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12,000 | 13 | After the events in The Barftastic Life of Louie Burger (2013), Louie Burgers life as the social underdog of his fifth-grade class brightens considerably when he appears in a video on the Lou Lafferman comedy show. People talk to him, and not just his two friends, Nick and Thermos. Soon, however, his notoriety fades, and Louie, determined not to revert again to Class B.U.R.P. (Boy Used to Ridicule and Put-downs), begins to scheme of ways to get more attention and respect from his classmates. Louie is an appealing, genuinely funny 10-year-old, determined to win hearts and minds on his own terms. His single-mindedness leads to hurt feelings on the part of his family and friends, but all is put right in the end. Loopy comic bookstyle illustrations appear throughout, along with pages from Louies comedy notebook. Some kids may have trouble getting past Louies missteps and humiliations, but fans of Lincoln Peirces Big Nate, Stephan Pastis Timmy Failure, and James Pattersons I Funny (2012) should make friends with Louie Burger. Grades 3-6. --Paula WilleyFifth-grade jokester Louie Burger has a killer sense of humor . . . Give this one to kids or educators who are looking for anti-bullying stories, as well as to young comedy buffs. School Library JournalLouie is an appealing, genuinely funny 10-year-old, determined to win hearts and minds on his own terms . . . Fans of Lincoln Peirce's Big Nate, Stephan Pastis' Timmy Failure and James Patterson's I Funny should make friends with Louie Burger. BooklistAspiring elementary school comedian Louie Burger is back, this time tackling popularity . . . Funny and accessible. Kirkus Reviews; Title: Class B.U.R.P. (The Barftastic Life of Louie Burger) | [
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12,001 | 2 | Billy Steers is an author, illustrator, and commercial pilot. In addition to the Tractor Mac series, he has worked on forty other children's books. Mr. Steers raised horses and sheep on the farm where he grew up in Connecticut. Married with three sons, he still lives in Connecticut.; Title: Tractor Mac School Day | [
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12,002 | 11 | "Clear, uncluttered design makes this age-appropriate board book useful, especially for young fans of big machines." - Kirkus ReviewsBilly Steers is an author, illustrator, and commercial pilot. In addition to the Tractor Mac series, he has worked on forty other children's books. Mr. Steers raised horses and sheep on the farm where he grew up in Connecticut. Married with three sons, he still lives in Connecticut.; Title: Tractor Mac Colors on the Farm | [
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12,003 | 15 | Key offers plenty of nail-biting suspense in this survival tale about a deep-sea dive off the Alabama coast that goes horribly wrong . . . The story meticulously details the steps that quick-thinking Julie takes to stay alive. Julies troubled family history and her changing relationship with Shane are also examined, intensifying the books emotional impact. Publishers WeeklyA nail-biting survival tale. Kirkus ReviewsReaders hungry for an epic tale of grueling odds will also find lessons in bravery, resourcefulness, and practical survival advice. BooklistA gripping tale of survival in the open water of the Gulf Coast. . . [A] fast-paced and . . . action-packed survival story; recommended for fans of Gary Paulson. School Library Journal[A] gripping tale of endurance for young readers. Wall Street JournalHideout:It's man versus nature as well as man versus man in this tale that will have strong appeal to . . . adventure lovers. Kirkus ReviewTerror at Bottle Creek:Hatchet for the post-Katrina generation. BooklistFourmile:This story will keep readers on the edge of their seats. School Library Journal, starred reviewDirt Road Home:An especially appealing choice for reluctant boy readers. The Horn BookAlabama Moon:For boys who dream of unfettered life in the great outdoors . . . Moon's a bona fide hero. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksWatt Key, an expert SCUBA diver, lives in southern Alabama with his family. His debut novel, Alabama Moon, was named to Time Magazine's list of the Best Hundred YA Books of All Time. Deep Water is his sixth book for young readers.; Title: Deep Water | [
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12,004 | 2 | We challenge you to find a lesson in this Jewish folktale about a grumpy old bachelor from Morocco who drops his bean snack down a well. Perhaps it is a morality tale condemning greed? One might think so, since the bachelor gets so upset about dropping one cooked bean that he incurs the wrath of the well-dwelling imp. But... no. The imp (who hates a racket) simply gives him a magic pot so that he can eat all the snacks he could ever want, bean or otherwise. Perhaps it is a lesson of discretion, since when the bachelor brags about his pot to all the villagers, a jealous woman steals it. No. The imp just gives him another pot, this time one that will give him all the plates and cups he demands--gold, silver, the works. When the jealous woman steals that one, the imp gives him yet another one, this time a pot that reveals the reflection of the thief in possession of the bachelors two pots. Ah. Will it be a lesson in justice? No. The bachelor who rushes to confront the old thief is so enchanted by her nasty temper and bad manners that he asks her to marry him: "And from then on, I am happy to say, their quarrels could be heard from one end of town to the other!" As charmingly perplexing as this tale is, readers will perhaps be most taken by Shelley Fowless gorgeous, quirky illustrations, as rich and vibrant as anything ever painted on the side of a magic pot. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin SnelsonPreSchool-Grade 3-A grumpy old bachelor drops a bean down a well inhabited by an imp. To stop his complaints, the imp gives him a magic pot that produces food on command. The bachelor's jealous neighbor steals the vessel and its replacement. A third pot reveals the thief's identity to the bachelor. But when he confronts the nasty old lady, he realizes that he has found a woman as bad-tempered as he, and their marriage results in a "quarreling ever after" conclusion. Loosely based on a Jewish folktale, the story is set in Morocco. The full-color, bright illustrations offer some sense of locale; the use of patterns in clothing design and in the borders for text blocks adds visual interest, and viewers can also follow the activities of the bachelor's dog. This is an acceptable addition for large folktale collections, but neither plot developments nor illustrations are compelling enough to make the book a first purchase.Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, MankatoCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Bachelor and the Bean (Farrar, Straus & Giroux) | [
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12,005 | 1 | PreS-KThe Bunny Bus rolls into town, picking up more and more friends. Yet as the bus gets more crowded, with a "hop, hop, stop!," it becomes overwhelmed with celebrants and must cease its ride. However, the passengers are undeterred and fix up the Bunny Bus and share the load, and the book ends with an Easter parade. The illustrations are adorable and playful. The Bunny Bus's face droops more and more as the weight on the vehicle increases, until the bus stops with a smudged and dirty frowning face that is simultaneously cute and induces an audible sigh of disappointment. The charming spirit of those riding the bus, who pitch in and share the burden, results in a heartwarming message. Paquette's rhyming, repeating text makes this a suitable read-aloud, with audience participation at the refrain of "hop, hop, stop!" VERDICT For libraries looking to diversify their holiday collections.Kaitlin Malixi, Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown, PA"With a quick-paced gait, the rhyming verse celebrates every stop Bunny Bus makes...Illustrator Withrow's bright characters are reminiscent of Richard Scarry's, with jolly animals dressed in their Sunday best, resplendent with plaids, patterns, and purses." Kirkus"Featuring cheerful, colorful art, rhyming text, cute animal characters, and an animated bunny-shaped bus, this upbeat Easter-themed read is a playful secular take on the holiday...The detailed, Richard Scarrylike illustrations, incorporating varied textures and patterns, cartoonish touches, and springlike hues, have childlike charm and appeal, as do the brightly attired animal characters and expressive bus, perky ears, fluffy tail, and all. Playful details throughout and decorative endpapers with an embellished egglike motif add further flair to this entertaining celebration of the springtime holiday."Booklist"The illustrations are adorable and playful...The charming spirit of those riding the bus, who pitch in and share the burden, results in a heartwarming message. Paquettes rhyming, repeating text makes this a suitable read-aloud, with audience participation at the refrain of hop, hop, stop! VERDICT For libraries looking to diversify their holiday collections." School Library Journal "Withrows scraggly pencils, lined-paper backdrops, and splashes of color and pattern create an exuberant atmosphere thats only briefly interrupted when the overloaded bus temporarily breaks down, sending carrots and painted eggs flying. Its a novel spin on familiar Easter themes." Publishers Weekly; Title: Bunny Bus | [
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12,006 | 11 | Billy Steers is an author, illustrator, and commercial pilot. In addition to the Tractor Mac series, including Tractor Mac Family Reunion and Tractor Mac You're a Winner, he has worked on more than forty other children's books. Mr. Steers raised horses and sheep on the farm where he grew up in Connecticut. Married with three sons, he still lives in Connecticut.; Title: Tractor Mac Plane Jane's Journey | [
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12,007 | 3 | Gr 24When third grader Hazy Bloom begins to see visions that come true in the near future, she dubs it her "tomorrow power." Her visions start with one of flying peas, and the very next day, a food fight erupts in the school cafeteria. This quickly paced tale features a well-developed main character and lots of funny scenes, but some may find Hazy's immediate and somewhat casual acceptance of her powers to be less than believable. Hazy's voice is unique, and her quirky personality is showcased on every page through catchphrases and an obsession with spelling words. This is a book about navigating friendships, dealing with issues at school, and coming to terms with one's family. Harney's pictures are charming and add to the humor of the story. VERDICT Recommended as a general purchase.Kaela Cochran, Lincoln Township Public Library, Stevensville, MIHazy's irrepressible, hilarious narration (punctuated with exclamation points and spelling vocabulary words she likes and dislikes) proves fast-paced and amusing . . . Likely to engage the primary school set with its madcap humor and unpredictable heroine. Kirkus ReviewsThis series starter strikes a nice balance between drama and levity . . . Hazy may well be a match for Beverly Clearys spunky Ramona Quimby. BooklistThis quickly paced tale features a well-developed main character and lots of funny scenes . . . Hazys voice is unique, and her quirky personality is showcased on every page . . . Harneys pictures are charming and add to the humor of the story. School Library Journal; Title: Hazy Bloom and the Tomorrow Power | [
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12,008 | 2 | Laura Gehl is the author of several picture books, including One Big Pair of Underwear, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. Laura has four children, three of whom waited to hatch until well past forty weeks. She and her family live in Chevy Chase, Maryland.Joyce Wan is the author and illustrator of The Whale in My Swimming Pool, and many popular board books, including You Are My Cupcake and We Belong Together. Joyce lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey.; Title: Peep and Egg: I'm Not Trick-or-Treating | [
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12,009 | 2 | Though there's no shortage of books that delight in toddler love, this offering is destined to become a cherished favorite...Full of rhyme, alliteration, and playful wording, the text lends itself to group reading or one-on-one sharing equally well...The text has a songlike cadence that is a joy to read out loud. School Library JournalWalker's round-headed toddler and friendly, dot-eyed animals populate smudgy and warm scenes that capture the boy's body language and the welcoming nature of the worlds he explores. Publishers WeeklyVictoria Adler is the author of All of Baby, Nose to Toes. She lives in New York City. David Walker has illustrated many books for children, including Ann Whitford Paul's Little Monkey Says Good Night and If Animals Kissed Good Night. He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.; Title: Baby, Come Away | [
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12,010 | 2 | Gr 46What if everything others said about you became visible on your body? This is the reality for new sixth grader Elyse. Elyse struggles with issues common to most middle schoolers: navigating the popular crowd, unrequited crushes, and changing friendships. But she also has to deal with cognadjivisibilitis, or CAV: a disease that causes words to appear all over her body whenever they're spoken aloud. It's not so bad when people say nice things about her, but the mean ones are big and itchy and compete for space. As if that's not embarrassing enough, Elyse has just discovered that anything she thinks about herself (positive or negative) shows up, too. Now somebody at her school is sending her secret notes, claiming to want to help her with her predicament. Elyse sets out to learn the identity of the mysterious letter writer, all the while working through her own issues of identity and self-acceptance. Cooper does an excellent job using the imagined CAV to explore self-esteem issues, which are so prevalent at this precarious time in life. Middle grade readers will enjoy Elyse's wry observations about school and family life, and most will relate to the agony of dealing with being different, especially during those awkward preteen and teenage years. Fans of Wonder by R.J. Palacio will enjoy this book for its similar writing style, compelling characters, and upbeat tone. VERDICT A quirky, clever, and lighthearted look at what it means to accept oneself. Highly recommended for most middle grade collections.Tabitha Nordby, Red River College, Manitoba, CanadaMiddle grade readers will enjoy Elyses wry observations about school and family life, and most will relate to the agony of dealing with being different, especially during those awkward preteen and teenage years. Fans of Wonder by R.J. Palacio will enjoy this book for its similar writing style, compelling characters, and upbeat tone. A quirky, clever, and lighthearted look at what it means to accept oneself. Highly recommended. School Library JournalA solid choice for readers transitioning from the relatively tame emotional landscapes of their elementary years to the more treacherous terrain of middle school. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; Title: Sticks & Stones | [
