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Words to Make a Friend

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Words to Make a Friend
By Donna Jo Napoli and Illustrated by Naoko Stoop
Format: Picture Book
Who’s it for: Kids

Words to Make a Friend is a story in Japanese and English.

On a snowy day one little girl who just moved in watches another girl playing in the snow. She finds her snow gear and gets dressed up warm to go outside too.

“Hello,” says her new friend. “Konnichiwa,” she says and they both smile. “Lets play!” “Asobou!” From that point on, the girls take turns saying words and practicing each other’s words. They encounter a woodpecker, Peck peck. Kotso kotso. A roly-poly or botteri. Otherwise known as a snowman, and lots more. They spend the afternoon making snow creations and naming them, each in their own language. It’s fun! Soon they go in for some treats and crafting.
These two don’t find the language barrier a problem. They are new friends!

Find Words to Make a Friend in the catalog!

 

 

A Spindle Splintered

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A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
Format: Book
Who It’s for:  Adults

“Sleeping Beauty is the worst fairy tale, pretty much any way you slice it.” According to Zinnia Gray. It’s her twenty first birthday and  most likely she will not have any more birthdays. Zinnia has a rare condition that no one, who was ever diagnosed with it, has ever lived past 21. On her twenty first birthday, her best friend Charm surprises her with a party, where she surprisingly, indeed has a spinning wheel. But when Zinnia touches it and pricks her finger…she actually does find herself falling through some sort of time warp of worlds along with other sleeping beauties. When she stops falling past a thousand other girls reaching for the spindles point, she hears one say, “help!” That’s when she stops falling. Zinnia looks up to see her, this ridiculously beautiful princess who says to her “from whence have you come?” At which point she passes out.
Zinnia is definitely  not in the same world where she was.
Fairytales as we know them are challenged through this narrative of a classic story and a multi-universe, time traveling event with a very different ending.

Find A Spindle Splintered in the catalog!

Oh Look, A Cake!

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Oh Look, A Cake! by J.C. McKee
Format: Book
Who it’s for: New for Kids

Oh look, a cake! I wonder who left such a yummy cake out? Can it be eaten? Can it be shared? Lemur and Sloth are wondering too! Join these two friends as they puzzle over a delicious discovery of a lifetime and maybe learn a few very important lessons about looking but not eating.

Fans of Elephant and Piggie and other quirky character duos may enjoy Lemur and Sloth’s moral dilemma of cake eating, cake sharing, and cake consequences. Author and illustrator J.C McKee’s colorful pastels will definitely draw kids in but adults are definitely invited to enjoy this silly story and its slightly less silly twist. A warning for parents- the cake is not the only thing eaten! Always check who the cake belongs to before taking what’s not yours in the animal kingdom! Your child might not understand the ending, but grown ups sure will!

Rest assured that you can say “oh look, a book!” with little consequence at your local library branch! Find Oh Look, A Cake! in the catalog here.

 

Something’s Wrong!

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Something’s Wrong! by Jory John
Format: Picture Book
Who its’s for: Preschool-2nd grade

Have you ever had an off day? You just feel like something is not quite right? But you can’t put your finger on it. Well Bear feels just that way. He’s done all the normal things a bear does to start his day. But something is different… So Bear sets out to find his friend Anders, a hare, who he knows will be honest with him and help him figure it out. “Oh Anders!” says Bear. “Oh hey Jeff, how’s your….. uh, day….um….how’s your…let’s see…” Anders is a bit stumped. Should Anders tell his friend that he’s wearing underwear? Over his fur??
This story is about a Bear named Jeff, some forest friends, a hare named Anders, good friends and underwear!

Find Something’s Wrong! in the catalog.

My Heart is Laughing ~ A New Zealand Treasure

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My Heart is Laughing by Rose Lagercrants, Translated by Julia Marshall and illustrated by Eva Eriksson is another treasure from New Zealand.

Format: Book

Who’s it for: Kids

Dani and Ella are together again joined by their classmates – some are nice like Cushion and others not so nice like Mickey and Vickey. The two best friends, Dani and Ella along with pet hamsters, Snow and Flake are off on new adventures. Ella has recently moved to a new town and Dani is struggling with the loss of her closest friend. When Cushion chooses Dani over Mickey and Vickey they bully Dani by pinching her repeatedly until she is so upset she acts totally our of character. When Dani’s Dad goes to school to address the harm she has suffered Ella appears and helps Dani remember all the great things to be happy about.

Find My Heart is Laughing here.