Review: "Dory Fantasmagory" by Abby Hanlon

"Why do we have armpits? What's the opposite of a sandwich?" These are just a couple of the many questions Dory asks of her older brother and sister in "Dory Fantasmagory" by Abby Hanlon. This book is filled with imaginary monster friends, a fairy godmother with a beard, sharp-toothed robbers and more. It's about Dory, nicknamed Rascal, who just wants to play with her big brother and sister and all the things she goes through to try and make it happen. Check out Abby Hanlon's other books, "Dory and the Real True Friend," and "Dory, Dory Black Sheep," to fall in love with the amazing, curious, and comical Dory! 

Recommended for readers in grades 1-3.

--Ariel V., Oak Bend

Review: "Scooby-Doo Monster Jokes" by Michael Dahl

Monsters can be scary, but did you know that they can be funny too? You are sure to have many laughs while reading "Scooby-Doo! Monster Jokes" by Michael Dahl, starring Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Fred, Daphne and many more. There are jokes about Frankenstein, witches, werewolves, aliens, creepy crawlies, and of course bloosthirsty monsters. If you have dreams of becoming a comedian, this book teaches you how to tell jokes and also includes a joke dictionary in the back of the book. Perfect for readers in second and third grade. To request a copy, click on the link.

--Jocelyn H., Jamestown Bluffs

"Scooby-Doo! Food Jokes!" by Michael Dahl

"Scooby-Doo! Animal Jokes!" by Michael Dahl

"Scooby-Doo! On the Go Jokes!" by Michael Dahl

“Hensel and Gretel Ninja Chicks” by Corey Rosen Schwartz

Meet Hensel and Gretel: two ninja chicks that are anything but chicken! In Corey Rosen Schwartz’s latest picture book, these two sisters must use their ninja skills on a winding adventure to save their Papa who has been captured by a cunning fox. This fractured fairy tale depicts Hensel and Gretel learning the art of ninjutsu at the 3 Pigs Dojo and leaving a trail of bread crumbs to try and track down their Papa. Soon the chicks become lost as they grope through a twisted and tangled forest in complete darkness only to be lured inside the fox’s cottage made of yummy corn bread. When invited inside for a quick teriyaki, the chicks soon learn that they are in for trouble and quite the ninja showdown. Can the chicks rise to the challenge before their Papa and Mama end up chicken-pot- pied or stir-fried by the fox? 

With a clever rhyming story line and bright action packed illustrations children of all ages are sure to enjoy this story of empowered sister chicks. A great bedtime or story time selection, children are sure to be engaged and enthralled with this new ninja style take on the traditional Hansel and Gretel fairy tale.

Check out other books by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Dan Santat as well!

--Alison R., Headquarters

Peter Brown Story Times

In preparation for a very special author visit in April, St. Louis County Library will have special Peter Brown story times at some locations. 

Click here to see a list of participating branches.

Join us on Sunday, April 10 at 4:00 p.m. to meet Peter Brown.

While you're waiting, check out these Peter Brown stories:




--Desiree S., Headquarters

Review: "Just Joking 6" by Rosie Pattison

Can you say this five times fast? "Flapjack Jack flipped flat flapjacks! Flapjack Jack flipped flat flapjacks! Flapjack Jack flipped flat flapjacks! Flapjack Jack Flipped Flat flapjacks! Flapjack Jack Flipped Flat Flapjacks!"

I bet you don't know what you call a pig that can write with both hooves, do you? Give up? You call them HAM-bidextrous!

Did you know that the library has some great joke books? You won't want to miss checking out "Just Joking 6" by Rosie Pattison. This book is filled with great jokes, tongue twisters, riddles, and really silly photos too. Each page will be sure to get a smile on your face and get everyone in the room laughing. School Library Journal recommends this for readers in grades three to five.

--Julie P., Indian Trails

Review: "The Brilliant World of Tom Gates" by Liz Pichon

Do you love "Diary of a Wimpy Kid?" Well, let me introduce you to "The Brilliant World of Tom Gates!" by Liz Pichon. Tom is ten years old. He has a weird dad, a horrible sister, and a crush on Amy Porter (who he sits next to in class). He loves music, especially his favorite band DUDE3, and his own band, Dog Zombies. When DUDE3 comes to his town, Tom must figure out a way to get tickets so he can impress Amy. But first, he has to get through his dumb homework and--UGH--choir practice.

This book is super-goofy and full of awesome drawings and doodles that will make you laugh. School Library Journal recommends it for readers in grades 3 to 5.