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12,011 | 2 | PreS-Gr 1This delightful picture book charts a child's excitement over the imminent arrival of a snowstorm. Readers first see David standing in his yard, staring anxiously at the sky. There's no snow yet, but the youngster waits bundled in coat, scarf, and hat with his red sled in tow. Inside the house, his mom peers at him through the curtains. She attempts to distract him with chores: cookie baking, bathroom cleaning, changing sheets in the guest bedroom. Each task, however, holds his attention for just a few minutes, then: the flour, white and fine, made David think of snow. The suds and new sheets evoke a similar response, and, each time, David dashes out to check the weather. Mom patiently suggests David eat lunch and take a nap. He dreams that the storm piles drifts throughout the house as he and his mother struggle to push them back outside. Bean's storytelling builds a delicious contrast between the cozy indoor scenes and neighborhood panoramas that depict the storm's arrival. These parallel David's emotions: impatience, excitement, and wonder. Bean's well-executed illustrations capture the tenderness of David's family, and add appealing details, such as the cat that wanders in and out. David is a worthy, small-town successor to Peter from Ezra Jack Keats's classic The Snowy Day. This wonderful tale begs to be read aloud.Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Dressed in snow jacket, scarf, and woolly hat, David disconsolately drags his sled up and down his snowless backyard. When Mom tries to distract him by asking him to help bake cookies, he scatters sugar and flour all over the table and floor, creating an indoor snowstorm. Other helping tasks (soapsuds in the bathtub, changing white sheets) produce only more reminders of the anticipated snowfall. When David naps and dreams of a very big snow, howling through the doors and piling in drifts inside the house, Mom desperately tries to vacuum it up. Finally, Dad arrives home, and all three bundle up and trudge outdoors to check on the real blizzard. Cookies and hot chocolate end a totally satisfying day. Bean (Building Our House, 2013) uses soft pastels to depict a warm kitchen, loving parents, and a yellow cat, whose presence can be spied on every page. The detailed outdoor scenes of houses, birds, people, and warmly lit windows convey a neighborhood community waiting for a December storm to arrive. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Lolly Gepson; Title: Big Snow | [
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12,012 | 13 | Quirky characters populate this promising, minor-key first novel set in a South Carolina trailer park ironically dubbed Paradise. Twelve-year-old Martin has a rare talent for music, but his father thinks it's a waste of time. Nothing Martin ever has or does is good enough, not his baseball swing, friends or pastimes. "All my life I ain't never had nothing but disappointments, and you're just icing on the cake," his father berates him. When Martin sees a violin in a pawnshop, he dreams of getting it. His unlikely allies are his grandmother Hazeline, his agoraphobic and overweight neighbor, Wylene, and the tall new girl in school, Sybil. The author, who grew up in South Carolina, has an instinctive feel for the local speech and its rhythms. Though the father's emotional cruelty may be difficult reading for some, this book ultimately has a hopeful outlook?resilient people rise against the wind, and self-worth is determined chiefly from within. Ages 10-13. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 5-8. Martin, almost 13, is musically talented and lives in a trailer park called Paradise. His macho father thinks that music is for wimps and that real boys play baseball, which Martin hates. Actually, when the story begins, Martin is something of a wimp, afraid to stand up to his father and assert himself. But as his love for music grows and as he finds allies in unexpected places, he discovers the inner resources he needs to get started on his own path. Sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, this very Southern novel is laden with local color and eccentric characters. O'Connor's use of specific details?the old Studebakers, the Little Debbies, the bacon grease everywhere?seems a bit heavy-handed at first, but the author's skillful characterizations and graceful writing style save the day. Readers really get under Martin's skin, making his gradual transformation both realistic and gratifying. Like life, many of the problems here don't have easy answers?and, like life, things don't always go the way one might expect them to. The theme of finding oneself despite misunderstanding parents will attract middle school kids. An intriguing first novel from a writer to watch.?Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, ILCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Beethoven in Paradise (Frances Foster Books) | [
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12,013 | 0 | *A New York Public Library Best Children's Book of 2018!* *A Washington Post Best Children's Book of 2018**A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2018**A CSMCL Best Book of 2018*"...this moving fictional account of the early life of the late civil rights leader and widow of Malcolm X draws on the recollections of family and friends. The result is a heart-rending imagining of Shabazz's personal challenges as well as a rare, intimate look at the complex roots of the American civil rights movement. A personal, political and powerful imagining of the early life of the late activist." Kirkus starred review"...absorbing...History comes alive in this illuminating portrayal of the early life of this civil rights activist..." Publishers Weekly starred review"An excellent work of historical fiction that will illuminate and spark discussion."School Library Journal starred review"The lessons from Bettys life are abundant: forgiveness, gratitude for lifes blessings, and planting seeds for the future. Her response to hardship and injustice is timeless."Booklist"Set mostly in the black neighborhoods of 1940s Detroit, this affecting novel covers Bettys life from age eleven...to just before the start of high school... The authors tell Bettys story in an engaging and accessible first-person voice; they manage to portray Betty as a relatable pre-teen who likes to dance to Billy Eckstine records and read Ebony magazine even as they lay the groundwork for the remarkable woman she will grow up to be." The Horn BookIlyasah Shabazz, third daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz, is an educator, activist, motivational speaker, and author of multiple award-winning publications, including X: A Novel. She is also an active advocacy worker and an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Rene Watson is the author of This Side of Home, which was nominated for the Best Fiction for Young Adults by the American Library Association. Her picture book Harlems Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills received several honors including an NAACP Image Award nomination in childrens literature. She is also the founder of the I, Too Arts Collective and currently teaches courses on writing for children at University of New Haven and Pine Manor College.; Title: Betty Before X | [
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12,014 | 13 | Grade 24Fourth-grader Riley O'Rourke wants to play saxophone in instrumental music, but his mother can't afford to rent one. He can't possibly make enough money to buy one, and, even if he could, Mom might not let him, "because he was having enough trouble getting his regular homework done." A current assignment includes reading a biography (he chooses Teddy Roosevelt) and preparing to attend his teacher's biography tea in character. The plot moves smoothly to a satisfying conclusion that finds Riley gaining determination, new work habits, and a sax through reading about Roosevelt's life ("If Teddy Roosevelt had wanted a saxophone, he would have gotten himself a saxophone. Somehow"). The believable cast of characters includes best-friend Grant, who decides to wear a loincloth to portray Gandhi; overachiever Sophie, who must have 700 notecards on Helen Keller; and belligerent Erika, who seems to have gotten nicer as Queen Elizabeth. Alley's occasional black-and-white sketches are appealing and give additional information. Children will appreciate this gentle lesson about achieving a goal.Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Everyone in fourth-grader Riley O'Rourke's class has been given an assignment in which each student must research a famous person and then dress as that person for a special party. Riley is assigned Theodore Roosevelt, but while he's working on his biography, he's also trying to figure out how he can play the saxophone in the school band. The problem is that Riley's single mom simply can't afford the rental for the instrument. Eventually, Riley absorbs some of T. R.'s can-do spirit, marches into the band room, and presents his dilemma to the band instructor. The instructor lets Riley have a used instrument at no cost, and the problem is solved. Lots of funny lines and comical situations enliven the simple story, which is also enriched by its portrait of grade-school friendships and goofy classroom happenings, depicted in Alley's appealing spot drawings. Todd MorningCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Being Teddy Roosevelt: A Boy, a President and a Plan | [
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12,015 | 0 | Concrete and symbolic references to the transforming power of language, names, and stories link the two narratives, but it's the Nutaaqs' rhythmic, indelible voices--both as steady and elemental as the beat of a drum or a heart--that will move readers most. A unique, powerful debut. Starred, BooklistAtmospheric yet restrained, this is a moving account of what's changed and what remains in Inupiaq life. Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksThe community's sharing of a whale adds color, as do the authentic imagery, details, and language that pervade this memorable story. Horn BookBlessing makes an emotional journey of self-discovery, as Edwardson weaves a fascinating portrait of a family's rich history. Publishers WeeklyThis unique and fascinating tale is told in an evocative voice that includes Village English, school English, Native language, and colloquialisms. School Library JournalEdwardson treads an elegant line in her perspective: Blessing is both an insider--Iupiaq--and an outsider still learning exactly what that means. It's a perspective that allows any reader in, and they'll learn much about the power of stories and names and how to use them both. Kirkus ReviewsThis heartwarming story is richly told in the tradition of storytelling and its characters grow up in and come to love. ALAN OnlineAn outstanding novel. Every young person and adult should read this page-turning look into the culture of the Iupiaq Eskimos. It is both a compelling and an enriching tale. Jean Craighead George, author of the Newbery Medal Book Julie of the Wolves and the Newbery Honor Book My Side of the MountainBlessing's Bead is beautifully seen, glinting with Arctic light. It is also beautifully heard. Edwardson's voice is as clear and fresh as a wind off the frozen sea. There are passages that simply take your breath away. Tim Wynne-Jones, award-winning author of the Rex Zero booksBlessing's Bead is a gem--lyrical, fresh--and a compelling story, too. What a unique and universal tale! Marion Dane Bauer, author of the Newbery Honor Book On My Honor and Killing Miss Kitty and Other SinsWe are all of us reflections of the experiences we've had, the places we've lived, the people we've loved.I've lived for over 30 years on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, a place of many challenges and many rewards. I haven't always lived here, but I've always lived in northern places. I grew up in Minnesota, where I spent summers with my mother at our family cabin on an island in the boundary waters of the Canadian border. My mother was an artist and I was a dreamer...and a reader. I read constantly and dreamed of becoming a writer.As I grew older, I ventured even further north, to Noway, the land of my ancestors where I immersed myself in the Norwegian culture and learned the language. I attended Nansenskolen in Lillehammer--long before Lillehammer became the site of the winter Olympics.The school was named after Fridjof Nansen, arctic explorer. Little did I know that I would follow Nansen's footsteps, north to the arctic--not as an explorer, but as a wanderer.My wanderings took me to northern Alaska, home of the Inupiat, the "real people." There I found a mentor who taught me to see the world through his eyes. It was a good world.I married this man whose grandfather, as it turned out, was Norwegian. Together we've raised seven children who are now living all over the country and across the globe from Washington DC to Austrailia.When I was a kid, I wanted to be a writer. Along the way I've worked as a nurse's aide, a waitress, a pipeline worker, a radio reporter, a PR writer, a college director and a school board president. And now, at last, I really am a writer. Isn't it interesting how life works?As many writers do, I write what I know, and through knowing it in my own way, make it my own, something both very old and very new at the same time, straddling the distinct and sometimes divergent traditions that make me who I am.DEBBY DAHL EDWARDSON'S first book, Whale Snow, was named an NCSS/CBC Notable, a Banks Street Best, Independent Publishers, Best Picture Book of the Year and an IRA Notable Book for a Global Society. She earned an MFA at Vermont College in 2005.; Title: Blessing's Bead | [
