Dec. 2 Library Books

The following books are available at the Portales Municipal Library:

Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve

Minerva Louise — that absurd but loveable chicken — experiences her first Christmas, in this amusing picture book. When Santa visits the farm, she mistakes him for a farmer, and follows him around offering ridiculous suggestions. Children will giggle as she mistakes his reindeer for goats, ornaments for eggs, and a treetop angel for another white hen. Stoeke’s brightly colored cartoon illustrations capture Minerva’s curiosity and create a mood of delightful humor.

Great Joy

By Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

As Francis is preparing for her Christmas pageant (she’s playing an angel), an organ grinder and his monkey captures her attention. She enjoys watching their performance, but wonders where they go at night. Her mother is too busy sewing her costume to answer her question, so Francis stays up one night to discover for herself that the two spend the evenings on the street. DiCamillo’s unpretentious story gives greater meaning to the oft-spoken words. The illustrations, done in acrylic gouache, add warmth and light to this heartfelt story. The magic of the holiday spirit is portrayed in this simple story.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

By Sherman Alexie, Art by Ellen Forney

This winner of the National Book Award for 2007 is an autobiographical novel about a young boy (and budding cartoonist) growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation. When he discovers that his math book is the same one issued to his mother 30 years ago, he decides to attend school off the reservation, 20 miles away, in the hope of escaping the cycle of poverty. As a narrator, Junior is funny and smart, and his cartoon images showcase his off-beat humor. As one reader put it, “this book will make you think!”