Happy Reading From Your Youth Services Team! The Youth Services Team loves going on adventures together through books, movies, video games, and much more. Find out where your favorite librarians have traveled this month! Ami, Becky, Lynne, Meg, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Esli, Miss Steph, Miss Zoë, Monica, Mrs. Murphy, Mrs. Cheryl, Mrs. Liz, Stephanie G, and Stephanie S In this newsletter: |  Recommended by Miss Steph | A Thing Called Snow by Yuval Zommer Best for Grades K and up With the change of the season, I am always on the lookout for new picture books about popular winter topics, and this title does the trick! Fox and Hare are best friends who go off on an adventure, finding out what other animals in the forest know about snow. I love how each animal gives new details of what snow is to Fox and Hare (both who have never seen it), and each page builds up excitement for the big event: the first snowfall of the year. Just beautiful! |  Recommended by Ms. Cheryl | Fauja Singh Keeps Going by Simran Jeet Singh Best for Grades K and up Wow! Can you imagine running a marathon (that’s 26.2 miles)? What about running a marathon when you’re 100? Fauja Singh did! In fact, Fauja wasn’t able to walk until he was 5 years old. People in his village said that it was too hard, and that Fauja was too weak. His mother said “You know yourself, Fauja, and you know what you’re capable of. Today is a chance to do your best.” So, he kept practicing and practicing, and one day he was able to walk. He didn’t walk a mile until he was 15. He didn’t try running until he moved to a new country when he was 81 and was inspired by seeing marathon runners on TV.
Kids will love hearing about this man who has never stopped trying his entire life. Want to read about more fantastic people? Check out our People Boutique Bin in the Picture Book section! There you’ll find picture book biographies about all different people. If they’re inspired by Fauja, make sure to check out another book about an amazing Centenarian called The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard. Born into slavery in 1848, Mary learned to read when she was 116 years old. As she would say, “You’re never too old to learn.” |  Recommended by Mrs. Murphy | How to Find a Fox by Kate Gardner Best for Grades k and up. The photographs in this book are amazing! The simple text makes it great for sharing, and more in-depth information provided interesting facts about foxes. I occasionally spot foxes in Des Plaines. This book inspires me to look more closely to see them in my neighborhood. |  Recommended by Meg | Julia's House Moves On by Ben Hatke Best for Grades K and up. This gorgeous picture book follows Julia and Her House for Lost Creatures into a new adventure: finding a new place to live. When things start going wrong, Julia has a plan to fix it! But when things keep going wrong, Julia slowly has to admit that maybe she doesn't have a plan for everything after all. Perfect for the planner in your life, young or old, about leaning on the support of your friends and community when things go wrong. |  Recommended by Miss Elizabeth | Picture Book By Dog by Michael Relth Best for Grades K and up Dog wants to tell you his story of ups and downs, and how lucky he is that he was chosen by his family. This adorable picture book is written in sing-song rhyming text in Dog’s voice, with whimsical illustrations from the “paw” of dog, and will tug at the heartstrings of every pet lover. At the end of the story, Dog makes a note that there are lots of dogs like him that need a good friend and a loving home just like him. |  Recommended by Stephanie G | I Am Not a Label By Cerrie Burnell Best for Grades 3 and up. An upbeat feel-good anthology that shares the stories of thirty artists, thinkers, athletes, and activists who overcame disabilities to become experts in their field, from Ludwig van Beethoven and Helen Keller to Frida Kahlo and Stephen Hawking. Each fascinating person is covered in this book with a short yet captivating description of their amazing accomplishments along with an explanation of the tremendous challenge they struggled with and is accompanied by a brightly colored portrait of that individual. The author’s note at the beginning explains why Burnell chose to use identity-first language, explaining that “people are disabled by society and do not need to be fixed.” I especially love that she includes those that struggle with mental illness, stating that not everybody's challenges can be easily identified or seen. |  Recommended by Becky | I Survived The Hurricane the Galveston Hurricane, 1900 by Lauren Tarshis Best for Grades 3 and up. I love the I Survived books! I was waiting for this latest one and it doesn’t disappoint, I read it all at once! The main character, Charlie, is an eleven-year boy who has lived his whole life in Galveston. He is a smart, caring kid who loves magic and his family. He believed the weatherman in the beginning but when the storm began, he knew something was dreadfully wrong. It’s a good thing he paid attention to Mr. Early’s story. I’m doing an I Survived book club for this book on Dec. 28. Join me if you can! |  Recommended by Miss Zoë | The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill Best for Grades 4 and up. This story follows Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, as she discovers tea dragons and the people who care for them. Tea shop owners Hesekiel and Erik allow Greta’s help and teach her about tea dragon caregiving along the way. She also meets the shy ward Minette, and they slowly befriend one another. Through these three, Greta learns a lot about tea dragons, friendship, and herself. This graphic novel has adorably drawn characters and creatures, and is sprinkled with magic and heartfelt messages. I wish I could live inside the world of the Tea Dragon Society! |  Recommended by Miss Esli | Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh Best for Grades 5 and up. A story of family, hope, and survival, inspired by the author's mother’s real-life experiences during the Korean War. Faced with middle school racism, Junie Kim learns of her grandparents’ extraordinary strength and finds her voice. |  Recommended by Ami | Rise of the Guardians Available on DVD and Blu-Ray Ever wonder what would happen if Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy were buddies? What if they did more than Christmas, Easter, and dentistry? What if they were actually Guardians who protected children from darkness and despair? Cue Jack Frost, a teenage rebel who spends his days spreading winter magic (or havoc if you’re an adult). Imagine everyone’s surprise when the Man on the Moon chooses him as a new Guardian, one prophesized to save the children of the world from nightmare villain, Pitch Black aka the Boogeyman. Watch how these Guardians put their differences aside and work together. The real “cool” factor is an inside look into each of their worlds. Visiting Santa’s workshop?! SO COOL. And the Tooth Fairy’s castle made out of teeth?!! Kinda creepy but also COOL! This is the perfect holiday movie for the whole family, magical and unique in character designs. Very entertaining |  Recommended by Miss Esli | Coming this month! Monopoly Madness Available for Nintendo Switch, Ps4, and Xbox One An upcoming Monopoly game that puts a fast-paced spin on the class board game. Experience three unique 3D boards at home or on the go with up to six players in total, or compete with other players online! | Join in on the family fun by creating a scene from a favorite story using your own building bricks! Email your pictures along with a short description to Rocky Racoon at Rocky@dppl.org by December 30th. | Calling all fans of the I Survived Book Series. Join Becky on Tuesday, December 28th, and other fans via Zoom for activities, discussions, and reviews of your favorite I Survived books including the newest; I Survived the Galveston Hurricane.
Copies of I Survived the Galveston Hurricane by Lauren Tarshis will be available at the Youth Services Desk on the second floor beginning on December 7th. Reading ahead of time is not required. | |
