This page is under construction... We will add books to their leveled categories on an ongoing basis. See the library staff if you need help!
Level C
See Me Go by Paul MeiselShort sentences. Simple words. Lots of dogs. Big fun! From two-time Theodor Seuss Geisel Honoree Paul Meisel, kindergarteners can read this Level C reader on their own. We jump off. We get out. We go up, up, up. We go down, down, down. Dozens of fun-loving dogs explore a sunken ship, take a rocket to the moon, and visit an Egyptian tomb--where they are chased by a giant cat. This is the fourth book in an award-winning series: See Me Run is a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award winner, See Me Dig is a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, and See Me Play is a Junior Library Guild selection. Paul Meisel is a two-time Theodor Seuss Geisel Honoree. This book has been officially leveled C by using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level GradientTM leveling system. For readers who've mastered basic sight words, Level C books feature slightly longer sentences and a wider range of high-frequency words than Level B books. Level C books are suitable for mid-to-late kindergarten readers. When Level C is mastered, follow up with Level D. The award-winning I Like to Read® series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors--create original, high-quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read again and again with their parents, teachers or on their own! A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
ISBN: 9780823444526
Publication Date: 2022-07-19
Level D
Bake, Mice, Bake! by Eric Seltzer; Natascha Rosenberg (Illustrator)Level One: It's a busy day at the "Cakes and More" bake shop! The mice get there first thing in the morning to open their shop. Then they chop, stir, ice, and bake their way to the end of the day. Fun characters pick up tasty treats and keep the mice on their feet. This is a fast-paced, easy-to-read book with memorable characters and sweet illustrations!
ISBN: 9780448457635
Publication Date: 2012-02-16
Level E
Pete the Cat: Too Cool for School by James Dean (Illustrator); Kimberly DeanIf you want to be cool, just be YOU! That's the message of this funny, relatable Pete the Cat school story--and kids will laugh and agree. Pete the Cat can't decide what to wear to school in Pete the Cat: Too Cool for School. With so many groovy options to choose from, Pete just keeps adding on. All of Pete's friends have a suggestion for what he should wear to school. But by the time he's added cowboy boots, shorts with fish, his red shirt AND his yellow shirt--and even more--he's too hot. It's time to make his own clothing decisions and head back to school! You and your kids will giggle at Pete and his clothing choices, resolved with a positive empowering message. Pete the Cat: Too Cool for School is a My First I Can Read book. Each My First I Can Read book is carefully crafted using basic language, word repetition, sight words, and sweet illustrations--which means it's perfect for shared reading with emergent readers. The active, engaging My First I Can Read stories have appealing plots and lovable characters, encouraging children to continue their reading journey.
ISBN: 9780062110763
Level F
Scat, Cat! by Alyssa Satin Capucilli; Paul Meisel (Illustrator)"Scat, cat!" said the dog. "Scat, cat!" said the bird. "Scat, cat!" said the other cats. "Go home." When a small cat is lost, he walks and walks. He walks through city and country, and if someone tells him to scat, he just keeps walking. Will the cat find a home From the author of Biscuit comes a simple, appealing text--brought to life in Paul Meisel's art--perfect for the youngest of readers. This small cat is sure to receive a warm welcome from small children!
ISBN: 9780061177569
I Love My New Toy! (an Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Willems (Illustrator)Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can. Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to. Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In I Love My New Toy!, Piggie can't wait to show Gerald her brand new toy. But will an accidentally broken toy accidentally break a friendship?
ISBN: 9781423109617
Level H
Fish and Wave by Sergio Ruzzier (Illustrator)Let's read comics! I Can Read Comics is an early reader line that familiarizes children with the world of graphic novel storytelling and encourages visual literacy in emerging readers. When a tiny wave grows bigger and bigger, what's a fish to do? Fish and Wave by Sergio Ruzzier is a playful exploration of what it really means to go with the flow. Fish and Wave is a Level One I Can Read Comic, a simple story for shared reading. Praise for Fish and Sun Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2021 Kirkus Best Book of 2021 Junior Library Guild Selection 4 Starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, The Horn Book
ISBN: 9780063076679
Level I
NO! Said Custard the Squirrel by Sergio RuzzierFrom award-winning creator Sergio Ruzzier, an oddball "squirrel" forges his own path in this comical tale about being yourself Custard the Squirrel, aren't you a duck? Will you please quack? Will you do anything you don't want to do? "NO!" said Custard the Squirrel. From the brilliant mind of author-illustrator Sergio Ruzzier comes this delightfully wacky story about rejecting others' expectations of who you should be and being unapologetically, authentically you. Simple, universal, and hilarious, this rollicking read-aloud is an ode to free spirits everywhere.
