Many of the books in this issue of Notes implicitly enjoin us to look up from the page and head out into nature (or, as my mother would say, “put down that book and go out and play!”). As I write this, we’re just coming off of Screen-Free Week, an annual effort in which young people and adults alike are encouraged to turn off their TVs, computers, and game consoles in favor of non-virtual recreation. “Read a book instead!” has always been at the top of the list of approved alternatives — but what if your book is on a screen? As digital editions take an increasing piece of the publishing pie, we are all being challenged to rethink what we mean by “book” and “reading.” I can now go outside and take an entire library along with me in my pocket. I wonder what Screen-Free Week — not to mention my mother — would think about that?

Roger Sutton
Editor in Chief

The post From the editor — May 2013 appeared first on The Horn Book.

Get outside
Peep and Ducky by David Martin, illus. by David Walker, Candlewick, 1–4 years.
Phoebe and Digger by Tricia Springstubb, Candlewick, 3–6 years.
Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle by Chris Raschka, Schwartz & Wade/Random, 3–6 years.
It’s Our Garden by George Ancona, Candlewick, 5–8 years.

Get moving
Becoming Babe Ruth by Matt Tavares, Candlewick, 4–7 years.
You Never Heard of Willie Mays?! by Jonah Winter,  Schwartz & Wade/Random, 4–7 years.
Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball by John Coy, illus. by Joe Morse, Carolrhoda, 4–7 years.
Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton by Meghan McCarthy, Wiseman/Simon, 4–7 years.

Historical fiction starring girls
Sugar by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Little, Brown, 8–12 years.
Bo at Ballard Creek by Kirkpatrick Hill, illus. by LeUyen Pham, Holt, 8–12 years.
Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson, Delacorte, 10–14 years.
One Came Home by Amy Timberlake, Knopf, 10–14 years.

Teen audiobooks
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, read by Morven Christie and Lucy Gaskell, Bolinda/Brilliance, 14–17 years.
Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate, read by Jenna Lamia and Holter Graham, Macmillan Audio, 14–17 years.
Pandemonium [Delirium trilogy] by Lauren Oliver, read by Sarah Drew, Listening Library, 14–17 years.
A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix, read by Michael Goldstrom, Listening Library, 14–17 years.

These titles were featured in the May 2013 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

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Roger Sutton
Editor in Chief

From the April 2013 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

The post From the editor – April 2013 appeared first on The Horn Book.

“Because poetry and hums aren’t things which you get, they’re things which get you”
Lullaby (For a Black Mother) written by Langston Hughes, illus. by Sean Qualls, Harcourt, 2–5 years.
Leave Your Sleep written by Natalie Merchant, illus. by Barbara McClintock, Farrar/Foster, 2–5 years.
World Rat Day: Poems About Real Holidays You’ve Never Heard Of written by J. Patrick Lewis, illus. by Anna Raff, Candlewick, 4–7 years.
Stardines Swim Across the Sky and Other Poems written by Jack Prelutsky, illus. by Carin Berger, Greenwillow, 4–7 years.
Pug and Other Animal Poems by Valerie Worth, illus. by Steve Jenkins, Farrar/Ferguson, 4–7 years.

Weevils and worms and snakes, oh my!
Nic Bishop Snakes written by Nic Bishop, photos by the author, Scholastic Nonfiction, 5–8 years.
Unusual Creatures: A Mostly Accurate Account of Some of Earth’s Strangest Animals written by Michael Hearst, illus. by Arjen Noordeman, Christie Wright, and Jelmer Noordeman, Chronicle, 7–10 years.
Deadly! The Truth About the Most Dangerous Creatures on Earth written by Nicola Davies, illus. by Neal Layton, Candlewick, 7–10 years.
The Story of Silk: From Worm Spit to Woven Scarves [Traveling Photographer] written by Richard Sobol, photos by the author, Candlewick, 7–10 years.

The hero’s journey
The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle written by Christopher Healy, illus. by Todd Harris, Walden Pond/HarperCollins, 8–12 years.
Jinx by Sage Blackwood, Harper/HarperCollins, 8–12 years.
A Box of Gargoyles by Anne Nesbet, Harper/HarperCollins, 8–12 years.
Poison by Bridget Zinn, Hyperion, 11–14 years.

Love, exciting and new
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, St. Martin’s Griffin, 14–17 years.
This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith, Little, Brown/Poppy, 14–17 years.
Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt, Bloomsbury, 14–17 years.
The Look by Sophia Bennett, Scholastic/Chicken House, 14–17 years.

These titles were featured in the April 2013 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

The post Books mentioned in the April 2013 issue of Notes from the Horn Book appeared first on The Horn Book.

Roger Sutton
Editor in Chief

From the March 2013 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

The post From the editor – March 2013 appeared first on The Horn Book.

Boys will be boys: Middle grade adventures
B.U.G. (Big Ugly Guy) by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple, Dutton, 8–13 years.
The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen, Scholastic, 8–13 years.
Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews, Scholastic, 11–13 years.
Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool, Delacorte, 8–13 years.

