Do You Have a Dog? by Eileen Spinelli

Do You Have a Dog? by Eileen Spinelli
(Preschool - Grade 2)

Eileen Spinelli's new picture book is filled with stories of real dogs belonging to real people throughout history, many of whom would be otherwise difficult to bring to life in the pages of a picture book. Young readers or listeners, especially those that have a favorite pooch, will be taken with the lively, rhyming mini-biographies of each of the eleven people (and their dogs!) included. The separate spreads are brought together by the common phrase, "...had a dog," as well as the vibrant acrylic illustrations by Geraldo Valerio.

Read about Meriwether Lewis' dog Seaman who "swam across rivers, trekked through snow, and saved Lewis and Clark from a buffalo!" Annie Oakley, Admiral Richard Byrd, Billie Holliday and many others all had dogs too; do you have a dog? Those that do will celebrate and those that don't will certainly be inspired. Preschoolers will love the simple rhymes and older kids may want to read more about these dog-loving folks. Don't miss the end papers that give extra historical details about each famous four-legged friend.

Visit www.newberglibrary.org to find this and other materials.

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

Creepy Creatures at the Newberg Public Library

It's already October, and the clouds and cool mornings have rolled in along with the creepy creatures in two of our newest picture books for preschoolers and older.

Bedtime At the Swamp by Kristyn Crow and Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters by Jane Yolen celebrate the creepy side of October and encourage a smooth bedtime in a lighthearted way.

Bedtime At the Swamp is set "neath the fat gold moon" in a slimy swamp where a boy hurries to escape a monster he can hear "splish splahing" behind him. The boy's family members (and soon the monster itself) follow him up a tree to get away until Mom signals bedtime and an end to the scary fun. The text has a wonderful steady rhyme that we use in book club during poetry month to illustrate how, just like music, language can have rhythm too. A consistent cadence, "I heard...Splish Splash, Rumba-Rumba, Bim-Bam, Slapping BOOM!" takes our characters from scary swamp to cozy bed.

Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters is a lullaby book that follows a gathering of silly monsters leaving school and heading to their cave for dinner. They scramble into their bath and bed where, presumably, they should drift off to sleep. Instead the little monsters bounce, grumble and protest their way to dreamland. This is a sweet, short, rhyming read aloud to encourage our little ones to drift off to sleep themselves. The illustrations by Kelly Murphy are creative and fun with little 'monster' touches throughout: a monster head houseplant, Cree P. Elementary School, Tentacle Surprise for dinner and lots more.

Treat your young listeners to both of these fabulous October read alouds. To find these and other books at our library, visit www.newberglibrary.org.

Reviewed by Amanda L.,
Children's Staff

The Bog Baby by Jeanne Willis

The Bog Baby by Jeanne Willis
(Preschool - Grade 2)

The Bog Baby is a new picture book in our collection that takes young readers (and listeners!) into another time and place, a woodsy fairyland of sorts, where dragonflies glide over bluebells and caterpillars crawl across fiddlehead ferns. The young narrator and her sister venture to the magic pond in Bluebell Wood to fish for newts and end up catching more then they bargained for when the rare Bog Baby jumps into the water. They are delighted with their find and decide to keep the Bog Baby with eye-opening results.

Readers will delight in the soft watercolor illustrations, some pages bright, some muted with the look of a child's sweet pencil sketch. This is a fabulous book to share with young and old to learn a little something about habitat, great imagination and real love. Author Jeanne Willis even invites us to search for our own Bog Baby, sketch its features, and take notes on such things as its favorite flower or identifying noises.

Subtle, beautiful, not to be missed!

Visit http://www.newberglibrary.org/ to find this and other books at our library.

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston

A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Sylvia Long (Preschool - Grade 3)

Newberg Public Library recently added to our children's gardening collection with funds from the Chehalem Garden Club and the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs. Among these is the beautiful book, A Seed is Sleepy.

Author Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrator Sylvia Long (An Egg is Quiet) have once again gifted us with a new book to read over and over. A Seed is Sleepy is already an award-winning introduction to seeds for any age. Each page (even the end papers!) is filled with lovely, sweeping illustrations of both familiar and unfamiliar seeds including sunflowers, orchids, dandelions, sea coconuts and monkey's comb.

