"The trouble with having a tiny elephant for a pet is that you never quite fit in." ~ from Lisa Mantchev's Strictly No Elephants
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Happy Holidays Ngā mihi o te wā. Merry Christmas from Christchurch City Libraries. Here are our library hours over the Christmas & New Year holidays.
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| This Is My Home, This Is My School by Jonathan BeanAnywhere can be a classroom for the homeschooling family in this cheerfully busy book. A little boy guides readers through his day, during which he -- along with his classmates (sisters) and teachers (parents) -- spends time reading, playing music, canning fruit, working in the yard, and exploring the nearby creek. Each activity is an opportunity to learn something new, and the boy's enthusiasm is reflected in the book's loose, lively watercolour art. Following the same family from Jonathan Bean's earlier book, Building Our House, this engaging tale will grab the attention of kids who are just beginning their own school experiences. |
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Waiting by Kevin HenkesFive toy animal friends sit happily together on a windowsill, patiently waiting for anticipated weather changes that are orchestrated by their young human companion. By the Caldecott Medal-winning creator of Kitten's First Full Moon.
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Quaky Cat Helps Out by Diana NoonanQuaky Cat returns to help rebuild the city of Christchurch by helping his homeless cat-friends and taking them in.
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A dog wearing shoes by Sangmi KoA fluffy little dog in yellow booties is adopted by a girl who struggles to accept that the dog might have another owner, in a story complemented by tips about pet adoption.
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| Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev; illustrated by Taeeun YooA little boy and his beloved pet pachyderm are turned away by the sign on the Pet Club's door: "Strictly No Elephants." On their rainy walk home, the two friends encounter a girl and her skunk who've been similarly rejected, and the four resolve to start their own club. Soon, they're joined by a diverse crew of kids and pets (including a porcupine, a penguin, and a tiny narwhal in a fishbowl), and they're hanging up their own sign -- one that doesn't leave anyone out. Bright block-print illustrations add warmth to this "sweet and affirming" (Kirkus Reviews) tale of friendship. For another offbeat read about a too-exclusive club, check out Ethan Long's Fright Club. |
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| Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick; illustrated by Sophie BlackallYou're probably familiar with Winnie-the-Pooh, but do you know where his name came from? Presented as a bedtime story told by a mother to her son, this cozy nonfiction picture book recounts the true tale of Winnie, an orphaned bear cub who was purchased by Canadian veterinarian Harry Colebourn as he traveled to England to serve in World War I. Kids (and adults) will be charmed by the caring relationship between Harry and the adorable, teddy-bear-like Winnie, as well as by the book's surprising, satisfying conclusion. Young animal-lovers interested in a different take on the same story may also enjoy Sally M. Walker's Winnie. |
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| Goodnight, Good Dog by Mary Lyn Ray; illustrated by Rebecca MaloneThe little yellow dog knows the words "good night, good dog." He recognizes the click of the lamp being turned off. But he's not ready for sleep! Instead, he wanders the shadowy house, remembering the happy events of his day. As the soothing repetition of his memories start to make him sleepy, the dog pads back through the "moon quiet" house to snuggle up in his "moon-round bed" and dream of the sun. Though its gentle lines and comforting colors have a more contemporary look, Goodnight, Good Dog recalls the classic simplicity of Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon, and is bound to become a bedtime favorite. |
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The full moon at the napping house by Audrey WoodUnable to fall asleep under a bright full moon, a restless Granny, her grandchild and their animal companions are lulled off to dreamland by a tiny musical visitor's gentle song, in a companion to The Napping House. By the Caldecott Honor-winning creators of King Bidgood's in the Bathtub.
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Whose Story is This, Anyway?
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| Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Adam RexOstensibly, this is a book about a girl named Chloe. But the first characters to introduce themselves are Mac, the author, and Adam, the illustrator. Together, they describe how Chloe gets lost and meets a big, ferocious…dragon? "It's supposed to be a lion, not a dragon!" objects Mac, but Adam insists that a dragon is cooler. Soon, the author vs. illustrator feud (conveyed via words, drawings, and clay figurines) has taken over the book, and it's up to Chloe to take it back. Imaginative and gleefully chaotic, Chloe and the Lion is a great pick for older kids who are savvy enough to recognize storytelling tropes -- and to giggle as those tropes are demolished. |
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| Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham; illustrated by Paul O. ZelinskyThough everyone else is waiting patiently to play their part in this alphabet book, Moose just can't contain his excitement. He restrains himself while Zebra, the director, cues Apple, Ball, and Cat, but by the time it's Duck's turn, Moose can't resist bursting onto the page. Zebra intervenes, and for a while Moose lurks in the background (creating several fun hunt-and-find opportunities for readers). But when he learns that Zebra has given the role of M to Mouse… well, the resulting meltdown isn't pretty, but it is exuberant, cartoonish, and hysterically funny. Fans of this "witty meta-abcedary" (Publishers Weekly) should be sure to pick up the sequel, Circle, Square, Moose. |
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| A Perfectly Messed-Up Story by Patrick McDonnell"Once upon a time, little Louie went skipping merrily along." Louie's romp ends abruptly, however, when a sticky blob of jelly plops onto the tranquil landscape in front of him. Louie is upset: "Who would eat a jelly sandwich while reading MY book?" Soon a glob of peanut butter joins the jelly, followed by even more spills, scribbles, and smudges, each one making Louie even more frantic. Whether readers identify with the fastidious Louie or revel in the mess, they can appreciate the book's cartoon art, photorealistic splotches, and upbeat ending. Older kids looking for a more deliberately trashed book should try Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett's Battle Bunny. |
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| The Book with No Pictures by B.J. NovakTrue to its title, this debut children's book by actor B.J. Novak doesn't have pictures, but it's so perfectly pitched for young audiences that we couldn't resist including it. It begins with an explanation of how books work: "Everything the words say, the person reading the book has to say." Uh-oh! From there, it's all silly songs, goofy sound effects ("BLORK"), and statements like "I am a monkey who taught myself to read." Appearing in smaller type, responses like "is this whole book a trick?" give the reader room to protest, but the uproarious laughter of any listening kid should spur the readaloud to its deliciously ridiculous end. |
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| Chester by Mélanie WattAny family with a cat knows that felines can be contrary, but Chester takes cattitude to new levels. Author and illustrator Mélanie Watt is working on a pleasant little story about Mouse when Chester intervenes. Wielding a red marker, the tubby, egotistical calico rewrites the story so that it's about him instead, kicking off a battle of wills that is as creative as it is absurd. Plot twists, caricatures, and a frilly pink tutu all appear before the end, and though it might seem like Mélanie triumphs, readers may suspect that it's only temporary…and they'd be right, because Chester returns in two sequels, Chester's Back! and Chester's Masterpiece. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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