SOME GREAT GRAPHICS

Sparks by Ian Boothby and Nina Matsumoto  

Two new Graphic Novel versions from Far Out Fairy Tales series Sleeping Beauty, Magic Master by Stephanie True Peters illustrated C.S. Jennings

Goldilocks and the Three Vampires by Laurie Sutton and illustrated by Alex Lopez

A DOG AND TWO CATS

Just sharing some sweet new dog and cat picture books from the collection.   

The Very Very Very Long Dog by Julia Patton Bartelby is a very very long dog who can't see his tail's end and causes mayhem for his friends whenever he goes out.  A creative solution makes for a happy ending for Bartelby.   

I love Cats! by Sue Stainton and Bob Staake is for someone who loves cats: Happy cats, prancing cats, blinking cats, cats, cats, CATS! 

My Lazy Cat by Christine Roussey is another fun book about a girl and her very very round cat who does "nothing" all day long.  

For Preschool through Kindergarten readers. 

I LOVE TO DANCE!

Kimberly and James Dean bring us another fun read aloud, Pete the Cat and the Cool Cat Boogie. This time Pete the Cat is learning a new dance. As he tries to get help from his different friends who try to teach him their dance, he does not seem to get it quite right. However, the great thing about Pete is that he does not give up. Throughout the story, he keeps trying and trying and when he is about to give up, Wise Old owl encourages him to try to be himself and not try to learn others' dance moves. This helps Pete find his own rhythm and enjoy grooving to his own beat.

This is a great story that teaches children not to give up no matter what their friends say.  

For ages 3-6.  

YOO-HOO! WHY, HELLO THERE!

Oh, excuse me. Yes, I am talking to you, dear reader, so blithely scrolling through these reviews! (please wave toward the screen if you can read this) Are you by chance seeking another interactive picture book to share with your little one? Maybe your hands are eager to clap, fingers are keen to tap, arms are primed to flap, but your eyes are tired of staring at some old app? Maybe you’ve already read and gushed over Herve Tullet’s Press Here and all the other books mentioned in these earlier reviews (click to read). Or maybe you’d really like a cat or dog, but are severely allergic?

If so, good news! (clap here) You might be interested in two new offerings published by minibombo: The Cat Book by Silvia Borando and The Dog Book by Lorenzo Clerici. Get ready to stroke, tickle, and squeeze your very own two-dimensional furry pet. From messy bath times to flea control, readers can experience it all! Well, almost all.

Now wiggle your fingers and click the book cover images to find these titles at your nearest Glendale/Pasadena library! (it’s basically magic)

Ages 2+

CUPCAKE PARTY

Pete the Cat is back and this time instead of losing his “groovy buttons,” the cupcakes he and his friend Gus made for their cupcake party mysteriously go missing.  As Pete and Gus look for clues to find their missing cupcakes, the cupcakes continue to disappear in twos. 

This Pete the Cat series addition, Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes, is written and illustrated by Kimberly & James Dean.  It makes for a great read aloud and with the cupcakes missing in twos, kids will enjoy counting down the cupcakes. 

A great read for children in Pre-K to Kindergarten. 

A CAT BY ANY OTHER NAME

The neighborhood cat featured in this captivating picture book leads a very busy life. He saunters from house to house on Blossom Street, answering to many different names and helping the people he meets carry out a number of miscellaneous activities: eating fresh fish at number three, bird watching at number one, still-life modeling at number eighteen, gardening at number fourteen, and swing dancing at number six, to name but a few. There's only one house that doesn't normally get a visit from the street's resident feline celebrity: number eleven, where life is much quieter. One day, when the cat strays from his much-anticipated regular rounds, the cast of diverse neighborhood characters come out in full force looking for their beloved (and, unbeknownst to them, communal) pet. Where has he gone and who does he actually belong to? 

