90 minute delays

It's sleeting out and the schools have a 90 minute delayed opening. Our local elementary was sure to call us three times and email us twice to ensure our kids didn't darken their doors until 10:30am. Today is my first day at said school doing field work in the school library/media center/whatever it's being called this semester.  It will be interesting to finally experience how being a school librarian differs from being a public librarian. Either way I'm glad to be out of the house spending time in a place I love.

So what are we reading?

Mr Elephanter by Lark Pien
Picture book. A book probably described as 'quirky,' Mr Elephanter is a small man who takes care of three tiny orphan "elephanties" each day. We follow him as he takes care of the crew by playing with them, putting them down for naps, visiting the local pool and park, and then going home for the day.It's silly, it's fun and the illustrations in a gentle watercolor are full of action and expression. The author also illustrated the graphic novel American Born Chinese, a YA graphic novel in three parts examining life for a Chinese-American teen. Yes the two books are far apart in age appropriateness, but ABC is so awesome in detail and story that I had to get the title in here. Read it even if you aren't a teen.

Ernest the Moose Who Doesn't Fit by Catherine Raynet
Picture book. This is another title where the author is also the illustrator. A simple story: Ernest the Moose just wants to have his full picture shown in his book- a seemingly impossible task as various body sections are crammed into the limited view. I love how the illustations look to be drawn on graphic paper. Many books these days show illustrations involving mixed media or drawn on household paper to look like graph paper or wallpaper. Did this begin with Lauren Child? I like it when used to help express the story. I've read titles where it's been done to lesser success, distracting from an already over baked text.

Mitch and Amy by Beverly Clearly
Chapter book, grades 2 and up ymmv. I read this ages ago, and am reading from my own childhood copy to my girls. While parts of the book reveal it's age (walking to a class trip downtown? Girl Scout badges in housekeeping?) the story lines are still relevant--especially with the bully Alan Hibbler. Alan destroys property, spits in Amy's hair, steals cupcakes and throws dirt bombs...and even then both Mitch and Amy know that having their Mom call his Mom would equal disaster. It's nice to read a book where brother and sister genuinely work not only to get on each other's nerves, but to defend each other against a common enemy.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Chapter book--3rd grade and up.
I'll be reading this to 3rd graders this semester. I'm not reading it to my girls because I don't think they are ready for it--my older daughter is so sensitive that Edward's seemingly constant journey from heartbreak to heartbreak (and no, he isn't sent to the thrift store) would distract her from hearing the meaning of hope and keeping your heart ready for love in the story, and just upset her. Honestly, how many times can a poor china rabbit have its heart broken? As a teen how many times did my own heart get busted apart? Never mind Edward. As usual for DiCamillo, a tender, astute novel of feeling and energy. Just have some tissues close by.  But if you read any of her other titles you already know that.