Read More and Write On! – Cam Jansen and the Green School Mystery

Read More and Write On is a feature on the Smithtown Library’s Book Bites Blog. Children may submit a book review, and it will appear on our blog! This allows kids to discover what their peers are reading and try new books recommended by experts on what kids like – other kids! Want to submit a book review? Pick up a form at your local branch’s Children’s Reference Desk!

Cam Jansen and the Green School Mystery

By David Adler, Illustrated by Joy Allen

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book was awesome because: The kids in Cam and Eric’s school collected soda bottles and cans to make money for their school to buy skylights, to use instead of electric lights. Next, Cam, Eric, Ashanti and Michael won gold and green pins because they collected the most bottles. Their teacher, Mr. Day, opened a wooden box that they thought contained the money earned from recycling the soda bottles and cans, but instead, it was filled with bricks! Then Cam, Eric, Mr. Day, Dr. Prell, Officer Davis and Officer Oppen all tried to find the thief. Cam found many clues on the way, including the key to the mystery. Lastly, Officer Oppen and Officer Davis caught the thief and arrested him. The next week, new skylights were installed in Cam and Eric’s school!

- Jacob, Smithtown Elementary, Grade 2

Read More and Write On! - Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper

Read More and Write On is a new feature to the Smithtown Library’s Book Bites Blog. Children may submit a book review, and it will appear on our blog! This allows kids to discover what their peers are reading and try new books recommended by experts on what kids like – other kids! Want to submit a book review? Pick up a form at your local branch's Children's Reference Desk!

Out of My Mind by Sharon M.Draper

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book was awesome because: it is about a girl named Melody, who has a photographic memory and cerebral palsy, leaving her unable to walk or talk on her own. It is so interesting to read all the things Melody thinks, but is unable to say.

- Erin, Tackan Elementary, Grade 4

Spring is in the air!

Spring is right around the corner but it feels like it is already here! Take some time to spend outside, and if you can't get out, here are some great books to read about nature and enjoying the outdoors...

Picture Books:

Ava's Poppy by Marcus Pfister
The Bog Baby by Jeanne Willis
The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward
The Curious Garden Peter Brown
Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlson
Forever Friends by Carin Berger
Grandpa Green byLane Smith
Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit by Il Sung Nu
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
Tinka by Rainy Dohaney
We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrow

Board Books:

Counting in the Garden by Emily Hruby
In My Flower by Sara Gillingham

Non-Fiction Books:

15 Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect with Your Kids by Rebecca Cohen
Little Green Thumbs by Mary An Van Hage
The Practical Naturalist: Explore the Wonders of the Natural World by DK Publishing

Books We Love: Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator

Huzzah! We are so excited for Mo Willem’s new picture book Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator that we had our own special storytime on Monday, June 20 in its honor ! Children ages 3-5 and their favorite stuffed friends joined us for a reading of Hooray for Amanda and her Alligator, silly songs, and made their own Old Thinking Cap.

Need mo’ Mo? Check out some of these titles:

Your Pal Mo Willems Presents Leonardo the Terrible Monster

Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct

City Dog, Country Frog

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

 

Did you know Mo writes books for early readers? Check out the Elephant and Piggie books and the Cat the Cat books, for stories that will tickle your funny bone and help your youngster practice their reading skills!

Looking for a Few Good Books




John with a great book about pirate dinosaurs!

 

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Out of This World Drawing with Ben Hatke

We are still reeling with excitement from our visit from graphic novelist, Ben Hatke, author of Zita the Spacegirl! Hatke came all the way from Virginia to see us, and instruct a drawing workshop. Before his workshop, Hatke mingled with fans at the library’s pre-party in the children’s room, where we made green capes (just like Zita’s), and plushie space monsters.

Be sure to check out Zita the Spacegirl, it’s a mix between The Wizard of Oz with the drawing style that reminds us of Smile by Rena Telgemeir. Overall it’s a great adventure story, for grades 2-5, however the story has a special read-a-loud quality, that makes this graphic novel distinctly unique. Got guy readers? Don’t let the ‘Spacegirl’ thing bother you – it is dude and dudette friendly!

A big thanks to Ben for visiting us, and to Kim from Barnes and Noble! Check out Ben's Blog, for more Zita news.

What’s on the Librarian’s Desk: The Fourth Stall

We are so excited to read The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander! It just came in a few days ago, and a lucky children’s librarian has checked it out for this weekend’s read!

Two friends, Mac and Vince run an advice and assistance service for fellow students in a rarely used school bathroom. When older kids get wind of what has been happening in the fourth stall. This book is recommended for middle readers in grades 4-7 looking for a funny and action packed read!

Good Reads: The Allegra Biscotti Collection

The perfect book for the budding fashionista, Project Runway fan and tween diva.

