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Surprise by Mies Van Hout

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Surprise

By Mies Van Hout

Format: Book

Who’s it for: Kids

Another international children’s treasure, Surprise was originally published in New Zealand in Dutch by Mies Van Hout. The complex and emotional world of planning, parenting and raising children are depicted by colorful bird representations. Surprise (following Happy and Friends) provides another wonderous chalklike, kaleidoscope printed canvas by Van Hout. Children and adults alike will enjoy following the journey of yearning to letting go.

Find Surprise in the catalog here.

Migrations

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Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
Format:  Book
Who it’s for:  Adults

Picture a future where most animals have become extinct.  Scientists are studying how to keep those remaining from complete termination.  The answer may lie with the Arctic terns.  Franny Stone is convinced of this truth.  To prove it to herself, Franny has made her way to Greenland with the goal of talking a fishing crew into following the terns on their last migration.  If Franny can get the crew to follow the terns that she has been able to catch and tag, she is convinced that the fishermen will find the fish they desperately need to support their livelihood, and Franny will prove her theory.

Here the mystery begins.  As the crew attempts to follow the terns through frigidly calm seas and unrelenting storms, the reader learns about the dangers of daily life on a fishing vessel, and Franny’s past life. One becomes intent on trying to figure out just who Franny is and what she has left behind.  The author describes Franny in the perilous present and then shifts to the past to explore who Franny was as a child, teenager and adult.  Why are the terns so important to her?  What is Franny running from? Why was she in jail? Where are her parents? Where is her husband?  Will the crew survive their dangerous journey? Will the terns survive their migration?  Will it be their last? The listener hangs on to the author’s every word until all answers are revealed in the story’s thrilling conclusion.

Find it in the catalog.

 

Be Brave Little Penguin

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Submitted by Ms. Shannon!

Be Brave, Little Penguinby Giles Andreae and illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees. Little Pip-Pip is the smallest penguin in his family and he is very scared to go swimming in the big Antarctic ocean. He sees all of the other penguins having tons of fun playing in the water and it looks like so much fun! Unfortunately, Pip-Pip is too afraid of the cold and the monsters to try. The other penguins call him names like “Scaredy-Pip-Pip” which makes him feel very lonely. When his mommy sees how scared he is, she reminds him that everyone has fears and that he can be brave and enjoy the swimming just like everyone else. Created by the author of Giraffes Can’t Dance, this charming and brightly illustrated story told in rhyme will encourages children to conquer their fears. See this book listed in our catalog

Letting Go

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Submitted by Ms. Shannon!

Letting Go by Janet Morgan Stoeke. Three hens, Midge, Pip, and Dot, were sitting in the shade of an apple tree one day when suddenly an apple fell down. Then another apple fell. Then another! They assumed that there must be some nefarious character sitting in the tree and throwing apples at innocent chickens. Dot bravely climbs the tree to investigate but what she finds is not what she expected. Letting Go is a charming story about curious chickens who use their investigative skills to solve a mystery. These three hens learn all about the effects of gravity and have a lot of fun in the process! See this book listed in our catalog

Woodpecker Wants a Waffle

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Submitted by Ms. Andrea!

Woodpecker Wants a Waffle is a delightfully delicious story written and illustrated by Steven Breen. Woodpecker finds himself awoken to the smell of something wonderful. After some diligent investigation he learns that aroma belongs to a food called a waffle. Leading with his grumbling tummy he sets out on a mission to obtain a waffle. Unfortunately for Woodpecker, it is not a simple task. To his credit, he never gives up. After countless attempts, he decides to enlist the help of his friends. His woodland friends believe his efforts are in vain and he should resolve to not eat a waffle, but Woodpecker is not deterred. He devises the ultimate plan to obtain a waffle, which ends on a tasty note. See this book listed in our catalog

Duck, Duck, Dinosaur, and the Noise at Night

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Submitted by Ms. Sue!

Duck, Duck Dinosaur and the Noise at Night by Kallie George and illustrated by Oriol Vidal. Feather, Flap, and Spike are feeling very big and very brave. Mama Duck says they are getting too big to sleep with her and are ready to sleep in their own nest. Feather and Flap, who are both ducks, are getting big! Spike, who everyone thinks is a duck (but is a baby dinosaur), is getting bigger! It’s exciting and scary to sleep in their own nest. “We can do it!” they say. Until they fall asleep and awake to a very loud GRRORE! What was it? “Hide!” says Spike. So they all hide. At last they fall asleep again. GRRORE!! “Run away!” So they run to the pond. Finally they settle back to sleep. GRORRE! “Make noise and scare it away!” So they make a lot of noise. But Spike is so exhausted that he falls right over in a deep sleep. That’s when they hear it one more time. GRRORE! It was Spike! The GRRORE was a snore! Flap and Feather laugh just before they all sleep in their own nest all night. See this book listed in our catalog