ISBN: 9781419755248
Publication Date: 2022-09-06
Level K
Fox and Chick: up and Down by Sergio RuzzierFox and Chick are back in this newest book in the hilarious early reader series by Geisel honoree Sergio Ruzzier. In the tradition of Frog and Toad, this critically acclaimed early reader series features Fox and Chick--two unlikely friends who, despite their differences, always manage to find a way to get along. In this fourth book in the series, Fox and Chick climb a tree, build a bookcase, and catch snowflakes! HILARIOUS, LAUGH-OUT-LOUD FUN: This unlikely duo will have readers rolling with laughter as they follow along with their antics! PERFECT FOR NEW READERS: The universal characters, humor, and comic-style layout make this series ideal for newly independent readers. AWARD WINNING: The first book in the series was awarded a Geisel Award honor for "most distinguished book for beginning readers" by the American Library Association. It was also a New York Times Notable Children's Book. KIDS LOVE GRAPHIC NOVELS: This series will appeal to visually oriented readers as well as new readers who are eager to tackle graphic novels. Perfect for: Parents, Educators and librarians, Grandparents
ISBN: 9781452183398
Publication Date: 2022-07-05
Jenny Mei Is Sad by Tracy SubisakA Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book A Book Riot Best Book With this educational and entertaining picture book, learn how to approach difficult emotions with compassion and understanding--and be the best friend you can be. My friend Jenny Mei is sad. But you might not be able to tell. Jenny Mei still smiles a lot. She makes everyone laugh. And she still likes blue Popsicles the best. But, her friend knows that Jenny Mei is sad, and does her best to be there to support her. This beautifully illustrated book is perfect for introducing kids to the complexity of sadness, and to show them that the best way to be a good friend, especially to someone sad, is by being there for the fun, the not-fun, and everything in between.
Call Number: PZ7.1.S825 Jen 2021
ISBN: 9780316537711
Publication Date: 2021-06-15
Level L
Charlie and Mouse Are Magic by Emily Hughes (Illustrator); Laurel SnyderCharlie and Mouse are stirring up some magic! Join the fun in this latest edition in the Geisel Award-winning series. Every day is magic with Charlie and Mouse! In this latest continuation of the Charlie & Mouse early chapter book series, the two brothers are mixing up a magical potion--with sweet and surprising results. In Charlie & Mouse Are Magic the brothers also dance in the rain, bring some animals to dinner, and make wishes come true! SIBLINGS ARE THE BEST: The Charlie & Mouse books show a sibling friendship that is kind and cooperative as well as full of humor, imagination, and play. IDEAL FOR READERS READY FOR SHORT CHAPTERS: Each chapter in this book is a new adventure as Charlie and Mouse engage in imaginative play with Mom, Dad, and each other. An ideal and accessible transition for readers who are just moving into chapter books. HUMOR WITH HEART: The Charlie & Mouse books offer a picture of family life that feels authentic and has lots of humor and warmth. Perfect for: Teachers and librarians Fans of the Charlie & Mouse early chapter book series Newly independent readers
ISBN: 9781452183411
Publication Date: 2022-08-30
Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Abby Hanlon (Illustrator); Avery MonsenFrom the coauthor of the smash hit All My Friends Are Dead and the creator of the beloved Dory Fantasmagory chapter book series comes a hilarious read aloud about a boy who loses his gift for rhyme. There once was a youngster named Chester van Chime Who woke up one day and forgot how to rhyme. Chester loved rhyming, in poem or song. It always felt right, but today it felt...not right. VERY not right. Chester van Chime is usually the BEST at rhyming. He can normally tell you all about cats wearing hats and snails delivering mail, but today, something has changed. Today there's no dog on a log. No duck in a truck. Just a Pomeranian on a sideways tree and a waterfowl in a full-size pickup. What's a kid to do?! Filled with irresistible wordplay and whimsically silly illustrations, bestselling creators Avery Monsen and Abby Hanlon's read aloud tells the story of a boy who learns not to be stressed if he's not at his...tippy-top peak performance. Praise for Chester van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme: *"Your next Best Storytime Book...It's a must-read, a hit, a guaranteed good time...Poor Chester van Chime may have lost the ability to rhyme, but young readers will lose themselves to giggles..."