Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon 
by Suzanne Slade ill Thomas Gonzales

Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon chronicles events leading up to and concluding with the first lunar landing on July 20, 1969. The narrative begins with the challenge uttered by President John F. Kennedy in May 1961. ​I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade it out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth Suzanne Slade, a mechanical engineer who worked on several space projects including the development of Saturn V rocket, is well qualified to write this superlative work of nonfiction. Her lyrical text vivify the marvel of space exploration. The free verse is accompanied by direct quotations, systematically describing each of the eleven Apollo missions.

Then he spots something surprising
almost surreal.
A brilliant blue ball, 
wrapped in wispy white cotton,
rising above the stark horizon.
​Earthrise on Christmas Eve, 1968.

The computer flashes a warning.
"It's a 1202," Armstrong informs Mission Control.
He's never seen this alarm in a simulator.
Not once.
"What is it?" he asks Aldrin.
He gets no response.
​
Fear slithers in.
Will they crash?
Will they have to abort?
Will they be able to return home?

Seconds feel like hours,

Good Dog by Cori Doerrfeld

Who can resist this little charmer? Meet a spotted puppy, wandering alone through the streets. A young girl, securely strapped in the passenger seat of her mother's bicycle, waves to the dog. It is a mutual attraction. The determined little pup follows the youngster and her teddy bear, as the bicycle weaves its way around the city.

My Dog Laughs by Rachel Isadora

It begins with Rachel Isadora’s endpapers which showcase a variety of canine breeds. It's fun to linger here, identifying the various types of dogs. A page turn leads to the title image of one cute girl and her adorable dog. Their postures and facial expressions are warm and welcoming. This duo is the perfect introduction to the joy of pet ownership.

Opportunities for Dog Lovers

In addition to sponsoring drives for pet food, toys, and blankets, consider creating a photo gallery with favorite dog photos and videos. The gallery may be displayed in the library with desktop computer screensavers or the photos can be showcased online. Invite students to "like" or vote for their favorite dog photos.

Bonus

Did you know? The Smithsonian has a Dog Photo Contest.

Monster School by Kate Coombs ill Lee Gatlin

Coombs has applied her considerable talent for creating clever rhymes to the subject of monsters. In this collection, the monsters are students. Common school occurrences are given a slightly macabre twist: a science fair project created by Frankenstein’s grandson, baseball played in the graveyard, a student who constantly misplaces school supplies in addition to losing his body parts. ​These clever and entertaining riffs are monstrously fun. Verses include a variety of poetic forms and rhyme schemes. Most patterns are predictable, making it easy for students to sense the rhythm and rhyme within each stanza.  Gatlin captures the zany shenanigans happening at Monster School with full page illustrations. Muted autumn shades of grays, browns, and greens make the ghostly white faces and eyeballs pop out of each page

School is in Session

These poems are too delightful to keep to oneself. They beg to be shared. How about creating some puppets based on the monsters depicted throughout the pages? Gather up a handful of craft supplies, a copy of the book, and a fertile imagination. Viola! You have the beginnings of one monstrously good puppet show. There are endless possibilities for puppets: finger, sock, glove, stick, paper sack, or create something more inventive. The choice depends on what is on hand and the skill level of the puppet makers. A few of the craft supplies that I assembled: foam squares, felt, yarn, pom poms, chenille stems, goggly eyes, yarn, and even some corn husks. Add some wooden skewer sticks and hot glue gun.  Operation Frankenstein-esque Creature Lab was underway.

I looked for clues in the text to help create my puppets. The head of snakes featured in "Hair Care" was made with chenille stems, shaped by twisting them around a pencil. I used tiny green buttons for the snakes' heads. The purple hair mentioned in "Monster Mash" is a scrap of tulle, tied off at intervals. The hair for "Song of the Freckles" does not follow the image in the book because.... we had some fresh corn and the husks and silk were too funky to throw away. I twisted the damp husk slivers around a pencil and let them dry. They made the perfect curls for a monster girl.

