Nonfiction Monday and Gift Suggestions

Today we will feature some of our favorite biographies. The first is actually a series, all by author Mike Venezia:



These are sooooooo great for reluctant readers - and, we will admit, we love reading the cartoons ourselves! Comprised of short but informative bits of text interspersed with photographs and cartoons, Venezia keeps each of these biographies lively and interesting. Often biographies of "old dead people" just plain look dry and dusty, because any portraits of the subjects are....dry and dusty. You definitely can't say that about these! Several adult patrons have discovered the series and scraf them off the new shelves as they come in. Don't miss the back pages, where Venezia explains how one of his distant relatives was either related to the subject of that particular book, or almost accomplished the same feats! So far he done artists, musicians, and presidents.



In this hilarious autobiography, Scieszka covers the female readers with his humor, the male readers with the hijinks (making money off your baby brother and blowing things up), and the adults with memories of Catholic schools and family car trips. Each chapter is a story all by itself, making this a great book for read-alouds, the coffee tabvle, or one to just stick in your purse for doctor's office waits (just be prepared for strange looks when you start giggling and shouting "ohmygosh, pagan babies! How could I forget about the pagan babies?!")



We were so happy to see Kathryn Lasky turning her hand to biographies a few years ago (she did a couple, this one and one on Eratosthenes, in the 90's, but has done more in recent years). They have the same rich writing as her historical fiction and fantasy books, making her subjects come to life.




This is part of another series we have really enjoyed. It is always good to see young people getting involved in important causes and using their boundless energy to do something to change things (before they get jaded and cynical like us old folks!) In this particular title, Mr. Kachepa started off as a victim, and is now an advocate for human trafficking victims. Many kids and teens (as well as many adults) will be shocked to discover slavery is still a problem in many parts of the world, including the United States. While this book does not gloss over terrible living conditions, it does not give so much detail as to be inappropriate for anyone around 5th grade and up. The focus is on how the young men in Kachepa's situation were helped, and how he is now helping other victims. A very inspiring book, as are the others in the series. Give these to the thinkers and doers on your list who may need to be encouraged that they are never too young to make a difference.



"A long time ago there lived a thre-year-old author.
Me.
I was the best grocery-list writer in the world and a huge help to my mother. When I wrote a word I knew exactly what it said.
And the fun part was that I could turn each list upside down and the words said the same thing."

This is an "oldie", but still in print, and perfect for the budding author on your list. We found it just as adorable as her picture books (Hooway for Wodney Wat, Score One for the Sloths, etc.) It is so full of one-liners and giggles, you will find yourself wanting to read it out loud to another grown-up before you package it up for its recipient. In fact, you may just want to buy two copies, so you can keep one for yourself!




The "For Kids" series combines interesting biographical information with tons of activities to try. These would be excellent either for home schoolers, or for a child who has a special interest in a subject area (in this case, art). The series also includes books about archaeology, the civil war, Harry Houdini, and the solar system, among others.

Cool Contest - Today Only!!!

Our friend Amanda over at A Patchwork of Books has a big book giveaway going on, but you have to enter TODAY. We love her idea of posting your favorite Christmas tradition to enter, and we're mostly having fun reading those:) We're not entering, but several people already have, so hurry on over to A Patchwork of Books

Gifts for People Who Have Pets...or Want Pets...or are Pets!

Karen Beaumont and David Catrow, the perfect combination for a goofy picture book. Every dog owner can identify with the early morning wake-ups, and trying to control a group of exhuberant puppies of all shapes and sizes. Snuggle up with your little one on your lap and take time to look over all the silly details in Catrow's illustrations - the facial expressions alone are priceless!



We know, a wombat makes a lousy pet, but after reading these and French's nonfiction follow-up, we WANT one! We also think Freaky might be one...obstinate, likes to burrow, wants to be fed but then left alone...is there such thing as a hairless water wombat?



Anyone who has ever owned a dog will recognize it in one or more of these short poems. A marketing hint to Harper Collins: we would love to see individual prints made of these! Although this is a picture book suitable for any age, we have also given it as a gift to adults who love their pooches with personalities.