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12,016 | 2 | PreSFull of loving and silly animal relationships, this second collaboration between Paul and Walker is comforting but also predictable. Each animal pair shows their love in active ways, like the lion cousins who "tussle and tumble, romp and roll in a joyful love jumble," or an impala grandma who speaks with a "leapity-leap." Walker's illustrations are soft, rounded, pastel renderings of the different kinds of love between parents, siblings, and friends. Paul's rhyme scheme has pleasing onomatopoeia moments and includes an array of unusual animals, such as a "click-clack"ing secretary bird. VERDICT This animal lovefest will appeal to fans of If Animals Kissed Goodnight, but readers looking for uniqueness or inclusiveness should look elsewhere.Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OHFull of loving and silly animal relationships. . .This animal lovefest will appeal to fans of If Animals Kissed Goodnight. School Library Journal; Title: If Animals Said I Love You | [
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12,017 | 1 | Young readers will naturally be entranced searching every pond, field, and barn for the crawling critters. Each page is literally teeming with life thanks to Kaufman's multilayered textures, vivid hues, and bright lighting . . . Packed with great extension possibilities, visually engaging illustrations, and quick rhymes, this read-aloud would be a great addition to any STEM shelf. Kirkus ReviewsIn this cheerful outing, two sibling explorers wake up with the sun to count bugs over the course of a day on their busy farm. As the brother and sister traipse through a meadow and barnyard with a magnifying glass and a butterfly net, Narita introduces insect varieties in upbeat rhymes . . . Kaufmans collage-art spreads will keep readers invested. Publishers WeeklyKate Narita is a writer and fourth-grade teacher. She earned her undergraduate degree and master's in education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an MFA in writing for children from Simmons College. She lives, writes, and hikes on a small mountain in central Massachusetts with her husband, two sons, and dog.Suzanne Kaufman is the illustrator of Samanthasaurus Rex, written by B. B. Mandell, and Naughty Claudine Christmas, written by Patrick Jennings, and the author and illustrator of I Love Monkey and It's Confiscated. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two bug-exploring daughters of her own.; Title: 100 Bugs!: A Counting Book | [
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12,018 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 2-Children will sympathize with Beegu, a cuddly, yellow extraterrestrial, when her spaceship crashes and strands her far from home. While looking for some friends, the lost alien thinks she hears her mother calling and is led into a big city where, instead, she finds a box of puppies that welcome her; she curls up with them to sleep. Then a man from the stray dog shelter finds her in the box and turns her out. Forced to continue her sad journey, Beegu comes upon a playground filled with happy children and joins them in play until another adult rejects her, sending her out once more to wander in the strange world. Finally, her parents arrive to rescue her and she tells them of her experiences, speaking fondly of the small Earth creatures who were so friendly and full of hope. The quirky, economical illustrations aptly reflect the lonely mood of this touching story. Beegu, with her floppy ears and three little eyes, is an appealing character who conveys a message about the importance of accepting those who are different and of remaining hopeful.Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreS-Gr. 1. This book's raison d'etre is an endearing yellow alien named Beegu, who resembles a cross between a stuffed bunny and a three-eyed toddler in footie pajamas. Marooned on Earth after her flying saucer crashes, Beegu searches for help, her earlike appendages drooping in disappointment each time an unsympathetic adult sends her packing. At last she stumbles onto a playground, where welcoming children give her a hula hoop as a souvenir, and, more importantly, a positive impression of Earthlings to share with her parents when they finally return and beam her up for a joyful hug. Few words are used or needed, thanks to Deacon's clear visual storytelling: the way the textured, earth-toned backgrounds set off Beegu's bright-yellow form conveys her isolation more strongly than words. Beegu's experiences send a rather facile message about the sweetness of children versus the jaded self-absorption of grown-ups ("Earth creatures were mostly big and unfriendly, but there were some small ones who seemed hopeful"), but this drama of parental loss and reunion will resonate nonetheless. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Beegu | [
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12,019 | 12 | Gr 6 UpSkillfully crafted by her two granddaughters, this fascinating biography of renowned author Madeleine L'Engle illuminates the key personality traits, relationships, experiences, and perspectives that shaped her life and writing. With warmth, candor, and insight, the authors draw on journals, letters, poems, family stories, and more to portray L'Engle's growth from a solitary, awkward child to a literary success. The narrative is filled with poignant and entertaining anecdotes that convey L'Engle's love for her imperfect but supportive parents, her insecurities and eagerness to be accepted by peers, her creative independence and determination, and her early, lifelong passion for writing. This richly documented, intimate biography will give readers and writers of every age a deeper understanding of the beloved writer. In addition, readers will discover the pride, understanding, and bonds of kinship that emerge when generations within a family share life experiences. VERDICT This tender biography of an iconic kid lit author is a top choice for most libraries.Gerry Larson, formerly at Durham School of the Arts, NCA publishing event. . .[Madeleine's granddaughters] do her proud, organizing the information well, presenting it clearly, and drawing on her journals for the lively excerpts that make this book so very readable. . .A fine tribute to a legendary writer, 100 years after her birth. Booklist, starred reviewThe book will appeal to aspiring writers as well as LEngles admirers. . .A personal prologue and a moving epilogue that succinctly touches on LEngles later adulthood from her granddaughters perspective are additional highlights, as are the many photos of the writer and her family. Publishers WeeklyThis richly documented, intimate biography will give readers and writers of every age a deeper understanding of the beloved writer. In addition, readers will discover the pride, understanding, and bonds of kinship that emerge when generations within a family share life experiences. School Library JournalA sweet biography. . .nice insight into the artist as a young woman, particularly as demonstrated in her journal entries, generously shared here. The Horn Book; Title: Becoming Madeleine: A Biography of the Author of A Wrinkle in Time by Her Granddaughters | [
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12,020 | 12 | This arithmetic escapade whimsically alludes to classics by Jules Verne and H. Rider Haggard. The wayfaring variables X and Y discover a land inhabited by numerals when they crash their wood-and-canvas Aerocycle in the Kingdom of Wontoo (named for its founders, 1 and 2). As they repair their flying machine, X and Y study native customs. They observe that 2's and 4's are "even-tempered," while 3's and 5's "positively revel in peculiar dress and behaviorAone might even call them quite odd!"; the illustrations show Evens practicing uniform dance steps and individualistic Odds performing solo circus stunts. X and Y also note a basic math rule: adding two Evens or two Odds always results in an Even number. "It is only when one parent is Odd and the other is Even that we see Odd children. Most unletterlike!" fumes X. Yet X and Y come around in the end. The Turners (The War Between the Vowels and the Consonants) investigate only the numerals zero through nine, which are depicted as antic stick figures with bold black numerals for torsos. They leave to adult imaginations X and Y's eventual families of numerical and alphabetical progeny, born of seemingly insoluble equations. Though the text serves primarily to string together the mathematical puns, in sum this slyly comic tale earns more pluses than minuses for its inventive approach. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.Kindergarten-Grade 2-Turner's attempt to create a story around a math concept doesn't quite add up. The personified letters X and Y set off from the Land of Letters and crash-land their Aerocycle in Wontoo, a country full of Numbers, where they are warmly welcomed as guests. After observing Wontoo society, they note differences between Odd and Even Numbers, and how each set acts (Odds dress wildly and dance in nightclubs, while Evens are described as predictable and "even-tempered"). X and Y come to the realization that two Odd Numbers always produce Even children; they find this fact disturbing and try to convince the Wontoois to change their ways. The polite Numbers wait patiently for the rude Letters to leave. Suddenly (and surprisingly), the Adventurers admit that they want to stay in Wontoo, eventually marrying and having children of their own. The language in this picture book is quite complex, containing words such as "retorted," "confession," "gone native" and "rejoined"; and the dialogue is occasionally stilted. While there are clever details in the illustrations, such as the letters' membership in the Royal Letters Society, or the depiction of X's lecture on "The Odd Issue," the book has a very limited audience. While not necessarily dealing with the concept of odd and even, Jon Scieszka's Math Curse (Viking, 1995) and Stuart Murphy's "MathStart" series (HarperCollins) do a much better job of creating stories around mathematical ideas.Susan Marie Pitard, Weezie Library for Children, Nantucket Atheneum, MA Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Among the Odds & Evens: A Tale of Adventure | [
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12,021 | 2 | PreSThese appealing books feature charming watercolor depictions of toddlers living out the events in beloved nursery rhymes. My son John falls asleep while reading Mother Goose and is lovingly put in his crib by his parents. Little Miss Muffet sits on a big fluffy pillow while she eats her usual snack. The traditional along came a spider has been slightly altered to read, there came a big spider. These two titles join Pearson's versions of Hector Protector and Little Bo-Peep (both Farrar, 2004) to make nice additions to board-book collections.Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS. Like Pearson's previous board books Little Bo-Peep (2004) and Little Miss Muffet (2004), this one also interprets nursery rhymes by using modern children in home settings, rather than fantasy characters in historical costumes. In this very simple, yet pleasing interpretation of the familiar rhyme "Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling," a toddler with a Mother Goose book approaches his father. Dad puts down his newspaper to read the rhymes. When father and son nod off to sleep, mother carries the boy to his crib. His shoe falls to the floor, offering a parallel with the "one shoe off, / and one shoe on" line of the rhyme. The family dog, a rapt observer in the early scenes, picks up the boy's shoe on the wordless last page. Beyond the rhythmic, rhyming nonsense of the verse, children will enjoy the illustrations, watercolors in soft hues, depicting the appealing characters and familiar objects. A welcome addition to the list of books for very young children that feature African American characters. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling (Mother Goose Board Books) | [
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12,022 | 16 | PreS-KThis engaging story introduces triangles, squares, circles, diamonds, and rectangles as a big-eyed spider's attempts to create a perfect web. Fuzzy, round Walter tries hard to improve his technique, but, alas, his webs are "wibbly-wobbly." One by one, he employs different shapes in his spinning, but none withstands the "whoosh" of the wind. Inspiration hits one night, and success comes with a glorious composition of all the shapes, in varying sizes. Even a trio of owls gape in admiration. Hopgood reinforces the lesson by offering a large example of each shape opposite its spider web representation and a conclusion with cue questions for further exploration. The art is clear and simple but graphically appealing, and Walter is an adorable and determined protagonist. VERDICT The cartoon art and gentle humor marry well with the tiny geometry lesson for a fun read-aloud and an effective concept book.Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VAWalter is an adorable and determined protagonist. The cartoon art and gentle humor marry well with the tiny geometry lesson for a fun read-aloud and an effective concept book. School Library JournalA lighthearted introduction to five basic shapes Publisher's Weekly; Title: Walter's Wonderful Web: A First Book About Shapes | [
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12,023 | 2 | Debbi Michiko Florence is the author of nonfiction books for children in the Kaleidoscope Kids Series, China and Japan. She is a third generation Japanese American, and many of her ideas for the Jasmine Toguchi series come from family experiences. Debbi lives in Connecticut with her husband and their two ducks, Darcy and Lizzie. Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen and Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth is her fiction debut.Elizabet Vukovic received her MFA from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California. She specializes in children's book illustration, but enjoys experimenting with character design, concept art, fashion illustration, and decorative art. She currently resides in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.; Title: Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth | [
