GHOST by Jason Reynolds

Y'all. This book.

This book got me.

This story is about running. Who you run for. And who you run from.

Castle Cranshaw (who prefers to be called "Ghost") is a kid from the wrong neighborhood, with a love of sunflower seeds and basketball, and a habit of getting into "altercations" until he stumbles upon a track practice and decides to step into a race. Coach takes note of Ghost's natural talent of running and offers him a spot on the team.

Listen. This book is incredible and everyone needs to read it. Sure, it seems like a predictable story. You know Coach is gonna be great and you know Ghost is going to be challenged by being a part of a team. You even know that somehow he's going to get caught in his latest "altercation". But you don't know how!

Ah! I loved this book so much! I can't even pick a favorite part because it's just that good.  And the best part: It's the first of a series!!! I cannot wait for more!

EVERYONE READ THIS BOOK!

The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill

I was really excited to read The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill. Last month, Julie Danielson of Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast visited the NPL Children's Librarians to talk about her favorite books of 2016 and this book was high on her list. And it did not disappoint!

A magical tale of a kind witch, a tiny dragon, a poetic monster, and a young, but powerfully magical girl. These aren't even all of the key players in this story. Though the story is told from many voices, the chapters flow together seamlessly, and just how these voices will converge remains unpredictable until the end.

I was hooked from the get-go and couldn't put this book down. It had little hints of Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, which is one of my favorites. I loved the innocence of Fyrian, the Perfectly Tiny Dragon, who never seems to age. I loved the wisdom of Glerk, the Bog Monster, who is truly no monster at all. I loved the goodness of Antain, the hesitant boy who grows into an honorable man on a mission. And the love of the old witch, Xan, and the memories that hold them all together.

This book is a must read for lovers of fantasy and magic.

a reintroduction...

Hello again!


It's a new year and a new chance to actually start blogging. I'm notoriously bad at saying I'm going to blog, but not actually doing it. But I am often asked about books in both the library and out, so I decided this is a good way to keep up with what I am reading, for both me (I always forget what I read for story time when writing my end-of-month review at work.) and anyone may be interested in children's books, whether you frequent my library or not.


And in case you don't know me, my name is Callie Ann Starkey. I am the Children's Librarian at the Thompson Lane Branch of the Nashville Public Library. I've been with NPL for about 3 1/2 years and I've been at Thompson Lane for 2 years.


I love my branch. I love this neighborhood. I love our families. I love my story time kids. I get to go into the schools in the area and do story times and teach kids about the library. It really is the best job.


I also love children's books so so much. Even when I'm not planning for story times, the books I'm reading are almost always children's books. (Occasionally I take a week or two to reread something by Amy Poehler or Mindy Kaling or some other person I adore, but 90% of time, it's children's.) I love picture books. I love chapter books. I love audiobooks.


So why not share some of these stories with you?!


My goal this year is to give a quick summary of my weekly story time at my library. One post each week. That should be easy, right? If I'm feeling adventurous, I will also post about any great picture or chapter book I've discovered.


My reading goal this year is to read a new chapter book and reread an old favorite each month. So, in theory, I should have plenty to say on this blog. It's the actual following through that gives me difficulty...


So here goes!




*Side note: If you keep reading, you will find reviews I wrote several years ago, which I figured I might as well keep posted because they're still book reviews, right??


** Also, if you dig really deep in this blog, you will also find posts from 2012 chronicling my time traveling through the United Kingdom learning about children's literature with a group of really awesome librarians.


Happy Reading!!