The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

By Tom Angleberger. New York: Amulet Books, 2010.

Who do you ask when you need advice about something? I bet you're going to say your parents, families, or friends. You wouldn't think of asking a finger puppet, would you? I didn't think so. But what if the finger puppet was an origami Yoda? We all remember Yoda, the wise sage from the Star Wars movies. He gives GREAT advice, that it would be silly not to follow it. That's what a bunch of sixth-grade friends discover in this fun book.

Dwight is a goofball. He's kinda weird, and always says things that are unpredictable and strange. One day he shows up to school with an origami finger puppet of Yoda. All of a sudden, Yoda is dispensing advice and predicting the future to most of the kids in the sixth grade. And, the advice works! Well, Tommy needs to find out how origami Yoda can be right about so many things, when his owner, Dwight, is just completely clueless. This book is a case file, and Tommy interviews several of his sixth-grade friends to discover their experiences with origami Yoda.

This book is very funny and goofy, and would be perfect for kids who love the Wimpy Kid books. Along the page margins are really fun doodles that complement the text perfectly. There's even directions at the end for making your very own origami Yoda. Read this book you must.

Gracias / Thanks

By Pat Mora. Illustrations by John Parra. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc., 2009.

Sometimes it's the little things in life that you are most thankful for. This lovely, bilingual book demonstrates that feeling in a beautiful way. Starting in the morning, a young boy wakes up thankful for the sun. Throughout his busy day, he's thankful for all the things in nature that help make his day joyful. The story ends with the boy going to bed, thankful for the cricket serenading him to sleep. This book provides a way for families to have a nice conversation about the big and little things in life that give you pleasure, and make you stop and say "thanks!" This book is a joy to read!

LMNO Peas

Written and illustrated by Keith Baker. New York: Beach Lane Books, 2010.

Peas are not my preferred vegetable of choice. I’ve never liked them, even as a child. But, I always give peas a chance. And the peas in this book are my favorite! They are different than the average pea – “we are peas – alphabet peas! We work and play in the ABCs.” These peas have fun jobs and hobbies, and they want you to learn all about them, while also brushing up on your ABC skills. They are acrobats, campers, explorers, listeners, and they are unique! You will have fun learning all the different words that begin with each letter of the alphabet. The illustrations are really cute, and the pastel colors lend a soft, cozy feel to each page. Children will have fun exploring the pages and seeing the peas in action. If you are looking for a great alphabet book, or just a cute read, check this out!

Foiled

By Jane Yolen and illustrated by Mike Cavallaro. New York & London: First Second, 2010.

Aliera Carstairs is an awesome fencer. She rules the sport, but in high school, she is a nobody. She doesn't belong to any of the cliques, and doesn't have any friends. She spends the majority of her time at fencing practice, and spends her Saturdays at her Aunt Hannah's house doing role-playing games with her cousin Caroline. That all changes one day when new student Avery Castle begins to pay attention to Aliera. They become lab partners in Biology, and all of a sudden, Aliera is noticed...by a boy, no less! When Avery asks her out, Aliera is excited and also completely freaked out. She's never been on a date before! On top of that, her mother had just gotten her a new fencing foil with a mysterious jewel attached to its hilt and she had to bring it along on their date, because she will be coming straight from fencing practice. All of a sudden, mysterious and strange creatures try to steal the foil. What is going on? Will Aliera be able to keep her foil safe and will her date be completely ruined?

I flew through this book! I was completely engrossed by Aliera, and I loved the aspect of fencing as a plot focus. I will admit, there are some parts that are a little choppy, but the overall story prevails, so be patient. The ending is very abrupt, but I checked Jane Yolen's website, and there is a sequel planned, so hopefully everything will be answered! The graphics are awesome - the black and grey drawings are so expressive, and when the colored panels emerge, they are so vibrant and just pop off the page. Anyone who wants an interesting, fast read, should check this out!

Gumption!

Written by Elise Broach and illustrated by Richard Egielski. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010.

Tally ho, we’re off to the jungle in this story! Grab your binoculars, hiking boots, and canteen! Uncle Nigel is Peter’s favorite uncle, and one day, he invites Peter on an expedition to Africa. He’s trying to find the Zimbobo Mountain Gorilla, the wildest of beasts. On their way through the jungle, Peter encounters many obstacles, but Uncle Nigel is quick to reassure him that he can overcome them – “all it takes is a bit of gumption.” In case you didn’t know, gumption means courage. I love the message in this book that all things are possible, especially when you have the support of your family. The illustrations are bright and colorful, and they convey another element to the story. While Uncle Nigel plows ahead, Peter gets some help from the many wild animals they are in search of in the jungle. The reader sees what’s going on, but Uncle Nigel is none the wiser! Another charming element to this story is the “old-fashioned” expressions from Uncle Nigel – “I say!” or “Nonsense, my boy!” They make this story a wonderful read-aloud, and in case you’re wondering if they ever find the elusive Zimbobo Mountain Gorilla, well, you’re just going to have to read this book to find out!

Twimericks: The Book of Tongue-Twisting Limericks

Written and illustrated by Lou Brooks. New York: Workman Publishing, 2009.

Did you know April is National Poetry Month? In honor of that, I thought it would be fun to go through the poetry section at my library, and pick out some gems to share with you. Poetry is great for reluctant readers - they are fun to read aloud, are generally short, and most of them rhyme!

My first choice is a winner. This book combines two of my favorite types of poetry - tongue twisters and limericks! A limerick is a short, five-line poem and they are supposed to make you laugh. A tongue twister is a bunch of similar sounding words, and when you try to read them together, you stumble on your tongue. This book contains a warning at the beginning: “The surgeon general has determined that rapid reading of this book aloud to others may lead to your tongue being twisted into a perfect over-and-underhand Bavarian pretzel knot – probably forever.” You want to read it now, don’t you? Pick up this book of silly poems, and just try not to twist up your tongue when you read them aloud! I guarantee lots of laughter!

Pingo

Written by Brandon Mull and illustrated by Brandon Dorman. Salt Lake City, UT: Shadow Mountain, 2009.

This picture book takes the idea of an imaginary friend and mixes it up: what if your imaginary friend turns into your enemy? That's what happens to Chad. Chad and his imaginary friend Pingo, who looks like a gremlin, grew up having fun adventures. One day, after being teased by kids about Pingo, Chad decides he doesn't want to have an imaginary friend anymore - "it's time to stop pretending that you're real." Well, Pingo just won't go away, and he decides if they can't be friends, enemies is it! Pingo makes it his mission to torment Chad in any way he can think of. As Chad grows up, Pingo continually plays tricks on him, but he grows weary of being ignored. Years later, Chad is an old man living alone at a rest home. Guess who's there with him? Chad gives up, and confesses he's missed Pingo, and the two of them continue their adventures.

I was immediately drawn to Pingo, who with his polka-dot shorts and striped scarf, is absolutely charming. His facial expressions expertly demonstrate his mischievous streak, and you just can't help falling in love with him. The illustrations are hilarious, and kids will enjoy picking out the details of Pingo and Chad's adventures. This book will have you looking at imaginary friends in a new light!