Hello everyone. I'm Miss Pam from the Billie Jean King Main Library. I want to welcome you to chapter chat along with my friend Jeanine Sacacora from the Mark Twain Library. Yes, welcome to chapter chat like Pam mentioned I'm Jeanine from the Mark Twain Library and our this is our monthly conversation highlighting new books from our elementary and middle school collections. We're a little bit late this month for the chapter chat, but normally we air the second Wednesday of every month. We will each talk about four new books that have arrived on our shelves within the last six months. So let's begin and we will start with you, Pam, take it away. Okay, I'm going to start with pause for a clause.  No, it's kind of. Oh no. What's going on. It's almost there. Just a little bit more. There it is. Sorry, everyone. Now we had this under control. All right, so this is pause for a cause. This is part of series called diary of a pug. And this is the story of Baron bomb bubbles, bubbles, who is the cutest pug ever. He goes by the name of Bob. He lives with his owner Bella. And one day they find the last kitten and they bring it home. And they find out that they can't keep the kitten because Bella's mom says there's only two pets allowed and one is Bob, and one is the snooty cat Duchess. So they take the kitten to the shelter. And when they get there, they find out that the cats and dogs at the shelter don't have any toys to play with because there's no extra money for to buy toys that pay for food and other things for them. So Bob and Bella and their neighbor, Jack and his dog Luna decide to have a fundraiser to buy toys for the shelter, and they want to have a pet wash. They have a little rehearsal and things do not go well, but Bella comes up with a very creative way to have a pet wash. And of course, everyone is happy at the end. And let me see if I can find, I can show you pictures inside because they are really such cute, cute cats and dogs. Let's see if I hold that up. Oh, well, anyway, you get the idea from what I what you could see of the cover that the animals are going to be very, very cute. So, take it away Janine. Okay, I love pugs. They're so cute. You think they're happy. You think they're sad, but they're really happy. Okay, so my first book is 13s 13s by Kate Alice Marshall. This book came on our shelves at in January, about a couple months ago, and you can find it in our children's fiction section. So just, just to let you know I'm sure you can tell what number plays a big part in this story. And this story is about 12 year old Eleanor or L as she goes by. She's moved into her aunt and uncle's house in the Eden in Eden Eld, and it's finding it hard to start a new life here. Not only is this a new town and a new household. She's also kind of trying to recover from a traumatic event that she experienced, where her mother burned down their home while L was still in it. So it's pretty traumatic. Well, while she's trying to put that in the past, and adjust to her new life in Eden Eld.  No one can really see them except for her new friends, Pip and auto, who teach her a few survival tips while living in Eden Eld, which are, don't let the wrong things know you can see them, and don't speak of the wrong things to anyone. So, however, I'm sure you can find that hard to do when you keep seeing these things all over town, wherever you go just staring at you. So, these three friends eventually figure out that these supernatural disturbances are somewhat explained in an odd and very strange fairy tale book that L's mom actually gave to her when she was younger, she used to read it to her every single day. She contains 13 tales, including tale of the mysterious Mr. January, who they later find out proposed a cursed deal with Eden Eld's founding fathers, where every 13th Halloween. He will take three of Eden Eld's children who will never be seen again. Even though this Mr. January might seem like a made up very tale character. They start to believe this curse even more when they decipher the number code under the town's commemorative statue that reads 31313 on the 31st, three turn 13. And I'm sure you can guess which three are turning 13. On Halloween. So, will they be able to to figure out how to break this curse before it's too late before they all turn 13 on the 31st. You'll have to pick it up and find out. Wow, you read some of the creepiest books. Yeah, quite a selection. Okay, we're going to try this again with the cover. Okay, that's not bad. Okay. I've heard of this one that's cool. This is a silver arrow. And it is the story of Kate. Now the book is written by Lev Grossman. This is her 11th birthday. And she thinks it's about time that her very rich uncle Herbert gave her a birthday present so she writes him a letter and asked for a present. And he sends her an actual locomotive right there on the street. She and her brother very