The Explorer

My Adventures as a Young Filmmaker
by Andrew Jenks
Reviewed by Matthew S.
McCracken School, 6th Grade

Would you ever dream of moving into a retirement home as a teenager? Or want to roam Japan with Bobby Valentine, one of the best managers in MLB? Well, Andrew Jenks did those things, while also being an astounding filmmaker. At the young age of 19, he sold his movie Room 335. Two years later he went to Japan to make a film about Bobby Valentine called, The Zen of Bobby V.  A few years after that, his show The World of Jenks premiered on MTV.

This autobiography, My Adventures as a Young Filmmaker showed the hardships of Andrew Jenks’ life at a young age and as an adult. Those hardships included extreme homesickness and insomnia. Also explained in the autobiography is that Jenks got into film at a very young age. When he was growing up in Belgium, he always carried his camera with him. Later, when Jenks was in high school, he decided to submit some of his episodes to a smaller TV station in his hometown. A few episodes aired, but the show was later rejected because of a controversial situation.

Before I read this book, I had no interest in reading autobiographies. But after reading this book, it didn’t feel like an autobiography. It felt more like a novel!  My Adventures as a Young Filmmaker is a good book for anyone who loves movies and films.

Under The Cover is your chance for to submit reviews on the books you love. Contribute a review.

Horten’s Incredible Illusions: Magic, Mystery & Another Very Strange Adventure
by Lissa Evans
Reviewed by Juliana T.
McCracken School, 8th Grade

In the book, Horten’s Incredible Illusions: Magic, Mystery & Another Very Strange Adventure by Lissa Evans, Stuart Horten, grand-nephew of the famous magician Teeny Tiny Tony Horten, travels to a magical land and tries to solve the mystery of Tony Horten’s will. Stuart and his neighbor April continue the adventure they began in the first book by traveling through the rest of the great uncle’s Illusions (the Book of Peril, the Cabinet of Blood, the Arch of Mirrors, the Reappearing Rose Bower, the Pharaoh’s Pyramid, and the Fan of Fantasticality) to solve puzzles, save their friends, and try to find Tony Horten’s will before someone else does. This book has an exciting intro, a very sweet ending, and a plot sequence that will keep you reading!

For the entire beginning and background story, read Horten’s Miraculous Mechanism, although it is not necessary. I did not read the first book first, but still completely understood the plot. This is one of those series where you can jump in in the middle and still get it. I really enjoyed Horten’s Incredible Illusions: Magic, Mystery & Another Very Strange Adventure by Lissa Evans; it was funny, suspenseful, creative, and really fun to read! I recommend this book to kids in 6th-8th grade, and anyone who likes magic, mystery, and creative thinking. Also, if you liked The Mysterious Benedict Society series, you will love this book. So grab a copy, put your feet up, and enjoy!

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33 Minutes
by Todd Hasak-Lowy
Reviewed by Evan C.
McCracken Middle School, 7th Grade

How would you feel if your best friend turned on you for a snotty new kid? In the book, 33 Minutes by Todd Hasak-Lowy, that exact thing happens to Sam Lewis, a typical brainiac who is the leader of his school’s mathletes. Sam’s best friend, Morgan, the star running back and captain of the football team, begins hanging out with the rich, snotty, new kid, Chris, instead of Sam. Morgan and Sam grow apart and eventually become angry with one another. Sam’s anger with Morgan heightens when Morgan laughs at him during a pep assembly. Out of his rage, Sam writes “Morgan is so stupid” on a sheet of paper which Morgan discovers. Morgan says he is going to “kick his butt at recess” the next day. The entire book – and the title – focuses on the 33 minutes before the recess where Sam will supposedly get his butt kicked.

Despite the situation, this is a very funny story occasionally interrupted by even more hilarious drawings, which definitely helped tell the tale. The refreshing illustrations were a bit like Diary of A Wimpy Kid, to draw a comparison. All in all, 33 Minutes by Todd Hasak-Lowy is fun and hilarious, the characters are interesting and easy to relate to. I would especially recommend this to 6th or 7th Graders.

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Spring is finally here! The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping and the bugs are buzzing. As you enjoy all of the splendid experiences of spring, remember to crawl on over to the Youth Services Desk to pick up the supplies for this month’s craft: a caterpillar pencil! 

