Category Archives: Kids Korner

Disability in Children’s Literature

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Given the prevalence of disabilities and chronic conditions, it is likely that you either have or know a child with a disability. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find adequate and/or accurate representation of characters with disabilities in children’s literature. The following resources can help if you are on the lookout for books for your child, their siblings, or peers.

Schneider Family Book Award

The American Library Association uses the Schneider Family Book Award to “honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.” You can find lists of both current and past awardees on their website.

We Need Diverse Books/OurStory

After creating a free account for OurStory online or through their app, an interactive quiz can help you find the book you are searching for. In addition to searching for books based on types of disability (i.e. Sensory, Physical, etc.), you can also search by age, genre, and even story elements such as sports, music, animals, etc.

Rethinking Kid Lit/Representation Matters

The Representation Matters project of RethinkingKidLit.com, from Ball State University, contains reviews of books featuring characters with disabilities. Rewriting the Story features free, online original stories or retellings of classic stories featuring disabled characters.

Disability in Kidlit

Disability in Kidlit features reviews of middle grade and young adult books with a focus on the disabled perspective. All of the site’s contributors identify as disabled. While they are on a hiatus from new submissions, past reviews and their “Honor Roll” of recommended books can lead to some great finds.

Teaching Books

Teaching Books features author interviews, lesson plans, book trailers, and other resources. They feature lists of books in various cultural collections, including a Disability Collection featuring over 1,000 books.

If these lists have given you some ideas feel free to browse or catalog or ask a librarian to help you find what you’re looking for. GPL’s Children’s Department also has a Childhood Experiences section featuring books on disabilities. Come in and browse, or let us help you find your next great, inclusive read!

 

My Summer Reading List

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All this time at home has given me an opportunity to read many new children’s books. I thought I would share with you some of my new favorites. Many of these books are on order and will be available soon.

 

FUNNY BOOKS (My favorite genre):

Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat
by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

Interest Level: 8-12 yr.
Lexile Level: 660

Personally, I love funny books so reading Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat was a delight! Klawde, an intergalactic overlord/emperor feline has been overthrown and exiled to planet Earth by teleporter. He lands in Elba, Oregon and is taken in by a young man (Raj) who has recently been transplanted with his family from Brooklyn, New York. Raj is dealing with his own crisis of being a city boy and having his mother sign him up for survival camp on an extinct volcano. Klawde reveals his situation to Raj who orders equipment from the internet so Klawde can build an escape transporter. There is laugh-out-loud dialog in this hilarious book. Fast read.

 

Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen
by Niki Lenz

Interest Level: 8-12 yr.
AR Level: 5th grade 1st month/ 7 points
Lexile Level: 780

If you’ve ever read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever you might remember the irascible Imogene Herdman. Picture a cross between Imogene and reality star Honey Boo Boo who intersects with Nonnatus House from Call the Midwife and you have yourself quite a book! I couldn’t put it down! Bernice is being raised in a trailer park by a “distracted” mother and 4 rowdy brothers. She is renown in school as a hateful bully and her dream is to be a famous Hollywood stunt woman. She has not been taught any manners and is rude and crude. When her mother leaves the family for some scheme to be on a reality show, Bernice is sent to live with her aunt who is a Catholic nun. OH MY!!!! The transformation is similar to Korman’s best seller: Restart.

 

A Zombie Ate My Homework
by Tommy Greenwald

Interest Level: 8-12 yr.
AR Level: 4th grade 1st month/ 5 points
Lexile Level: 560

This is a new series (trilogy) about a young zombie that was developed in a government laboratory who escaped and was taken in by a very kind family. This is a fast (short chapters) and fun read that I think the entire family will enjoy. (Great for reluctant readers!)

 

 

NONFICTION:

The Day the Universe Exploded in My Head
by Allan Wolf

Interest Level: 8-12 yr.

The Day the Universe Exploded in My Head is an enjoyable poetry book filled with great illustrations and funny informative poems dealing with space.

 

 

Gross as a Snot Otter: Discovering the World’s Most Disgusting Animals
by Jess Keating and Jessica Anne Morrison

Interest Level: 5 – 8 years (This seems like a very low leveI- I found it interesting and I’m 67.)

This book will have your children enthralled, horrified, and completely hooked! Great illustrations and amazing facts team up to make this a great selection!

 

FANTASY:

The Whispering Wars
by Jaclyn Moriarty

Interest Level: 8-12 yr.
AR Level: 5th grade 1st month/ 15 points

The Whispering Wars is a beautifully written fantasy filled with enchantments, nonstop action, stolen children and a magical flu (which creeped me out since I read it while quarantined with the COVID). For those who love a well plotted fantasy – this book comes highly recommended.