bravely climb on board and they figure out how it works and then Uncle Herbert shows up. And he doesn't really want them to actually take the train anywhere but all of a sudden it just starts kind of working on its own. And he helps them add cars to it because you can't do anything with just an engine. And so they add regular cars like a passenger car dining car. But he also says okay use your imaginations what cars would you want. So they had a library car and a candy car and mystery car. And then all of a sudden they're taking off with all those cars. And they find themselves stopping at stations but at the stations they're not people getting on their animals all sorts of animals. And they find out that they can speak to the animals and the animals can speak to them. And Kate never imagined she would ever be friends with a porcupine. But they find out that they have not just regular animals but they have a pangolin. They have a green mamba and a heron. And as they travel around some of the animals get off more animals get on. And Kate learns their stories that some of them they're just moving somewhere around the world, but others are endangered and they're trying to find a safe place to live. So in the end it's a revelation for Kate because they tell her what the humans have done to kind of ruin their environments and so they have to be moving on. But it's also a story of hope and magic. And if you think this book was great, just wait till you read till Tom's her little brother's birthday arrives and see what Uncle Herbert has for him. So this is the silver arrow. Oh, very cool. Lots of birthdays in this chapter chapter. Yeah. Very cool, very cool. Alrighty. And so this one is my next one. Oh, I saw that one. Yeah, yeah, it's pretty good. It's I'm, I'm in the middle of it, but it's, it's not bad. It's this one is called a salt and shore by a net shop by the machine shop. So the author is actually Dutch. And she, this book was actually written originally in Dutch. And it was translated recently and was it got on to our shelves in February. This particular book actually received for Dutch literary awards. And I think jail jail junior library guild also kind of meant is mentioned or maybe I didn't do my research on that one, because it kind of recently came out but at least to the United States. So it's a highly highly acclaimed. So this story is about lampy, who is a lighthouse keeper's daughter, who, who lives with, and who lives with her father, her own, only her father. The town doesn't know this but she has gained the responsibilities that her drunk disabled father cannot fulfill. Being a lighthouse keeper means that the lamp must be lit every single night in order to warn ships in the far away distance that to be aware of the rocky shores nearby. And unfortunately, a hurricane one night a hurricane rolls over the town and lampy has not been able, it was not able to light the lamp. It causes a ship to actually crash into the nearby rocky shores. Nobody was killed or anything like that, but still the town isn't happy. And they feel that somebody must pay for what has what has just happened. And so lampy's father must live in a live a life locked in the lighthouse that he was originally responsible for. And lampy must work as a servant at the admirals black house and you can see that I'm here right there. Yeah, the black house where many people say it's rumored that there's a monster living in that house. And so, and she must be the servant for seven years. Even though it was hard at first being away from the sea and her dad and the lighthouse. She eventually got used to cleaning up the messy household. She was allowed to be anywhere, except for the tower upstairs I'm sure you can see that up above where there's a light. She under no circumstances she's not allowed to go up there. And of course her longing to be to just be able to see the lighthouse in the distance and you know just imagine breathing in the sea air at this all made her break that rule. So she went up the stairs and got to the tower and can you guess what she might have discovered. Was it a monster where the rumors true. Oh man, who knows that. And so she definitely found something though, and this something has qualities that most of the townsfolk are not too fond of. So this being or something or creature. He becomes more of a friend than a foe. She will soon discover that her friend will be put in moral danger because of his differences. And she will have to find the courage to do whatever it takes to save them. They'll need each other. Of course, but yeah. That sounds very intriguing I want to find out what that thing creature is. It is more of a fantasy novel so I guess okay. All right, so let me try. Now, even if I hold it up in the blue. Okay, because I really want people to see this. So, can you see it. If no, I think it will. It has to be like in an exact spot