During your visit to the Library, stock up on your spring reading with some books about caterpillars or butterflies. Eric Carle’s delectable story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a personal favorite and was the inspiration for this craft!

Our LEGO CodeBots Club met for the second time on Friday, April 12th. Some kids created LEGO WeDo robotic contraptions while others explored the animation capabilities of the Scratch software. We Tried, Failed, Fixed and then Tried again. We caught a few seconds from various stages of each kids’ project in the video below.  Registration is going on now for the next session on May 17. LEGO CodeBots Club is held monthly on the second or third Friday of the month from 4:30 to 6pm. In May we are going to meet in the Mary Radmacher Room instead of the Youth Computer Lab. We will be using Raspberry Pi computers loaded with Scratch to power the LEGO WeDo sets. We’re also working on a way for kids to capture and share their own videos of their projects. Remember, if you can’t make it to CodeBots Club, the LEGO WeDo sets are available to use in the Youth Computer Lab anytime it is open, all the Computer Lab computers have Scratch installed on them–and Scratch is a free download that you can use at home, too!

Amelia Bedelia visited the library in person for her 50th birthday party. Her boss, Mr. Rogers, came to the party too. Many families joined in the fun, listening to a story, doing activities, and posing for pictures with these lovable book characters.

Every year we choose a list of “Hot Summer Reads” and middle school students get to vote on their favorite book. Then the library arranges for the winning author to come to Skokie and meet their fans. Last year, the winning book was 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. So, Jay flew in from California to Skokie for an event packed day on April 11! He spoke to over 500 seventh and eighth graders at Lincoln Middle school in the morning, and in the afternoon he spoke to 8th graders at Fairview South–signing autographs on books as well as hands (pictured left). See more photos from this event on our Flickr page. In the evening Jay talked over pizza with a group of students who had submitted reviews to our “Under the Cover” review blog. He then presented again to a crowd of fans in the library’s auditorium. Jay also talked about his most recent book, The Future of Us, which is on this year’s “Hot Summer Reads” list!

After Jay’s presentation to the students at Fairview, we had a chance to sit down and record this conversation with him–we can’t thank Jay enough, both for his important and gripping books, and his kindness and generosity with his time!

New Puppet and Book Sets have arrived in the Youth Services Department. It’s fun to read a story and act out the part of the character with your puppet in-hand. Besides, you’ll doubly understand the meaning of the story as you maneuver the puppet.  These well-made puppets are designed by Folkmanis© and the gleaming books contain wonderful stories correlating with the puppets. Kids, parents, teachers… come into to the Library, choose a Puppet and Book Set and check it out. This is an entertaining and enjoyable way to read.

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Monkey

Be prepared to be amused and enlightened. Start with the book, Monkey’s Friends by Ruth Brown. With the Folkmanis hand puppet, Monkey in the Barrel, you too can greet Monkey’s animal friends. Keep your eyes wide open for clues to their identities.

Cheetah

Perhaps pick the gorgeous Cheetah hand puppet. This one is juxtaposed with the book, Cheetah by Suzi Eszterhas. Take hold of the puppet and follow along. This beautifully photographed wildlife book depicts a family of cheetahs from the time the cubs are born until the age of two. Then they can care for themselves and even start their own families.

Tadpole & Frog

Who would not be curious about the two-in-one hand puppet Tadpole/Frog? This well-crafted puppet with its huge eyes and webbed feet can help introduce you to the world of frogs. In Frog by Kate Riggs, you will find the most astounding facts. For example, did you know there are more than 4,000 frog species around the world?

Grizzly Bear

Be sure to look for the Grizzly Bear Puppet and Book set. The book Grizzly Bears by Molly Kolpin exhibits a photograph of a fierce grizzly on its cover. On the other- hand, this beautifully made Folkmanis grizzly bear hand puppet appears soft and cuddly. Nevertheless, “Grizzly” will assist you with looking into the facts of one of North America’s largest animals.

Silly Goose

Are you ready for a funny story? If your answer is yes, borrow Silly Goose’s Big Story by Keiko Kasza and the silly goose puppet. In this story, Goose relates tales of adventure to his friends. They love his stories except for the fact that Goose always makes himself the hero. As they discuss the problem, the hungry wolf sneaks up on them and shouts, Hello, Lunch!” Come along to find out how Goose and his pals resolve this dilemma. This book and puppet set works great for reading with one child or a group.

