Monday, November 15, 2010

Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica


Times are tough for the Brodie family, just like they are for families all across America today. Nate has one chance to make a big change for his family and one special skill that can help him succeed. Will the pressure get to him? Read this superb novel by sportswriter and bestselling author Mike Lupica about sports, friendship and families, success and failure and overcoming adversity.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Lovely Sleepy Baby and the Sea by Raimond Lap


If you have a little one who needs help falling asleep, this music CD and its soothing sounds and melodies just might relax your baby or toddler right into dreamland!

Monday, July 26, 2010

The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech


Have you ever wondered what an angel's life is like? What does an angel do when he doesn't understand someone's language? And, how does an angel, who is hundreds of years old, tackle problem solving in the modern world? Read this funny, quirky, heartwarming story to see how Angel and Zola help people learn to care for one another again in a small village in Switzerland.


Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Curious George Learns the Alphabet

Name Eli S.


Book Title Curious George learns the alphabet
Book Author Hans Augusto Rey
Review Curious George wants to learn the alphabet. Curious George is encouraged by the Man with the yellow hat. After many fun and exciting adventures, Curious george accomplishes his goal.

The Home Run

Name Jayanti G


Book Title The Home Run
Book Author Joanne Meier and Cecilia Minden
Review Herbie Thinks he is baseball player and Reggie Jackson is watching him play...

Touch and Feel Baby Animals

Name (First name and Last Initial) Arjun G


Book Title Touch and feel Baby Animals
Book Author DK
Review fun book for babies to feel diff texture and see baby animals, my son enjoyed it a lot

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Ruby Bridges

Author: Madeline Donaldson

Review: This is a story of how Ruby Bridges attented an all white public school in the south.

Isabel H.

Dear Dumb Diary, Never Do Anything, Ever

Dear Dumb Diary, Never Do Anything, Ever

By: Jim Benton

Review: Jamie Kelly is trying to unleash her inner beauty just like Angeline, a girl in her middle school class. When Angeline is trying to get people to help her raise money for a walk-a-thon, Jamie and her best friend Isabella try to do the same thing, so they will have inner beauty, too. Read the book to see what else happens!

Isabel H.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Great Books for the Littlest Listeners

For the BabyTime and Mother Goose crowd, take a look at these:





Wee Little Bunny, Wee Little Lamb, and Wee Little Chick by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by John Butler. For any little animal lover.







All of Baby, Nose to Toes by Victoria Adler, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata. A delightful exploration of baby anatomy!






Hello Baby by Mem Fox, illustrated by Steve Jenkins. Mem Fox is an Australian writer whose picture books are almost always nearly perfect, and Steve Jenkins does amazing cut-paper illustrations.




Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. I told you Mem Fox can do no wrong! In this one she explains how babies all over the world (beautifully depicted by Helen Oxenbury) are essentially the same.





Here's a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, illustrated byPolly Dunbar. A collection of more than 60 poems about a toddler's world.





Global Babies from the Global Fund for Children. A beautiful board book with photographs of baby faces from around the world.


And the best thing is, all of these books are available for checkout at Baldwin!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Diary of a Wimpy Kid to Have Movie Sequel!

According to Variety, there will be a sequel to the movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid, based on the second book in the series by Jeff Kinney. Read all about it here!

Monday, May 24, 2010

The Latest from the Exquisite Corpse Adventure

Episode 18 is online now! It's called "The Regional Conference," and was written by Gregory Maguire and illustrated by James Ransome. Enjoy!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Breaking News: Wimpy Kid 5 Announced!

Mark your calendars! Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5, will be released on November 9, 2010! See the press release here, and look for the title to be announced in July!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Ghosts in the Library

There are always rumors floating around that Martha Baldwin's (friendly) ghost haunts the library. But check out the ghosts that recently visited the New York Public Library by watching this hilarious video. And don't miss the explanation of how they pulled it off.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Exquisite Corpse Adventure, Episode 17

Episode 17, entitled "SPEAK, MEMORY," is written by Susan Cooper and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. Read it today by clicking here!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Reading Recommendations


Looking for a new favorite? The Bank Street College of Eduation has posted their lists of the Best Books of 2010 for free on their website! Just click here to find lists divided by age and genre. When you find some books you'd like to try, you can search Baldwin's catalog to see if we have them!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Book Review: Dodger for Sale


The final book in the Dodger and Me trilogy by Jordan Sonnenblick (now on order at Baldwin!) will have you laughing and cheering for Willie and his blue chimpanzee friend as they try to save woods from an evil developer. I would recommend it for fourth grade and up. If you haven't read the first two in the series, you'll want to start today!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Exquisite Corpse Adventure, Episode 16

You can read Episode 16 online now! Just click here. It was written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering. Enjoy -- and check back May 7 for Episode 17!

P.S. There is a new episode every 2 weeks, and the story will go on for a year, so that means there are going to be 26 episodes -- more than I thought! Maybe once it is complete, they will publish it in a paper format. For now, enjoy it for free!

Friday, April 9, 2010

The Exquisite Corpse Adventure Continues!

Episode 15, written by Katherine Paterson and illustrated by Calef Brown, is now online. Click here to read. I think we are nearing the end...

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

SLJ Battle of the Books Winner Announced!

To find out who Katherine Paterson chose as "The Big Kahuna," click here!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Exquisite Corpse Adventure -- Ep. 14

Episode 14 is now online! It's written by Newbery Medal Winner Linda Sue Park and illustrated by James Ransome, and you can find it here!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Pembroke Elementary Book Reviews

Welcome to all Pembroke readers! We are looking forward to reading your book reviews. Please post them as comments to this post. All of us will be looking for some great reading suggestions. Thank you!