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12,024 | 2 | "A humorous display of the challenges young siblings encounter in a family." Lolly Gepson, Booklist"This story is sure to please any child (or parent) who has dealt with sibling rivalry. The humor and charm, as well as the joyful and expressive cartoon illustrations, are bound to delight a wide audience."School Library Journal Louis Thomas graduated from Gobelins, Paris, and Calarts, Los Angeles, in 2012. He then worked full-time in Californian animation studios before returning to France. Louis currently lives and works with his cat, Pipo, in his art studio, which can be found between the Pantheon and the Luxembourg Gardens of Paris, France.; Title: Hug It Out! | [
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12,025 | 5 | Grade 4-6A great green monster, cool Viking gear, and powerful, concise language mark this book, which should be called Beowulf 1A, since it tells only half of Part One of the poem. Straightening out the epic's chronology, Kimmel begins with Beowulf's youthful exploits as a troll- and serpent-slayer (but not as a marathon swimmer, a boast he defends in the poem). Then the telling moves "across the sea" (a map would be helpful) to Heorot, where Grendel is wreaking havoc. Beowulf disarms to fight fairly with the monster, and after a fierce struggle literally dis-arms him. Grendel sinks, dying, into the muck, and the Danes rejoice: end of tale. Manic mothers are all too common, and maybe too scary: Grendel's Mom's scene is cut, and the dragon that Beowulf dies killing, 50 years later, is not even a shadow on the story. Nor are there any Christian references, which pepper the poem (but probably not the legend it enshrined). Fisher's large-scale compositions, easily visible across a reading group, feature bright tones for sails, shields, and jerkins bracketed by sky and sea (or by a matte gold ground). Grendel is a pustular jade. Kimmel approaches the stylistic markers of the poem too timidly: "swan-road" would be livelier than "the sea," and "sinews snapped and bone-joints burst" better than "Grendel's shoulder burst." But let's hope that a Part Two from these collaborators will provide a chance to paint a dragon and to throw in litotes or kenning.Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 3-5. In presenting English literature's oldest known epic poem in picture-book form, seasoned folklorists and frequent collaborators Kimmel and Fisher tackle a challenge that may be as formidable as Grendel himself. Kimmel retells the poem's best-known portion in accessible prose, beginning with examples of Beowulf's previous superhuman feats and concluding with Grendel's demise. While Kimmel has not included any of the original's evocative kennings (whale-road for ocean, etc.), his rendition occasionally reflects another distinctive element of Anglo-Saxon poetry; Hrothgar's remark that Grendel "has consumed the bravest of my fighting men, gnawed the bones of my noblest companions" invokes the characteristic scheme of reiterations divided by a caesura. Everett's dyspeptic palette and stark compositions will not be to every reader's taste, and frequently the artist's compositional choices impose perplexing barriers to the skull-thumping, limb-detaching action. The most effective spreads, though, emanate a potent grandeur; it's hard to imagine a better introduction to the epic tradition than the double-page depiction of Beowulf's sea journey, his longboat rearing "like a seabird" over inky waves tipped with white sea foam. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Hero Beowulf | [
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12,026 | 2 | A soothing piece for little bedtime resisters. Kirkus ReviewsIt has everything youd want for a nighttime read: dark (but not scary) illustrations; short, lyrical text; and a beloved character to help ease your child to dreamland. Parents MagazinePraise for Music Class Today!:[A] friendly, stylishly illustrated rhyme-fest. The New York Times Book ReviewWeinstone...certainly knows what makes a class tick (or rock). The children in the class are wonderfully diverse...[and] the mannerisms of the kids are spot-on. Listen to Weinstone sing the song (available for download from the publisher). It will become addictive. Reassurance for wallflowers everywhere. Kirkus ReviewsChildren will ask for repeated readings . . . A welcome addition to picture book collections. School Library JournalDavid Weinstone is a classically trained former punk rocker who lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and three children. He founded Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals, an interactive music class for preschoolers, in 1997. Today, the classes are taught all over the country, and there are sixteen original albums that feature Weinstone's beloved songs. His books include Music Class Today! and All My Friends Are Fast Asleep.Magali Le Huche was born in Paris. She studied illustration in Strasbourg, then returned to Paris where she has illustrated more than forty books for children, some of which she also wrote, including This is a Good Story and City Kitty Cat. She regularly teaches art workshops for young people.; Title: All My Friends Are Fast Asleep | [
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12,027 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 2–When his friends ask him what he will be for Halloween, Korean-American Kimin tells them that he will be his grandfather. The children don't think that it will be very exciting to dress as an old man, but the boy knows better. Before he died, his grandfather had been a famous mask dancer in Korea, and Kimin has two boxes of costumes, photos, and memorabilia from his career. He picks a mask that had scared him years before when he had visited his grandfather and shows his friends some dance moves as they go trick-or-treating. The children go to his house and all end up dancing and looking at the beautiful masks. The illustrations in muted fall colors enhance the story beautifully, and include endpapers with the stylized masks depicted. This is an evocative look at a Korean tradition and an interesting intergenerational and multicultural story for Halloween.–Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.A Korean American boy finds a unique way to celebrate Halloween in this original picture book. After his grandfather's death, Kimin misses him and feels a little afraid of the chests containing photos of his grandfather performing a traditional Korean mask dance as well as the clothes and frightening masks that he wore. Halloween approaches. When Kimin tells the other children that he will go as his grandpa, they laugh and joke about his choice. But when he dons the mask and robe on Halloween night, his costume and dance earn their respect. As Choi notes, Halloween is not just a time for scary costumes and candy, but also a time for honoring the dead. Ultimately, Kimin's unusual choice brings him closer to his grandfather. Quiet and well crafted, the story manages some subtle emotional shifts as well as the smooth weaving of one tradition into another. The author's note fills in more background about the mask dance. An interesting fusion of cultures in a story appealing to children. Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Behind the Mask | [
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12,028 | 2 | Grade 5-8A worthy sequel to Belle Prater's Boy (Farrar, 1996). On his 13th birthday, Woodrow Prater receives a phone call, traced to the nearby town of Bluefield, WV, that sends him and his cousin Gypsy on a search for his mother, who disappeared almost a year before. They are joined by a new classmate, Cassie, who is gifted with second sight, and by Joseph, a runaway black teen looking for his father. While their search yields no Belle, Joseph is reunited with his long-lost aunt, whose memory is slightly jogged by Belle's photo. Returning home, Woodrow learns that his alcoholic father has decided to give up their cabin. Grandpa takes Woodrow, Gypsy, and Cassie on an overnight trip to the cabin where, guided by Cassie's dream, they find a letter that Belle had left for Woodrow, and he is reassured by the knowledge of her love for him. The many readers awaiting this sequel will be happy for Woodrow and they will likely be intrigued by the role Cassie's second sight plays in the story. The coincidental involvement of Joseph's aunt adds to the satisfying conclusion. Narrated once again by Gypsy, with many references to the '50s Southern setting when racial segregation was in full force, this book relies on a reading of Belle Prater's Boy for character development and background details, but the warmth, love, and humor of that book are here as well and it can be enjoyed on its own.Marie Orlando, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* Gr. 4-7. Readers who have longed for a follow-up to White's Newbery Honor Book, Belle Prater's Boy (1996), will be delighted with this fine sequel, in which the search for Woodrow's missing mother continues. A mysterious New Year's Eve phone call on Woodrow's birthday leads him, Cousin Gypsy, and Cassie Caulborne, a classmate with second sight, to nearby Bluefield to follow Belle's trail. The journey away from their small Virginia town gives Woodrow his first glimpse of a "colored" person (a boy in the back of the bus, named Joseph), as well as what Gypsy terms the "hateful" segregation laws of the mid-1950s. The search widens as the trio agrees to help abandoned Joseph search for his father. Characterization, dialogue, and setting are among White's many literary strengths, and she doesn't disappoint here. The friendship between storytelling Woodrow and joke-cracking Gypsy just grows richer as Woodrow faces disappointment and finds hope. If the plot seems a bit tidy, White's young fans won't mind. Cindy DobrezCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Search for Belle Prater | [
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12,029 | 0 | Grade 7-9In 1897, Nate Tanner is kicked out of boarding school and sent home to Hazelton, PA. His mother has died, and his father has married the family's youthful governess. The 12-year-old is lonely and experiences unexplained rage that manifests itself in fights. His father decrees that Nate will work with a tutor in preparation for the next year at another boarding school, and the boy sees a long summer ahead. While on a bicycle ride, he meets up with a bunch of "breaker boys," immigrants his own age who work at sorting coal in the mines owned by Nate's family. Soon, he is playing baseball with them, and he grows particularly close to Johnny. When Nate is invited to a birthday dinner, he begins to wonder about his family's role in the miners' dire living conditions. When the breaker boys participate in a labor strike, Nate witnesses the brutality of management yet must reconcile it with loyalty to his family. Hughes has created a complex protagonist who's likable even when acting "ugly." The author doesn't provide pat answers, but offers the hope that the questions Nate faces will be resolved. Readersespecially boyswill relate to him, and they will learn about coal production and the everyday life of both workers and owners. An author's note discusses the historical events on which this novel is based.Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 5-9. Nate's family owns collieries in Pennsylvania, but Nate keeps his relationship to "the boss" a secret when he makes friends with 12-year-old Johnny, a Polish immigrant who works in the mines, just as he never talks at home about his contact with the mining community. With Johnny's help, Nate gets to spend a day as a breaker boy, and he experiences firsthand the exhausting work in a noisy, filthy colliery. There's big trouble in the mines, and a violent strike is brewing, and when Nate's two worlds collide, the boy must cope with Johnny's and Pa's fury at his betrayal. The outcome is a bit too neat, but Hughes never minimizes the meanness, the anger, and the hurt. Most affecting are the facts about child labor and the social history in the late nineteenth century, as seen through the eyes of a witness to many sides. Pair this with Susan Bartoletti's nonfiction account Growing Up in Coal Country (1996). Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Breaker Boys | [
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12,030 | 0 | Rosen (The Thanksgiving Wish) inflates a query into a conundrum in this issue-driven novel. Jared, who is Jewish, wants to bring his dog to the neighborhood Catholic church for the St. Francis Festival, which includes a blessing of the animals. His mom says no, but, judging the question "complicated," she tells Jared to get four opinions on the matter; she'll seek out four opinions, too. Among those heard from are the Catholic priest, Jared's great-grandfather (who helped found the local synagogue), the Sunday school teacher (a Holocaust survivor), a cantor and a rabbiAall individuals who could be presumed to bring some expertise to the debate. However, the characters engage in surprisingly superficial and uninformative dialogue, and although the topic is essentially religious, they rarely touch upon the issue of faith. Instead, the discussion ranges from a specious debate about whether or not Jared's dog is Jewish to a message to be proud of the difference conferred by Jewish identity. A Reform rabbi says to get all the blessings you can; another rabbi posits that taking care of animals is the Jewish way to bless them. The argument touches on a few other points, none of them well developed. Francis himself figures chiefly as "the king of animal lovers"and the meaning of the contested ceremony remains vague. A disappointing, slack treatment of a promising theme. Ages 8-12. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 3-6-In an accessible and thought-provoking way, Rosen broaches the complex subject of religious identity. Twelve-year-old Jared is Jewish, but he still wants to take his dog to the annual St. Francis Festival for the Blessing of the Animals at a local church. His mother is less than enthusiastic about the idea, but since "asking questions is a pretty Jewish thing," she suggests that they each get four opinions as to whether or not it's OK to have Shayna blessed in a Catholic ceremony. She also promises the child that the ultimate decision will be his, and thus he sets out to discover what his father, his great-grandfather, his Sunday-school teacher, and his rabbi think about the idea. Buoyed with humor, warmth, and charming dialogue, this book successfully engages readers in a discussion about what it means to practice one's religion in a religiously diverse community. While the subject may seem weighty, the story actually glides along easily. The question of what Jared will choose to do keeps readers in suspense straight through to the last page. Nicely rendered black-and-white illustrations appear throughout.Teri Markson, Stephen S. Wise Temple Elementary School, Los Angeles Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Blessing of the Animals | [
