The Bard's Books

It has been a while since my last update, so first here's what's been going on. I left my music teacher position of 14 years to take a 1/2 library 1/2 music position at a public PK-3rd grade Academy that focuses on using GT best practices for all students, whether or not they've been identified as gifted. I inherited a library that was staffed the previous year by a 1/2 time librarian and a 1/2 time assistant, who were both on another campus 1/2 time, which is tough. I've gotten really lucky to be mentored by a phenomenal librarian who is only blocks from my school, knows a TON about the district I'm in and how it's run and is just a great person. Because I could basically do the music job in my sleep, I've spent something like 3/4 of my time in the library, trying to get my bearings, get programs off the ground and provide a welcoming space for my teachers and students. So far, it's been going well. This first post back is going to be focusing on a

I love making book recommendations, but I think I like getting recommendations from others even more. I visited one of our district's Early Childhood Center (PreK & Head Start) campuses last week to take some books from my library that teachers had requested and to see if I could help them out a little since they don't have a librarian and their library is basically empty. While there, one of the bilingual teachers asked about my school's Spanish book section, which is actually pretty sad. She recommended a book called La Tortilla Corredora by Laura Herrera and illustrated by Scarlet Narciso. I immediately grabbed it off Amazon . You see, I know a lot about books, but I don't know everything. And I certainly don't know enough about pictures books in Spanish. You know who knows about those? PreK Bilingual teachers. And if a PreK Bilingual teacher says La Tortilla Corredora is amazing, then I'm going to believe her. And I'm going to add that book to my

Summary:  Ella receives the gift of obedience from a foolish fairy, which turns out to be a curse instead of a gift. Forced to always follow orders, headstrong Ella fights the curse. When Ella's mother dies and her father remarries Dame Olga for her money, Ella finds herself in an untenable situation. Her stepsisters use her curse to keep Ella under their thumbs. Meanwhile, Ella has befriended and subsequently fallen in love with Prince Char, but is afraid her curse could be used to harm him. When Char comes back from a diplomatic mission, a ball is held in his honor. Ella attends in disguise but is unmasked. Char orders her to marry him but Ella, still afraid for his safety, is able to fight her curse and refused. This refusal breaks the curse and Ella then accepts his proposal and they are married. Strengths:  The novel's strength lies in the character of Ella. Headstrong, intelligent and kind, Ella fights against convention and the enchantment put on her in creative a

Summary:  Thea lives in Gracehope, an underground colony underneath Greenland. Global warming is causing to melt away. When Thea finds a map and tunnel leading to the surface, she meets Peter, an outsider who makes connections between talismans of the people of Gracehope and his mother's research. The two realize they have a lot in common despite growing up in very different worlds. Together, Thea and Peter must convince the people of Gracehope that their lives are in danger and that they must leave Gracehope for the surface. Strengths:  Alternating chapters told from the perspectives of Thea and Peter allows the characters to become well developed before they meet and join together for their common goal. The realistic backdrop of global warming and scientific research into ice melt lends scientific credibility to the story. The elements of science and history make the plot unique and interesting. The icy setting is well described, immersing the reader into both Gracehope an

Summary:  In Fairfold, regular people live side by side with magical Folk. Tourists come to visit Fairfold and its main attraction, a strange faerie prince lies sleeping in a glass casket. Hazel and her brother pretend they are his knights, but Hazel knows he will never wake up. Then one day, he does. Hazel discovers that in her past she made a bargain with the Fae so that Ben could go music school, but has kept this a secret. Hazel and Ben both have to remember and use their pasts to save the present. Strengths: The Darkest Part of the Forest is an urban fantasy. Black merges the real world with that of the Folk seamlessly. She also incorporates a gay romance subplot that doesn't feel forced or unnecessary. The book is dark and has some creepy elements. Characterization is handled well with Hazel, Ben and Jack being multi faceted and complex. The plot progresses through fractured pieces of present and past chapters, mostly told by Hazel, though a few are told from Ben'