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Casey

Casey

My Shelf

Bluey 5-minute stories.

"Go swimming with BLUEY, spend the day with Bingo, play charades with Muffin, and more! This collection includes 6...stories with BLUEY and her family that are prefect for reading in a jiffy."--

Even more Bluey! Ous! -Casey

Bluey. At home with the Heelers.

jBOARD BOOK Bluey
Board Books

"Meet the Heelers - there's Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and Chilli! Learn all about the family, explore their home and discover the games they like to play".

I could be biased because my family is also at home with a heeler. But I think Bluey is the best TV show and has something for animation fans of all ages. If you've yet to check out life with The Heelers, well it's simply "Gotta be done!" -Casey

The queen in the cave

by Júlia Sardà

jE Sarda
Picture Books, Fantasy, Adventure

Once upon a time there were three sisters: Franca, Carmela, and Tomasina. This is their story of adventure and discovery. A tale of hidden mysteries and new wonders, of finding a strange world beyond home and unlocking the secrets inside themselves.

I cannot wait to share this ethereal long-form picture book at home. Look for this title on an upcoming list of great gift books! -Casey

The wolves and moose of Isle Royale: restoring an island ecosystem

by Castaldo, Nancy F. (Nancy Fusco), 1962- author.

j599.77 Castaldo
Nonfiction, Animals, Nature

"On Isle Royale, a remote island national park surrounded by frigid Lake Superior, a thrilling drama is unfolding between wolves and moose, the island's ultimate predator and prey. For over sixty years, in what has been known as the longest study of a predator-prey relationship in the world, scientists have observed the importance of wolves to Isle Royale's unique ecology. But due to illness and underlying factors, the population of wolves on the island has dropped while the number of moose has increased, putting the Isle Royale ecosystem in jeopardy."--

This is a fascinating read for young environmentalists! -Casey

I'm a unicorn

by Helen Yoon

jE Yoon
Picture Books, Humor, Fantasy, Kids

"See?" cries the calf. "Uni means one, and corn means horn!" Even their baby picture proves it: they were born with one horn! But as the eager little calf continues their research, a budding identity crisis arises...

Potty humor AND unicorns?! Get ready to repeat this read. -Casey

Brown is warm, black is bright

by Sarah L. Thomson

jE Thomson
Picture Books, Nature, Read Woke

Illustrations and text celebrate the colors brown and black, demonstrating the many positive assocations with these two colors.

This lovely picture book is everything you want in a fall read-aloud, beautiful, touching, and repeatable. I cannot wait to share it at preschools and in-house storytimes! -Casey

Expedition backyard : exploring nature from country to city

by Rosemary Mosco

jGRAPHIC NOVEL Mosco
Graphic Novels, Nature, Adventure, Fantasy

Mole and Vole always venture out into the world to see what nature they can find, but after an accidental move from the country to the city, the best friends have to learn to discover new plants and animals in their new environment.

Onward adventurers! This adorable graphic novel is perfect for the season, newly independent readers, and family sharing. Simply lovely! -Casey

The more you give

by Campbell, Marcy, author.

jE Campbell

"A modern-day response to The Giving Tree, this lyrical picture book shows how family love is passed down from generation to generation"--

This story about intergenerational love and the passage of time is gorgeous! -Casey

The legend of Iron Purl

by Tao Nyeu

jE Nyeu
Picture Books, Crafts, Humor, Mystery

Armed with a pair of knitting needles and her trusty ball of yarn, mysterious hero Iron Purl must use her knitting superpowers to defeat her nemesis, Bandit Bob, who causes mischief and mayhem wherever he goes.

Yarn crafting caregivers will delight in Tao Nyeu's hilarious and adorable The Legend of Iron Purl. -Casey

Lou

by Breanna Carzoo

jE Carzoo
Picture Books, Humor

"Meet Lou. Lou has an important job ... as the neighborhood toilet for dogs on their walks. Useful as he may be, he gets the feeling that deep down inside, there might be more to him than that. He just doesn't seem to know exactly what yet. When disaster strikes, will Lou find out what he's made of and save the day?"--

Sweet, funny, and super cute, Lou is bound to be a hit with the littles in your life! -Casey

A spoonful of frogs

by Casey Lyall

jE Lyall
Picture Books, Fantasy, Humor, Cookbooks

Young readers will have a hopping good time in this hilarious story about a witch who is having a hard time wrangling a bunch of frogs into her frog soup until she comes up with a surprising solution.

