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Children's & Teen BooksFebruary 2015
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"Pictures just come to my mind...and I tell my heart to go ahead." ~ Horace Pippin (1888-1946), American painter
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New and Recently Released!
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| Audrey (Cow) by Dan Bar-el; illustrated by Tatjana Mai-WyssAnimal Fantasy. If you relate to Wilbur in E.B. White's Charlotte's Web or you feel for Ivan in Katherine Applegate's The One and Only Ivan, you'll definitely want to meet Audrey. Audrey isn't just any cow -- she's a poet, and she refuses to be made into hamburger. Audrey's plan to avoid the slaughterhouse will require not only courage, but lots of help from her animal friends. Written as a series of interviews with Audrey and 29 other creatures (including an intelligent dog, a helpful pig, a stuck-up rooster, a gossipy horse, and even a few humans), Audrey (Cow) is a clever, charming, and modern look at the world as animals see it. |
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| The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John; illustrated by Kevin CornellHumorous Fiction. With a name like Yawnee Valley, it's clear that Miles Murphy's new hometown needs some excitement. And Miles, the "King Prankster" of his old school, is ready to provide it. Yet he finds himself out-pranked at every turn by someone he never would have suspected. When his rival offers to join forces, Miles refuses, but as their prank war heats up, Miles has to admit that they could pull some truly epic tricks if they worked together. First in a series, this comically absurd, cartoon-illustrated book about unapologetic practical jokers is sure to amuse fans of Kimberly Baker's PICKLE. |
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| Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper; illustrated by Raul the ThirdGraphic Adventure. Winning the Golden Steering Wheel Award at the upcoming car contest would give mechanic Lupe Impala and her friends, El Chavo Flapjack and Elirio Malaria, enough money to finally open their own garage. Determined and resourceful, the friends decide to rebuild an old junker into a tricked-out lowrider. The addition of some salvaged rocket parts, however, launches them on an interstellar journey that's anything but "bajito y suavecito" ("low and slow"). Exuberant illustrations (drawn mostly in ballpoint pen!) add visual humor and details of Mexican culture to this unique graphic novel adventure. |
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| Skateboard Party by Karen English; illustrated by Laura FreemanFiction. Third-grader Richard lives for skateboarding, and he's excited to show off his flat-ground Ollie at his friend Greg's party. He's less excited about a note home from his teacher about his poor schoolwork. With brothers to annoy and skateboard tricks to learn, it's hard for Richard to remember how to spell "quotient," or when his report about howler monkeys is due. But it might be even harder to hide the teacher's note from his parents until after the party. Set at the same school as author Karen English's Nikki and Deja series, this 2nd book in the Carver Chronicles is perfect for readers who want funny, realistic, easy-to-read chapter books. |
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| The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence by Stan Lee and Stuart Moore; illustrated by Andie TongAdventure. Attention, Marvel fans! You've heard of Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men, right? Legendary writer Stan Lee co-created those characters, and in Convergence, he introduces a new hero: 14-year-old Steven Lee, who accidentally witnesses a ceremony that leaves him with the fighting powers of the Tiger from the Chinese zodiac, and a responsibility to find others with similar gifts so that they can take down a power-hungry general with dangerous abilities of his own. Bursting with twists, edge-of-your-seat action, and comics-style illustrations, Convergence is an explosive start to the Zodiac Legacy trilogy. For the origin story of another Chinese American superhero, pick up Gene Luen Yang's The Shadow Hero. |
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Focus on: African American Lives
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| A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jennifer Bryant; illustrated by Melissa SweetBiography. As a child in the 1880s, Horace Pippin loved to draw and paint. Despite plenty of challenges, he persisted in his art as he grew up, painting vivid, folksy scenes. Not even injuring his arm in World World I could stop Pippin -- he learned how to guide his damaged right arm with his left. Illustrated in eye-popping colors and a "refreshing, down-home style" (Booklist), A Splash of Red both echoes Pippin's distinctive style and describes his life, including his eventual success as an artist. If you're intrigued by Pippin's story, try Kathleen Benson's Draw What You See, a biography of painter Benny Andrews that's illustrated with Andrews' own paintings. |
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| Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs Martin; illustrated by Eric Shabazz-LarkinBiography. What do professional basketball and farming have in common? Both are skills of Will Allen, a former basketball player who became a visionary urban farmer. As a kid, Allen longed for experiences outside the family farm, but later in life, he decided to return to his roots by buying some run-down greenhouses in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With the help of volunteers (many of them kids), the polluted soil became a flourishing urban farm, providing food for the neighborhood and blossoming into Growing Power, an organization that helps communities start food gardens. Upbeat and optimistic, this delicious biography may inspire you -- and make you hungry! |
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Ballerina dreams : from orphan to ballerina
by Michaela DePrince
A skill-building introduction to the life of the principal dancer from the Dance Theatre of Harlem describes her early years as an orphan in Sierra Leone, her adoption by an American family, the photograph that inspired her dreams and her rise to becoming one of the world's most accomplished ballerinas. Simultaneous and eBook.
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When the beat was born : DJ Kool Herc and the creation of hip hop
by Laban Carrick Hill
An introduction to pioneering DJ Clive Campbell describes how he devised new ways of playing music between dance songs, sharing insight into his youth in 1970s Jamaica and the Bronx and how his musical achievements helped counter gang violence. By the author of the National Book Award finalist, Harlem Stomp!
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| Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir NelsonNonfiction. Written in the voice of an older African American lady looking back and telling the story of her family's past, this beautifully illustrated book presents a detailed overview of African American history in a way that is honest, attention-grabbing, and easy to understand. Covering the time period from colonial days through the Civil Rights Movement and beyond, award-winning author and illustrator Kadir Nelson shows how African Americans -- both famous and ordinary -- have been central to U.S. history from the country's very beginning. |
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| Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson; illustrations by R. Gregory ChristieBiography. Bass Reeves was born a slave but grew up to be one of the most feared and respected deputy U.S. marshals in late-1870s Indian Territory. This exciting biography starts with a bang -- a shoot-out -- before going back to tell Reeves' story from his childhood. Some of the lawman's escapades sound unbelievable, such as his tangle with a skunk or his frequent use of disguises to help him catch bad guys, but Bad News for Outlaws is the true story of a real American hero. Want to spend more time in Marshal Reeves' world? Check out the fictional book that Gary Paulsen based on his life, The Legend of Bass Reeves. |
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Leontyne Price : voice of a century
by Carole Boston Weatherford
A picture book introduction to the life and achievements of the iconic African-American opera star traces her rise from humble origins in early 20th-century Mississippi, the impact of racism on her career and her triumphant Metropolitan Opera performances. Simultaneous eBook.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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410.313.7750 | 6600 Cradlerock Way | Columbia, MD 21045
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