Great kids books that teach body literacy

From a young age, children are very curious about their bodies, and this curiosity continues to develop and grow as their bodies do the same!  Developing body literacy, an understanding how their bodies work and a knowledge about their own unique body, is a very important skill to foster, especially as they approach puberty. Below are some of my favorite body books for kids of all ages.  I especially like that all of these books portray all different types of bodies and bodily experiences, representing diversity in many forms so no child feels as though their body is abnormal.

I love you nose! I love you toes! by Linda Davick
Ages 2-5
Our wonderful bodies-aren't they amazing? Come celebrate all the things that make us who we are-from the tops of our heads to the tips of our toes, to our tummies, our freckles, our dimples, our skin, and everything in between! With silly, rhyming text and bold, simple illustrations, this fun and frank approach to exploring body parts provides factual information that is just right for the young reader.

My Nose, Your Nose by Melanie Walsh
Ages 2-6
This book introduces the concept of diversity, but the approach is very gentle: Agnes has blue eyes. Kit’s eyes are brown. But . . . they both close their eyes when they go to sleep.  The close-up and lively illustrations of kids and all their cute bits--eyes, hair, skin, noses, legs--will invite readers to tell what’s unique about themselves. And at the same time, children will see that there’s so much they have in common, too.

The Busy Body Book: A Kid's Guide to Fitness by Lizzy Rockwell
Ages 3-7

A celebration of the amazing human machine and a life on the move! Your amazing body can jump, sprint, twist, and twirl. Your body is built to move.  Lizzy Rockwell explains how your bones and muscles, heart and lungs, nerves and brain all work together to keep you on the go. Kids walk and skate and tumble through these pages with such exuberance that even sprouting couch potatoes will want to get up and bounce around—and that’s the ultimate goal. Studies show that American kids are becoming more sedentary and more overweight and that they carry these tendencies with them into adolescence and adulthood. Experts agree that we need to help kids make physical activity a life-long habit. Through education, information, and encouragement, this book aims to inspire a new generation of busy bodies!

Who has what?  All about girls' bodies and boys' bodies by Robie Harris
Ages 3-7

This series for young children provides easy-to-understand facts and answers. Launching the series is Who Has What?, a simple story following Nellie and Gus on a family outing to the beach. Humorous illustrations, conversations between the siblings, and a clear text all reassure young kids that whether they have a girl's body or a boy's, their bodies are perfectly normal, healthy, and wonderful.

Also note Harris' other fantastic books for younger kids: It's not the Stork! and, for a slightly older audience, It's so amazing! : a book about eggs, sperm, birth, babies, and families

On your mark, get set, grow! (for boys) by Lynda Madaras

Ages 8-10

In her uniquely warm and funny style, Lynda Madaras wrote this entirely new book especially for younger boys to give them everything they need to know about the new and exciting changes that are happening to their bodies during puberty.

Ready, Set, Grow! (for girls) by Lynda Madaras

Ages 8-10In her uniquely warm and funny style, Lynda wrote this entirely new book especially for younger girls to give them what they need to know to celebrate and accept the new and exciting changes that are happening to their bodies during puberty.

Madaras also has a set of books for older boys and girls (10 and up), entitled "What's happening to my body?"

Sex is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and You by Cory Silverberg

Ages 8-10

A comic book for kids that includes children and families of all makeups, orientations, and gender identities, Sex Is a Funny Word is an essential resource about bodies, gender, and sexuality for children as well as their parents and caregivers. Much more than the "facts of life" or "the birds and the bees," Sex Is a Funny Word opens up conversations between young people and their caregivers in a way that allows adults to convey their values and beliefs while providing information about boundaries, safety, and joy.

Silverberg also has an award-winning book for slightly younger children about conception, gestation, and birth called What Makes a Baby.

It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris

Ages 8-12

The definitive book about puberty and sexual health for today’s kids and teens, now fully updated for its twentieth anniversary. It’s Perfectly Normal has been updated with current and correct information on subjects such as safe and savvy Internet use, gender identity, emergency contraception, and more. Providing accurate and up-to-date answers to nearly every imaginable question, from conception and puberty to birth control and STDs, It’s Perfectly Normal offers young people the information they need — now more than ever — to make responsible decisions and stay healthy.

What's new in the youth room?

Are you looking for a new Middle School/Teen read?

Look no further than the Quigley Youth Room!

Here are some of the books on our new shelf.  Check them out the next time you're in - there's something for everyone!