―Bookpage, starred review *"His rhyming groove returns as aural fits and starts turn to fluid, welcome rhyme, and the whole town celebrates. What starts out as a book about wordplay turns into an inventive and giggly antidote for the bad-day blues."―Publisher's Weekly, starred review "Monsen's clever text offers both lexical fun and an important lesson: "This too shall pass."...Hanlon's busy gouache and colored pencil illustrations are full of attention-grabbing slapstick humor...Well-timed page turns will have kids shouting out the missing, but easily guessable, end rhymes...Get ready for wordplay that's giggly and fun and lasts long after the story is [over]."―Kirkus "Hilarity crescendos as wordplay plummets, until Chester realizes we all have bad days."―The New York Times An Amazon Best Books of the Month for March 2022 A Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award Recipient 2022-2023 An Amazon Best Books of the Year So Far for Ages 3-5 for 2022
Call Number: PZ7.1.M63995 Che 2022
ISBN: 9780759554825
Publication Date: 2022-03-15
Level M
Cornbread and Poppy at the Carnival by Matthew CordellThe second entry in Caldecott medalist Matthew Cordell's early reader series about two best friends who are as different from each other as can be. Poppy LOVES scary movies. Cornbread does not. Poppy ADORES runny cheese. Cornbread does not. Poppy can't WAIT to try a roller coaster. Cornbread...can. But Cornbread and Poppy are the best of friends, so when the Carnival rolls into town, Cornbread agrees to check it out. Their day promises to include fun games, yummy snacks, and big, big rides. What new things will these mice try? Celebrating both partnership and the value of what makes us individuals, young readers will find this classic odd couple irresistible as they encounter relatable issues with humor and heart. Publishing simultaneously in hardcover and paperback.
ISBN: 9780759554894
Publication Date: 2022-06-21
The Adventures of Robo-Kid by Diane deGroatA comic-book superhero climbs off the page and into the real world. When they get into trouble, his biggest fan is there to save the day. Imagine you could meet your favorite comic-book hero in the real world. What kinds of questions would you ask? Would you go on new and exciting adventures? While heroes might seem larger than life, everyone can use some help from a friend. Follow two intersecting stories set in the real world and inside a comic book as a real-life kid finds the courage to cope with his anxiety with the help of Robo-Kid, a comic superhero with his own vulnerabilities. With two distinctive art styles blending comic book and traditional picture book formats, Diane deGroat's The Adventures of Robo-Kid is an inspiring tale about what it takes to be a hero. Diane deGroat has been writing and illustrating picture books for more than thirty years. For the last ten years she has been illustrating the highly popular Charlie the Ranch Dog series with blogger, author, food-writer, and television personality Ree Drummond, also known as the Pioneer Woman. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
ISBN: 9780823449767
Publication Date: 2022-06-28
Soul Food Sunday by Winsome BinghamGranny teaches her grandson to cook the family meal in this loving celebration of food, traditions, and gathering together at the table ​A 2022 Coretta Scott King Book Award Illustrator Honor Book On Sundays, everyone gathers at Granny's for Soul Food. But today, I don't go to the backyard or the great room. I follow Granny instead. "You're a big boy now," Granny says. "Time for you to learn." At Granny's, Sunday isn't Sunday without a big family gathering over a lovingly prepared meal. Old enough now, our narrator is finally invited to help cook the dishes for the first time: He joins Granny in grating the cheese, cleaning the greens, and priming the meat for Roscoe Ray's grill. But just when Granny says they're finished, her grandson makes his own contribution, sweetening this Sunday gathering--and the many more to come. Evocatively written and vividly illustrated, this mouthwatering story is a warm celebration of tradition and coming together at a table filled with love and delicious food.
