Staff Recommendations

February 2008

Children's Books | Adult Books | Teen Books | Movies | Music

Below you'll find materials recommended by library staff.

Children's Books

Llama Llama Mad at Mama, by Anna Dewdney (E Dewdney) Dewdney presents us with a charming sequel to Llama Llama Red Pajama is a story that every parent and child can relate to. Baby Llama and Mama Llama are shopping at the Shop-O-Rama in a trip that goes on a bit too long for Baby Llama's taste. Yucky music, Great big feet. Ladies smelling way too sweet. Look at knees and stand in line. Llama Llama Starts to whine. It's a true-to-life view of how a young child deals with extended shopping trips and a gentle reminder that little ones can only stand so much. Dewdney's simple rhymes keep the story flowing, and young readers will recognize themselves in Baby Llama's expressions. Picture book, pre-K and up. --Shannon, Head of Youth Services
Our Librarian Won't Tell Us Anything, by Toni Buzzeo (E Buzzeo) Robert is a new kid at Liberty Elementary, and the media center is one of his first stops. The reputation of school librarian Mrs. Skorupski, who "won't tell you anything," scares Robert a little bit. However, through research assignments and focus projects, we quickly see that Mrs. Skorupski might not tell you where things are, but she will certainly help you find them. This valuable book illustrates how teaching children to research is a critical role of a school librarian, which is to help all children become like Robert, a Library Success Story. Picture book, recommended for first grade and up. --Shannon, Head of Youth Services
The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster: A Tale of Picky Eating, by A. W. Flaherty (E Flaherty) Did you ever wonder how Nessie got so big? Blame it on the oatmeal thrown overboard by a young girl traveling by steamer to visit her grandmother in Scotland. A small ocean worm discovers her oatmeal and follows the steamer all the way to Scotland, where it makes a home in the Loch Ness. The Loch is also where many children hurl their unwanted breakfasts! Additional facts about picky eaters are included at the end of the story. Picture book, all ages. --Shannon, Head of Youth Services
My Light, by Molly Bang (E Bang) So what provides the energy for your lights? Molly Bang has provided a must-read picture book that explains the energy of solar, wind, fossil fuels, water power and more in a style that will help grown-ups explain the differences on how we produce electricity. A top pick for 2008 as an aid for increasing dialogue about energy usage. Picture book, preschool through third. --Shannon, Head of Youth Services
My Very First Book of Colors, by Eric Carle (E BOARD BOOK Carle) Acclaimed author and artist Eric Carle has created a set of board books that allow the reader to switch pages between color and different objects of color for an interactive board book experience. It goes beyond just naming a color by allowing the young reader to flip the pages to find an object that corresponds to specific colors. A charming new tool for parents teaching color concepts to toddlers in Carle's classic illustrative style. Other Very First books include Words, Shapes, Animal Homes, and Food. Recommended for infants and toddlers. --Shannon, Head of Youth Services
Flight of the Eagles, by Gilbert L. Morris (J PB Morris) A dramatic sci-fi/fantasy series overlaid with religious and moral overtones, reminiscent of the Chronicles of Narnia in a classic battle of good and evil. A group of young teens awake after a 50-year sleep to find that they have escaped from nuclear war, but they must now deal with a vastly altered world. The group of "Seven Sleepers" must unite their strength with Goel and join in battle against the wicked priests of the Sanhedrin. So far ten books exist in this series that are a fresh take for kids not ready for the Lord of the Rings. Each book runs about 130-200 pages, recommended for fourth grade and up. --Shannon, Head of Youth Services

Adult Books

The Golden Age of Chicago Children's Television, by Ted Okuda and Jack Mulqueen (791.45 OKU) Every day my sister and I would run home to eat lunch and watch Bozo's Circus, so with much delight I started reading The Golden Age of Chicago Children's Television by Ted Okuda and Jack Mulqueen. I was not disappointed. The book covers the history of children's shows that were originated and produced in Chicago from the late forties to the early seventies. You will find chapters on Kukla, Fran and Ollie, Frazier Thomas and Garfield Goose, Ray Rayner and Friends, Bozo's Circus and much more. If you grew up watching these shows or are a television buff, you will certainly enjoy this book. --Julie L., Head, Magazine Desk
My Fellow Americans, by Keir Graff (FIC Graff) " Now let's go out and bring democracy to America!" said George Libby. Wow, this was more than I expected. My Fellow Americans by Keir Graff is a fun book to read but disturbing to contemplate. The story moves quickly, and I kept the book near so when I had time, I could read another section. The central character, Jason Walker, never gets to rest, and I did not either until I finished the book. The setting is familiar: Chicago sometime after 2009, but something has gone wrong. A tall building is being built along the Chicago River, and Jason Walker likes to take pictures with his old film camera. Because he takes multiple pictures, Homeland Security becomes suspicious. Fans of 1984 by George Orwell will appreciate this book. --Rick, Adult Services Librarian
The Smoke Thief, by Shana Abe (FIC Abe) Looking for something a little different? Celebrate Valentine's Day with this out-of-the-ordinary fantasy romance. For centuries, creatures that can shift back and forth between dragon and human form have lived in the misty hills of England. But one of their own has gone astray and is now stealing jewels in London. If this master thief, who, according to the newspapers, can walk through walls and vanish just like smoke, is captured, the lives of the Dra'kon will be threatened-possibly even destroyed! Enter main character Clarissa Rue Hawthorne, a Halfling (half dragon, half human). Rue shed her outcast image years ago and has made a life for herself roving the city streets. When the alpha dragon, Kit, comes to stop her, there are more than wills that clash-sparks fly! Winner of many awards, including the Romantic Times' Historical Romance of the Year. --Jamie, Reference Librarian
The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time, by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen (333.72 ROG) Our energy and resources footprint on this earth is huge, but there are many things we can do to reduce, reuse, and recycle. -Use wooden baseball bats, which are safer and made from from a renewable resource. Aluminum mining and manufacturing is terribly energy-wasteful and environmentally destructive. -Use a commercial car wash instead of washing your car at home to save lots of water. -The manufacture of laptop or notebook computers uses fewer materials and less energy than desktop computers. Using these smaller computers is also more energy efficient. The lists of earth-friendly ideas goes on and on. Most are actually very easy if you can just remember to do them, such as share a bigger bag of popcorn at the movies instead of buying two bags. A very helpful book. --Rick, Adult Services Librarian

