VERY brief book reviews...

CRENSHAW by Katherine Applegate

I read Katherine Applegate's (The One and Only Ivan) newest book, Crenshaw, on the plane to ALA.  I'm surprised no one looked at me as a fool as I cried and had to search for my crumpled tissues at the bottom of my bag.  I got the book from NetGalley on my birthday but didn't have the chance to read it until then.  It's a beautiful story about a boy named Jackson and his oversized imaginary cat friend, Crenshaw.  Jackson's parents are not as financially stable as they used to be and together they are learning to deal with these hard times.  There are great connections to the Caldecott winner, Beekle by Dan Santat and award winning team of Eve Bunting and Lauren Castillo with this year's Yard Sale. I can't wait to share it with students!  It comes out in print on September 22.  I'm sorry we all have to wait that long!

SUNNY SIDE UP by Jenni and Matt Holm 

This book took me right back to the mid-late 70s when I was going to Florida every April vacation with my father.  We got the early bird specials with my grandparents, ate the ambrosia at the buffet, took Eastern Airlines, and drank Tab.  But this book is not all about 70s Florida.  It's about family, friends, comics and superheroes and dealing with family secrets.  Once you start you won't want to put it down.  Matt's detailed illustrations with Jenni's text, make it a perfect combination on any kind of day in any season. Comes out August 25, 2015.

George by Alex Gino

 

4th grader, George, feels he's a girl on the inside.  Read George's story of her struggle of wanting to play the role of Charlotte in the school play, her friendship with her best friend, Kelly and her relationship with her Mom and older brother.  This book goes places that no other books have gone before in the MG category. We all know kids who might be like George.  Just the other night there was a Frontline episode about transgender kids like George.  (Growing Up Trans ) This book will speak to them.  As librarians we will have to be bold to put it on our shelves.  I hope I am.

Short but Sweet

I'm tired.  I can't keep my eyes open.  Why is it that the end of the school year always feels like we go-go-go and then STOP!  And this year I won't have any time to even rest because, as you know, I AM OFF TO SAN FRANCISCO!  I cannot wait! We had some visitors this afternoon from Miller Hill Elementary School in Averill Park to sort of rack our brains on what we do in our library and I took the opportunity to tell my Kwame story! Do you have a minute ever?  Because if you do, I'm happy to tell you our story!

We are still busy working on the NYS Archives projec with fifth graderst.  I don't know how it is ever going to get completed. The last day of school is next Thursday and then I fly out to where?  I can't remember. Why am I leaving?  lol.  Anyway, Mayor Keegan gave us a template of The Castletonian that I used today to plug in some of our articles.  They look good but again, I'm so afraid we are going to run out of time!  I wish we had spent more time on the editorial piece.  A lot of the articles seem like reports, biographies, etc.  This could be SO good if we had just one more week.  I still may send it to Deborah Wiles, since she was our inspiration oh so long ago, and if it looks like we used enough primary sources, then it will go off to competition.

My eyes are droopy.  I need to get to bed.  I just have to say that I finally read Yard Sale by Eve Bunting with illustrations by Lauren Castillo this week.  I read it to myself a few days ago and then read it aloud to Miss Leavitt's class yesterday.  I didn't cry but I had to clear my throat.  That was a tough one--beautiful in every way.  The details in the illustrations are incredible--even the faded sticker with a "10" on it.  Anyone that has ever been to or had a garage sale, knows about ht

Yesterday was my birthday and did you hear what I got besides a trolley car Pandora charm?  Yes! Netgalley approved me for Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate.  Mr. Schu, guru of all children's literature, has been talking about this book for forever.  I'm dying to read it and now I can, but maybe when I am confident I would get farther than the first page without my eyes totally closing. 'Night y'all.