Running out of reading fuel?
February is a reading month. We don’t want you to run out of books. “When days lengthen, winter strengthens,” as the old-timers used to say. Herewith, the mid-winter edition of North Country librarians recommended reading — for youngsters and adults alike. Great titles here. Also, at the end of the post you’ll find information about a new library program called, “book in a bag.”
Storytime Favorites
Clever Jack Takes the Cake, by Candace Fleming (2010) “What would you do if you were invited to the princess’s tenth birthday party but didn’t have money for a gift? Well, clever Jack decides to bake the princess a cake. Now he just has to get it to the castle in one piece. What could possibly go wrong?” (Description from Goodreads) The best laid plans go terribly awry in this fairytale of birthdays, baking, and how to make the best of it when things fall apart. A great read-aloud for early elementary school-aged children. –Angela Newman, North Country Library System
Boo Hoo Bird, by Jeremy Tankard (2009 “A group of animal children are playing ball in the forest when Bird gets bonked on the head. Everyone tries to get Bird to stop crying with their own unique technique. The illustrations are colorful, large and enhance the telling of this playful story of few words.” –Bridget Whalen-Nevin, Morristown Public Library
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin (2010) “Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other big messes! But no matter what color his shoes are, Pete keeps movin’ and groovin’ and singing his song… because ‘it’s all good.'” I love to use this book with children from toddler through school age because in addition to the great message of “no matter what you step in, keep walking along, singing your song!”… it has a verse that’s great to sing aloud, and the kids are always eager to join in! We have a blast!–Valerie White, children’s librarian, Canton Free Library
Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long (2011) “Frogs sing and do their own version of the Hokey Pokey.” I love reading this book during story time because the text has a fun rhythm that is easy to read aloud and it gets everyone up and moving. The story line is recognizable for most preschoolers, but they always giggle as we bounce around the room. Most of the time we’re singing in unison by the end–just in time for the silly twist at the end!–Ashley Pickett, children’s librarian, Flower Memorial Library
Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj (2011) “Important secrets about how best to live a cat’s life will be revealed only to those who can prove that they are genuine cats.” This is one of my all-time story time favorites because listeners get to use their imagination and act out the story as we go along. The text provides an opportunity for the reader to use natural facial expressions to elaborate on the story. The theme of the books invites discussion before the story begins and allows for the reader to encourage even the most reluctant kids to participate. –Ashley Pickett, children’s librarian, Flower Memorial Library, Watertown
Book Club Recommendations
No Ordinary Times Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt: the home front in WWII by Doris Kearns Goodwin (1994)
“From the best-selling author of The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys and Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream comes a compelling chronicle of a nation and its leaders during the period when modern America was created. Presenting an aspect of American history that has never been fully told, Doris Kearns Goodwin writes a brilliant narrative account of how the United States of 1940, an isolationist country divided along class lines, still suffering the ravages of a decade-long depression and woefully unprepared for war, was unified by a common threat and by the extraordinary leadership of Franklin Roosevelt to become, only five years later, the preeminent economic and military power in the world.”
When the Morning Book Group read this title several members shared their childhood memories of WWII and the flavor of the time. Miss Goodwin writes a compelling narrative that is rich with detail. We discussed this title over two meetings and the group eventually took a day trip to Hyde Park, New York in the Hudson Valley to visit President Roosevelt’s Library. I highly recommend reading titles that reflect the history of the area and, then, visiting the historic site as a group. The Phoenix Public library book clubs have visited the Women’s Hall of Fame and the National Women’s Museum after reading Seneca Falls Inheritance by Miriam Grace Monfredo and the Seward House after reading Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. We are planning on visiting Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum in Oswego as we have read Haven by Ruth Gruber and the Harriet Tubman National Park in Auburn as we have read several historical fiction books on the black experience during the Civil War.–Noreen Patterson, Phoenix Public Library
Becoming Nicole by Amy Ellis Nutt. (2015) (Available as a Book Club in a Bag kit from North Country Library System)
“The inspiring true story of a transgender girl, her identical twin brother, and an ordinary American family’s extraordinary journey to understand, nurture, and celebrate the uniqueness in us all, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning science reporter for The Washington Post.”
This is a well written narrative that includes medical explanations as well as the narrative of a family coming to terms with a transgender child. Book group members expressed that they felt enlightened and had more understanding of the restroom issue currently in the news. The group watched a PBS documentary on the formation of human life and heard experiences from family members of a transgender child. If you read only the sections devoted to the medical information, you will gain insight. There is so much to learn in the world.–Noreen Patterson, Phoenix Public Library
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (2014)
“Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet. So begins the story of this exquisite debut novel, about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. When Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together tumbles into chaos, forcing them to confront the long-kept secrets that have been slowly pulling them apart.”
“This is the sort of story that seems simple at first but is surprisingly complex and nuanced. There’s enough going on to fuel some great book club discussion!”–Rebecca Donnelly, Norwood Public Library
The Girls by Emma Cline (2016)
“Northern California, during the violent end of the 1960s. At the start of summer, a lonely and thoughtful teenager, Evie Boyd, sees a group of girls in the park, and is immediately caught by their freedom, their careless dress, their dangerous aura of abandon. Soon, Evie is enthralled with Suzanne, a mesmerizing older girl, and is drawn into the circle of a soon-to-be infamous cult and the man who is its charismatic leader. ”
I won’t be spoiling the plot by comparing the events to the Manson murders, since this is mentioned in numerous reviews. But even though it’s a story we’ve all heard, we’ve never heard THIS version. I recommend this for fans of psychological thrillers and case-studies, both fictional and non-fictional.–Jenna Brown, Norwood Public Library
The Passenger by Lisa Lutz (2016)
“She’s left her dead husband — and within forty-eight hours Tanya Dubois is a fugitive. It’s almost impossible to live off the grid today, but Tanya-once-Amelia-now-Debra and Blue, a bartender, have the courage, the ingenuity, and the desperation, to try. Hopscotching from city to city, Debra especially is chased by a very dark secret … can she outrun her past?” A mysterious psychological thriller with a sense of humor? An improbable tall tale? An intriguing page-turner that will keep you guessing? Definitely all of the above. A fantastic addition to the catalog of an author I enjoy? For sure!!–Jenna Brown, Norwood Public Library
(YA Book Club pick) Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War, by Steve Sheinkin (2015)
“On June 13, 1971, the front page of the New York Times announced the existence of a 7,000-page collection of documents containing a secret history of the Vietnam War. Known as The Pentagon Papers, these files had been commissioned by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. Chronicling every action the government had taken in the Vietnam War, including an attempt by Nixon to foil peace talks, these papers revealed a pattern of deception spanning over twenty years and four presidencies, and forever changed the relationship between American citizens and the politicians claiming to represent their interests.” (Description from Goodreads)
Leave it to Steve Sheinkin to take a subject I didn’t know I was interested in and turn it into a book I can’t put down. An utterly compelling work of young adult nonfiction that is tailor-made for group discussion. –Angela Newman North Country Library System
Book Club in a Bag
The Book Club in a Bag program from NCLS provides 12 copies of a single title and a discussion guide to book clubs in the 4 counties NCLS serves. Current titles include adult fiction and nonfiction and young adult fiction, and can be found through the NCLS catalog https://enterprise.ncls.org/client/nclscat/search/results?qu=book+club+in+a+bag&te=ILS
We’re always taking suggestions for new titles to be included in Book Club in a Bag! Send your suggestions to Angela Newman at [email protected]
If you’re a librarian, send your suggested titles for this monthly reading list to [email protected] (Rebecca Donnelly).
Thanks!
