The Society of Distinguished Lemmings

The Society of Distinguished Lemmings
by Julie Colombet
Atlanta: Peachtree, 2020 

The Society of Distinguished Lemmings has many rules. Always act in a distinguished manner. No climbing. No mud. No questioning the rules. Bertie the lemming has had enough and goes outside where he meets a bear. The bear doesn't know about the rules, and Bertie finds that he likes climbing and mud and other undistinguished things. When the other lemmings meet the bear, they try to make him follow the rules. Can the bear ever be distinguished?  Does he need to be?

This delightfully illustrated book is filled with characters and side conversations that will have you re-reading pages and checking for details (and hats). It focuses on the message that you can be distinguished in any way you choose.

Ron's Big Mission

Ron's Big Mission
by Rose Blue and Corinne J. Naden, illustrated by Don Tate
New York City: Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2009

 Nine year old Ron McNair loves reading about airplanes and is the best patron at the library in Lake City, South Carolina. One day in 1959, he decides that he wants to check out the books and read them at home, not just at the library. But only white patrons are allowed to have library cards. Ron is determined to get a card.


This is the inspiring true story of a young boy who would eventually go on to become a pilot, scientist, and Challenger astronaut. Based on interviews with Ron's mother, this wonderfully illustrated book comes highly recommended. 

Miriam at the River

Miriam at the River
by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Khoa Le
Minneapolis: Kar-Ben Publishing, 2020

Seven year old Miriam takes a basket holding her baby brother down to the reeds and rushes of the Nile. With a kiss, she sends him out into the river. She has seen and dreamed what will happen next: the Pharaoh's daughter pulling him from the water and raising him as her own. One day her brother will return.

This is the beginning of the story of Moses, as told by his big sister. Jane Yolen is rightly called the Hans Christian Anderson of America and her writing shines here. This book glows in blue and terracotta illustrations by Khoa Le. I highly recommend it.

Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera

Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera
by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann
New York: Neal Porter Books, 2020

Honeybee follows 'Apis', beginning with her chewing her way out of a wax cell 'and into a teeming, trembling flurry. Hummmmm!' We see how she interacts with her sisters, and works seven different jobs in the hive. Gathering nectar is only the last stage in her life. She also cleans the hive, takes care of the larvae and the queen, and more. In her short life, she'll fly 500 miles and visit 30,000 flowers.  

This wonderful book is illustrated with superb oil paintings detailing all aspects of honeybee life. While Apis is personalized, she is never anthropomorphized, and is, in fact, a real honeybee. This is one of the best books I've read so far this year, and is definitely recommended for anyone looking to learn more about such an important creature.
 

Equality's Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America

Equality's Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America
by Deborah Diesen, illustrated by Magdalena Mora
New York: Beach Lane Books, 2020

 A right isn't right
Till it's granted to all

Through rhyming verse, this book provides a look at the history of voting rights in America. While representation was supposed to be a strength of our new nation, in truth only white men who owned property were initially able to vote. But over the years, through the struggles and efforts of many people, more and more Americans were able to vote and make their voice heard.

This wonderful book is a testament to the countless individuals who fought and marched so their voice could be counted. The refrain 'a right isn't right/till it's granted to all' is repeated throughout the book as a growing crowd of people march across the page.

Book Club: A Boy Called Bat

A Boy Called Bat
Written by Elana K. Arnold with pictures by Charles Santoso
New York, NY: Walden Pond Press, 2017.

Yesterday was book club day in the GPL Children's Room! For the past two months, our book club has been reading and discussing Elana K. Arnold's A Boy Called Bat. This illustrated novel, first in a series of three, tells the story of Bat, a third-grader on the autism spectrum, and his adventures with a baby skunk brought home by his veterinarian mom.

During our first discussion of the book back in January, our book club members -- all third- through fifth-grade super readers -- had LOTS to say about Bat and his cast of supporting characters. We talked about all of Bat's various likes and dislikes and compared them to our own, and we brainstormed a list of characteristics that make Bat such a unique, interesting person. We also watched a video featuring Dr. Jerry Dragoo, the skunk specialist Bat communicates with in the book. He's a real person! Who knew?