Deliciously funny, cute, and perfect for the upcoming Halloween season! A Spoonful of Frogs is excellent for sharing aloud and repeated reads. -Casey

Berry song

by Michaela Goade

RECEIVED
Picture Books, Read Woke, Nature, Poetry

As a young Tlingit girl collects wild berries over the seasons, she sings with her Grandmother as she learns to speak to the land and listen when the land speaks back.

Lyrical and visually stunning, Berry Song is a picture book for all seasons. -Casey

Endlessly ever after : pick your path to countless fairy tale endings! : a story of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, Hansel, Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, a wolf, a witch, a goose, a grandmother, some pigs, and endless variations

by Laurel Snyder

jFICTION Snyder Laurel
Picture Books, Classics, Adventure, Humor

In this rhyming mash-up of many fairy tales, the reader is invited to follow Rosie down the many possible paths which may lead to a sleeping maiden, a hungry wolf, a girl locked in a tower, or a goose that lays golden eggs--but with some luck, and some smart choices, Rosie may save herself and her fellow fairy tale characters.

What next, Rosie? Choose this title for endless fairy tale fun! -Casey

Meet the moonlight

by Jack Johnson

eMUSIC HOOPLA

Jack Johnson returns with his eighth studio album.

Jack Johnson's eighth studio album makes for soothing, family-friendly listening. -Casey

Mushroom rain

by Laura K. Zimmermann

j579.6 Zimmermann
Picture Books, Nonfiction, Nature

"Through lyrical text and colorful detailed artwork, the mysterious and sometimes bizarre world of mushrooms is explored. Back matter includes a glossary and science facts"--

Budding mycologists and those less passionate about fungi will equally enjoy this beautifully illustrated nonfiction title. -Casey

The drowned woods

by Emily Lloyd-Jones

ON ORDER BOOK
Fantasy, Young Adult

"Mer, the last living water diviner in the isles of Wales, seeks revenge against the prince who used her powers for his own evil ends"--

I'm halfway through listening to The Drowned Woods, and Moira Quirk's reading of this dark, ethereal fantasy is wonderful. Just right for Leigh Bardugo and Naomi Novik fans. -Casey

The complete Chi's sweet home

by Kanata Konami

jMANGA Konami Chi's Complete
Kids, Graphic Novels, Animals, Humor

"Chi is a mischievous newborn kitten who, while on a leisurely stroll with her family, finds herself lost. Separated from the warmth and protection of her mother, feels distraught. Overcome with loneliness she breaks into tears in a large urban park meadow, when she is suddenly rescued by a young boy named Yohei and his mother. The kitty is then quickly and quietly whisked away into the warm and inviting Yamada family apartment where pets are strictly not permitted."

I'm so happy this series was released again. If you're in the mood for some funny kitten antics, Chi's waiting! -Casey

Kitty

by Rebecca Jordan-Glum

jE Jordan-Glum
Picture Books, Humor, Nature

"Granny thinks catsitting will be easy. She'll make her signature cupcakes, give the cat a good brushing, and together they'll share a sweet night's rest. But Kitty has other plans. After Granny loses her glasses and accidentally lets a raccoon inside, all bets are off--much to the cat's displeasure"--Inside jacket flap

Funny and adorable! Sure to be a read-aloud hit! -Casey

The katha chest

by Radhiah Chowdhury

jE Chowdhury
Picture Books, Read Woke, Crafts

Asiya loves to visit Nanu's house and rummage through her katha chest filled with quilts that tell stories about the bold and brave women in Asiya's family.

I love this new picture book about the intersection of family history and handicrafts, best shared in lap-sit sessions poring over the lush illustrations. -Casey

Somewhere in the bayou

by Jarrett Pumphrey

jE Pumphrey
Picture Books, Animals, Humor

Rat, Squirrel, Rabbit, and Mouse want to cross the bayou, but next to the log they are considering as a bridge is a sneaky tail, which may be attached to someone dangerous--each of the four approach the problem with a different strategy, with varying results.

The Pumphrey brothers' latest title is fabulous. Pick this one up if you're looking for something funny and fun to read aloud! -Casey

No nibbling!

by Beth Ferry

jE Ferry
Picture Books, Gardening, Humor

Derwood the goat has planted a garden and is prepared to defend it from all nibblers, including Tabitha the bunny, whom Derwood is convinced has designs on his growing vegetables; she teases him as the months go by, but after she helps him with the weeding the two become friends and share the feast.

