Laundry Day

Title: Laundry Day
Author: Maurie Manning
Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 9-780-547-24196-8
Adopt-a-Book Price: $10.02

In Laundry Day by Maurie J. Manning a young shoe shine boy goes on an adventure to discover who a red piece of cloth belongs too after it comes loose from the clothes lines over his head.  This book is set up in the style of a graphic novel.  The different frames help move the story along even though there is very little text to read. 

In New York City the shoeshine boy really wants to return the cloth to it's owner as he climbs up stairs, drain pipes, and shimmies across clotheslines he encounters people of different ethnicity living in the same building.  The shoeshine boy goes from balcony to balcony learning a little bit about each of his neighbors what the do and who they are as people.

This is a great book to show children to explain about different cultures.  Plus it is also a great way to get kids used to reading the graphic novel format. 

To find out of the shoeshine boy ever found the owner of the mysterious red fabric you will have to adopt the book and read it. 

Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking

Title: Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking
Author: Philippe Coudray
ISBN: 978-1-935179-12-2
Copyright: 2011

Just in time for the holidays comes the amusing antics of Benjamin Bear.  This is one of the newer stories from TOONbooks who also brought us Silly Lilly, Benny and Penny, Little Mouse, and Stinky (all of which are available at the Norway Memorial Library). 

Benjamin Bear attacks life in his very own way.  He is friends with a penguin, a bunny rabbit, and many forest animals.  The book is broken up into short comic strips that are easy to read.  For beginning readers this is a great book to get the "feel of reading" without needing to slog through pages and pages of text.  On the plus side, the reader is sure to laugh at each seperate storyline. 

If you don't believe me that this book is sure to be a winner, come in to the library and check it out.  If your kid doesn't laugh we will give you your money back!  (But lets be honest who could read this whole graphic novel and not laugh once?)

Bake Sale by Sara Varon

Title: Bake Sale
Author: Sara Varon
ISBN: 978-1-59643-740-1

The newest graphic novel from the author of  Robot Dreams which I know that everyone has read and absolutely loves comes Bake Sale.  It is hard to resist any book where the two main characters are a cupcake and an eggplant.  The cupcake, named Cupcake, wears a cherry on her head.  At one point in the story she tries wearing a blueberry but it's just not right. 

When Cupcake, (who plays drums in a band) finds out that her best friend Eggplant is going to Turkey to visit his friend Aunt Aubergine and her friend Turkish Delight she knows that she just can't be left out.  However Cupcake doesn't have enough money to fly to Turkey so how will she earn the money to meet her hero Turkish Delight?  Well through Bake Sales of course!

I am sure nobody was able to guess how this plot line would go...  The ending is quite unpredictable, and the book is filled with baking tips, information and recipes to make cupcakes and other treats, as well as a gravy boat full of culinary jokes sure to make any reader laugh!  This is a delightful book and for all the little girls out there who love Baby Mouse, this is sure to be a hit!

Korgi: Sprouting Wings

Title: Sprouting Wings
Series: Korgi
Author: Christian Slade
ISBN: 978-1-4395-9102-4

While typically I try to only blog about new books that have come out, sometimes I feel that an older book deserves a little love and attention.  Korgi by Christian Slade, is just such a book.  This is by far one of the most awwwww-inspiring books that I have read recently and in fact it is a series!  Book 1- Sprouting Wings, Book 2- The Cosmic Collector, and Book 3- A Hollow Beginning (published September 2011, the library hasn't bought a copy yet, but trust me we will!) are all beautiful wordless graphic novels. 

While Korgi is a wordless graphic novel (just like Owly- another favorite at the library).  There is an introduction told Wart the scrollkeeper of Korgi Hollow.  "Hello there!  I've been waiting for you.  I knew you would find your way here.  Korgis as you are about to discover, have a magical way about the.  Travelers have always been drawn to these fox-like creatures.  To be near them, is to feel more alive and happy than one has ever known.  This is the great gift of the Korgi.  They make the world around them more beautiful."

This book is perfect for all ages who loves dogs and magic.  The main character Korgi named Sprout starts as a young playful pup who goes on to grow up (rather quickly) and his friend Ivy after they accidentally wander away from Korgi Hollow.  The book is filled with raw emotion, action, and beautiful illustrations that are sure to entertain any reader.