"Black and bittern was night, that Halloween night,
when skul-a-mug-mugs spled out skellety fright."
~ from Robert Heidbreder's Black and Bittern Was Night |
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New and Recently Released!
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| Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate; illustrated by G. Brian KarasThis poignant picture book presents the true story behind Katherine Applegate's Newbery Award-winning novel The One and Only Ivan. Captured by poachers as a baby, Ivan the gorilla was caged and put on display in a shopping mall, where he lived for 27 years until he was rescued and moved to a more comfortable home at Zoo Atlanta. Although the book includes some painful moments that may be emotionally challenging for young readers, Applegate's beautifully simple writing combines with G. Brian Karas' earthy artwork to describe Ivan's life with respect and sensitivity. For another moving picture book account of a tenacious gorilla, pick up A Mom for Umande by Maria Fasal Faulconer.
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| Hug Machine by Scott CampbellWith his big eyes, striped shirt, and comically long arms, the human Hug Machine is an irresistible little guy -- both to readers and to the recipients of his embraces. Whether they need to be calmed down or cheered up, the Hug Machine is willing to hug anyone (including an unhappy baby, a spiky porcupine, and a giant whale) or anything (such as a rock, a mailbox, and an ice cream truck). But after a big day of hugging, the Hug Machine is tired…and ready to receive a loving squeeze from his mom. The Hug Machine's blend of sweet sincerity and deadpan goofiness is perfect for sharing with cuddle-loving kids. |
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| Draw! by Raúl ColónNo words are needed to tell this captivating tale of creativity and adventure. Depicted in textured, warm-hued illustrations, a bedridden little boy reads a book about African animals. When he picks up his sketchbook, the animals he draws come to life in his mind, and soon the boy is immersed in an imaginary safari full of wildlife to sketch and paint. After befriending an elephant, rescuing his art supplies from some crafty baboons, and narrowly escaping a charging rhinoceros, the boy returns to reality…with a stack of drawings to share. Children who enjoy the dynamic art and wordless drama of Draw! may also appreciate Bill Thomson's Chalk. |
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Gravity
by Jason Chin
Through bold, attention-grabbing illustrations and easy-to-understand language, this book introduces the concept of gravity by showing what life would be like without it. A boy watches as his toy astronaut floats off into space -- and then the boy grabs onto a rock as he, too, begins to float away! Though the boy doesn't get his toy back, kids will relish the intriguing visual details and clever conclusion of this fascinating read. Despite an informational afterword, Gravity isn't strictly scientific (for greater accuracy, try Franklyn Branley's Gravity Is a Mystery), but its stunning artwork and innovative style is sure to stir up curiosity in young readers.
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| Mix It Up! by Hervé Tullet; translated by Christopher FranceschelliHervé Tullet, author of the popular Press Here, is back with another inventive, engaging book that gives instructions directly to the reader. Focusing this time on color, Mix It Up! begins with a series of primary-colored dots. Readers are then encouraged to touch, smear, shake, and tilt the book in order to reveal new color combinations on every page. Tullet's minimal (but paint-spattered) illustrations are wonderfully tempting, vividly evoking the texture of actual wet paint. "Rivaling an iPad for its sheer fun and interactive elements" (School Library Journal), Mix It Up! is a mess-free way to teach kids about color mixing…though it's sure to send them running for the real paints!
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| Monsters Love Colors by Mike AustinMonsters love colors -- who knew? When an exuberant trio of primary-colored monsters meets three gray monsters, they "scribble, scribble, mix, dance, and wiggle" until they create bright new colors for their friends. Kirkus Reviews calls this wild and energetic exploration of color combination "groovy." For another book about creatures who experiment with primary colors, try Ellen Stoll Walsh's Mouse Paint. |
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| Monster Needs a Costume by Paul Czajak; illustrated by Wendy GriebBig, blue Monster already sports purple hair and yellow horns, but he still wants to dress up for Halloween. At first, Monster is excited about his cowboy costume...but his enthusiasm fades when he tries on a ballet dancer's tutu...which is tossed aside in favor of a ninja outfit (even though he's far from stealthy). No single costume seems right -- what's a monster to do? Wear them all, of course! Monster's costume mash-up is sure to be a hit with creative kids who know that the most fun costumes are the ones you make up yourself. |
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| Black and Bittern Was Night by Robert Heidbreder; illustrated by John MartzSerious readers, beware: you won't find anything but gleeful silliness in this unique story told through nonsense verse. On Halloween night, cartoony, skeletal "skul-a-mug-mugs" invade a small town. The "tall-bigs" (parents) are "splooked-out," but the brave "tyke-tots" aren't so easily deterred from trick-or-treating: "Nip-swift child-tide skit-skuttled their foes: The skul-a-mugs jellied from top-tip to toes." The made-up words may be confusing for some, but many readers will be delighted by the playful sound of this "cheeky and sophisticated readaloud" (Publishers Weekly). If a more traditional, gently spooky Halloween read is what you're after, try Not Very Scary by Carol Brendler. |
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| Henry's Hand by Ross MacDonaldDespite a ghoulish premise, friendship is at the heart of this charming, nostalgic creature feature. Much like Frankenstein's monster, Henry is a "bits-and-pieces" kind of guy who constantly has to keep track of his detachable body parts. His right hand, however, is a hardworking and dependable companion…until the day it gets tired of chores and runs off to the big city. How can Henry convince Hand to come home? The soft colors and clean lines of the retro-style artwork (which includes several cool, old-fashioned cars) play up the warmth and humor in this offbeat tale. |
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| Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCartyOne day, young Jeremy uses his fancy pen to draw a big monster. Little does he know that his drawing will turn out to be so pushy and rude! Soon Jeremy is busy sketching whatever the monster demands: a sandwich, a comfortable chair, a TV, a checkerboard, a hat, and more. Finally, the beleaguered boy takes charge -- and draws his unwelcome house guest a one-way bus ticket and a suitcase. Similar to Allan Ahlberg's The Pencil but shorter and less eccentric, this tale of a lonely boy's drawing-come-to-life is empowering, funny, and nicely understated. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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