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12,031 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 3On laundry day, Kessy loves to play in the washing pool while listening to the women tell stories. When Mama discovers that she needs soap, she instructs him to go to the store and bring back the biggest piece he can find. The boy is proud that he has been chosen for this job, but knows he must hurry if he wants to hear the stories. Along the way, he encounters family members and friends who invite him to join in their activities. Determined to get back quickly, he presses on. When he finally reaches his destination, the shopkeeper wraps the large chunk in a cloth and ties it on a stick for him. On his return trip, Kessy soon discovers that Mama is not the only one in need of soap. He becomes a small hero as he unwraps the cloth and shares its contents along the way. Back at the pool, he explains why the bar is so small, relating his own experiences with a bit of embellishment, and becomes a storyteller himself. With a combination of colored pencil, oil pastel, and acrylic, Dressen-McQueen playfully captures the people, sights, and sounds of a small South Pacific island community with brilliant colors that leap off the pages. Loaded with similes and some onomatopoeia, the text emphasizes the importance of the oral tradition. This is a solid purchase, perfect for reading aloud.Tracy Bell, Durham Public Schools, NC Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* PreS-Gr. 2. Schaefer's bouncy text and Dressen-McQueen's bright, Gauguin-inspired illustrations stage a vivacious, colorful tribute to Truk islanders of Micronesia. Mama sends Kessy to the store for the "biggest piece of laundry soap on Minda's shelf." He runs quickly because he doesn't want to miss the stories the women tell at the washing pool. He's diverted on the way by his two older brothers playing monsters in the muddy pool, his uncle Cho's work on a new bamboo window for his house, and his friend Amina's enticing new tin-can camera. On his return home with the soap, which Minda has put in a red cloth attached to a stick Kessy can carry on his shoulder, those same diversions slow him again: Amino cut her fingers on the can, so Kessy helps her clean the cut; Uncle Cho needs soap for his squeaky window; and his muddy brothers need a bath. Kessy returns home just in time for the stories, and he contributes plenty of his own as he explains why the soap is no bigger than a baby gecko. Both the text and the pencil, oil pastel, and acrylic artwork, alive with the sun-drenched colors and patterns of the South Pacific, bubble with happiness. Refreshing, engaging, and thoroughly delightful--just like a well-told story. Julie CumminsCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Biggest Soap | [
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12,032 | 2 | A storm rages outdoors as a boy goes to bed with his teddy bear. With each flash of lightning and boom of thunder, another household pet arrives at his bedside, hoping to join him. He welcomes the dog, the cat, and the guinea pig, but after the frog, the parrot, and the snake squeeze in, its a bit too snug. When his sister arrives, the boy turns her down. She leaps onto the bed, causing all kinds of chaos before bringing this satisfying picture book to a fitting conclusion. Reminiscent of the Ukrainian folktale in which animals squeeze into a mitten, the story features tension that builds gradually until it suddenly releases. The characters expressions and the furnitures upheaval visually reflect the narrative dynamics, but the gentle colors, soft textures, and rounded forms of the illustrations create a cozy atmosphere throughout the book. Told in rhyme and including thunderous sound effects, this would be a reassuring bedtime story on a dark and stormy night. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Carolyn PhelanA good . . . good-night picture book. Kirkus ReviewsTold in rhyme and including thunderous sound effects, this would be a reassuring bedtime story on a dark and stormy night. Booklist; Title: Boom! Boom! Boom! | [
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12,033 | 2 | Gr 46World War II hasn't affected 12-year-old Franny's rustic, idyllic life on Vancouver Island, BC. While her mother Sina sculpts, she writes and explores the many gardens tended by her father, Old Tom. But there is one garden he forbids Franny to enter: the ancient night garden. Legend says that a person can make one wish while in the night garden and it will come true, but that wish cannot be undone. Contented Franny has little interest in wishes until the family's peace is disrupted: a neighbor suddenly leaves her three children with Sina while she goes off to prevent her husband, a mechanic who works on top-secret military planes, from doing "something terrible." The neighbor kids and Franny become embroiled in the mystery surrounding the mechanic when letters from him arrive containing ominous clues to his intent. The children see the night garden as their only chance to help, so they defy Old Tom and test the garden's legend. Franny's first-person narration, rich with droll insights, balances the plot's tension and reveals her awareness of the extraordinary magic that envelops her farm, "alive and breathing with suppressed something." National Book Award winner Horvath writes with accessible eloquence, making what would be fantastical in another setting quite plausible on this island populated with whimsical, winsome characters. VERDICT Thoughtful, hilarious, and moving; repeated readings reveal even more to appreciate in this superbly crafted tale. An essential purchase for all middle grade collections.Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NYHorvath infuses her novel with such heart, zest, and humor in the small moments that shes created a book her devoted fan base will cherish. Notably, the denizens of Vancouver Island have a delicious lack of separation between adult and childall are wholeheartedly curious, beautifully flawed, and deeply amusing. Booklist, starred reviewEvents glide from the domestic to offbeat to the supernatural without any friction, creating a world where anything is possible . . . [A] story of community and love and families in all their messy glory. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred reviewHorvaths bright prose and unerring sense of timing keep us turning pages to arrive at the books final, transcendently profound, scene. Horn BookThe quirky characters and Frannys dry-humored narration stand out as Horvath invokes classic literary elements of orphans, secret gardens, and found families. Publishers WeeklyThoughtful, hilarious, and moving; repeated readings reveal even more to appreciate in this superbly crafted tale. An essential purchase for all middle grade collections. School Library Journal; Title: The Night Garden | [
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12,034 | 2 | Grade 4-7It is 1961, and Heidi's 13th summer is filled with disappointments. First her parents cancel their annual trip to her beloved grandmother's farm because Mutter is about to give birth. Then Heidi's father is labeled a "border crosser" because he continues to travel from East Berlin to work in West Berlin. This causes a threat of eviction from their apartment and the loss of her best friend. When an opportunity to defect to the West arises, the only thing standing in the way of her freedom and new life is the Teltow Canal and Heidi's haunting fear of the water. Dahlberg presents a realistic portrayal of the formal separation of East and West Germany and the building of the Berlin Wall. Cultural lessons and German dialect are smoothly incorporated into the narrative. The climax is well timed and, though somewhat obvious, holds readers' attention. Youngsters will also relate to Heidi's emotional struggle with maturity, where episodes of clinging and pouting are intermingled with the desire to be treated like an adult and to be given more independence.Kimberly Monaghan, formerly at Vernon Area Public Library, IL Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 5-8. In this novel set just before the construction of the Berlin Wall, 13-year-old Heidi and her family undertake a risky journey from East Berlin to the city's western sector. East Germany has become increasingly intolerant of citizens thought to embrace capitalist values, and Heidi's dad, who works in West Berlin and wants to keep his well-paying, satisfying job, faces stiff opposition from officials and neighbors who toe the party line. In utmost secrecy, the Klenks plot an escape that becomes more dangerous every day. Her mother and father slip across first, and Heidi and her grandmother plan to follow. Then the government suddenly closes the border. A bit of heavy-handed melodrama ensues as Oma makes it through an unguarded gap, but Heidi is stuck on the barbed wire--literally!--and must make a second attempt via a daring alternate route. Dahlberg's clear desire to convey information about the historical period sometimes slows things down, but she does a good job of weaving a suspenseful plot alongside the details of the cold war. Anne O'MalleyCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Escape to West Berlin | [] | Train |
12,035 | 2 | Twenty years after making his debut in Good Dog, Carl, the Rottweiler who has charmed a generation of readers has lost none of his appeal—or his spunk. Here Madeleine's mother tells Carl that she and her daughter are going shopping so he "can have a nice nap." Not likely. When the driver of a thrift-shop van arrives to pick up donated items, Carl helps him load the goods and then jumps into the back of the vehicle, scooting out at a bakery where Madeleine and her mother have stopped. The cherubic tot gleefully spots Carl through the window and surreptitiously feeds him a cookie after he slips inside. The canine hero helps a pharmacist by delivering medicine to a vet, again meets up with Madeleine at a flower stand (where he purloins a bloom and places it in a woman's shopping bag) and rescues puppies from a burning garage. The dog arrives at home, just ahead of his owners. As in past Carl tales, Day injects wry, child-pleasing flourishes: for instance, Carl's appearances go undetected by Madeleine's mother. Playing the key role in relaying the action, Day's stunningly realistic, brightly hued illustrations are as timeless and endearing as the plot. Carl fans young and old will cheer his return as they discover that this anything-but-sleepy canine is aging very well indeed. All ages. (Oct.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreSchool-Grade 1–That lovable canine and his adorable preschool companion return in another winsome picture book. As the story opens, the pup is supposed to stay home for an afternoon nap while Madeleine and her mother go shopping. Instead, the dog hitches a ride on a thrift-shop truck and jumps out in front of a bakery where Madeleine and her mom are buying sweets. Without Mom noticing, Carl enters the store and Madeleine feeds him a cookie. He then heads for the pharmacy, where he's enlisted to deliver a prescription to the vet. With his errand successfully completed, he continues on and winds up participating in an outdoor magic show and rescuing a dog and her puppies from a fire. He even stops in front of a bookstore with a poster mounted in the window–advertising a Carl book. The entertaining story is told through the gently detailed, warmly realistic paintings. There's a bit more text here than in previous books, but it flows well with the illustrations. This is a must-read for fans, and it stands well on its own.–Lynn K. Vanca, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Richfield, OH Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Carl's Sleepy Afternoon | [
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12,036 | 2 | Bildner's diverse cast of characters is what energizes this tremendously engaging story . . . Another solid volume in a fun and lively series. Kirkus ReviewsRookie of the Year:This fast, fun read featuring characters who love books as much as basketball will appeal to sports fans and nonathletes alike. School Library JournalA diverse cast of characters highlights this good-natured, high-spirited slice of life. Kirkus ReviewsA Whole New Ballgame:The book depicts the evolution of a group of fifth graders who learn a lot, grow a lot, and help one another . . . The charming and diverse characters [are] pure fun with a lot of heart. School Library JournalIf the students are inspiring, so is [their teacher] Mr. Acevedo, who risks his job to do such radical things as reading aloud and encouraging free reading. (He's supposed to be preparing the kids to take tests!) Probert's cartoonish illustrations lend energy and personality to the likable cast of characters. Kirkus ReviewsThis warm slice-of-life novel from Bildner engages and entertains . . . Probert's energetic illustrations match the positive exuberance of the story. Publishers WeeklyWith its energetic and authentic story and artwork, this is a fresh, fun book about school, sports, and friendship. Children's Book CouncilPhil Bildner is a former New York City public school teacher who lives in Newburgh, New York. The author of many books, including Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans and The Soccer Fence: A Story of Friendship, Hope, and Apartheid in South Africa, Phil is a frequent speaker at conferences and travels to over sixty schools a year.Tim Probert has illustrated childrens books, including Pickle by Kim Baker, as well as magazines and advertisements. He is also a director at the animation studio Aardman Nathan Love. He lives in New York City.; Title: Tournament of Champions (Rip and Red) | [
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12,037 | 6 | Disney Studios is releasing the upcoming major motion picture adaptation of A Wrinkle In Time.; Title: A Wrinkle in Time: A Journal for Writers, Creators, and Thinkers | [
