off there's a musher, making tracks with his sled dogs. It's a magical place. The bright sun brilliant on the snow, the sparkling silence--wait, is that a wolf calling? Try to answer! And when the dark descends, the stars and pine trees holding up the night, your nose gets cold and it's back to camp, to your warm winter tent, where Father feeds the stove with wood you gathered, Mother snuggles into her big sleeping bag, and you curl up in the fire's glow and know that in your dreams and memories you will return again and again to this one winter up north."--Provided by publisher.

Create some cozy winter feelings with this wordless picture book depicting a family's adventures snowshoeing and camping in the Superior National Forest in winter. Beautiful winter landscapes are depicted in sweeping, gentle watercolors. -Anne W
Tumble
by Celia C. Pérez
jFICTION Perez Celia
Kids, Diverse Characters
Before she decides whether to accept her stepfather's proposal of adoption, twelve-year-old Adela Ramírez reaches out to her estranged biological father--who is in the midst of a career comeback as a luchador--and the eccentric extended family of wrestlers she has never met, bringing Adela closer to understanding the expansive definition of family.

This is a super-fun read about an eccentric family of luchadors (Mexican-style pro wrestlers) set in New Mexico. The book is heartwarming without the ending being pat or too neat and tidy, which I appreciated. Also clear-eyed from a kid's perspective about the failures and shortcomings of adults in your life, though overall showing the centrality of family and how important it is for them to have your back (in and out of the wrestling ring!). -Anne W
Polar bear
by Candace Fleming
j599.786 Fleming
Kids, Nonfiction, Animals
As spring approaches in the Arctic, a mother polar bear and her two cubs tentatively emerge from hibernation to explore the changing landscape. When it is time, she takes her cubs on a forty-mile journey, back to their home on the ice. Along the way, she fends off wolves, hunts for food, and swims miles and miles.

What an informative yet emotional, beautifully-illustrated nonfiction picture book about a mother polar bear and her cubs! Mother bears are incredibly capable creatures - you won't doubt it after devouring this edge-of-your-seat book describing the long journey of a bear family's first year. A great read-aloud with gorgeous Arctic-landscape illustrations! -Anne W
Front country
by Sara St. Antoine
jFICTION Stantoin Sara
Kids, Travel, Nature
Eighth grader Ginny Shepard attempts to ground herself after realizing that the world is apathetic to the very real, very urgent realities of climate change, and reckoning with her own feelings of guilt and impotence.

This is a slow-burn but powerful coming-of-age novel about a girl who goes to the wilderness to find herself. Ginny is doing all the "right things" - getting straight A's, playing competitive tennis, pleasing her parents, etc. But when she finds out how urgent climate change is and what might be lost if the adults in charge don't act immediately, she can't understand why no one else seems to feel as upset as she does about it. She ends up attending a wilderness camp that is sort of a therapeutic program for "troubled" youth, where she is the only girl among some strange boys and exhaustingly upbeat yet nitpicky counselors. But as she gets to know what motivates her fellow campers and experiences the Montana mountain setting, she begins to find her way and figures some stuff out. This is a sophisticated, nuanced, slow-paced book best for upper-elementary-readers. It has a great message without being preachy or on-the-nose. The dialogue and Ginny's struggles are rendered realistically and empathetically. -Anne W
A leopard diary : my journey into the hidden world of a mother and her cubs
by Suzi Eszterhas
RECEIVED
Nature, Travel, Animals
"Leopards are known for being shy and elusive, and leopard mothers are even more so. Imagine, then, having the rare opportunity to follow and photograph a mother leopard and her cubs. When world-renowned nature photographer Suzi Eszterhas was given the chance to do so, she jumped on a plane to Botswana. And through this collection of informative diary entries and stunning photos, readers are able to share this rare privilege. This compelling chronical of Suzi’s time following a female leopard spans roughly a year and a half, but between the informative first-person observations and the photos of rarely seen moments in the wild, the time flies by. The story begins with Suzi arriving at the Jao Reserve in Botswana’s Okavango Delta and meeting Kambango, the local tracker and guide who would become her close friend and whose knowledge and expertise she relies on throughout. They go immediately to the mother leopard’s den where, after waiting patiently for a number of hours, Suzi catches her first glimpse of the newborn cubs and her joy is palpable. From here on, readers are along for wild ride that is sometimes bumpy (such as a dramatic close encounter with the mother who feared for her cubs’ safety), sometimes smooth (the entries and photo captions are rich with observations of the cubs’ behavior as they grow up, as well as more general information about leopard behaviour) and sometimes even a bit uncomfortable (such as the grim reality of having to watch the cubs learn to hunt by practicing on a wounded kudu calf). Throughout the whole diary, though, the excitement in Suzi’s voice is clear, and her entries are full of her sense of wonder and respect for these amazing and secretive animals. Endmatter includes a Q&A with Kambango, who played such an essential role in this adventure, as well as a glossary of terms."--

