The Right Word by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet

I love words. I love how authors take words and create amazing sentences that then becomes a story. Some stories are just plain fun, but others are so powerful that I savor every word. One of the reasons I wanted to be a librarian and work with children is that joy of introducing them to really great books.

Here is a list of some of my favorite books.

 

Now that he has mastered reading, Rocket, a loveable white dog, wants to write a story. Every day, Rocket collects new words and searches for inspiration. Don’t miss, Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills. To see the book trailer, go here.

Max’s older brothers are collectors. Benjamin collects stamps; Karl collects coins. After much thought, Max decides to collect words. When Benjamin puts all his stamps together, he just has a bunch of stamps. When Karl puts his coins together, he just has a pile of money. But when Max puts his words together, he creates a story. You’ll have to read, Max’s Words by Kate Banks and illustrated by Boris Kulikov to find out what Max wrote.

Like Max, Selig loved everything about words. The sound of them in his ears, the taste of them on his tongue, the thought of them when they percolated in his brain, and, most especially, the feel of them when they moved his heart. Collecting words and scattering the words on the wind was his life’s work. So, every time the perfect words comes to your mind, thank Selig. The Boy Who Loved Words by Roni Schotter; Illustrations by Giselle Potter.

The best of the bunch is The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus written by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Maine’s Melissa Sweet. It is the icing on this pile of wonderful stories. The Right Word is a biography of word collector, Peter Mark Roget (Roh-Zhay) who created that amazing tome helps you always find just the exact word to say exactly what it is you are trying to say. Splendid!

Recently, I read a book that I absolutely loved. Whenever I describe my experience reading it, I say it was…Delicious!

Mrs. C!

Science books for children

On her website, author-illustrator Molly Bang laments that over the past 10+ years,  "American children's lack of knowledge about even the most basic scientific principles. That information is what prompted Bang to write these four excellent books about the Sun's role in creating life on Earth. Her writing is engaging as she makes complex scientific principals easy to understand. Complementing the text are Bang's full-page color illustrations. The author also includes a detailed author's note that further explains the concepts highlighted in the book.

My Light (Scholastic, 2004) examines the sun's role in creating electricity by using water, wind
turbines, or fossil fuels.

Living Sunlight: how plants bring the Earth to life (Scholastic, 2009) partners with Penny Chisholm, an MIT professor, to explain the astounding process of photosynthesis. It connects all of life. Without plants, you could have no oxygen or food; without plants there would be no life on Earth.

In Ocean Sunlight: how tiny plants feed the seas (Scholastic, 2012). Bang and MIT professor Penny Chisholm write about the sea and how many sea creatures depend on the microscopic plants called phytoplankton.

Once again, Bang and Chisholm team up with the latest addition to these books, Buried Sunlight:  how fossil fuels have changed the Earth (Scholastic, 2014). They answer the question, What are fossil fuels and how did they come to exist? They also explain how, in a very short time, by burning coal, oil, and gas, we have changed the delicate carbon balance of air and water and it is changing our climate. What does this mean and what should we do about it?

All books have a strong environmental message. They are perfect for sharing with middle and high school science classes or to read aloud to your school-age children.

Dogs who sniff to make your world safe

A dog's nose is crammed with sensitive cells that can sort out thousands of odor messages. Depending on the type of dog, some will have more cells than others. According to Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, in her book Super Sniffers, a sheepdog's nose has more than two hundred million nerve cells. A bloodhound has over three hundred million. How does that compare to a human nose? Scientists believe we have somewhere between five and six million. No wonder dogs can smell that stale cookie you forgot was at the bottom of your back pack!

Two new books in our collection are about dogs and how they are used to help in many ways to save us...and our planet.

Super Sniffers: dog detectives on the job by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent explains the hard work, training, and commitment it takes to turn our faithful companions into essential partners both on the job and off.

Nancy F. Castaldo, in her book  
Sniffer Dogs: how dogs (and their
noses) save the world explains the science of sniffing and how dogs use their noses to find everything from people, both alive and dead, to explosives to whale poop.

Both books are have an engaging text and are loaded with color photographs. A must read for dog lovers.

Stop in for some suggestions on fiction stories that would complement these terrific informational books.

To those who wish to be an author

It's been awhile since I've posted. We've had a crazy, busy summer and only now do I feel I'm getting back to some routine.

So you want to be an author:

I cannot tell you the number of times I've received a phone call or a visit from someone who wishes to write a book for children.

"Hi! I've written a book for children and I'm wondering if you will read it."

Whenever possible I say no and explain that I am not an editor. I may know books, but I have no qualifications that would help you get your book published.

My advice:
1. Join the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators SCBWI
2. Find an editor.
3. Read, read, and read some more. You cannot write a children's book unless you read them.

Recently, Roger Sutton, editor of The Horn Book Magazine has been blogging about self published material. Read it. It will help would-be authors understand why their generous gift is often refused.

An open letter to the self-published author.

School Daze

Do you have children starting school in a few days? Maybe for the first time? The Library has put up displays of 'Back to School' books in the various display areas in Youth Services. Let me mention a few of my favorite titiles.

Sending your precious one off to preschool for the first time can be quite emotional. Here are a few books that reassure them about the anxiety of being separated from Mom or Dad.

Llama, Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney. Llama Llama has separation anxiety on his first day of nursery school. 

or

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes. A whole list of worries keeps Wemberly awake the night before she starts nursery school.


Wonder what the day might be like in preschool? Read D.W.'s Guide to Preschool. Written by Arthur's little sister, D. W. offers lots of tips on how things work in preschool. 


Making friends in preschool is a new experience.  Mary and Clare's friendship is tested when one is given more attention because it is her birthday in Best, Best Friends by Margaret Chodos-Irvine.

Stop in and find books in our displays. Not sure of the start dates for public school? Check out the Scarborough School's new website for the up-to-date calendar.

Save your money and get a library card!

Here is a great article on why using your public library gives you more choices while saving you money.


http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/why-the-public-library-beats-amazonfor-now-1407863714-lMyQjAxMTA0MDEwNTExNDUyWj?tesla=y

Summer Reading

Things continue to be crazy, busy here in the Youth Services Department. Children are in every day we are open to have their Reading Logs stamped, then putting a sticker with their name on it for the Wall of Fame. As August approaches -- faster than we like -- our reading program is almost over. We have no requirement to complete a certain quantity of pages, minutes or number of books in order to finish. Just turn in that Reading Log and you are done! Remember, only those who have turned in their Reading Logs by August 9 can attend our End of Summer Ice Cream Party to be held on Wednesday, August 13.

Don't miss out on a very fun event...and reward yourself for a job well done!