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12,038 | 2 | Gr 3-6-Fifth-grader Louie Burger is a would-be comedian with a bad case of stage fright. He has a great repertoire of funny jokes that he can only perform in front of a pretend audience on a stage he and his dad built inside his closet. Louie's best friend for years has been his neighbor, Nick Yamashita. Recently Nick has become friends with a girl whose nickname is Thermos. Although they try to include Louie in their activities, he is jealous and ends up being rude. Navigating this friendship issue is difficult, and Louie is not finding as much support as usual from his dad, who recently lost his job. When Louie feels overwhelmed, he writes and draws funny journal entries. With the fifth-grade talent show looming, he receives help in overcoming his stage fright from an unexpected source. At times the "barf" silliness becomes a distraction to the well-written story, but Meyerhoff does a good job of capturing the protagonist's voice, and readers will identify with Louie. Clever illustrations enhance the narrative. Give this one to those who enjoyed Lisa Yee's "Bobby" books (Scholastic) or Lenore Look's "Alvin Ho" series (Random), and to reluctant readers.-Tina Martin, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, IL(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Meyerhoffs latest middle-grade novel is narrated by an aspiring stand-up comedian with a long way to go before the big time. Louie Burger is just starting fifth grade and has performed his routine for no one but the stuffed animals in his closet. Its a big closet, though, complete with a stage built by his encouraging dad, but Louie still feels pressure to test his jokes on an actual audience. As he decides whether to perform in the school talent show, he has other worries, too: his best friends new friendship with a girl named Thermos, the frequent taunts of a more athletic classmate, and the shifting dynamics at home now that his dad is pursuing his lifelong dream of being an artist. Striking a nice balance between Louies home and school lives, Meyerhoff makes Louie a sympathetic figure. He tries hard at many things beyond his repertoire of jokes, including being patient with his younger, rather eccentric sister. Weeks capital-Z zany illustrations are plentiful and, like Louie, quite comical. Grades 3-6. --Abby Nolan; Title: The Barftastic Life of Louie Burger | [
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12,039 | 6 | Disney Studios is releasing the upcoming major motion picture adaptation of A Wrinkle In Time.; Title: A Wrinkle in Time Book of Fun, Facts, and Science | [
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12,040 | 2 | *Starred Review* The creators of The Great Blue House (2005) and Fox (2007) are as adept as any at presenting the wonders of the natural world to preschoolers. In this cozy and deceptively simple story, a toddler and his mother cuddle up at bedtime to read a favorite picture book about a black bear as it prepares for winter, hibernates in its den, and then emerges in springtime. Banks provides details about hibernation and winters many changes in both descriptive, child-friendly text and the resulting conversation between adult and child as they make their way through the book. Although the focus of this atmospheric story is seemingly on the big black bear, the book is just as much a celebration of the shared-reading experience, from sitting close and discussing the story to exploring the illustrations to noting the books sensory features. Hallenslebens rich, impressionistic artwork moves seamlessly between warm domestic scenes of the pair reading and vibrant natural landscapes with plenty of seasonal detail. With its quiet, gentle tone, this is perfect for one-on-one bedtime reading as well as for introducing hibernation, sleep cycles, and seasonal change, but the engaging, double-spread pictures will please crowds, too. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Kristen McKulskiCoziness pervades every inch of 'The Bear in the Book,' a bedtime story by Kate Banks filled with Georg Hallensleben's sumptuously soft paintings. Words and images work together to create a marvelous Russian-doll effect: The person reading this book to a child is also, through the mother in the book, reading a story about a bear to a boy in the book--as well as telling the story of the hibernating bear. All three tales come to an end virtually simultaneously; the effect is enchanting. The Wall Street JournalIn The Bear in the Book,' readers are in the hands of two masters--Banks with her well-chosen words and Hallensleben with his lush, color-saturated paintings. The New York TimesWith its quiet, gentle tone, this is perfect for one-on-one bedtime reading as well as for introducing hibernation, sleep cycles, and seasonal change, but the engaging, double-spread pictures will please crowds, too. Booklist, starredAs with previous bedtime books by these fine collaborators, short simple sentences create a tranquil, soothing air, while the lush textured oil paintings fill the pages with dense color. But the most valuable thing about this gem might be that it demonstrates a best practice, to the benefit of children and parents alike. School Library Journal, starredThis is, quite literally, what reading with a child is all about. Publishers Weekly, starredA tribute to the power of books to connect and the love that parents everywhere show when they share books with children at the end of the day, this picture book is simply spectacular. Kirkus, starredThis would of course make a fine bedtime story; it might also be interesting to use as a catalyst for discussion about the love of books and reading. BCCB; Title: The Bear in the Book | [
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12,041 | 1 | PreS?A winning quartet of board books. In a style reminiscent of Dav Pilkey's work, Kitamura has created four animal characters, each faced with a decision: where to sleep, what to drink, how to bathe, and what to eat. Resolving these dilemmas requires hilarious experimentation (the cat curling up in the saucepan is a hoot) and myriad facial expressions, from bewilderment to frustration to satisfaction. The straightforward texts are a perfect fit for the illustrations. Youngsters will connect immediately with the simple plot lines and familiar situations. No cutesy, patronizing stuff here?these genuinely funny books assume that toddlers have a sense of humor.?Ann Cook, Winter Park Public Library, FLCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.One of a series of finely thought-out, beautifully illustrated concept board books for toddlers and their families. -- The New York Times Book Review; Title: Cat Is Sleepy | [
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12,042 | 2 | *A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2018* *A Junior Library Guild Selection* "An enjoyable offering about trying new activities and finding just the right talent that makes us feel "free and strong and happy."" KirkusDebbi Michiko Florence is a third generation Japanese American, and has many fond memories of her family's traditions and growing up in California. Debbi now lives in Connecticut with her husband and their two ducks, Darcy and Lizzie.Elizabet Vukovic received her MFA from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California. She specializes in children's book illustration, but enjoys experimenting with character design, concept art, fashion illustration, and decorative art. She currently resides in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.Debbi and Elizabet are the author and illustrator of the Jasmine Toguchi series, including Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl, Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth, and Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen.; Title: Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl | [
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12,043 | 2 | K-Gr. 3. In May 1945, a Dutch girl named Katje is thrilled to receive a letter and a package of socks, soap, and chocolate from Rosie, a girl she doesn't know who lives in Mayfield, Indiana. The kids start to exchange letters, and when Rosie's family members learn of Holland's severe post-war deprivations, they enlist Mayfield residents to send food and clothes to Katje, who generously shares the gifts with others in her community. The sense of suffering isn't strong here, in part because the Dutch townspeople are almost always depicted as smiling about the packages. But the story is still moving, and Dressen-McQueen's lively illustrations, in colored pencil, oil pastel, and acrylic, pack lots of color, pattern, and historical details onto every expansive page. Fleming based the book on her mother's experience, which she describes in an author's note; in the real-life story, however, adults, not children, orchestrated the events, a finding that may be a little disappointing to kids who took the book, with its specific dates, town names, and heroic, generous children, as straight fact. Kathleen OdeanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reservedFleming 's engaging story of post-WWII Holland serves as a potent and merry lesson in generosity. . .Dressen-McQueen immerses readers in post-war Holland, crafting an entirely credible world of cobblestone streets, Dutch architecture and vintage clothing. Starred, Publishers WeeklyAs heartwarming and uplifting as a bouquet of tulips. Kirkus Reviews; Title: Boxes for Katje (Rise and Shine) | [
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12,044 | 1 | Move over, Mary Poppins, and make room for Carl...Beguiling. Publishers WeeklyDay's humor and sense of adventure richly color this winning Carl episode. BooklistCarl is the babysitter every family needs. Parents MagazineAlexandra Day is the author and illustrator of Good Dog, Carl and the rest of the beloved Carl books, including Carl Goes Shopping, Carl's Christmas, Carl's Birthday and Carl's Snowy Afternoon. The Darlings' own dog, a Rottweiler named Toby, was the original model for the main character of Good Dog, Carl. Since then, two other Darling Rottweilers have posed as Carl in the sequels: the late Arambarri, who was named for one of the Darlings' favorite jai alai players; and Zabala, who currently moonlights as an Our Best Friend therapy dog, visiting hospitals to cheer patients.; Title: Carl's Afternoon in the Park | [
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12,045 | 11 | PreSchool-Grade 2Young Madeleine and her loyal pup, Carl, are up to their same tricks in this charming addition to a whimsical series. Mom and Dad are busy preparing the summer cabin for company later in the evening, and they leave the pair in a hammock on the back porch. Immediately upon hearing Mom say, "You two have a good nap so you'll be ready to go see the fireworks tonight," Carl and his devoted sidekick decide to go exploring. It is here that the text stops, for the most part. Richly detailed and beautifully hued illustrations depict the duo's adventures: a canoe ride that includes a stop by a flowering lily pad; a romp through wild blackberry bushes where they come upon a highly protective mama skunk; a stop at the playground where Carl joins a baseball game, and more. They return to the hammock just in time to be "awakened" by Mom. Madeleine falls asleep in her father's arms during the vibrantly depicted fireworks show, leaving her parents to wonder why she was so tired after having had such a long nap. A strong, solid addition.Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Carl the rottweiler and his family are at their cottage by the lake. Mom tells her young daughter and Carl to take a nap, but thetwo have other plans. Theyride ina canoe, get sprayed by a skunk, and find a playground, a baseball game, and a boat race before heading home. Mom is surprisedthey aresotired after their nap. Although some may find it disconcerting to see such a young child on her own (capable Carl notwithstanding), the attraction, as always, is the evocative watercolor art, coupled here with the fantasy of having secret fun. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Ilene Cooper; Title: Carl's Summer Vacation | [
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12,046 | 2 | One of School Library Journal's Best Books of 2017!"The setting is particularly well drawn, and woven into the story are threads about family, friendship, trust, courage, and growing up. VERDICT Unsettling and at times painful, this book offers an empathetic portrayal of a difficult and important subject." School Library Journal starred review"Abbott handles this escalation with care, demonstrating the ways that a predator can isolate and intimidate a victim... A horror story based on reality, believably and sensitively constructed in the voice of the young protagonist." Kirkus"Its a difficult, important, and possibly lifesaving story of children forced into terrible situations, as well as what real loyalty and friendship look like. Wishing books like this werent necessary doesnt make them less so." Publishers Weekly starred review"This book tackles the heartbreaking topic of child abuse with both sensitivity and brutal honesty." VOYATony Abbott is the award-winning author of more than a hundred books for young readers, including Firegirl, The Postcard, and the Secrets of Droon series. He lives in Connecticut with his family.; Title: The Summer of Owen Todd | [
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12,047 | 15 | Carl and Madeleine enjoy a winter's day in this addition to Carl's long string of escapades. Following her series' winning format, Day sets the scene for the duo's shenanigans with minimal textthe toddler's mother announces that she and her husband are going to the Pond Party and the TV-watching babysitter suggests that Madeleine eat her snackand then lets lush paintings do the storytelling. They succeed splendidly, revealing cherubic Madeleine and the resourceful rottweiler escaping outdoors via the doggy door, helping neighbors make snowmen, sledding down a hill and catching snowflakes on their tongues. A highlight of their antics involves the two boldly cavorting on the frozen pond close by the girl's oblivious parents, a kid-tickling hallmark of Carl adventures. Pleasingly true to form, the pair manages to sneak back inside minutes before Madeleine's parents return. Among the fun flourishes are views of Carl purloining hot dogs from a vendor's grill and Madeleine, perched on Carl's back, removing a snowman's carrot nose for a hungry bunny. Despite its setting, it's a decidedly warm adventure. All ages. (Nov.) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreSWhen Madeline's parents go to a party, the child and her lovable Rottweiler are left at home with a new babysitter. However, the teen's inattention allows the youngster and her pup to do what they really want to doplay outside. They leave the house through Carl's dog door and romp in the snow. They help the neighborhood kids build snowmen, go sledding down a hill, and try sliding on the ice. After Carl snatches two hot dogs from the hot-dog stand, he and Madeline make their way home, with no one the wiser about how they spent their day. The simple, occasional text adds a bit of detail to an otherwise wordless picture book. The realistic illustrations are charming, warm, and very funny, particularly the one of Carl sliding on the ice. A wonderful book to share with preschoolers for fun or to enhance pre-literacy skills.Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Carl's Snowy Afternoon | [
