On Wednesday at 5:00, Sharon Draper will be here to sign her new book Out of My Mind. Sharon’s new novel is a very personal book. The main character in this novel is an 11 year old girl named Melody who has cerebral palsy, a disease that makes it impossible to control her muscles very well. Draper’s own daughter has this same disease and much of the first part of the book captures perfectly the helplessness of the disease that the whole family feels.

In Melody’s case, this disease has also taken away her voice.  Melody, however, is not mentally impaired. She may not be able to move her body, eat by herself, or even speak beside grunts and laughs, but she has a bright mind that soaks up everything. When she finally gets a device that she can program to speak for her, the world begins to open up slightly.

She secures a spot on the school’s Whiz Kids team and leads the team to a win at the regional tournament. They are invited to Nationals in Washington D.C. where they will compete for a chance to appear on Good Morning America and win money for their school. The end of this story, however, does not paint a happy, pretty image of the way most of the world views kids with such diseases, and the reader learns how strong people with debilitating diseases must be and how little it takes to make a difference in someone’s life.

This is a book about animal symbiosis—unusual partnerships in the wild—why does the crocodile let the plover stroll in and out of its mouth? Why does the giraffe let the oxpicker over its body and into its ears? The last pages offer more information about the size, habitat and diet of the animals included in the book. This is a fun and educational read.

(Children’s picture book, ages 4 to 9)

As I have settled into Oz, I have immersed myself more and more in picture books. I just love their illustrations and the large format that really lets you appreciate these books’ art, because that is a lot of what a picture book is…ART! Take Gilbert Ford’s Flying Lessons, this coming Saturday’s story time (more info below). He created all of the art in the book! And not only that, but he wrote a story and then created art to go with the story. I just love it, and I feel like many children’s book artists don’t get their due. One of my favorite Easter books is by artist  Tao Nyeu called Bunny Days. The art is just fabulous and the stories are whimsical and fun. Come check it out this week!

Story Time:

Last week we had a great Easter Story Time with The Easter Egg by Jan Brett, but it will definitely be topped by this week’s AMAZING Story time. Gilbert Ford, son of Ellen and Gil Ford, will be here to read and sign his new book, Flying Lessons. His mom will be bringing sugar cookies shaped like airplanes and lemonade, and after the signing we will be making paper airplanes, not to mention signing this gorgeous book! I am so pumped about this weekend and if you are not here on Saturday, you are truly missing out!

Faves of the week:

Picture Books: Dogs by Emily Gravett: This adorable picture book by one of my favorite picture book artist is simple and funny at the same time.

Beginner Readers: Babysitter’s Club – The Summer Before by Ann M. Martin: The Babysitter’s Club is back with all new covers and this great Hardback prequel. Can’t get much better than that!

Young Adult: Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone: This book has been likened to E.L. Koinsburg From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and look so good!

Teen: Epitaph Road by David Patneaude: A novel perfect for all those kids waiting for the third Hunger Games (Mockingjay) to be released

Non-fiction: Eva’s Story by Eva Schloss: This is the memoir of Anne Frank’s close childhood friend and would be stepsister (Eva’s mom married Anne Frank’s dad after the war). Very interesting and perfect for those history buffs.

Upcoming Events:

April 3rd @ 10:30– SIGNING – Flying Lessons by Gilbert Ford – THIS WEEK AT STORY TIME!!!

April 7th @ 5:00– SIGNING – Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

April 8th @ 5:00 – SIGNING – Undead Much by Stacey Jay

April 10th  @ 1:00– SIGNING – Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

April 13th @ 5:00 – SIGNING – Warriors: Omen of the Stars #2 Fading Echoes by Erin Hunter

I don’t know how many times in this business I do just that, judge a book by its cover. I mean, with all the books out there, you have to find some way to weed out the good ones. So when I saw Stacey Jay’s books, no offense, I was not even tempted to read them. The titles didn’t really appeal to me either. But, they had been highly recommended by someone I trust, so I dove straight in….and didn’t come out until the first one was over! I love Stacey’s writing and her character Megan Berry is a butt-kicking, Zombie Settler who is always getting in trouble, but always accomplishing more than anyone thinks she will be able to. I am now on Stacey’s second book, Undead Much? and it is just as good as the first book. It doesn’t feel like just a retelling of the original story, but a continuation of the story I fell in love with. If you loved Twilight, but hated how whiny Bella and Edward were sometime (blasphemy, I know) then try out this book. And I promise, you will not be sorry!

And just for icing on the cake, Stacey Jay will be here on April 8th (NEXT THURSDAY!!!) and I am so excited to meet her. The great thing about these books is that they are in paperback, so you can get both, come to the signing and then just read them back to back! Come talk to Stacey about creating the characters of Megan and Ethan and why she decided to write about zombies. It’s a night you won’t want to miss!

When Sophie Mercer was 13, she discovered that she was a witch. Her mother had no witch talents and the dad that she had never met was a very important warlock. At age 16, Sophie’s very poor magic skills resulted in her being banished to Hex Hall for punishment. Hex Hall was an isolated school for wayward faeries, shapeshifters and witches. From the first day, Sophie found trouble and trouble stayed close to Sophie. Sophie met strange and interesting students, she met a ghost, she learned of an ancient secret that could destroy her and all the while a series of frightening mysteries will keep you on the edge of your seat. Enjoy!! (Teen, Ages 12 and up)