Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy.....

 When teenager Carrlos Duarte lands a job at the FeatureFace makeup counter at Macy's, he is well on his way to fulfilling his dream of becoming a larger-than-life makeup artist to the stars.This New York teenager is sure to capture your heart as you cheer him on through every obstacle that coincides with his dreams.His sister is in an abusive relationship, and his single Mom loses her job. Despite setbacks, Carrlos' optimism and self assurance never seem to waver. PUTTING MAKEUP ON THE FAT BOY, written by Bil Wright, is the winner of the 2012 Stonewall Award. (Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2011).

Black & White

BLACK AND WHITE, by Larry Dane Brimner, chronicles the confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene "Bull" Connor. Through photo-essay recounts,the events of the 1950's and 60's conflict in Birmingham, Alabama are told in three three major sections. The first part of the book focuses on Preacher Fred and his fight for racial equality. The second section focuses on the Commissioner " Bull" who changed his campaign message from fighting crime and lowering taxes to fighting integration. The final section focuses on their conflict and the major events of the Civil Rights Movement. There is so much to learn from this book. The photographs show the pain and passion of all involved in these historical events in our nation's history. This book is a 2012 Sibert Honor Book winner. (Calkins Creek, 2011).

Allen Say

DRAWING FROM MEMORY , written and illustrated by Allen Say, is the autobiographical story of Say's journey to becoming the renowned artist he is today. As a  boy growing up in Japan, Allen was shunned by his father who told him that he "expected him to be a respectable citizen, not an artist, who is lazy and scruffy". After the war began in 1941, Allen, his mother, and sister fled to a Japanese village between Hiroshima and Iwakuni. His parents later divorced and Allen remained estranged from his father. At the age of 12, Allen was given his own apartment, and he began apprenticing under the great cartoonist, Noro Shinpei. Shinpei became his Sensei (master or teacher)and spiritual father. This is the story of a young boy who followed his dreams and passion despite family and cultural pressures to do otherwise. The story is filled with Say's wonderful illustrations as well as actual photographs taken from his life. DRAWING FROM MEMORY is a 2012 Sibert Honor Book winner. (Scholastic Press,2011).

Death.....Grave Robbing.....Intrigued?

Are you drawn to all things macabre? Are you a fan of R.L. Stein, Stephen King, Scott Westerfeld, or Guillermo Del Toro? If you love a good horror story, then you need to check out the book ROTTERS by Daniel Kraus. You will not be disappointed. This is the tale of Joey Crouch, a sixteen year old straight A student living in Chicago with his single Mom. He leads a quiet, protected life that consists of going to school and playing the trumpet. When his mother tragically dies, Joey is sent to live with his biological father, Ken Harnett who is the garbage man in a small rural Iowan town. His father, whom he has never known,  lives in a  dirty cabin, and Joey most often  must fend for himself. Joey is bullied and ridiculed daily at his new high school. His father is a mystery. He leaves at night only to return days later. He has weird tools in his cabin and a safe containing valuable objects. Joey is curious about what his father is doing each night, so he sneaks into his truck and accompanies him on one of his nightly journeys. This journey reveals a secret society of men dedicated to the art of grave robbery, and Joey is hooked.He and his father find a common bond, and Joey finds a way to escape from the daily challenges of his new life. This audiobook was awarded the  2012  Odyssey Award for young adults. (Random House Audio Publishing, 2011).

Celebrating Diversity !

MARISOL MCDONALD DOESN’T MATCH, written by Monica Brown and illustrated by Sara Palacios, is the delightful tale of young Marisol who has flaming red hair and nut-brown skin. She loves to wear polka dots with stripes and eat peanut butter and jelly burritos. She is a Peruvian-Scottish-American girl who refuses to be put into a box. She celebrates her uniqueness and mismatched style. This lively bilingual tale is written in English on one page with the Spanish translation on its partner page. This wonderful story celebrates multicultural backgrounds and individuality. Monica Brown wrote this story because, like over 6 million Americans, she is multiracial. Her mother instilled in her that she is an American AND a citizen of the world.  Her message is that “we need to open our arms and embrace all peoples”. You are sure to fall in love with this precious young girl and her uplifting story. This book is a 2012 Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Award winner.(Children's Book Press, 2011).

Caldecott Winners

 Mom on her computer, sister on her cell phone, Dad working in the kitchen.....sound familiar? BLACKOUT written and illustrated by John Rocco is the story of a typical summer night inside a busy family's apartment where no one is available to play even a simple board game. Outside, horns honk, streetlights blare and the summer city night is hot and noisy. Then......the lights go out......and the magic begins! Families and neighbors play together and  street parties emerge above and below the apartment. This story will take you back to simpler times and memories of long nights playing outside in the dark.This book was named as a 2012 Caldecott Honor Book. You will love it! ( Disney-Hyperion Books, 2011)

                                                                                                                   

 A BALL FOR DAISY written and illustrated by Chris Raschka is the 2012 Caldecott Medal Winner. This delightful wordless picture book shows you all the fun a dog can have with her ball. We follow Daisy through a range of emotions and activities she experiences with her ball.....joy, excitement, security, and then we move to worry and sorrow when another dog pops her ball! Sadness takes over Daisy at the loss of her round plastic companion, but then a thoughtful gesture restores her good nature and all ends well! (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2011)

The Notorious Benedict Arnold

The only fact most people know about Bendict Arnold is that he was a traitor whose deceit had major repercussions for our American Revolutionary cause. Did you also know that he was a General who was fearless in the line of fire and a genius at strategy? He was actually one of America’s first war heroes, but his drive for fame and recognition became his ultimate downfall. The biography, THE NOTORIOUS BENEDICT ARNOLD by Steve Sheinkin, includes first -person accounts, action packed battle scenes and a look at the private life of one of America’s most infamous villains. This well told story was awarded the 2012 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults. (Flash Point/Roaring Book Press,2010).