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In Progress List 2014
Yankee Doodle does not want to go to town. He does not want to ride that smelly pony. And he definitely does NOT want to put some dumb feather in his hat. Written from the pony's perspective, this raucous read will have young readers guffawing. Up to Seven. Anne Womack
Paired as pen pals, two 14-year-olds gradually discover personal strengths as they learn about each other’s wildly different lives. Nawra's letters, full of traditional sayings, gradually reveal the female circumcision, rape, and pregnancy that preceded her arrival at the Darfur refugee camp; while K.C.'s school troubles in Virginia are finally diagnosed. A moving story that can connect American readers to a distant world. Fourteen and Up. Kathy Isaacs.
Lulu, her family, and best friend Mellie are off for a beach vacation. Plans include kite flying, reading, and training for a marathon. As everyone finds out, it is what you are not expecting to happen that makes a vacation special. McKay packs a lot into this charming story which is supported by Lamont’s pen and ink illustrations for a perfect summer read. This is the second title about Lulu and Mellie, but completely stands alone. They were originally published In the U.K. but are new for the U.S. market. Delightful. Seven to Ten. Debra Nelson
Have you ever wished that all of your problems would just disappear? Oliver sure did. Oliver is starting school and you can tell even on the endpapers that he's worried terribly about it. He stops by the swamp on his way to school and gets an alligator to help him through the tough day ahead. And he does help. In fact, when the teacher asks Oliver his name, he stammers out, "Munch, munch" and the alligator eats the teacher. The same with all the kids and all the classroom decorations! When Oliver realizes that all the fun appears to be happening INSIDE the alligator, he lets loose with the incantation and out they all pop. The endpapers let us know that the alligator is actually Oliver's reliable stuffed animal and at the end we see him left behind while Oliver goes off to school alone. This is a fun book that, despite all the people-eating, actually is very reassuring - especially in the hands of a good teacher/parent/librarian. Up to Seven. Joan Kindig
The creators of Goodnight Goodnight, Construction Site have teamed up to do another lullaby of sorts. Here, the rhyming text follows all the animals and creatures onto a train just in time for them to go to sleep. The illustration on the last page reveals that the train is in the bedroom of a little boy who has chosen all the creatures on the train before going to sleep himself. The artwork is spectacular and the endpapers were a fun surprise. Up to Seven. Joan Kindig
This story set during WWII in Nazi occupied Florence, Italy tells the tale of 13 year-old Paola and his dedication to undermining the Nazis. With his father off working in the Resistance, Paolo is left with his mother and his sister to survive as best they can as the Nazis fight to keep control of Florence. It is the risks that Paolo takes on his bicycle that help the Resistance rebound. Simon Vance's narration is a treat throughout. Audio for 10-14. Joan Kindig
When Leon the gecko finds himself without the paper he needs after answering nature's call, he seizes a pair of old underwear hanging on a branch. Necessity IS the mother of invention, you know. But when the owner of the underwear turns up and demands them back, hilarity reigns. The surprise ending will have everyone in stitches. Up to Seven. Joan Kindig
Ryan Dead, (Winger to the Rugby team), is starting his junior year at co-ed boarding school at age 14, in the dorm for disciplinary problem boys. He's exceptionally smart, 2 years younger and smaller than the boys in his class, and in love with a junior girl who calls him, "Little Boy". Winger's goal for the year is to stand his ground. His first person narrative is illustrated with his own comics, and embellished with profanity which he explains he uses in writing, but never aloud. This is a page-turner with a true boy-voice, humor, great character development, and a shocking ending. Fourteen and Up. Nominated by Valerie Diamond
Setting up chapters as "Waves", Yancey has created a dystopian world that is reminiscent of alien invasions in television programs such as "Falling Skies" or "Fringe". Teens willing to pace themselves through a slower beginning in order to understand the motivations behind the 16 year old characters Cassie, Evan, and Zombie (Ben), will be rewarded with a fast-paced conclusion. Fourteen and Up. Nominated by Blair Christolon
Kelsey Green is the Queen Bee of the third grade, or at least she likes to think so, bossy, and smart and determined to win the reading competition set up by the school principal. She thinks her biggest competitor Simon may be cheating and is angry that her classmate Cody is not carrying his weight in the contest. And what's wrong with her friends Annika and Izzy who don't seem to care as much as she does. Readers will delight in the references to some books they recognize and others they might enjoy and everyone will recognize the dynamics of a third grade classroom in this part of the Franklin School Friends series. Seven to Ten. Edie Ching
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