Youth Services Staff Picks
May 2019: Our host puppets have taken over staff picks this month. Check out what they love to read!
Ellie
Peanut by Linas Alsenas – E ALS
For grades K – 2nd; published 2007
Synopsis: When an old lady finds a small elephant in the park, what is she to do? Take him home and treat him like a pet dog, of course! Peanut's not like other dogs, though...and another walk in the park reveals that he's missing from the circus. When Peanut returns home, the old lady is sad again, until she comes across a camel...who she decides is a cat!
Ellie says: Well, I love peanuts. They’re my favorite aaaaaaannnnnnnndddddd I’m glad I’m not in the zoo. Basically, that’s why I like this book, y’all!
Ellie also suggests:
What a Wonderful World by George Weiss – E WEI
The Napping House by Audrey Wood – E WOO
Sammy
Moose by Josh Gregory– J 599.657 GRE
For grades 3rd – 4th; published 2015
Synopsis: Details the life and habits of a moose.
Sammy says: I am worried that people don’t know how amazing moose are; so, I’ve chosen a book full of facts about moose to make sure you do!
Sammie also suggests:
Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy by Doug Savage - J GN LAS
Too Many Moose by Lisa Bakos – E BAK
Ente
My First German Phrases by Jill Kalz – J 438.432 KAL
For grades Pre-K – 2nd ; published 2012
Synopsis: Text paired with themed illustrations invite the reader to learn to speak German.
Ente says: Did you know my name is German for “duck?” Neue Sprachen lernen ist cool! (Learning new languages is cool!) You should learn another one, too!
Ente also suggests:
My First Mandarin Chinese Phrases by Jill Kalz – J 495.183 KAL
My First Arabic Phrases by Jill Kalz – J 492.782 KAL
Barry & Roger
There’s an Alligator Under my Bed by Mercer Mayer– E MER
For grades Pre K – 2nd, published 1987
Synopsis: How do you get rid of an alligator hiding under your bed?
Barry & Roger say: Barry wants to hide under someone’s bed. Roger wants to read about Siberia because that’s where his ancestors are from. And Barry & Roger would both like to eat some waffles!
Barry & Roger also suggests:
Lost Little Tiger by Johnathan London– E LON
Woodpecker Wants a Waffle! by Steve Breen – E BRE
Gerald
Tiger vs. Nightmare by Emily Tetri– J GN TIG
For grades 1st – 5th; published 2018
Synopsis: Tiger is a very lucky kid: she has a monster living under her bed. Every night, Tiger and Monster play games until it’s time for lights out. Of course, Monster would never try to scare Tiger�€•that’s not what best friends do. But Monster needs to scare someone…it’s a monster, after all. So while Tiger sleeps, Monster scares all of her nightmares away. Thanks to her friend, Tiger has nothing but good dreams. But waiting in the darkness is a nightmare so big and mean that Monster can’t fight it alone. Only teamwork and a lot of bravery can chase this nightmare away.
Gerald says: HELLO MY NAME IS GERALD AND I AM A TIGER! MOSTLY I LIKE THIS BOOK BECAUSE THERE IS A TIGER ON THE FRONT AND I AM A TIGER. BUT ALSO IT IS ABOUT NIGHTMARES AND I HAVE THOSE SOMETIMES TOO. LIKE SOMETIMES, I HAVE NIGHTMARES THAT MY FOOD BOWL IS EMPTY OR THAT THERE ARE NO MORE MOUSIES TO CHASE. ANYWAY, THIS TIGER FIGHTS NIGHTMARES AND I LIKE THAT. I WISH I COULD FIGHT MY NIGHTMARES. TAKE THAT, SCARY DREAMS!
Gerald also suggests:
The Nightmares! series by Jason Segal – J SER NIG
Arturo
Mr. Monkey Bakes a Cakeby Jeff Mack – R MAC (Red)
For Grades Pre-K – 2nd; published 2018
Synopsis: Mr. Monkey bakes a cake and enters it in a contest, but nothing goes as planned.
Arturo says: Mr. Monkey is so funny! He tries to make a cake, but he ends up eating too many bananas. I eat too many bananas all the time! I like this book because it is silly.
Arturo also suggests:
Mr. Monkey visits a School by Jeff Mack – R MAC (Red)
Monkey & Elephant Get Better by Carole Lexa Schaefer – R SCH (Blue)
Millie & Ada
DUDE!by Arron Reynold – E REY
For Grades Pre-K – 2nd ; published 2018
Synopsis: While they are out surfing, a platypus and a beaver are startled when a shark surfaces in the nearby waves. Using just the one word "dude," this almost wordless picture book shows how much gnarly fun the dudes have surfing together.
Millie & Ada says: We love wordless books!
Millie & Ada also suggests:
Mr. Wuffles! By David Wiesner – E WIE
The Lion & the Mouse by Jerr y Pinkney – J CALD PIN
Where’s Walrus? By Steven Savage – E SAV
Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson – E LAW
Miss Louisiana & Harriet
Chicken in Charge by Adam Lehrhaupt – R LEH (RED)
For grades: Pre-K – 3rd; published 2018
Synopsis: When the farmer is away, Zoey, believing she knows all about lambs, takes care of the new flock of babies.
Miss Louisiana says: There is NOTHING better than when a chicken is in charge, y’all! Chickens are clever, attractive, and pretty much know everything! Also, they are WAY more responsible than Alpacas! Harriet definitely agrees with me.
Harriet & Miss Louisiana also suggest:
Alpacas by Michelle M. Hasselius – J 636.296 HAS
All kinds of Friends by Shelley Rotner – E ROT
Theodore
You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Vegetables! by Alex Woolf – J 635 WOO
For grades 3rd – 7th; published 2016
Synopsis: When someone mentions spinach, broccoli or kale, do you think YUCK? Why do we need these foods and what would the world be like without them? Much better, right? Learn how vegetables are grown and cultivated, and the often inspired innovations made with such humble foodstuffs as the potato and the carrot.
Theodore says: KALE! LETTUCE! CARROTS! Vegetables are the best thing ever and everyone should eat them. Don’t eat too many though, save some for a tortoise like me!.
Theodore also suggests:
Galapagos Tortoises: Long-Lived Giant Reptiles by Rebecca E. Hirsch– J 597.924 HIR
Esio Trot by Roald Dahl– J F DAH (Classics)
Bella
Up the Mountain Path by Marianne Dubuc – E DUB
For Grades Pre-K – 2nd; published 2018
Synopsis: Mrs. Badger, a ... collector and naturalist, takes a weekly journey up to Sugarloaf Peak, greeting her friends on the way and sharing her discoveries with them. One day she meets Lulu, a very small cat, who wants to come with her to the top of the mountain. On the way, Lulu learns to take care of the natural world, help those in need, and listen to her heart.
Bella says: I love to be in the outdoors! So this book was very cute and fun to read. I loved Mrs. Badger and Lulu’s adventure. It was a great story of making new friends and sharing the things you like with them.
Bella also suggests:
Explorers of the Wild by Cale Atkinson – E ATK
National Parks of the USA by Kate Siber – J 363.68 SIB