Puns galore and adorable illustrations make perfect storytime fare! -Casey

The crab ballet

by Renée LaTulippe

jE LaTulippe
Picture Books, Nature, Music

When the tide is out, the Crab Ballet begins, featuring anemones, squid, crabs and many other sea creatures, an aquatic corps de ballet performing for the reader.

Beautiful, entertaining, and educational! -Casey

A perfect day

by Jennifer Yerkes

jE Yerkes
Picture Books, Nature

"One bright summer day, the animals of the pond create a symphony of sounds"--

Beautiful illustrations, minimalistic text, and ample space for performative storytelling make for a fabulous storytime read-aloud. Just right for sharing and beginning readers! -Casey

Baloney and friends : dream big!

by Greg Pizzoli

jREADER Pizzoli Greg
Early Readers, Graphic Novels

"Baloney and friends continue their adventures, which include a birthday cake mishap, a tricky bargain, a painting surprise, and the discovery that the best moments are shared with friends"--

Are you ready for some "serious" Baloney? This reader series by Greg Pizzoli gets better with each installment! -Casey

Circe

by Madeline Miller

OverDrive Audiobook
Fiction, Fantasy

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Circe has had me spellbound since I listened to Perdita Weeks weave her magic in March of 2020. This is my third time around and I love it just as much as the first. -Casey

Concrete Rose

by Angie Thomas

OverDrive Audiobook
Young Adult, Fiction, Black Lives Matter, Read Woke

International phenomenon Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.

Dion Graham breathes life into the characters and setting of Angie Thomas's prequel to The Hate U Give. Don't miss this powerful chapter in Carter family history. -Casey

Playing the cards you're dealt

by Varian Johnson

jFICTION Johnson Varian
Fiction, Read Woke

"Ten-year-old Anthony Joplin has made it to double digits! Which means he's finally old enough to play in the spades tournament every Joplin Man before him seems to have won. So while Ant's friends are stressing about fifth grade homework and girls, Ant only has one thing on his mind: how he'll measure up to his father's expectations at the card table. Then Ant's best friend gets grounded, and he's forced to find another spades partner. "

Playing the Cards You're Dealt is great for readers of all ages. Perfect for card players, fans of realistic fiction, and anyone who enjoys fabulously full characters, I can't wait to reread this one. -Casey

Himawari House

by Harmony Becker

GRAPHIC NOVEL Becker
Graphic Novels, Read Woke

"When Nao returns to Tokyo to reconnect with her Japanese heritage, she books a yearlong stay at the Himawari sharehouse. There she meets Hyejung and Tina, two other girls who came to Japan to freely forge their own paths."--Provided by publisher.

Incredible design, a wide breadth of illustration styles, strong female friendships, humor, and polyglots adjusting to life abroad. Himawari House is a delectable slice of life through and through! -Casey

Fairytale blankets to crochet : 10 fantasy-themed children's blankets for storytime cuddles

by Lynne Rowe

746.434 /Rowe
Crafts

Bedtime bookworms will love snuggling up and listening to their favourite story in a cosy hooded blanket. Bring storytime to life as they act out the characters - will they be a goodie or a baddie, Little Red Riding Hood or the wolf? Every blanket tells a story, with pockets on the sides for snuggly paws and different tails. Perfect for unwinding for a bedtime story and animating the oral tradition of storytelling - little listeners, as well as their parents, will find themselves enchanted.

Gifts you can make! These fairytale inspired blankets are adorable and cozy for the upcoming winter. -Casey

Rise of wolf 8 : witnessing the triumph of Yellowstone's underdog

by Rick McIntyre

599.773 /McIntyre
Nonfiction, Animals

*Yellowstone National Park was once home to an abundance of wild wolves--but park rangers killed the last of their kind in the 1920s. Decades later, the rangers brought them back, with the first wolves arriving from Canada in 1995. This is the incredible true story of one of those wolves. Wolf 8 struggles at first--he is smaller than the other pups, and often bullied--but soon he bonds with an alpha female whose mate was shot. An unusually young alpha male, barely a teenager in human years, Wolf 8 rises to the occasion, hunting skillfully, and even defending his family from the wolf who killed his father. But soon he faces a new opponent: his adopted son, who mates with a violent alpha female. Can Wolf 8 protect his valley without harming his protégé? Authored by a renowned wolf researcher and gifted storyteller, The Rise of Wolf 8 marks the beginning of an original and bold new trilogy, which will transform our view of wolves forever.