almost. Maybe there. Okay, well, anyway, this is Mr. Limoncello and the titanium ticket by Chris Gravenstein. And if you're familiar with the Mr. Limoncello books, you know that they involve library trivia and a kind of tributes to the library. Well, and this one is completely different. Because it features a care, the boy Simon scrundle who has never played a video game or board game. He has his grandfather hates Mr. Limoncello. Simon's parents used to work for Mr. Limoncello but they were killed when they went to China to try and find a new factory place, a factory location for Mr. Limoncello and they were killed in a crash on the way back. So his grandfather is always blamed Mr. Limoncello. But Simon is a very clever puzzle solver, he can solve rebuses and difficult math problems, especially those tricky word math problems. And so, when his class takes a field trip to Mr. Limoncello's factory, Simon makes a suggestion that earns him a ticket to Mr. Limoncello's annual over the top picnic. Well at this picnic, they're going to take four kids from from the town, and they're going to be partnered with the winners from Mr. Limoncello's previous library games. And eventually one of them is going to earn the right to inherit Mr. Limoncello's empire of games. So this not being said in the library but actually in a, in an outdoor game zone. They are, they end up competing in life size actual games that we're all familiar with, but they played battleship in a pool with many submarines. They have they play shoots and ladders and you can see the shoot on the cover here with actual ladders and shoots.  And so anyway each, each game that they play that they win they they find the letters that are in a puzzle that will lead them to the location of the titanium ticket.  His name is Jack, and Jack is just the king of the snide remarks and he resorts to dirty tricks to try and knock son and out of the competition. Well with a good guy when you have to read and find out and you have to read, especially the great games that they get to play. It's kind of like Charlie and the chocolate factory. There's gonna be games instead of candy so this isn't really fun and I, they obviously will be more because they're getting the titanium ticket is just the beginning for Simon. Oh, very cool. Seems fun. Yeah. Yeah when you said they inherit them like Oh, rings a bell. Yeah, Charlie. Okay. So you have all these really fun books I have some some downers I guess you could say, but good ones yeah. I know. Did you read this one. I, I couldn't bring myself to do it yet. I know, because I read her other books. Oh yeah, this is the first that I've read of hers.  So this is fighting words by Kimberly brew Baker Bradley. And as you can see it did win an award here. It won the Newberry honor award. And this book came to our shows in January and you can find it in the children's section. I will warn like we mentioned before I will warn our viewers and young readers out there that this story has a very emotional is a very emotional one and presents a lot of heavy issues. So, this book is about 10 year old Della, her real name is delicious. So you can see why she goes by Della telling the she tells the reader about her and Suki her 16 year old sister's story. And they're very emotional journey that ultimately put them in the care of their foster mother Francine. It all started when their mother blew up a motel room, trying to cook meth in the bathroom, while the two sisters were actually in the room. Luckily everyone got out safely, but their mother was arrested and convicted for the whole thing. The girls under the care of their mother's abusive boyfriend, Clifton, who later does not does such an awful thing that ultimately makes them run away. But Della always felt protected and looked after because she had Suki looking after her all like through everything. They protected Della through their mother's meth addiction through the motel disaster and even through the struggles living with Clifton. But who is there to protect Suki for older sister throughout this new journey with their foster mother, both Francine and Della slowly discover the horrific things that Clifton had done to Suki and how it has affected her today. So much the five whole years they were with him were complete nightmare for Suki that now she wakes up in the middle of the night screaming and eventually later attempts to commit suicide. And Della witnesses all of this. And she's feeling as if her whole world is turned upside down. Well, will Della and Suki be able to heal from this? Will they be able to gather up the courage to testify in court and face Clifton again? You'll have to read it and find out. Oh my gosh, that's a heavy one. Those stories are so hard to read. They are. We often end up winning awards because they're so well written. Her book set in World War Two, the first one won an