2016 Nutmeg Nominees Announced

May 8, 2015May 8, 2015 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

The Nutmeg Nominees for 2016 have been announced! The Nutmeg Children’s Book Award is the “Children’s Choice” Award for Connecticut. The goal of the committee is to encourage children in grades two through twelve to read quality literature.

Check out this long list of nominees! How many have you already read, and who do you think should win?

The Four Levels of Nutmeg:
Elementary Award: Grades 2-4 (15 nominees each year)
Bowling Alley Bandit by Laurie Keller
Dare the Wind: The Record-Breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the
Flying Cloud by Tracey Fern
Digby O’Day: In the Fast Lane by Shirley Hughes
The Flying Beaver Brothers and the Evil Penguin Plan by Maxwell Eaton II
Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse by Tamera Will Wissinger
Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown
King for a Day by Rukhsana Khan
Marty McGuire by Kate Messner
On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne
Pigsticks and Harold and the Incredible Journey by Alex Milway
Play Ball, Jackie! by Stephen Krensky
The Secret Chicken Society by Judy Cox
A Splash of Red by Jennifer Bryant
Waiting for the Magic by Patricia MacLachlan

Intermediate Award: Grades 4-6 (10 nominees each year)
The Blossoming Life of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods
Elvis and the Underdogs by Jenny Lee and Kelly Light
Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage
The Great Trouble by Deborah Hopkinson
The Illuminated Adventures of Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo & K.G. Campbell
Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson
Pie by Sarah Weeks
Winterling by Sarah Prineas

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Teen Award: Grades 7-8 (10 nominees each year)
Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Counting by 7’s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Golden Boy by Tara Sullivan
I Have a Bad Feeling About This by Jeff Strand
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Reboot by Amy Tintera
The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson
Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

High School Award: Grades 9-12 (10 nominees each year)
Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick
If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Out of Nowhere by Maria Padian
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Winger by Andrew Smith

Who do you think should win?

The 2015 winners will be announced on May 15th!

May the Fourth Be With You, Or Happy Star Wars Day!

May 4, 2015April 28, 2015 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Are you going to celebrate May the 4th with a Star Wars marathon, binge read some great books, introduce the Star Wars universe to the next generation, or some combination of the three? Perhaps you are unaware of the wonders of Star Wars Day. Well, in case you are scratching your head as to why is May the 4th called Star Wars Day? Simply say “May the 4th Be With You” out loud and you’ll hear the pun that triggered the worldwide celebration of the day. Today is the day world over to say “May the Force be with you” and celebrate the beloved Star Wars story that binds our galaxy together.

I am going to celebrate with some great DVD’s and books that pay tribute in some way to the Star Wars legacy. Although, when in doubt it is always best to start with the Original Trilogy and then moving on to the rest.

Movies/Television:

Phineas & Ferb. Star Wars
A couple summers ago in a galaxy far, far away, Phineas & Ferb are happily basking in the glow of Tatooine’s twin suns – until plans for the Death Star accidentally fall into their hands, thrusting them (and Agent P) into a glactic rebellion and an epic struggle of good versus evil. Will Phineas and Ferb be able to resist the Darl Side? Will Stormtrooper Candace finally bust a Rebel? Can Agent P stop Darthenshmirtz from using his Force-powered ‘Sith-Inator

Spaceballs
Science fiction farce in which a space bum struggles to save a princess and keep a ruthless alien race from stealing the air supply from a neighboring planet.

Star Wars, The Clone Wars. The Complete Season One
Jedi knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi battle against evil forces with the help of the clone army.

Lego Star Wars – The Yoda Chronicles
In episode I, Darth Sidious unveils his plan to create a new super-weapon to help him defeat the Republic once and for all. Yoda and his Padawan students must work together and save the galaxy. In episode II, Count Dooku uses his new and improved Clone-a-Matic to create an army of Jek clones. Now substitute teacher Anakin Skywalker must lead Yoda’s Padawan class to victory.

There are more of course, but I wanted to mention the sheer volume of Star Wars related books, even without counting those included in the actual ever expanding Star Wars novel series, easy readers, and Visual Dictionaries. There are unique new looks, and deep study, of the universe that has become such a big part of worldwide culture.

Books:

William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope by Ian Doescher; inspired by the work of George Lucas and William Shakespeare

Inside the Worlds of Star Wars Trilogy by James Luceno; consultant, Curtis Saxton; illustrated by Richard Chasemore and Hans Jenssen

ART2-D2’s Guide to Folding and Doodling by Tom Angleberger

Darth Vader: a 3-D Reconstruction Log written by Daniel Wallace; illustrated by Chris Trevas and Chris Reiff

The Strange case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

Star Wars: Incredible Cross Sections

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Incredible Cross-Sections

Star Wars: Complete Cross-Sections

Two (More) Reasons to Read Poetry Today

April 27, 2015March 17, 2015 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

While reading and writing poetry is a fantastic pursuit on any given day, today we have two extra reasons to partake! Not only is April National Poetry Month, but April 28th is also Great Poetry Reading Day. So I gathered up some poetry books that could be the perfect choice to enjoy on this literary day. Do not feel limited by this tiny look at our poetry collection either! Come and take a look at our poetry display or the 811’s in our nonfiction collection.

