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Tuesday, July 17, 2018

New and Upcoming Summer and Back To School Reads


This week I have yet another great list of books for summer and back to school reading for young readers...




Birds and Their Feathers 
by Britta Teckentrup 
March 20, 2018 
Prestel Junior 

The creator of The Egg returns to her avian explorations with this wondrous, charming, and informative examination of feathers. 

Hailed as "a magnificent volume that offers hours of lingering pleasure... fertile ground for conversation and imagination," (Midwest Book Review) Britta Teckentrup's The Egg introduced children to one of nature's most perfect creations. Now, employing the same earth-tone coloring and delicate illustrations that have made her an enormously popular children's author, Teckentrup turns her gaze to the endlessly fascinating feather. What are they made of? Why do birds have so many of them? How do they help birds fly? And what other purpose do they serve? By providing accessible answers to these and other questions, this delightful book introduces young readers to the wonders of "plumology," while also drawing them in with enchanting illustrations. An exquisitely rendered fusion of art and science, this marvelous book satisfies young readers' natural curiosity about the world around them. 

Britta Teckentrup's Birds and Their Feathers is an absolutely beautiful exploration of bird feathers! From the different kinds of feathers, their uses, various cultural significance, and more, this book discusses it all in captivating and easily accessible terms. With stunning illustrations that feature warm, natural colors and mesmerizing details, this book wonderfully celebrates both science and art. 


The Dinosaur Expert 
By Margaret McNamara 
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas 
July 17, 2018 
Random House Children's Books 

Dinosaurs, girl power, and science combine in the newest addition to the Mr. Tiffin’s Classroom series. 

Mr. Tiffin and his students are back in another picture book, and this time the focus is on dinosaur-loving Kimmy. During a field trip to the natural history museum, Kimmy is thrilled to share what she knows about the Stegosaurus and the Archaeopteryx and even the ginormous Titanosaurus. That changes when one of her classmates questions whether girls can be paleontologists. Kimmy starts to feel shy. What if they can’t? What if no one wants to hear what she has to say? It will take some help from Mr. Tiffin–and from a famous scientist–for Kimmy to find her voice again. 

Join Mr. Tiffin’s class as they learn about dinosaurs big and small, feathered and scaly, winged and ocean-dwelling. And root for Kimmy, the dinosaur expert . . . who might just learn something about herself. 

Combining the exciting world of dinosaurs, the fascinating realm of science, and the powerful message of female empowerment, Margaret McNamara's The Dinosaur Expert is a heartfelt and uplifting delight! Young readers will enjoy all the factual and fun dinosaur information throughout the book, while eagerly rooting for scientist in the making Kimmy as she finds her voice. I especially appreciated the back section that features past and present female scientists.


Quiet Please, Owen McPhee! 
By Trudy Ludwig 
Illustrated by Patrice Barton 
July 3, 2018 
Random House Children's Books 

From the author-illustrator team who brought you The Invisible Boy comes the story of a boy who won't stop talking--until he gets laryngitis. You don't have to be a chatterbox to appreciate this tale of listening and learning.  

Owen McPhee doesn't just like to talk, he LOVES to talk. He spends every waking minute chattering away at his teachers, his classmates, his parents, his dog, and even himself. But all that talking can get in the way of listening. And when Owen wakes up with a bad case of laryngitis, it gives him a much-needed opportunity to hear what others have to say. 

From the author-illustrator team behind The Invisible Boy comes a bright and lively picture book that captures the social dynamics of a busy classroom while delivering a gentle message about the importance of listening. 

Trudy Ludwig's amusing and charming Quiet Please, Owen McPhee! uses humor and sweetness to teach kids (and adults) the importance of listening. Little readers will love the endearing text and lively illustrations, both of which can be used to discuss the important topics of listening, respect, and kindness.


The Door to the Lost 
By Jaleigh Johnson 
July 3, 2018 
Delacorte Press 

There was no warning the day magic died in Talhaven. It happened with a giant explosion and the arrival of a skyship full of children, all with magic running through their veins and no memory of home. 

Rook and Drift are two of those children, and ever since that day, they've been on the run, magical refugees in a world that doesn't trust magic. Because magic doesn't die right away--it decays, twists, and poisons all that it touches. And now it's beginning to poison people. 

Try as they might, Rook and Drift can't remember anything about their lives before Talhaven. But it's beginning to look like they're the only ones who can save their adopted world . . . if that world doesn't destroy them first. 


#murdertrending 
By Gretchen McNeil 
August 3, 2018 
Freeform 

WELCOME TO THE NEAR FUTURE, where good and honest 8/18 citizens can enjoy watching the executions of society’s most infamous convicted felons, streaming live on The Postman app from the suburbanized prison island Alcatraz 2.0. 

When eighteen-year-old Dee Guerrera wakes up in a haze, lying on the ground of a dimly lit warehouse, she realizes she’s about to be the next victim of the app. Knowing hardened criminals are getting a taste of their own medicine in this place is one thing, but Dee refuses to roll over and die for a heinous crime she didn’t commit. Can Dee and her newly formed posse, the Death Row Breakfast Club, prove she’s innocent before she ends up wrongfully murdered for the world to see? Or will The Postman’s cast of executioners kill them off one by one? 



*Disclaimer: I received copies of the books above for review and feature purposes.

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