The text is simple, effective and poetic,"A seed is sleepy. A seed is secretive. A seed is naked...yes, naked!" even appropriate for a read-aloud which is unusual for a non-fiction selection. Older children will appreciate the extra bits of information scattered throughout, "A parachute of fine, silky hairs can take a dandelion seed 100 miles from its parent plant." One two-page spread walks the reader through varying seeds' lifespans laid out on a timeline with fabulous illustrations showing how they are different from each other.

Our household found much to pour over every single day of our three-week checkout and more! This is truly a gift for young gardeners or naturalists-to-be and worth sharing each season.

Visit http://www.newberglibrary.org/ to find this and other books at our library.

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

Tadpole Rex by Kurt Cyrus

Tadpole Rex by Kurt Cyrus
(Preschool - Grade 2)

Tadpole Rex by Oregon author and illustrator Kurt Cyrus is a refreshing addition to the multitude of dinosaur picture books available to the preschool set. This tale follows the development of Rex the tadpole amongst his dinosaur neighbors. From its first pages readers are drawn in by its rhyming text and figurative language, "Stomp! Squish! Bloop! Swish!" Young children will be captivated by the suspense as Rex thrives even while he dodges dinosaur footsteps. Tadpole Rex is focused on the familiar frog that kids may have seen or even touched, yet maintains the mystery of a 200-million-year old creature that dinosaur lovers will appreciate.

Cyrus doesn't shy away from challenging vocabulary (which is so important as an early literacy or pre-reading skill) yet the text flows beautifully as a read aloud; "primeval puddles were desperate places of ambush and panic and life-or-death chases." I was rooting for Rex to make his mark on the prehistoric setting and smiled at his bravery in the face of such huge dinosaurs. A well-known illustrator, Cyrus truly shines here with big, bold and colorful renderings of another place and time.

This is a fabulous storytime or anytime choice for early elementary and preschool children. Don't miss The Voyage of Turtle Rex by Kurt Cyrus for a similar tale, this time following the ancient sea turtle.

Visit www.newberglibrary.org to find this and other books at our library.

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood

The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood

(Preschool - Grade 1)

"Be quiet! Quiet down! Shhhh..." we tell our children, preparing them for life's many quiet moments: bedtime, a school lesson, a library trip, someone else's phone call. Rarely do we have the opportunity to ponder the many kinds of quiet filling a child's day. The Quiet Book does so beautifully with love and respect. Author Deborah Underwood fills her gentle picture book with quiet moments like first snowfalls, best friends and sleeping babies. She also includes quiet moments with hidden emotion such as whispered secrets, getting caught, shots at the doctor's office and so much more. Pencil illustrations by Ranata Liwska are soft and sweet, much like any quiet book should be. Enjoy this picture book with the children in your lives in your next quiet moment.

Visit http://www.newberglibrary.org/ to find this book at our library.

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen

The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen
(Preschool - Grade 2)

Author and illustrator Chris Van Dusen (illustrator of the Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo) continues to impress with his lively stories and vibrant illustrations. His latest picture book, The Circus Ship, is based on an actual event when The Royal Tar, an 1836 side-wheel steamer sailing to Maine went up in flames. Van Dusen has chosen to soften this history for children and create a satisfying adventure with heroic animal feats. In the book, the circus ship does indeed go down at sea, but the animals gallantly swim to a nearby island where they surprise and impress the islanders. The animals, with the islanders help, face off their greedy owner with hilarious results. Older readers will delight in the detailed illustrations and circus antics, and younger children will love the lyrical, rhyming cadence Van Dusen maintains in his books. Don't miss this entertaining picture book along with other books by the same author: the Mr. Magee series and If I Built a Car.

Visit http://www.newberglibrary.org/ to find this book at our library.

