Thursday, December 8, 2016

Armstrong : The Adventurous Journey of a Mouse to the Moon

From the Publisher
A long time ago a mouse learned to fly . . . and crossed the Atlantic. But what happened next? Torben Kuhlmann's stunning new book transports readers to the moon and beyond! On the heels of Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse comes Armstrong: A Mouse on the Moon--where dreams are determined only by the size of your imagination and the biggest innovators are the smallest of all. The book ends with a brief non-fiction history of human space travel--from Galileo's observations concerning the nature of the universe to man's first steps on the moon.

Giant Squid

From the Publisher
The giant squid is one of the most elusive creatures in the world. As large as whales, they hide beyond reach deep within the sea, forcing scientists to piece together their story from those clues they leave behind.
An injured whale's ring-shaped scars indicate an encounter with a giant squid. A piece of beak broken off in the whale's belly; a flash of ink dispersed as a blinding defense to allow the squid to escape-- these fragments of proof were all we had . . . until a giant squid was finally filmed in its natural habitat only two years ago.
In this beautiful and clever nonfiction picture book about the giant squid, Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann explore, both visually and poetically, this hidden creature's mysterious life.

Little Penguins

From the Publisher
Newbery Medal-winning author Cynthia Rylant and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Christian Robinson pair up to tell this wintry story about five little penguins enjoying a snowy day.

Snowflakes? Many snowflakes. Winter is coming. So begins this ever-so-simple story. As the snow starts to fall, the excited penguins pull out scarves, mittens, heavy socks, and boots, and Mama helps them bundle up. But when it's time to go out, one timid penguin decides to stay home. Filled with waddling baby penguins, playful text, and delightful illustrations, this book feels like a young picture-book classic in the making.

"Visually stunning. . . . Pair with Ezra Jack Keats's classic The Snowy Day." --Booklist, Starred

"An excellent tale for the very young. A very warm and satisfying bedtime book and a paean to penguins and winter delights." --Kirkus Reviews
Winners of the National Parenting Product Award

Word of Mouse

From the Publisher
James Patterson's newest illustrated middle grade story follows the illuminating journey of a very special mouse, and the unexpected friendships that he makes along the way.

What makes Isaiah so unique? First, his fur is as blue as the sky--which until recently was something he'd never seen, but had read all about. That's right--Isaiah can read, and write. He can also talk to humans...if any of them are willing to listen! After a dramatic escape from a mysterious laboratory, Isaiah is separated from his "mischief" (which is the word for a mouse family), and has to use his special skills to survive in the dangerous outdoors, and hopefully find his missing family. But in a world of cruel cats, hungry owls, and terrified people, it's hard for a young, lone mouse to make it alone. When he meets an equally unusual and lonely human girl named Hailey, the two soon learn that true friendship can transcend all barriers.

The Bad Guys

School Library Journal (November 1, 2016)
Gr 2-4-Be prepared to hear laughter, and lots of it, as students plunge into this graphic novel hybrid. The story opens with Mr. Wolf speaking directly to the audience. Despite his "big, pointy teeth," his "razor-sharp claws," and his suspicious rap sheet filled with familiar "Three Little Pigs" and "Little Red Riding Hood" references, he implores readers to believe he is not a bad guy. Mr. Wolf is on a quest to persuade his carnivorous friends to be part of the Good Guys Club. Their first mission is to rescue a cat from a tree, and even though his friends think Mr. Wolf has lost his mind, they agree to help. Illustrations exaggerate the animals' sharp teeth and wide smiles as they stare up at the terrified kitty. After a few bumps in the plan (namely, Mr. Snake eating Mr. Piranha), an accidental success ensues and they move on to their grand plan of freeing 200 dogs from the pound. Expressive illustrations and typography will captivate budding readers' attention and aid in comprehension. Witty and slapstick humor coupled with menacing animal faces on a bright orange cover ensures this book will appeal to a wide audience. VERDICT Reminiscent of Aaron Reynolds's Carnivores and Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, this humorous title is highly recommended for all libraries.-Beth Parmer, New Albany Elementary Library, OH © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.