The Family Tree is a story told in generations about a tree that has stood for over 200 years. When progress threatens, a young boy’s courage, along with an array of unusual friends, keep the tree standing in it’s honored place on the farm. This is a sweet, lovely book by David McPhail, who also compliments his text with his beautiful illustrations. This book has heart, and teaches what is truly important in the world and how the past and present progress can work together for the benefit of all. Don’t miss the illustrations on the very last page.

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elem. School Media Center
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades K-2

The Family Tree
Written and Illustrated by David McPhail
Henry Holt
40 pages
Release Date: March 27, 2012
ISBN: 9780805090574 (hardcover)

In New York City in the early 1900s, the streets were filled with homeless children. In Orphan Trains, the reader can relive what it would have been like to be one of those children. The reader gets on the train and by choosing which way the story will go, finds the outcome of those choices. Some end happily, some not. Every experience in the book is true and happened to real children. This book is a great way to learn history first hand, experiencing real life events and gaining understanding of those people who have gone before us. The photographs are both breathtaking and heartbreaking. I think this is a great book to teach this period of American history.

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elem. School Media Center
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 3-7

elizabethraum.net

Orphan Trains: An Interactive History Adventure
Written by Elizabeth Raum
Capstone Press
112 pages
Release Date: January 1, 2011
ISBN: 9781429654791 (hardcover)

Written by John Corey Whaley

17-year-old Cullen Witter is kicking around his small, unremarkable town of Lily, Arkansas during the summer, trying to get dates with girls, working at a convenience store, and in general trying to figure out what to do with his life. After an unremarkable date with an older girl who has moved back to town and is still technically married to another man, Cullen discovers that his quirky younger brother (and best friend) Gabriel has inexplicably gone missing. The search for Gabriel goes on for weeks, but meanwhile the town of Lily is consumed with a different search; a professor has come to town claiming he will find the long lost Lazarus Woodpecker, the largest species of woodpecker thought to have been extinct for 60+ years, in the woods around Lily. In an attempt to cash in commercially the town goes bonkers for woodpeckers, selling everything from Lazarus hamburgers (“it’s actually just the Number 3 without cheese”) to red-died faux-hawk woodpecker haircuts for young boys. Through this nonsense Cullen must come to terms with what has happened to his brother, not knowing if he is alive or dead. Meanwhile, alternating chapters tell the story of a young man named Benton who has been sent by his church in Atlanta to be a missionary in Ethiopia. The way these two stories come together is surprising and convoluted, but worth following through.

This book is a worthy entry in the literary, post-Catcher in the Rye strand of young adult literature. It strikes me as particularly reminiscent of John Green, with its clever and cynical male narrator, and quasi-hipster and intellectual references (for example Sufjan Stevens’ lyrics play a role in the book, as well as an apocryphal ancient scripture the Book of Enoch.) The start of the book is a little slow, but things really pick up a few chapters in. The writing is smart without being inaccessible, and the dual plot construction is ambitious and rather successful, especially for a debut novel. There is frank discussion of sex and teenage characters are sexually active, which makes me recommend this only for mature high school readers. Vulgar language appears not infrequently, but it does not overpower the dialogue.
I’d highly recommend this book to readers who like quirky or literary realistic fiction with clever and cynical male narrators and interesting cultural references, such as Paper Towns, Going Bovine, and of course Catcher in the Rye. That’s obviously not every reader, but for a certain reader this is pure gold. This is the kind of book that YA award committees love to give awards to, and it has already taken home several.

Review by Joshua Whiting, Granite Library Media Program
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 10+

www.johncoreywhaley.com

Where Things Come Back
Written by John Corey Whaley
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
240 pages
Release Date: May 3, 2011
ISBN: 9781442413337 (hardcover)

This is a story that has a lyrical feel to it. I can imagine it with a musical soundtrack. Little Mist lives among some of the tallest mountains on earth, a snow leopard cub. His mother is his whole world. One day she tells him that it is time to venture out of their den. Outside awaits a dazzling world of brilliant blue skies and crystalline white. Little Mist is enthralled with his new surroundings. His mother lets him know that one day he will be “”King of the Mountains.”

I enjoyed this book immensely, as I am intrigued with places like the mountains of Himalaya. The artist contributes greatly to the overall appeal of the book.

I feel that all elementary grades would enjoy this book.