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

Too Many Toys by David Shannon

Too Many Toys by David Shannon
(Preschool - Grade 1)

The holidays are almost behind us now - a new year is on its way. What better time for purging closets and cleaning dusty corners? Too Many Toys is the story of young Spencer and his impressive collection of toys - big toys, little toys, wooden pull-toys, noisy electronic toys, puzzles, board games, talking books, video games and more. His parade of toys spill out of every closet, peek out from under his bed, and tumble down the stairs. Overzealous friends and family members continue to give Spencer toys for every occasion (even the dentist!). Something has to be done! Spencer and his mom embark on a cleaning spree, much to Spencer's chagrin. Mom says, "you haven't played with this in years" and Spencer replies, "but I was just about to!" Parents will relate to the challenge of clearing a space and kids may find that sometimes it's okay to let things go.

Author David Shannon is known for his bold, colorful illustrations and expressive characters. Too Many Toys doesn't disappoint with silly, exasperated faces from Mom and a visual smorgasboard of toys throughout.

Visit www.newberglibrary.org to find this book at our library for a great kick off to the New Year!

Wake Up, Dormouse, Santa Claus is Here by Eleonore Schmid

Wake Up, Dormouse, Santa Claus is Here by Eleonore Schmid
(Preschool - Grade 2)

The Christmas season is a great time to hunker down by the fire, pour a cup of cocoa and pull out all the wonderful holiday books for a special time of stories with your favorite children. There are a number of great books to recommend, but I have unearthed a little-known treasure that we love to read each December at my own home. Wake Up, Dormouse, Santa Claus is Here is a bit of a departure from many Santa-themed picture books we see this time of year.

Gus is a busy dormouse living alone in an old oak tree. He spends the summer and fall getting ready for his long winter's sleep. Author Eleonore Schmid treats readers to a beautiful watercolor and pencil telling of the passing of fall into winter with images of acorns and nuts, the gathering of pine and mistletoe and the first snow of the season. Gus has heard of Santa Claus' annual visit to the forest animals but has never met him because he is always fast asleep in his nest until spring. This year he is determined to stay awake! Dependable Santa does arrive at long last leading not the storybook reindeer and sleigh but a humble donkey with simple jingle bell harness. And he comes not with a bulging load of packages, but with a simple offering of the bounty of the season. Gus has tried his best, but as Santa greets the forest creatures, the little dormouse is sleeping soundly. Can a forest friend help in time?

Reading this story is a peaceful rest stop in an otherwise hectic season and always helps our family to reconnect without losing the magic of Santa in the process.

Visit www.newberglibrary.org to find this book at our library.

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

Thank You Thanksgiving by David Milgrim

Thank You Thanksgiving by David Milgrim
(Toddlers and up)

It is the season for gratitude, and David Milgrim's picture book, Thank You Thanksgiving encourages this spirit with a simple story and lighthearted guessing game for young readers. A family finishes their Thanksgiving feast at the book's title page, and the real story begins at clean-up time. A young girl sets off on a mysterious, after-dinner errand with wallet in hand. Along the way, she expresses her gratitude for warm boots, pretty clouds and a variety of animals following her on her journey. The illustrations are funny and contain much of the story with Thanksgiving Day details and clues as to the reason for her trip. Readers may solve the mystery before the conclusion, but that doesn't take away from the book's warmth and overall message about being thankful for the little things. A great holiday book for young toddlers (who will love the idea of being thankful for the park) all the way up to early elementary kids (who can appreciate the guessing game).

To find this book at our library, visit www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

Imogene's Last Stand by Candace Fleming

Imogene's Last Stand by Candace Fleming
(Preschool - Grade 2)

Imogene Tripp is the kind of girl that can fingerpaint a map of the Oregon trail, give a puppet show lecture on women in history, and ride an old-fashioned, high-wheeled bicycle through her tiny town of Liddleville, New Hampshire. She is just the person to transform the dilapidated Liddleville Historical Society from a dusty, cobwebbed shack to a shining museum. Imagine her chagrin when a notice to tear the old historical society down appears in the front yard. The mayor has other plans for the space, but Imogene, quoting John Paul Jones, insists "I have not yet begun to fight!" With inspiration from her historical heroes, Imogene stands up to her fellow townspeople, all of whom seem uninterested in preserving their past. A last-minute discovery shocks the town, but will it be enough to save the museum? This unique picture book is full of funny details and spunky characters. Older preschoolers and early elementary students may be inspired by Imogene's passion for history and the book to learn more about Abraham Lincoln, Paul Revere or many other historical figures featured in this book.