--Samantha D., Weber Road

Review: "Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible" by Ursula Vernon

Who do you get when you cross an evil witch, some royal rodents, and a cursed hamster wheel? "Harriet the Invincible," that's who! When Princess Harriet Hamsterbone realizes that a sinister curse has left her indestructible until her twelfth birthday, she decides to abandon her royal obligations and go on a hero's journey. Armed with her sword, her wits, and her trusty quail Mumfrey, Harriet sets out on a quest to slay dragons, ogrecats, and any other monster foolish enough to pick a fight. On Harriet's twelfth birthday, however, the curse backfires, and it is up to the rough-and-tough princess to save her family, her castle, and the entire royal court. Written by "Dragonbreath" author Ursula Vernon, the "Hamster Princess" series is sure to be a hit among royal readers young and old. Recommended for readers in grades three to five.

--MacKenzie S., Natural Bridge

"Mother Bruce" by Ryan T. Higgins

Move over Oscar, there's a new grouch in town! "Mother Bruce" by Ryan T. Higgins is full of grouchy laughs for everyone. 

Bruce is a grumpy bear who doesn't like anything--except cooking. One day he decides to make some goose eggs, but as he's out getting more wood for his fire, the eggs hatch.  At that point, Bruce becomes "the victim of mistaken identity" as the baby geese think that Bruce is their mother. Bruce does everything he can to get rid of the geese, from slingshots to remote control planes, but nothing seems to work. In the end, Bruce decides that if you can't beat 'em, you might as well join 'em. At the beach, of course! Recommended for Kindergartners to third graders.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Sequel Alert! Can You Still Find Walrus?

When Walrus snuck out of the zoo and cleverly evaded his zoo keeper using all kinds of disguises in "Where's Walrus," he must have had a blast, because Walrus is back, and he's brought his friend penguin with him in "Where's Walrus? And Penguin." Author and illustrator Stephen Savage has created another engaging and wordless picture book that all pre-readers will enjoy. The images are simple and bright, and walrus and penguin are hilarious in their efforts to evade the zoo keeper. My favorite is when they join the opera. I'd like to see a walrus singing Wagner! They go through a rough patch when they join a baseball game, but in the end, walrus finds that maybe he has a good reason to stay at the zoo. I recommend this seek-and-find book for young ones from preschool to first grade.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Captain Underpants Author Coming to SLCL

Mark your calendars! Dav Pilkey is coming to St. Louis! I can hardly contain myself. The author of the Captain Underpants, Ricky Ricotta and Ook and Gluk series is coming to St. Louis County Library on Sunday, August 30, 6:30 p.m. at the Headquarters branch.

Pilkey's chapter books are a mixture of fun pictures and ridiculous mayhem that many kids (ok, adults too) just can't get enough of.

Already a fan? Check out this video to get you ready for the new book. And don't forget to request the book here.

Haven't read a Pilkey book? Find these and more at your local branch then join us for a great evening event.

"The Adventures of Captain Underpants" Meet George and Harold as they hypnotize their principal into thinking that he is the superhero Captain Underpants, he leads them to the lair of the nefarious Dr. Diaper, where they must defeat his evil robot henchmen.
 

"The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby" 

Irrepressible friends George and Harold create a new comic book superhero, Super Diaper Baby.                     "The Paperboy"  A paperboy and his dog enjoy the quiet of the early morning as they go about their rounds.

"A Friend for Dragon" Dragon's the butt of a practical joke, but in his innocence, he emerges the winner.

"Dogzilla" A monstrous mutt terrorizes the residents of Mousopolis.


 





We hope to see you at the event!

--Desiree S., Headquarters

Staff Review: "Zar and the Broken Spaceship" by Dinosaur O'Dell

One seemingly normal day. a group of children find a friendly alien who needs help fixing his ship. Through movements and silly space alien phrases, the friends send Zar back to his home planet. This lyrical book with repetitive phrases is perfect for preschoolers. It could be as interactive as you want; the children could all stand up and act out the story, or it could be a nice read for a gentle one on one share. I especially enjoyed the space alien-English glossary in the back to brush up on your alien terms!  The author knows what appeals to the younger ones and throws in a few jokes for older kids, too, making this a great family read.  

This is Dinosaur O'Dell's first book, but he has been "tricking children into learning since 2003" through his music. He's been a summer reading club performer and taught song writing workshops for the library.  I can't wait to see what he does next!