One of our favorite read-alouds, and another book filled with David Catrow's quirky illustrations. A young boy who desperately wants a pet iguana exchanges notes with his skeptical mother. Our favorite exchange is when he tells her the iguana could be the little brother he always wanted, and she reminds him, "You HAVE a brother." Seriously, when you were younger, wouldn't you have exchanged your sibling for just about any type of pet? Bite your tongue if you still want that option, it's the holiday season.



One of our absolute all-time favorites, and a great introduction to his whole Magic Shop series. Suitable for 4th or 5th grade readers, or as a family read-aloud. Check local rock shops for one of those polished, egg-shaped stones to make it extra special.



Really, anything by Jean Craighead George should satisfy the animal lover on your list. This is one of several books in which George relates true stories about the animals, wild and domestic, with whom she has shared her life (and shower. And purse. And...)



The bunny in question is never a pet, but rather the catalyst for a young girl and the grown-ups around her to find their way out of the rather rigid boxes they have found themselves in. Give this one to the quiet loner on your list who has memorized all the books in The Chronicles of Narnia.



Just about everyone, young and old, is familiar with the name of Dr. Dolittle and the concept of talking to animals. Unfortunately, for most the name is associated with the movie, which (apologies to Mr. Murphy), was absolute rubbish. Also unfortunately, you can't get new copies of most of this series anymore, and will have to purchase most of them from secondhand sources. We think that makes them more of a treasure, though. Perhaps if we get a new generation hooked on the series, publishers will take note and start reprinting!

There are tons of great books out there for animal lovers, and we have only scratched the surface. We would love to hear your suggestions (because hey, we have gifts to buy, too!)

Secret Santas

Last month we posted here about a Secret Santa type gift exchange just for book bloggers.

We were absolutely tickled today to receive a gift from our Secret Santa, some anonymous elf from Ontario. Not only did our package contain a nice little journal for us, but a board book and stuffy for our keeper's baby-on-the-way; her first official Christmas present! Even the card was hand made and adorable, making us feel guilty for the generic stick-on labels we use. Thank-you Santa, for making our day!

Gift Ideas for Teens

Some groups are just harder to buy for than others. Husbands are one - the ads say to buy them tools, but unless he has been dropping hints like Home Depot flyers with items circled, how do you know which ones? And if you could afford them, wouldn't he already have six? The office "non-gender-specific-around-$15" gift exchange can be a nightmare as well. Buy a set from Bath and Body, and guaranteed, the one guy in the room will draw that number. Ditto with the fancy chocolates or cocoa sets and the coworker on a diet.

Teens are definitely another one of those groups. There is just so much twilight paraphenalia in the stores, and they stopped letting us pick out clothes for them years ago. God bless the teen who collects something, and triple blessings upon those who love books!

In Tuesday's post, we gave a couple web sites where you can find upcoming releases. Commercial sites like Garnes and Noble and Amazon also allow you to search by publication dates. Today we are going to feature some books for teens that may have been out for a year or a decade, but which we think will still appeal to a wide variety of teens. Later this month we will feature favorite authors for the same age group.



Publisher's description: Though legally blind, Paul Fisher can see what others cannot. He can see that his parents' constant praise of his brother, Erik, the football star, is to cover up something that is terribly wrong. But no one listens to Paul—until his family moves to Tangerine. In this Florida town, weird is normal: Lightning strikes at the same time every day, a sinkhole swallows a local school, and Paul the geek finds himself adopted into the toughest group around: the soccer team at his middle school. Maybe this new start in Tangerine will help Paul finally see the truth about his past—and will give him the courage to face up to his terrifying older brother.

A rather intense book, full of social issues but by no means bogged down by them. Although the main character plays soccer and his older brother is a football star (and the sun around which the family revolves), it is not a sports book. Although there are a few mysteries to be solved, it is not a mystery novel. Although most of the main characters are male, it can easily be enjoyed by both genders. Not for teens who like light reading, but highly recommended for those who like to think. Word of warning, once your teen begins this book, do not attempt to draw them into everyday conversation until they have finished it!