Emma Rose doesn’t want to strut down the runway, she would rather be behind the scenes creating fabulous outfits. When Emma’s designed are discovered by a famous magazine, she panics and creates a secret identity, Allegra Biscotti. Check out The Allegra Biscotti Collection and discover how Emma juggles a new crush, friends and her secret identity.

Can' get enough style? Don't worry, The Allegra Biscotti Collection continues – the second book, Who, What, Wear will be on library shelves June 1.

Can’t wait for June 1? Discover Lynn Vincent’s off beat style in Lynn Visible.  

Good Reads: Eleven

Follow Winnie during her eleventh year in Eleven by Lauren Myracle. She’s a Bonnebell Dr. Pepper Lipsmaker lipgloss fan who just turned eleven years old. She’s your average tween-ster on the brink of full on teen-dom, dealing with a grumpy older sister, an adventurous little brother, the awkward transition between peer groups and exploring the curiosities and anxieties that accompany the onset of puberty.

This novel is great for girls in grades 5-6 who are looking for a story about someone “just like themselves” and may be a great tool to break the ice about bullying, cliques and lunch time drama and politics, allowing for great discussion for a girl’s book club or a mother-daughter book discussion. Uniquely told in chapters outlined by the month’s events, it follows Winnie a whole year, beginning with her eleventh birthday, and ending with her twelfth.

Can’t get enough? Don’t worry, the story continues with Twelve. Cheer Winnie on as she falls, and gets back up again – as she follows her heart and does what she feels is right.

Check out Lauren Myracle’s children’s books:

 Eleven

Twelve

Luv Ya Bunches

Violet in Bloom: A Flower Power Book

Get more information on the author at her website: http://www.laurenmyracle.com/

Award Season is Just Around the Corner

Get ready for award season hype!

Not the Oscars, not the Grammys – but the Newbery!

Mockingbird vs. The Night Fairy

The Newbery Medal is awarded every year by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American children’s book published in the previous year; winners are announced in January of the New Year. In 1922, when the first Newbery medal was awarded, the purpose of the award was “to encourage original creative work in the field of books for children.” Each year, librarians read, select and debate children’s books, and select a winner, and a few “runner’s up”, called Newbery Honor Books. Members of the Newbery committee must consider all types of literature, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, even plays. View the full list of Newbery Award and Honor Books, from 1922-Present.

Check out some of the books we think are Newbery contenders:

She's voting for One Crazy Summer

Countdown

Forge

How I Nicky Flynn Finally Got a Life (And a Dog)

Keeper

Mockingbird

The Night Fairy

One Crazy Summer

Out of My Mind

Sparky: The Life and Art of Charles Schultz

Turtle in Paradise

Have a Newbery assignment coming up? View our Newbery Bibliography here, it highlights some of our favorites!

Monster Mania!

Roar!

Halloween is right around the corner and it's that time of year when it's fun to get a little scare or laugh a bit about a silly monster or creature! The days are shorter and cooler and it's a good idea to snuggle up with somebody and enjoy a book or two!

Here are some of our favorites...

Tickle Monster by Josie Bissett

Bump in the Night by Edward Hemingway

Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug! by Ed Emberley

There's a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer

Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matthew McElligot

The Monster Trap by Dean Morrissey

Goodnight Goon: a Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex

Jumpy Jack and Googily by Meg Rosoff

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

The Lima Bean Monster by Dan Yaccarino



Scary...but cute!

Good Reads: 13 Treasures

Of course fairies exists, but there are good ones and evil ones! It seems as though thirteen-year-old Tanya is the only one that can see them! Though her mother cannot see the evil fairies that rouse Tanya from her sleep, torturing her at the slightest mention of their existence, they are as real to the thirteen-year-old as anything she's ever known. If she could wish them away, she would, but instead she is sent away to live at her grandmother's secluded countryside manor...

There is much to explore and even more to fear in the woods surrounding the estate. But the forest isn't the only source of dark secrets and Tanya soon finds herself entangled in a mystery that could trap her in the fairy realm forever.

Check out 13 Treasures and read this intriguing book which blends mystery and fantasy together!

Good Reads: It's Raining Cupcakes

The remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole have left Long Island with a ton of rain, bummer! The best thing to do on a rainy day is to curl up with a good book. Our new favorite is It’s Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder.

Twelve-year-old Isabel dreams of seeing the world, but has never left her home in Oregon. A cupcake recipe is the ticket to her dreams, when her contest winning recipe takes her on a trip to New York City. However, when she is so far from home she learns what is really important. Not only is this a sweet story about a middle grade girl, it includes delicious recipes, so you can make some the confectionaries mentioned in this book.

Have you or your child read It’s Raining Cupcakes? If so, drop us a comment and let us know what you thought.

Looking for more books like It’s Raining Cupcakes? Try some of these:

Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls: Moving Day
How to Steal a Dog
Liberty Porter, First Daughter
Lynn Visible
Millicent Min, Girl Genius

My Life in Pink and Green

Shug

The Wedding Planner’s Daughter

Umbrella Summer