For our second discussion, at our February meeting, we learned about the concept of perspective, and looked at how and why Bat's perspective on the world around him is often quite different from the perspectives of others. We also took a peek inside Bat's extremely literal mind, and played a game using idioms and other figures of speech (which always drive Bat nuts!).

Book club members wrote three-word reviews for A Boy Called Bat, some of which are more...creative than others:

All eight readers in attendance at yesterday's meeting gave A Boy Called Bat a rating of between 1 and 5 stars, and then we averaged the individual scores to come up with our Very Official Book Club Rating: 3.5 stars.

A Boy Called Bat is available in libraries and bookstores now.

Home in the Woods

Home in the Woods
written and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler
New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2019

In 1932, six year old Marvel, her mother, and her seven brothers and sisters must find a new place to live after their father dies. They move into a tar paper shack in the Wisconsin woods and begin to make it their home. They discover berry patches and trout streams and the little wonders of each day. Throughout the difficult times, they find that love can ease even the darkest hours.

This book really struck me upon the first reading, and still does so on the second read. The author tells the story of her grandmother Marvel (age six), her widowed mother Clara (34), and her seven siblings (age 3 months to 14) after they are evicted from their home during the Great Depression and must move to a shack in the woods. The artwork is absolutely gorgeous and the words are both cheerful and haunting by turn. The image of Clara in bed with her children that accompanies the text 'But Mum stays awake into the night...whispering to the stars.' is so poignant.

Bird Count

Bird Count
by Susan Edwards Richmond, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman
Atlanta: Peachtree, 2019

Ava wakes her mom up early on December morning. It's Bird Count Day! Throughout the day, they'll travel with Big Al in their assigned area and count every bird they see. Every one. But not the same one twice. Through the fields, marshes, and neighborhoods, they'll tally up the birds and be citizen scientists! They'll see Canada geese, turkey vultures, chickadees, and more. Can Ava find the raven she saw two years ago?

I've been doing the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) for the Peoria Audubon Society for years now, and I absolutely loved this book. It's obvious the author has done many counts herself, and the book captures the best parts of a December day of tallying birds (assuming the weather holds). The illustrations are lovely and there's information on each bird species in the back, along with links to where you can find more information on bird identification and joining your local CBC. I highly recommend this book for any citizen scientists in your life.

 

Rise: From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou

Rise: From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou
by Bethany Hegedus, illustrated by Tonya Engel 
New York: Lee & Low Book, 2019

Maya went to live with her grandmother in Arkansas when she was three years old. There she learned the seesaw of love and hate in the South. Later she returns to St. Louis to live with her mother, but then tragedy strikes. When she returns to Arkansas, she refuses to speak to anyone. A neighbor helps her to find the power in her words. Maya travels to San Francisco, and later around the world, dancing, singing, writing, speaking, and telling her story. She becomes a poet of the people and leaves a lasting legacy.

This truly incredible book details Maya's life in prose and illustrations. Words flow and dance through the images on many of the pages. 

Titan and the Wild Boars: The True Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer Team

Titan and the Wild Boars: The True Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer Team
by Susan Hood and Pathana Sornhiran, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk
New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2019

On June 23, 2018, young Titan, 11 of his Wild Boar soccer teammates, and their coach set off to explore a local cave in northern Thailand. Outside, monsoon rains began to fall, and the team quickly became trapped. As the water levels rose in the cave, they wondered if they would be it back out.

This book details the harrowing ordeal faced by the boys and their coach, as divers and rescue personnel from all around the world raced against the clock and weather to save them. Author Pathana Sornhiran provides her firsthand accounts of the events, and Susan Hood's prose compliments Dow Phumiruk's illustrations. While the publisher lists this book for ages 5+, I personally think it may be too disturbing for younger readers; there is a constant theme of danger and peril, and Petty Officer First Class Saman Kunan's death and sacrifice is discussed on multiple occasions. However, this is a truly incredible book that I highly recommend for older readers. 

Seashells: More Than a Home

Seashells: More Than a Home
by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Sarah S. Brahhen
Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2019

Seashells are among the most familiar treasures one can find on the beach. While they provide a home for mollusks, they can also do a number of weird, wonderful things! Seashells can pry open other shells like a crowbar, curl up like an armadillo, and even let light in! Beautifully illustrated, this book introduces you to 13 different species from around the globe.  

Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom

Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom
by Teresa Roberson, illustrated by Rebecca Huang
New York: Sterling Children's Books, 2019

Wu Chien Shiung was born in a small village in China in 1912. Her parents were very unusual for the time in that they not only encouraged her to go to school, but had actually started school for girls! Later she would go to a girls' school 50 miles away, and only see her parents twice a year. There she fell in love with physics, and eventually traveled to California to study atoms. She made many important discoveries, but was often overlooked as an Asian woman.

This story of the queen of physics is told through collage-style illustrations with lovely hidden touches, such as pearls tiled with atoms on the inside covers. It's an inspiring story for everyone, but especially those looking for female role models in the STEM field. 

The Book Rescuer

The Book Rescuer
by Sue Macy, illustrated by Stacy Innerst
New York: Simon & Schuster, 2019

Aaron Lansky loved books. He got his first library card when he was four years old. Inspired by his grandmother, when he went to college he studied Jewish history. But to read the books written in Yiddish, he had to learn the language. Yiddish speakers and books had been fading away, and Aaron made it his mission to rescue and share as many Yiddish books as he could. His apartment was so full he could barely move around! He started the Yiddish Book Center to share the books and language with people around the world.

This gorgeously illustrated book details Aaron's mission to save a language and literature from being lost forever. It shows the difference that one committed person can make in the world.

Pineapplefish and Lettuce Sea Slugs

I See Sea Food: Sea Creatures That Look Like Food
by Jenna Grodzicki
Minneapolis: Millbrook Press, 2020

Have you ever heard of a banana wrasse? Or a sea apple? These are just some of the strange and wonderful sea creatures featured in I See Sea Food. And they all really do look like food! Each animal gets two pages of photos and information.

This is a fantastic book for anyone with an interest in the undersea world, or who wants to see some really cool photos of sea creatures. There were a number of species I had never heard of, and the book ends with a message that while the whales and sea turtles get all the attention, there's a whole world down there to discover, and the weird creatures in it need love, too.

Bedtime for Sweet Creatures

Bedtime for Sweet Creatures
words by Nikki Grimes, pictures by Elizabeth Zunon
Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2020 

It's time for bed, but someone isn't ready. He asks questions like an owl and roars like a lion. He slips out of bed for water like a sly wolf and bounds back in like a gazelle. Will it ever be bedtime for all the creatures?

This gorgeously illustrated book brings to life a menagerie of creatures with a distinctive voice and cadence. Just published in January, it's a fantastic way to start off the year.

STEM Club: Presenting the Polar Bear

February 27 is International Polar Bear Day! The Galesburg Public Library STEM Club will be celebrating this day with our meeting on February 25 with polar bear activities and stories. In the meantime, here are some of my favorite polar bear books for all ages, available for checkout from the library. --Ms. Meghan

Snow Bear
by Jean Craighead George, paintings by Wendell Minor
New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 1999

Bessie Nivyek sets out to explore a huge block of ice that has been pushed up out of the Arctic Ocean overnight. Snow Bear, the polar bear cub, is also exploring. He and Bessie play together while Bessie's brother and Snow Bear's mother watch nervously. Gorgeous paintings bring the Arctic and an unlikely friendship to life.




Knut: how one little polar bear captivated the world
told by Isabella, Juliana, and Craig Hatkoff, and Dr. Gerald R. Uhlich
New York: Scholastic Press, 2007

On December 5, 2006, a polar bear cub was born at Zoo Berlin in Germany. His mother wasn't able to take care of him, and a keeper named Thomas became his foster father. The cub was named Knut and Thomas slept by his side and fed him every two hours around the clock for months until Knut was able to eat on his own. Knut became a worldwide celebrity and inspired people to learn more about wild polar bears and how to help them.

Polar Bears
by Conrad Mason, illustrated by Daniel Howarth
London, Usborne Publishing Ltd., 2009    

Beginning readers will learn all about polar bears in this illustrated book. The chilly world of the Arctic unfolds as you learn about how the bears live, hunt, swim, and grow from tiny cubs to the largest land carnivore on the planet.





Polar Bears
by Dr. Hugh Roome

New York: Scholastic Press, 2018

Great for more advanced readers, this book dives deep into the world of polar bears. It provides a detailed look at their awesome adaptations to the harsh environment, their hunting strategy, how they raise their cubs, and who their closest relatives are. 

Big Papa and the Time Machine

Big Papa and the Time Machine
by Daniel Bernstrom, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2020

A young boy is nervous about starting school. His grandfather shows up in his 1952 Ford to take them way, way back. They visit points in Big Papa's life, from his childhood in Arkansas to working high up in the sky in Chicago. Along the way, the boy learns that being brave can mean many different things.

Illustrated in gorgeous shades of blue, green, and yellow, this book takes you on a journey through the decades. Looking at moments in African American history, the story shows us what courage looks like.

Rocket Says Look Up!

Rocket Says Look Up!
by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeola
New York: Random House, 2019

Rocket Says Look Up! is the story about Rocket, a little girl who is fascinated by space exploration. She wants to be just like Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space, when she grows up. When she finds out the Phoenix Meteor Showers will be visible that night, she makes flyers and gets her entire neighborhood interested. But will her big brother Jamal ever look up from his phone?

This wonderfully illustrated story is perfect for aspiring explorers and space fans of all ages. It shows how one person's enthusiasm can impact an entire community.

 

The Kid and the Chameleon

The Kid and the Chameleon
by Sheri Mabry, illustrated by Joanie Stone
Chicago: Albert Whitman & Company, 2019

The Kid and the Chameleon is the first book in a new series. Tessy the human girl meets Newton the chameleon and says they can be friends. Newton isn't too sure. Tessy and Newton show each other things they like to do and foods they like to eat, but nothing is fun for both of them. Is there a way they can still be friends?

This early reader book has five chapters and lots of great illustrations. It shows how friends don't have to like the same things to still have fun together, as long as they listen to each other.

I Voted: making a choice that makes a difference

I Voted: making a choice that makes a difference
by Mark Shulman, illustrated by Serge Bloch
New York: Holiday House, 2020

This book is an easy to understand explanation of what voting is, why it is important, and how it affects people, from kids to grownups. No matter how old you are, you've got opinions (is ice cream better than cupcakes?) and any time you choose, you've voted! People can vote on things from a classroom pet all the way up to the President of the United States.

This fun book talks about the basics of choice and voting, and its importance throughout life. The branches of the national government are described in the back and humorous illustrations capture politics throughout the pages.

Trio of Art Books for Young Readers

Three great new books on artists and their styles recently arrived in the Children's Room at Galesburg Public Library! You can find them in the new book spinner by the giant pencil.

Kahlo's Koalas: 1, 2, 3, Count Art with Me 
by Grace Helmer
Missouri: Andrews McMeel Universal, 2019 

Kahlo's Koalas is a fantastic board book that teaches kids how to count to ten with a variety of animals and artistic styles. Inside, the koalas on the cover have dark eyebrows and flowery headdresses, Picasso's panda is shown in his distinctive style, and more. A very brief biography and description of each artist's style is listed in the back two pages. Modern art style has never been my strong suit, and I really enjoyed this book as a basic introduction to matching names with images.




                                        Jackson Pollock Splashed Paint and Wasn't Sorry.

Yves Klein Painted Everything Blue and Wasn't Sorry.

by Fausto Gilberti
New York City and London: Phaidon Press, 2019


Fausto Gilberti is an award-winning illustrator and author whose children's books have recently been translated into English. Yves Klein Painted Everything Blue and Wasn't Sorry. and Jackson Pollock Splashed Paint and Wasn't Sorry. are both charming biographies that follow their subjects with fun illustrations (and lots of blue and splashes, respectively).