Archie Snufflekins Oliver Valentine Cupcake Tiberius Cat, written and illustrated by Katie Harnett, is simply a delight. Preschoolers through second graders, as well as assorted cat ladies and gentlemen of all ages (and maybe even some dog people too!), will take pleasure in this charming offering, whether shared in a group setting or one on one. Perhaps, as this reviewer suspects, this sweet tale of friendship and community could even win over Grumpy Cat herself.

BAD KITTY VS. THE AUTHOR

Bad Kitty is at it again in Bad Kitty Drawn to Trouble by Nick Bruel. This wacky entry in the series doubles as a primer on story writing and structure in addition to being a hilarious tale in its own right. Over the course of the story, young readers will learn about protagonists (the one and only Bad Kitty, of course), antagonists (Puppy, the long-suffering and none-the-wiser foil to our main character), conflict (time to go on a diet Bad Kitty!), and plot points (a frequently-interrupting turnip, giant octopuses, and creepy zombies to name a few). But what kind of ending should a story have? When kids are the authors of their own stories, it will be up to them decide! 


Not only will this Bad Kitty book leave second through fourth graders literally laughing out loud, it might just inspire them to write a story of their own. 

Fans of Bad Kitty take note: There will be a Bad Kitty Library Hunt the week of March 20th, in addition to a Bad Kitty Party on Saturday, March 26th. Come join us in the Children's Room for activities and crafts celebrating the wild and wonderful world of Bad Kitty! 

HOW TO CATCH A MOUSE

Clemmie is an intrepid and vigilant mouse catcher. The adorable ginger kitten has carefully honed her hunting and chasing skills through relentless training. Don’t be fooled by that exuberant yarn play; it’s a huntress at work. Yes, Clemmie would be very proud indeed to say that she has never ever seen a mouse in her house.
Problematically, however, Clemmie has never actually seen a mouse. Period. Gathering her knowledge from books, the little kitten stalks from page to page, pouncing at wispy pink (hat) “tails” and round (stuffed panda) ears. Meanwhile, a ridiculously disguised mouse saunters in the background, leaving the kitten none the wiser. But never fear! A true mouse catcher will always find a way to catch her prey, even if it means taking a leaf out of her target’s book.
How to Catch a Mouse by Philippa Leathers is a charmingly playful picture book read. Observant young children will enjoy tracking the little mouse’s stealthy appearances throughout the story. Share with cat lovers and other pet fans. For other great feline reads, check out Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes, There Are Cats in This Book by Viviane Schwarz, and Katie Loves the Kittens by John Himmelman. Continue the cat and mouse chase with Ed Vere’s Max the Brave and Ellen Stoll Walsh’s classic Mouse Paint.
Ages 4+

WHERE ARE BAD KITTY'S PRESENTS?

It's Bad Kitty's birthday, and her owner wants to celebrate with an event to remember.  A number of cats, each with distinct personalities, bring a unique gift to the party.  Kitty goes with the flow and enjoys the party until she learns that someone has tampered with her birthday gifts.  That's when another side to Kitty comes out.  Will she behave as she tries to solve the mystery of her missing gifts? Readers are left to wonder if she's truly a bad kitty or one they'd want in their homes.  A fun read with adorable characters that will leave others wondering why you-the reader-is laughing out loud!  

Nick Bruel's second book, Happy Birthday Bad Kitty is filled with comical black and white illustrations which makes this series even more fun!  For Ages 8-10.

WANTED: PET HUMAN

Living out on the streets is never easy for a stray cat, but the nameless feline narrator of My Pet Human considers himself lucky to live such a carefree life. With an insider’s knowledge of the best hiding spots and food joints as well as plenty of domesticated, neighborhood critter friends, there’s little incentive for the tuxedo cat to find a pet human of his own. This is particularly the case when he’s already sure the perfect pet human doesn’t exist!

