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"The moon is a friend for the lonesome to talk with. The moon is at once easy and costly, cheap and priceless…" ~ Carl Sandburg (1878-1967), American poet
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| One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck; illustrated by Yasmeen IsmailTiny, tutu-clad Sophia wants only one thing for her birthday: a pet giraffe. Convincing her family, however, will take all of Sophia's powers of persuasion. Carefully, the clever girl makes her pitches, each one customized for her mother (a judge), her father (a businessman), her uncle (a politician), and her grand-mamá (who's notoriously strict). Will her lengthy arguments be successful, or is short and sweet the way to go? Pairing loose, lively illustrations with delicious vocabulary-building words such as "loquacious" and "verbose" (defined in a handy glossary at the end), One Word from Sophia may prompt one more word from kids: "Again!" |
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| The Princess and the Pony by Kate BeatonIn her first picture book, award-winning comics artist Kate Beaton introduces pint-sized warrior princess Pinecone, who longs for a mighty steed…but is given a stubby-legged, bug-eyed pony instead. Despite her disappointment -- and the fact that the roly-poly creature isn't good at much besides falling over -- Pinecone brings her pony to the next warrior melee, where it gives her an unexpected advantage. With perfectly-pitched silliness, an upbeat message, and sly visual references to history and pop culture, The Princess and the Pony is a "hip, modern, and absolutely refreshing" tale for readers of all ages. |
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| Night Animals by Gianna Marino Anyone who's ever been afraid of the dark (and what might lurk within it) can relate to Possum, who cowers inside a tree stump as night falls. When Skunk wanders by to ask why he's hiding, Possum's terrified response is "Night animals!" Soon Skunk is hiding along with him, and they're joined by a worried wolf and a cowardly bear before a brave bat finally comes along to set them straight. Readers looking for another slapstick romp about fearsome-yet-frightened nocturnal creatures should check out Josh Schneider's Bedtime Monsters, while those who want further nighttime adventures might try Lizi Boyd's Flashlight or Mordecai Gerstein's The Night World. |
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| Wait by Antoinette PortisIt takes scarcely more than two words to tell this story about a mother and child rushing to catch a train. Anxiously checking her watch, the mother calls to the dawdling boy to "hurry!" But each time, the boy implores her to "wait" as his attention wanders to the fascinating sights they pass: a hungry duck, a friendly construction worker, a curious dog, and finally, a sight so beautiful that even the stressed-out mother can't help but stop and look in wonder. Similar to JonArno Lawson's Sidewalk Flowers, this simple yet lovely picture book is grounded in an observant child's ability to find beauty in the everyday world.
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| Ask Me by Bernard Waber; illustrated by Suzy Lee"Ask me what I like." So begins an easygoing give-and-take between a young girl and her father. As the pair takes a walk through their neighborhood, the father's questions gently encourage the energetic girl's litany of favorites: she likes turtles, geese, the color red, lightning bugs (NOT fireflies), splashing in the rain, stories about bears… The meandering, affectionate conversation continues all the way home, where it's almost time for bed. Leisurely paced and illustrated in warm, autumnal hues, Ask Me is a "sublimely satisfying" (Kirkus Reviews) choice for one-on-one sharing at bedtime or any other quiet time. |
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| The Boy and the Moon by James Christopher CarrollOne night at midnight, a small boy and his friends -- an owl, a rabbit, a flower, a toad, a chicken, and a dog -- go outside to frolic and howl at the moon. It's a fine bit of revelry...until the moon gets stuck in a tree, and the boy must undertake a daring rescue (don't worry; all ends well, and snugly). This book's unusual illustrations "convey the silvery magic of a moonlit evening" (Booklist) and have a surreal, dreamlike quality; kids with a penchant for the utterly fantastical will be charmed. |
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| How to Bicycle to the Moon to Plant Sunflowers: A Simple but Brilliant Plan... by Mordicai GersteinWhen a messy-haired kid with a gap-toothed grin decides that the moon looks sad, he devises an ingenious 24-step plan to bicycle to the moon and perk it up with some sunflowers. Though it's based on scientific facts, most of the boy's plan is laughably implausible, yet readers will be won over by his unshakable optimism. Loaded with the kind of wacky ideas that kids love -- what's not awesome about a giant slingshot to the moon? -- and illustrated with detailed cartoons, this quirky how-to guide (from Caldecott Medalist Mordicai Gerstein) is a great pick for older kids and aspiring engineers. |
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| Earth Space Moon Base by Ben Joel PriceA spaceman, a robot, and a monkey are packing for a trip…it sounds like the set-up for a corny joke, but the humor in this rhyming picture book is decidedly more offbeat. The three characters live in a round orange base on the moon, where they seem to be preparing for a mysterious mission. Why are they spying on a certain crater? Why is the monkey sprinkling the ground with bananas? These questions are answered by the startling, dramatic appearance of -- well, we won't spoil it for you, except to say that budding science fiction fans are sure to get their fill of tentacles, eyestalks, and antennae.
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| Moonday by Adam RexAfter a sleepy, moonlit car trip, a girl awakens to find that the moon has followed her home. Huge and radiant, it hovers in her backyard, preventing the sun from rising and spreading drowsiness all over town. When the tide starts to trickle in, the girl and her family come up with a plan to gently tempt the moon back to its place in the sky. With its dreamlike tone and lovely, luminous artwork, Moonday is sure to keep kids entranced. For a similar story with a more realistic feel, try Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper. |
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| Mooncakes by Loretta Seto; illustrated by Renné BenoitIt's time for the Chinese Moon Festival, and one delighted little girl lovingly describes her family's celebration. Together they light the paper lanterns and eat sweet mooncakes, then snuggle up together under the full moon for storytelling from Mama and Baba. Illustrated in a more formal style than the softly tinted watercolors in the rest of the book, these stories-within-the-story focus on legendary figures, including the Jade Rabbit who lives on the moon. Combining traditional tales with contemporary life, this cozy family read creates a "sense of magic and possibility" (Publishers Weekly) that's hard to resist.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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West Babylon Public Library 211 Route 109 West Babylon, New York 11704 (631) 669-5445http://wbpl.us |
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