Call Number: PZ7.1.B5347 So 2021
ISBN: 9781419747717
Publication Date: 2021-11-16
Have You Ever Seen a Flower? by Shawn Harris (Illustrator)They All Saw a Cat meets The Wonderful Things You Will Be in this book that redefines what it means to be a flower, what it means to be a human - what it means to be alive. Incandescent and groundbreaking, Have You Ever Seen a Flower? is a trailblazing, enchanting portrait of the vital relationship between childhood and nature. In this deceptively simple, deeply profound story, one child experiences a flower with all five senses: from its colour to its fragrance to the entire universe it evokes. Have You Ever Seen a Flower? takes readers on a journey of new perspectives. Looking at a flower teaches us to look at everything around us, to expand our perception, and to question what it means to see and be. This book is a beautiful exploration of perception, the environment, and our humanity. Destined to be a future classic and a family favorite on shelves alongside Harold and the Purple Crayon and Where the Wild Things Are, Have You Ever Seen a Flower? will be a beloved picture book for many generations to come.
Call Number: PZ7.1.H374775 Hav 2021
ISBN: 9781452182704
Publication Date: 2021-05-04
Level N
Ruby and the Itsy-Bitsy (Icky) Bug by Allison Wortche; Sally Walker (Illustrator)Ruby does NOT like bugs! Until she's forced to spend some time looking more closely at one... A funny story for kids with big feelings and curious minds. When Ruby discovers a bug on her window one morning she FREAKS OUT! She loves animals, just NOT bugs! But no amount of blowing or squirting or yelling will get this bug to go away. It will get Ruby stuck in a time out. With lots of time to study Mr. Yuck-bug, Ruby grudgingly decides he may have some interesting qualities after all. He's strong. A good listener. And his little antennae might be an itsy-bit cute. Over the course of the day, Ruby gets almost attached to the guy. And when night falls, she sees him in a surprising new way! Allison Wortche and Sally Walker team up to show readers how something can go from gross to great when looked at in the proper light.
ISBN: 9780593174173
Publication Date: 2022-06-21
Hot Dog by Doug SalatiFrom a critically acclaimed creator comes this summery picture book featuring an overheated--and overwhelmed--pup who finds his calm with some sea, sand, and fresh air. "An utter joy from beginning to end!" --Sophie Blackall, two-time Caldecott Medal winner It's summer in the city, and this hot dog has had enough! Enough of sizzling sidewalks, enough of wailing sirens, enough of people's feet right in his face. When he plops down in the middle of a crosswalk, his owner endeavors to get him the breath of fresh air he needs. She hails a taxi, hops a train, and ferries out to the beach. Here, a pup can run! With fluid art and lyrical text that have the soothing effect of waves on sand, Doug Salati shows us how to find calm and carry it back with us so we can appreciate the small joys in a day.
Call Number: PZ7.1.S2476 Ho 2022
ISBN: 9780593308431
Publication Date: 2022-05-24
Not Enough Lollipops by Megan Maynor; Micah Player (Illustrator)Alice thinks it's her lucky day when she wins a wagon full of lollipops, but sharing them with her classmates is more complicated than it seems. Can she find a fair way to divvy up the sweets? When Alice wins an enormous basket of lollipops in the raffle she's happy to share her good fortune with friends and classmates, but everyone seems to have a different opinion about how she should divide the bounty. Suddenly, Alice's big prize becomes a big conundrum. Should she give extras to her friends? Should she withhold lollipops from the kids who always hog the tire swing? As she weighs her options, the panic grows. What if there aren't enough to go around!? This hilarious and thought-provoking story uses lollipops in the school yard to illustrate how cooperation and generosity can make even the most daunting problems solvable.
