Book Review: Pax

"Pax was only a kit when his family was killed, and “his boy” Peter rescued him from abandonment and certain death. Now the war front approaches, and when Peter’s father enlists, Peter has to move in with his grandpa. Far worse than being forced to leave home is the fact that Pax can’t go. Peter listens to his stern father—as he usually does—and throws Pax’s favorite toy soldier into the woods. When the fox runs to retrieve it, Peter and his dad get back in the car and leave him there—alone. But before Peter makes it through even one night under his grandfather’s roof, regret and duty spur him to action; he packs for a trek to get his best friend back and sneaks into the night. This is the story of Peter, Pax, and their independent struggles to return to one another against all odds. Told from the alternating viewpoints of Peter and Pax."-Goodreads

I started this book not really knowing what I was getting myself into. I mean this in the best way possible. This book is full of heart. It will break yours into tiny pieces, and hand you the tape to put it back together. I was surprised to find the book to be more than just about a boy and his pet fox. The book  delves into the tragedies of war, and the impact it has upon all living creatures. It looks at the power of choice, love, and the strength that lives within all of us, even when we don't see it ourselves. This story will please both children and adults. Pennypacker has written such a hard-hitting novel by not shying away from the messy things. Because of this, more sensitive children might find this to be disturbing, and is recommended for children 10+. This is the kind of book that plants itself in your heart, slowly blooming over time, as its many depths grow inside of you. 

Book Level: 5.3
AR Points: 8

Vacation Reads

Happy (belated) New Year! We have been busy preparing our programs and catching up from the holidays. We hope you all had a most enjoyable holiday season. We had some time off in late December, and I filled my time with reading. I read three books over my vacation, and it got me thinking about how we choose what to read. I usually have a trunk full of books to choose from and generally have no less than 20 checked out at a time. This may seem like over-kill, but I rest easy knowing that I can select a book from various genres, reading levels, and length on a whim. The three I read over vacation were: Diary of  Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, and A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle. These books couldn't be more different from each other, but I enjoyed them all.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. Amulet Books, 2007.

This book series is still very popular at our library, especially with the recent release of book 9 in the series, The Long Haul. When I was browsing the shelves for good vacation reads and actually saw book one on the shelf, I snatched it up. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about!

With minimalistic and goofy drawings coupled with his own words, Greg Heffley walks us through life in middle school in his diary journal. Greg goes through some tough times with his best friend, Rowley, as they get chased by bullies on Halloween, try to avoid the Cheese Touch at recess, and have to survive through a unit on wrestling in gym. In typical preteen fashion, Greg is utterly unaware of others feelings and his commentary is what drives the humor in the book.

A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle. Harry N. Abrams, 2012.

I mean, look at that cover! Who wouldn't want to immediately crack this baby open?? I chose this book based on the cover (I know, I know! We shouldn't do that.) The story takes place in Ireland and follows 12 year-old Mary O'Hara as she struggles between being a girl and growing up. Mary is very close with her ailing grandmother, Emer, and visits her daily in the hospital with her mother, Scarlett. On Mary's walk home from school she meets an odd and old-fashioned woman. Upon further interaction, the woman turns out to be the ghost of her great-grandmother, Tansey! This book is so beautifully written, and celebrates the love a family can share, as well as the special bond between generations. After reading this cheeky and touching book, I want to move to Ireland and start saying 'grand'.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Bullseye Books, Reprint Edition 1988.

This classic book was originally published in 1961, and illustrated by Jules Feiffer. I often think I missed the boat on so many classics and have been chipping away at a list. If you're looking for a list New York Public Library shares a list of 100 classic children's books.

Milo is a young boy who is easily bored and unenthused about life in general. All of this changes for young Milo when he arrives home one day to find a magical tollbooth in his room! He assembles the booth and motors off in his play car, and into a world of imagination. Milo quickly makes several friends and they travel through a strange new world to save the princesses, Rhyme and Reason. The word play in this book had me laughing aloud, and I instantly fell in love. I was so eager to finish reading this book during a car trip that my helpful husband read the end to me. 

What books did you miss the first time around? Are there classics on your radar you want to read? What is it about a book that grabs your attention? Be sure to follow our books on Goodreads!

Fresh Picks! November

Can you believe it’s already November?! Here are some new books to cozy up with as the weather gets colder:

Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes. By Nicola Davies. Illustrated by Emily Sutton. Candlewick Press, 2014.

Image from Amazon

Image from The New York Times

  

Did you know that there are creatures so tiny that millions of them can fit on an ant’s antenna? Using facts such as these to introduce the topic, Davies creatively makes the concept of microbes easily understandable. Tiny Creatures is a simple, concise, and beautifully illustrated look into a microscopic world all around us. With easy-to-relate-to analogies, comparisons, and retro-ish illustrations, Tiny Creatures is a fun, and informative book for learning about our world’s hardest workers. 

Once Upon an Alphabet: Short Stories for All the Letters. By Oliver Jeffers. Philomel Books, 2014.

Much more than your average alphabet book! From an Astronaut who’s afraid of heights, a hole that goes on Forever, to an Owl that rides onward on the back of an octopus, Jeffers' humorous and delightful mini-narratives make for a fun, surprising and exciting alphabet experience. 