Breathtaking wildlife photography accompanies a day-by-day journal of the growth of two leopard cubs under their mother's care. Rich with detail and packed with action shots of the leopard family, Suzi Eszterhas immerses the reader into the world of these animals and gives us a highly privileged peek into the activities of these elusive animals. If you can't get your hands on this new book right away, try one of Suzi Eszterhas's many other wild animal books, including My Wild Life: Adventures of a Wildlife Photographer. -Anne W
Amazing but true! : fun facts about the LEGO® world--and our own!
by Elizabeth Dowsett
CATALOGING /
Science
"From unbelievable space and nature facts, to mind-boggling inventions and technology trivia, discover amazing information about the world around us with the help of LEGO minifigures and bricks"--

Trivia AND Legos?! Yes please! -Anne W
Kuma-Kuma Chan's home
by Kazue Takahashi
jREADER Takahash Kazue
Early Readers
Upon receiving an invitation, a boy goes to visit Kuma-Kuma Chan, a bear who lives far away, and although they have little to talk about they enjoy spending the day together.

It seems like an Early Reader book would be EASY to write, doesn't it? They're so short! In fact, the opposite is true. It is extremely challenging to craft a compelling story using a sharply limited vocabulary. For my money, Kuma-Kuma Chan's Home (and its companion, Kuma-Kuma Chan's Travels) are masterworks of the genre. A deceptively simple story, told in straightforward, no-frills prose, manages to make the heart swell at the truths about friendship, the loving bond between the characters, and the gently humorous obstacles, overcome with affable good cheer. The story bumps along agreeably, with the bear and the boy going with the flow on a day together that could have been awkward and stilted but is instead magical and sweet. -Anne W
Sandor Katz and the tiny wild
by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
j641.61 Martin
Biographies, Health, LGBTQ+
Welcome to Sandor Katz's no-desk, new-ways school! There are no tests, no rules - just happy, hungry people learning how to make fermented food. All they need are their favorite vegetables, salt, and the TINY WILD. These invisible microbes change cucumbers into crunchy pickles, and cabbages into zingy-zangy sauerkraut and kimchi.

A cookbook, a history book, a science book, and a biography rolled into one! Sandor Katz is an American food writer, DIY food activist, Jewish LGBT+ man, and haver of cool facial hair who started a school that teaches people how to ferment foods. If you're not sure what fermentation is, then you definitely need to read this book! Learn about Sandor Katz's life and inspiration, how fermentation works, why fermented foods are so healthy for you, get the instructions to try it for yourself, then grow up and start a radical commune in the woods just like Sandor! -Anne W
Geo-graphics
by Regina Giménez
j523.1 Gimenez
Science
""Our universe is brimming with secrets, and surprising curiosities. Here readers will learn the answers to all the questions they've asked themselves: What does the Sun look like from different planets in our galaxy? Why doesn't the Moon always appear the same? What is the largest river on Earth? And the highest mountain? In Geo-Graphics, our world becomes transformed by acclaimed artist Regina Gǐmnez, into 87 pages of gorgeous shapes and colors. Planets and stars, continents and islands, rivers and lakes, volcanos and hurricanes ... here they are presented as circles, polygons, lines, spirals, and accompanying facts that explain the world around us. This special and unusual atlas is a marriage of science and art like no other.""