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12,048 | 2 | Gr. 4-7. Toby's cancer has recurred, but he defiantly determines not to share this information with his parents. The prospect of hospitalization and additional painful treatments are more than the 11-year-old can bear. His decision is reinforced after he meets and befriends a fiercely independent, elderly neighbor, Pearl, once a famous poet who hasn't published for years. Although she is in her 90s and nearly blind, Pearl stubbornly refuses to leave her tumbledown home to live with her daughters. Drawn together by their mutual affection for Pearl's beloved cow, Blossom, these two characters gradually develop a mutually supportive and loving friendship, which, with the death of Blossom as a catalyst, helps them reclaim their lives and a promising future. Occasionally predictable in both plot and characterization, the story is nonetheless emotionally satisfying, and Hobbs, a gifted writer, does a quietly effective job of dramatizing the life-affirming power of both poetry and a cross-generational friendship. Michael CartCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Defiance | [
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12,049 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 1-The scene is set by the full-page painting opposite the title page on which a young girl and her mother are shown working on a scrapbook with Carl, their Rottweiler, watching attentively. The action begins when Mum sets the toddler and Carl up with a video while she goes out to garden. No sooner is she outside than Carl's paw stops the video and he and the child get out the scrapbook and boxes of pictures and set to work filling the pages. When the dog senses the mother's return, he paws the fast-forward button, the child climbs into the chair, Carl lies down on the scrapbook paraphernalia, and the two of them appear as innocent as lambs. Intervening double-page spreads are randomly filled with a melange of photographs, memorabilia, and curiosities important to Carl and his young mistress. While attractively presented and interesting to peruse, there is no obvious story line to intrigue children. In spite of the lovely paintings of winsome child and handsome dog, this book will be of limited appeal.Virginia Opocensky, formerly at Lincoln City Libraries, NECopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.Ages 3-9. Left alone to watch a video while Mom gardens, toddler Madeleine and dog Carl turn off the VCR and take out Mom's scrapbook instead. On the left half of each double-page spread are Mom's tidily captioned photos of family, vacations, holidays, etc. Carl and Madeleine haphazardly fill the right-hand page with entries from Carl's Scrapbook Contest--photos of and articles about dogs and an array of other memorabilia--and drawings of Carl and Madeleine at work reveal the gummy steps in their endeavor. As Mom returns, the sticky chums quickly fast-forward the video and plop in front of the TV; it's obvious their mischief won't go undetected for long, however, for when Carl stands up, he is plastered with bits from their pasting. Youngsters meeting Carl for the first time will delight in these largely wordless antics, and fans of his earlier adventures will pore over the photos of his family and of him as a pup. Ellen Mandel; Title: Carl Makes a Scrapbook | [
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12,050 | 2 | PreS-Gr 2Everyone has experienced the disappointment of a well-meant gift that misses the mark. On Rowan's birthday, his grandfather gives him Red, his own well-loved fire trucknot the shiny new one the boy coveted from the toy store. But as Papa shares his experiences of childhood imaginative play, Rowan is drawn into the adventure and realizes that no other fire truck can take the place of Red. Computer-generated geometric illustrations, both bulbous and angular (with remarkably expressive faces), set the scene. Red shows up as a photograph of an ancient and worn toy truck, collaged into the narrative. Papa's memories, in a sepia-tone page-within-a-page format, allow for visual differentiation of setting. And there is a charming illustration of Rowan leaping into a memory to share the fun. Even small children know the magic of a special toy, however drawn they are to the new, and who doesn't like a fire truck story? VERDICT A warm addition to transportation shelves.Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School, Providence, RIFrom PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:A resonant tale with wide appeal. Publishers Weekly on Toy Boat by Randall de Seve"Even small children know the magic of a special toy, however drawn they are to the new, and who doesnt like a fire truck story? VERDICT A warm addition to transportation shelves." School Library Journal"Staake and de Sve are a perfect match in this inter-generational tale that puts value on experience, memories, and time spent together. An absolute delight." Kirkus, starred review"De Sve (Peanut and Fifi Have a Ball) and Staake (My Pet Book) are an inspired pairing, and the brisk storytelling and funny segues give the graphic, posterlike images a deep warmth and narrative energy." Publishers Weekly, starred review ; Title: A Fire Truck Named Red | [
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12,051 | 2 | The deadpan text works beautifully with speech balloons that extend characterizations. Fleck's whimsical, bold, bright, acrylic illustrations set the tone perfectly for this lighthearted tale . . . Though clearly a message about the dangers of overscheduling children, the lesson goes down easily; caregivers may even take note. Kirkus ReviewsA gentle and pleasing narrative . . . Dreamy Flo will be a sympathetic figure to many children, and her example will encourage adults and kids to get floppy, at least on a lazy Sunday. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksKyo Maclear is the author of many critically acclaimed and popular books for children, including Julia, Child; The Wish Tree; The Specific Ocean; Virginia Wolf; and Spork. She lives in Toronto, Canada.Jay Fleck is the illustrator of Double Take written by Susan Hood, Black Belt Bunny written by Jacky Davis, and Everything You written by Elizabeth McPike. He lives in Shorewood, Illinois, with his family.; Title: Flo: A Picture Book | [
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12,052 | 1 | PreSIn this addition to the long-running series, the lovable Rottweiler takes his young companion trick-or-treating throughout their neighborhood. To make the rounds, Carl is decked out in colorful beads from Mom's jewelry box and Madeline wears a fancy hat with red feathers borrowed from the armoire. As in the previous books, most of the action is relayed through wordless spreads. Day's luminous watercolor illustrations capture the magic of the evening's festivities, with glowing jack-o'-lantern decorations and sidewalks full of costumed children. The pair attend a party where they bob for apples and Carl briefly gets wrapped up in a toilet paper "Mummy" game. Before darkness falls, they race home and return all evidence of their escapades. VERDICT Carl fans will enjoy this latest adventure.Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada"In this addition to the long-running series, the lovable Rottweiler takes his young companion trick-or-treating throughout their neighborhood ... VERDICT Carl fans will enjoy this latest adventure." - School Library Journal; Title: Carl's Halloween | [
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12,053 | 2 | Everybody's favorite rottweiler is back for the sixth adventure in Day's immensely popular near-wordless picture book series. This time, the canine Mary Poppins accompanies preschooler Madeleine to daycare. As usual, there's a little intrigue to spice up the outing: here, the teacher accidentally locks herself out of the building. Various insets show the teacher as she tries in vain to break back in. Meanwhile Carl, demonstrating his ability to read, takes over and corrals the kiddies through their appointed activities for the day--snack, crafts, nap, etc. As usual, Carl manages to pull the wool over the adults' eyes; he lets the teacher back in just as Madeleine's mother drives up outside. Day's sunny watercolors continue to have a fresh, timeless appeal, and fans can only hope that her winning duo will be around for a long time to come. All ages. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-Grade 1-The lovable Rottweiler returns, this time accompanying his young owner on a visit to a daycare center. When the teacher accidentally gets locked outside, Carl takes charge. His reading skills stand him in good stead as he consults the posted list of planned activities and oversees the children in an atmosphere of controlled chaos. Day juxtaposes the indoor scenes with the imaginative but unsuccessful efforts of the teacher as she tries to get into the building. Carl finally solves that problem, too. Fans of the intelligent canine will enjoy the latest entry in the series, and many preschoolers will recognize familiar details of daycare life.Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MNCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Carl Goes to Daycare | [
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12,054 | 5 | Heroic train engineer Casey Jones gets star treatment in this spirited picture book. "Listen!/ DWant to hear the story of Casey Jones?" begins Drummond (who adapted Melville's Moby Dick into a picture book). Related by two of Jones's African-American co-workers, engine wiper Wallace Saunders and fireman Sim Webb, the verses whisk readers back in time to when the railroad "was the mightiest thing,/ and the loco engineer/ was the Iron Horse King." They set the stage for the fateful night when Casey couldn't avert a train wreck but stayed faithfully at his post and gave his own life to save his passengers. "He slammed on the air brakes,/ and pulled reverse gear,/ then he hung on to the whistle pull/ till all you could hear.../ ...was the screaming of the hooter.../ the wail of the brakes.../ and a terrible explosion/ that made everything shake." Drummond's vigorous quatrains start slowly, then pick up steam as they chug steadily forward, fueling a first-rate read-aloud. His pen-and-ink images washed with invigorating swathes of color echo the rhythms of the narrative: spot art fills in details not covered by the text (e.g., Wallace and Sim's roles; historical developments brought on by rail travel) while full-bleed spreads portray everything from sprightly vistas to the dark, dramatic chaos of the wreck itself. Hop aboard for an encomium to the railroad and one of its greatest heroes. Ages 5-up. (Mar.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.K-Gr 2-This story of Casey Jones and his heroic action in giving his own life to prevent a larger tragedy is told from the perspective of his coworkers, engine-wiper Wallace Saunders and fireman Sim Webb. The text reads like a ballad and the men are pictured near the end of the tale with musical instruments in their hands. Additionally, the narrative and art touch on the importance of railroads in the history of the United States. The illustrations, done in pen and ink with watercolor washes, provide details not given in the text and keep the story flowing. Interspersed throughout is the sound of the train whistle-"Wooo-oooh!" This is a terrific read-aloud, and children will enjoy chiming in on the familiar refrain. An author's note relates factual information about Casey Jones.-Sheilah Kosco, Rapides Parish Library, Alexandria, LACopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Casey Jones | [
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12,055 | 2 | Delicate, dense color and a mannered geometric layout politely call for attention in this rebus picture book by Banks (And If the Moon Could Talk) and Bogacki (Cat and Mouse). Small squares, like softly drawn computer icons, neatly contain symbols for the characters and objects in their environment. Mingled with the printed text and the full-bleed illustrations, these visual labels introduce a red-winged bird, autumn-brown monkey and gray-striped snake who share the same tree as their jungle home. Every morning, the bird sings, the monkey wakes to eat nuts and the snake complains when falling shells rain on his back. As a group, the three set out to find separate, private homes, but discover that the jungle's choicest branches are already occupied by the likes of squirrels and bats. Bogacki conceives of the wild setting as a grid of rectangles and curves, with mottled greens and dappled blues suggesting gentle sunlight filtered through a rain-forest canopy. Banks provides plenty of nouns (sun, bananas, leaves, etc.) to be included in the rebus. There's no flipping pages back and forth to read a master key; instead, at the top right of each spread, a helpful mini-key presents the pages' discrete symbols and what they represent. The text is laid out inventivelyAvertically, diagonally, etc.Abut always clearly. This strategically structured volume, more puzzle than plot, makes an aesthetically pleasing introductory study in grammar, jungle life and cooperation. Ages 3-up. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 1-3-When a rainstorm destroys their home, a bird, a monkey, and a snake start off into the jungle in search of a new place to live. Tired of one another's annoying habits, each animal hopes to find a tree of its own. But the jungle is a dark and scary place, and after rescuing one another from spiders, crocodiles, and tigers, the three companions realize that they are better off sticking together. When they find a tree inhabited by a frog that is willing to share, they set up housekeeping, happily tolerating one another's idiosyncrasies. Told in rebus form, the story includes a key to the pictures on the outer margin of each right-hand page. Although children will undoubtedly enjoy playing the game, some aspects of the book may confuse them. A few of the illustrations don't look like what they are supposed to represent, e.g., the tree looks more like a leaf and the clouds look like rocks. In addition, the type is placed on the pages in a way that enhances the design but makes the order of the text difficult to follow. Still, the primitive-style illustrations, set on backgrounds of green and blue, have a Gauguin-like quality that captures the mystery and magic of the jungle. The story of friends who learn the value of sharing has been told many times but the rebus format puts a fresh spin on the tale.Dawn Amsberry, formerly at Oakland Public Library, CACopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Bird, the Monkey, and the Snake in the Jungle | [
