Our Favorite Books of 2017!

We've read some great books this year in the GMPL Children's Department and want to share with you some of our favorites. Click the title of the book to see it in our catalog and place a hold. Pro tip: books also make great gifts! Happy reading and a happy 2018!

Miss Abby's Top 3
1. Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder
Why: I thought the world she created was really interesting, and I liked that it had an open ending. It wasn't tied neatly in a bow. I thought the concept was original and really enjoyed seeing Jinny's journey, both her successes and failures. She was a very real character to me, good qualities and flaws.








 2. Serafina and the Twisted Staff by Robert Beatty
Why: This series has just the right amount of creepy and fantastic/magical elements to be really intriguing to me. It was a very engaging story. I needed to know what things were going to play out, and I like the characters and world. It's mostly realistic, yet contains magic. It made me think about how I feel about magic's place in the world we live in. 






3. The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
Why: This was a clean, simple, good story. It takes place over one summer and follows sisters and the shenanigans they get into. Each sister has a distinct personality. It's kind of a coming of age story, yet takes place in a very short span of time. It's a good snippet of childhood, I think. 







Miss Kim's Top 3
1. The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors  by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Adam Rex
Why: We've all played the game but I can bet we have never thought about WHY Rock and Paper and Scissors need to battle.  This book begs to be read aloud to a group of slightly older kids.  Just before summer break, my own 3rd grader and her class loved it!








2. Escargot by Dashka Slater, illustrated by Sydney Hanson
Why: I can truly say that this is the only book I feel I need to read with a French accent.  There are even some interactive bits to get kids involved in getting Escargot the snail to his salad.

3. The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands

Why: I have been listening to many different books this year but this was one of my favorites.  There was puzzle solving, code breaking, explosions, mystery, apothecaries, and it all takes place in 1665 London, just before the Great Plague hit in full force.

Miss Liz's Top 3

1. Real Friends by Shannon Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Why: Making and keeping friends is not easy, and this graphic novel based on the author's own childhood experiences is one of the most relatable friendship stories I've ever read. Fans of Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson or any of Raina Telgemeier's graphic novels will love this. 

2. The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Why: Ever wondered why wolves howl at the moon? This hilarious picture book will give you the answer, along with many belly laughs along the way. 

3. Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

Why: This story set in the 1920s off the coast of Massachusetts is full of adventure and mystery while being beautifully written at the same time. I loved the backdrop of the rustic Elizabeth Islands and often felt as if I were there myself. Crow's courageous and spunky personality is really endearing and readers will definitely be rooting for her throughout the entire book. 

Winter Reading With Your Family: Teens

What a frigid winter week it has been! Schools have been closed the past couple days and everyone has been staying safely tucked inside their homes. Hopefully you have been taking advantage of this confining weather and read some great books! I know that I have been spending more time than usual curled up on the couch with a blanket and book. This week, we are highlighting some great teen titles to read in this icy cold weather.


 
 Snowed In by Rachel Hawthorne (HarperTeen, 2007).                                       A light-hearted romance set in the car-less land of Mackinac Island near Michigan with wonderfully realistic characters. A great vacation read if you are still in that easy going mindset!






 
 Whispering to Witches by Anna Dale (Bloomsbury USA Children's, 2005).    A boy encounters witches while spending his Christmas holiday with his mother and stepfather in snowy Canterbury, England. A great fantasy choice for tweens as well as older teens, especially those who are Harry Potter fans.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (St. Martin's Griffin, 2013).
Two misfits fall in love, bonding over comics, alternative music and mutual awkwardness. This realistic and touching story set in 1986 also tackles mature themes such as bullying and abuse, with an ending sure to warm your heart. 









Blankets by Craig Thompson ( Top-Shelf Productions, 2003).
At 592 pages this graphic novel may seem intimidating, but fear not! This wonderfully personal coming of age story, featuring Craig himself as a boy in blustery Wisconsin, is sure to fly by quickly even for reluctant high school readers.

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials #1) by Phillip Pullman (Alfred A. Knopf, 1996).
 A thrilling fantasy that follows orphaned pre-teen Lyra as she ventures to find her kidnapped friend and uncle, complete with danger, witch encounters (both good and bad) and a helpful armored polar bear. Another great read for tweens and teens, it will be hard for them to not race through the next two books in this trilogy.

Great New Graphic Novels

 Here at the library we have been really excited about all of the great new graphic novels recently added to our ever-growing juvenile graphic novel section! Check out some of my favorite picks for the month of May- they are a great choice for a fun beach read or weekend road trip! 

Mermin- Book One: Out of Water by Joey Weiser

"MERMIN the MERMAN from MER?!"  That's the question Pete and his friends ask after finding the fish-boy Mermin washed up on the beach! Mermin has escaped from the oceanic world of Mer and is ready to have some fun on dry land. Fishy pursuers are hot on Mermin's tail and set on bringing him back to Mer, but why? 

 Mermin is packed with humor, action and super fun illustrations. The bright colors in this book seem to pop right off the pages! This story will appeal to kids of all ages and will truly spark your imagination as to what lives under the sea!