Call Number: PZ7.1.M388 No 2022
ISBN: 9780593372562
Publication Date: 2022-02-08
Level O
The Unlucky Launch by Rie Neal; Talitha Shipman (Illustrator)In this second book of a brand new-chapter book series, aspiring astronaut Astrid designs a rocket! After seeing the big Space-E rocket launch, Astrid just knows she's going to be exploring space in a rocket of her own someday! And in honor of the big launch, Astrid and her fellow Shooting Stars will be building rockets of their very own. What's more exciting is the guest helper, Luke, who actually worked on the Space-E team! The Shooting Stars are working towards more points on the Astro Board and Astrid is hoping she can impress Luke enough to score a tour of Space-E headquarters. But it turns out that Luke's design might not be the best--and Astrid isn't sure if she should speak up. Can Astrid use her voice to show there is more than one solution for a perfect take-off?
ISBN: 9781534481510
Publication Date: 2022-07-05
The Astronomically Grand Plan by Rie Neal; Talitha Shipman (Illustrator)In this first book of a brand new-chapter book series, a young girl is determined to be the first astronaut with hearing aids in space! Astrid can't wait for the school year to start so she can put her Astronomically Grand Plan into action! She and her best friend, Hallie, are going to be in their first year of Shooting Stars, a club dedicated to all things space. Astrid's big sister has told her all about it, and this year, there is a big, wonderful prize: a trip to a real-life space camp! But Astrid's Grand Plan isn't off to a great start: it turns out Hallie is more interested in the art club, Petite Picassos! And Astrid isn't sure that her goal of exploring space will happen the same way without her BFF by her side. Can Astrid figure out a way to complete her mission?
ISBN: 9781534481480
Publication Date: 2022-07-05
Everything in Its Place by Pauline David-Sax; Charnelle Pinkney Barlow (Illustrator)An inspiring and poetic story about reading, libraries, and overcoming shyness to find community. I gather the books in my arms, and give them a hug. "Welcome back," I whisper. Nicky is a shy girl who feels most at home in the safe space of her school library, but the library closes for a week and Nicky is forced to face her social anxiety. When she meets a group of unique, diverse, inspiring women at her mother's diner--members of a women's motorcycle club--Nicky realizes that being different doesn't have to mean being alone, and that there's a place for everyone. Book lovers of all ages will find inspiration in this beautiful love letter to reading--and how words help us find empathy and connections with the world around us.
ISBN: 9780593378823
Publication Date: 2022-07-19
Farmhouse by Sophie BlackallThis glorious new picture book from two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall is as lavish and moving a tribute to a storied, beloved place as Hello Lighthouse. Over a hill, at the end of a road, by a glittering stream that twists and turns stands a farmhouse. Step inside the dollhouse-like interior of Farmhouse and relish in the daily life of the family that lives there, rendered in impeccable, thrilling detail. Based on a real family and an actual farmhouse where Sophie salvaged facts and artifacts for the making of this spectacular work, page after page bursts with luminous detail and joy. Join the award-winning, best-selling Sophie Blackall as she takes readers on an enchanting visit to a farmhouse across time, to a place that echoes with stories.
ISBN: 9780316528948
Publication Date: 2022-09-13
Level P
The Longest Journey by Amy HevronFollow the epic annual migration of an Arctic Tern on its sixty-thousand-mile journey to the South Pole and back again, the longest such migration in the animal kingdom. In their thirty-year lifetimes, Arctic Terns travel nearly 1.5 million miles, that's enough to fly to the Moon and back three times! Each year they brave blistering winds, storms, rough seas, and airborne predators as they travel between the Earth's poles, chasing the summer. In The Longest Journey: An Arctic Tern's Migration, we follow one such bird as it spreads its wings and sets out to make its first globe-spanning trip with its flock. Amy Hevron is the illustrator of Trevor by Jim Averbeck, the recipient of multiple starred reviews. She also illustrated Candace Fleming's The Tide Pool Waits which was the recipient of the Portfolio Honor Award from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her brilliant, naturalistic artwork mimicking maps and nautical charts is supported by extensive research and paired with material at the back of the book explaining the science behind the life cycle of Arctic Terns. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
ISBN: 9780823447008
Publication Date: 2022-07-12
Yossel's Journey by Kathryn Lasky; Johnson Yazzie (Illustrator)When Yossel's family flees anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia and immigrates to the American Southwest, he worries about making a new home and new friends. In his family's new store next to the Navajo reservation, Yossel watches neighbors pass through. He learns lots of Navajo (Dine) words, but he's still too afraid and lonely to try talking to anyone. Finally he meets Thomas, a Navajo boy just his age. Making new friends can be hard, especially when you're learning a new language to tell your jokes. A historical picture book about the power of cross-cultural friendships and the joy of finding out the true meaning of home.