Who doesn't love fun facts? This book is filled with unique, visually arresting, deceptively simple shapes and lines paired with bite-size facts that help a reader visualize the phases of the moon, the sizes of the Earth's rivers, the placement of islands, and more stunning scientific truths about our amazing Earth. -Anne W
Cress Watercress
by Gregory Maguire
jFICTION Maguire Gregory
Fiction
"When Papa doesn't return from a nocturnal honey-gathering expedition, Cress holds out hope, but her mother assumes the worst. It's a dangerous world for rabbits, after all. Mama moves what's left of the Watercress family to the basement unit of the Broken Arms, a run-down apartment oak with a suspect owl landlord, a nosy mouse super, a rowdy family of squirrels, and a pair of songbirds who broadcast everyone's business. Can a dead tree full of annoying neighbors, and no Papa, ever be home?"--

This gentle, wise, funny, sad but ultimately hopeful animal story is paired with lush illustrations and is a great family read-aloud. Mama Rabbit is an inspirational figure who carries on despite obstacles and takes care of business. Meanwhile, Cress learns important life lessons, including about the power of community. -Anne W
Wildcat
by Amelia Morris
FICTION Morris Amelia
Fiction
"Amelia Morris's Wildcat is an uproariously funny, surprisingly touching story of one woman's journey through motherhood and female friendship, in a society that plays fast and loose with information. New mother, aspiring writer, and former shopgirl Leanne has lost her way. As she struggles with both her grief and the haze of motherhood, it also becomes clear that her best friend, the default queen of East Side Los Angeles, Regina Mark, might not actually be a friend at all. As Leanne begins to investigate and undermine Regina, she also strikes up an unexpected friendship with the lauded writer Maxine Hunter. Feeling frustrated and invisible next to Regina's wealth and social standing, Leanne seeks security wherever she can find it, whether that's by researching whether she should vaccinate her son, in listening to the messages she thinks her father is sending from beyond the grave, or in holding her own against a petulant student in her creative writing class. Most of all, however, she looks for it within Maxine, who offers Leanne something new. With a keen eye for the trappings of privilege, class, and the performative nature of contemporary domestic life, Morris's tender and wicked debut shows us a woman who bucks against the narrative she's been fed, only to find power in herself and the truth that emerges"--

A quiet but funny and oh so relatable and timely book about parenting a young child, navigating the culture wars, distancing yourself from a toxic friendship, feeling out of place among the affluent, struggling to make career decisions, and reeling after the death of an imperfect parent. I found this to be wholly original with a swift pace and incisive writing. -Anne W
The Delish kids (super-awesome, crazy-fun, best-ever) cookbook
by Joanna Saltz
j641.5 Saltz
Cookbooks
"This best-ever kids' cookbook from Delish is filled with recipes that make cooking so much fun. Throughout young chefs will learn basic skills, like how to make the gooey grilled cheese (the secret: use a waffle iron!) and upgrade your favorite store-bought foods (Chicken Nuggets! Woohoo!). Chapters include recipes for breakfast (Banana Split Oatmeal!), snacks (Cool Ranch Chickpeas!), lunches and dinners (Chorizo Tacos, Hot Dog Cubanos, and Best-Ever Fettucine Alfredo... do we need to say more?!), and party eats. Plus, two whole chapters include restaurant copycat recipes and desserts and snacks inspired by beloved pop culture characters."--Amazon.ca.

I have personally made the sugar cookie bars and the Big Mac quesadillas and they were indeed delish! Even if you do nothing but leaf through the beautiful food photographs, you're in for a treat! -Anne W
Solitary animals : introverts of the wild
by Joshua David Stein
j591.5 Stein
Animals
"This lyrical, nonfiction text honors animals who live in solitude, in contrast to others who live in groups. Against a backdrop of the specific names of various animal tribes (a parade of elephants, a tower of giraffes, a dazzle of zebras), Stein shines a spotlight on those animals who go through life on their own. With nature at his back, Stein invites readers to draw strength and comfort from the behaviors of fellow mammals. Perfect for children who tend to be alone and their parents...as well as all children, who will be encouraged to respect the "natural" choices of their peers"--

Hi, do you enjoy looking at UNBELIEVABLY GORGEOUS paintings of animals??? Me, too! Learn about animals who roll solo in the fascinating picture book. The text is spare, making it a great read-aloud for young children, but despite being a short book it still contains significant nuggets of information about the little-known topic of solitary animals. These "introverts of the wild" are are non-judgmentally compared to their communal-living peers (a charm of hummingbirds! a fever of stingrays!), sure to spark further questions and independent investigation from animal-loving kids. -Anne W
Escape at 10,000 feet : D.B. Cooper and the missing money
by Tom (Writer of children's books) Sullivan
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Sullivan
Graphic Novels
"A minute-by-minute account of the only unsolved airplane hijacking in the United States uses reproductions of FBI files and investigation photographs to chronicle the events surrounding an unidentified extortionist's 1971 hijacking and disappearance."--Provided by publisher.

