Earl, David G. Koala Koala, I’m Not A Bear, I’m A Koala. Ill. T. Kyle Gentry.
Koala Koala is not a bear; he’s a koala just a koala. However, when he meets his new teacher, who knows everything about everything, he must prove that he is not a koala bear. This proves to be a frustrating and demanding task when his classmates and even his best friend Wumbatt have doubts. Keep up with Koala Koala and Friends at: www.koalakoala.com

Enderle, Dotti. Grandpa for Sale. Ill. T. Kyle Gentry.
Writers’ League of Texas Teddy Children’s Book Award 2007 winner, short works; 2008 Storytelling World Resource Award winner
As her Grandpa naps on the sofa, Lizzie minds the family antique store. When the extravagantly rich Mrs. Bradley Larchmont III enters the shop and begins a buying spree, she refuses to leave without bargaining for an unexpected item… Lizzie’s Grandpa! As the stakes rise, Lizzie imagines all of the fabulous things she could buy with the money she is offered. But what fun would a sailboat, an ice cream parlor, or an amusement park be without Grandpa? Readers will enjoy the clever play between gray tones and vivid color that illustrates Lizzie’s growing conflict. This farcical storyline, coupled with vibrant paintings, ultimately stresses the importance of family and friendship over material possessions and selfish, money-driven desires.

Enderle, Dotti. Hidden. Ill. T. Kyle Gentry.
A sealed envelope reveals clues to a hidden treasure. Twelve-year-old Fiona finds an unopened love letter containing mysterious symbols when she and her parents clear out her recently deceased grandmother’s house. She soon realizes the symbols contain clues to a long-hidden treasure, and suddenly, her grandmother’s house and belongings are more than just old, boring junk. Solving the mystery requires Fiona to learn more about both astronomy and mythology as she discovers the clues to two murders and a kidnapping, encounters a ghost, and eventually finds buried treasure.

Becker, Brooke. The Adventures of Sammy Snowflake (v. I). Ill. T. Kyle Gentry.
This is the story of Sammy the Snowflake and change. Sammy is introduced to the snowflake facts of life by his parents. He learns that a snowflake’s life is all about change; changing from flake to water to vapor and then back to flake. He doesn’t want to change as he likes his life just the way it is. He decides to go on a journey to find Weather, because for him, it seems that Weather is the cause of all this changing. He figures that if he can convince Weather not to change, then he won’t have to. His best friend Sylvie accompanies him on this quest across the cloud to the Hidden Crystalline Monastery. That is where the Great and Wise Snowflake Elders reside, and they are the only ones who know how to find Weather. And so begins the long, exciting, and dangerous adventure!




Pick of the Week: 3/14/2011

Wood, Audrey. King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub. Ill. Don Wood.
In this delightful story, the king refuses to leave his bathtub and rule the kingdom. One by one, the Knight, the Queen, the Duke, and eventually all the members of the King’s Court attempt–and fail–to persuade King Bidgood to leave his sumptuous bath. Why King Bidgood finally leaves his bathtub makes a delightful surprise ending to this exuberant tale.




Pick of the Week: 3/7/2011

Shaw, Nancy E. Sheep in a Jeep. Ill. Margot Apple.
This story, much like the jeep, gathers momentum from page one. When five foolish sheep cram into one jeep, their high spirits and occasional lack of foresight (like forgetting to steer) combine to make a riotous, if ill-fated, road trip. Plummeting over a hill, tumbling into a mud puddle, yelping for help, these muttonheads just can’t get their act together, much to the delight of young readers.

Tresselt, Alvin. White Snow, Bright Snow. Ill. Roger Duvoisin.
When the first flakes fell from the grey sky, the postman and the farmer and the policeman and his wife scurried about doing all the practical things grownups do when a snowstorm comes. But the children laughed and danced, and caught the lacy snowflakes on thier tongues.
All the wonder and delight a child feels in a snowfall is caught in the pages of this book — the frost ferns on the window sill, the snow man in the yard and the mystery and magic of a new white world. Roger Duvoisin’s pictures in soft blue half-tones with briliant splashes of yellow and red emphasize the gaiety and humor as well as the poetic quality of the text.




Pick of the Week: 2/14/2011

Bond, Felicia. Day It Rained Hearts.
One day it rains hearts, and Cornelia Augusta catches them. Each heart is special in its own way, and Cornelia Augusta knows exactly who to send them to.




Pick of the Week: 2/7/2011

Boynton, Sandra. The Going-To-Bed Book.
For a little one who is reluctant to go to bed, sometimes a silly book is just the ticket. And when it comes to silly books, Sandra Boynton is the undisputed queen. In The Going to Bed Book, an ark full of animals watches the sun go down and then prepares for bed. They take a bath (“in one big tub”), find pajamas, brush their teeth, do exercises up on deck (imagine an elephant jumping rope, a moose lifting weights, and a pig doing handstands), and finally say good night. Boynton’s inimitable animal characters have graced the pages of scads of picture books over the years. She has an extraordinary knack for knowing what appeals to small children: simple rhymes, goofy animals in goofy settings, and sweet, comforting stories. This book, along with her many other board-book titles (Moo, Baa, La La La!, But Not the Hippopotamus, and others) will surely remain a favorite.