award. And, boy, I don't know how you could even write about that. Oh, and another thing I wanted to add was that. The author, she said that it actually happened to her too. So she's been wanting to rewrite this book and it took her quite a while. I'd say about how I don't even remember, maybe almost 10 years, a little over 10 years. Yeah. And so she, but she wanted to get this story out because she knows that obviously she went through it. And she knows the kids out there goes through it too so. Yeah. Yeah, it was rough. So I want to change the mood. Good. And with. Oh, I wanted to read the book. Good. Good. All right. Okay. Okay. All those. Okay. Skunk and badger by Amy Timberlake and pictures by John class and badger is quite content living by himself in a brownstone. His aunt's brownstone and he does important rock work where he finds rocks, he classifies them. I'm just going to set this down. Okay. And one day skunk shows up at his door, and he has an invitation from Badger's aunt to live in the brownstone with him and be his roommate. Well, skunk is a total opposite of badger, and he's very lighthearted and cheerful. And the first thing he does is he goes into one of the rooms to turn it into a bedroom.  So he flattens all the boxes and that just annoys badger now in but skunk says well now I have a room where I can look out at night and I can see the room, the moon. So this is my moon room. Wow. He also has a chicken whistle, which obviously is only heard by chickens. So when he blows it all of these chickens show up the brownstone about 100 chickens and they come to hear a story and eat popcorn. And badger is even more annoyed with this. And when skunk is something threatens the chickens and skunk does what skunks do. And unfortunately badger. Not good. So badger gets very angry and just has an over the top reaction to skunk. And but somehow will they become friends. What will happen with all the chickens that have been hanging around. I just really enjoy this because badger is very content to live in his rut, and he's little cantankerous and grumpy. And he's very optimistic, amiable skunk and they remind me of my forever favorites frog and toad. And I love the reading an interview with Amy Timberlake and she said she had to do a lot of research for this. She had to find out exactly how skunk spray.  Oh, I'm trying to get this on. Okay, this is a Transylvania naked neck chicken. And so she had to research the different types of chickens and that was her favorite chicken. When badger sees that he thinks it's a turkey, because he's got such a long neck and it doesn't look like a regular chicken. It's pretty much fun and this is the first in a series. She has another one coming out in the fall called eggs mark the spot. And this would make if your family does read aloud or your teacher and you do read allows for their class. This is the book to read out loud fun. I know I, I think I, I, that came to our branch too. And I started reading I think the first chapter. And like it just gets right into it, like, skunk arrives. And that's just like, oh God. Why, what, what's going on. Yeah, yeah. The illustrations are so funny. And they're so cute. So I think it drew me with a John Colson or Clayson, I think he was, he drew it so I was like, Oh, I'm a little intrigued I want to kind of open it and see what's inside. So, yeah, cute. Alrighty. So this one's not as heavy so it's okay. I decided to pick up. Yeah, so city, the city of the play God by Sarwat Shad Shad Shad Shad and this is one of the newer books from the Rick Gruden presents imprint. And as you can tell it's just like all the others are similar to the others where there's some mythology in it. And so this book came on our shelves in the middle school section in February. And so it's this book is actually about ancient misopotamian mythology. Rick Gruden actually wrote the forward in this book to warn the reader that the book was actually written and submitted to their publishing company before the coven 19 pandemic started. They wanted to make sure that they told the reader this ahead of time, so that they so that the reader knows that they didn't try to capitalize from the pandemic. A lot of people get backlash whenever they tried to create a movie or show or story with based on this pandemic so they wanted to make sure everybody knew. Don't worry, this was researched and written way before coven 19 hit. So, All right, so how so learning about this ancient mythology readers can definitely learn how the current human race can relate to the ancient civilization and understand that pandemics and plagues have never been have out have always been around for centuries. So, this book is about Secunder Aziz, or as he calls himself sick, tries to have a normal life, but he finds it hard to do when he has to work at his parents deli in Manhattan on nights and weekends, and also one of their employees who's also a vein and aspiring actor doesn't really pull his weight around the deli. And also, which is sad, also since his older brother mo had recently who he actually idolized and sees and saw him as his hero, his older brother actually passed away in a fatal motorcycle accident. It's pretty sad, but so you're introduced to the family at the deli and how sick has to really pull a lot of weight at this deli because all those factors. Well, Mo was his hero and he wanted to be him so bad, and he misses him a lot. Mo taught sick all about ancient Mesopotamia and its mythology, and they both were huge fans of the legendary gods and goddesses.  