--Angie RH, Headquarters

The Fine Art of Reading: A review of "Roger is Reading a Book" by Koen Van Biesen

Reading is not always easy, as Roger discovers in "Roger is Reading a Book" by Koen Van Biesen. Grown-up Roger sits in a room, attempting to read a book while young Emily is entertaining herself in the room next door. Loudly. After shushing Emily for playing drums, tap dancing, singing, and other things, Roger has a bright idea. He goes out and finds a book for Emily, and Emily settles in to read quietly. All seems well until someone else has a different idea. With sparse, humorous illustrations, little text, and loads of onomatopoeia, this book will tickle the funny bone of most young readers, as well as adults. Best for preschool to grade one. Click on the link above to reserve a copy today.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Sibling Silliness: How it feels to be the big brother

It is a truth universally known that getting a new sibling can be a painful process for kids. That's why there are oodles of picture books about the topic. They are all important, but sometimes one will stand out from the rest for it's humor, or artistry, or sweetness. Such is the case for "The New Small Person," a recent release by the ever fabulous Lauren Child. Known for her "Charlie and Lola" series, Child has taken this time-worn topic and breathed delight into it with her spot-on, quirky humor and adorable collage-style illustrations. 

In the story we meet Elmore Green, who "started off life as an only child, as many children do." Elmore is pleased with his things and the attention he gets from his parents.Unfortunately, a new person shows up, and Elmore doesn't like it! "The new person was small and didn't do much, but still people picked it up and smiled at it and gave it things to chew. They all seemed to like it. . .maybe a little MORE than they liked Elmore Green. Things go poorly, until one night when Elmore has a nightmare and finds that maybe it's nice to have another small person around.

If you like "The New Small Person," reserve a copy by clicking the link above, and be sure to check out a few more books about the trials of older brothers:

"Big Little Brother" by Kevin Kling--In this hilarious tale, a boy has a little brother who is bigger than he is, and it feels awful. Until one day when a bully shows up, and he decides that it's not so bad to have a big little brother.



"Another Brother" by Matthew Cordell--Davy has too many
brothers and it's driving him crazy! Davy wishes they would leave him alone--until they do. Who will drive him crazy then? Adorable, funny sheep for everyone.


--Andrea W., Headquarters

Dewey Discoveries: "Disgusting Critters" by Elise Gravel

Learning should be as fun as possible. Unfortunately, sometimes nonfiction books don't do a very good job of that. That's why I get excited about books like Elise Gravel's new series, "Disgusting Critters." Through engaging, comic-like artwork, and an interesting, illustrated fact on each page, your young reader will read these for fun and not even realize that they're learning something! There are four gross and funny titles to choose from, "The Rat," "The Worm," "The Slug", and "The Fly," so click on each title to reserve one today! Students in grades 2-4 will appreciate these most, but they're really fun for all ages.



--Andrea W., Headquarters

Book Trailer: "Zorgoochi Intergalactic Pizza: Delivery of Doom" by Dan Yaccarino

Do you like outer space, aliens, or pizza? Do you like to laugh? Then check out Dan Yaccarino's debut middle grade book, "Zorgoochi Intergalactic Pizza: Delivery of Doom." Check out the book trailer below and reserve your copy today!

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Rhyming Dust Bunnies: Ready for Fun!

St. Louis County Library is excited to present live theater in 2014 as part of our Art @ Your Library programs.

Rhyming Dust Bunnies: Ready for Fun!

Join us for a live performance inspired by the fantastic, comedic books of Jan Thomas. Kids will laugh out loud as they participate in this interactive theatrical event that combines puppetry 
and acting. Recommended for ages 3-7.

Tuesday, January 14 10:00 a.m. Tesson Ferry
Thursday, January 16 10:00 & 11:30 a.m. Eureka Hills 
Friday, January 17 10:00 a.m. Samuel C. Sachs 
Tuesday, January 21 10:30 a.m. Thornhill 
Thursday, January 23 10:00 a.m. Lewis and Clark 
Friday, January 24 10:00 a.m. Indian Trails 
Thursday, February 13 2:00 p.m. Natural Bridge 
Monday, February 17 6:30 p.m. Meramec Valley 
Tuesday, February 18 10:00 a.m. Cliff Cave 
Tuesday, February 25 10:00 a.m. Weber Road 
Tuesday, March 4 10:00 a.m. Florissant Valley 
Friday, March 7 10:00 a.m. Headquarters 
Monday, March 17 2:00 p.m. Oak Bend 
Tuesday, March 18 10:00 a.m. Grand Glaize 
Wednesday, March 19 10:00 a.m. Mid-County 
Wednesday, March 26 6:30 p.m. Rock Road 
Thursday, March 27 10:00 a.m. Prairie Commons 

Staff Review: "Outfoxed" by Mike Twohy

It's an old, old story. The wily fox realizes that his belly is empty, sets his sight on some poor, unsuspecting bird to trick and cook for dinner. It starts the exact same way in "Outfoxed" by Mike Twohy, but in this version, the fox is the one who ends up tricked by the very smart duck. When fox raids the chicken house one night for dinner, he accidentally takes away what he thinks is a duck. At least it looks like a duck. But then it proceeds to sniffs his feet, slobber all over his coat, wag its tail, and bark. Fox decides to keep it under observation and sees what happens. 

