Check it Out
November 2018
New and notable items from the Children's Department
Highlights of new and exciting titles for caregivers, educators and children birth-twelve
 
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Picture Books
The wall in the middle of the book
by Jon Agee

A knight who feels secure on his side of the wall that divides his book discovers that his side is not as safe as he thought, and the other side is not as threatening.
The Snowy Nap
by Jan Brett

After hearing about winter from his friends, Hedgie the hedgehog tries to stay awake to experience its wonders. 
Elbow Grease
by John Cena

Elbow Grease, a small electric truck with a lot of gumption, enters the Monster Truck Grand Prix to prove to his brothers that he is just as capable as they are. 
Carmela full of wishes
by Matt de la Peña

Carmela, finally old enough to run errands with her brother, tries to think of the perfect wish, while his wish seems to be that she stayed home.
Quiet
by Tomie dePaola

While observing the busy world them, two children and their grandfather take a moment to appreciate being quiet and still. 
Mad, Mad Bear!
by Kimberly Gee

Bear is very angry that he has to leave the park, but after taking a deep breath he learns to let it go. 
Mapping Sam
by Joyce Hesselberth

An adventurous cat named Sam explores her neighborhood at night, and maps of all types reveal her journey, illuminating different points of view and the various spots Sam visits.
Pearl
by Molly Idle

When young Pearl, a mermaid, becomes caretaker of a single grain of sand, she discovers that performing even the smallest task well can transform the world. 
Potato pants!
by Laurie Keller

Potato is very excited to buy a pair of pants on sale at Lance Vance's Fancy Pants Store, but when he sees Eggplant, who pushed him the day before, he is afraid to go in.
Mary Poppins
by P. L. Travers

A picture book adaptation of the tale of the English nanny Mary Poppins, who enters the lives of the Banks family and upends its usual routines.
Fiction
Ivy + Bean : one big happy family
by Annie Barrows

When classmate Vanessa insists that all single children are spoiled, Ivy wonders whether she can become "unspoiled" by giving away all her clothes at school (which does not go over well with her teacher or parents)--but ultimately decides that all she needs to accomplish her goal is a little sister.
Saving Winslow
by Sharon Creech

Louie doesn't have the best luck when it comes to nurturing small creatures. So when his father brings home a sickly newborn mini donkey,  he's determined to save him. He names him Winslow. Taking care of him helps Louie feel closer to his brother, Gus, who is far, far away in the army. Everyone worries that Winslow won't survive, especially Louie's quirky new friend, Nora, who experienced loss of her own. But as Louie's bond with Winslow grows, surprising and life-altering events prove that this fragile donkey is stronger than anyone could have imagined. 
Louisiana's Way Home
by Kate DiCamillo

Louisiana Elefante's granny wakes her up in the middle of the night and tells her they need to leave home immediately, and this time Granny intends for them never to return. 
In Your Shoes
by Donna Gephart

Miles is an anxious boy who loves his family's bowling center. Amy is the new girl at school, who tries to write her way to her own happily-ever-after and does not want to live above her uncles funeral home. Then Miles and Amy meed in the most unexpected way...and it is the beginning of everything. 
You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P!
by Alex Gino

When her baby sister is born deaf, Jilly makes an online connection with a fellow fantasy fan, who happens to be black and deaf, and begins to learn about many obstacles that exist in the world for people who are different from her. 
Magic misfits : the second story
by Neil Patrick Harris

Leila and the other Magic Misfits have the opportunity to perform with a famous stage psychic known as Madame Esmeralda, who may hold secrets to Leila's past.
The Meltdown
by Jeff Kinney

When snow closes Greg Heffley's middle school, he and his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, face a fight for survival as warring gangs turn the neighborhood into a wintry battlefield. 
Ogre enchanted
by Gail Carson Levine

Healer Evora is turned into a hideous ogre by the fairy Lucinda after rejecting a proposal, and has only a few months to find a love to reverse the curse.
9 from the Nine Worlds
by Rick Riordan

Beloved characters from the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series star in these hilarious and inventive new short stories, each set in a different one of the Nine worlds from Norse mythology. 
Property of the rebel librarian
by Allison Varnes

Twelve-year-old June Harper, shocked when her parents go on a campaign to clear the Dogwood Middle School library of objectionable books, starts a secret banned books library in an empty locker.
Non-Fiction
Alexander Hamilton : a plan for America
by Sarah Albee

Complemented by historical back matter, a leveled reader introduction to the life of Alexander Hamilton includes basic coverage of his Revolutionary War contributions, achievements as the nation's first Secretary of the Treasury and relationship with George Washington. 
Nothing stopped Sophie : the story of unshakable mathematician Sophie Germain
by Cheryl Bardoe

A picture book portrait of the boundary-breaking 18th-century woman mathematician celebrates the determined spirit that helped her overcome cultural barriers to education for women, solve problems that had been declared impossible and eventually receive a prestigious Academy of Sciences award for her formula, which laid the groundwork for much of modern architecture.
Counting on Katherine
by Helaine Becker

A picture book introduction to the boundary-breaking mathematician who worked for NASA during the space race and was depicted in the film Hidden Figures describes how a numbers-loving young Katherine Johnson became an American icon who calculated the course of moon landings and was integral in saving lives during the Apollo 13 mission.
Start Now! : You Can Make a Difference
by Chelsea Clinton

With information on problems both large and small, Chelsea Clinton breaks down the concepts of health, hunger, climate change, endangered species and bullying, so that readers can understand the world around them, and how they can make a difference in their own lives, as well as in their communities and the world at large. With comic drawings that illustrate Clinton's words, photographs of real live kids who are making a difference today, and lists of ways to get involved, this book is the perfect introduction to young activists who want to make the world a better place. 
The Sinking of the Vasa : A Shipwreck of Titanic Proportions
by Russell Freedman

A gorgeously illustrated story about the great Swedish warship, the Vasa, built to be the crown jewel of the Swedish Navy, recounts how the mighty ship capsized not a mile into her maiden voyage in 1628 and was resurrected from the seas in 1961.
How to Build a Hug : Temple Grandin and Her Amazing Squeeze Machine
by Amy Guglielmo

As a young girl, Temple Grandin loved folding paper kites, making obstacle courses, and building leantos. But she really didn't like hugs. Temple wanted to be held - but to her, hugs felt like being stuffed inside the scratchiest sock in the world; like a tidal wave of dentist drills, sandpaper, and awful cologne, coming at her all at once. Would she ever get to enjoy the comfort of a hug? Then one day, Temple had an idea. If she couldn't receive a hug, she would make one...she would build a hug machine. 
Write on, Irving Berlin!
by Leslie Kimmelman

A vibrant picture book portrait examines the life of distinguished Jewish-American artist Irving Berlin, tracing his family's immigration to America in 1893 to escape persecution in Russia, the creative spirit that made him a less-than-ideal student and the continuing legacy of his songs, including "God Bless America."
What were the roaring twenties?
by Michele Mortlock

Flappers, flag-pole sitting, and the Ford Model T--these are just a few of the things that instantly conjure up a unique era--the Roaring Twenties. It was the bees' knees, the cat's meow. If you're not familiar with 1920s slang, all the more reason to read this fascinating look at that wild, exciting decade. 
Roblox Top Adventure Games
by Roblox

Offers tips and tricks for more than forty adventures in Roblox, with interviews with the games' creators. 
Mama dug a little den
by Jennifer Ward

A companion to Mama Built a Little Nest combines bouncy rhymes with artwork by the Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator of What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? to explore the many different kinds of dens that animals build for their babies. 
The Smithtown Library
(631) 360-2480www.smithlib.org