In this issue:

Newbery Medal

Caldecott Medal

HCPL Children's Staff

New Children's Books and Audio

October/November 2008

The Newbery Medal is named for eighteenth-century English bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished book for children. It is sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.

Newbery Medal Book List

The Caldecott Medal is named in honor of nineteenth century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott and is awarded annually to the illustrator of the most distinguished picture book for children. It is sponsored by the Association of Library Service to Children a division of the American Library Association.

Caldecott Medal Book List

Miss Bonnie

Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library

Ms. Bonnie

Ms. Bonnie is the Children's Librarian at the Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library.  She has been with Harris County Public Library for six years and has also worked at our Barbara Bush Branch Library and Atascocita Branch Library.

What do you like to read?

I read all the Bluebonnet, Lone Star and any mysteries I can get my hands on.  I enjoy reading juvenile fiction and YA fiction.  I am continuously listening to a CD in my car.  I only listen to the news or music on my radio when the grandchildren are in the car.

What was your favorite book when you were a kid?

I don’t remember reading anything but Dick and Jane until I was in third grade when the bookmobile started coming to the school.  Then I read all the biographies I could get my hands on.  I was fascinated by what these people had all done.  Then I quickly rushed on to Nancy Drew and Sue Barton.

What are your hobbies?

I like to sew.  I have been an avid counted cross-stitcher but am now learning how to quilt.  I am not a perfectionist so quilting is very hard for me.  And of course, I love to read.

What was the funniest thing that happened to you as a kid?

At the time I did not think it was funny but my grandparents lived on a farm and they had electric fences.  One day my two cousins, brother and my sister went out to check the lines.  I was put at the end of the line.  Being the youngest I think this was like an initiation because all the older kids were between Grandpa and me.  So here is this line of six people holding hands and Grandpa says “Let’s test the line”.  So Grandpa grabbed onto the line and if you know anything about electricity I yelled and let go of the person in front of me.  Grandpa said, “Yup, it works.”

What do you like best about your job?

The children and their responses to all the things we do are the best part of my job.  I do not have to be a rock star for them to enjoy my music and singing.  I do not have to be an artist for them to enjoy our craft work.  And I can make mistakes and we all laugh.  Then as they grow older they come back to give you hugs as they tower over you and listen to how amazed you are that they have grown so tall.

Anything else you want to share about yourself?

I have 8 grandchildren, ranging in age from 21 years old to a week old baby.  They are the light of my life. 

What are you reading right now?

I am reading Nightrise by Anthony Horowitz, The Ranger’s Apprentice series (waiting for the 5th book) by John Flanagan, Iris Johansen’s Eve Duncan series, author C. J. Box and I just finished The Last Lecture a wonderful biography by Randy Pausch even though the subject was about his final days.

Miss Bonnie's Kindergarten picture

Miss Tina

Miss Tina is the Children's Librarian at the Parker Williams Branch Library.  She has worked at the library for one year.

What do you like to read?

My favorite genre is fantasy but I also read science fiction and mysteries.

What was your favorite book when you were a kid?

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

What are your hobbies?

I taught myself to knit a few years ago and I enjoy creating scarves and baby blankets.  I also spend a lot of time reading.

Do you have any pets?

I have a twelve year old cat named Fritz.  His hobbies are sleeping and climbing into the middle of whatever I’m doing.

What do you like best about your job?

I love story time and creating crafts.

What are you reading right now?

Fire Star by Chris D’Lacey

Miss Tina

Parker Williams Branch Library

Miss Tina's cat, Fritz

Louise Borden.  Off to First Grade

Each member of a first grade class, as well as their teacher, principal, and a bus driver, expresses excitement, worry, or hope as the first day of school begins.

Lauren Child.  I Completely Know About Guinea Pigs

Lola brings the class guinea pig home for school vacation and when he escapes Charlie tries to help her find him before anything happens to him and before Lola has to go back to school.

Warren Hanson.  Bugtown Boogie

While strolling home through the woods one evening, a young boy happens upon a rollicking dancing party in Bugtown.

Gillian Lobel.  For Everyone to Share

When Little Mouse ventures out of his nest for the first time, he finds a world of beauty and wonders, which his mother assures him is for everyone to share.

Anna McQuinn.  My Friend Jamal

Jamal and Joseph are best friends even though they come from different backgrounds.

Caroline Pitcher.  The Littlest Owl

Four, the youngest and smallest owlet of his brood, has a positive attitude that gets him through most challenges of life in a nest, but it may not be enough when a storm threatens his treetop home before he has learned to fly.

David Shannon.  Too Many Toys

Although he finally agrees that he has too many toys and needs to give them away, there is one toy that Spencer absolutely cannot part with.

Catherine Stier.  Bugs in My Hair?!

When immaculately groomed Ellie gets head lice she is terribly upset, but once she learns some facts about the creatures, she calms down and figures out a way to help her classmates.

