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On TV: Night of the Veggie Monster

Travis Jonker, July 10, 2008 | Reviews



“Night of the Veggie Monster” author George McClements was featured today on The Rachel Ray Show. Why is a 27 year old male school librarian watching Rachel Ray in the middle of the day? Let me emphasize the word school in my job title. Summer break. Plus, uh, I wasn’t actually watching, it was just […]

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Book Review: Alistair and Kip’s Great Adventure!

Travis Jonker, July 9, 2008 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



Alistair and Kip’s Great Adventure! By John Segal Margaret K. McElderry Books ISBN: 9781416902805 $15.99 Grades PreK-1 In Stores *Best New Books* Complexity is not a prerequisite for success. Simplicity is a good thing. It’s also a quality that is becoming increasingly rare in children’s lit. “Alistair and Kip’s Great Adventure!” is simplicity at its […]

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Book Review: Splat the Cat

Travis Jonker, July 8, 2008 | Reviews



Splat the Cat By Rob Scotton Harper Collins ISBN: 9780060831547 $16.99 Grades K-2 In Stores CAUTION: COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT HORROR STORY While in school, a classmate told me about their upcoming school library job. They were to take over for an older librarian who had held the position for many years. My classmate said that job […]

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Audio Clip: Roald Dahl on NPR

Travis Jonker, July 7, 2008 | Articles



It could be argued that Roald Dahl is the reason I became a elementary school librarian. I’m not sure who is going to partake in that argument with me, but I am prepared if ever the time should come. Now the Brits have gone and done something smart: created a literary award in Mr. Dahl’s […]

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Book Giveaway Winnners

Travis Jonker, July 7, 2008 | News



The apple bobbing is done and winners have been chosen: Becky L. will be holding a copy of “Three Shadows” very soon. Kari F. is going to receive “Bat’s Big Game”. Thanks to everyone who entered. May Lady Luck be on your side next month.

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Book Review: Bat’s Big Game

Travis Jonker, July 3, 2008 | Reviews



(This review first appeared in the June edition of The Edge of the Forest) Bat’s Big Game Retold by Margaret Read MacDonald Illustrated by Eugenia Nobati Albert Whitman & Company ISBN: 9780807505878 $16.95 Grades K-2 In Stores Author of aught seven standout “Little Rooster’s Diamond Button” is back with this retelling of an all too […]

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Want a Book? 100 Scope Notes Book Giveaway

Travis Jonker, July 2, 2008 | News



I’ve got a mess of books to give away and I want to get these things movin’! Just for fun, I even threw in a book that was recently bestowed upon with Unfortunate Cover status. It’s the original folks, and sure to be a collectors item. Collectors everywhere are surely unimpressed by this statement. If […]

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Book Review: Three Shadows

Travis Jonker, July 2, 2008 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



(This review first appeared in the June edition of The Edge of the Forest) Three Shadows By Cyril Pedrosa First Second ISBN: 9781596432390 $15.95 Grades 9 & Up In Stores *Recommended* Graphic novels that set out to tackle tough subjects have their work cut out for them. Fair or not, graphic novels often come with […]

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Nonfiction Monday: The Most Extreme Bugs

Travis Jonker, June 30, 2008 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



Animal Planet: The Most Extreme Bugs By Catherine Nichols Jossey-Bass ISBN: 9780787986636 $15.95 Grades 3-6 In Stores *Recommended* It’s summertime here in Michigan and the bugs are out in full force. Ants, spiders, and mosquitoes invade my house day and night. Your common, run of the mill insects. Oh, if only a Spiny Devil Katydid […]

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Don’t Stop Believin’: NYT Bestsellers

Travis Jonker, June 30, 2008 | News



I keep an eye on both the New York Times Bestseller list and the American Bookseller Association list to see which kids books are popular, but I dream of a different list entirely. The dream list I speak of would be a national list of the most checked out children’s books from public and school […]

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