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

The Graveyard Book , by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman
(Grades 4-6)

If you are a fan of audiobooks, this is a must-listen-to story read by the author. If you are not a fan of audiobooks, you should listen to this story anyway. I think many authors should not be allowed to read their own stories, but Neil Gaiman has a voice that would make a car manual intriguing.

I talked about this audiobook to my husband so much that he started listening to it too. After I put our son to bed we sat in bed with our headphones on making faces at each other and saying things like, "What! Don't look sad! What part are you at?! Wait, I'm not there yet, don't tell me!"

In this story an entire family, save the baby, is murdered in the opening chapter of this book, yet it wasn’t quite as dark as I expected. The baby escapes to a graveyard where he is protected (for a time) and raised by its inhabitants. But the assassin is still looking for the baby/boy/young man and the secrets of the graveyard can't keep him safe forever...

Don't get me wrong, this book isn’t bubbles and lollipops, but it was lovely and by far the best Newbery Medal book I've read in a long time.

To find this book or audiobook, please visit our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Korie B., Children’s Staff

Tracking Trash by Loree Griffin Burns

Tracking Trash by Loree Griffin Burns
(Grade 3 - 5)

Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion tackles a serious global issue yet reads like a lighthearted, optimistic report. Oceanographer Dr. Curtis Ebbesmeyer has made it his mission to track our trash on its journey through the ocean hoping to understand and protect our seas and their inhabitants.

Readers follow the stories of sneakers and plastic toys on their respective journeys through the ocean. Beachcombers band together to help find 28,800 floating bathtub toys lost off of a cargo ship in 1992 as well as five cargo containers full of Nike sneakers. A bevy of photographs bring the amazing tales to life.

We are also introduced to both The Eastern Garbage Patch, a floating garbage dump partway between Hawaii and California the size of the state of Alaska, and Monster Debris, a giant mass of discarded fishing nets in Hawaii weighing 4,000 pounds. Rather than leaving us feeling hopeless, Tracking Trash chronicles what people are doing to help and inspires solution-finders of every age.

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

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff

Marley: A Dog Like No Other

Marley: A Dog Like No Other, by John Grogan
Grades 3-5

When Marley crashes into the lives of the Grogan family, he just keeps crashing. A large yellow Labrador Retriever, Marley is full of spunk and mischief. His family lovingly endures his rambunctious escapades, with hilarious results. This sweet story follows the real-life adventures of a family and their dog, from Marley's time as a pup until the very end. Dog lovers will surely enjoy this romp. This story is also available on audiobook, delightfully read by Neil Patrick Harris. This book is a 2010 Young Readers Choice Award nominee.

Looking for a book where the dog doesn't die? Check out No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman, or Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo.

To find library materials, please visit our website at: newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Korie B., 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

What the World Eats

What the World Eats,
Photographed by Peter Menzel, Written by Faith D'Aluisio
4th Grade and Up

Have you ever wondered what someone from another country eats? In What the World Eats twenty-six families from around the world (and 3 from the U.S.) are photographed with their entire week's worth of groceries. Each entry delves into the day-to-day lives of the families, detailing eating habits typical in their county. Each family's story also includes a family recipe, a breakdown of food, facts about the country, a map and much more.

This book is a fascinating look at other cultures and a wealth of information, beautiful photographed and laid out. The adult version of this book is Hungry Planet: What the World Eats.

Reviewed by Korie B., Children's Staff

An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna Aston

An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Aston
(Preschool - Grade 3)

An egg can be so many things author Dianna Aston reveals in An Egg Is Quiet. Kids (and their grownups) familiar only with the humdrum chicken egg at the market will find much to marvel at here. An egg is also colorful, shapely, clever, artistic, and giving as Aston outlines in both preschool-friendly text and more complex notes for older kids. Illustrator Sylvia Long compels the reader to reach out and touch each egg with stunning ink and watercolor images of hundreds of eggs from turkeys to dogfish. At the book's surprise conclusion we quickly learn that an egg is quiet, but it is also so much more.

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

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff