The Landry News (AR 4.0, Level 6.0) is an older title by the school-related author, Andrew Clements.  However, it's theme is so timely because of the unobjective news reporting practiced by many cable "news" networks.  Please also note the wonderful illustrations by the Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck author, Brian Selznick!

Cara, whose parents have divorced, first used her newspaper, The Landry News as a way to inappropriately express the truth, no matter who was hurt.  Now she is at a new school.  She disapproves of the lacksadaical way that her fifth grade teacher, Mr. Larson, runs his classroom.   She prints her dissatisfaction in her newspaper.  How will Mr. Larson react when he sees it?

The Constitution's First Amendment is explored in this novel.  Should truth be tempered by mercy?  How does truth and mercy fit in The Landry News?  Will Mr. Larson ever change?  Find out and check out this wonderful book!

What's New in Children's and Teen Literature? I'd love to tell you, but instead I'll invite you to a program at King Library February 24th in Room 255 at 7:00 pm. Five of our great librarians will give you a peek at some of the best that we've added to the collection this year.

I know you're wondering what's good - so here's a sneak peek!

Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josee Masse is a wonderful book of poetry in picture book format. This collection of poems takes on the unique challenge of reverse verse. Each poem can be read backwards or forwards. In fact, when read backwards, the meaning changes dramatically. Each pair of poems is based on a fairy tale - so included is Beauty and the Beast, the Princess and the Frog and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The illustrations are beautiful, colorful and definitely take on the duality of the reverse verse concept. You can find this book at the library in the poetry section - J811.54

WHAT’S NEW IN CHILDREN’S AND TEEN LITERATURE
THURSDAY ~ FEBRUARY 24, 2011
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. LIBRARY

BOARD BOOKS

Diapers are Not Forever by Elizabeth Verdick

Farm Peek-a-Boo by DK

Happy Valentine’s Day Mouse! by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond

How Do I Love You by Marion Dane Bauer

EASY READERS

Aggie the Brave by Lorie Ries

I Am Going by Mo Willems

Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann

Star Wars, Death Star Battles by Simon Beecroft

Sandcastle “The Alphabet” by various authors

PICTURE BOOKS

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead

City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems

Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Willems

Art & Max by David Wiesner

Wanted the Perfect Pet by Fiona Roberton

Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates

There’s Going to be a Baby by John Birmingham & Helen Oxenbury

Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy by Denise Fleming

The Magic Brush by Kat Yeh

CHILDREN'S FICTION

What Happened on Fox Street by Tricia Springstubb

Reckless by Cornelia Funke

Closer by Roderick Gordon & Brian Williams

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Beryl: a Pig’s Tale by Jane Simmons

by Adam Gidwitz

The Danger Box by Blue Balliett

A Long Walk to Water: Based on A True Story by Linda Sue Park

Museum of Thieves by Lian Tanner

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes

YOUNG ADULT

As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynn Rae Perkins

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Matched by Ally Condie&

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt

JUVENILE NON-FICTION

Pop-Up House of Inventions: Hundreds of Fabulous Facts About Your Home by Robert Crowther (J609)

Meet the Howlers by April Pulley Sayre (J599.855)

Out of Sight by Francisco Pittau (J590)

Terrorists, Tornadoes and Tsunamis: How to Prepare for Life’s Danger Zones by Lt. Colonel John C. Orndorff & Suzanne Harper (YA613.69)

Mirror Mirror: A book of Reversible Rhyme by Marilyn Singer (J811.54)

Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney (J323.1196)

Make and Do Cook: Simple Recipes for Kids to Cook by Bethany Perkins & Hermione Edwards (J641.5123)

Mac King’s Campfire Magic: 50 Amazing, Easy-to-Learn Tricks and Mind-Blowing Stunts by Mac King (J793.8)

Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci by Joseph D’Agnese (J510.92)

Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barak Obama (J179)

Presenters:

Deborah Estreicher – Librarian

Nancy Buckles – Librarian

Sharon Fung – Librarian

Katherine Luedke – Librarian

Sandra Stewart – Senior Librarian/Manager

In Malena Watrous' debut novel, If You Follow Me, 22-year-old Marina and her girlfriend Carolyn travel to a small town in Japan to teach English to local high school students. While there they struggle to learn the rules of gomi, or garbage, like which receptacle to use for their empty wine bottles. They struggle with each other too, realizing too late that being far from home with only each other is too much strain on their relationship. Marina also struggles internally to cope with her father's suicide.

This book had me hooked from the start and I found myself thinking about Marina, Carolyn and their friends and co-workers throughout my day. It was also intriguing to learn about the Japanese take on garbage. We always hear that people in the U.S. throw away too much trash, but learning that the people of Japan soak the labels off their bottles before recycling the glass brings the point home. This book is about much more than garbage, however, and through her energetic prose and great characters Watrous makes this "stranger in a strange land" story work.

Winner's Circle is a homework club at the Santa Teresa Branch Library that takes place on Wednesdays 3:30-5:30 PM in the Community Room. It is for all kids in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

Sign up takes place at the beginning of each Winner's Circle. Parents must arrange for transportation from school to the Library.

If homework assistance is required outside of the Winner's Circle homework club, students may access Live Homework Help online on the San Jose Public Library's  website. There are a variety of resources available on the Library's website for students of all ages.

Martha Doesn't Say Sorry!

by Samantha Berger

This is a cute story to help pre-schoolers to learn to say sorry. Under no circumstances would Martha apologize to her parents or her siblings. Through the course of the story, she learns the meaning and power of the word "sorry."

Berger's excellent followup to this book is Martha Doesn't Share! , which involves a selfish Martha and her baby brother.

We highly recommend Going on 13, an eye-opening movie for concerned parents and teachers of adolescent girls. The movie deals with teen sexuality, race, immigration, the coming of age, and other issues regarding 4 Bay Area teenage girls. Tracing the story of the girls from 4th grade through the age of 13, the movie also has a website with more information and a trailer.