Submitted by special guest blogger Ms. Julie, the county library’s summer intern!
True Stories
Herbert: The True Story of a Brave Sea Dog
Birds
Submitted by Ms. Tess!
Capitalizing on my admiration for children’s literary stalwart Kevin Henkes (last name pronounced HENK-us), and all things with wings, is Birds, written by Henkes, and illustrated by his lovely wife Laura Dronzek. This reads almost like a nonfiction book for very early readers. It’s informative, without being boring, educating us on the different colors and sizes birds can be, and the different things they can do, like fly, and sit in trees. It also shares charming anecdotes like: “Once I saw seven birds on the telephone wire. They didn’t move and they didn’t move and they didn’t move. I looked away for a second… and they were gone.” Birds are awesome creatures. If your child is as fascinated by our feathered friends as I am, you’ll definitely want to check out Birds. Today! See this book listed in our catalog
Recycling Things to Make and Do
Planting the Trees of Kenya
Submitted by special guest blogger Ms. Amy from the Lexington Park branch!
An inspirational true story about my favorite type of hero: one who sees a big problem and finds “small” ways to set things right, Planting the Trees of Kenya by Claire A. Nivola is a great way to start a conservation conversation with your children! Wangari Maathai grew up in the mountainous highlands of Kenya, where she learned love and respect for the natural world in all its “simple” beauty. When she returns after attending college in the U.S., she is shocked and saddened by the ecologically damaged landscape of her homeland. She begins teaching her neighbors how to preserve the few trees that are left by saving seeds and planting seedlings. With time, hope, and tireless persistence, her efforts eventually grew to include her entire country and all its people, motivating people around the world to follow her example. This heartwarming tale beautifully demonstrates the concept of “everyday” heroism. Using simple language and luminous watercolor illustrations, Nivola brilliantly showcases Wangari Maathai’s life-long message of environmental responsibility. See this book listed in our catalog
You Can’t Take a Balloon Into the Metropolitan Museum
Submitted by Catherine from Charlotte Hall!
How much trouble can a balloon cause? In You Can’t Take a Balloon Into the Metropolitan Museum, by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman and Robin Preiss Weitzman, we find out that balloons can cause all sorts of mischief. In this beautiful wordless book, a little girl and her grandmother are off to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the first time, but the guard explains that balloons have no place in museums. Having no wish to be left out of the fun, the balloon makes a break for it, and leads the guard on a chase around New York City. While the little girl examines paintings and sculptures from all different eras and artists, the balloon leads the guard to places in New York City that reflect the art at the museum. Reproductions of famous pieces of art contrast nicely with the detailed, yet sparsely colored illustrations showing the antics of the little girl and her wayward balloon. Any child or adult with a love of art, or just a need for a funny story, will love this wordless masterpiece! See this book listed in our catalog