Kids Music Friday: "If We Were Twins" by Michal Karmi

Do you have a really close friend? Together, watch this imaginative and silly video, "If We Were Twins" by Michal Karmi. 

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Review: "The Story of Diva and Flea" by Mo Willems

"The Story of Diva and Flea" by Mo Willems and Tony DiTerlizzi is the story of unlikely friends, Diva and Flea. Diva is a gardienne's dog, and as such it is her job to guard the garden and yelp and run away from anything suspicious. Flea is a great flaneur who lives nowhere and everywhere at once. He ahs seen everything in Paris, but still looks for more as there is always more to discover. Can Flea teach Diva how to be a great flaneur? Can Diva teach Flea that it is fun to explore, but it is also nice to have a home to come back to after exploring? This book is appropriate for first to third grade readers. Click the link above to request a copy today.

--Heather N., Eureka Hills

Review: "Any Given Number" by Bill Syken

Besides being professional athletes, what do Yogi Berra, Cal Ripken Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kobe Bryant, and Troy Aikman have in common? The answer: each of these amazing athletes wore an 8 on their backs. Now here’s a tougher question: of these athletes, who was the greatest?

It might seem unfair to ask, especially since we’re comparing pros from all types of events, but that’s what the Sports Illustrated book “Any Given Number” attempts to do. The editors have collected the most notable professional athletes who wore any given number and then duke it out in a debate to crown one of them king. So if you want to see who wore it best, from 00 to 99, pick up “Any Given Number.”

You’re still wondering about which athlete who wore the number 8 was best? It’s Yogi Berra, of course! If you want to know why, check out the book!

--Kelly B., Prairie Commons

Rhythm and Tunes

St. Louis County Library staff do a lot a rhyming songs and finger plays for story times. Check out some of our staff's favorites!

Kids Music Friday: "Jackalope" by the Okee Dokee Brothers

Everyone's favorite wandering kids' musicians, The Okee Dokee Brothers,  are back with a new album! They've canoed the Misissippi and hiked the Appalachian Trail, and now they've (of course!) taken a trip on horse back over the Continental Divide. The album is called "Saddle Up," and while it's not quite out yet, here's a silly little teaser video of the song "Jackalope" to keep your anticipation up. Enjoy! Click on the link above to listen to their previous musical adventures.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

“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

"Astrotwins: Project Blastoff" by Mark Kelly

Mark and Scott Kelly are always getting into trouble for taking things apart...like the time they destroyed their dad's calculator. Now they are going to grandpa's for the summer and want to build a real live rocket ship. Will it really blast off and orbit the Earth like they plan? Read "Astrotwins: Project Blastoff" to find out!

Be sure to read the second book in this series, "Astrotwins: Project Rescue." Mark and Scott discover an abandoned Apollo command module and take off to rescue a stranded Russian cosmonaut.

Recommended for ages 4-6.

Mark Kelly is a retired NASA astronaut. Check out his Mousetronaut books too!








--Karen S., Meramec Valley