The ABCs of Detroit Red Wings Hockey by Ann Jacobs-Mooney

As the Detroit Red Wings begin their second round in the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs tonight, I am happy to share a new book from Olympia Entertainment, about our favorite Hockeytown team. This ABC book covers the Wings from A to Z. Each letter of the alphabet has its own page. Colorful illustrations fill the entire book along with many hockey facts sprinkled into the mix, and plenty of Red Wings trivia. The book includes new Wings as well as old timers, like P is for Production Line, Ted Lindsay, Sid Abel and "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe. From A is for Assist all the way through to Z is for Zamboni this book will entertain any true (or new) Red Wings' fan. "Let's GO Red Wings!"

The Big Bad Wolf and Me by Delphine Perret

ROARRRRR! Watch out for the BIG BAD WOLF! He just might EAT YOU! But, wait a minute. This big bad wolf is neither big nor bad at all. He’s actually quite small, sad and can’t scare anyone. So sad. :-( Perhaps some milk and cookies would help to fatten him up. Maybe having a best friend to take care of him will give him the confidence to really be a BIG BAD WOLF! Wait until you see what happens when he shows up at school!

The Big Bad Wolf and Me was written and illustrated by a young French artist, Delphine Perret, shortly after graduating from art school. She was inspired to create books for young readers. This is her first to be published in the United States and there are more to come. Her drawings are done in simple pen and ink but the expressive details are perfect for this simple story. ROARRRRR! Here comes the BIG BAD WOLF! Better run!!!

Rainstorm by Barbara Lehman

Since the old saying says, "April showers bring May flowers," now is the perfect time to read Rainstorm. What can you do when you are all alone in a big house on a rainy day with only the quiet to keep you company? Maybe if you find a mysterious key you will be transported to marvelous places...

In this wordless story book, similar to Flotsam, the pictures follow a little boy on his quest to find what the mysterious key opens and the adventures that happen once he does. Ladders, tunnels, secret doors, winding staircases, lighthouses, and new friends await. First graders at Hawkins were mesmerized by the pictures in this book and you will be too!

Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet by David McLimans

This alphabet book is anything but ordinary. David McLimans has created a unique and captivating book about endangered animals. Each letter forms the silhouette of an endangered animal that begins with that letter. For example, take a look at the spotted owl below for the letter "o." Neat!

The drawings are all in black and white and a sharp red picture of the animal included along with some facts about the animal on the opposite page. The drawings are simple and elegant. So much so, that this book received the Caldecott Honor Medal this year for great artwork in a children's book. Go wild, and check out this book!

The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Basil by Wiley Miller

While I am not in Michigan in the cold and snow (see review below), I am in Florida on Spring Break in my hotel room as the rain comes down on the beach. As Mrs. Boehm said, it is a great day to cozy up with a good book. I am pleased to tell you that I found another good one, especially for those of you who have enjoyed Lemony Snicket's-Series of Unfortunate Events.

In his first children’s book, Wiley Miller expands his comic strip, Ordinary Basil into a full story at the request of his readers, parents and children alike. His colorful illustrations visually enhance his story.

Basil is a 12 year old boy who lives a very ordinary life, a life that he considers to be very boring. Basil lives in a lighthouse along the Maine coastline with his parents. One day as he is whistling a tune, a flying boat (yes, I said-"a flying boat") appears out of the clouds. Since the year is 1899, and air travel is still just a dream, Basil is sure he is seeing things. The man in the flying boat summons Basil to climb aboard. As Basil boards the flying boat, the two fly off into the clouds to a wonderful city called Helios. When Basil questions how this city in the clouds is even possible, the pilot of the flying boat, Professor Angus McGookin, tells Basil, “Wherever there is life dear boy, there are endless possibilities. Our only limitations are those of our imaginations.”

While enjoying every moment of this wondrous city, Basil meets a young girl named Louise, who would like to go to Basil's world because she finds Helios extremely boring! Basil does not understand how she could possibly find this place boring. Louise offers to give Basil a ride on Beatrice if he will take her to the ground with him when he returns home. Beatrice is Louise's pet pteranodon!

Basil soon finds himself on an exciting adventure with Louise and Beatrice. While they are out riding Beatrice, they accidentally drop below the clouds where they are spotted by the evil genius, Dr. Euric Von Rottweil. Dr. Von Rottweil was banished from Helios when the High Council found out his evil plan take over the world. Since he had no way back to Helios, Dr. Von Rottweil had been waiting for an opportunity to return. His opportunity came when Beatrice dipped below the clouds and allowed Von Rottweil to capture the three of them.

Can Basil and Louise stop him from returning to Helios and taking over the world? Will the Professor be able to save them and Helios? How does a boat fly? What is it like flying on a pet pteranodon? Do Basil and Louise still feel their lives are boring? Read The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Basil and join the adventure.

Penny From Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm

It's the second day of Spring Break, tomorrow is Easter, and it's snowing here in Michigan. It's April and snowing! I know very well that we still get snow in April but when we're on vacation it seems like it should be sunny and warm. I decide to take it as a great day to get cozy indoors and read a book! I had started reading Penny From Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm about two months ago and never finished it. Readers do that, you know. It's okay to put a book down and try something else. Today was different. I wanted to read it because it had won a Newbery Honor award this year so I knew there must be a good story inside. I was not disappointed. I began all over again from the first page and finished it in one day - it was that good!

When you read about Penny you will know her just like any other real girl. The author, Jennifer L. Holm, tells her story so well that you are convinced she could be your friend or any other girl you know. Even her many aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents seem like folks you'd want to spend a day with. There are sad things that have happened to Penny and do happen in this book. Her father is not alive but Penny does not know what happened to him. Her mother never talks about him. Her Italian family, her dad's family, treats her like a princess because they are sadly missing her dad so much. The setting is the early 1950's and the aftereffects of World War II still trouble Penny's two families. But don't let the sadness keep you from reading this book. There are also many funny characters and plots to keep you reading along. Yes, there is a happy ending. When I finished this book I was so happy for Penny that my eyes were full of tears. You see, she had become a real person that I cared very much about. I had happy tears knowing that Penny was going to be alright and so was her loving family.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

The Wayside School was supposed to be one story high, with 30 classrooms side by side; instead, it was built sideways, with 30 one-classroom stories. The tales that happen in this school are stranger than fiction, quite humorous, and enjoyable. You won't believe it when the teacher turns her students into apples!

Mr. Yates, principal at Hawkins Elementary was kind enough to share a few chapters with students at first grade library card sign-up night at Brighton District Library last week. Take a peek below! *This video may not be compatible with all computers and browsers. If you do not see an image below, this is the case. We hope, in the future everyone will be able to view the videos.*

April Foolishness by Teresa Bateman

Happy April Fool's Day! Grandpa is in for some silly surprises in Teresa Bateman's April Foolishness when Grandma and their visiting grandchildren try to fool him. Grandpa will not be fooled by their trickery and just keeps making his breakfast. The farm is in turmoil because the cows, pigs, sheep, and goats are running wild! Grandpa will not believe a word knowing it is all an April Fool's Day joke. You won't know who gets the last laugh until you read April Foolishness. Oh, one more thing - your ears are in for a treat if someone reads this story to you. It's all in rhyme!