2012 Riveting Reads for Grades K-2

Smoot Selections
2012
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L. E. Smoot Memorial Library
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L. E. Smoot Memorial Library
I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes—J 811.52 Hug
Langston Hughes was a courageous voice of his time, and
his authentic call for equality still rings true today. Beautiful paintings
from Barack Obama illustrator Bryan Collier accompany and
reinvent the celebrated lines of the poem “I, Too,” creating a
breathtaking reminder to all Americans that we are united despite
our differences.
We March by Shane W. Evans—E Eva
On August 28, 1963, a remarkable event took place--more
than 250,000 people gathered in our nation's capital to participate in
the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The march began
at the Washington Monument and ended with a rally at the Lincoln
Memorial, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic “I Have
a Dream” speech, advocating racial harmony. Many words have
been written about that day, but few so delicate and powerful as
those presented here by award-winning author and illustrator Shane
W. Evans. When combined with his simple yet compelling
illustrations, the thrill of the day is brought to life for even the
youngest reader to experience.
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin—E
Lit
Pete the Cat is wearing his favorite shirt--the one with the
four totally groovy buttons. But when one falls off, does Pete cry?
Goodness, no. He just keeps on singing his song--after all, what
could be groovier than three groovy buttons? Count down with
Pete in this rocking new story from the creators of the bestselling
Pete the Cat books.
Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds—E Rey
The Twilight Zone comes to the carrot patch in this clever
picture book parable about a rabbit who fears his favorite treats are
out to get him. Jasper Rabbit loves carrots—especially
Crackenhopper Field carrots.
He eats them on the way to school.
He eats them going to Little League.
He eats them walking home.
The Obstinate Pen by Frank W. Dormer—E Dor
This is what Uncle Flood wants to write with his new pen:
The following story is all true. But the pen does not write that
sentence. Instead it writes: You have a big nose! Who knows what
to do with a pen that has a will of its own? Not Uncle Flood. Not
Officer Wonkle. But young Horace has an idea. . .
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett—E Bar
This looks like an ordinary box full of ordinary yarn.
But it turns out it isn't.
Until the day the carrots start following him...or are they?
I’m Bored by Michael Ian Black—E Bla
There is NOTHING boring about being a kid, but one little
girl is going to have to prove it in this anything-but-boring picture
book from comedian Michael Ian Black. Just when a little girl thinks
she couldn’t possibly be more bored, she stumbles upon a potato
who turns the tables on her by declaring that children are boring.
But this girl isn’t going to let a vegetable tell her what’s what, so
she sets out to show the unimpressed potato all the amazing
things kids can do. Too bad the potato is anything but interested….
This tongue-in-cheek twist on a familiar topic is sure to
entertain anyone who’s ever been bored—or had to hear about
someone else being bored—and is filled with comedian Michael
Ian Black’s trademark dry wit, accompanied by charismatic
illustrations from newcomer Debbie Ridpath Ohi.
*Summaries from Goodreads.com
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate—JF App
Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall
and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him
through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the
jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.
Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his
friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan
thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of
leaves with color and a well-placed line.
Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family,
and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes.
When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it
a change for the better.
The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford—JF Sta
A sweet story of a tree that's literally filled with secrets. What is
your secret?
Minty's neighborhood is full of mysteries. There's the Witch
House, a spooky old farmhouse on the other side of woods from where
Minty and her best friend, Paz, live. There's the Man Bat, a seven-foot-tall
half man, half bat who is rumored to fly through the woods. And there are
the Mean Boys, David and Troy, who torment Minty for no reason, and her
boy-crazy older sister, Thea, who acts weirder and weirder.
One day Minty spots a flash in the woods, and when she chases
after it, she discovers a new mystery--a Secret Tree, with a hollow trunk
that holds the secrets of everyone in the neighborhood. Secrets like:
I put a curse on my enemy. And it's working.
I'm betraying my best friend in a terrible way.
No one loves me except my goldfish.
I’ve Lost My Hippopotamus by Jack Prelutsky—J 811.54 Pre
A brand-new rib-tickling collection of more than 100 neverbefore-published poems by national bestselling poet Prelutksy, illustrated
throughout in black-and-white by "New York Times"-bestselling artist
Urbanovic.
The Bear in the Book by Kate Banks—E Ban
It's time for bed, and a little boy chooses his favorite book
for his mother to read to him. The bear in the book is preparing for
his own deep slumber, hibernating through the winter while
humans and other animals explore the snowy landscape around
him. Just when the bear wakes up to greet the spring, the boy drifts
off to sleep. Kate Banks’ soft and rhythmic text is brought to life by
Georg Hallensleben’s strong, expressive paintings in this bedtime
read that will carry young readers through the seasons.
Another Brother by Matthew Cordell—E Cor
Life for Davy was glorious as long as he had his mother
and father to himself. But then he got a brother, Petey. When Davy
sang, Petey cried. When Davy created a masterpiece, Petey spat
up on it. And then he got another brother, Mike! And another, Stu!
