Children’s Book Week 2015

May 4-10, 2015 is Children’s Book Week the 96th year of celebrating books for young people and the joy of reading.

This year’s poster is by Grace Lin, author of the Newbery Honor book When the Mountain Meets the Moon.

Leroy Kinker Saddles Up

 

Leroy is meant to be a cowboy. He has boots, a hat and a lasso; what he doesn’t have is a horse. He answers an ad for a horse for sale. Maybelline is a particular horse, she likes sweet talk, she eats  lots of grub and she gets lonesome. She is past her prime, way past actually. It is love at first sight for Leroy and Maybelline. Leroy learns to take particular care of Maybelline and they are getting along well until a thunderstorm comes along. Like in all love stories, Leroy’s true love is lost but he finds her again. And they live happily ever after.

Leroy appeared in the third book of the Mercy Watson series by Kate Di Camillo, Mercy Watson Fights Crime. Mercy and hot buttered toast make an appearance in Leroy Ninker Saddles Up. It is illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. Several copies and formats are available at the Sonoma County Library.

Dory Fantasmagory

Dory is the youngest child in her family,. She is curious and has plenty of imagination. All she really wants is to be invited to play with her sister, Violet and brother, Luke. They think she acts like a baby and  find her annoying. All they really want is for Dory to leave them alone. Violet and Luke tell Dory about Mrs. Gobble Cracker, who is 507 years old with very sharp teeth and steals baby girls. They have heard that Mrs. Gobble Cracker is looking for Dory so she’d better stop acting like a baby.  Dory and her imaginary friend, Mary, concoct schemes to evade Mrs. Gobble Cracker which continue to annoy her siblings. After vanquishing Mrs. Gobble Cracker, she saves the day (or the doll)  which keeps Violet and Luke from getting into trouble. In gratitude she is invited to play.
Dory Fantasmagory is written and illustrated by new author Abby Hanlon.  There are several copies available at the Sonoma County Library. A sequel, Dory and the Real True Friend will be published on July 7, 2015. My six year old granddaughters love this book. It is a great read-a-loud book, too.