The ancient god of plagues and disease Neregal has come to New York City, seeking the ultimate treasure, which actually is what Mo stole from Iraq, and was then, and that treasure was sent to sick before he passed. Sick doesn't know this, of course, but he soon finds out. Neregal is searching the whole city for this treasure. He also has released a horrible disease that turns humans into deformed monsters. It spreads like wildfire. It says it's practically it almost seems like similar to how fast COVID really spreads. It's pretty scary. Sick must team up with the with Ishtar, the goddess of love, and her adopted daughter to find this treasured item before Neregal does. Sick will have to find a way to be the hero this time. Mo was always his hero, he's got to now be the hero in this instance, and gather up the courage to stand up against Neregal or else the whole city or possibly the world will perish from the city's plague. For those who are huge fans of cultural mythology, or a lot of the other books that Rick Reardon presents in print published, or the lightning thief. I would highly recommend this book. Very, very action adventure and learn so much about ancient misopotamia mythology and stuff like that. Great cover. Yeah, I know. The author did note that in the at the back he, it took him years to write this book because not only was he learning about ancient misopotamian mythology, but he wanted to also highlight that the main characters were from Iraq, or of that heritage. And so, as you can see, like, throughout the book there with they are Muslim. And so there are instances where they actually say Muslim terms terminology, which is kind of a little bit different compared to ancient misopotamia, because it's, it's a different type of different type of cultures, but he wanted to highlight that he had to do a lot of research and try not to hopefully not try to insult anybody when it comes to his heritage and culture. So, yeah, a lot of work. But I'm glad he got it published and noted that he finished it before the pandemic. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Yeah, you never know how much work goes into writing. Yeah, a lot of research. Yeah. Well, what a great variety of books today. Yeah, ran the gamut of emotions. Seriously. And so, I just want to remind everyone that you can find these books under chapter chat. Oh, four to one in our library catalog you can put holds on them. I'll pick them up at six of our libraries, Mark Twain and main or among them. So, we hope to see you soon at the library. But in the meantime, we'll just keep, we'll just keep chatting about books and want to thank our friend miss Danea for this great background. And I guess we'll see you next month where miss Jeanine, do you want to give a preview for next month? Next month. Or you mean in May. May. May. Yeah. Yes. Oh yeah so in May we will actually be celebrating Asian Pacific Islander heritage month. And so in May we will get just a heads up we're going to be choosing books by Asian or Asian and Pacific Islander authors. And most of those books will highlight some type of Asian cultural background, heritage background. So, get ready for that. Well, we thank you for joining us. We hope you have good reads of your own and we'll see you next month. Thanks. Okay, bye. Bye.


Hi, I'm Gabriela Epstein and I am the illustrator of Invisible, a graphic novel written by Cristina Diaz Gonzalez. And this book is about five different kids who come from very different Latino upbringings. Maybe they come from Mexico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, etc. But they have very different outlooks on the world and they all have to overcome that, come together to help a homeless woman in need. But my favorite aspect of this book and one that I really want to point out here is the fact that it was written and created especially for ESL students. So we have both languages, English and Spanish, written and translated on every page so that students who are familiar with both or maybe only one language are still able to read it and understand it and maybe also learn a bit of the other language while doing so. So yeah, I'm pretty proud of that and I hope you all enjoy. Thanks so much for reading.