Friday, March 19, 2010

SLJ Battle of the Books

If you're not following School Library Journal's Battle of the Books, in which famous children's authors judge the best books of 2009, it's not too late to catch up! Click here to see what has won -- and lost -- so far.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Exquisite Corpse Adventure, Part 13, online now!

Episode 13, written by M.T. Anderson and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen, is online now! Click here to read it!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

School Library Journal's Second Battle of the Kids' Books Coming Soon!

School Library Journal has gathered the best kids' books of 2009 -- and the best kids' authors as judges -- to battle it out. For more info, go here. And, you have until Sunday the 14th to vote in the "Undead Poll" to resurrect an eliminated title for consideration. Last year's victor was Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games, one of my personal favorites. Who do you think will win this year? To see the match schedule, click here. To see the judges, click here. Let the battle commence!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Monday, March 1, 2010

Two New Great Reads!



Cosmic is the latest by Boyle, offer of Millions and Framed. You will love Liam, a 12-year-old who can pass for an adult because of his "mutant" height and his facial hair, and who -- after a series of very amusing events -- ends up the sole "adult" in charge of a group of kids in space! He also learns a thing or two about being "dadly." If you like humor and adventure, check this one out!


After Ever After is the very worthy sequel to Sonnenblick's Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie. This one focuses on Jeffrey, who is now an eighth-grader in remission from leukemia. Despite some serious issues and sad events, After Ever After is a very funny book that will have you rooting for Jeff from the beginning. (And you don't need to have read the first one to enjoy the sequel, but I guarantee that you will want to after finishing this one!)

The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, Episode 12, Now Online!

Written by Lemony Snicket and illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering! Click here to read.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

A Fun Read!


Ally Carter's Heist Society is a super-fun, fast-paced read -- it reminded me of "Ocean's Eleven," but with teenagers. If you liked Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series, you'll love this. I can already see it as a movie...

Friday, February 12, 2010

Exquisite Corpse Adventure, Episode 11

Should be out today! This one is both written and illustrated by Steven Kellogg! Click here to read The Exquisite Corpse Adventure from the beginning!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Breaking News!


The third and final book in the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins will be out on August 24, 2010, and it now has a cover and a title! Behold: Mockingjay!

Friday, January 29, 2010

Exquisite Corpse Adventure, Part 10

Part 10 is available now! Written by Megan McDonald and illustrated by James Ransome, it is available here!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Some Cross-Cultural Reads

Interested in learning about how kids in other countries live? Give these books a try!

The Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins. I enjoyed this peek into a different culture -- and Asha, the protagonist, is very relatable in spite of the differences. Set in India in the 1970s, Asha's roles as a daughter, sister, niece, cousin, and granddaughter are rigidly defined, and she chafes under cultural mores that American kids may have a hard time understanding. The ending, too, is not the expected happily-ever-after; it's more realistic than that, and about as happy as it could be under the circumstances. I do wish there had been more descriptions of the setting, but, like Asha, the action was mostly confined to the home. A coming-of-age story for thoughtful girls interested in other cultures.

A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper. Though the narrator and setting are very similar to one of my all-time favorite books, Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle, the story is much different -- more of a historical adventure than coming-of-age. It takes place on a remote European island in 1936. Sophie's family has lived there for centuries -- they are royalty, and Montmaray is, in fact, their kingdom -- but they are fairly isolated from European politics until 2 German officers arrive. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but there had better be a sequel -- lots of loose ends! Good for readers 6th grade and up.

Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel by Leslie Connor, illustrated by Mary Azarian. What a beautiful picture book, a quiet look at one woman's immigrant experience. When Miss Bridie moves to America from Ireland, she chooses to bring a shovel instead of a keepsake -- and then proceeds to put it to good use! Its tone reminds me of Cooney's Miss Rumphius, one of my all-time favorites. I think I'd love it even more if it were illustrated in a style other than woodcuts.

Extra Credit by Andrew Clements. 6th-grader Abby is failing sixth grade -- so when she is offered the chance to earn extra credit by writing to a pen pal, she jumps at the chance. Her pen pal turns out to be a student from Afghanistan, and both of them have a lot to learn from each other. This isn't my favorite by Andrew Clements, but it's still a good read for 4th-6th-graders.

The Day of the Pelican by Katherine Paterson. Paterson is one of my favorite authors, and as far as I'm concerned, all of her books are good! So even though I am only a little over half-way through listening to this one on audio, I feel comfortable recommending it. Meli and her family are Albanians living comfortably in Kosovo...until the Serbians start their campaign of terror against Albanians, and she and her family become refugees. A fascinating look at a recent historical event through the eyes of a 12/13-year-old girl.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Exquisite Corpse Adventure, Episodes 8 & 9 Available Now!

Don't miss out! Episodes 8 & 9 are online here. Episode 8 was written by Newbery Award-winning Natalie Babbitt and illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering. Episode 9 was written by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. Enjoy!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Librarians for Lightning Thief


Miss Amy says:


I finished The Lightning Thief just in time for next month's movie premiere! This is kind of a coming-of-age fantasy story, because Percy is finding out who he is (mortal? god?) and what his place is in the world. I would describe Percy Jackson as a reluctant hero because he does not seek out the battles he has to fight, yet faces them head-on with a fearless bravery and a wry sense of humor. Mythology, friendship, family and loyalty are woven into this first book of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.