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"With your feet on the ground you're a bird in flight With your fist holding tight to the string of your kite." ~ from Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman's "Let's Go Fly a Kite"
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New and Recently Released!
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| It's Only Stanley by Jon AgeeIt's evening in the Wimbledon household, and the whole family is sleepy. Their beagle Stanley, however, is wide awake and very busy. One by one, the Wimbledons are roused by Stanley's noisy projects: fixing the oil tank, tinkering with the TV, and building mechanical gadgets. Stanley's goal might not be clear at first, but there are clues in the cartoony illustrations, and sharp-eyed readers may catch on before the drowsy Wimbledons, who are in for an out-of-this-world surprise. Young "makers" who enjoyed Chris Gall's Awesome Dawson will be inspired by the creative mess and "just plain fun" (Kirkus Reviews) of It's Only Stanley.
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| The New Small Person by Lauren ChildElmore Green has his own room, his own special things, and parents who adore him. Then his parents bring home a new small person, who proceeds to ruin everything. The small person squawks during Elmore's favorite cartoon. It licks Elmore's things. It even moves into his room. What will it take for Elmore to accept the annoying intruder as his little brother? Find out in in this warm, quirky tale, which boasts Lauren Child's distinctive illustrations (be sure to look for the reappearing orange jelly bean). For another funny, child-centric take on new siblings, try Kevin Henkes' Julius, the Baby of the World. |
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| Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman; illustrated by Zachariah OHoraNobody will listen to Dot. The little bunny warned her parents about adopting a wolf cub -- "HE'S GOING TO EAT US ALL UP!" -- but in their eyes, Wolfie can do no wrong. They let the drooling (yuck!) Wolfie follow Dot around and allow him to eat his way through their carrot supply. Dot, however, remains vigilant. Yet when Wolfie finally pounces, it's not for the reason Dot expected. While adults will appreciate Wolfie the Bunny's charmingly modern details (the bunnies shop at a local co-op), kids will be drawn to its bold, chunky artwork and relatable family situations. |
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| Special Delivery by Philip Christian Stead; illustrated by Matthew CordellHow many stamps does it take to ship a live elephant? Too many, at least according to Sadie, a young girl who's determined to deliver an elephant to her lonely Great-Aunt Josephine. Instead of using the mail, Sadie and her pachyderm pal rely on more outlandish modes of transport, such as a biplane, an ice cream truck, an alligator, and a train full of bean-eating monkey bandits. Even while facing such a challenging journey, the single-minded Sadie remains undaunted. Bursting with energetic illustrations, visual jokes, and silly sound effects ("chugga chugga beans beans") Special Delivery is just as fun to read aloud as it is to share one-on-one. |
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| Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor; illustrated by Jean JullienHe might be small, round, and bright orange, but Hoot Owl is as melodramatic as a supervillain: "I swoop through the bleak blackness like a wolf in the air." He's hungry, but as a "master of disguise" he hunts using clever costumes instead of claws. Dressed up as a carrot, Hoot Owl waits...and waits...for a delicious (but suspicious) bunny to hop closer. Despite this less-than-effective method, Hoot Owl does eventually to catch something -- but don't worry, even sensitive children will giggle at his choice of meal. For another adorable owl whose looks belie his attitude, check out Jonathan Allen's I'm Not Cute! |
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| Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl who Floated by Florence Parry Heide; illustrated by Lane SmithPrincess Hyacinth has an unusual problem: unless she wears special gowns with weights sewn into the hems and an extra-gem-laden crown, she floats. Inside, this means she spends a lot of time near the ceiling, but outdoors, she could float up, up, and away. One day, despite all of her parents' precautions, she does just that -- and has the time of her life swooshing through the sky! Just when she runs into trouble, a new friend with advanced kite-flying skills is there to reel her in. Sophisticated yet playful illustrations match the royal mood of this decidedly different princess story. |
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| Kite Day: A Bear and Mole Story by Will HillenbrandBlue skies and strong breezes mean just one thing to Bear and his best friend Mole -- kite weather! Together, the companions construct a rainbow-tailed kite and happily launch it into the sky. But is that thunder in the distance? A dramatic storm results in an unexpectedly heartwarming conclusion to this upbeat story. With easy-to-read sentences and lots of repetition, Kite Day is a good pick for beginning readers, as well as for children who love to chime in during a read-aloud. Those who want to spend more time with Bear and Mole should pick up the delightful duo's other adventures, Spring Is Here! and Off We Go! |
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| Stuck by Oliver JeffersA wayward kite kicks off the action in this "exuberantly absurd tale" (Publishers Weekly). When it comes to dislodging his kite from a tree, young Floyd takes the kitchen-sink approach: he throws everything he can find at the kite, including a bicycle, an orangutan, the milkman, a "curious whale," and -- you guessed it -- an actual kitchen sink. Unfortunately, none of these items free the kite, and ALL of them get stuck in the tree. Oliver Jeffers' spindly, scribbly figures create an atmosphere of wild whimsy which is sure to provoke both laughs and inventive problem-solving suggestions. |
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| King for a Day by Rukhsana Khan; illustrated by Christiane KromerEvery year, Malik looks forward to Basant, the spring kite festival. But this year, his goal is to be "king of Basant" by defeating or setting free more kites than anyone else in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. Perched in his wheelchair on a rooftop balcony, Malik unleashes his prized kite, the small-but-fierce Falcon, and takes on the competition, including the bully next door. In just one day, Malik experiences conflict, triumph, and quiet kindness, and the book's stunning collage illustrations express all of those emotions through a riot of textures, colors, and perspectives. There's even an author's note at the end for curious readers who are unfamiliar with Basant. |
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| Kite Flying by Grace LinUsing saturated colors and simple text, Kite Flying shows young readers how kite-making and flight can be a family affair. Ma-Ma, Ba-Ba, and their daughters (the same family from award-winning author Grace Lin's Dim Sum for Everyone!) all pitch in to build a vibrant red dragon kite, and then together they head to a windswept field to try out their new creation. Though Kite Flying's facts about Chinese kites aren't as detailed those found in Demi's Kites: Magic Wishes That Fly Up to the Sky, this breezy, eye-catching book (complete with kite-making advice) might just inspire kids and families to make kites of their own. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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