Books for Teens

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie (YA Alexie) Junior is a teenage Native American living on the Spokane Reservation. Like most of the Native Americans on the "rez," Junior lives in extreme poverty, but there's more. He was born with water on the brain, and at six months old had a surgery that affected his speech and sight. He is a self-proclaimed freak whom everybody picks on. Junior survives his days by drawing lots and lots of comic strips and figures even if he has big dreams, he'll never be more than a poor freakish Indian kid. After a confrontation with his math teacher, though, Junior realizes that he can change his life-if he gets off the rez and goes to a better school, which is miles away with an all-white student body. A fast-paced funny read that makes a reader contemplate the issues of poverty, race, and education in this country. --Jamie, Reference Librarian
The Sweet Far Thing, by Libba Bray (YA Bray) This is the third, highly anticipated novel in the Gemma Doyle series. In the second novel, Gemma bound all the magic of the realms to herself, with the understanding that she must parcel it out again to the tribes in order to re-establish a balance between good and evil. Meanwhile, back in the real world, Gemma and her friends are preparing for the London debuts. It dawns on Gemma that if she holds onto the magic, she can change the fates of herself and her loved ones. Also complicating matters are her confused feelings for Kartik, their beloved friend Pip's inability to "cross over," and a recurring vision of a woman in a lavender dress that tells Gemma about the mysterious Tree of All Souls. Will Gemma be able to wield the magic, or will she give in to the demands of the Order and the Rakshana? --Jamie, Reference Librarian
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, by Gabrielle Zevin (YA Zevin) Think the teen years are rough? Try adding a head injury that wipes out your memory of the past four years! Gabrielle Zevin combines these two traumas with spectactular results in Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac. As Naomi struggles with memory loss, reality keeps intruding with a very good guy friend, a boyfriend, co-editorship of the school yearbook, and parents who broke up under bizarre circumstances. Naturally, all the people who knew her "back in the day" are looking for the old Naomi; the new Naomi, however, could care less for what she used to care a lot about. What does it take to resolve the confusion? Help from true friends? The love of a good guy? Parental intervention? All of the above plus the passage of time. For time well spent, check out Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac. --Christine Ricker, Circulation
Time Capsule: Short Stories About Teenagers Throughout the Twentieth Century, Edited by Donald R. Gallo (YA Time) Don't have time to read a whole novel? Try a few short stories! This unique collection contains stories by such popular writers as Richard Peck and Chris Crutcher and features teens living in different decades throughout the 20th century. Events such as the World's Fair in 1904, the Great Depression, the I Love Lucy show, and the Y2K Scare are all addressed. This great book highlights the fact that kids pretty much all have the same fears and concerns no matter what century it may be. --Jamie, Reference Librarian

Movies

Driving Lessons (DVD Driving) Driving Lessons stars Rupert Grint, whom everyone will recognize as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies. This is a contemporary story of a shy young man, pressed by his mother to get a job, who becomes the daytime companion for a retired actress. The film was written and directed by Jeremy Brock, who was one of the screenwriters of The Last King of Scotland. Scotland is about the only thing the films have in common, as Driving Lessons is very funny. Grint does a great job as Ben Marshall, the shy young man. Teens will like this movie, as it shows how hard it is to deal with crazy adults. It will also appeal to Masterpiece Theater fans who will recognize the rest of the cast. I would further suggest the movie to people who enjoyed Harold and Maude. Like the old cult classic, it has a frustrated young man with an overbearing mother, and he becomes attached to a wild old lady. --Rick, Reference Librarian

Music

Familiar Waters (CD 781.62 Kas) With great love Tom and Chris Kastle sing a variety of maritime songs from around the U.S. and the world on this favorites collection. My favorite is the traditional folksong "My Johnny was a Shoemaker," on which Chris sings and plays guitar while Tom plays mandolin. On other songs they use are concertinas, tin whistles, and frame drums. The Chicago-based duo are returning to Friday at the Ford on March 14, 2008. Check this out for a preview. --Rick, Reference Librarian

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