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Children's Books

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SEPTEMBER 26, 2008
Punished by David Lubar
"Eyebrows the shelves to see what's new." "Baseball is a batter game." " I don't field like football." These and other puns are all throughout this story of Pun-ished.     Logan is just your average kid who likes pizza and baseball, but when he gets caught playing tag inside the library, he gets "punished." No, he is not banned from entering the library, but Logan is under a magic spell. He can only say puns and the only way he can be cured is to find  seven oxymorons, seven anagrams, and seven palindromes. He has to find all of these word combinations within three days.  With the help of his friend Benedict, his little sister, and even a Scrabble game, Logan is determined to find them all. Will Logan do it? Will he even have fun in the process of searching for these weird words? And, just who is this librarian, Mr. Robert Wordsworth? Will the laughter and groans never stop? Read this book to find out. A funny book written by a funny author. Recommended for students in grades 3-5.

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SEPTEMBER 24, 2008
Lulu Atlantis and the Quest for True Blue Love by Patricia Martin
This would be classified as a fantasy due to the talking animals that play a large part of this story. Lulu Atlantis is very unhappy when her mother comes home with a new baby brother, Sam. Her mother has no time for her and Lulu decides to run away from home with her friend Harry, a Daddy long-legged spider who wears a green vest, red bow-tie and tophat. Harry adores her and is her constant companion, giving advise whenever asked. Lulu is in search of  "true blue love" and wonders what it is and how to find it. She's sure her father would know the answer, but he is away on a trip to save some endangered animal or plant, as he often is. There are four stories where the reader meets Yogurt Skunk, the baking gangsters, Princess Fancy Cat, and the Eggman. Through an unfortunate accident during a picnic, Lulu finally understands the meaning of true blue love. I have to admit that I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, and I did cry at the end. It is beautifully written and will entertain young children in grade 3-5. I highly recommend it.

Add a comment  (0 comments) posted by Miss Jennifer

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
Singing Hands by Delia Rey
Twelve-year-old Gussie Davis is a hearing girl.  Her parents are deaf.  The story takes place in 1948 in Birmingham, Alabama.  Gussie's father is a minister at St. Jude's Church for the Deaf.  Gussie acts a little rebellious and hums out loud during the signing of church songs that everyone is presenting in sign language.  A hearing visitor informs her actions to Gussie's father.  Gussie's parents think it is time to send Gussie to a hearing church.  This begins new adventures for Gussie.

The lifestyle of people who are deaf and family members who are hearing give the reader of the story insights into families that appear to be different.  The word "chapter" is coded in pictures of finger-spelling for each chapter.  A manual finger-spelling chart is included in the front of the book.  This book is most appropriate for boys and girls in grades 4-6.

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2008
Frankenstein Takes the Cake by Adam Rex

I was first to go headless. I started the trend. I remember a time when a person could shout, "Hey! That guy has no head! It's a pumpkin instead!" and you'd know it was me he was talking about.

For me, this was a laugh-out-loud rhyming book geared toward Halloween. What starts with the soon-to-be bride of Frankenstein introducing him to her unenthusiastic parents and ending with the wedding, which includes all their monster friends and Dracula as the best man, kids of all ages will get a kick out of this poetry collection. The author uses comic book illustrations, parodies from Edgar Allen Poe poems, and blogs from the Headless Horseman to make this a varied compilation of poetry. Some of the humor will be more suitable for older readers who know the poetry of Edgar Allen Poe, and adults who are bombarded with e-mail offers to transfer millions of dollars into their bank account. Still, middle grade readers will find this fun. The illustrations and artwork are a huge part of what makes this book so entertaining. One of my favorite poems is "The Best Man of Frankenstein Makes a Trip to the Buffet" where Dracula has an allergic reaction to the garlic bread he tastes at the wedding reception. I recommend this one to all ages.

Add a comment  (0 comments) posted by Miss Jennifer

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SEPTEMBER 9, 2008
When the Sergeant Came Marching Home by Don Lemna
At times you'll probably laugh aloud as you read this humorous novel set on a Montana farm in the mid-1940's.  Ten-year-old Donald welcomes his father's homecoming from World War II until he transplants the family to a hard-scrabble farm notable only because of what it lacks - that is, running water, electricity, and indoor plumbing.  Although his younger brother Pat readily adapts to their rural life, Donald immediately begins hoarding coins so that he can make his escape - he plans to head for Hollywood.  In the meantime "adventures" abound - Donald and Pat build a rickety tree house; they are adopted by a stray mutt; he faces bullies on his first day at his one room school.  Yet ever so gradually he finds things to like about his new life - playing hockey throughout the winter, milking the family's cow, getting to know his beautiful and capable young teacher.  Growth and understanding of his father and his goals for the family slowly and believably dawn.  Because each chapter could be a stand-alone short story, this would be an excellent choice for a classroom read-aloud.  Will also be quickly read with much enjoyment by those in grades 3 - 7.

Add a comment  (1 comment) posted by Youth Services Staff

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