Pocket Bios by ​Al Berenger

"You would need a big pocket to hold one of these." commented an adult when first encountering one of these micro-biographies. Measuring 5 3/4" tall by 7 1/4 " long, these little gems fit nicely into a small space and are perfect for small hands. Think ultra-thin board book. For such a small package, Berenger manages to pack in a sizable amount of information. Arranged chronologically, each page highlights in simple text a significant life event. Dates are boldly centered on the page's  bottom. A facing page illustrates the event in full color. Illustrations feature cartoon-style figures with proportionately large heads. Arresting bold color covers with a single cartoon image catch the eye. The unique size, shape, and color of the series presents an interesting shelving consideration. For the purposes of my users, I will shelve these tiny volumes as a series.

Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a a Horse
by Marcy Campbell  ill Corinna Luyken

I have one simple request: Dial Books should include a box of tissues with every copy of this book. Seriously. Not one copy of Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse should leave the warehouse without providing plenty of tissues for the reader. Meet Chloe, the no-nonsense girl who knows what she knows, sees what she sees.  When the strange boy in her class tells her he has a horse, she is doubtful.  All facts seem to disprove his declaration. She uses logic and evidence to figure out that this cannot be true.

Companion Books

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome

It is 1946. Young Langston's life has been turned upside down.  Gone are quite slow-paced days. Gone are family and friends. His warm rural Alabama hometown has been replaced with Chicago. I pick up my life And take it with me And put it down in Chicago, Detroit Buffalo, Scranton. After his mother dies, Langston's father decides to move north, seeking a better life for his son. Moving into a shabby apartment with wallpaper created from newspaper is a huge adjustment. This Alabama transplant wears overalls and speaks with a distinctive drawl. Instantly he is derisively called "country boy" by the class bully. Others join in taunting the new boy in school. He wonders, can he ever feel at home in this strange place?

Magic of Words

Copyboy by Vince Vawter

Those who have read Vince Vawter’s Paperboy, may be surprised with Copyboy The cover states that it is “the sequel to Paperboy, a 2014 Newbery Honor Book.” The cover image of a young boy, with bag slung over his shoulder suggests this is a continuation of this youngster’s story. However, the narrative does not pick up where Paperboy left off. Vic has grown up. He’s doesn't deliver newspapers. He’s a high school graduate, headed for college. He has secured a job at the local newspaper office, owns a car, and possesses a mind of his own. This is the story of Vic’s personal odyssey, fulfilling his promise to Mr. Spiro, the man who befriended the shy stuttering eleven-year-old. Before beginning a job at the Memphis newspaper and prior to his freshman year, Vic surreptitiously leaves home and travels to New Orleans. He is searching for the mouth of the Mississippi River, where Vic plans to honor Mr. Spiro’s request to have his ashes scattered at the point where the river meets the ocean. "It’s just something I have to do. For Mr. Spiro...and ​m—aybe for myself.”

Wisdom from Mr. Spiro

The Lifters by Dave Eggers read by Dion Graham

Gran, short for Granite, and his family have moved to Carousel, living in his great grandfather's old home. Everything seems lonely and a bit off balance. No one at school speaks to him. It's as if he doesn’t exist. One day he comes upon classmate Catalina entering a hidden door in the ground. Gran is intrigued and follows her. He discovers a series of subterranean tunnels, crisscrossing the earth beneath the town. He watches as Catalina labors underground, propping up the tunnels with all manner of items to keep the town from sinking. The two join forces, working to defeat The Hollows, powerful winds which sense sadness and threaten to tunnel deep underground, blowing away the foundations of Carousel.

Listen Up

Bonus

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson ill Rafael López

Uncertainty. Anxiety. Fear. We've all experienced a stomachache, teary eyes or wobbly legs symptom when venturing into the unknown. Jacqueline Woodson's latest picture book assures readers that these are natural and normal feelings. At some point we all are keenly aware that we don't "fit in." Appearing different, speaking an unfamiliar language, having a unique culture and capabilities can cause one to feel alienated from other members of the group. Woodson doesn't stop with reciting a list of differences. She provides strategies for moving past negative thoughts and emotions. For example, she suggests that when someone feels excluded, the response may be to first relate a personal story. Then listen to the individual stories of others. Understanding commonalities and appreciating differences can help to build friendships.

Bonus

Front end papers

Back end papers

More Picture Books to Share

Why am I Me?

Last Stop on Market Street

Each Kindness

Carrot and Pea: An Unlikely Friendship