The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold

The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold, written by Maureen Fergus and illustrated Cale Atkinson, is a delightful addition to Christmas picture book collections. This book, which will be released on October 11th, sort of flips the script on the whole belief-in-Santa issue.

In this story, Santa has doubts about the existence of a boy named Harold. Santa is distraught that Harold’s letter was probably written by his parents (who likely want all those gifts for themselves), and he’s sure that a little boy couldn’t possibly lift the big container of milk left out for Santa. On top of that, Harold just didn’t look the same when he sat on Santa’s lap last year. It all adds up, but what Santa really needs is proof one way or the other.

As for Harold, he has his own doubts about Santa. He hatches a plan to catch Santa in the act of delivering presents. What Harold doesn’t know is that Santa has his own plan to see if Harold is real. What happens next is both hilarious and heart-warming, and it will restore both Harold’s and Santa’s Christmas spirit once more.

The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold is a great book for Christmas storytimes, no matter the age of the reader. Young readers who believe in Santa will appreciate seeing Santa’s side of things. Older readers will enjoy the humor present throughout the book, and this charming story may just inspire them to once again experience that childlike belief in Santa and the magic of Christmas.

Aside from the story itself, I think it’s also awesome to see depictions of biracial families in children’s fiction. It’s not a big deal in this book–and it shouldn’t be–but the mere presence of this family in the story makes it a necessary addition to many school and public library collections.

The Terrible Two

Miles Murphy has just moved to boring Yawnee Valley–where cows outnumber people–and he’s not happy about it. He’s left his school, friends, home, and reputation as a top-notch prankster behind, and he has to start over in a town where he doesn’t know anyone. To make everything worse, it seems this town already has a prankster, and, loathe as he is to admit it, this prankster may be even better than Miles. How can Miles possibly make himself known as the best prankster with this other guy running around?

When the two boys final reveal themselves to each other, the Prankster King of Yawnee Valley wants to combine forces with Miles. He thinks they’d make a great team, but Miles wants none of it. He’s sure he can beat this guy, and he seeks to prove it. Miles’ solution to his dilemma is a prank war. (Yeah…this will end well.)

Miles tries his best to pull the ultimate prank and get a leg up on the other guy, but he’s always foiled at the last minute. Can it be that Miles is not the prankster he always thought he was? Nah…that can’t be it.

Finally, Miles has enough of his ill-advised prank war, and he decides to join forces with his former nemesis to form the Terrible Two, surely destined to be the greatest pranking duo of all time. This twosome devises the most epic prank ever seen in Yawnee Valley, a prank that people will talk about for years. A prank that may have the power to take their enemies down a notch or two. A prank that, if all goes according to plan, will cement their status in the International Order of Disorder.

Can Miles and his new partner-in-crime pull off this most awesome of pranks? Find out when you read The Terrible Two, written by Jory John and Mac Barnett and illustrated by Kevin Cornell!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul

In The Long Haul, the latest and greatest Diary of a Wimpy Kid book by Jeff Kinney, Greg Heffley is about to take part in that most dreaded of family activities–the road trip. Greg’s Mom thinks this will be the greatest summer activity in the world, and she’s billing it as a vacation and learning experience all rolled into one. Well, it’s definitely a learning experience, but I doubt dear old Mom had these lessons in mind…

From rundown hotels to lost wallets and cell phones to destructive pigs to unfortunate car mishaps, the Heffley family goes through loads of mayhem and madness on this most epic of road trips. Everything that could possibly go wrong is going wrong on this horrible vacation.

Crammed in the back of the family van, Greg tells readers all about his vacation misadventures, and readers young and old will find it all too easy to sympathize with Greg’s plight. (Who hasn’t endured a heinous family road trip?!)

Will Greg and his family make it out of this with their sanity intact? Can anything go right for them during this trip? What more could they possibly endure?

Join Greg Heffley on yet another wild ride when you read Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul!

Rrralph

Rrralph by Lois Ehlert was a nominee for the 2013-2014 South Carolina Picture Book Award.

Rrralph is a very easy-to-read book about a dog who seems to be able to talk. He even told his owners that his name was Ralph! Ralph tells his owners when he’s on the roof, that there’s bark on the tree, that the path is rough, that a wolf is nearby, that he wants to come in the house when he’s scared, and he makes it clear when it’s time to sleep. Can Ralph really talk to his owners? The fun will be in having young readers decide!

Like many books by Lois Ehlert, the best part of this book, in my opinion, is the illustrations. These collages were made from zippers, wood, buttons, twine, metal, tree bark, screws, hand-painted and handmade papers, and textile fragments. Readers will enjoy seeing how these objects come together to make lively pictures, and they may even be inspired to use everyday materials to create their own pictures.

Rrralph is an excellent book to share with art teachers and students who are interested in visual arts. This book may also generate discussion on different ways we can use or recycle materials.

Fortunately, the Milk

Who knew that being out of milk would lead to such craziness? Well, that’s exactly what happened one morning in a perfectly normal household. The father went out to get the milk, but he had quite the story for his disbelieving children when he returned.