ISBN: 9781623541767
Publication Date: 2022-09-06
Level Q
Because of You, John Lewis by Andrea Davis Pinkney; Keith Henry Brown (Illustrator)An inspiring story of a friendship between Congressman John Lewis and ten-year-old activist Tybre Faw by New York Times bestselling and Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Andrea Davis Pinkney! When young Tybre Faw discovers John Lewis and his heroic march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the fight for voting rights, Tybre is determined to meet him. Tybre's two grandmothers take him on the seven-hour drive to Selma, Alabama, where Lewis invites Tybre to join him in the annual memorial walk across the Bridge. And so begins a most amazing friendship! ​​​​​​​ In rich, poetic language, Andrea Davis Pinkney weaves the true story of a boy with a dream--together with the story of a real-life hero (who himself had a life-altering friendship with Martin Luther King, Jr. when he was young!). Keith Henry Brown's deeply affecting paintings bring this inspiring bond between a young activist and an elder congressman vividly to life. ​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​Who will be next to rise up and turn the page on history?
ISBN: 9781338759082
Tree Hole Homes by Melissa Stewart; Amy Hevron (Illustrator)In this nature-themed picture book, nonfiction expert Melissa Stewart and illustrator Amy Hevron offer an inviting peek into tree holes and the amazing animals that inhabit them. Imagine this- one day you're walking through the woods and spot a tree hole large enough to slip inside. So you do. And you wonder, what kind of creature lived here? In this science and nature-themed picture book, nonfiction expert Melissa Stewart and illustrator Amy Hevron offer up an inviting peek into the secret world of tree hole dwellers. From black bears to tree frogs and bobcats, it's surprising just who you'll find! A main text gives general information about tree holes ("a treehole can be a daytime den") and a secondary text provides more detail. This inviting look at trees, tree holes, and fascinating animals is sure to be a classroom and kid favorite.
ISBN: 9780593373309
Publication Date: 2022-10-25
Level T
Road Trip! by Claudia Friddell; Jeremy Holmes (Illustrator)Join Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs on their pioneering camping trips during the early 1900s in this energetic and entertaining nonfiction picture-book adventure. After years of inventing things that other people needed, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford realized there was something they needed-a vacation! So, the famous inventors packed up Ford's Model T and invited their good friends Harvey Firestone and John Burroughs to join them as "the Four Vagabonds" hit America's back roads to enjoy the country's natural beauty, fireside chats, and frolicking fun with friends-all while inspiring future generations to invent camping adventures of their own. "Buckle yourself in as Claudia Friddell and Jeremy Holmes take you on a fun, creative, and certainly unique road trip with America's most famous vagabonds-Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs. The colorful and spirited illustrations, the stories of the Vagabond's bivouacking travels and campsite escapades, and the well-researched bibliography makes Road Trip! a great addition to any child's library!"-Matt Andres, curatorial registrar, Edison and Ford Winter Estates
ISBN: 9781684372720
Publication Date: 2022-10-11
Level U
Bottle Tops by Alison Goldberg; Elizabeth Zunon (Illustrator)Editor's Choice Books for Youth, Booklist Editor's Choice Books for Youth, Booklist The inspiring biography of Ghanaian artist El Anatsui whose handmade sculptures, created from discarded bottle tops, have received international acclaim and been showcased around the world. "If you touch something, you leave a charge on it and anybody else touching it connects with you, in a way." -- El Anatsui El Anatsui has always written his own story. As an art student at the University of Ghana, El noticed that the artists and styles he was studying were grounded in European traditions. Curious about his own culture's art history, El observed his people and found stories in the fabrics they wore and the way they used recycled goods. He decided to tell these stories through his artwork. El experimented with different mediums--firing broken clay into new pots and cutting wood into sculptures using a chainsaw. Each time El tried something new, he brought with him the experience of all the experiments he did before. After coming across a discarded bag of shimmering bottle tops, El wondered What was their story? He experimented with the new material--disassembling, flattening, and reshaping--then stitched the tops together with wire. The result were large, flowing tapestries that tell stories about history, culture, and link people together. Today, El's bottle top sculptures are showcased all over the world inspiring audiences everywhere. Here is the captivating story of a Ghanaian sculptor whose passion, creativity, and awe-inspiring artwork reminds us that creating powerful art is about being true to yourself.
