Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery Newletter

Books and News to Give You Paws

Youth Yak

Page One Staff Picks Youth Yak Book Groups News




Jen		Nothing Ever Happens Heidi McKinnon If you thought you couldn't demonstrate the adage, "Be careful what you wish for" to a child, you haven't read Nothing Ever Happens by Heidi McKinnon. Two fish friends have found their sea home has become boring and just wish SOMETHING would happen. Until it does. Now all the things that were once boring suddenly seem comforting. Kids will eat up the illustrations and text, and completely get the message, while laughing.

Katrina		And Then, Boom! Lisa Flipps Each summer, I read through the Maud Hart Lovelace Award Division II nominees so I can book talk them with my 7th and 8th grade students. This award was established in 1980 and has two divisions: one is for grades 3–5 and one for grades 6–8. Every year, I am impressed by the quality literature that is represented in these books. The first Maud Hart Lovelace book I've read is And Then, Boom! by Lisa Flipps. This story is written in verse and follows the tumultuous life of Joe Oak who lives with his grandmother after his mom leaves when she gets “the itch” to keep moving. Follow Joe as he navigates through many “and then, boom” moments, like in comics where everything is falling apart when he is left by himself with the responsibilities of bills, no food, and a dog and two puppies who appear right when everything is spiraling out of control.

Hannah		Millions of Cats Wanda Gág Millions of Cats is the oldest American picture book still in print. Its author/illustrator was a big part of the graphics scene in New York in the 1920s. The text is hand-lettered by her brother. The book was the first to use the double-page spread, activating the entire potential of its horizontal shape. The addicting refrain of “Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, Millions and billions and trillions of cats” will get children to chant with a reader. And after much chaos, the story’s ending is very sweet. A gift edtion of the book came out in 2006. And there’s a Wanda Gág museum in New Ulm, Minnesota!

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Page One Staff Picks Youth Yak Book Groups News

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