I don't understand why every person alive does not want to read this incredibly compelling, suspenseful nonfiction graphic novel about the ONLY UNSOLVED AIRPLANE HIJACKING IN HISTORY??? (Don't worry, no innocent bystanders were hurt.) Without giving you any spoilers, let me just say that this story is mind-blowing on a NUMBER of levels and you will want to get to the bottom of this immediately. Until you're old enough to join the FBI, start by reading this graphic novel. -Anne W
Dorothy & Herbert : an ordinary couple and their extraordinary collection of art
by Jackie Azúa Kramer
j708.009 Kramer
"A picture-book biography of renowned art collectors Dorothy and Herbert Vogel, who independently built one of the country's greatest art collections, then donated it to the National Gallery of Art"--

A couple of middle-class government employees (she was a public librarian, he was a postal carrier) living in a tiny, rent-controlled apartment in New York City spent the 1960s and ensuing decades building one of the foremost collections of minimalist and conceptual art in the world on a budget. Their apartment was jam-packed - every wall covered floor to ceiling with art - with this style of art, which was all they could afford because it wasn't yet popular. Now their collection, which they donated to the National Gallery, is worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Read about this extraordinary couple in a new children's picture book biography and then also watch the documentary Herb and Dorothy (found in adult nonfiction DVDs - DVD/708.0092/Vogel), which describes how this couple "managed to build one of the most important contemporary art collections in history with very modest means." -Anne W
The leak : for the love of truth
by Kate Reed Petty
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Petty
Graphic Novels, Kids
"Ruth Keller is brash and precocious; she argues with her dentist, her parents, and her teachers. So, when she discovers a strange black slime in the man-made lake of her suburban neighborhood, she decides to investigate. Fortified by the encouragement of those around her, Ruth seeks the truth at all costs, even if it means taking on the rich local country club owner, who she believes is responsible for the pollution. Between the teasing of former friends, and a sudden viral spotlight, Ruth discovers how difficult it is for a journalist to take a stand for what's right in the face of critique and controversy. From writer Kate Reed Petty and illustrator Andrea Bell, comes a story about corruption, pollution, and freedom of the press, and the young journalist at the center of it all."--Provided by publisher.

Join Ruth as she uncovers a shocking pollution scandal in her town and persists in trying to get to the bottom of it despite setbacks and discouragement. A nuanced look at the tough work of journalism (Ruth makes some mistakes along the way and learns that not everything is black-and-white, good-versus-evil), the book remains accessible to young readers. You'll want to stand up and cheer for Ruth's courage and commitment to freedom of the press, justice, and protecting her town and its citizens. The blocky illustrations with slightly fuzzy, crayon-like outlines are so satisfying visually as well. -Anne W
We came, we saw, we left : a family gap year
by Charles J. Wheelan
"Charlie Wheelan and his family do what others dream of: they take a year off to travel the world. This is their story. What would happen if you quit your life for a year? In a pre-COVID-19 world, the Wheelan family decided to find out; leaving behind work, school, and even the family dogs to travel the world on a modest budget. Equal parts "how-to" and "how-not-to"--and with an eye toward a world emerging from a pandemic--We Came, We Saw, We Left is the insightful and often hilarious account of one family's gap-year experiment. Wheelan paints a picture of adventure and connectivity, juggling themes of local politics, global economics, and family dynamics while exploring answers to questions like: How do you sneak out of a Peruvian town that has been barricaded by the local army? And where can you get treatment for a flesh-eating bacteria your daughter picked up two continents ago? From Colombia to Cambodia, We Came, We Saw, We Left chronicles nine months across six continents with three teenagers. What could go wrong?"--

