Sunday, August 14, 2011

New York Times Children's Series Children's Books for the Week of August 14, 2011

New York Times Children's Series Books

 
The New York Times Children's Series books are included below.How many have you read, plan to read, want others to read? Write back and tell us your thoughts!

Here is the link to the entire list of Series books:
http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2011-08-21/series-books/list.html

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1 THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, hardcover and paper.) In a dystopian society a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up) 50

2 HARRY POTTER, by J. K. Rowling. (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic, hardcover and paper.) A wizard hones his skills while fighting evil. (Ages 10 and up) 264

3 PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, by Sara Shepard. (HarperTeen, hardcover and paper.) Four girls less perfect than they seem. (Ages 14 and up) 51

4 DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. (Abrams, hardcover only.) The travails of adolescence, in cartoons. (Ages 9 to 12) 134

5 PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, hardcover and paper.) Children of the gods battle monsters. (Ages 9 to 12) 213

6 THE SHIVER TRILOGY, by Maggie Stiefvater. (Scholastic, hardcover and paper.) Love and adventure among the werewolves of Mercy Falls. (Ages 13 and up) 4

7 DORK DIARIES, by Rachel Renée Russell. (Aladdin, hardcover only.) Nikki Maxwell navigates the halls of middle school. (Ages 9 to 13) 9

8 BIG NATE, Lincoln Peirce. (HarperCollins, hardcover; Andrews McMeel, paper.) Where Nate goes, trouble is sure to follow. (Ages 8 to 12) 28

9 HOUSE OF NIGHT, by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. (St. Martin’s, hardcover and paper.) Vampires in school. (Ages 14 and up) 130

10 FALLEN, by Lauren Kate. (Delacorte, hardcover and paper.) Fallen angels and forbidden love through the centuries. (Ages 12 and up)

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Happy reading.......
Until the next time......

A children's book a day, keeps the scary monster away!

New York Times Children's Paperback Children's Books for the Week of August 14, 2011

New York Times Children's Paperback Books Weeks on List


This weeks children's book paperback best sellers are included below. Some of the titles should be familiar to you. Let us know which ones you have read, which you are planning to read, and which ones you recommend for others to read!

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1 THE BOOK THIEF, by Markus Zusak. (Knopf, $11.99.) A girl saves books from Nazi burning. (Ages 14 and up)

2 THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, by Jay Asher. (Razorbill, $10.99.) Before she commits suicide, a girl sends recordings to 13 people. (Ages 12 and up) 8


3 THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN, by Sherman Alexie. Illustrated by Ellen Forney. (Little, Brown, $8.99.) A boy leaves his reservation to attend an all-white school. (Ages 12 and up) 106

4 THEODORE BOONE: KID LAWYER, by John Grisham. (Puffin, $7.99.) He’s only 13, but he knows how to handle a murder case. (Ages 8 to 12) 14


5 SOUL SURFER, by Bethany Hamilton with Sheryl Berk and Rick Bundschuh. (MTV/Gallery, $14.) Surfing again after a shark attack. (Ages 12 and up) 14


6 THE NINE LIVES OF CHLOE KING, by Liz Braswell. (Simon Pulse, $10.99.) A girl with special catlike powers is hunted by assassins. (Ages 14 and up) 8

7 ALONG FOR THE RIDE, by Sarah Dessen. (Speak, $8.99.) Teenage night owls bond during a summer at a charming beach town. (Ages 12 and up) 18

8 THE MAZE RUNNER, by James Dashner. (Delacorte, $9.99.) A stone wall imprisons teenagers who live by their wits. (Ages 12 and up) 20
9 MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS, by Richard Atwater and Florence Atwater. (Little, Brown, $6.99.) A house painter and his penguins. (Ages 8 to 12) 8


10 WHEN YOU REACH ME, by Rebecca Stead. (Yearling, $6.99.) A sixth-grade girl in New York City receives mysterious notes. (Ages 9 and up) 19


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Until the next time......
 
Happy reading!
A children's book a day, keeps the scary monster away!