To find this book in our library, visit www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

Pete's A Pizza by William Steig

Pete's A Pizza by William Steig
(Preschool - Grade 1)

We all have our grumpy days. Wrong-side-of-the-bed, rain-on-your-parade, let's-start-over kinds of days. In Pete's A Pizza, young Pete's ball game with his friends is ruined by a rainy day, and he is none too happy about the situation. Pete's father is intuitive and comes up with a creative way to cheer up his son. Kids and parents alike will relate to Pete's mood and delight in the funny solution. This older book's layout, text and illustrations are simple with an old-fashioned feel. Author William Steig (who also wrote Shrek!) based the tale on a game he used to play with his daughter. My son and I laughed throughout and immediately decided we needed a grumpy day solution of our own. Pete's A Pizza is a little gem of a book and is a must read for relieving cabin fever during the rainy season.

To find this book at our library, visit www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

Bats at the Library by Brian Lies

Bats at the Library by Brian Lies
(Preschool - Grade 1)

Bats at the Library is the latest offering from author Brian Lies. This picture book is a visually stunning sequel to the wonderful Bats at the Beach. My family only recently discovered both books and are hoping for even more bat adventures to come. In Bats at the Library, a community of bats is bored one dark evening and is thrilled to discover an open window at the local library. They swoop towards the brick building, baby bat clinging to its mother with a parachute on its back. Once inside, the bats flutter off into their favorite shelves to read about fancy food, play games with the copier, explore a pop-up book gingerbread house, or listen to storytime. Each bat imagines themselves as a book character, riding a horse or pulling the famous sword from its stone. The detailed illustrations amaze and delight with silly bat references like a reading of Goodnight Sun instead of Goodnight Moon. The rhyming text is clever and lyrical; it flows easily and would make a fun read aloud. We took both books on a trip to the beach this summer. Lies had us laughing at the sunbathing bats on the sand and the bookish bats gathered around a storybook.

To find these books at our library, visit www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

Enigma, A Magical Mystery by Graeme Base

Enigma, a Magical Mystery by Graeme Base
(Kindergarten - Grade 2)

New to our library is another visually spectacular offering from author/illustrator Graeme Base known for classics like Animalia and Uno's Garden. My son and I spent an entire afternoon hunched over the pages of Enigma, a Magical Mystery searching for clues and deciphering code. We follow our main character Bertie Badger to visit his Grandpa in the Retirement Home for Elderly Magicians where he usually enjoys spectacular shows reminiscient of years past. This visit is different because someone has stolen the magicians' props ending the spectacular shows. Now it's up to Bertie (and you dear reader!) to find the props, reveal the thief and help the show to go on! Base really delivers in Enigma with clever rhyming text, advanced vocabulary, and challenging activities. The 'cupboard' at the book's conclusion opens up to reveal color-coded dials, buttons and encoded messages. A spectacular find for any treasure hunter or mystery lover. There is much to see and do in this book So much so, in fact, that I would recommend this to an older child or as a fun activity for the whole family to attempt together. Truly a book to check out many times over. Just be ready with your eagle eyes and a handy pencil and paper.

To find this book at our library, visit www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

The OK Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

The OK Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
(Preschool - Grade 2)

Rarely does a picture book celebrate being just ordinary. The OK Book achieves this with remarkable simplicity and visual appeal. A stick-figure child (brilliantly drawn as the word, O.K., with a head as the o and arms and legs as the k) is depicted in various settings and states, "I like to try a lot of different things. I'm not great at all of them, but I enjoy them just the same." The young reader, presumably still 'just o.k.' at new skills themselves, can embrace the learning period and be encouraged to keep practicing. Our young stick child is happy to be an OK marshmallow roaster, OK kite flyer, and OK pancake flipper as he imagines his future talents. My son loved the matter-of-fact conclusion emphasizing that learning can be just as fun as being excellent. The simple line drawings may inspire tentative artists as well. A wonderful read aloud for preschool and early elementary students.