Quest. By Aaron Becker. Candlewick Press, 2014.

The journey continues! An imaginative, and adventure-packed sequel to the Caldecott Honor book, Journey. This wordless picture book takes readers into a fast-paced, thrilling fantasyland. “Becker creates a visual narrative that is clear enough for children to decipher but complex enough to reward multiple readings.” –School Library Journal  

Sisters. By Raina Telgemeier. Scholastic, 2014.

A companion to Telgemeier’s #1 New York Times bestselling, and award-winning graphic novel, Smile. Telgemeier once again creates a relatable, and funny story for young adults. As Raina heads out for a family road trip from California to Colorado, she experiences an eventful trip with her mother, sister, and younger brother. A great story about families, but especially sisters.

Spirit’s Key. By Edith Cohen. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2014.

 After Spirit's dog, Sky, mysteriously dies, a strange sickness spreads throughout her town killing its people and dogs. Everyone on the island blames the wild dogs, thought to possess dangerous spirits. Everyone except Spirit. A race against time, Spirit must solve the mystery to save the island before it's too late. With themes of belonging, doing what is right, and overcoming loss, Cohn's debut novel is like no other.

Superstitions and Paranormal Science

This Friday falls on the 13th of the month, commonly believed to be an unlucky day. The assumption that this day is full of evil is steeped in history and myth, dating back to Biblical times. You can read more about the lore surrounding this day on National Geographic's site. The phobia of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia after the Norse goddess, Frigga, whom Friday is named after, and triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number thirteen. 

The Chicago Tribune listed 13 superstitions for Halloween, but many of them are feared all year long. Live Science uncovered the history of 13 common superstitions and shared them in 2012. You can read the article here. Time Magazine shared a brief history of Friday the 13th, and one of my favorite fun facts: In 1939 citizens of a small town in Indiana attached bells to all the resident black cats so they wouldn't cross paths with them. This seemed to be a successful way to avoid these felines, so they continued this precaution for the next three years. Many people have tried to debunk the myths surrounding Friday the 13th, and one group was formed to do just this. History.com tells us about the popular group the Thirteen Club, which was formed in the 1880's and ran through the 1940's. This group of New Yorkers would meet on the 13th and eat in groups of 13, on a table covered with spilled salt, naturally. 

As an elementary school student, some of my favorite non-fiction sections to explore were the 000s and 100s, home to such wondrous topics as UFOs, ghosts, aliens and witches. To celebrate the week of Friday the 13th, we want to share some books that we think are out of this world.

Alien Alert by Elizabeth Jaffe.  Phonics Comics, 2005.
Beginning readers can join in the graphic novel craze and enjoy three short stories all about aliens. The first story follows an alien band, the Crater Heads, as they explore the world around them to find new sounds to inspire their songs. From staplers to toilets, they try to find the right beat to get the crowd to tap their toes. The bright illustrations and silly plots are sure to entice readers to continue the stories.

Bigfoot and Adaptation (Part of the  Monster Science series) by Terry Collins. Graphic Library, 2011.
This non-fiction series, Monster Science, is represented in graphic novel format and aims to explain scientific principles with fun characters and easy to understand writing. Adaptation is explained using Bigfoot as a model to show how species can change over time. Check out the whole series! 

Witches by Roald Dahl. Puffin, Reprint Edition 2007.
After James's parents pass away, he goes to live with his Norwegian grandmother. She tells James stories about scary witches who like to cast spells to get rid of children. James believes his grandmother is just telling stories, until he comes face to face with a real witch!

Aliens Don't Wear Braces by Debbie Dadey. Scholastic Books, 1993.
After the art teacher disappears amid strange, bright lights, the surprising (and very pale) replacement teacher arrives. The longer she stays, the more objects around Bailey City start mysteriously losing their colors. Even more mysterious, the new art teacher seems to be getting brighter! Can the Bailey School Kids save the city?

  
Monster's Monster by Patrick McDonnell. Little, Brown, 2012.
Three little monsters, Grouch, Grump, and Gloom 'n Doom, think they are the worst monsters around and they're very proud of it! To put their bickering to a rest, they work together to create an even bigger and badder monster! But their monster isn't so bad after all.

 

Aliens on Vacation (Book one of the Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast series) by Clete Barrett Smith.  Disney-Hyperion, 2012.
David reluctantly leaves Florida for the summer to stay with his crazy grandma in Washington state. He isn't excited about hanging out in the "Middle of Nowhere", but his attitude changes once he realizes his grandma's Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast is more than it seems.  

Witches: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem by Rosalyn Schanzer. National Geographic Children's Books, 2011. 
This award-winning work of non-fiction chronicles the events leading up to the Salem witch trials. Two young girls in Salem Village begin twisting and choking, and when a cure can't be found they are pronounced bewitched. 



Don't forget that this is the first official week of our 2014 summer reading program, "Fizz! Boom! Read!". If you or your little one love paranormal topics and science fiction, join us for a special science fiction themed storytime this Friday the 13th! We will share stories of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and other spooky, fun creatures! All ages are welcome and you will get to leave with a cool craft. Tweens can get together for our Fear Factor event to play gross games and minute to win it challenges. Do you have any Friday the 13th traditions or superstitions?