New York Times Children's Chapter Books for Week of August 14, 2011


New York Times Children's Chapter Books
Week of August 14, 2011


Below is the list of New York Times Children's Chapter Books

How many have you read on this list? What would you recommend for others to read? What are your thoughts?

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1 THE THRONE OF FIRE, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, $18.99.) The Kanes seek the sun god, Ra; Book 2 of the Kane Chronicles. (Ages 10 and up) 14

2 NEVER HAVE I EVER, by Sara Shepard. (HarperTeen, $16.99.) Emma’s investigation of her twin sister’s murder continues. (Ages 14 and up) 1


3 MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE, by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts. Illustrated by Laura Park. (Little, Brown, $15.99.) Rafe breaks every rule in the book. (Ages 8 to 12) 6


4 MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN, by Ransom Riggs. (Quirk Books, $17.99.) An island, an abandoned orphanage and a collection of curious photographs. (Ages 12 and up) 9


5 SUPER DIAPER BABY 2, written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey. (Blue Sky/Scholastic, $9.99.) The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers. (Ages 7 to 10) 6


6 THEODORE BOONE: THE ABDUCTION, by John Grisham. (Dutton, $16.99.) The “kid lawyer” uses his legal skills to find a missing friend. (Ages 8 to 12) 9


7 THE LYING GAME, by Sara Shepard. (HarperTeen, $16.99.) A long-lost twin impersonates her dead sister to try to solve her murder. (Ages 14 and up) 7


8 THE LOST HERO, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, $18.99.) A return to Camp Half-Blood and semi-divine characters. (Ages 10 and up) 43
9 WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE, by Sarah Dessen. (Viking, $19.99.) A girl rediscovers herself after her parents’ bitter divorce. (Ages 12 and up) 13

10 WOLFSBANE, by Andrea Cremer. (Philomel, $17.99.) Calla is offered a chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack. (Ages 14 and up)


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Happy reading
 
Until the next time...
 
A children's book a day, keeps the scary monster away!

Sunday New York Times Children's Picture Books for 8/14/2011

Children's Picture Books

Below are the New York Times Picture books for children for the week of August 14, 2011. How many have you read on this list? Write back and let us know! One of my writers/illustrators is included in this list. Mo Willems... What other books has he written and illustrated? Scroll down to see the title that is included in this list!

Here is the link to the list:

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Here is the entire list:

Weeks on List

1 SKIPPYJON JONES, CLASS ACTION, by Judy Schachner. (Dutton, $17.99.) The clever Siamese kitten longs to go to school. (Ages 3 and up) 4

2 PETE THE CAT: ROCKING IN MY SCHOOL SHOES, by Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. (Harper/HarperCollins, $16.99.) Pete discovers the library, the lunchroom and other cool places. (Ages 3 to 7) 2

3 PRESS HERE, by Hervé Tullet. (Handprint/Chronicle, $14.99.) A whimsical dance of color and motion, at the touch of a finger. (Ages 4 to 8) 16

4 LEGO HARRY POTTER, by the DK staff. (DK, $21.99.) Building the magical world. (Ages 6 to 14) 12

5 PETE THE CAT: I LOVE MY WHITE SHOES, by Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. (Harper/HarperCollins, $16.99.) Well-shod Pete has rainbows on his feet. (Ages 3 to 7) 5

6 PINKALICIOUS, by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann. Illustrated by Victoria Kann. (HarperCollins, $17.99.) Pinkalicious loves cupcakes. (Ages 5 to 8) 8

7 A SICK DAY FOR AMOS McGEE, by Philip C. Stead. Illustrated by Erin E. Stead. (Roaring Brook, $16.99.) Animals care for a zookeeper. (Ages 2 to 6) 30

 
8 SHOULD I SHARE MY ICE CREAM? (AN ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE BOOK), written and illustrated by Mo Willems. (Hyperion, $8.99.) Gerald has a big decision to make. (Ages 4 to 8) 7

9 SILVERLICIOUS, written and illustrated by Victoria Kann. (Harper/HarperCollins, $17.99.) Pinkalicious has a loose tooth — her sweet tooth. (Ages 4 to 8) 26

 
10 CHARLIE THE RANCH DOG, by Ree Drummond. Illustrated by Diane DeGroat. (HarperCollins, $16.99.) A basset hound’s bucolic day. (Ages 4 to 8) 13

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Happy reading!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until the next time!