Publisher's Description: Los Angeles is a place of movie stars and fast cars and people who are too rich and people who are too poor. An area of freeway chases and drive-bys and death. But there's another L.A., one where warmth and humor and humanity pervade. Where a tacqueria sign declares: "One cause, one people, one taco." This L.A. is a place where random acts of generosity and goodwill improve the lives of the community. Any Small Goodness is a novel filled with hope, love, and warmth.

This book runs the gamut of emotions, from humor to despair. The reading level, about 4th grade, and the pervasive element of hope, make it suitable for pre-teens or for family read-alouds, yet the themes of balancing who you are with wanting to fit in, or the feeling that sometimes no matter how hard you try to do the right thing, bad things still happen, make this story resonate with teens as well. A great book any time of year, but the last chapters are especially suited for Christmas.



What teen has not felt he was the odd one at times? Here, two boys who would seem to be exact opposites, but who are both more than they appear, team up to show the world (and themselves) that there are different kinds of strength, and different kinds of smart.



This is actually the link to the Audio CD, but we like the cover photo better:) Publisher's description:

Thirteen-year-old Steven has a totally normal life: he plays drums in the All-Star Jazz band, has a crush on the hottest girl in the school, and is constantly annoyed by his five-year-old brother, Jeffrey. But when Jeffrey is diagnosed with leukemia, Steven's world is turned upside down. He is forced to deal with his brother's illness and his parents' attempts to keep the family in one piece. Salted with humor and peppered with devastating realities, DRUMS, GIRLS, AND DANGEROUS PIE is a heartwarming journey through a year in the life of a family in crisis.

An amazing first novel in its own right, it is hard to believe Sonnenblick has not gone through these circumstances himself. These who have will find parts of it very familiar, while those who haven't will get a glimpse of what it is like to have a child inthe family with leukemia. Lest you think it is all about having a sick sibling, however, we refer you to the title words, which hint at all the other things going on in Steven's life - as things do.



A little bit of sci-fi, a little bit of mystery. Some readers report finding it slow at first, while others were hooked right away. A twist in the middle, however, gets the attention of both groups, and the ending leaves you wanting a sequel.



Publisher's Description: Maybe it was bad karma. Maybe it was just bad luck. Whatever the reason, fifteen-year-old David was born defective. His bug eyes, pinched face, and hearing aids are obvious, but there is a secret David keeps from everyone, even his foster parents. Because of a thin layer of skin hidden under each arm, David can fly—well, glide is more like it. Terrified of doctors, wary of letting down his guard, David is determined to hide his secret at any cost. But then David meets Cheetah, a girl whose own defect doesn’t diminish her spirit, and suddenly his life begins to take wing.

Don't worry, the bad pun at the end of the description is not indicative of the writing in the actual book! Intriguing selection for boys or girls.



There HAS to be a sequel to this, it was set up at the end to have a sequel, and we desperately WANT there to be a sequel, but one has not materialized yet. Yes, Ms. Plum-Ucci, we are directing those comments at you!

A sci-fi thriller that will appeal to your computer geeks, without being to technical for those of us who are still figuring out how to operate our blog. Characters' changing relationships, international intrigue, mistaken first impressions, terrorism, family ties - there is something for everyone in this thriller. Give it to your favorite teen so he or she can help us nag the author for another!



Gotta love a book that warns you up front, don't you? Yes, it does begin with the mother dying, but no, the book itself is not hideous. We'd have to say this is definitely a girl book, though. Written in verse, teens will find it an easy read, and will probably identify with the main character in several areas, even if their father is not a "megafamous actor/ who's been way too busy/ trying to win Oscars/ to even visit me once in fifteen years".

Old Picture Books Worth the Search Time

Today for our gift suggestions, we are featuring picture books that may be a little hard to find - some are out of print, most won't be carried at your local book store - but they are definitely worth a little searching. These are "classics" that may not make any of the classics lists, but we bet (or at least hope) you'll recognize one or two and say "I LOVED that book! That would be perfect for my neice!"

