EWU- Children's Books

Muchacho

2010-12-02T11:19:00.000-08:00

Muchacho by LouAnne Johnson

The inspiring teacher of Dangerous Minds ( memoirs turned into movie) writes her first YA novel about a student trying to succeed at school despite his circumstances. Eddie is smart but live happens and the system of education is not always able to make changes.

Meanwhile: Pick any path 3,856 story possibilities

2010-04-28T10:58:00.000-07:00

Meanwhile by Jason Shiga is a graphic novel, a choose-your-path story and an interesting idea about reading. The tabs and the pipes send the reader of this graphic story in different directions.

The Champion of Children

2010-04-23T13:45:00.000-07:00

The Champion of Children: The story of Janusz Korczak 2009
This books details Korczak, a Pole who started an orphange. His theories were to love and take care of each child. He was a champion of children's rights that are reflected in the UN Rights of the Child. Korczak had to take his children into the Warsaw ghetto in World War II and he and the children dies in Treblinka extermination camp.

Boys without Names

2010-04-13T17:16:00.001-07:00

by Kashmira Sheth depicts 11 year old Gopal's experience as his family is forced economically from his village and his family heads to Mumbai. There Gopal is tricked into child labor, but her does not give up as he learns how to survive. This books has a better ending while still showing the child labor system.

Green Glass Sea

2010-02-24T14:39:00.000-08:00

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages is a recent historical fiction. It tells of the families at Los Alamos during World War II. Dewey is main character living with her engineer father. She loves to build things and regularly visits the dump for parts. The books has a feel for the time and the project, but it also shows the need for friends and a family. The sequel is White Sands, Red Menace that continues the story past the war.

My Heart is Like a Zoo

2010-02-10T14:30:00.000-08:00

My Heart is Like a Zoo is a new title uses heart shapes to make all sorts of animals. There is a zany rhyming going on as well.

Harper has a browse inside feature that lets you see most of the book.
Animation video of the book forming shapes

Fantasy and Baseball

2010-01-28T08:16:00.000-08:00

This ALSC 2010 Notable book is a delightful mix of baseball, fantasy and family situation. Oscar Egg is an adopted child who is left with his little know unusual dad when his mother what a weekend with the new boyfriend. it turns out his dad lives under Boston Park's Fenway Park and he is part of a family of Cursed Creatures caught in the Boston Sox curse since Babe Ruth left the team. Oscar believes he can break the curse but there are forces who try to stop him.

New picture book

2009-12-10T16:13:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time by Denise Doyen and illustrated by Barry Moser

A delightful rhythmic tale of a moonlit night. The mice are frolicking when danger approaches. The illustrations by Moser fit the mood and add mystery to the night sounds as animals appear. The language by Doyen is delightful for reading aloud with some made up sounds.

Nanabosho

2009-06-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

The Curriculum Center has several stories of the trickster Nanbosho. the short illustrated stories are placed in context in a modern day First Nation family. The stories contain humor, respect, problem-solving and family.

Nanabosho and the woodpecker is about climbing trees and getting food like a woodpecker.

Looking through different eyes

2009-06-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Lessons from Turtle Island: Native curriculum in early childhood classrooms by Guy W. Jones and Sally Moomaw is one of those rare books that changed my perspective and way of looking for book titles. Each chapter respectfully speaks about topics that are explored in early childhood, like family, baths, shoes and more but the authors suggest ways of including books featuring diverse children. I respect the theme " Building on Similarities, Appreciating Differences"

The two educators, oneof Dakota background and the other not of Native background do a fine job of what activites to include and what to avoid and do the same for book titles. The Curriculum Center at EWU has purchased most of the available books that this title suggests and they are wonderful!

A joyous family

2009-06-12T14:11:00.001-07:00

I'm your peanut butter big brother by Selina Alko celebrates the skin color differences within the family with fun food words. In a loving manner the peanut-butter- big -brother- to- be describes himself and enjoys the neighbors. He wonders about skin, eyes, lips. This first book has amazing colors and illustrations that fly off the page and grab your attention.

Far North exploration

2009-05-04T08:05:00.001-07:00

The Lamp, the Ice, and the Boat called Fish: based on a true story by Jacqueline Briigs Martin, pictures by Beth Krommes. Houghton Mifflin 2001

This short book packs in history, survival, the Far North and an Inupiaq family who helps save the sailors. When the boat Fish is ice locked, the crew must hike across treacherous ice to an island to wait for the melt. The family (mother, father and 2 children) take their supplies and skills which help save part of the crew despite a long time before rescue. Based on historical records this book gives great details and information. The illustrations are line drawings using Native style with realistic approach.

This books serves as great history, diversity and informational reading.