And another, Gil! Until he had TWELVE LITTLE BROTHERS! And
that was only the beginning!
Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham—E Bin
Caldecott Medalist Zelinsky illustrates an outrageously
funny and boundary-breaking story for fans of Jon Scieszka and
David Weisner. Zebra wants to put on a show as simple as A-B-C,
but Zebra's friend Moose has other (unexpected and hilarious)
ideas.
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William
Joyce—E Joy
Morris Lessmore loved words. He loved stories. He loved
books. But every story has its upsets. Everything in Morris
Lessmore’s life, including his own story, is scattered to the
winds. But the power of story will save the day.
Unspoken by Henry Cole—E Col
A young girl's courage is tested in this haunting, wordless
story. When a farm girl discovers a runaway slave hiding in the
barn, she is at once startled and frightened. But the stranger's
fearful eyes weigh upon her conscience, and she must make a
difficult choice. Will she have the courage to help him? Unspoken
gifts of humanity unite the girl and the runaway as they each face a
journey: one following the North Star, the other following her heart.
Henry Cole's unusual and original rendering of the Underground
Railroad speaks directly to our deepest sense of compassion.
Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett—E Bar
Meet Chloe: Every week, she collects loose change so
she can buy tickets to ride the merry-go-round. But one fateful day,
she gets lost in the woods on her way home, and a large dragon
leaps out from--"Wait! It's supposed to be a lion," says Mac
Barnett, the author of this book. But Adam Rex, the illustrator,
thinks a dragon would be so much cooler (don't you agree?).
Mac's power of the pen is at odds with Adam's brush,
and Chloe's story hangs in the balance. Can she help them out of
this quandary to be the heroine of her own story?
Georgia in Hawaii by Amy Novesky—JB O’Keefe
Georgia O’Keeffe’s Hawaiian tour celebrates natural
beauty and powerful artistic convictions. Georgia O’Keeffe was
famous for painting exactly what she wanted, whether flowers or
skulls. Who would ever dare to tell her what to paint? The Hawaiian
Pineapple Company tried. Luckily for them, Georgia fell in love with
Hawaii. There she painted the beloved green islands, vibrant
flowers, feathered fishhooks, and the blue, blue sea. But did she
paint what the pineapple company wanted most of all? Amy
Novesky’s lyrical telling of this little-known story and Yuyi Morales’s
gorgeous paintings perfectly capture Georgia’s strong artistic spirit.
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson—E Woo
Each kindness makes the world a little better. Chloe and
her friends won't play with the new girl, Maya. Maya is different-she wears hand-me-downs and plays with old-fashioned toys.
Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her gang, they reject her.
Eventually, Maya plays alone, and then stops coming to school
altogether. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even
small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the
lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it
could have been if she'd shown a little kindness toward Maya.
This unforgettable book is written and illustrated by the
award-winning team that created The Other Side and the Caldecott
Honor winner Coming On Home Soon. With its powerful message
and striking art, it will resonate with readers long after they've put it
down.
Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck—JF Pec, CD JF Pec
Helena is big-sister mouse to three younger siblings, living a
snug and well-fed life within the ancient walls of the Cranston family home.
When the Cranston humans decide to sail away to England to find a
husband for one of their daughters, the Cranston mice stow away in the
name of family solidarity. And so begins the scamper of their lives as
Helena, her siblings, and their humans set sail on a life-changing voyage
into the great world of titled humans . . . and titled mice, and surprise
endings for all. The masterful Richard Peck brings all of his talents to this
tale of two branches of an American family, set on the eve of Queen
Victoria’s diamond jubilee. There are plenty of laughs and thrills, and of
course there’s a ship’s cat too. Will our Cranston heroes squeak by, or will
they go entirely overboard?
The Boxcar Children: The Beginning by Patricia MacLachlan—JF Mac
Before they were the Boxcar Children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny
Alden lived with their parents at Fair Meadow Farm. Although times are
hard, the Aldens are happy--"the best family of all," Mama likes to say.
One day, a blizzard hits the countryside, and a car is stranded on the road
near their farm. The family in the car needs shelter, and when the Aldens
take them in, the strangers soon become friends. But things never stay the
same at Fair Meadow Farm, and the spring and summer bring events that
will forever change the lives of the Alden Children.
The Trouble With Chickens by Doreen Cronin—JF Cro
J.J. Tully is a former search-and-rescue dog who is trying to
enjoy his retirement after years of performing daring missions saving lives.
So he's not terribly impressed when two chicks named Dirt and Sugar
(who look like popcorn on legs) and their chicken mom show up
demanding his help to track down their missing siblings. Driven by the
promise of a cheeseburger, J.J. begins to track down clues. Is Vince the
Funnel hiding something? Are there dark forces at work - or is J.J. not
smelling the evidence that's right in front of him?