Stories from the Farm

I have found that even though we are located in a semi-rural area, that a lot of children that visit our library are unfamiliar with farms and farm life.  So this week, I am sharing some children's books about life on a farm . . . .

Chicken Feathers by Joy Cowley
Relates the story of the summer Josh spends while his mother is in the hospital awaiting the birth of his baby sister, and his pet chicken Semolina, who talks but only to him, is almost killed by a red fox.

Barn Boot Blues by Catherine Friends
When her parents swap urban life in Minneapolis for rural life on a farm 100 miles away, twelve-year-old Taylor feels as if she is living on another planet.

Out of the Dust by  Karen Hesse
In a series of poems, fifteen-year-old Billie Jo relates the hardships of living on her family's wheat farm in Oklahoma during the dust bowl years of the Depression.

The Golden Goose by Dick King-Smith
Farmer Skint and his family on Woebegone Farm have fallen on hard times, but their luck changes with the arrival of a special golden goose.

Alida's Song by Gary Paulsen
A fourteen-year-old boy who has been neglected by irresponsible parents spends a wonderful summer on a farm where his grandmother cooks for two elderly brothers.


More Farm Stories --
Anna on the Farm by Mary Downing Hahn
The Barn by Avi
The Beef Princess of Practical County by Michelle Houts
Centaur Rising by Jane Yolen
Dragonsdale by Salamanda Drake
Drizzle by Katherine Van Cleve
Fat & Bones by Larissa Theule
Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule by Harriett Gillem Robinet
A Gathering of Days by Joan W. Blos
Jimmy Dabble by Frans Vischer
McBroom's Wonderful One-Acre Farm by Sid Fleischman
R My Name is Rachel by Patricia Reilly Giff
Simeon's Fire by Cathryn Clinton
A Tough Nut to Crack by Tom Birdseye
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher


Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through June 16, 2017.

Kamisama Kiss series by Juliette Suzuki

Nanami Momozono is alone and homeless after her father runs away from the debt collectors and she is evicted from their apartment.  Luckily, she meets and helps a guy in the park who repays her by "giving" her his home.

When she finds the house in the country, she discovers that it is a shrine dedicated to matchmaking.  And she's unwittingly taken the place as the local deity of that shrine.

Now she must figure out her new responsibilities while dealing with a cranky familiar and dodging yokai who are out to steal her powers.



I recommend this comedic manga series to those who enjoyed Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya.  There are hints of romance mixed in with the comedy and supernatural elements of the story.

1-2-3 Count With Me

This week, I'm sharing some great picture books focusing on numbers and counting for kids . . . .

Let's Count Goats! by Mem Fox
Encourages counting skills with humorous illustrations of goats.

Night Light by Nicholas Blechman
Count the lights and, through die-cut pages, find out which vehicle they belong to.

My Little Sister Ate One Hare by Bill Grossman
Little sister has no problem eating one hare, two snakes, and three ants, but when she gets to ten peas, she throws up quite a mess.

Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Ten mice outsmart a hungry snake.

Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett
The reader is invited to count the animals that have frightened the monkeys off the pages.


More Counting Picture Books --
1 Zany Zoo by Lori Degman
100 Snowmen by Jen Arena
Can You Count Ten Toes? Count to 10 in 10 Different Languages by Lezlie Evans
Cha-Cha Chimps by Julia Durango
Count on the Subway by Paul Du Bois Jacobs
Counting Crows by Kathi Appelt
Dinosaur Countdown by Nicholas Oldland
Edible Numbers by Jennifer Bass
Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree by Eileen Christelow
Flight 1-2-3 by Maria van Lieshout
Lyle Walks the Dog: A Counting Book by Bernard Waber
Numbers Everywhere by Elliott Kaufman
Old MacDonald in the City by Suzanne Williams
One Family by George Shannon
One Is a Mouse by Jonathan Hunt
One Two That's My Shoe! by Alison Murray
The Right Number of Elephants by Jeff Sheppard
Shout! Shout It Out! by Denise Fleming
Soup for One by Ethan Long
Ten Little Fingers, Two Small Hands by Kristy Dempsey
Ten Seeds by Ruth Brown
Ten Tiny Tickles by Karen Katz
Warthogs in the Kitchen by Pamela Duncan Edwards
When Sheep Sleep by Laura Numeroff
Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Shields
Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss

For Magnus Chase -- Hotel Valhalla: Guide to the Norse Worlds by Rick Riordan

So you've made it to Valhalla. Now what?

