The Atlas
Book Titles: The Atlas Six, The Atlas Paradox, and The Atlas Complex
Author: Blake, Olivie
Narrator: Full Cast
Call number: LP FIC BLA
Reviewer: Randy Morgan
Date: April 18, 2024
What happens when the six most powerful medians gain unlimited access to knowledge and power? They will make, break, and repeat to satiate the need for more.
Olivie Blake has created a philosophical masterpiece about humanity’s obsession with love, death, and power. Her focus on character development and diversity allows readers to sympathize and justify character choices. The primary focus of this series is power which means the world building and action is minimal. However, these are some of the qualities I like about this series.
It makes perfect sense, it makes no sense, it’s insane, it’s a masterpiece.
When Stars are Scattered
Author: Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Narrator: Full Cast
Call number: Libby
Reviewer: Randy Morgan
Date: March 1, 2024
Omar works incredibly hard to follow his mother’s wishes- to protect and provide for his little brother, Hassan. This is an incredible undertaking for a preschooler. The burden is increased by Hassan’s seizures and nonverbal communication. To top it all off, they live in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya.
But, Omar loves to learn and often relishes tutoring from children who attend school. When Omar is given an opportunity to enroll in school, he hesitates. What will happen to Hassan? Does it affect the chances of relocation? Is this what Mom wants?
This audio book is PHENOMENAL! Listing to it was like listing to a movie. The full cast and sound effects really brought this story to life. I found myself double checking for cars as I was walking or children as I was driving. The end of the book has an epilogue with author’s notes that everyone must listen to.
When Stars Are Scattered started as a juvenile graphic novel depicting Omar Mohamed’s experiences as a refugee. Victoria Jamieson’s illustrations are vibrant and humbly detailed. The audio and graphic novels dutifully touch on troubling experiences of: bullying, child starvation, sports, education, homelessness, foster care, death, child marriage, migration, and war.
The audio and print version can be ordered through our MelCat service.
Further information on Omar Mohamed (and how I found this novel)
Native American Heritage
Book Recommendation List
November is National Native American Heritage Month. Our community has a rich history of this culture. Join us in celebrating by reading a title from this list of books selected on the Native American experience.
Native American Heritage Book List
BIBI
Author: Jo Weaver
Call #: EASY WEA
Reviewer: Mary Beth Reasoner, Children's Librarian
Date: May 24, 2023
Bibi is an elderly flamingo who looks out for the flock, and especially the babies - but when it looks like she may not be able to migrate, the rest of the flock tells her it is their turn to look out for her.
I love this picture book! The story is gently told with a lot of respect and mutual love between the generations.
As I finished reading it, I said to myself, "Yup! This is one I will buy for my personal collection!"
ERIK THE RED SEES GREEN
a story about color blindness
Author: Julie Anderson
Call #: J 617.759 AND
Reviewer: Mary Beth Reasoner, Children's Librarian
Date: May 24, 2023
When Erik begins having problems in school and on the soccer field, he discovers that he is color blind.
Endnotes: All about color and vision
I am including this children's book about color blindness in my reviews in hopes it will catch the attention of families who may be dealing with this issue. The illustrations are delightful. The story is well-told and the parents and teachers are portrayed as responsible. His classmates end up being helpful in helping Erik deal with his diagnosed color blindness.
It reminds me slightly of my own experience in not being able to read the chalkboard writings in third grade and thinking I was dumb. But no, I just needed glasses!
Children's DVDs
CHILDREN'S DVDs
Mary Beth Reasoner
Children's Librarian
The Children's DVD Collection contains
stories, documentaries, and cartoons
of current interest as well as favorites from the past!
SAVING FIONA
This is the amazing true story of Fiona, the baby hippo born prematurely at the Cincinnati Zoo, the team that nursed her back to health, and the community who loves her.
CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST
Follow Casper's misadventures as he scares most adults he encounters, but delights babies and animals;
includes all 81 short films and episodes of "The New Casper Cartoon Show" made between 1945 -1963.
SCAREDY SQUIRREL
Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree. It's way too dangerous out there! But one day his worst nightmare comes true and he finds himself out of his tree and discovers something really surprising.
(I love Scaredy Squirrel and how he ends up dealing with his phobias! Very funny!)
PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC: PINKAMAGINE IT!
Follow Pinkalicious and her brother Peter on their adventures in the town of Pinkville!
This animated series, based on the beloved books by Victoria Kann,
encourages children to engage in self-expression
and to explore the arts, including music, dance, and visual arts.
MAGILLA GORILLA AND FRIENDS
Direct from Mr. Peeble's Pet Shop habitat, Magilla Gorilla swings into action in this hilarious collection. Showing that primates and humans share similar situations, Magilla becomes an Army draftee,
a football player, a movie star and more. It's chock full of silly predicam
Leo Lionni's Friends
BOARD BOOK series: Leo Lionni's Friends
Reviewer: Mrs. Reasoner, Children's Librarian
Leo Lionni is a legendary children's author and illustrator.
I am delighted with this new series presented in the Board Book format (with sturdy pages)
for our younger patrons! The illustrations are full of colorful details.
A LITTLE BOOK ABOUT SPRING
Spring is a time of budding trees, chirping birds, and croaking frogs.
Discover the wonders of spring!
A LITTLE BOOK ABOUT COLORS
Each doublespread reveals the color name in its color along with the traditional Lionni mice illustrating the color.
(GREEN: A crisp, crunchy pickle. PINK: Bubble gum that pops on your nose)
A LITTLE BOOK ABOUT ABCs
The traditional Lionni mice Introduce each letter of the alphabet with delightful illustrations.
BOARD BOOK series: Little People, BIG DREAMS
by Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Reviewer: Mrs. Reasoner, Children's Librarian
Told in simple sentences,
this series is perfect to read out loud to little dreamers.
ADA LOVELACE
Follow Ada from her childhood in England and her studies in mathematics
to her development of the first computer programming language.
AUDREY HEPBURN
Presents information about Audrey Hepburn, from her youth in Nazi-occupied Europe, through her rise to stardom in some of the era's most popular films,
to her dedication to UNICEF.
ELLA FITZGERALD
Ella Fitzgerald grew up near Harlem, in New York, where she was surrounded by music and dance. After winning first prize in a talent competition at the Apollo Theater,
she went on to tour the world with her pioneering voice.
Follow her rise to stardom as one of the top jazz singers of all time.
FRIDA KAHLO
When Frida was a teenager, a terrible road accident changed her life forever. Unable to walk, she began painting from her bed. Her self-portraits, which show her pain and grief,
but also her passion for life and instinct for survival,
have made her one of the most famous artists of the twentieth century.
Other longer titles in this series can be found
in the Juvenile Non-fiction 921 Biography section:
Agatha Christie, Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie, and Coco Chanel