Animals out and about
Construction Kitties by Judy Sue Goodwin Sturges, illus. by Shari Halpern, Ottaviano/Holt, 1–4 years.
Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? by Eve Bunting, illus. by Sergio Ruzzier, Clarion, 4–7 years.
The Black Rabbit by Philippa Leathers, illus. by the author, Candlewick, 4–7 years.
My First Day by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, illus. by Steve Jenkins, Houghton, 4–7 years.

Women’s History Month

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel, illus. by Michelle Sweet, Balzer + Bray, 5–8 years.
Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children by Jan Pinborough, illus. by Debby Atwell, Houghton, 5–8 years.
Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell by Tanya Lee Stone, illus. by Marjorie Priceman, Octaviano/Holt, 5–8 years.
Helen’s Big World: The Life of Helen Keller by Doreen Rappaport, illus. by Matt Tavares, Disney-Hyperion, 5–11 years.

London calling
Freaks by Kieran Larwood, Chicken House/Scholastic, 8–11 years.
Etiquette & Espionage [Finishing School] by Gail Carriger, Little, 11–13 years.
The Madness Underneath [Shades of London] by Maureen Johnson, Putnam, 11–13 years.
The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress, Dial, 11–13 years.

These titles were featured in the March 2013 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

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Love among the ruins: romance in YA fiction
Ask the Passengers by A.S. King, Little, 13 years and up.
Not Exactly a Love Story by Audrey Coloumbis, Random, 13 years and up.
Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff, Razorbill/Penguin, 11 years and up.
Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo, Knopf, 13 years and up.

Board and flap books galore
I Can Do It Myself! and Now I Am Big! both by Stephen Krensky, illus. by Sara Gillingham, Abrams/Appleseed, 2–4 years.
I Say, You Say Animal Sounds! and I Say, You Say Opposites! both by Tad Carpenter, LB Kids/Little, 2–4 years.
What Happens Next? and Who Lives Here? both by Nicola Davies, illus. by Marc Boutavant, Candlewick, 2–4 years.
Boat Works: A Giant Fold-Out Book by Tom Slaughter, Blue Apple, 2–4 years.
Dinosaurs: A Giant Fold-Out Book by Simms Taback, Blue Apple, 2–4 years.

Down on the farm
Grumpy Goat by Brett Helquist, HarperCollins, 2–4 years.
Loopy Coop Hens: Letting Go by Janet Morgan Stoeke, Dial, 3–5 years.
Lucky Ducklings by Eva Moore, Scholastic/Orchard, 3–5 years.
I Spy Farm Animals by Edward Gibbs, Templar/Candlewick, 2–4 years.

Middle-school for Black History Month
Zora: The Life of Zora Neal Hurston by Judith Bloom Fradin and Dennis Brindell Fradin, Clarion, 11 years and up.
Spirit Seeker: John Coltrane’s Musical Journey by Gary Golio, illus. by Rudy Gutierrez, Clarion, 8–13 years.
Hand in Hand: 10 Black Men who Changed America by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illus. by Brian Pinkney, Disney-Jump at the Sun, 8–13 years.
Courage Has No Color: America’s First Black Paratroopers by Tanya Lee Stone, Candlewick, 11 years and up.

These titles were featured in the February 2013 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

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But they never stop, not the books, not the battles, not the readers. The particulars change as themes and trends cycle and populations shift, but generations of young readers are alike in asking the same questions of themselves and the world, and “who will love me?” is a big one. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Roger Sutton
Editor in Chief

From the February 2013 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

The post From the editor – February 2013 appeared first on The Horn Book.

Roger Sutton
Editor in Chief

From the January 2013 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

The post From the Editor – January 2013 appeared first on The Horn Book.

More building books for primary readers
Dreaming Up by Christy Hale, Lee & Low, 3–7 years.
Busy Builders by Roxie Munro, Marshall Cavendish, 5–8 years.
Castle: How It Works written by David Macaulay with Sheila Keenan, illus. by David Macaulay, David Macaulay Studio/Square Fish/Roaring Brook, 5–8 years.
Demolition written by Sally Sutton, illus. by Brian Lovelock, Candlewick, 3–7 years.

Picks of the litter
Alfie is Not Afraid by Patricia Carlin, Disney-Hyperion, Disney-Hyperion, 3–7 years.
Charley’s First Night by Amy Hest, illus. by Helen Oxenbury, Candlewick, 3–7 years.
Find a Cow NOW! written by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel, illus. by Janet Stevens, Holiday, 3–7 years.
Boot & Shoe by Marla Frazee, Beach Lane/Simon, 3–7 years.

Nonfiction apps for middle graders
Disney American Presidents, Disney Learning, 8 years and up.
March of the Dinosaurs, Touch Press LLP, 8 years and up.
Bobo Explores Light, Game Collage LLC, 8 years and up.
Barefoot Books Atlas written by Nick Crane, illus. by David Dean, Touch Press LLP, 8 years and up.

Returning YA fantasy and sci-fi series
The Girl of Fire and Thorns and The Crown of Embers, both by Rae Carson, Greenwillow, 13 years and up.
Scrivener’s Moon [Fever Crumb] by Philip Reeve, Scholastic, 12 years and up.
Shades of Earth [Across the Universe] by Beth Revis, Razorbill/Penguin, 14 years and up.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Days of Blood and Starlight, both by Laini Taylor, Little, Brown, 15 years and up.

These titles were featured in the January 2013 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

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