Green Glass Sea

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.