In the middle of an Iowa winter, two years into a pandemic, during the week of Valentine's Day, what better to read than a funny, heartwarming, fascinating memoir of a middle-aged couple who spend a year traveling the world with three teenagers? Charles Wheelan brings a dry humor to his clear, concise descriptions of beautiful and surreal landscapes like the Bolivian salt flats and beaches of Zanzibar, as well as snafus like cleaning up his daughter's vomit with a bedsheet on a night train through India and getting lost in the Chilean jungle. He and his wife and their teenagers visit dozens of countries on a 9-month trip around the world with a strict, low-budget daily spending limit. Their adventures are so interesting and their experiences parenting teens so relatable you won't want this tale to end! -Anne W
The last cuentista
by Donna Barba Higuera
jFICTION Higuera Donna
Science Fiction, Diverse Characters
"A girl named Petra Pena, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita. But Petra's world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children - among them Petra and her family - have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race. Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet - and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity's past. They have systematically purged the memories of all aboard - or purged them altogether. Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again? " --

The winner of this year's Newbery Medal, awarded to the author for the most distinguished contribution to literature for children in the past year, goes to The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera! This is a wholly original book - a science fiction tale inspired by Latin American folklore! A young girl, Petra Pena, heads out on an evacuation spaceship when Earth is destroyed by a comet. But when she suddenly wakes aboard the ship to find hundreds of years have passed and she is the only one left who remembers Earth and the stories of her heritage and past, how will she use her knowledge to build the future and save her people? -Anne W
Flush
by Carl Hiaasen
eBOOK
Kids
Noah’s dad is in jail for sinking a local gambling boat, which he believes has been emptying its onboard toilets straight into the waters around their Florida Keys home. The trouble is, so far there’s no proof. Noah needs to solve this environmental mystery so his dad can be released from jail. Also, this isn’t the first time his dad has taken the law into his own hands when it comes to stopping local polluters, and his mom is fed up and talking about divorce. Noah hatches a plan to expose the environmental crime with the help of some eccentric local characters.

Added by Anne W
The Penderwicks : a summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits, and a very interesting boy
by Jeanne Birdsall
eBOOK
Kids
While vacationing with their widowed father in the Berkshire Mountains, four lovable sisters, ages four through twelve, share adventures with a local boy, much to the dismay of his snobbish mother.

The perfect book for the whole family to enjoy together, either as a family read-aloud or audiobook. Everything turns out all right in the end, with good, wholesome messages about courage, loyalty, creativity, and girls unapologetically claiming their intelligence. This is also a National Book Award winner. -Anne W
Al Capone does my shirts
by Gennifer Choldenko
eBOOK
Kids
A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards' families were housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new environment in addition to life with his autistic sister.

Set in 1935, this book tells the story of Moose Flanagan and his family. His father gets a job as a prison guard on Alcatraz, so his family goes to live on the prison island alongside the other workers. Moose cares for his teenage sister Natalie, who nowadays would be diagnosed with autism, and deals with the warden’s shady daughter, who tries to involve Moose in her schemes. Notorious gangster Al Capone is imprisoned there, and is the target of much speculation and lore. -Anne W
My Lists

About Me
Anne W. works in Children's Services and Collection Services. She selects the kids chapter books and kids nonfiction books and leads Tween programming.
She loves to read, go on low-budget road trips (especially to camp and hike in national parks), and drink craft beer on a patio. Anne W. enjoys visiting thrift stores, but is also a minimalist who gets rid of her children's toys while they're sleeping. Anne W. has two daughters and two cats.
Anne W. divides her reading attentions between adult and juvenile literature. She enjoys strong female protagonists, nonfiction about historical events or current social issues, and novels about family relationships.
Have you ever wondered about the origin of the Caldecott Medal, awarded annually to the book for children with the best illustrations? Even if you haven't, read this anyway because it's really good! An entertaining, lightly-written biography of Randolph Caldecott, the 1850s children's book illustrator who took children's book art from dull, staid, stiff, formally-posed, purely decorative, and needlessly ornate to a modern, integral part of the story. Caldecott made pictures that were filled with action, humor, movement, joy, and worked to advance the story, so that even a child who couldn't yet read could glean the story by looking at the pictures. A modern understanding of picture books developed due to his work and we continue to recognize his innovations today through the Caldecott medal. -Anne W