What Joa is Reading & Other Stuff

Book reviews...from picture books to adult books, as well as books-to-movie info, and other stuff I think is interesting. Note: Not all books reviewed or recommended are appropriate for all ages.
NOVEMBER 29, 2006
New picture book highlights Holocaust history
I just read an excellent newer picture book, The Cats of Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse. Hesse is most well known for her historical fiction novels, and her talent for making history come alive is evident in this picture book title as well. This story is based on a true event that happened in Warsaw during the Holocaust, when the Jewish Resistance fought back in many ways against the Nazis, in spite of terrible odds. This story tells about the cleverness of these resistance fighters in smuggling food and medicine to those imprisoned inside the Warsaw Ghetto walls...even when the Nazis came with dogs. It would be a great story for older children who are just beginning to learn about the Holocaust, as well short enough for a teacher to read with middle and high schoolers during class. Read-alikes or read-beyonds: The Yellow Star: the legend of King Christian X of Denmark by Carmen Agra Deedy is another picture book about the resistance of the Danish people against the Nazis. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry is an excellent chapter book novel about this topic, as well. We also have some great titles in the juvenile non-fiction, like Resistance: Teen partisans and resisters who fought Nazi tyranny by Charles Anflick. You might also want to check out the movie, Uprising, about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943.

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Categories: Historical ReadsJoa RecommendsTeaching Tie-ins

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NOVEMBER 1, 2006
Popular sequels out lately
Many people know that the 13th and the last of the Series of Unfortunate Event books, The End, by Lemony Snicket came out on Friday, October 13th. We have three copies and last time I checked there were 10 reserves, so fans of that series may want to call to get their name on the holds list.

Tamara Pierce fantasy fans will be glad to know that we now have the first book, Terrier, in the author's newest series Beka Cooper. We have also recently received the latest Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony.)

For younger chapter book readers, we have added four copies of The Blizzard of the Blue Moon, #36 in the hugely popular Magic Treehouse series. It has a blue sparkly cover, as well as a sneak peek at the not-yet-released #37 title, The Dragon of the Red Dawn.

I also just ordered today the first new Bunnicula (the vampire rabbit) book to be published in years, Bunnicula Meets Edgar Allan Crow.

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Category: Sequels

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