 

The Mystwick School of Musicraft
by Jessica Khoury

Interest Level: 10-12 yr.

This book is a Harry Potter-esque book with music as the vehicle of the magic. Amelia Jones has always dreamed of following her dead mother’s footsteps in studying at the Mystwick School to learn the magic of music. After she completely blows her audition she is thrilled to get the invitation to attend – but later finds out that it was issued by mistake and now she must prove her worth. This is a charming fantasy and sure to prove a worthwhile series.

 

 

GRAPHIC NOVEL:

InvestiGATORS
by John Patrick Green

Interest Level: 7-10 yr.
AR Level: 3rd grade 3rd month/1 point

This is a series of goofy fast-paced graphic novels based on the exploits of alligators who solve mysteries by traveling through toilets. If your kids love Dog Man and Captain Underpants this will be a winner!

 

 

 

SURVIVAL:

Lifeboat 12
by Susan Hood

Interest Level: 8-13 yr.
AR Level: 4th grade / 4 points
Lexile Level: 610

Lifeboat 12 is a fictionalized account of a World War 2 survival story. During the bombing of London children were sent to the countryside (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) for safety but they were also sent on ships to Canada. This was a great idea except that Nazi U-boats were torpedoing the ships. Ken Sparks a 13 yr. old Londoner is on the ship with 89 other children when the ship is hit and sinks. Because their boat was not swamped like the others and made it farther from the wreck, the rescue boats missed them. The book chronicles the horrific days of little water, scorching sun, cold nights, and the pain of “trench foot” while trying to row back to the motherland. It’s written in verse – so an easy read- especially for reluctant readers who love survival stories.

 

REALISTIC FICTION:

Finding Orion
by John David Anderson

Interest Level: 8-12 yr.
AR Level: 5th grade 3st month/ 13 points
Lexile Level: 790

This book is bizarre. Rion Kwirk’s family is very quirky. His mother named the children after constellations and his father works for a candy factory where he concocts unusual and sometimes disgusting flavors. Everything is turned even crazier when a clown arrives with a singing telegram to inform them that their grandfather has died. His dad’s father is the polar opposite of his son. Rion’s grandfather rides motorcycles and gives gifts like a taxidermied squirrel and crossbows. The story REALLY gets going when they attend the “FUN”NERAL and then discover that they must follow through with a scavenger hunt to find Grandfather’s ashes. As weird as it seems in the description, this is a poignant read and delves into forgiveness and what it means to be “family”.

 

Are we there yet?

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We’ve all been there.  You’re going to the beach for a nice, relaxing week-long vacation.  The only problem is we live in the Midwest and the beach is several hours away by car.  How do you keep the kids occupied without driving you crazy by constantly asking, “Are we there yet?”

I recently cataloged a new children’s book titled Sleuth & Solve by Victor Escandell.  It features 20 mind-twisting mysteries that can be solved using either logic or imagination.  The author included instructions to turn each mystery into a game.  One person will be the Investigation Director and will read the mystery to the other players.

Here’s one example using imagination:

“Marco lives and works in his home by the sea where he has lived alone for many years.  His life is very routine, and each night before going to bed he turns on the light.  But one night Marco is so tired that he forgets to turn on the light.  When he wakes in the morning, he hears terrible news.  Marco is distraught, and then runs straight to the police to confess his guilt.  Why is Marco at fault?”

The answer is under a flap that only the Investigation Director can see.  Now the other players have an opportunity to ask questions that require a yes or no answer, and they continue to do this until someone comes up with the correct answer.

Younger children will enjoy any one of Walter Wick’s and Jean Marzollo’s I Spy books.  They have at least a dozen different books, but I Spy Treasure Hunt is one of my personal favorites.  Marzollo has written rhymes which provide clues, and Wick has created detailed miniature villages which provide answers.  Children can be captivated for hours looking at these delightful pictures.

What an awesome way to engage the entire family!  Playing a game like this is going to make the hours in the car fly by, and you’ll be running in the surf and soaking up the sun before you know it.

Best Family-Friendly Flicks on hoopla Right Now

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With all the streaming services popping up these days, there’s certainly no shortage of shows to choose from for family movie night. Yet one of the challenges of having so. many. options. is knowing what to choose.

Which titles are available on which platform? What’s streaming for free and what requires a paid subscription? Which options are family-friendly? And if something says it’s “family-friendly,” is it appropriate for your family?

GPL patrons with Evergreen accounts can stream thousands of titles for free using hoopla. If you’ve never used hoopla before, or you’ve used it mostly for audiobooks & ebooks, now is a great time to check out their available films.