Without further ado, and in no particular order:



Not only is this one back in print, it made Barnes and Noble's Holiday Gift list. Also by Doris Burn:



Both are simple stories guaranteed to fire up the imagination of any child. In the first, a young, misunderstood inventor runs away from home (as far as the meadow) and builds his own home. He is soon joined by other children who feel unappreciated at home, and builds for them unique homes suited to their personality. In the second, a boy tries to escape the annoying tourists buzzing around the beach, and discovers a small group of children who, while we can assume came with their parents as tourists, have also slipped away to create their own little quiet hiding places where they can be themselves. Make sure to pair these with an age-appropriate set of tools and some scrap materials. After reading either one, your kids will be itching to get out and create their own hideaways! If space is an issue, they may settle for creating miniatures out of shoeboxes or the like.

Two oldies by Brock Cole:





Buttons will tickle children who like to see adults behaving in absurd ways. Father loses the buttons on his britches and takes to bed, unable now to go out and prvide for his family. His loving daughters come up with absurd ways of locating new buttons for their dear father, with the least likely of course being the most successful. While children may be unfamiliar with some of the vocabulary (like britches) and time period references (the shiny buttons on a soldier's uniform), the context is more than adequate for understanding, and shouldn't break the flow of the story. Pair it with a box of miscellaneous buttons, and your youngster can spend hours sorting them or stringing them together.

The King at the Door is a very sweet tale of a raggedy-looking man appearing at the door of an inn, insisting he is the king, and in need of some assistance. The innkeeper judges him by his appearance, while the young apprentice takes him at his word. When the former sends out dishwater to drink and dog scraps for food, the apprentice shares his own food and drink with the man instead. Everyone gets their just rewards the next day, when the king returns to take the kind apprentice to live with him at the castle. A very simple tale of kindness and trust vs. cynicism and judgementalism without any overbearing preachiness. Also a gentle reminder to adults that children sometimes see things more clearly than we do! After reading it together, make a trip to a local soup kitchen to help out for an afternoon.



Who does not remember playing for hours with a giant empty box? (If you never experienced that, go get one and try it out in your living room. We won't tell anyone. Just curl up inside with a flashlight, a blanket, some cookies and a book. Trust us.) This would go well with the Doris Burn books to inspire creativity. Pair it, of course, with a giant box - check your local appliance store for empties, or use the excuse to replace your old dryer.



Slight confusion may arise from the fact that Kim is generally thought of as a girl's name these days, and here Kim is a boy, but many kids won't even think about it. Partly in rebus, this is the comical tale of a boy who must find homes for all but one of his kittens, and succeeds - by exchanging each for a different kind of pet! Children will enjoy reading along by naming the color and type of each pet as they are listed in cumulative form, until Kim arrives proudly back home. Pair it with a collection of plastic animals, a wagon like Kim's, or, if you have decided it's time, a handmade gift certificate for a certain kind of pet.



This one was actually written and illustrated by fourth graders in Mount Horeb, Wisnconsin. Basically, a little girl takes the chewing gum from her mouth and sticks it under a park bench before walking away. The gum ends up beingpicked back up, in one way or another, by a variety of creatures, until it ends up back in the same spot the next day - where the little girl finds it again and pops it back into her mouth. We know, we know, eeeeeewww!!! But that's part of the appeal, as is the authorship. Buy it to encourage your budding author/artist, and make sure to include plenty of drawing paper, or maybe a blank book and a "grown-up" pen and pencil set.



Another one where the grown-ups are just plain silly, while gently teaching that we can't expect other people to meet our every need and want - we need to take responsibility for some things ourselves. Pair it with a date to make gingerbread together - and invite us, we LOVE gingerbread in all forms!

Giving Books as Gifts

Before we make any more book recommendations, we have to share this fantastic list from another blog:

MotherReader: 105 Ways to Give a Book

Anybody can just put a book in a pretty bag with tissue, these wonderful but simple ideas take gifts to a fun new level!

Also, if you are in the area of our library, remember we have a Christmas tree near our videos with order cards for books you can buy and donate for everyone to enjoy!

Some of you may find yourself in the same position as our keeper - her teenage daughter asks for books for Christmas, but reads everything the second it comes out. Sure, gift cards mean they can choose their own books, but it's still nice to have something to wrap. Check out these sites for some upcoming titles and preorder, so they can't POSSIBLY have already read them...right?

YA Lit
Teens Read Too December Calendar