Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. We’re focusing on new children’s books at the library for the next few weeks.

The library likes to add local authors whenever possible, and the children’s section has just gained a new illustrator/author named Tim Raglin.  Mr. Raglin lives in Independence Kansas and has been publishing his own picture books for several years.  Each book he has published is in a larger format – most are over a foot tall!  Today’s selection is The Birthday ABC, and is authored by Eric Metaxas and illustrated by Tim Raglin.  It was published about 4 years ago, but is new to the library’s collection.

Each page in this book is devoted to a different letter of the alphabet and features detailed pen and ink drawings. A is for alligator, and in 4 line rhyming couplets the animal wishes the reader a happy birthday.  B is for bear and c is for crow and so on.  There is no actual story line, so if you have a wiggly little one at home, this book may be put down and picked up again at any page. 

If you find you like Mr. Raglin’s style of illustrating or would just like to know more about the author/illustrator, he usually has a booth each year at the Smoky Hills River Festival in June.  In the meantime the library has four other books written with Eric Metaxas starring Mugsy, an ornery bulldog, and Mugsy’s niece and nephew.

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library.  This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”

The Birthday ABC by Eric Metaxas, illustrated by Tim Raglin
ISBN: 0671883062, fully illustrated
Children's Picture Books

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. We’re focusing on new children’s books at the library for the next few weeks.

Chu the little panda is worried. It will soon be his first day at school and he’s not sure the other kids at school will like him. His parents assure him things will be fine, and at school the teacher has a nice face. The first activity at school is introductions. The teacher asks each student to tell the class their name and one thing they love to do. Everything is drawn on a chalkboard in turn. Jengo the giraffe likes to get things from high places, Pablo the monkey likes climbing, and Tiny the snail likes hiding at home. Chu’s turn finally comes last and by that time the chalkboard has been written and erased many times, leaving lots of dust in the air. Chu illustrates the reason for his name as he releases a sneeze so big the roof of the school is lifted up! But the good-natured teacher and the rest of the class find it was all in good fun, and Chu isn’t worried about his classmates liking him anymore. 

Author Neil Gaiman and illustrator Adam Rex are individually known for other works. Neil Gaiman started his author career in graphic novels and has even authored a couple movie scripts. Adam Rex is known as the author and illustrator for many other children’s books, and in recent years published a few titles for young adult readers. This is the first time the two have worked together and indicated by the about the author section at the back of the book, Chu's First Day of School by Neil Gaiman and Adam Rex will not be the last time we will see Chu the panda.

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit.  This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”


Chu's First Day of School by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Adam Rex
ISBN: 9780062223975, fully illustrated
Children's Picture Books

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. We’re focusing on new children’s books at the library for the next few weeks.

Thinking of the future and how today’s actions affect tomorrow can be difficult for children to learn. Even some adults need reminders now and then that what they do will change the people and places around them. Today’s book will help with just that concept, and in a fun way too.  Slam! A Tale of Consequences by Adam Stower follows a young boy on his trip from his house to the candy store with his dog to get a snack. There are few words to move the story along so both parents and children will have to look closely at each brightly colored page to notice what is happening, and quite a bit goes on in each scene! 

The boy starts off from home wearing headphones and reading a comic book. His dog is on a leash behind him.  His mom yells “Don’t slam the door!” but the boy does not hear and things are set in motion when a ball trapped on the edge of the roof in the gutter falls and scares a cat, who in turn jumps on a lady carrying oranges and eggs. The food spill trips a jogger who releases his dog on a skateboard. And that’s just the first page! Words on each page like sproing and splosh will help any reader make this already entertaining book even more exciting. Soon a circus truck, and ice cream truck, and even a sewer dragon are involved in the mess left behind the oblivious boy. But to see how it all ends, come on down to the library and check it out.

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit.  This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”

Slam! A Tale of Consequences by Adam Stower
ISBN: 9781771470070, fully illustrated
Children's Picture Books

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. We’re focusing on new children’s books at the library for the next few weeks.

Teenage Muntant Ninja Turtles have been popular for decades. Although the fictional characters started as cartoons on television, a big screen live action version is opening in theaters soon. If you’ve got a young fan of the series in your household who just also just happens to need reading practice, take a look at Teenage Muntant Ninja Turtles: Pizza Party! by Joshua Sternin. This title is part of the library’s early reader section, and features one or two short sentences per page in large type. The pictures are cartoon style in bold and bright colors, sure to catch the reader’s eye and help the story line move along even if a word or two is new.

Our hard-shelled heroes are on the streets of New York at night, ready to receive their pizza order, when they hear a scream! Men in dark suits are abducting a girl in yellow and the Ninja Turtles swing into action. However, the men in suits turn out to be evil robots controlled by pink slimy aliens. The turtles chase the aliens away and save the girl. Afterwards everyone enjoys a pizza party.

If this library book stirs an interest in the Teenage Muntant Ninja Turtles (or you already know a fan of the series) the library has a couple other selections with the same characters – some picture books and another short story collection in an early reader level. 

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit.  This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Pizza Party! by Joshua Sternin
ISBN: 9780385385060, fully illustrated
Children's Early Reader Books