MORE 'FIRST-SECOND' POSTS

10 to Note: Spring Preview 2014

Travis Jonker, February 11, 2014 | Previews



Book hope springs eternal. It’s time to take a look at ten titles that I’m excited about for spring. Picture Books Help! We Need a Title! by Hervé Tullet May 13, 2014 | Candlewick Press | Grades PreK-1 I’m a sucker for inventive picture books and Hervé Tullet is the master of this realm. This […]

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Vine Review: Primates by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks

Travis Jonker, May 14, 2013 | Reviews



Has anyone done a book review via Vine yet? Let’s give this a shot… Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas By Jim Ottaviani Illustrated by Maris Wicks First Second ISBN: 9781596438651 $19.99 Grades 5 and Up In Stores Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library (If you are […]

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2013 Preview Interview: First Second Books

Travis Jonker, March 4, 2013 | Previews



When graphic novel publisher First Second contacted me to see if I was up for chatting about their 2013 wares, it struck me as a good idea. After all, I’ve already reviewed (and loved) their upcoming Odd Duck. I’m not sure if the Preview Interview will become a regular feature (I mean, A Fuse #8 […]

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Review: Odd Duck by Cecil Castellucci

Travis Jonker, January 10, 2013 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



Odd Duck By Cecil Castellucci Illustrated by Sara Varon First Second Books ISBN: 9781596435575 $15.99 Grades 2-5 In Stores May 14, 2013 *Best New Book* Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library I have this friend with whom I have almost nothing in common. Name a belief system – political, religious – we are […]

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Review: Giants Beware! by Rafael Rosado

Travis Jonker, February 9, 2012 | Reviews



Giants Beware! By Rafael Rosado Illustrated by Jorge Aguirre First Second (Macmillan) ISBN: 9781596435827 $14.99 Grades 2-4 In Stores April 10, 2012 Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library One part Asterix, one part Jeff Smith’s Bone, one part Scrappy-Doo, Giants Beware! takes the classic “friends on a quest” adventure and outfits it with […]

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Review: Nursery Rhyme Comics

Travis Jonker, August 30, 2011 | Reviews



Nursery Rhyme Comics By Various Authors, Chris Duffy, Leonard S. Marcus First Second Books (Macmillan) ISBN: 9781596436008 $18.99 Grades 1-4 In Stores October 11, 2011 It’s no secret we are living in the age of superstar team-ups. With Watch the Throne on the top of the Billboard charts, The Miami Heat making waves in the […]

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10 to Note: Fall Preview 2011

Travis Jonker, August 16, 2011 | Articles



Catalogs pored over, eyes sufficiently sapped of all moisture – it must be time to look at the 10 books that come out in September, October, and November that have me going around saying “aww, yeah!” to strangers. Or maybe just thinking it. While I search for the Visene®, take a look at the list. […]

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10 to Note: Summer Preview 2011

Travis Jonker, May 10, 2011 | Articles



With all the summer catalogs properly pored over, now is the time for the quarterly season preview I call 10 to Note. The following is a highly subjective list of books set to arrive in June, July, and August that are intriguing to my eyes and ears. Fiction Missing on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach; […]

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Review: Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

Travis Jonker, February 10, 2011 | Reviews



Zita the Spacegirl By Ben Hatke First Second (Macmillan) ISBN: 9781596434462 $17.99 Grades 2-5 In Stores Good ol’ other dimensions – where would we be without you? The children’s literature landscape wouldn’t be quite as interesting, that’s for sure. What are Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz if not inter-dimensional fantasies? […]

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10 to Note: Winter Preview 2010-11

Travis Jonker, November 8, 2010 | Articles



One season. 10 books. This was difficult. After scouring the children’s lit landscape, what follows are the 10 titles set to release in December, January, and February that most caught my eye as a K-6 school librarian. It’s a subjective list, to be sure, and not a collection of surefire winners – just some promising […]

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