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Book Review: X-Men Power Pack

Travis Jonker, March 17, 2008 | Reviews



X-Men Power Pack: Leader of the Pack Mind Over Matter By Marc Sumerak Illustrated by Guri Hiru Marvel/Spotlight ISBN: 9781599612218, 9781599612225 $21.35 Grades 3-6 In Stores When I was a youngster, the idea of comic books in the library was pretty much unimaginable to me. Not that I wasn’t hoping they would appear. Right around […]

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Year of Kadir Continues

Travis Jonker, March 17, 2008 | News



I know it kinda just started, but Kadir Nelson is having a pretty solid Aught 8 already. In January, the Nelson-illustrated “Henry’s Freedom Box” was recognized by the ALSC as being awesome when they slapped a Caldecott Honor medal on the cover. Decent way to ease into the new year. For his next trick, Mr. […]

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Book Review: Ellie McDoodle – Have Pen, Will Travel

Travis Jonker, March 13, 2008 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel By Ruth McNally Barshaw Bloomsbury Children’s Books ISBN 9781582347455 $11.95 Grades 4-6 In Stores *Best New Books* An Important Business Man runs into another Important Business Man on Wall Street: I.B.M. 1: So, have you heard about the story/illustration merger? I.B.M. 2: Yes, yes, but that’s only affecting teens. […]

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Book Review: Big and Little

Travis Jonker, March 11, 2008 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



Big and Little By John Stadler Robin Corey Books ISBN 9780375841750 $9.99 Grades PreK-1 In Stores *Recommended* “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!“ Ronald Reagan June 12, 1987 Berlin When I hear this quote I can’t help but agree with the Gipper’s impassioned plea for children’s book authors to tear down the literary “fourth wall“, […]

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Book Review: Year of the Rat

Travis Jonker, March 10, 2008 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



Year of the Rat By Grace Lin Little, Brown 9780316114264 $14.99 Grades 3-5 In Stores *Recommended* I read the book that preceded “Year of the Rat”, “Year of the Dog”, toward the end of Aught 7 and was nothing but pleased. The book was not so much a story as a collection of events in […]

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Audio Clip: Nancy’s Gettin’ Fancy on NPR

Travis Jonker, March 10, 2008 | Articles



Fancy Nancy. I can understand the appeal. How many girls come into the library asking for a story, any story, about princesses? Numerous. It is this sort of interest that makes it impossible to deny that Fancy Nancy is on a roll these days. New books popping up all over, tie-ins, you know the playbook. […]

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A Banner Day

Travis Jonker, March 9, 2008 | News



Three completely unrelated items: 1. The City of Ember movie is coming out 10.10.08. How do I know? The movie poster was just released. Well, I’m not sure if you’d call it a poster or a banner – oh, why not just click below and decide for yourself. 2. “Choose Your Own Adventure” map-making. I […]

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Redcoat Candle Co., Sbarro, The Library

Travis Jonker, March 7, 2008 | Articles



What do these three have in common? You can visit them all during a trip to your local British shopping mall, of course. (sound of crickets) Well, you would if the British Minister of Culture has a say. Read about her ideas for updating the UK’s libraries at the London Times. I’m curious if pop […]

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Battle of the Books (Indie vs. NYT)

Travis Jonker, March 6, 2008 | News



During the month of March, two of the four elementary schools I work at hold Battle of the Books. Students work in teams and have a month to read 10 different books. When the month is over they go head to head with other teams in a winner take all trivia challenge. Inspired by my […]

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Quite a Title

Travis Jonker, March 5, 2008 | News



Issue numero uno of Notes from the Horn Book is now hitting inboxes. On top of having a great name, the monthly e-newsletter also has some great content to peruse. You’ve got your author interview with “Mr. NAYPL”, books to keep an eye out for, and even some children’s lit Q and A. Click the […]

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