|
The Storm in the Barn
Matt Phelan (2009) , 201 pages
Audience:
Intermediate (4th-6th grade)
Category:
Environment / Ecology
Graphic
Historical
Realistic Fiction
|
|
Request this book from the Library
Jack is a courageous 11-year old boy in this haunting graphic novel set in Kansas at the height of the Dust Bowl in 1937. While his family struggles, Jack fights fantastical apparitions which make him wonder what is reality and what is "dust dementia." The Storm in the Barn is a compelling, tense tale where love triumphs hardship.
Librarian review
written by Laurie Ann
It is desperate on the plains of Kansas. There has been no rain for what seems like forever. The Dust Bowl is driving people away from their homes and farms. Jack Clark's family is barely hanging on. His sister is probably dying from dust pneumonia. Jack is being bullied at school. On his way home one day, the bullies come after him. Jack runs into a neighbor's barn to hide. Inside, he sees something frightening. Jack runs for home. He tries to tell his dad about the figure, but his dad does not believe him. Somehow, Jack knows that the mysterious figure has something to do with the terrible conditions. He decides to face down the figure and fight for his family.
Librarian review
written by Lisa
Read more Kids' Reviews of this book
|
|
|
Ballyhoo Bay
Judy Sierra (2009) , 32 pages
Audience:
Preschool
Primary (K-3rd grade)
Category:
Environment / Ecology
Neighborhoods / Communities
New Books
Realistic Fiction
Rhyming Books
|
|
Request this book from the Library
Mira Bella teaches art every week on Ballyhoo Bay. Everyone gets in the act. While people sketch on the beach, the octopus sculpts down below. When the beach is threatened by a company who wants to build condos, everyone gets in the act again. Led by the fearless Mira Bella, all the beach artists stand up and demand that they leave the beach alone.
Librarian review
written by Lisa
|
|
|
Emmaline and the Bunny
Katherine Hannigan (2009) , 100 pages
Audience:
Primary (K-3rd grade)
Intermediate (4th-6th grade)
Category:
Beginning Chapter Books
Environment / Ecology
Friendship
New Books
Pets
|
|
Request this book from the Library
Everything in Neatasapin is very tidy. All of the houses look just the same. Not even the babies in Neatasapin are fussy or messy. But Emmaline is. Emmaline likes squishing in puddles and digging holes. What she really loves are bunnies. Emmaline wants her very own bunny. But bunnies are not allowed in Neatasapin. They are too untidy. One day Emmaline follows a bunny through the hedge and into another world. An untidy world. When Emmaline is told she can't take her bunny home until she makes Neatasapin more welcoming, Emmaline gives up hope. Emmaline's parents don't though. They vow to make Emmaline happy, even if it angers everyone in Neatasapin.
Librarian review
written by Lisa
|
|
|
We are Extremely Very Good Recyclers
Lauren Child (2009) , 32 pages
Audience:
Preschool
Primary (K-3rd grade)
Category:
Environment / Ecology
New Books
|
|
Request this book from the Library
Your friends Charlie and Lola are back! Lola wants to throw away her old junk, but Charlie says she should recycle it. Charlie explains how people can use old things to make new and different things. Do you know what happens to used paper when you recycle it? Read this book to find out what happens when Lola tells her whole school about a recycling contest.
Librarian review
written by Emily W
|
|
|
Scat
Carl Hiaasen (2009) , 369 pages
Audience:
Intermediate (4th-6th grade)
Category:
Animals
Environment / Ecology
Friendship
Mystery
New Books
Realistic Fiction
|
|
Request this book from the Library
When his horrible biology teacher, Mrs. Starch, disappears after a field trip to the swamp, Nick is a little relieved. He is more intrigued though. What could have happened? He does not believe the story about a sick relative. Nick starts snooping. What he finds just leads to more questions. What does Smoke, the class rebel, have to do with the fire and Mrs. Starch's disappearance? Why is someone driving Mrs. Starch's car? Who is the stranger in his video tape of the field trip? Every answer just leads to more questions. When Nick finally starts finding the answers, he realizes the issue is far more important than Mrs. Starch and Nick. It is a matter of life and death.
Librarian review
written by Lisa
|
|
|
The Great Paper Caper
Oliver Jeffers (2009) , 32 pages
Audience:
Primary (K-3rd grade)
Category:
Animals
Environment / Ecology
Mystery
New Books
|
|
Request this book from the Library
The animals in the forest have a mystery on their hands. Where are all the trees and branches going? They launch an investigation to uncover the thief. It turns out that someone is entering a paper plane making contest. They all work together to not only win the competition, but also triumph over paper waste!
Librarian review
written by Tara
|
|
|
Highway Cats
Janet Taylor Lisle (2008) , 118 pages
Audience:
Primary (K-3rd grade)
Intermediate (4th-6th grade)
Category:
Animals
Environment / Ecology
Friendship
New Books
|
|
Request this book from the Library
The highway cats have come to expect the worst in life. They are a long way from homes and families. Every day is a scramble to find food and shelter. And Shredder has been a highway cat for a long time. So when a box of kittens is left in the highway median, no one takes much notice. Shredder knows that they probably will not even make it across the street. That is why he takes notice when they miraculously make it to safety. There is just something special about those kittens. Shredder and a few of the other cats decide to watch out for them. But when the city threatens to destroy the highway cats' home, it is the kittens who end up watching out for them.
Librarian review
written by Lisa
|
|
|
10 Things I Can Do to Help My World
Melanie Walsh (2008) , 32 pages
Audience:
Preschool
Primary (K-3rd grade)
Category:
Environment / Ecology
New Books
Nonfiction
|
|
Request this book from the Library
This book tells you how you can help the environment by saving water, feeding birds, and other great tips. It is very simple and has really great illustrations and cool cut-out pages. It's perfect for the youngest children and older ones too.
Librarian review
written by Gwen
|
|
|
The World That We Want
Kim Michelle Toft (2005) , 32 pages
Audience:
Primary (K-3rd grade)
Category:
Animals
Environment / Ecology
Nonfiction
|
|
Request this book from the Library
This is a cumulative story about the ecology and interconnectedness of the components of our natural environment. It is a beautiful book to help us realize our responsibility to protect this earth. Don't miss the double-paged spread to open up at the end of the book showing all of the habitats she refers to in the book. At the end of the book is more information about the animals in each of the habitats.
Librarian review
written by Mollie
|
|
|
The Blue Stone
Jimmy Liao (2008) , 32 pages
Audience:
Primary (K-3rd grade)
Intermediate (4th-6th grade)
Category:
Environment / Ecology
Families
Feelings
Neighborhoods / Communities
|
|
Request this book from the Library
Hundreds of years go by, and a large blue stone sits in the middle of the woods until one day it is broken in half and taken to the city to be made into a sculpture. The stone longs for its other half and its heart breaks every time it thinks of home until the rock is merely dust. A story of belonging and returning home with beautiful illustrations, simple words, and a complex life lesson.
Librarian review
written by Annie
|
|