Here are a few of the best family-friendly flicks you can access on hoopla right now. I’ve included the MPAA rating for each film, as well as Common Sense Media’s (https://www.commonsensemedia.org/) age rating, to help you determine whether a title is appropriate for your family.

Happy streaming!

It Takes Two – PG, 5+

Although Elizabeth, of Marvel Cinematic Universe fame, may be the better known Olsen these days, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen churned out a plethora of family-friendly flicks in the 90s, with this title being arguably one of their better offerings. It’s predictable, yet sweet.

 

 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – G, 6+

It doesn’t get much more wholesome than this silly, whimsical ride from 1968. Fun fact: The screenplay was written by beloved children’s author Roald Dahl.

 

 

 

Heidi – NR, 7+

This warm-hearted remake of the classic children’s tale is absolutely gorgeous to watch. Please note that this is a German production that is dubbed for English-speaking audiences.

 

 

Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars – NR, 7+

Though this is the second film in a trilogy based on the work of L.M. Montgomery, you don’t have to have previous knowledge of the subject matter to enjoy this joyful, sweet film. Anne is a great role model for young viewers, and the fact that she has several mature, responsible adults to go to for advice is a refreshing change from most coming-of-age films. (The third film in the series, Fire and Dew, is also available.)

 

All Dogs Go to Heaven – G, 8+

As someone who loved this movie as a kid but hadn’t seen it in decades, some of the behavior (drinking, smoking, and a horrible, though thankfully brief, racist caricature) was shocking to see in a kids’ movie. Overall it’s still an enjoyable film, though, and these moments provide parents an opportunity to open discussions with children about what is and is not appropriate behavior.

 

Ella Enchanted – PG, 8+

A fun, fairy tale-inspired romp about a young woman cursed to do whatever she’s told. The star-studded cast and fun musical numbers should keep the whole family entertained.

 

 

The Black Stallion – G, 8+

The shipwreck that opens the film may be harrowing for young viewers. Otherwise, this tale about a young boy who befriends the horse that saved his life is as wholesome and heartwarming as the classic novel from which it was adapted.

 

 

Harriet the Spy – PG, 9+

This book-turned-movie has some tough to watch bullying scenes, some of which feature the protagonist herself as the perpetrator. But, by the end of the film, everyone has (mostly) learned their lesson. Plus, Michelle Trachtenberg is charming as Harriet, and many parents will find the 90s kid culture nostalgic.

 

 

If I Had Wings – PG, 11+

I was surprised by how much I thoroughly enjoyed this underdog tale about two unlikely friends overcoming a physical disability while navigating common problems kids face like bullying, strained parental relationships, and finding their identity. This film is better suited to older kids thanks to some language and allusions to racism.

 

13 Going on 30 – PG-13, 12+

This Jennifer Garner-led film is a delightful revisiting of the ‘kid in an adult body’ trope in the style of Big or Freaky Friday. Though there are some adult situations and innuendo you may not want younger viewers exposed to, it’s worth a watch with older kids for the soundtrack alone (and that “Thriller” dance scene).

 

 

For more info on how Hoopla works, check out our page (http://www.greenwoodlibrary.us/stream-hoopla).

 

 

Reluctant Readers

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It’s summer and we really want to keep the kids reading so they don’t experience the “Summer Slide” (when academic skills decline without practice). Some children just love to read and it’s hard to keep them out of a book – but for many others, it’s like pulling teeth to motivate them. Reading is very challenging for many students so you have to be strategic in finding materials that will entice them to read. Books that we have found to be popular are: the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Captain Underpants series (and anything by Dav Pilkey), graphic novels like Smile and Baby Mouse. Nonfiction titles that draw kids in are books that contain short interesting factual information like Ripley’s Believe it or Not andGuinness World Records.  Joke books are a great immediate gratification read. Many boys like war books and we have a plethora of these in graphic novel format. Two of our hottest series are the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis which covers exciting times throughout history and the You Wouldn’t Want to Be series which has a fun, factual, easy-to-read boxed layout.

A tip that has worked well for me: READ TOGETHER. I will read a page and the child will read the next page aloud or perhaps only the next paragraph. In this way the child is not overwhelmed by the text and by hearing the story and discussing the story together, vocabulary and comprehension are enhanced. Also, don’t count out audio books! The slogan, “Audio Books are Not Cheating” is TRUE! Children gain vocabulary, comprehension, and background information from listening to audio books! This choice is especially wonderful for family vacations! GPL has a wide selection of wonderful audio books and my most recent favorite is Restart by Gordon Korman which just won the YHBA Intermediate Award!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our GPL staff will be delighted to select appropriate fun materials for your children. Call 317-885-5035, and we will pull books that we will tailor especially for your family.