Review by Sharon P. Christensen, Stansbury Elem. School Media Center
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades K-6

Little Mist
Written by Angela McAllister, Illustrated by Sarah Fox-Davies
Alfred A. Knopf
32 pages
Release Date: April 5, 2011
ISBN: 9780375867880 (hardcover)

Kayla, Gabie and Drew work at Pete’s Pizza making and delivering pizza until one night Kayla requests a shift trade with Gabie, heads out to deliver a pizza, and never comes back. Since Gabie was the one the man asked for and Drew was the one who sent her out, never suspecting the order was a fake, both feel a sense of guilt. The front flap is written perfectly to suck in the reader and the book does not disappoint. It moves right along, written in first person chapters from the viewpoint of Gabie, Drew, Kayla and the mystery man who kidnaps Kayla. The characters are well fleshed out and the story is totally believable as it builds to a chilling conclusion.

Review by Kaydean Judy, Granger High School Media Center
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 7-12

Try it: Read the first chapter of this book!
aprilhenrymysteries.com

The Night She Disappeared
Written by April Henry
Henry Holt
229 pages
Release Date: March 13, 2012
ISBN: 9780805092622 (hardcover)

Larf, who believes he is the only one, is a Sasquatch who loves peace and quiet. When he reads an advertisement in the newspaper to come meet Big Foot, he ventures from his tranquil surroundings into the human world. What he finds in the big city is a pleasant surprise that makes him finally want to take a bath! This is a sweet story with cute illustrations that compliment the text. And keep a look out for Shurl too as you read and turn the pages.

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elem. School Media Center
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades PreK-2

Larf
Written and Illustrated by Ashley Spires
Kids Can Press
30 pages
Release Date: April 1, 2012
ISBN: 9781554537013 (hardcover)

Written by Ellen Potter

Even if you have never read The Secret Garden you will love this book. The Humming Room is based on The Secret Garden, but is updated and lots of fun to read. Roo, our main character, is a troubled 12 year old whose parents have just been killed. She is shipped off to live with her rich uncle who she has never heard of. What she finds there on Cough Island would scare almost anyone, but not Roo. This is a great story with all of the needed ingredients to make it come out wonderful. It has adventure, mystery, ghosts, friendship, love and a great ending. What more could you ask for?

Review by Irene Taylor, Vista Elem. School Media Center
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

ellenpotter.com

The Humming Room
Written by Ellen Potter
Feiwel and Friends
184 pages
Release Date: February 28, 2012
ISBN: 9780312644383 (hardcover)

I chose this book because of the title and the book cover. I know that it will appeal to most of our younger boys and girls. I wouldn’t limit it to the younger students, though. It could be a fun book for all elementary grades. It would also be a great book for storytime.

In a way, this book reminds me of Shark Vs. Train, which was the most popular Beehive Book nominee in the Picture Book category in our school. Since the two robots in the book are so much alike, they try to outdo each other. At the end of the story, the robots become friends. The illustrations are vivid and brightly colored. Sometimes they take up an entire page. I’m sure they will draw the students into the story.

I know this will be a hit with our students, and doubt that we can keep it on the shelves.

Review by Sharon Christensen, Stansbury Elem. School Media Center
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: PreK-Grade 6

annettesimon.net

Robot Zombie Frankenstein!
Written and Illustrated by Annette Simon
Candlewick Press
40 pages
Release Date: April 24, 2012
ISBN: 9780763651244 (hardcover)

Peter Johnson has perfectly captured the soul of a 13 year-old in his book, The Amazing Adventures of John Smith Jr. aka Houdini. When an author comes to his school with writing advice, Houdini decides to write a novel about his daily life. He uses the tips from the author, but what transpires is his awakening to his world around him as he concentrates on characters and plot. I was transported to Houdini’s Rhode Island lower middle class neighborhood and felt that I knew his close-knit family, friends, enemies, and strange neighbor, Old Man Jackson. The revelations that come to Houdini (and me as well) totally change his life for the better. Although younger readers may focus on the little bit of language and a few subplots, older readers will see how these are not gratuitious, but used to flesh out an honest story and have a purpose. This is one magical, amazing story!

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elem. School Media Center
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 4-8

peterjohnsonya.com

The Amazing Adventures of John Smith, Jr., A.K.A. Houdini
Written by by Peter Johnson
Harper
168 pages
Release Date: January 24, 2012
ISBN: 9780061988905 (hardcover)

Maurice Sendak, groundbreaking author and illustrator of books such as Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, and many others, died this morning at the age of 83.

The image above is a spread from his most recently published book, Bumble-Ardy. We’ve also posted some relevant videos, and here are additional resources:

• Maurice Sendak, Author of Splendid Nightmares, Dies at 83 (New York Times Obituary)
• This Pig Wants to Party: Maurice Sendak on NPR’s Fresh Air, September 20, 2011
• Remembering Maurice Sendak (Literarysafari.com)
• Maurice Sendak, 1928-2012: The Poet of the Stoop (New Yorker Obituary)
• Maurice Sendak on Pinterest

Have any thoughts? Know any other good resources? Please post them in the comments below.