News from Youth Services Category: Picks by Darice C.

The Rhino Suit

by Colter Jackson

the rhino suit book cover
E JACKSON, C.

The author describes how her feelings overwhelm her, especially when seeing the world, or people, or animals in pain. “Everywhere she looked there were beautiful things. But there were sad things too. She felt so much, sometimes her feelings overwhelmed her.” So she made herself a thick-skinned rhino-suit, where she lived in to hide her pain. 

She came to realize that having a “thick skin”, also kept out the happy things, as well. “When she was in the rhino suit, she also couldn’t feel the breeze on her skin, smell the flowers, or hear the birds singing.” She realized that not all people have a special gift of being sensitive to others when they are hurting, and she could use her feelings to actually do something to help the world around her. Being a “deeply feeling person is a wonderful thing to be.”   

When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree

by Jamie L.B. Deenihan

when grandma gives you a lemon tree book cover
E DEENIHAN, J.

This little girl was excited her birthday finally arrived. She had a rather lengthy wish list, with lots of cool gadgets she wanted for her birthday. However, when Grandma came over, she gave her grand-daughter a very unexpected gift. How surprising! She didn’t know how to react! See how this story evolves as one sweet youngster turns her unwanted gift into something simply amazing. As you may have heard, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

Follow that Frog!

by Philip C. Stead

follow that frog book cover
E STEAD, P.

Follow That Frog! is an adventurous story about little Sadie’s elderly Aunt Josephine, who recounts the days when she was in the jungles of Peru on a scientific expedition. Well, while Aunt Josephine was busy cataloging amphibians, she came across a gigantic frog, the biggest frog she ever did see. That huge beast jumped right out from the deep forest, and proceeded to eat up her friend. And then, he hopped away! Oh goodness. 

Check this book out to see some of Aunt Josephine’s wild adventures, and find out if she could ever find that silly green frog again!

The Able Fables Series

Louie's Together Playground, Lia's Kind Mind, and Gary's Gigantic Dream book covers (The Able Fables series)

In the Able Fables series by Dr. Nicole Julia, we meet new friends like Gary the Giraffe and Lia the Lion, and learn about what makes each of them unique. A great new series for learning about inclusion, exploring all of our beautiful differences, and learning how to appreciate what makes us exceptional.

This Way, Charlie

This way, Charlie, by Caron Lewis, is fictional narrative about animal rescue, based on a real life story of two orphans, a goat named Jack, and a partially blind horse named Charlie.  This title is a 2022 Monarch nominee!

This Way, Charlie by Caron Levis – Brooklyn Museum Shop

When Charlie arrives at Open Bud Ranch, he can tell that another animal, Jack, seems to like to be all by himself. Their relationship gets a bumpy start,  but when Jack finally summons his courage to be around others, he invites Charlie on a walk to his favorite place. See what happened one stormy night as these two adventurers help protect each other, and become forever friends. 

Jack and Charlie at wild heart ranch wildlife rescue and rehabilitation

The real Jack and Charlie from This way, Charlie. 

Click here to place a hold on This Way, Charlie and check out other stories of unusual animal friends.