Submitted by county youth coordinator Janis!
Just in Case by YuYi Morales. Senor Calavera receives an invitation to Grandma Beetle’s birthday party, and he can’t wait to go. A moan from beyond the grave reminds Calavera, the not-too-scary skeleton, that he’s forgetting a present. Calavera must choose something that Grandma Beetle will love the most. He picks something that starts with each letter of the Spanish alphabet, from “Un acordeon, an accordion for her to dance to,” to “Yerba buena, good herb to soothe her day.” For each gift Calavera chooses, Zelmiro, the ghost, praises the skeleton’s choices but cautions him to keep searching for something better, “just in case!” The characters are full of life, the colors are vibrant, and the whimsical side to this trickster tale will make it a must read for children. Also relates to a Spanish holiday called Day of the Dead or El Dia de los Muertos.
Family
Jethro Byrd Fairy Child
Submitted by Allana from Leonardtown!
Jethro Byrd Fairy Child by Bob Graham. Annabelle insisted on the existence of fairies and spent many hours scouting her yard for evidence. One Saturday, a tiny ice cream truck crash lands in the yard, and sure enough a family of fairies emerges. The first one she meets is Jethro Byrd, a boy the size of her finger. Soon after she meets his mother Lily, father Offin, baby sister Cecily, and Grandma. They’re on their way to the Fairy Traveler’s Picnic when they crash land in the garden. Annabelle invites them to tea, and although her Mom and Dad only pretend to see the tiny family, they play along. Everyone has a lovely time!
Sort It Out
Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
Sort It Out! by Barbara Mariconda, with illustrations by Sherry Rogers, is a children’s picture book that works on many levels. On one level, it’s a cute story about a Packy the Pack-rat (an awesome name for a character in general), who’s mother insists he put all his things away. On another level, it’s a mystery (his things keep going missing! Wonder if his sneaky kid sister has anything to do with it). On another level it suggests several different ways kids can organize things (by color, shape, material, etc.). And on yet another level it’s an interactive rhyming book: “The turtle, the clover, the skinny string bean, he placed in a pile made of things that are… [say it with me] green!” All in all a fun book for multiple reasons.
A Book
Submitted by Catherine from Lexington Park!
What happens in a book when the pages are closed? In A Book by Mordicai Gerstein, we meet a little girl who lives in a book. Everyone in her family knows their story, but she has yet to figure out what her story is. She travels through each page, meeting famous story book characters who try to convince the little girl that her story is a mystery, historical fiction, a fairy tale and many other genres. But at the end, the little girl decides for herself what her story will be. The illustrations are a unique take on the story. The reader observes the story from overhead, watching what is happening down below. This will be a great story for kids and parents to read together, with lots of bright fun pictures for kids, and funny reminders of childhood books for parents.
I Already Know I Love You
Submitted by Catherine from Lexington Park!
I Already Know I Love You, by Billy Crystal, is a simple and touching poem set to beautifully soft illustrations. It tells the story of a man who is so looking forward to the birth of his granddaughter that he can hardly contain his excitement. He tells the little girl that when she’s born, they will go to the zoo, read stories, and root for the Yankees (even though her Daddy loves the Sox). The simplicity of the words and the gentle colors of the pictures help to create a tender and appealing story that grandfathers and granddaughters, or just families in general, will be able to share and enjoy.
Banjo Granny
Submitted by Chad from Charlotte Hall!
Banjo Granny by Sarah Martin Busse and Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Barry Root. This book is dedicated to “grannies everywhere…and to grandbabies everywhere.” It is a sort of tall tale. Granny, our banjo pickin’ hero, encounters a number of obstacles on her way to visit her grandson, Owen (who loves bluegrass music). These obstacles are in the form of natural barriers, such as a river, a desert, and a mountain. Granny overcomes them with the aid of her banjo and, of course, her love for her grandson. The river, desert, and mountain are personified as Granny invites them to listen to the song of her grandson “who goes wiggly, jiggly, all-around giggly, and tip over tumble for bluegrass music.” We catch glimpses of Owen when visiting birds inform him of the progress of his granny. When Granny and Owen are united in person, they sing “wop-a-doosy, lap-a-daisy doo!” The book includes lyrics and music to “Owen’s Song,” in the bluegrass style.