A children's book a day, keeps the scary monster away!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Carnival of the Animals by Saint Saens

Carnival of the Animals by Saint Saens.

Commentary by Barrie Carson Turner and Illustrations by Sue Williams

"The animals are having a carnival, and guess who is coming? There's the majestic lion, braying mules, the dancing elephant, and the bouncy kangaraoos. The animals are having a carnival and you are invited."

What a fun book to read and it includes an accompanying music CD also. The full length CD contains the entire score of Saint-Saen's most famous composition.

This book is a great introduction to classical music for young children. The pictures are colorful. The book begins with a brief description of Saint Saen's Carnival of the Animals masterpiece and each animal that children will meet in the music... He even throws in a few "unusual animals" for children to locate.

We move to the orchestra for the carnival with all of the instruments and ofcourse, the conductor "maestro" wielding his baton conducting the orchestra. We first meet the string instruments, with a description of each including the violin, viola, cello, and double bass. A simple description is given along with the type of tune that is played. For example, "the viola looks like a big violin and has a deeper sound. It plays the tune of the fish in the aquarium."

The woodwind instruments are next with the clarinet, flute, and piccolo. The flute is one of the highest of the woodwind instruments. It plays the fast fluttering tune of the birds."

Saint Saens was a pianist and included the xylophone, glockenspiel, and piano. "The glockenspiel is like a small xylophone but it is made of metal. Its tinkly sound is the sunlight on the water in the aquarium."

We then move into the 14 tracks on the CD. The first track is the Royal March of the Lion.

Track 2 is the Hens and Roosters; Track 3 are the Mules; Track 4 the Tortoises; Track 5 the Elephant; Track 6 the Kangaroos; Track 7 the Aquarium,Track 8 Animals with long Ears; Track 9 Cuckoo in the Woods; Track 10 Birds; Track 11 Pianists; Track 12 Fossils; Track 13 the Swan; and Track 14 Finale.

Now the orchestra calls all the animals to the start of teh carnival parade. The pianists play great swooshing soundsm, then the orchestra plays a special parade tune. Suddenly, with a great clatter of hooves, the mules rush by. Can you hear the music?Then we hear the spiky music of the hens and roosters. Now the kangaroos pass by, jumping and hopping to their tune.

Last of all we heard the loud hee-haws of the ... you'll have to read the book for the rest of the "finale!"

I recommend this book for children of all ages. This is a must-have for home, school, and public libraries. What a great introduction to classical music for children. This will be great for story time but make sure that you have an accompanying CD player to play the music and have the children describe the animal in the tune. The book is colorful, bright and just plain fun.

HAPPY READING...

UNTIL THE NEXT TIME............

A children's book a day, keeps the scary monster away!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Tubby the Tuba

Tubby the Tuba

by Paul Tripp and edited by Henry Cole

Music is my first love.. Maybe second only to children's books. Well, if I have the opportunity to have a musical children's book, I have to share it with you. My father played the tuba as a hobby when he was alive. I have his huge sousaphone tuba........

This review is a tribute to my dad. The late.. great... Joe Joiner!


"All day long, Tubby oompah, oompah with his orchestra, but what he really wants is to "dance with the pretty little tune." a resourceful frog shows Tubby that everyone has the right to play his own melody."

Does Tubby get to play is own tune? You will have to read this tale and find out!

I enjoyed reading this wonderfully written and enjoyed listening to the companying cd.

Children of all ages have enjoyed this gem for sixty years! Let's enjoy this story of a young

tuba who wants to "dance with the pretty little tune" for another sixty years!

Check this out at your local library or school library and see why this story is as popular as it was sixty years ago!

I add this to your home library for your countless generations to enjoy!

Until the next time...

Happy reading!

A children's book a day, keeps the scary monster away!