After getting the milk that his kids needed for cereal–and he wanted for his tea–it seems that Dear Old Dad got a bit sidetracked by a few things. Things like spaceships, green globby aliens, pirates, piranhas, a professorial stegosaurus with a time-traveling Floaty-Ball-Person-Carrier (hot air balloon), an ancient volcano god, ponies, wumpires, the space-time continuum, the galactic police, and dancing dwarves.

Is the father’s story true? Could he have possibly gone on a time-traveling adventure with the strange Professor Steg? And how did he ever get the much-needed milk home to his children? Read Fortunately, the Milk to find out!

Chopsticks

Chopsticks, written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Scott Magoon, is nominated for the 13-14 South Carolina Picture Book Award.

Chopsticks is a funny, inventive picture book that I think will appeal more to older readers than younger ones. In my community, at least, very few young children even know what chopsticks are, so this book would need to be paired with some kind of demonstration on what chopsticks are and how they’re typically used. (I’ve never mastered using chopsticks, so I wouldn’t be the person to give this demonstration!)

This story is filled with little details that will cause older readers to chuckle and younger readers to wonder what is going on.

I do think the message of Chopsticks is a good one: While it is important to stick together, we become stronger when we learn to stand on our own.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck

Greg Heffley’s life is not going well.  His best friend Rowley now has a girlfriend.  Where does that leave Greg?  Out in the cold. Suddenly, Greg has to walk to and from school by himself, carry his own books, sit with other people at lunch, worry about who to play with at recess, and find something to do after school.  Who knew that losing your best friend would cause so much trouble?!

Middle school is no picnic at the best of times.  It’s even worse when you don’t have a best friend (and you’re not sure how to make more friends). Eventually, though, Greg thinks he’s found a way to make things a little better.  He’ll leave his fate up to a Magic 8 Ball!  This shouldn’t cause any problems at all, right? Right?!

Join Greg Heffley as he navigates the halls of middle school–girls, cafeteria seating, recess games, making friends–and his somewhat unpredictable family. Will Greg’s luck ever change?  Find out when you read Hard Luck, the eighth book in Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series!

Fake Mustache

In Fake Mustache, Angleberger once again uses humor to tell a captivating story that, hopefully, will make kids of all ages think. Yes, readers will have to suspend reality just a bit, but anyone who gives this book a try is in for one crazy, entertaining ride!

Our story begins with two best friends, Lenny and Casper, visiting Sven’s Fair Price Store in their hometown of Hairsprinkle. Lenny purchases a sticky stretchy hand, but Casper…well, Casper, after spending a lot of money on a suit, purchases the Heidelberg Handlebar Number Seven, the world’s greatest fake mustache. This mustache is made from real human hair and has the power to make people do strange things…as Lenny is about to find out.

Shortly after Lenny and Casper make their fateful purchases, a short, suited man with a handlebar mustache begins robbing banks. Lenny is sure that Casper is the culprit, but no one believes him. Even when he tips off the police as to the identity of the robber, no one takes him seriously…no one except Casper–now known as the powerful, rich, and enigmatic Fako Mustacho–who makes Lenny into Public Enemy Number One.

Fako Mustacho seems to have everybody fooled. Bands of people are going around the city doing his bidding. Only a few people are immune to the power of the Heidelberg Handlebar Number Seven. Lenny is one of them, and, surprisingly, one of the others is Jodie O’Rodeo, former teen cowgirl queen. These two kids join forces to put a stop to Fako Mustacho’s shenanigans. But how can they battle the brainwashing power of the Mustache?

Join Lenny and Jodie as they try to figure out how to stop a criminal mastermind from taking over the country. What dangers will they have to face? Will anyone ever believe them? Find out for yourself when you read Fake Mustache by Tom Angleberger!

Chloe and the Lion

Chloe and the Lion is a nominee for the 13-14 South Carolina Picture Book Award.

Chloe and the Lion is not your ordinary children’s picture book. This laugh-out-loud romp is probably more fun for adult readers than it is for kids. (Even the “about the author” section on the back flap is funny.) The book invites readers into the world of actually creating a story and the many ups and downs, twists and turns that may go with it.

Author Mac Barnett and illustrator Adam Rex have created something truly spectacular in this book. The words and pictures–though often at war (in a hilarious way, of course)–mesh together seamlessly, and the entire book will keep readers of all ages engaged. I loved it and plan to give it as a gift to several people in my family and school.

Chloe and the Lion is a welcome addition to any library!

One Cool Friend

One Cool Friend is a nominee for the 2013-2014 South Carolina Picture Book Award.

One Cool Friend, written by Toni Buzzeo and illustrated by David Small, is sure to be a hit in any library. Readers young and old will be charmed by Elliot, a very proper young man (who I imagine with a British accent).

Elliot visits the aquarium with his colorful father, and he passes right by the attractions with large crowds. He stops, though, when he reaches the penguin exhibit. He is enchanted by these creatures who appear to be as proper as he is. Elliot decides he wants a penguin for his very own. When he asks his father if he can have one, dear old dad says, “Sure!” thinking that Elliot means to buy a stuffed penguin from the gift shop. If only…

Hilarity ensues when Elliot brings a real penguin home and learns what it takes to keep a pet penguin happy. Can he keep his penguin a secret from his dad, though? Every reader will be eager to see what happens, and they may be in for a few surprises!