Illustrated in a giant comic strip style, this story will keep your child laughing all the way through as they watch fox getting more and more confused by his duck/dog. Recommended for all preschoolers and kindergarteners.

--Andrea W., H.Q.

"Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends" by Shannon Hale

What if you knew from birth that your destiny was already set in stone? What if you knew you would be amazing and powerful and evil?

Raven Queen knows exactly how her life will be once she signs The Storybook of Legends. She will follow in her mother's footsteps and become the Evil Queen who gives Snow White the poisoned apple. The thing is Raven just doesn't want to be evil. So what happens if Raven doesn't sign the book? Will she really cease to exist? Headmaster Grimm certainly thinks so.

"Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends" written by Shannon Hale is the first in a new series for middle grade readers. The books will be companions for the dolls and webisodes created by Mattel. The great thing is that the book stands on its own. I will be reading the next one that comes out in March 2014!

P.S. : Shannon Hale is awesome! Most of her books are in the teen section but she has lots of new stuff coming out in 2014. While you wait check out these graphics.

"Calamity Jack" An  interpretation of "Jack and the beanstalk," Jack is a born schemer who climbs a magical beanstalk in the hope of exacting justice from a mean giant and gaining a fortune for his widowed mother, aided by some friends.  

"Rapunzel's Revenge" Rapunzel is raised in a grand villa surrounded by towering walls and dreams of a different mother than Gothel, the woman she calls Mother. She climbs over the wall and finds out the truth.  In this Old West retelling, Rapunzel uses her hair as a lasso and to take on outlaws--including Gothel.
 


--Desiree S. HQ                                           

      

"Flora and Ulysses" by Kate DiCamillo

When Mrs. Tickham receives a Ulysses Super Suction, Multi-terrain 2000X for her birthday, the lives of her next door neighbor, Flora, and an unassuming squirrel will never be the same.

It begins with an accident and a book of poetry. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but Flora Belle Buckman is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) will be born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry -- and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope.




Kate DiCamillo's "Flora and Ulysses" features a nice mix of comic book-type illustrations and short chapters that both move the plot forward.  I really wish we could have seen more of Mrs. Tickham...aren't you intrigued by a woman who has no problem reciting poetry to a squirrel? The vocabulary words in this one are somewhat daunting (malfeasance, capacious) so give this to fourth and fifth graders.

--Desiree S., H.Q.

Sweet Gingerbread Stories

The story of the Gingerbread Man has been told for generations.  Its rhyming text makes it fun to read.  There is also the excitement of the Gingerbread Man running as fast as he can!  
"The Gingerbread Man" by Eric Kimmel
This is my favorite traditional retelling of the story.   It's the classic tale of the Gingerbread Boy who runs away from the woman, man, and animals in the village. 
"The Gingerbread Girl" by Lisa Campbell Ernst
The Gingerbread Boy's younger sister is determined not to get tricked like her brother.  She has a plan to escape before she becomes a snack.


After reading a gingerbread book, you could make gingerbread play dough.  Here's a recipe:

Gingerbread Play Dough Recipe

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 tsp vegetable oil
Spices: allspice, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg
Mix all dry ingredients, add spices until you have reached your desired scent and color. Mix oil and water together and then add to dry ingredients and stir. Cook the mixture for three to five minutes on low to medium heat, stirring constantly. You will know it is finished when the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the pan and forms a large ball. Take the dough out of pan and knead until it is smooth and soft. When cool, store in an airtight container.

This is the time of year for a holiday gingerbread book.
"The Gingerbread Pirates" by Kristin Kladstrup
A young boy decorates his gingerbread man cookies as pirates and wishes that they were real.  When Santa comes that night, the cookies jump to life and prepare for battle against the big red man. 







"The Gingerbread Doll" by Susan Tews
Rebecca gets everything she wants for Christmas.  She has lots of beautiful dolls.  But the one she loves most is her gingerbread doll because it is made with love.  This is how Rebecca learns the true meaning of Christmas.








If you're looking for a non-traditional retelling of the story, try one of these:

--Angie RH, HQ