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"Now, would someone kindly get the moose out of the space suit? Thank you." ~ from Richard T. Morris' This is a Moose
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New and Recently Released!
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| All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson; illustrated by E.B. LewisNowadays, it's known as Juneteenth -- a holiday to remember the end of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas. But to a young slave girl waking up on June 19, 1865, it seems like just another long, hot day of picking cotton. Yet as news of freedom begins to spread, the girl begins to realize that life will be "all different now." Told in a simple, lyrical style filled with sensory details and quietly joyful watercolors, All Different Now invites children into the before-and-after experience of slavery. Information at the end of the book offers a starting point for learning more about this important moment in history.
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| This is a Moose by Richard T. Morris; illustrated by Tom LichtenheldThe animal crew is ready and the cameras are rolling on the set of a nature documentary about "the mighty moose." They'd be getting great footage if only the star of movie would take off his space suit and act like a regular moose instead of an aspiring astronaut. (His lacrosse-playing grandma isn't helping either.) As the situation gets sillier -- and we're talking about giant-slingshot-into-space levels of silliness -- the duck director tries desperately to reign in the mayhem. Punchy, attention-grabbing artwork adds to the "high-octane entertainment" (Publishers Weekly) in this witty behind-the-scenes story about being yourself and coping with the unexpected.
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| If I Had a Raptor by George O'ConnorLots of kids would agree with the adorable, poofy-pigtailed heroine of this book when she declares that having a dinosaur for a pet would be "the best thing ever." The imaginative little girl daydreams about how she'd pluck a fluffy blue baby dino out of a box labled "Free Raptors," and how she and "Dinah" would be the best of friends, no matter how big Dinah grew (or how early the nocturnal raptor woke her up). Readers who are charmed by the idea of a ferocious, prehistoric companion may also enjoy Lynn Plourde's Dino Pets. |
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| Number One Sam by Greg PizzoliWhen it comes to car racing, Sam the dog is the best. He's number one at speed, at turns, even at finishing races in the number-one spot! And yet one day Sam's friend, Maggie the elephant, beats him to the finish line. Sam is no sore loser, but he's disappointed and confused: if he isn't number one, who is he? And what's he willing to do to win? With easy-to-read words and retro-cartoony art (from award-winning author and illustrator Greg Pizzoli) Number One Sam is a winning choice for new readers. Check out Jamie Harper's Miles to the Finish for another racer who discovers that winning isn't the only way to be number one.
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| Three Bears in a Boat by David SomanAfter accidentally breaking their Mama's beloved blue seashell, three bear siblings named Dash, Charlie, and Theo sail away in search of a replacement. Although they meet other bears in boats, explore an island, encounter enormous whales, and get caught in a sudden storm, finding another blue shell proves more difficult than they expected. Using the exhilarating sweep of the ocean as a backdrop, Three Bears in a Boat combines visual drama with gentle humor to create a high-seas adventure -- one with a reassuring ending that may remind readers of Maurice Sendak's classic Where the Wild Things Are.
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| How to Be a Cat by Nikki McClureIn this beautifully simple and visually striking book, a tiny kitten observes an adult cat to learn how to stretch, clean, listen, hunt, pounce, and feast, as well as other essential cat behaviors. The spare, dynamic cut-paper illustrations "miraculously evoke the frisky, fluid physicality of feline movement" (Kirkus Reviews), and the playful kitten's eagerness to learn will resonate with children and invite repeat readings. With just a single word per page, How to Be a Cat is a great pick for beginning readers, but will delight readers of all ages. |
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| Once Upon a Northern Night by Jean Pendziwol; illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault"Once upon a northern night, while you lay sleeping, wrapped in a downy blanket, I painted you a picture." Describing the natural wonder of a snowy night to a sleeping child, the unseen narrator of this picture book invokes the tone and atmosphere of a sweet, soothing lullaby. Muted, mostly black-and-white illustrations work marvelously with the hushed tone of the story, allowing the rare touches of color to stand out with special brilliance. Whatever the weather outside, Once Upon a Northern Night is a cozy and captivating bedtime read.
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| Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride: Based on a True Story by Pam Muñoz Ryan; illustrated by Brian SelznickPrecisely drawn and gorgeously shaded illustrations lend a vintage 1930s air to this exciting tale inspired by real events. In 1933, while having dinner at the White House, famed pilot Amelia Earhart convinces First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to sneak away with her for a nighttime flight. Still in their fancy dinner clothes, the spirited friends take to the skies, and readers can join them in relishing the stunning view and feeling of independence. Older picture book readers who want to soar along with Amelia on a more historically accurate journey will appreciate Night Flight by Robert Burleigh. |
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| Queen of the Falls by Chris Van AllsburgChris Van Allsburg, the Caldecott-winning author and illustrator of The Polar Express and Jumanji, tells the "unromantic and bittersweet" (Publishers Weekly) story of Annie Edson Taylor, the first and only woman ever to go solo over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Facing the prospect of life in the poorhouse, the widow and retired charm-school instructor decided to face the falls instead, hoping that her resulting fame would finance a comfortable retirement. Taylor never made a fortune, but with Van Allsburg's crisply detailed and dramatic illustrations, her tale is sure to make an impression on kids old enough to listen to a lengthy read. |
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| Ten Birds by Cybèle YoungAt first, it sounds like a riddle: ten small, black birds must find a way to cross a river, and their only resource is a bizarre collection of mechanical devices. One by one, each bird creates an improbable contraption (such as a fan-driven raft or an aquatic unicycle) and crosses the river, leaving the final bird with an astonishingly simple solution. Though the twist at the end might not surprise more logical readers, Ten Birds will please children who enjoy whimsical brain teasers and crisp, intricate artwork similar to that of David Macaulay or Arthur Geisert. Don't forget to pick up the sequel, Ten Birds Meet a Monster. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Dauphin County Library System
101 Walnut Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101
717.234.4961
http://www.dcls.org
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