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Book reviews by library staff and guest contributors
Every year the American Library Association’s Caldecott Committee chooses the "most distinguished American picture book for children" from the previous year. This year’s award-winning books will be announced on January, 28th.
Here are a few of the 2018 picture books that look promising
In the second of her new series set in 1920s New York former con artist Elizabeth Miles helps a friend whose husband has died (killed by a streetcar). As though grieving her suddenly dead husband weren't bad enough, Priscilla Knight learns after his death that all of her money is gone. She'd come into this second marriage a wealthy woman and somehow in less then a year her husband Endicott made all that money disappear. Now Priscilla isn't sure how she'll support herself and her two young daughters.
Fans of Sally Thorne's debut novel, The Hating Game, have been RABIDLY waiting for her second book for what feels like decades, but was actually three years. Her hilarious, galloping writing never lets the reader rest a beat between moments of chemistry-- it has a wonderful dizzying effect. Almost everyone I know has read The Hating Game at my insistence, and many of them simply and reverently refer to it as The Book.
Everything You Need for a Treehouse (Chronicle Books, 2018) is for anyone who has ever dreamed of living in a treehouse (kid or adult, alike!) The lyrical text is a perfect match for the amazingly glorious illustrations of many different treehouses – from adventurous boat to glass castle. More poetic than practical – the story focuses on the importance of a big imagination, time, and space to explore (rather than the nuts and bolts of building & construction). I bet you will start dreaming of your own amazing treehouse after reading this book!
2018 is done and all the "best of" lists (or most) for books published last year have been created and shared with the world. So what now? How will you know what to read next now that you've finished all of the best of 2018? Well the CrimeReads website can help you fill the void.
MG Martin is a writer working for the comic book publishing company responsible for the comics that spurred the geekdom of her youth. Her dream job, or so you'd think. But things have stalled. She struggles to have her ideas heard in a building full of men and while she still wants to write the comics she loves, she's wondering if she should be pushing for more or even pursuing her love of costume design. Then into her lap falls a real-life mystery.
Got a tween fan of folksy pop music, but maybe you’re not quite yet ready for them to dive into some of the mature themes of many of the songs on the radio today? Check out Every Voice by Kira Willey. Full of catchy music and empowering lyrics, this album settles comfortably in that sweet spot between Laurie Berkner (who makes a cameo on this album, actually) and Taylor Swift, with a hint of mindfulness for balance.
Every year in the fall the library hosts the main events of the Wisconsin Book Festival. But did you know that Festival events happen all year long? It's true! And if you take a look at the Wisconsin Book Festival site you'll see we've already got 10 author events planned for the next few months. With authors from a neighborhood near you (Muriel Sims) and as far away as ones who were born in Nigeria and China (Chigozie Obioma and Ha Jin) this is a diverse and wildly interesting set of events.
Looking for something that will scare your socks off?
Well the votes are tallied and the results for the hashtag #libfaves18 are in. With 1873 votes from librarians across the country the favorite books of 2018 have been picked. Topping the list - in a tie! - are Circe by Madeline Miller and Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover.