But when a new family moves into town, this street-wise cat is forced to reconsider his roaming ways. Suddenly he’s found someone to feed him lots of treats, give him back rubs, have boxes for him to play in, treat him gently, let him sleep in her lap, and possibly be a faithful companion. Could this little human girl be his perfect pet human?

Author-illustrator Yasmine Surovec is the creator of the Cat versus Human cartoon blog, and her first chapter book for younger readers features appealing comic style illustrations on every page. A cozy new series for pet lovers.

Grades 3+

TIME TO SLEEP!

After spending the day at the beach, Pete and his friends don’t want the fun to end so they decide to have a sleepover at Pete’s house. After all the fun and games, Pete decides to go to sleep but his friends want to make noise and stay awake instead. How will Pete get some ZZZs?

Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues by Kimberly and James Dean, is one of those stories that readers will love to read over and over again. Similar to other “Pete the Cat” titles, this book has a lot of repetition, and is a great interactive read-aloud for storytime. This book is a good read for toddlers to first grade.  

A FELINE RAMPAGE

All Hissy Fitz wants is a nap. Food, fresh water, and gentle scratches between his ears and cheeks are also appreciated, but secondary to the all-important nap. Tormented by a boisterous toddler, and kept frustratingly awake by his own clueless human girl, this snarky, sleep-deprived British Shorthair cat is on a feline rampage as he furiously stalks from home to town, searching for a coveted quiet spot. But humans, as Hissy notes, are a noisy bunch with their roaring cars, pounding hammers, slamming doors, rambling voices, and piercing shouts. No sooner does Hissy settle in for a snooze than another (noisy) interruption jolts him awake. 

As the day drags on, there is no respite for the increasingly frazzled Hissy, who lapses into humorous melodrama and begins courting trouble. No hungry raccoon, straggling cat, cooing child, or stinky shoe is safe from his rage. All this culminates in a curious, and frankly ridiculous, nighttime neighborhood kitty soccer match coordinated by Hissy’s friend, a long-haired cat named Igloo. Will Hissy never have his sleep? 

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on in the mind of a temperamental pet, Hissy Fitz by Patrick Jennings, offers snarky insight. It’s an amusing beginning chapter book read for fans of Nick Bruel’s Bad Kitty series and the Internet sensation Grumpy Cat. 

For grades  2- 4.

OPERATION BUNNY

Emily Vole starts her life in a little hat box abandoned in an airport. When the wealthy and childless Dashwoods see the baby Emily on the news, they decide to adopt her. But when Emily turns five, Daisy Dashwood becomes pregnant with triplets, and Emily is banished to the laundry room and expected to be the Dashwoods' maid and babysitter. 

Emily's life as a housekeeper is not fun, until she meets their quirky neighbor Miss String, who has a large talking cat and believes in magic. Soon, Emily finds herself inheriting a set of magic keys with legs that open a secret shop, and attracts the wrath of the evil witch Harpella, who is known to steal souls and turn people into pink bunnies.

Operation Bunny is the first book of the Wings & Co. series by Sally Gardner, with wonderfully zany illustrations by David Roberts. Emily Vole is one smart cookie of a character, and it was fun to read about her wild adventures. Of course, the pink bunnies were also a big part of the allure. We will be looking forward to Emily's new adventures.
For grades 3 and up.

A BEWITCHING TALE OF MISSPELLING

Who doesn't love a good witch story? Well this is a good story about a bad witch. Not an evil witch, just a girl named Salem Hyde who isn't very good at being a witch. Enter Whammy, a talkative cat (who doesn't like flying) who serves as Salem's trainer and friend, and helps her become a better "speller." 

THE MISADVENTURES OF SALEM HYDE: SPELLING TROUBLE by Frank Cammuso is the first book in what might be a very amusing Graphic Novel series for 3rd - 6th grades.

NOVEMBER 2014

CATS AND MORE CATS

Mathilda's Cat likes to do whatever Matilda does, but does she really?  Another lovely story with beautiful illustrations by by Emily Gravett.  