Science Fiction/Thriller  Charisma by Jeanne Ryan : Tacoma, Washington, high school junior Aislyn's extreme shyness has crippled her socially and cost her a college scholarship, so she jumps at the chance to try an illegal gene therapy, but although she is finally able to date her long-term crush, Jack, the therapy becomes a contagious disease that can be fatal.

Sports/Realistic Fiction  Game Seven by Paul Volponi : A sixteen-year-old shortstop in Cuba who dreams of playing with the pros must choose between his country and his father who defected to the U.S.

Historical/Paranormal Jackaby by William Ritter : Newly arrived in 1892 New England, Abigail Rook becomes assistant to R.F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with the ability to see supernatural beings, and she helps him delve into a case of serial murder which,Jackaby is convinced, is due to a nonhuman creature.

Realistic Fiction Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz : Auditioning for a New York City performing arts high school could help Etta escape from her Nebraska all-girl school, where she's not gay enough for her former friends, not sick enough for her eating disorders group, and not thin enough for ballet--but it may also mean real friendships.

Fantasy Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman : Sequal to Seraphina - Seraphina, half-dragon and half-human, searches for others like her who can make the difference in the war between dragons and humans in the kingdom of Goredd.

Action Terminal by Kathy and Brendan Reichs : Fifth book in the Virals Series- Tory and her comrades must track a new pack of rogue Virals who have brought on the attention of a shadowy government organization intent on learning the secret to their powers.

Memoir Turning 15 on the road to freedom: my story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March by Lynda Blackmon Lowery : One of the youngest participants in the 1965 voting rights march in Alabama, Lowery provides a moving first-person account of her experience. Through this thought-provoking volume, the picture of an incredibly courageous young woman emerges. Lowery effectively conveys the enormity of the injustices in her world and the danger that those she knew encountered daily. Lowery shows what people, including children, are capable of when they stand together. 

Fairy Tale A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas  : One hundred years after falling asleep, Aurora wakes to the kiss of a handsome prince and a kingdom that has dreamed of her return, but her happily-ever-after seems unlikely as she faces grief over the loss of everything she knew and a cruel new king.

What WFL Children's Librarians are reading (and loving) - March 2015

Do you ever wonder what the WFL Children's Librarians are reading?  While we can't read every Children's and Youth book out there, we try to keep up with the best of the best, the most popular books, and also those that interest us personally!

Here are some books that I've read recently (and enjoyed):

A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka - You usually can't go wrong with a Caldecott Medal winner, but some parents get intimida
ted by a book with no pictures.  My advice - trust yourself as a storyteller!  Wordless picture book are a great way of interacting with your child while reading.  If your child is fairly verbal, ask them to help you tell the story.  Ask them questions about the pictures and what is happening on each page.  Doing this will help develop their vocabulary and increase their narrative (storytelling) skills.  Plus, with wordless books each time you read it can be different!  Now back to Daisy.  This is a lovely and colorful book about a dog (Daisy) who has a treasured red ball.  Unfortunately Daisy must cope with the loss of her ball when another dog pops it.  But have no fear, this book has a happy ending.  The story is simple and sweet, and kids of all ages who have lost a beloved toy, or even those who have not, will sympathize with sweet Daisy.

Sidekicks by Dan Santat - Dan Santat is the creator of the Disney show "The Replacements" and most recently the author and illustrator of the 2015 Caldecott Medal winner "The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend."  Somewhere in between, Santat wrote Sidekicks, a fun graphic novel for kids ages 8 and up.  Sidekicks is a superhero comic with a twist: Captain Amazing, an aging superhero, is looking for a new sidekick and his eclectic group of pets are determined to win the role.  The book is funny, action-packed, and heart-warming too.  Great for the superhero-fans who are getting beyond Batman first readers, the animal lovers, and any reader who likes a satisfying story where the good guys win in the end.

Counting by 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan - After reading this book I suffered from severe book-mourning.  That is, I didn't want to read any other book because this one had been so good.  At the age of 12, Willow Chance's parents both die in a car crash, leaving her to fend for herself in a world that often doesn't understand her.  She is an incredibly brilliant girl but has a hard time relating to other people.  She makes her way through her loss with the unexpected friendships she finds in an unqualified school counselor, a family keeping a secret, and a friendly cab driver.  The ending wraps up so nicely that in any other book it would seem too easy, too neat, but readers will be rooting so hard for Willow that this won't even cross their minds.  Definitely a winner for middle grade and middle school readers who like moving realistic fiction.

