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Book Recommendations from the Children's Room Staff--and YOU! |
December 2021 & January 2022 |
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The photographs in this book are STUNNING. They call it art, and it truly is. Each picture shows off the text on the page, and encourages child that they can be whatever they choose to be. Run (or walk quickly in the library) to read this one. (STORIES—Tarpley, Natasha) |
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Every New Year, Jasmine and her family get together to make a lot of mochi (a gooey rice dessert). This year, her older sister Sophie gets to help roll mochi, but Jasmine is still considered too young. That doesn’t stop her from coming up with various plans to help out though! Maybe instead of rolling mochi (like her sister and the other women in her family), she can pound the mochi rice with her father and the men! A sweet and funny story about a determined girl and her family. (J ABC Florence) |
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On June 23, 2018, twelve young soccer players and their coach went caving in Thailand. While there, steady rain flooded their path back so they couldn’t get out. This is the story of the successful rescue of all thirteen people. Soontornvat has included lots of fantastic pictures and interviews to shape the story. We also have it on CD in case you want to listen along. (MSBA J 363.3 Soontornvat, MSBA J CD 363.3 Soontornvat) |
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Seven year old Rufus M. was determined to get a library card, but it was much more complicated than he realized. First he had to ride his scooter back home to wash his hands (twice); learn how to write his name; practice it ten times, and write it in a small space to boot; use a pen, not his customary pencil; scoot back home and get his mother to sign it. Phew. Enjoy the many funny adventures of this loveable young boy knitting his first washcloth for a soldier and planting a vegetable garden. (J Fic Estes) |
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Four intelligent African American women: Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden were very good at math. They were hired by NASA to work with the numbers that would send the United States into space for the first time. Their hard work and persistence paid off in this outstanding true story during a time period when black women were limited with what they could do. (J 629.4 Shetterly) |
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“What do you call two squids that look exactly alike?...I-tentacle twins.” This book is full of so much fun. There are many quick jokes, long story jokes, riddles, knock-knock jokes, tongue twisters, silly facts, and conversation jokes. Every page is even covered with lively, colorful photos. For hours of entertainment, check this book out or any other of our joke books in the non-fiction section. “What is a dentist’s favorite dinosaur?...The Flossa-raptor.” (J 793.7 Pattison) |
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Bird and Squirrel on the Edge! is the third book in the series. What stands out in this book is that there is a really cool geyser that they ride. Also, it was shocking when tons of pine cones fell from a tree, then Squirrel took a pine cone, closed his eyes, and, hoping he would hit a wolf, he threw it. But, it didn't hit a wolf. He accidentally hit Bird and knocked him out! I was so surprised when that happened. Another great addition to this story was a bear cub who comes along and licks them. I would say that this book is even more exciting than the first and second books. It's a great read and I overwhelmingly recommend it!
~Review from Ari M., age 8.5, through Beanstack
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This could be you! Do you have a beloved book you would like to review? Fill out the form on our website or email slcote@windhammaine.us with the title, author, and a short review and you could be in the next newsletter!
~Review by YOU
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Children's Room Highlights |
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5 Reads Featuring the Name 'Samantha'
Inspired by a series I saw on Lewiston Public Library’s Instagram page, I went looking for books connected to the name Samantha. Here are the five that appealed to me the most.
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Meet Samantha by Susan S. Adler. A classic. I might be a little biased because we share a name and I had the American Girl doll, but I think Samantha stays beloved for a reason. She’s an orphan that lives with her grandmother in 1904, longing for someone to play with. She befriends a servant girl next door, Nellie. Together they solve the mystery of why Jessie, the seamstress at Grandmary’s house, has suddenly left. J Fic American
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It Was Supposed to Be Sunny by Samantha Cotterill. Samantha Cotterill has a series of stories called “Little Senses,” about situations which can be overwhelming for children. In this one, Laila’s birthday was SUPPOSED to be sunny, but it rains that day. Laila and her mother work through all the changes that happen that day, and with a little downtime, the day still turns out great! STORIES--Cotterill
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Flying Lessons and Other Stories edited by Ellen Oh. I love short story collections because they expose me to many different authors. Sadly, only one story in this book is about a Samantha: “Secret Samantha” by Tim Federle. In it, Samantha tries to befriend the cool new kid and get people to call her by her preferred name, Sam. Read this book for that story, and then try the rest. J Fic Flying
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What If… by Samantha Berger. This is a book about creating. In it, the nameless narrator talks about the different ways she would create if she lost her pencil (and then other objects.) The illustrations are a combination of drawing and collage, and are really cool. STORIES-- Berger
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Samantha Smith: Journey for Peace by Anne Galicich. In the early 1980s, the United States and the USSR (now known as Russia) seemed to be on the brink of nuclear war. Samantha Smith, a student from Manchester, Maine, wondered why this would be and wrote a letter to their leader. He wrote back and invited her to visit. Smith became an ambassador for peace. Her account of the journey can be found in Journey to the Soviet Union by Samantha Smith. J Biography Smith
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5 Favorite Quiet, Waiting for Winter Books
Every year I find something magical about quietly waiting for winter snow. There’s a soft spot in my heart for this season and books that fall under this special category.
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The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood – This book of few words gently introduces many different types of “quiet” you experience throughout your day. Some favorites are: coloring in the lines quiet, sleeping sister quiet, making a wish quiet, and first snowfall quiet. I bet you can come up with some of your own. STORIES Underwood, Deborah
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Waiting by Kevin Henkes - Find out how five, patient toys occupy their time while sitting on a window sill when their people are away. Be sure to look at the soft colored illustrations inside the house and outside. STORIES Henkes, Kevin
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Winter Waits by Lynn Plourde – Get a feel for the winter with the beautiful words and illustrations that complement each other throughout the pages of patience. STORIES Plourde, Lynn
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The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder – There was a winter so harsh in the town of De Smet, the snow was actually up to the rooftops and food and fuel were running out for Laura and her family. Brave Almanzo Wilder figures out a way to help the town’s people. Also available on audio, this book pairs well with Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park and/or The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich J Fic Wilder
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The Kids’ Winter Fun Book by Claire Gillman & Sam Martin – You won’t have to worry about what to do this winter after you’ve checked out this book. It’s packed with ideas and information to try both indoors and outdoors. (P.S. There are more books in our collection on this topic.) J 790.1 Gillman
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Windham Public Library | 207-892-1908 |
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