This "who's who" guide to the gods, goddesses, and other important figures of Norse mythology was commissioned by Helgi, who, after more than a millennium as manager of Hotel Valhalla, became fed up with answering the same questions from newly deceased heroes at check-in. The profiles provide essential stats, interviews, and personal reflections so you can identify the gods and avoid those awkward introductions. Handy facts about other beings round out this go-to tome. 

You'll never see Ratatosk as a cute little rodent or confuse a dwarf with an elf ever again!

This is an amusing handbook to all things Norse mythology.  It is a great introduction for anyone wanting to read the Magnus Chase books.

How Long Would You Survive?

Survival stories are a popular topic for teen books.  Here are some of my favorites  . . . .

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
When a plane crash strands thirteen teen beauty contestants on a mysterious island, they struggle to survive, to get along with one another, to combat the island's other diabolical occupants, and to learn their dance numbers in case they are rescued in time for the competition.

The End Games by T. Michael Martin

In the rural mountains of West Virginia, seventeen-year-old Michael Faris tries to protect his fragile younger brother from the horrors of the zombie apocalypse.

Storm by Donna Jo Napoli
 Having lost her family in a massive flood, sixteen-year-old Sebah finds her way onto a gigantic ark, where she must conceal herself from Noah and his family until it is safe for her and another stowaway to slip away.

The Diamond Boy by Michael Williams
When Patson's family moves to Marange region of Zimbabwe, he begins working in the mines, searching for blood diamonds, until government soldiers arrive and Patson is forced to journey to South Africa in search of his missing sister and a better life.

Dualed by Elsie Chapman
West Grayer lives in a world where every person has a twin, or Alt. Only one can survive to adulthood, and West has just received her notice to kill her Alt.


More Teen Survival Stories --
Adrift by Paul Griffin
All the Good Children by Catherine Austen
Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick
Black River Falls by Jeff Hirsch
Desert Angel by Charlie Price
The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes
Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
H2O by Virginia Bergin
How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller
In Darkness by Nick Lake
Inhuman by Kat Falls
The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer
A Matter of Days by Amber Kizer
More Than This by Patrick Ness
Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
On the Edge of Gone by Corinne  Duyvis
The Rule of Three by Eric Walters
Survive by Alex Morel
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through June 1, 2017.

Orange by Ichigo Takano

On the first day of 11th grade, Naho receives a letter from her future self directing her to save the life of a Kakeru, new student at her school.  To her surprise, there is a new student that day who becomes a good friend.  Now, with the help of the letter and her friends she must somehow save Kakeru.

This was an unusual manga that was realistic with hints of the supernatural.  It deals with the very serious subjects of self-confidence, depression and suicide.  With only two volumes in the series, it is a quick read for those who like manga.

Bunny Tales

A couple years ago, I created a display of chapter books about mice.  I was surprised how many children's books there were featuring mice.  So this year, I created a display of chapter books featuring rabbits.  Again, I was surprised how many books there are with bunny characters.  So here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny -- Detectives Extraordinaire! by Polly Horvath
Middle-schooler Madeline's hippie parents have been kidnapped from Hornby Island, Canada, by foxes, and Madeline, upon discovering that she can understand animal languages, hires two rabbit detectives to find them.

Bunnicula by Deborah Howe
Though scoffed at by Harold the dog, Chester the cat tries to warn his human family that their foundling baby bunny must be a vampire.

Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies by Andrea Beaty
 At Camp Whatsitooya, twins Joules and Kevin and new friend Nelson face off against large, rabbit-like creatures from the Mallow Galaxy who thrive on sugar, but are not above hypnotizing and eating human campers.

Emmaline and the Bunny by Katherine Hannigan
 Everyone and everything in the town of Neatasapin is tidy, except Emmaline who likes to dig dirt and jump in puddles, and wants to adopt an untidy bunny.


More Bunny Tales --
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
The Great Rabbit Rescue by Katie Davies
Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny by Jan Karon 
Kenny & the Dragon by Terry DiTerlizzi
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson
Sensible Hare and the Case of the Carrots by Daren King
Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny by John Himmelman

Check these books out on display through May 26, 2017 at the Arnold Branch.