ISBN: 9781620149669
Publication Date: 2022-06-14
Level X
Empty Smiles by Katherine ArdenNew York Times bestselling author Katherine Arden thrills once again in the finale to the critically acclaimed, bone-chilling quartet that began with Small Spaces. It's been three months since Ollie made a daring deal with the smiling man to save those she loved, and then vanished without a trace. The smiling man promised Coco, Brian and Phil, that they'd have a chance to save her, but as time goes by, they begin to worry that the smiling man has lied to them and Ollie is gone forever. But finally, a clue surfaces. A boy who went missing at a nearby traveling carnival appears at the town swimming hole, terrified and rambling. He tells anyone who'll listen about the mysterious man who took him. How the man agreed to let him go on one condition- that he deliver a message. Play if you dare. Game on! The smiling man has finally made his move. Now it's Coco, Brian, and Phil's turn to make theirs. And they know just where to start. The traveling carnival is coming to Evansburg. Meanwhile, Ollie is trapped in the world behind the mist, learning the horrifying secrets of the smiling man's carnival, trying everything to help her friends find her. Brian, Coco and Phil will risk everything to rescue Ollie-but they all soon realize this game is much more dangerous than the ones before. This time the smiling man is playing for keeps. The summer nights are short, and Ollie, Coco, Brian, and Phil have only until sunrise to beat him once and for all-or it's game over for everyone.
ISBN: 9780593109182
Publication Date: 2022-08-09
Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa YeeTwelve year-old Maizy discovers her family's Chinese restaurant is full of secrets in this irresistible novel that celebrates food, fortune, and family. Welcome to the Golden Palace! Maizy has never been to Last Chance, Minnesota . . . until now. Her mom's plan is just to stay for a couple weeks, until her grandfather gets better. But plans change, and as Maizy spends more time in Last Chance and at the Golden Palace--the restaurant that's been in her family for generations--she makes some discoveries.For instance: You can tell a LOT about someone by the way they order food. People can surprise you. Sometimes in good ways, sometimes in disappointing ways. And the Golden Palace has secrets... But the more Maizy discovers, the more questions she has. Like, why are her mom and her grandmother always fighting? Who are the people in the photographs on the office wall? And when she discovers that a beloved family treasure has gone missing--and someone has left a racist note--Maizy decides it's time to find the answers. "This book is a gift." --Tae Keller, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Trap a Tiger
ISBN: 9781984830258
Publication Date: 2022-02-01
Level Y
The Midnighters by Hana Tooke; Ayesha L. Rubio (Illustrator)The Graveyard Book meets Nevermoor in this ghostly tale about two friends, one murder mystery, and a world of intrigue. Find the courage to be extraordinary... Ema Vasková has always felt different. In a family of famous scientists, there's not much room for superstition or omens--but they seem to follow Ema wherever she goes. It doesn't help that she appears to predict events before they happen, and has a peculiar fear of shadows... When Ema is sent to stay with her eccentric uncle in Prague, she fears she'll lose the chance to ever fit in. But then she meets Silvie--a girl who finally sees Ema for the extraordinary girl that she is. Soon the girls are meeting for secret midnight adventures and facing Ema's fears together. But then disaster strikes. Silvie goes missing--and it's up to Ema to find her. Now she must gather the courage to hunt the city, find her friend, and uncover the secrets of the one clue Silvie left as to where she might be--inside the mysterious Midnight Guild...