Tomorrow is Multicultural Children's Book Day! (Best Books of 2014 part 2)

Best Multicultural Books of 2014

Originally posted from:
http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2014/12/best-multicultural-books-of-2014/

Each year, a select diverse committee of experts from the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL) identifies the best in multicultural books. The mission of the CSMCL is to provide children, teachers, parents, educators, students, and librarians access to multicultural children’s books with high literary and artistic standards. CSMCL presents the Best Multicultural Children’s Books of 2014. Enjoy! This year’s list was compiled by Dr. Claudette Shackelford McLinn, Dr. Naomi Caldwell, Dr. Sujin Huggins, Ana- Elba Pavon, Lessa K. Pelayo-Lozada, and Elsa Marston.

BECAUSE THEY MARCHED: THE PEOPLE’S CAMPAIGN FOR VOTING RIGHTS THAT CHANGED AMERICA, by Russell Freedman, 83 pages, published by Holiday House, ©2014 (Middle school/High school, nonfiction)

BLOSSOMING UNIVERSE OF VIOLET DIAMOND: THE, by Brenda Woods, 222 pages, published by Nancy Paulson Books, an imprint of Penguin Group, ©2014 (Upper elementary school/Middle school, fiction)

BROWN GIRL DREAMING, by Jacqueline Woodson, 336 pages, published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Group, ©2014 (Upper elementary school/Middle school/High school, nonfiction/autobiography)

CROSSOVER, THE, by Kwame Alexander, 237 pages, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2014 (Middle school/High school, fiction/novel in verse)

DREAMING IN INDIAN: CONTEMPORARY NATIVE AMERICAN VOICES, edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale, 128 pages, published by Annick Press, ©2014 (Middle school/High school, nonfiction/autobiography)

FREEDOM SUMMER MURDERS, THE, by Don Mitchell, 250 pages, published by Scholastic Press, ©2014 (Middle school/High school, nonfiction)

FRIDA & DIEGO: ART, LOVE, LIFE, by Catherine Reef, 168 pages, published by Clarion Books/ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2014 (Middle school/High school, nonfiction/collective biography)

GABI: A GIRL IN PIECES, by Isabel Quintero, 284 pages, published by Cinco Puntos Press, ©2014 (High school, fiction)

GREAT GREENE HEIST, THE, by Varian Johnson, 226 pages, published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc., ©2014 (Upper elementary school/Middle school, fiction)

GREEN IS A CHILE PEPPER: A BOOK OF COLORS, by Roseanne Greenfield Thong, illustrated by John Parra, 32 pages, published by Chronicle Books, ©2014 (Preschool/Elementary school, fiction, picture book)

HIDDEN LIKE ANNE FRANK: 14 TRUE STORIES OF SURVIVAL, by Marcel Prins & Peter Henk Steenhuis, translated by Laura Watkins, 211 pages, published by Arthur A. Levine Books, ©2014 (Middle school/High school, nonfiction)

HOUSE OF PURPLE CEDAR, by Tim Tingle, 326 pages, published by Cinco Punto Press, ©2014 (High school, fiction)

JOSEPHINE: THE DAZZLING LIFE OF JOSEPHINE BAKER, by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Christian Robinson, unpaged, published by Chronicle Books, ©2014 (Elementary school/Middle school/High school, nonfiction/biography)

KING FOR A DAY, by Rukhsana Khan, illustrated by Christiane Kromer, 32 pages, published by Lee &Low Books, Inc., ©2014 (Preschool/Elementary school, fiction, picture book)

LITTLE MELBA AND HER BIG TROMBONE, by Katherine Russell-Brown, illustrated by Frank Morrison, 34 pages, published by Lee &Low Books, Inc., ©2014 (Elementary school, nonfiction/biography, picture book)

LITTLE ROJA RIDING HOOD, by Susan Middleton Elya, illustrated by Susan Guevara, 32 pages, published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, ©2014 (Preschool/Elementary school, fiction, picture book)

MADMAN OF PINEY WOODS, THE, by Christopher Paul Curtis, 363 pages, published by Scholastic Press, ©2014 (Upper elementary school/Middle school, fiction)

MALALA: A BRAVE GIRL FROM PAKISTAN & IQBAL: A BRAVE BOY FROM PAKISTAN, (Two stories in one book) by Jeanette Winter, 20 pages each, published by Beach Lane Books, ©2014 (Elementary school, nonfiction/biography)

NOT MY GIRL, by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, art by Gabrielle Grimard, 34 pages, published by Annick Press, ©2014 (Elementary school, nonfiction/autobiography)