Two new Pete the Cat books will have everyone singing along with him to these favorite ditties as one pages through the books.  Pete the Cat- the Wheels on the Bus and Pete the Cat - Old MacDonald Had a Farm by James Dean.  

For readers from toddlers through Kindergarten.

SOARING AND OTHER MATTERS

If you like a bit of adventure, magic and the possibility of people flying on their own in your stories, then The Art of Flying by Judy Hoffman is for you. 

It all starts when Fortuna Dalliance’s mother sends the eleven-year-old off to help the very old and strange pair of ladies who live down the street. Not your typical neighbors, the live not only in a very unusual and creepy house but also may possess magic powers. Though this encounter with the sisters, or should we say witches, Fortuna becomes involved in a fantastical adventure that includes birds that have been transformed into boys, cats that are not what they seem and a question of friendship.

For readers in 5th-8th grades.

MRS. NOODLEKUGEL-- BABYSITTER FOR HIRE

 

Nick and Maxine are naturally curious about the little house next to their high-rise apartment building.  When they decide to pay a visit to the sweet lady next door, they discover that she has some lively characters living with her.  Nick and Maxine are surprised with the day's events but when they return home, their parents have an even bigger surprise for them. 
For more Mrs. Noodlekugel adventures, reserve a copy of Daniel Pinkwater's Mrs. Noodlekugel and Four Blind Mice today. 

For 3rd grade and older. 

WANTED: A HOME FOR GABY

Gaby and her mother love animals.  They always took care of the stray and abandoned cats in the neighborhood until Gaby's mother was deported to Honduras.  Now, Gaby's father won't allow her to feed or care for any animals.  He says they can barely afford to feed themselves, let alone a cat.  Their neighbors, the Gomez family, offered to take Gaby in after her mother left, but her father insisted on coming back into her life to "take care" of her.  His version of taking care of her leaves her with an empty stomach and a lonely house.

Things seem to look up, however, when Gaby's class volunteers at the local animal shelter where she writes adoption ads in the hopes of finding families for the animals.  What she doesn't expect, though, is that while waiting for her mother to come home and finding homes for the animals, she finds hope and belonging for herself.

Join Gaby on her journey towards acceptance and a loving family in Gaby, Lost and Found by Angela Cervantes, for grades 5-7.

NOT A VACATION

LaRue Across America: Postcards From the Vacation by Mark Teague is a hilarious take on a vacation gone awry when two cats join Ike and throws his planned cruise out the window.   Ike, the irate dog, tries every which way, via postcards, to let poor injured Mrs. Hibbins that all is not well with him or the cats and he only has their best interests at heart and she should come and get them as soon as possible.  

Told with a much humor in the illustrations, the pictures tell a different story,  it's a perfect family read-aloud.  Mark Teague creates beauftiful scenic pages in a combination of color and black and white (for the fantasy/dream moments).  Great for readers in preschool and up.  

FUN PICTURE BOOKS FOR ALL

Every so often, some great picture books will get published.  What make them great is the combination of the story and the illustration.  Here are some of my recent favorites.  Enjoy. 

Mustache written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Kevin Connell is HILARIOUS!  It's about one vain king and a town filled with people out to make him look silly by drawing mustaches on every single one of his images.  A book that will have everyone laughing and poring over each page of artwork.  

A cat and a bird are not suppose to be friends but when Tom finds a lost baby bird, he can't find it in himself to torment it, so he protects and cares for the poor little thing  just like a mother bird would.  Tom's Tweet by Jill Esbaum and illustrated by Dan Santat make for a fun read with the family.

Dog In Charge by K.L. Going and illustrated by Dan Santat has poor dog in charge of five cats who do whatever they want in the house while the people are away.  Dog is exhausted by having to constantly reign in, clean up and keep an eye on all the cats.  Great illustrations by Santat and a hilarious romp through the house reminiscent of aTom and Jerry cartoon.