Salina Yoon.  Chores Chores Chores

A little girl doesn't want to do her chores until she gets to the last one and then the fun begins.

Harriet Ziefert.  A Bunny is Funny:  And So is This Book!

Short rhymes point out traits that characterize different animals, such as an owl's keen eyesight or the beauty of a butterfly's wings.

Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales

Enter the magical world of Mother Goose and happily-ever-afters in this collection of classics with a Disney twist.

David Adler.  Bones and the Dog Gone Mystery

While looking for his lost magnifying glass in the park, young Detective Jeffrey Bones and his grandfather discover that Curly the detective dog is missing, too, and start tracking down clues.

Kirsten Depken.  Barbie and the Diamond Castle

Liana and Alexa must save the Diamond Castle from evil Lydia! Can their love for music help them?

Apple Jordan.  Tinker Bell

Not so sure that she wants to be a tinker fairy, Tinker Bell asks her friends to help her find a new talent--with disastrous results.

Elizabeth Atkinson.  From Alice to Zen and Everyone in

Between  Upon moving from Boston to the suburbs, eleven-year-old tomboy Alice meets Zen, a very strange neighbor who is determined to help her become popular when they both begin middle school, although he himself is a loner.

Tony DiTerlizzi.  Kenny and the Dragon

Book-loving Kenny the rabbit has few friends in his farming community, so when one, bookstore owner George, is sent to kill another, gentle dragon Grahame, Kenny must find a way to prevent their battle while satisfying the dragon-crazed townspeople.

Dotti Enderle.  Man in the Moon

Janine is prepared for a boring summer on her family's land in the middle of nowhere with only her ailing brother Ricky for company. But when Mr. Lunas--a mysterious man who saved Janine's father's life in the war--arrives, strange things begin happening.

Anna Hays.  Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life

When an earthquake unearths a picture of Portia Avatar's father, she wants to track down the truth about the man she's never met, but instead finds herself drawing closer to her mother, a health-conscious hippie.

Polly Horvath.  My One Hundred Adventures

Twelve-year-old Jane, who lives at the beach in a run-down old house with her mother, two brothers, and sister, has an eventful summer accompanying her pastor on bible deliveries, meeting former boyfriends of her mother's, and being coerced into babysitting for a family of ill-mannered children.

Mike Knudson.  Raymond and Graham Rule the School

Best friends Raymond and Graham have looked forward to being the "oldest, coolest, toughest" boys at East Millcreek Elementary School, but from the start of fourth grade everything goes wrong, from getting the scary teacher to not getting the lead in the school play.

Jennifer Lanthier.  The Mystery of Martello Tower

In their attempts to solve the mystery of their father's disappearance, Hazel and her brother, Ned, find themselves involved with a trio of art thieves and uncover some disturbing family secrets.

Janet Taylor Lisle.  Highway Cats

A hard-bitten group of mangy highway cats is changed forever after the mysterious arrival of three kittens.

Michelle Parker-Rock.  Alma Flor Ada

A short biography of author Alma Flor Ada, including her life, how she became an author, her books, and her advice to young writers.

Nancy Bentley.  Don't Be a Copycat:  Write a Great

Report without Plagiarizing  A reference book for students in grades 3 and up on writing reports and avoiding plagiarism.

Jane Bull.  Make It

Don't throw it away--create something amazing!

Rebecca Gilpin.  The Usborne Big Book of Science

Things to Make and Do  

Alan Katz.  Smelly Locker:  Silly Dilly School Songs

Well-known songs, including "Oh Susannah" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," are presented with new words and titles, such as "Heavy Backpack!" and "I Don't Want to Do Homework!"

Jackie Robb.  Miley Mania

This unauthorized biography and scrapbook has all kinds of fun facts on Miley Cyrus and includes lots of pictures of Miley and her family.

Patrick Carman.  Stargazer

After a tragic attack by an evil force, Alexa and her friend Yipes are stranded in a strange community known as the Five Pillars. Each pillar of rock has its own secrets--and its own challenges. As darkness descends, Alexa must risk everything to defeat it--even if it means taking to the skies.  Read by Ellen Archer.

Peggy Elizabeth Gifford.  The Moxy Maxwell Collection

Moxy Maxwell does not love Stuart Little: With summer coming to an end, about-to-be-fourth-grader Moxy Maxwell does a hundred different things to avoid reading her assigned summer reading book.

Moxy Maxwell does not love writing thank-you notes: Ten-year-old Moxy Maxwell has promised to write twelve thank-you notes by the day after Christmas so that she and her twin brother Mark can go to Hollywood to visit their father, but all her brilliant ideas to help finish the task more efficiently end up creating chaos in the house.  Read by Clea Lewis.

Brandon Mull.  The Candy Shop War

When fifth-graders Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon meet the owner of the new candy store in town and are given a magical candy that endows them with super powers, they find that along with its benefits there are also dangerous consequences.  Read by Emily Janice Card.

Sandra Boyton.  Blue Moo

17 jukebox hits from way back never.