I'm looking forward to more books in this series by Rick McIntyre. If you're interested in wolf restoration, I cannot recommend this title highly enough. -Casey

Bodies are cool

by Tyler Feder

jE Feder
Picture Books, Read Woke, Diverse Characters

Illustrations and easy-to-read, rhyming text celebrate bodies of all shapes, sizes, ages, and colors, with different kinds of hair, eyes, spots, scars, and more.

Bodies Are Cool! Unashamedly all bodies positive and I am definitely here for it. -Casey

Your mama

by NoNieqa Ramos

jE Ramos
Picture Books, Read Woke

Illustrations and easy-to-read text twist classic "your mama" jokes into a celebration of the beauty, power, and love of motherhood.

Remember all of those "your mama" jokes in the '90s? Well, all joking aside, Your Mama is awesome! -Casey

City of the plague god

by Sarwat Chadda

jFICTION Chadda Sarwat
Diverse Characters, Read Woke, Fantasy

"Thirteen-year-old Sikander Aziz has to team up with the hero Gilgamesh in order to stop Nergal, the ancient god of plagues, from wiping out the population of Manhattan in this adventure based on Mesopotamian mythology"--

This is the first of the Rick Riordan Presents imprint that I have read, and I am impressed! Going back for round two with Sikander and Gilgamesh soon, as the first time around was a whirlwind. -Casey

Watercress

by Andrea Wang

jE Wang
Picture Books, Read Woke, Memoir

Embarrassed about gathering watercress from a roadside ditch, a girl learns to appreciate her Chinese heritage after learning why the plant is so important to her parents.

Inspired by Andrea Wang's upbringing in rural Ohio and illustrated by Jason Chin, Watercress is pertinent reading for all ages. Text and illustrations pair perfectly, elevating this story of hope shining through grief, and love overcoming loss, beyond solely a childhood audience. Great for sharing as a family or reading on your own. -Casey

I sang you down from the stars

by Tasha Spillett-Sumner

jE Spillett
Picture Books, Read Woke, Diverse Characters

A Native American woman describes how she loved her child before it was born and, throughout her pregnancy, gathered a bundle of gifts to welcome the newborn.

Tasha Spillet-Sumner's poetry and Michaela Goade's illustrations are a beautiful pairing not to be missed. -Casey

I love you, baby burrito

by Angela Dominguez

jE Domingue
Picture Books, Read Woke

"From Pura Belpre honoree Angela Dominguez, Love You Baby Burrito is a modern classic picture book celebrating the act of swaddling a newborn into a baby burrito." -- Provided by publisher.

Angela Dominguez's latest book is beyond adorable. Karen G. and I were "oohing" over it when it first came in. I can't wait to share it in Book Babies soon! Anyone who's ever burritoed a baby owes this one a read. -Casey

My Lists

The animal toolkit : how animals use tools

Before music : where instruments come from

Great Gift Books--2022

Casey

New Picture Books--September 2022

Casey

Read With Pride! Picture Books

Casey

Have you seen Gordon? : a search-and-find book

Haylee and Comet : a tale of cosmic friendship

New Shelf Picture Books and Readers

Casey

Interests: Picture Books, Board Books, Early Readers, Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Classics, Read Woke, Fantasy, Nature, LGBTQ+, Music, Gardening, Memoir, Humor, Horror, Crafts, Cookbooks

About Me

Hi, my name is Casey. I am a Librarian in the Children's Department. You can generally find me downtown at the Children's Desk, StoryJAMing, helping with programming, or doing storytime at one of our community preschools. When I'm not out and about, I'm behind the scenes ordering books for our youngest readers.

I enjoy reading books of all shapes and sizes but have a particular interest in picture books, board books, early chapter books, graphic novels, manga, and young adult literature--basically, if it's written for young people, I'm there! Other reads I enjoy include gardening, cooking, crafting/DIY, nature, art, humorous memoirs, horror, and fairytale retellings.

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Casey

My Shelf

My Lists

Great Gift Books--2022

New Picture Books--September 2022

Read With Pride! Picture Books

New Shelf Picture Books and Readers

About Me