1. The Voice That is Great Within Us: American Poetry of the Twentieth Century edited by Hayden Carruth

2. The Trouble with Poetry and Other Poems or Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins

3. Everyman’s Poetry by Elizabeth Barrett Browning; edited by Colin Graham

4. The Spoken Word Revolution: Slam, Hip-Hop & the Poetry of a New Generation edited by Mark Eleveld

5. The Best-Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis selected and introduced by Caroline Kennedy

6. Sunken Garden Poetry, 1992-2011 edited by Brad Davis

7. The Poetry of Robert Frost: the Collected Poems edited by Edward Connery Lathem

8. Anthology of Modern Japanese Poetry Translated & compiled by Edith Marcombe Shiffert & Yūki Sawa

9. Selected Poetry of Ogden Nash: 650 Rhymes, Verses, Lyrics, and Poems

10. The Enlightened Heart: an Anthology of Sacred Poetry edited by Stephen Mitchell

If you are looking for poetry books to interest kids, or adults that simply enjoy reading children’s literature (like myself), then check out this older post; Great Poetry Books to Share with Children.

Or perhaps you would rather an audiobook so you can listen to the poetry? try The Poets Corner: the One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family compiled by John Lithgow, The Storm King: Stories, Narratives, Poems: Spoken Word Set to a World of Music by Pete Seeger, The Voice of the Poet by E. E. Cummings, The Iliad by Homer, The Odyssey by Homer, William Carlos Williams, The Essential Edgar Allan Poe or, A Patriot’s Handbook: Poems, Stories, and Speeches Celebrating the Land We Love selected and introduced by Caroline Kennedy.

More Picturebooks for Spring Fever

April 22, 2015April 22, 2015 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Are you in the grips of spring fever, or just wishing for warmer weather, gardening, hiking, or beaches? Well, I am firmly in the grips of spring fever and have found some fantastic picturebooks that both encourage my focus on the warm weather, and fulfill my craving for gardens and outdoor activities. Will these spring picturebooks help you focus on the coming sunshine?

Mud by Mary Lyn Ray

How Robin Saved Spring by Debbie Ouellet

The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin

Sun Above and Blooms Below: A Springtime of Opposites by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky

Big Tractor by Nathan Clement

Jo MacDonald had a Garden by Mary Quattlebaum

Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson

The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming

For more books to spring into the warmer weather with you might want to check out: Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney, Aviary Wonders Inc. Spring Catalog and Instruction Manual by Kate Samworth, Mirandy and Brother Wind by Patricia C. McKissack, Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, The Spring Equinox: The Greening of the Earth by Ellen Jackson, The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins, A Windy Day in Spring by Charles Ghigna, The Listening Walk by Paul Showers, Raindrops Fall All Around by Charles Ghigna, Caterpillar Spring, Butterfly Summer by Susan Hood, Spring Is Here by Will Hillenbrand, And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano, My Garden by Kevin Henkes,

Book Club Picks for Middle Grade Readers

April 17, 2015April 11, 2015 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Book clubs are starting to pop up in libraries and schools for readers of all ages. While book clubs are a great way to encourage reading and picking up books outside a reader’s comfort zone, they are about much more than the books being read. Book clubs are about fostering a sense of community, creating or strengthening relationships, and shared experiences.

If your middle grade reader is interested in joining, or starting a club of their own (or perhaps a parent and child book club is more your speed) they might be at a loss as to what books the group will read next. It is a common issue with adult book groups, so I am sure it happens with younger readers as well. Here are some suggested titles to add to the list of possibilities. Some are tried and true titles that you might have enjoyed at their age, and others are newer books that are simply wonderful. your selections will bcpaperboy depend quite a bit on the interests and maturity of those in your group, but this can help get the selection process started.

Paperboy by Vince Vawter
Taking over a friend’s newspaper route in 1959 Memphis, an 11-year-old baseball enthusiast struggles with a speech disability while attempting to communicate with customers, a situation that turns dangerous when he has a confrontation with a thieving local junkma bcgrimm n.

A Tale Dark & Grimm (A Tale Dark & Grimm, #1) by Adam Gidwitz
Follows Hansel and Gretel as they walk out of their own story and into eight more tales, encountering witches, devils, warlocks, kindly strangers, and other helpful folk as they take charge of their own happily ever after.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth, and what follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein bclibrary

Twelve-year-old Kyle wins a coveted spot to be one of 12 children chosen to stay in the new town library–designed by his hero, the famous gamemaker Luigi Lemoncello–for an overnight of fun, food and games, but in the morning, the kids find all the doors still locked and must work together to solve secret puzzles in order to discover the hidden escape route.Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
When a father runs out to buy milk for his children’s breakfast cereal, the last thing he expects is to be abducted by aliens, and he soon finds himself transported through time and space on an extraordinary adventure, where the fate of the universe depends on him and the milk–but will his children believe his wild story?

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Still looking for more ideas, or some great middle grade novels to read? Here are even more:The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood, Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai, Inkheart (Inkworld, #1) by Cornelia Funke, One For The Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Matilda by Roald Dahl, A Wrinkle in Time (A Wrinkle in Time Quintet, #1) by Madeleine L’Engle, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket, #1) by Roald Dahl, Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt, A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park, The Giver by Lois Lowry, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg, The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall, Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff, Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1) by L.M. Montgomery, Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper, The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1) by Philip Pullman, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, Hokey Pokey by Jerry Spinelli, Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff, The Mysterious Benedict Society (The Mysterious Benedict Society, #1) by Trenton Lee Stewart, Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton, My One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath, Doll Bones by Holly Black, Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate,Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee,The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald, The City of Ember (Book of Ember, #1) by Jeanne DuPrau, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter, #1) by J.K. Rowling, One Crazy Summer (Gaither Sisters, #1) by Rita Williams-Garcia, and The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.