PORT CHICAGO 50, THE,: DISASTER, MUTINY, AND THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, by Steve Sheinkin, 200 pages, published by Roaring Book Press, ©2014 (Middle school/High school, nonfiction)

RED PENCIL, THE, by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Shane W. Evans, 308 pages, published by Little, Brown and Company, ©2014 (Upper elementary school/Middle school, nonfiction)

REVOLUTION, by Deborah Wiles, 495 pages, published by Scholastic Press, ©2014 (Upper elementary school/Middle school, fiction/biography)

SEARCHING FOR SARA RECTOR, by Tonya Bolden, 76 pages, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, ©2014 (Upper elementary school/Middle school, nonfiction/biography)

SECRETS OF THE TERRA-COTTA SOLDIER, by Ying Chang Compestine and Vinson Compestine, 224 pages, published by Amulet Books, ©2014 (Upper elementary school/Middle school, fiction)

SEPARATE IS NEVER EQUAL: SYLVIA MENDEZ & HER FAMILY’S FLIGHT FOR DESEGREGATION, written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, 40 pages, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, ©2014 (Elementary school, nonfiction, picture book)

SHADOW HERO, THE, by Gene Luen Yang, art by Sonny Liew, 158 pages, published by First Second, ©2014 (Middle school/High school, graphic novel, fiction)

SILVER PEOPLE: VOICES FROM THE PANANA CANAL, by Margarita Engle, 260 pages, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2014 (Middle school/High school, fiction/novel in verse)

STRIKE: THE FARM WORKERS’ FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS, by Larry Dane Brimner, 172 pages, published by Calkins Creek, an imprint of Highlights, ©2014 (Middle school/High school, nonfiction)

TIME TO DANCE, A, by Padma Venkatraman, 307 pages, published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Group, ©2014 (Middle school/High school, fiction/novel in verse)

TWENTY-TWO CENTS: MUHAMMAD YUNUS AND THE VILLAGE BANK, by Paula Yoo, illustrated by Jamel Akib, 40 pages, published by Lee & Low Books Inc., ©2014 (Elementary school, nonfiction/biography)

VIVA FRIDA, by Yuyi Morales, photographs by Tim O’Meara, 34 pages, published by Roaring Book Press, ©2014 (Elementary school, nonfiction/biography)

Best Books of 2014 part 1

While we wait for the announcement of the winners of the Youth Media Awards (Monday February 2), let's take a look at some of the best children's and young adult books of 2014, as collected by some of our favorite publications.

Horn Book Fanfare 2014
http://www.hbook.com/2014/12/choosing-books/horn-book-magazine/horn-book-fanfare-2014/#_

School Library Journal's Best of 2014
http://www.slj.com/best-books-2014/

New York Times Notable Children's Books of 2014
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/books/review/notable-childrens-books-of-2014.html
 
Kirkus Best Children's Books of 2014
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2014/section/children/

Kirkus Best Teen Books of 2014
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2014/section/teen/

Happy reading!

App recommendations from WFL: Interactive Books!

Each month Children's Librarians at the Wellesley Free Library put together a list of top recommended and reviewed apps for kids in a particular category.  This list is available in a paper copy in the Children's Room, as well as online.  We compile all of this, and more, on our Apps page at http://www.wellesleyfreelibrary.org/Childrens/Apps.html.

Every couple of months our theme is Interactive Books, as this is a category with so many great apps that it deserves repeating!  Check out our board of Interactive Book apps.  The most recent recommendations (this month's list) are the top 6 on the board: Meet Millie, How I became a pirate, Grendel's Great Escape, Fiona and the Fog, Fancy Hat, and Dino-Store!

We are also always happy to answer specific questions or create custom app-list for your and your child's individual needs!

What WFL Children's Librarians are reading (and loving)

Do you ever wonder what the WFL Children's Librarians are reading?  While we can't read every Children's and Youth book out there, we try to keep up with the best of the best, the most popular books, and also those that interest us personally!

Here are some books that I've read recently (and enjoyed):

Picture Book:

Sophie's Terrible Twos by Rosemary Wells

You generally can't go wrong with Rosemary Wells, creator of the beloved Max and Ruby characters.  I have been reading her newest book, Sophie's Terrible Twos, with my toddler nearly every day for the last few weeks and she can't get enough.  Sophie is a mouse who just turned two and "got up on the wrong side of the crib."  After a grumpy morning she goes out on the town with her granny and comes home with an unexpected surprise!