Baby Otter

How about a story about a baby otter? The furry little hand puppet represents the baby otter in the picture book, Seababy: A Little Otter Returns by Ellen Levine. The very young otter is separated from his mother during a storm. The exhausted otter is rescued and taken to a special aquarium to recover. Come along on this sea creature’s journey to see what happens next.

Orphan Seal

Along the same lines as the otter rescue story, The Orphan Seal: A True Story by Fran Hodgkins pops up. This time the Harbor Seal puppet assists in telling the story of the lost baby seal. Fortunately, the New England Aquarium in Boston comes to the rescue. This is an especially good story to act out--- With one last effort, the pup frees himself from the water’s grip. Safe beyond the sea’s reach, he pauses and looks around. The weak, late afternoon sun barely pierces the heavy clouds. The pup blinks sand from his big, black eyes. ‘Ohhh-roooo!’ he calls. The beach is empty. His mother doesn’t answer.

Ravens

Who would like to gain some knowledge about ravens? The book, Ravens by Christine Webster, accompanies a large black raven hand puppet. With bird in hand, meander through this informational book in the Backyard Animals series. Did you know that ravens can fly through the air upside down for over a half-mile?

Snowy Owls

What about snowy owls? This lovely white owl puppet with black markings partners with Snowy Owls: Hunters of the Snow and Ice by Elaine Landau. These birds from the Arctic have a wingspan of about five feet. You will enjoy learning about snowy owls with this puppet and book set.

Fairest of All
by Sarah Mlynowski
Reviewed by Diane B.
Chute Middle School, 6th Grade

In  Fairest of All by Sarah Mlynowski, Abby and Jonah, the main characters, have just moved into a new town, Smithville. They just don’t fit in with the other kids because Abby and Jonah are much more sophisticated than the rest. Abby doesn’t like the way they do things. One day they found a mirror in their basement, a mirror that hissed and changed colors. Abby and Jonah start to investigate it, but when Jonah knocked on it three times it sucked them in. It transported them to a forest and somehow accidentally they messed up Snow White’s story, so now Snow White won’t get her, “Happily ever after.”

One of my favorite parts of Fairest of All is when the main problem begins. “‘Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!’ Hmm. There is one small problem with all hipping and hooraying. Snow didn’t eat the apple. Which means she didn’t get poisoned. And if she didn’t get poisoned, then she didn’t die. And if she didn’t die, the probably cute prince didn’t bring her back to life. So she probably doesn’t marry the probably cute prince. Which means Jonah and I probably ruined her life.” This was my favorite part because that’s when all the questions start: Will she marry the prince? Will she live happily ever after? What will they do to save her? It is the part of the book when you wonder so many things you just want to keep reading and reading until you finish and find the answers.

I recommend this book for kid’s 3rd-6th grades because it’s not too hard and not too easy to read. It is full of adventure and excitement. It is not the end you expect, but it is as good as the original ending of Snow White. It is one of the best books I have ever read.

Under The Cover is your chance for to submit reviews on the books you love. Contribute a review.

Cardboard
by Doug TenNapel
Reviewed by Carolina S.
Chute Middle School, 6th Grade

Cardboard by Doug TenNapel is a fantasy graphic novel. The setting of this book is located in a fairly regular neighborhood in modern times. The main characters are Cam and his father. Cam is full of energy and he is very curious. Cam’s father is hardworking, but most of the time depressed.

The main conflict in Cardboard is how the bully of the community, Marcus, destroys his own house by magic cardboard. Marcus stole the magic cardboard maker from Cam to make monsters that are trying to destroy the town and take over everything. In the text, it states that Marcus stole the magic cardboard maker for himself , “He took it, dad! He took the cardboard maker!” (115).  This book was a fun, quick, and enjoyable graphic novel that had cool illustrations.

I liked this novel because I got really trapped in it. I found myself always questioning, “What will come next?” One short excerpt from the book that I enjoyed went like this, “The most awkward thing you can do is to work so hard not to let it get awkward!” (92) This is something that Tina, the next-door neighbor,  said. This was my favorite passage because when I read the sentence for the first time, I had to read it a few more times before I actually understood it. When you read this book, don’t pass up that line.

I recommend this book to younger kids because it is full of action and adventure, and it’s an easy read.

Under The Cover is your chance for to submit reviews on the books you love. Contribute a review.