Mermin-Book One: Out of Water by Joey Weiser. Published by Oni Press; 2013

Hilda and the Bird Parade by Luke Pearson

  In this third installment of the Hildafolk series we find our plucky blue-haired heroine Hilda thrust into a new world in the city of Trolberg, far from her wooded birthplace. She worries that this new city will not bring the same adventures and excitement as her old home, but she is in for a surprise when we discover that the annual Bird Parade is not as plain as it seems!

Pearson's playful artwork and muted color choices make this visually interesting, and the story is full of discoveries and great for anyone who has ever moved to a new place and felt disappointed or bored. The New York Times even wrote a stellar review for this title that you can read here.  Be sure to read Hildafolk and Hilda and the Midnight Giant too!

 
Hilda and the Bird Parade by Luke Pearson. Published by Flying Eye Books; 2012

 Owly: Tiny Tales by Andy Runton 

 Owly is an adorable little owl with many woodland friends who get into all sorts of trouble and adventures. Owly has been likened to the stories of Winnie the Pooh and is sure to please young readers with it's heartwarming characters. Runton's black and white illustrations, wordless narrative style and inventive use of symbols and action make this a charming read.

 

This is the fifth graphic novel in the amazing all-ages Owly series, Tiny Tales, and collects the very first out-of-print Owly stories from the original mini-comics, as well as the out-of-print Free Comic Book Day stories Splashin' Around, Breakin' The Ice, and Helping Hands. The book also includes some cool bonus material, such as an "Early Owly" sketchbook section and "How To Draw Owly".

Owly: Tiny Tales by Andy Runton. Published by Top Shelf Productions; 2012

Web Wednesday with Babymouse!

If you can't get enough cupcakes like Babymouse, the graphic novel series by Jennifer L. Holm, then you should check out the Babymouse site. You can find out more about Babymouse, look up summaries of the books, and create fun stuff like a poster.  Your librarians would love it if you sent us an e-card!
If you're a fan of Babymouse you can ask a librarian for other reading suggestions.  The brother-sister duo also has a newer series of graphic novels, Squish!   Check it out at GMPL! 

Read to Connect

 

Stories not only connect us with people, places, and symbols that are familiar and remind us of home, stories broaden our worldview by inviting us into the lives of others.  Travel back in time with these kids to learn about communism, explore other cultures, and best of all, have a dangerous adventure (or two):

Little White Duck: A Childhood in China by Na Lui and Andres Vera Martinez

In this graphic memoir, Liu takes us back to China after the death of Chairman Mao when she was just a small child.  In eight short stories, Liu concocts schemes to collect rat tails and rid China of pests, learns what her relatives ate to escape starvation (it’s gross!), and tells us the myth of the New Year’s dragon. 

Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Sasha is about to become a Young Pioneer—a high honor for a ten-year-old boy living in the Soviet Union—when his father is arrested in the middle of the night as a traitor.  Sasha is left homeless and unqualified to become a Young Pioneer.  With his world turned upside down, Sasha is no longer sure Stalin is his hero…now he has choices to make.

(Sasha’s story is a great introduction to the Cold War.)

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis

Peter Sis was born in Czechoslovakia on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain.  Find out how he risked his life, rebelling against the Soviet Union to achieve his dream of becoming an artist.

This picture book is full of beautiful illustrations that allow us a peek behind the Iron Curtain into Peter Sis's childhood.

Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel

  Our adventure in Ghostopolis begins when terminally ill Garth Hale is caught in a chase between ghost hunter Frank Gallows and a skeletal horse, accidentally pulling him into the spirit world of the afterlife. Garth is still very much alive when he arrives in the world of the dead, and soon he encounters creatures both good and evil in this new and dangerous world.

   Upon witnessing Garth's flashy disappearance from his bedroom, his mother arrives at the Supernatural Immigration Task Force, frantically urging the ghost hunters there to travel into the spirit world to retrieve her son. Frank is abruptly fired from the SITF for his frequent missteps and chooses to go after Garth with only the assistance of an ex-girlfriend who has some very useful connections to the world of Ghostopolis.

   Garth discovers that he has special abilities in the spirit world because he is still alive, such as flying! This soon draws the attention and anger of the spirit world's evil ruler who sends very creepy and very large bugs after him. With the help of his grandfather and his ghostly mare, Skinny,  Garth must try his best to escape Ghostopolis and return to the world of the living. Will the SITF arrive in time to save Garth? Is it possible that Frank may not botch up his rogue rescue mission?

   The story ends quickly, but not without an epic battle involving Garth, an army of skeletons and the smashing of tall buildings!

   This is a great fantasy-adventure story with wacky humor and fun, creepy elements. Sprinkled throughout are also some touching moments involving Garth's mother and grandfather. The illustrations are wonderful, combining a distinctly cartoon style with an interesting color palette. Stop in the library today to pick up this great graphic novel!

Ghostopolis created, written and drawn by Doug TenNapel; Published by Graphix/Scholastic , 2010