Brand New on our shelves is Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer.  This picture book of "reversible verse" is so much fun!  She takes favorite fairy tales and writes a short poem about them, which when read in reverse (conveniently printed side by side) tells the story from another character's point of view!  If you love fairy tales, you will get a real kick out of this very clever book!

This week is Read Across America Week, where everyone gets together to support reading to children.  In addition, this week we celebrate Dr. Seuss's Birthday on March 2nd!  Pick up your favorite book by Theodor Seuss Geisel and read it to your favorite kid (or to yourself, if you haven't indulged yourself lately). 

Sojourner Truth's Step-Stomp Stride is a picture book biography of Sojourner Truth, a famous Abolitionist and Feminist.  Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney (see other Pinkney family books) have brought her story to vibrant life.  From her birth as a slave in 1797 to her famous speech ("Ain't I A Woman") in 1851 they show her strength and courage as she used her "step-stomp stide" to walk through adversity.  (Sojourner Truth died in 1883; the end notes cover some of her life after the speech.)

This super fun book by Cressida Cowell has now been turned into a thrill a minute animated movie by Dreamworks.  The movie and the book are a little bit different, so before you see the movie, check out the book!

The Library of Congress thinks that childrens books are important enough that every two years they appoint a Children's Literature Ambassador; someone who can be a great voice for children and reading and great books.  They just appointed Katherine Paterson, a fantastic author, as that Ambassador.  The list of her books is too long to cover here, but she is one of the greats (Bridge to Terabithia is hers).  She has decided to spend the next two years telling kids to "Read for Your Life!"; reading is important for the way it brings us together as families and communities.  Read what she has to say about this new project.