School and Community Summer 2024

2024 Book Recommendations

The Brand-New, Never-Used, Perfect Crayons by Leanne Hatch

Hidden Systems: Water, Electricity, the Internet, and the Secrets Behind the Systems We Use Every Day by Dan Nott This nonfiction graphic novel explains the history behind many of the things that people use every day. Each page is filled with facts and leads the reader into thinking about how these resources may be available and used in the future. Hidden Systems was selected for the 2024 MO Dogwood Readers List (non-fiction) and the inaugural 2024 MO Denny O’ Neil Readers List (graphic novels). More information about these award lists and the annual MO Readers Award titles, sponsored by the Missouri Association of School Librarians, may be found at maslonline.org/awards/readers-awards. The Superteacher Project by Gordon Korman What type of teacher would be the favorite for every student (except Oliver) and fellow staff members? Mr. Aidact is a brand new teacher at Brightling Middle School and Oliver is certain that something isn’t quite right with him. Oliver recruits his friend, Nathan, and together they figure out Mr. Aidact’s secret – he’s a $250,000,000 artificial intelligence robot commissioned by the US Department of Education. Unstuck by Barbara Dee Lyla is looking forward to the seventh grade creative writing assignment in her ELA class. It will give her the opportunity to write down the fantasy novel that she has been imagining for quite some time. She can then enter her work into the town’s writing contest — the same contest her older sister, Dahlia, won second place in a few years ago. The only problem is a major case of writer’s block, largely due to the pressure of impressing everyone. When Lyla turns to Dahlia for advice, Lyla learns something that can (and will) change everything. SPOILER ALERT: This book ends with a list of writing tips!

Who doesn’t love a brand new box of crayons? Violet is ecstatic with her new box of eighty-four, including one with her name. Violet cannot wait to begin drawing all she has imagined with this perfect box of precisely sharpened, never-used crayons. But Violet can’t bear to destroy the perfection that is her box of pristine crayons. With the help of her little sister, Violet is finally able to draw all that she has imagined. Leanne Hatch taps into the joy of sharing, creating and letting go of perfectionism. Whale Fall: Exploring an Ocean-Floor Ecosystem by Melissa Stewart and Rob Dunlavey “When a whale dies, its massive body silently sinks down, down, through the inky darkness, finally coming to rest on the soft, silty seafloor.” An information picture book describes the ecosystem that develops on and around the whale’s corpse in the roughly 50 years following its death. Includes an extensive bibliography and additional information about the species mentioned in the text. An ALSC (American Library Services for Children) Notable Children’s Book, a CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center) Choices Selection and an Outstanding Science Trade Books Selection. I Am a Tornado by Drew Beckmeyer When Cow is caught up in Tornado’s tantrum, his calm demeanor and thoughtful questions start to calm Tornado’s mood. Readers will learn the basic science of tornadoes along with skills for coping with emotions.

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