To find this book at our library, visit www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

Moose Tracks by Karma Wilson

Moose Tracks by Karma Wilson
(Preschool - Grade 1)

Karma Wilson's wonderful picture book mystery surfaces time and time again from the depths of our bookshelves for bedtime reading when we need a good chuckle. The bouncy rhythm and vocabulary are perfect for reading aloud. We begin with a glimpse of a lone moose hoof and a questioning cottage owner who is stymied by the smattering of moose tracks throughout his home because "not one moose stopped by!" His animal friends leave plenty of remnants of their own, but those are easily explained. Chipmunk, for instance, leaves nut shells on the counter from the nut fudge sundae gathering. Bear hair shows up on the lawn chair from a barbecue supper with bear. We always laugh at the likely conclusion - knowing who exactly DID leave tracks behind makes for even sillier reading the whole way through. Take extra time to follow the tracks throughout the illustrations and giggle at the mess each animal leaves behind.

To find this (and other great books by Karma Wilson) at our library, visit www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt (Happy Mother's Day!)

I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt
(Preschool - Grade 1)

As my son grows older, he is drawn more to books about creatures, superheroes, and laugh-out-loud funny adventures than to the sweet stories of his baby and toddler years. So, in honor of Mother's Day this year, we read I Love You, Stinky Face, which captured both our hearts and, most importantly, tickled my son's sense of humor - silly creatures and all. A young boy begins the book by questioning his mother's love and wonders, "Mama, what if I were a big scary ape? Would you still love me then?" Mama's love is unconditional, of course, as she faces up to each imaginary creature (including a stinky skunk) with tender loving care. Readers who love the classic The Runaway Bunny will delight in a modern tale of a mother's support complete with Cyd Moore's sweet, hilarious illustrations.

Don't miss Lisa McCourt's follow-up titles: I Miss You, Stinky Face, It's Time For School, Stinky Face and more.

To find these titles in our library, visit www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

Wave by Suzy Lee

Wave by Suzy Lee
(Preschool - Grade 1)

Wordless stories are both invaluable tools in early literacy and just plain fun to 'read' with your child. Though Wave contains no text aside from its simple title, it has a real story to tell. Children learn narrative skills and oral language, both of which create a readiness to read. In Wave, the simple act of heading to the beach and sizing up a wave makes for a delightful, funny and memorable picture book.

Using charcoal and acrylics, author/illustrator Suzy Lee relates to a young child's fear of an ocean wave's size and surprise factor. Our young heroine approaches cautiously, tries a few intimidating moves and finally revels in all that the wave has to offer. A laugh-out-loud story that will leave both children and parents eager to visit their nearest coastline.

To find this book at our library, visit www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

10 Things I Can Do To Help My World by Melanie Walsh

10 Things I Can Do To Help My World by Melanie Walsh
Preschool - Grade 1

As Spring approaches thoughts often turn to improving household habits. Helping the environment is at the top of our list, but it is often difficult to explain the concept to our young son. Author Melanie Walsh has come to the rescue with her new book (made out of 100% recycled material no less). These are tips that children can actually do, and "help my world" seems to resonate better than "save my world" which can be overwhelming. The bold illustrations, creative die-cuts and simple text are perfect for teaching young children about the world around them. The die-cuts are especially well-done with each tip divided into a unique page turn. For instance, the text reads " I help..." over a page full of recyclables which, when turned, reveals each item in its appropriate container and the words, "sort the recycling." The storyteller can choose to read only the large text for read-alouds or to include Walsh's additional explanation for one-on-one time with older children. The book is never preachy or confusing - just inspiring and fun. Perfect for Earth Day or any other day of the year.

To find this book in our library, visit www.newberglibrary.com. 

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg

The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg
(Preschool - Grade 1)

Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman are reunited in the whimsical The Pencil, a stand-alone sequel to The Runaway Dinner. The sequel opens with a "lonely little pencil" that decides to draw a boy for companionship. The boy instantly demands a name and a dog, and the pencil is happy to oblige. Our characters are off on a quirky adventure until they realize that their entire world is void of color. The pencil solves this supposed dilemma (and many more) with quick wit and hilarity. It can not seem to please everyone however, so the drama continues, much to the delight of my son who loved the child-like illustrations and mischevious characters. My son mentioned Harold and the Purple Crayon while we read, a compliment of the highest order.

To find this book in our library, visit www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff