LIAR AND SPY

Book: Liar and Spy

Author: Rebecca Stead

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books

Pages: 192

Grade Level: 5^th Grade and up

Rating: 5 Stars

Life isn’t easy for Georges. His name lends itself to unpleasant nicknames (like “Gorgeous”) , his father just lost his job so his mother is forced to work extra shifts as a nurse and he must move from his home to a smaller apartment in Brooklyn. While making friends was never easy for Georges, he befriends a boy in his new building, Safer, who is an excellent spy and has a “mission” to find out what another neighbor, Mr. X, is mysteriously up to. He recruits Georges as an assistant, and Georges begins a wild ride of deceit, secrets and truths that may ruin their new found friendship forever.

This book is written so well that you become so engrossed in the mystery that you can’t put it down until you are finished. Stead is the master of quirky writing, and even though you are never sure what will happen next, everything comes together perfectly in the end, with a twist I am sure you didn’t see coming! It is an excellent book choice for reluctant readers and definitely a “boy book”, though I am sure many girls will enjoy it as well!

BOMB: THE RACE TO BUILD - AND STEAL - THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS WEAPON

Book: BOMB: The Race to Build – And Steal – The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon

Author: Steve Sheinkin

Publisher: Flash Point

Pages: 272

Grade Level: 6^th Grade and up

Rating: 5 Stars

It is December of 1938, and the major discovery, that when a Uranium atom is placed next to radioactive material, the atom will split in two. Because of this, spies are flying all over three continents to be the first to obtain an atomic bomb. This book reads more like a novel than a history textbook, and it is an in depth story of what really went on behind the scenes during World War II and this fascinating discovery.

I am not usually a fan of non-fiction, but this book truly blew me out of the water. I loved everything about it – from the design: the sideways titles, the cool photos that are not distracting, the primary sources that are listed in the back coherently along with the documentations, to the fact that scientific concepts were clearly defined. Who knew there was so much espionage going on during the War? It is written extremely coherently and sixth graders and up can easily understand what is going on at all times. Every spy element is fantastic and every person who reads it will really be surprised at how much they enjoy and learn from it. 

THE FALSE PRINCE

Book: The False Prince

Author: Jennifer Nielsen

Publisher: Scholastic

Pages: 352

Grade Level: 5^th Grade and up

Rating: 5 Stars

Sage is an orphan who is bought by a nobleman of the court, Connor. While Sage is originally unsure of what lies ahead of him, he soon learns that a civil war is brewing in the kingdom, and Connor wants to avoid it by impersonating the King’s long lost son. However, Connor cannot do this alone, and needs a young boy to play the prince. Sage is now in for the competition of his life, as he must decide if he wants to play a prince or lose his life. This book is full of twists, turns, deceit and adventure that you won’t want to miss!

The False Prince is the first book in The Ascendance Trilogy and when you finish the first you will NEED to find out what happens in the second. The book has a historical fiction feel to it even though the kingdom and everything about this book is made up, and it plays on the fantasy genre though it is not at all a fantasy. It is an epic quest for Sage, and reading about his trials and triumphs make you really love him as a character. Older readers will appreciate his transformation into young adulthood and readers of all ages are going to be unable to put the book down and need to know what happens next!

GREEN

Book: Green

Author/Illustrator: Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Pages: 40

Grade Level: Preschool and up

Rating: 5 Stars

Do you know how many different shades of green there are? Laura Seeger explores the world of this color, and sends you on a journey from the forest to the jungle, your front yard, and everywhere in between! This is a masterful concept book that purely celebrates the varieties within a color.

The illustrations in this book are so impressive, that even if you hate the color green you still may fall in love with this picture book. There are cut outs on every page that accentuate certain details, and if you look closely you will see them make an image on the next page doing the same thing. This is something different than a typical picture book, and it isn’t a pop-up or lift the flap which children can destroy and will appreciate just as much. Each illustration and background is colored so vividly, it makes you wonder if this book could be written (and give off the same impression) about a different color. In my opinion, this book is 100% Caldecott Winner or Honor worthy. I hope it wins this year!

ONE COOL FRIEND

Book: One Cool Friend

Author: Toni Buzzeo

Illustrator: David Small

Publisher: Dial

Pages: 32

Grade Level: Kindergarten and up

Rating: 5 Stars

Elliot, a polite and proper boy, goes with his father on a trip to the aquarium. When he is there, he discovers penguins, which stand up straight and look like they are wearing suits, just like him. He asks his father if he can have a penguin who gladly gives him money (since they are obviously sold at the gift shop). However, Elliot takes home a live penguin, and what a bonding experience it creates between Elliot and his father!

Everything about this picture book is hilarious. The text, the pictures, and the formatting are all screaming “this book must be read again and again”! The punch line at the end really brings the story together, along with a father and son. Small’s color scheme, and choice to strategically use scarce color on every page is masterful, highlighting the black and white of the penguin and Elliot’s proper world. This picture book is a must for every library. Children of all ages will love and appreciate it.

EXTRA YARN

Book: Extra Yarn

Author: Mac Barnett

Illustrator: Jon Klassen

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Pages: 40

Grade Level: Kindergarten and up

Rating: 5 Stars

Annabelle lives in a black and white world, when she suddenly comes across a box of string. With it, she knits herself a sweater, and before long begins knitting for everyone (and everything!) in town, as the box of yarn is endless. Annabelle successfully brings color to her plain universe, and no can stop her, not even a threatening Archduke!

When I first read this book, I wasn't so impressed with it overall. The story was fine, the pictures complemented the text beautifully but it was a book that I passed over and placed right on the shelf (at the library). When I picked it up to read a second time months later, I really fell in love with it. If you look closely at the pictures you can truly see texture that emulates a real knit. Annabelle’s individuality shines on every page, as she dares to color a black and white world. If one is familiar with Jon Klassen's illustrations (ex: I Want My Hat Back, 2011), you will definitely notice some familiar faces popping up on these pages. This book will definitely be enjoyed by young readers, but I believe that older children would have a wonderful time deciphering deeper meanings in the pictures and text of this picture book. 

Project Runway/Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!

I apologize for not posting in months, but I was so busy at work, creating at my library my own version of the TV show Project Runway, that all my free time seemed to have disappeared! Here are some links to the press about my Runway event, as well as pictures. It was such an awesome experience!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91798781@N08/

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20121221/pomonok/project-runway-inspired-fashion-contest-coming-queens-library

http://www.qgazette.com/news/2013-01-02/Features/Queens_Library_At_Pomonok_Has_Own_Project_Runway.html

Have no fear, I have been reading all this time, and will have some reviews up for you soon!