What the World Eats

2009-04-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

Photographs by Peter Menzel, text by Faith D'Aluisio
A compendium of the world's weekly food by family, this visual treat takes the reader around the globe to 25 families pictured with their weekly food. The charts and data add to understanding in comparisons for street food, meat consumption, fast food, and more. This oversized book is useful for many lessons and to talk about difference and commonalities.
It is located in the Oversize JFK Lower level TX353 .M438 2008

Kenn Nesbitt- GetLit

2009-04-10T11:54:00.001-07:00

Local poet Kenn Nesbitt is performing as part of EWU GetLit at Aunties Bookstore Sat. April 18 3-4:30.

His website http://poetry4kids.com offers a fun place to explore poetry

New YA Morris award

2009-01-02T09:28:00.001-08:00

ALA announced a book award finalists' short list of five titles. The new Wm. Morris award for a new YA author will be awarded for the first time in January 2009.

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce, published by Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic;
Graceling by Kristin Cashore, published by Harcourt/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt;
Absolute Brightness by James Lecesne, published by HarperTeen/Laura Geringer Books;
Madapple by Christina Meldrum, published by Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books; and
Me, the Missing, and the Dead by Jenny Valentine, published by HarperTeen

An amazing list of the best kid's books of 2008 lists so many options--Great Fun!

Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt

2009-01-02T09:02:00.000-08:00

Family issues abound in this story told by Henry about his older brother's accident and the many repercussions.
The intertwining of Henry growing up and the family's and community's reactions to trouble make the reader think.

We are the Ship

2008-12-09T13:35:00.001-08:00

We are the Ship: The story of Negro League Baseball words and paintings by Kadir Nelson

This stunning book combines sports, history and biography with detailed paintings that capture the viewer. The oversize paintings show details and emotions while sharing the key people and places of this league. The text is friendly to young people as it easily adds important information from the time period and the ugliness of racism in our country while still providing important details. Nelson does a fabulous job of pulling you into the greatness of this league and the many innovations that the players and managers promoted. The resources are cited with endnotes, bibliography, index and and author's note about the process.

Blue Lipstick : Concrete poems

2008-11-13T08:30:00.001-08:00

Blue Lipstick: Concrete poems by John Grandits has an eye catching cover that shows off the style of concrete poems. Students in our literature classes often need to find great examples of different poetry styles and this one is fun for middle school and high school.

We also have a copy of Conversations with a poet -- the book Dr. Bradley edited and uses in her EDUC 401 class.

2008-10-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

I Feel a Foot by Maranke Rinck & Martijn van der Linden is a retelling of the Blind Men and the Elephant with pizazz and vibrant colors. The black backdrop highlights the colorful creatures of turtle, bay, octopus, bird and goat as they find the "super big" version of themselves as they follow the rustling sound.

The angles and the colorful textrue of the animals is sure to produce wonder with lap tellings.

Breaking Dawn

2008-10-01T15:22:00.000-07:00

Stephenie Meyer has written the fourth book in the Twilight series. She maintains the drama between the vampires and werewolves of Forks,WA. her characters remain entwined in their need to be with each other. Several of the problems are solved with extraordinary methods but Belle remains a character.
This book attracts older readers since Belle and Edward have graduated from high school. Still fun!

Roots & Wings

2008-07-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

Roots & Wings by Many Ly features a young teen confronting her Cambodian past. Her mother has always remained quiet about the family's time in a community in Florida but when Grace's grandmother , Noree dies, her Mom decides to give her a full Cambodian funeral in Florida. The surprises don't stop for Grace as she begins to understand her mother, her past and the changes that are happening with her mother.

17 things I am not allowed to do anymore

2008-07-24T15:59:00.000-07:00

17 Things I'm not allowed to do anymore by Jenny Offil & Nancy Carpenter features an adorable troublemaker and thinker who is always caught at her best. But the prohibitions does not stop her style as each idea is more outrageous and funny. It will make you laugh !

Barefoot: Poems for naked feet

2008-07-08T15:42:00.001-07:00

Barefoot by Stefi Weisburd adds a joy to summertime with short poems about feet. From the tiny feet peeking out a baby picture to rubbing Mom's tired toes, this collection makes you feel like your feet are wonderful. The illustrations show single shoes lined up like sagging townhouses and frothy bubbles in a tub with toes peeking out.

Diamond Willow

2008-07-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

Helen Frost continues her exploration of story and poems in this tale from Alaska. Diamond Willow, better know as Willow, is adventurous and good with her father's sled dogs. The shape of the poems is a diamond with a bold short text similar to the real Diamond Willow's found in nature that is a broken or hurt willow branch that forms the diamond shape on the bark. Willow in immersed in her family and yet she discovers they have secrets too.

The story has adventure, friendship and the poems make it fascinating to follow in the storyline and poetry.