Bibliokids

I spend too much of my time in an office ordering kids books for libraries, and not enough telling people about the exciting things I'm ordering for them. Hopefully, this blog will help to rectify that.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

I Scoff at Your "Underlying Themes!"

Here, in no particular order, are some books that I find interesting.


The Unexpectedly Bad Hair of Barcelona Smith by Keith Graves
I'm digging this tale of an overly-cautious boy whose hair rebels one day largely because of the title. There's something deliciously right about "unexpectedly bad" hair. It's not just a bad hair day, or hair that is slightly off . . . it's unexpectedly bad. And any book in which a shock of electric blue hair jumps in puddles and pets a dog is A-OK with me.



Big! by David Bedford
Look at that face!!!!! Just look at it!!!!! This bear is too big to fit into the book, so he makes more space for himself with flaps that lift up and increase the page size. Now, I know that most people in libraryland despise flaps because they tend to rip and wreak havoc, but how can you resist this bear? He's just got such a good face!


Claws by Dan Greenburg
I think that this has the potential to be a HUGE hit with teenage boys . . . something along the lines of a Hatchet. Bold words, I know, but look at what it's got. There's a teenage boy running away from an abusive mother. It's got tigers, and the rumor of someone being killed and fed to the tigers. There's mystery and action and gore. And there's that cover, which you have to admit is pretty darn cool.



One of Those Days by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Fundamentally, this book is a list of 22 different kinds of lousy day with some words of encouragement at the end. What gets me is the quirky universality of the bad days. "Favorite pants too short day?" "Keep spilling stuff day?" "Feeling left out day?" Who hasn't suffered through at least one of these?



Gakky Two-Feet by Micky Dolenz
This tale of evolution was written by former Monkees drummer Dolenz, and tells of a prehistoric biped who is cruelly mocked by his quadriped community. I have no idea if it's any good or not, but it's a book about "monkeys" written by a "Monkee."



Grumpy Gracie by Sam Lloyd
This book is about a grumpy little redhead. See her grumpy little face? What you may not realize is that her grumpy mouth is a die-cut that runs throughout the book. And that halfway through the book, when Grumpy Gracie cheers up, you flip the book and read it "upside-down" so that Gracie has a grin. I love it!!!!



Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi: Together Forever by E.S. Mooney
I am so not cool enough to know what Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi is! It appears to be some sort of Japanese import that has made it's way to the Cartoon Network. I'm sure that it's horribly popular and that hordes of second-grade girls will swoon with delight when they find that we own it. I just like to say "Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi." Try it! Say it! You will be hooked, just like I am.

Friday, May 12, 2006

Two-Word Monikers

As I've been busily ordering lately, I've come across a number of books that sound interesting AND have two-word titles. Spooky, huh?



Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz
This new book, by the author of the way-more-fun-than-they-ought-to-be Au Pairs books, is all about vampirism in teenage upper-crust society. Sort of like a Gossip Girls meets Cirque du Freak, this one should fly off the shelves. Yay!





King Dork by Frank Portman
Having long been a Salinger fan, I'm way too excited about this book that centers on a high school student who finds mysterious messages in his dead father's copy of The Catcher in the Rye. All the reviews mention the author's biting humor and the smartness of the writing. Be forewarned, though, as they also mention the frank discussion of sexual matters, so this book may not be for everyone. But for me . . . well . . . you can just call me Queen Dork as I wait for this book!



Pool Boys by Erin Haft
My friend and co-worker, Sarah, has a certain fondness for trashy teen novels, so I knew she would be hooked when the publisher sent me the first few chapters of this new beach read. What I wasn't expecting was for her to run into my office clutching the sample and demanding that I order the book immediately. How could I resist? You can practically smell the coconut suntan oil wafting out of this tale of rich girls, hunky boys, and country club escapades.



Flabby Tabby by Penny McKinlay
A picture book about a cat who is too "fluffy" to fit through his kitty door, and gets stuck. His concerned owners take him to the vet, who recommends that they buy a frisky kitten to motivate the cat to lose weight. It sounds like an adorable little book, right? But Flabby Tabby? That is some funny stuff! It's even fun to say. Hee hee hee! Flabby Tabby!


Firegirl by Tony Abbott
Okay . . . okay! This title isn't technically two words long, and I have no idea if this tale of a nerdy boy befriending a girl with disfiguring burns is any good. What I can tell you is that this cover is brilliant. It couldn't be any more perfect. I want to read the book just because of this cover. Call me shallow, but I am going to judge this book by its cover.


Wednesday, May 03, 2006

But It's Shiny!

It would appear that I have the heart of a four-year-old, as I'm way too excited about this crop of new picture books that will soon be on your shelves.


Little Teddy Bear Left Behind by Anne Mangan
This is the tale of an adventurous teddy bear who sets out to find his owners after being left behind in a move. Why am I excited about this? Because in the book, the bear's little red sweater is flocked. Flocked, I say! The publisher italicized this word in their description of the book, which lets me know that I'm not the only one who is excited about this.


The Tiniest Mermaid by Laura Garnham
From the same publisher comes this tale of an injured mermaid who is befriended by a human girl. Demonstrating their ability to whip me into a frenzy of anticipation, they describe this book as being "enhanced by magical foil." I don't even know what "magical foil" is, but I'm guessing it's shiny and that I need it!!


Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann
Is there anyone who doesn't know a little girl who is obsessed with all things pink? This book, about a little girl who eats so many pink cupcakes that she turns pink, will certainly strike a chord with many of your patrons. Forget about the plot . . . the book itself is deliciously pink!



What Do Wheels Do All Day by April Jones Prince
Most boys don't like pink, but don't fret, because there's something new for them as well. The cut-paper relief illustrations in this new book capture every kind of wheel imaginable, from bicycle tires to ferris wheels.



Museum Trip by Barbara Lehman
The author of the 2004 Caldecott honor-winning The Red Book has a new work that once again stretches the boundaries of the printed page . . . and the imagination. This time she turns her attention to museums, as a young boy finds himself in a gallery hung with mazes--mazes he can walk into.


Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies
Why am I so entranced by this book about bats who frolic on the beach during the full moon? Maybe because it's getting to be summer, and my perpetually pale demeanor makes me feel like I should join these nocturnal bats with their moon-tan lotion and banjos.



Flower Ball by Sigrid Laube
Cauliflower and Carrot decide that they want to attend the Flower Ball, despite the fact that the snobbish blooms do not welcome them. Something about Cauliflower, looking every inch the dandy in his Victorian breeches and Carrot's headdress of greenery just kills me. I'm in love with this book!