Chinese New Year: 2/3/2011

Holub, Joan. Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book. Ill. Benrei Huang.
It’s Chinese New Year and there are so many fun things to do! Shopping at the outdoor market for fresh flowers, eating New Year’s dinner with the whole family, receiving red envelopes from Grandma and Grandpa, and best of all-watching the spectacular Chinese New Year’s parade! Introduce the customs of Chinese New Year to even the youngest readers with this festive new lift-the-flap book.

Yim, Shirin. Ruby’s Wish. Ill. Sophie Blackall.
Ruby is unlike most little girls in old China. Instead of aspiring to get married, Ruby is determined to attend university when she grows up, just like the boys in her family. Based upon the inspirational story of the author’s grandmother and accompanied by richly detailed illustrations, Ruby’s Wish is an engaging portrait of a young girl who strives for more and a family who rewards her hard work and courage.

Chin, Oliver. The Year of the Rabbit. Ill. Justin Roth.
Another adventurous tale from Oliver Chin, The Year of the Rabbit will be sure to keep children on the edge of their seats as they wait to discover how two friends help each other in need. Chin’s descriptive storytelling will keep children enthralled and looking forward to his next book!

Mahoney, Judy. Teach Me Everyday Chinese (Teach Me Series: Chinese Edition). Ed. Linda Nelson. Ill. Patrick Girouard.
Bring Chinese language learning alive with this 32-page brilliantly illustrated book with companion audio CD. Listen, learn and sing along with classic songs for children in this new dual language format. A perfect place to start exploring the Chinese language with children of all ages!

Olive, Guillaume and Zihong He. My First Book of Chinese Calligraphy.
A fun and engaging way to learn, My First Book of Chinese Calligraphy is an excellent introduction to China and one of China’s most recognizable arts for young people. Join Mimi as she takes the first steps towards learning this magical art. Dive in, and explore: How Chinese words first began, thousands of years ago; How to draw the 8 strokes; with them, you can write anything; What “radicals” are…and how to unlock their secrets; And how to use the brush, the paper and ink to enjoy writing in Chinese. The included interactive CD-ROM enables learners to play creative games to see, hear and try Chinese writing; listen to the pronunciation of the Chinese characters; observe calligraphers in action and print the characters to create practice pages.

Ehlert, Lois. Snowballs.
Pull on your mittens and head outside for a snowball day. Grab some snow and start rolling. With a few found objects–like buttons and fabric and seeds–and a little imagination, you can create a whole family out of snow. Children will love poring over Lois Ehlert’s bold, funny illustrations and identifying the common (and not so common) objects she uses to decorate her snowy family.




Pick of the Week: 1/24/2011

Brett, Jan. The Mitten 20th Anniversary Edition.
Millions of readers have fallen in love with Jan Brett’s The Mitten, and over 2.5 million copies have been sold since publication in 1989. This striking oversized anniversary edition with a silver foil jacket and a fresh image of the woodland animals will attract fans old and new, and adult collectors of Jan Brett’s books.
Set in a snowy forest, the fun begins when, one by one, animals crawl into Nicki’s lost white mitten to get warm until the bear sneezes, sending the animals flying up and out of the mitten. On each turn of the page, Jan hints at what animal is coming next in her signature borders, inspired by Ukrainian folk art.




Pick of the Week: 1/17/2011

Burton, Virginia L. Katy and the Big Snow.
In this paperback edition of Katy and the Big Snow, complete with CD audio recording, Katy, a brave and untiring tractor, who pushes a bulldozer in the summer and a snowplow in the winter, makes it possible for the townspeople to do their jobs.




Pick of the Week: 1/10/2011

Bancroft, Henrietta. Animals in Winter. Ill. Helen K. Davie
Have you ever seen a butterfly in the snow? Probably not. Butterflies can’t survive cold weather, so when winter comes, many butterflies fly to warmer places. They migrate. Woodchucks don’t like cold weather either but they don’t migrate; they hibernate. Woodchucks sleep in their dens all winter long. Read and find out how other animals cope with winter’s worst weather.




Pick of the Week: 1/3/2011

Yolen, Jane. Owl Moon.
A girl and her father go owling on a moonlit winter night near the farm where they live. Bundled tight in wool clothes, they trudge through snow “whiter than the milk in a cereal bowl”; here and there, hidden in ink-blue shadows, a fox, raccoon, fieldmouse and deer watch them pass. An air of expectancy builds as Pa imitates the Great Horned Owl’s call once without answer, then again. From out of the darkness “an echo/ came threading its way/ through the trees.” Schoenherr’s watercolor washes depict a New England few readers see: the bold stare of a nocturnal owl, a bird’s-eye view of a farmhouse. In harmony with the art, the melodious text brings to life an unusual countryside adventure.