Children's Fiction:

The Other Half of my Heart by Sundee T. Frazier

This book caught my attention when it was nominated from the Massachusetts Children's Book Award last year, and I'm so glad I finally got a chance to read it! It tells the story of biracial twins who look very different: one with their father's light skin and fine hair and one with their mother's dark skin and curly hair.  The girls travel from their small and very white town in Washington State to North Carolina to stay with their grandmother and participate in the Miss Black Pearl Preteen of America program.  Throughout their trip and experience with the pageant/program, both girls develop new understandings of identity, prejudice, bravery, wisdom, and sisterhood.  While this book could potentially read like an after-school special or a didactic tale, it does neither, instead presenting important lessons along with a rich plot and a story that is a joy to read.


Young Adult Fiction:

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal

I'll be honest that I had no interest in reading this book when I first heard of it.  There was something about the description and the cover (and let's be honest, we do judge books by their covers at times) that seemed unappealing to me.  But after the umpteenth award nomination and starred review, I felt it was my duty to give it a try.  And I am so very glad I did!  Although a completely bizarre premise - it is narrated by Jacob Grimm, who, as a ghost, accompanies the main character throughout his life in small-town America - the plot draws you in and then takes unexpected turn after unexpected turn.  From teenage romance to fairy tales and game shows, there is nothing formulaic or predictable about Far Far Away.  I can't say too much more other than that a very satisfying ending (as opposed to a cliff-hanger) is much appreciated in a YA novel these days, and this book certainly delivered.

How to find the perfect book

Today I had an interesting request from a young patron.  They were looking for a historical fiction book for a book review project.  But this was not all...  This young patron specifically wanted a historical fiction book that was funny, that took place in the 19th century, AND that prominently featured animals!  Although the librarian's mental catalog of the right book for the right child at the right time is vast, nothing jumped to mind for this specific request. Luckily, I knew just where to look!  Through the Wellesley Free Library website, all patrons (and library staff) have access to NoveList, a fantastic fiction recommendation website, and even better book-finder tool!  NoveList is so useful because it searches many elements of a book.  Open up the advanced search function and you will find everything from Lexile range, to Author's Cultural Identity, to number of pages.  The general search box allows for a wide keyword search, as it searches full book summaries.  So when you are looking for that book that you read once, and it might have been about a doll and a grandmother and Thanksgiving, these thoughts are usually enough to take you through a successful NoveList search.

Another great feature of NoveList is its read-alikes feature.  If there is a book you have read recently, find it on NoveList and check out the read-alikes listed on the right.  None of those look good to you?  Scroll down to "Search for More" and click the checkboxes next to the aspects of the book you liked the most.  While some kids might like Harry Potter because of the wizardry and the detailed writing style and go for books by Diana Wynne Jones, others might like it because it was suspenseful, fast-paced, and had a boy main character, and prefer read-alikes such as Artemis Fowl or Gregor the Overlander.  NoveList does a great job of helping to pull out the features of a particular book, and find similar books.

Once you have found a book, use the "Search the Minuteman Catalog" link to check if the Wellesley Free Library, or another network library, has a copy available!

Because there are so many features to this tool, feel free to ask a librarian to show you how it works the next time you visit the library! And check out our other book recommendation tools and booklists on our website at http://www.wellesleyfreelibrary.org/Childrens/Reading_Suggestions.html.

The best books for young toddlers: Leslie Patricelli

Having a hard time with potty training?  Have a kiddo who resists taking a bath?  Does your tot try to eat everything they can get their hands on?

Allow me to introduce you to your new best friend, Leslie Patricelli, author of fun board books for young toddlers.  She present countless lessons about life in a simple, humorous manner, through a football-headed baby.

From No No Yes Yes to Binky to my personal favorite, Toot, Patricelli's books are fun for young kids and even their parents.  They will surely become favorites in your household, with kids shouting, "Again! Again!" and you not even minding it!  Unlike many books that aim to directly teach lessons, these books are actually fun and engaging to read, and speak to toddlers on their own level.

Find Patricelli's books in the Board Book section of the Wellesley Free Library, or on the Minuteman Catalog here.

Introducing the Awesome Box!

Introducing the Awesome Box!

Have you read something awesome? Share your awesome titles with us! Starting this summer you will be able to tell us about the awesome books you are reading and we will display them online at the WFL Awesome Box.

  

How will we find out about these awesome books? Place your awesome books in the special Awesome Box book drop on the first floor of the main library. Check out other awesome titles suggested by other readers!

Here is Harvard's stuff on the Awesome Box.