March Bookshelf
Notes from a Children's Librarian
In Massachusetts, the snow piles are finally dwindling and we’ve been treated to some exceptional sunsets in these first evenings of daylight savings. Spring is coming! I’m happy to share a few fun books for these brighter days :)
Picture Books
A random aside about me: I loathe bananas. The texture, the smell — ugh. So A Quick Trip to the Store — a story about a family who runs out of bananas and has to run to store to remedy this problem immediately, was a bit of a test. I mean…these are the endpapers:
However! It is such charming and fun story about independence, miscommunications, and shopping cart mishaps, (and luckily no scratch and sniff ;) This would be a great read aloud, or mystery reader pick for preschool through the early elementary years!
Of course, Evelyn Witch Gets a Pet would make a great Halloween-but-not-really book to read aloud in October…but why delay the joy when you could share it now?! At the Pet Shop, Evelyn can only afford to buy a “mystery” pet, which turns out to be an egg. But what’s inside? She tries to make it hatch, but it will only come out when it’s ready. The spells throughout are very fun to read aloud!
Nonfiction Read Alouds + A Graphic Novel
I am fascinated by the tidbits I’ve heard about the seed vault over the years (brilliantly fictionalized in Wild Dark Shore), so I quickly grabbed Just in Case from my library’s new shelf a few weeks ago. We hope we’ll never need these precious seeds, but there they safely remain, just in case. This book does a lovely job explaining the hows and whys of the vault, and would make a great read aloud for upper elementary.
Last April, my husband and I were driving home from dinner at one of our favorite spots, when suddenly the backcountry roads were overcome with frogs. It was apocalyptic. After weaving along as carefully as possible, I later discovered we had witnessed the big night! Safe Crossing explores this phenomenon as a family of citizen scientists manage road detours to help amphibian friends cross to safety. Realizing this isn’t enough, however, they begin a years-long project to fund and build a tunnel. I am a huge fan of citizen scientist books (Susan Edwards Richmond has a great collection!), and I loved reading this with my 2nd graders this week.
The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur is the wild account of a day in 1980 when a Louisiana lake disappeared in an epic fashion. This graphic novel is told from the lake’s perspective, detailing the experience of the fisherman, the Texaco oilmen, the Diamond salt miners, and a wealthy gardener. For nonfiction action and adventure fans, this will be a home run. Probably a pick for readers who are 10+, just because of the multiple perspectives and somewhat technical mining and drilling terms peppered throughout.
Mystery and Horror Middle Grade Books*
One of the great joys of school librarianship is getting to know kids and their reading habits over many years. While reading The Midwatch Institue for Wayward Girls, I kept thinking of students who loved Princess in Black and Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue because this novel is a fantastic step-up from those. Mystery can be a hard genre for kids since the stakes can’t be too terrifying, but often this means the detective is solving the case of the missing pizza or something. Rossell gets it just right here, with an unsettling missing person case that a group of bright, curious girls come together to solve. Excellent illustrations and book design!
Like mystery, horror can also be a tough genre to tackle in middle grade! The House Next Door has been circulated well among my 5th graders, and I totally see the appeal. Rory has seen next door neighbors come and go, often sustaining terrifying and mysterious injuries along the way. When 12-year-old Jack’s family moves in, he and Rory decide they will do whatever it takes to eradicate the evil fairies from the basement and allow the household ghosts to move on their final destination.
*A quick note on middle grade (which doesn’t mean middle school, despite the name!). It’s a publishing term used for books geared towards readers who are 8-12 years old, spanning roughly 3rd to 6th grade.
Family Read Alouds
The Village Beyond the Mist was originally published in Japan in 1975, and was just released in English translation last year. In this slim, episodic novel, the spoiled Lina is sent to Misty Valley for the summer. On Absurd Avenue, she spends her time learning from and assisting various neighbors who run the bookstore and a toy shop, among others. Magical creatures, spells, and wonder abound, and through each adventure, Lina grows a bit more confident and capable. Truly a delight to read.
Last month, I recommended perhaps the most gentle story collection of all time. This month, my 9-year-old and I are reading Tales from the Arabian Nights over breakfast. It is action-packed, with murder, adultery (which I described as dating someone you are not married to, ha), and evil spells. This collection features a small portion of the 1,001 tales, but includes Aladdin, Ali Baba, and other key highlights.
Bits & Bobs
Death by Lightning, about James Garfield’s extraordinary rise to the presidency and ultimate murder, was well done and has a fantastic cast.
Grown-up books I’ve read (and loved!) lately include Heartwood, Seven Year Slip, and Heart the Lover.
I switched recently from Goodreads to StoryGraph to track reading, and highly recommend it. Unlock the joy of rating books at the quarter star level!
My daughter made Nigella Lawson’s chocolate loaf cake on a recent snow day — so good! Not quite cake / not quite a brownie, and delicious with a bit of whipped cream on top.
Looking forward to seeing you here again next month!