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12,056 | 1 | The animals of the forest are enthused about Possum's birthday party, but old Carmine the Crow will not be joining them: his feathers are too tattered, he can't afford a gift and he has no one to accompany him. But then an act of kindness towards an ensnared swan wins Carmine a box of wish-granting stardust. Before he can use it, however, he chances upon several animals in distress and feels moved to share his good fortune. Carmine takes advantage of the one remaining speck of stardust to wish for his heart's desire: "Make me young again." Holder's bittersweet theme may appeal more to aging, time-conscious adults than to youngsters, and some will object that it reinforces an unfortunate cultural belief that youth is all and old age to be avoided at any cost. Nevertheless, her illustrations, which are reminiscent at times of Arthur Rackham's work, are breathtakingly beautiful. Her pale palette and delicate washes emit a soft, twilight glow well-suited to her subject matter, and the effect is one of dignified restraint not evident in the more decorative style of her earlier Crows. Holder's tale is simply and movingly told, and readers will appreciate Crow's struggles with the twin pulls of self-interest and selflessness. Ages 5-8. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Carmine the Crow | [
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12,057 | 13 | Like its opening image of a seagull suspended at twilight and painted in sepia tones, this extraordinary volume honors the beauty inherent in a singular momentary experience. "At dusk, when he couldn't draw anymore, Max used to sing," begins Buch-olz's (Sleep Well, Little Bear) poignant tale of an unusual friendship. Max is a painter, the self-proclaimed "collector of moments." The narrator, a boy, lives two floors down and plays the violin. At Max's invitation, he joins the artist every evening for an intimate concert. The boy often visits at other times, but the artist never permits the boy to view his work: "One invisible and unique path leads into every picture... and the artist has to find just that one path. He can't show the picture too soon, or he might lose that path forever," Max explains. But when Max goes away for a stretch, both boy and readers are invited for a private showing of 13 breathtaking paintings. Many of the subjects are mythical: "Snow elephants in Canada" nearly invisible against blizzard-filled skies, a circus wagon floating above a bridge in France. Others, like Max's self-portrait, are realistic. But all the paintings, with their wide expanse of space, suggest a vast universe; in the words of the narrator, "Max always captured a precise moment. But I understood that there was always a story attached to this moment which had begun long before and would continue long afterward." The boy pores over each picture and instructs readers by his power of example. Only near the end of the book does the boy learn how much he has meant to Max--and his realization is transformative. With the same exquisite crafting that Bucholz exhibits in his paintings, he sculpts each section of prose--aided greatly by Neumeyer's fluid translation. Whether young or old, readers will never view a work of art in the same way again. All ages. (Oct.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 3-6-Evocative is the word here. Despite a lengthy text, there is no plot in this oversized illustrated book. The narrator, a boy nicknamed "Professor," tells of the time that an artist, Max, lived in the flat above his. The boy, a loner, reads while Max draws, and plays his violin while the artist sings. When the man leaves for a while, Professor is allowed for the first time to see his enigmatic pictures. Through the summer the boy explores their possible meanings. The artist returns only to announce a move far away; later, a picture of Professor arrives with Max's assurance that the boy's music continues to inhabit his work. The clear, meticulous, full-page paintings are suffused with calm. In most, an odd element is obvious but not intrusive: a circus wagon floating in air at the edge of the frame, penguins in the street, a lion in a boat, or a horse atop a lighthouse. In others, there is a striking disproportion: Is that boy a Goliath, or is the boy with him a Tom Thumb? Although Max says that "one invisible and unique path leads into every picture," these collected moments appear to have infinite points of entry and egress. Against the muted, atmospheric backgrounds, an occasional touch of crimson glows as mysteriously as this book.Patricia Lothrop-Green, St. George's School, Newport, RI Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Collector of Moments | [
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12,058 | 2 | Grade 5-8-Contemporary Guatemala is the setting for this story of 12-year-old Tzunun Chumil (Mayan for "Hummingbird Star"), called Rosa Garcia by the man who supposedly rescued her from abandonment at age four. Rosa and "Uncle" Baltasar travel from place to place, begging for their livelihood as he pretends to be blind. But, despite her dependence on and devotion to him, Rosa is distressed by the dishonesty of their lifestyle and has memories of loving parents. Told by a seer, the Day-Keeper Do-a Celestina, that the child will bring him a treasure, Baltasar takes Rosa to the town of San Sebastian where he and a friend develop a plan to steal a valuable statue from the town's church. The plot backfires when Rosa's conscience forces her to seek out the priest and reveal their intentions, and the two men are jailed. Rosa runs back to the kindly Day-Keeper, who takes her in and gives her the courage to make a new life for herself. When Uncle escapes, Rosa must confront him and, in a dramatic scene in which he plunges off a cliff, she learns that she was kidnapped. With the help of the Day-Keeper and a scrap of paper found in his wallet, Tzunun is reunited with her parents. Cameron layers her compelling story with vivid descriptions of setting and weaves into the narrative the complexities inherent in the blending of Mayan and ladino cultures and religious practices. This is reflected in the book's title, which is the Spanish translation of Tzunun's name. A well-written and engrossing read.Marie Orlando, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NYCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.*Starred Review* Gr. 5-8. Twelve-year-old Rosa remembers only a few things about the home she shared with her loving parents in a Mayan village before she was kidnapped at the age of four. Since then, she has traveled with Uncle, an abusive con artist. After being convinced by a fortune-teller that Rosa will make him rich, Uncle embarks on an obsessive treasure hunt, forcing Rosa to join in his scams for food and money. Rosa hates Uncle's dishonesty and anger, and she feels trapped. Then Uncle consults another fortune-teller, a kind, wise woman who gives Rosa the courage to escape. Uncle remains a dark, mortal threat, though, and his search for riches coincides with Rosa's search for identity. The taut, chilling suspense and search for riches will keep readers flying through the pages. But it's Cameron's beautiful language and Rosa's larger identity quest that make this novel extraordinary. Her poetic words evoke Guatemalan towns and lush forests where the earth smells "as if it were singing." Rosa narrates in a voice that sometimes seems to belong to an older, wiser self, but readers will be deeply moved by her intense yearning for security, love, and integrity and her sense of a spiritual world that is felt but never fully known. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Colibri | [
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12,059 | 1 | Just when you thought Day had issued the dernier cri on the subject of Carl the capering canine (Carl's Afternoon in the Park , et al.), she tops herself by producing her most atmospheric book yet. Here, the rottweiler is bidden to mind the baby while the grown-ups attend a masquerade ball. Carl and baby, of course, tail the party-goers and join in the fun ("Oh! They must be Beauty and the Beast. Great costumes!" say the doorkeepers in one of the three spreads bearing text). Day has all but abandoned the small, multiple scenes used to convey a particular narrative development in the earlier Carl books--instead, settings are sumptuously evoked, fully peopled and lushly colored, packed with witty details (e.g., Carl and baby encounter a guest tricked out as Carl-and-baby; Carl and baby solve the problem of cutlery by feasting on popsicles; a bullfrog brass band keeps everyone hopping). Meanwhile, the party itself, with its site gaily festooned, its guests gotten up in magical guises and its many diversions, could be everybody's fantasy fiesta. All ages. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-Grade 2-- Fans of the Rottweiler guardian/companion to a family's baby will enjoy this fourth adventure of the intrepid pair. When the parents go off in full costume to a masquerade party, Carl and his young charge soon follow. Admitted to the party, they enjoy the festivities, food, music, and games. They escape detection, possibly because among the invited guests is one garbed as a baby riding on a black dog. By the time the evening is over and the parents arrive home, the child is safely in her crib and Carl innocently stands guard. The full-page, richly colored, realistic paintings that make up this almost wordless book are full of visual humor and entertaining situations, as baby and dog mingle with party guests. And though the idea of a masquerade ball is nostalgic, and the nursery dog is reminiscent of Nana in Peter Pan , the book has appeal, especially for adults, for its sweet and gentle fantasy, and for the delightful pictures of handsome dog and enchanting child. --Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Carl's Masquerade | [
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12,060 | 2 | an affecting animal story and a well-paced adventure. School Library JournalFirst novelist Kelly crafts a layered, convincing tale of interspecies friendship between individuals who care for each other within the confines of enslavement. Horn BookA heartfeltaddition to the literature promoting better treatment of our fellow animals. KirkusLynne Kelly has written a story that unwraps the heart and asks it to be brave, loyal, and above all, kind. Readers of all ages will worry for Hastin as he marks the wall that records his bondage to a cruel master, but they will ultimately celebrate his jubilant triumph. This story unwrapped my own heart. Kathi Appelt, author of the Newbery Honor and New York Times bestseller The UnderneathLynne Kelly is a sign language interpreter and a writer. Chained is her first novel. She lives in Houston, Texas.; Title: Chained | [
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12,061 | 2 | Like the previous book in the Children of Crow Cove series, this unassuming yet compelling story is notable for the simplicity and power of the storytelling, the clarity of description and characterization, and the humanity of the ideas at the novel's heart. (Starred, Booklist on Eidi)[A] heartfelt story of love and belonging. (Kirkus Reviews on Eidi)Poignant...symbolism and power of names thread through the narrative. Touching on universal themes, this quiet adventure story has the depth and flavor of a tale from long ago and far away...a rewarding read. (Starred, School Library Journal on The Crow-Girl)There's a fairy-tale quality about this well written story...compelling. (Starred, Booklist on The Crow-Girl)Luminous and uncluttered...With resonate concrete images and without sentimentality, Bredsdorff tells a harshly beautiful story that charts the characters' progress toward interdependence. (Starred, The Horn Book on The Crow-Girl)Satisfying...Readers will hope that more of Bredsdorff's sturdy fiction reaches these shores. (Publishers Weekly on The Crow-Girl)Strong-boned and sinewy...a potential new favorite. (Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books on The Crow-Girl)Bodil Bredsdorff is the beloved author of many books for children, including The Crow-Girl and Eidi, which were both named Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Books, ALA Notable Books, and Booklist Editors' Choice Selections. She lives in Hundested, Denmark.; Title: Tink (The Children of Crow Cove Series) | [
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12,062 | 11 | Billy Steers is an author, illustrator, and commercial pilot. In addition to the Tractor Mac series, he has worked on forty other children's books. Mr. Steers raised horses and sheep on the farm where he grew up in Connecticut. Married with three sons, he still lives in Connecticut.; Title: Tractor Mac Farm Days | [
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12,063 | 1 | Grade 4-6. Paul, 10, is fascinated by insects, an interest engendered by his father, Henri Fabre, who has studied the creatures for most of his life. The boy and his two younger sisters help Pere gather material for a textbook, often accompanying him on field trips into their untamed backyard. Children of Summer briefly describes over a dozen of their scientific adventures from altering the path of a group of pine caterpillars, to studying the behavior of undertaker beetles and ground wasps. There is much that is admirable in this slim title. The text is clearly written and the material on insect behavior is intriguing, particularly the responses of various species to the experiments. Soft pen-and-pencil drawings of the family and the small creatures they study, plus the occasional silhouette, evoke the book's 19th-century French setting. Henri Fabre's voice dominates the narrative; Paul merely passes on his father's observations and findings. Indeed, several of the short chapters included are straight reminiscences of the man's childhood?e.g., how Henri taught himself to read and how his duck-herding activities inspired his love of nature. In the original works on which this title is based, the 10 volume Souvenirs Entomologiques, Fabre himself spoke directly to his readers in a charming, if verbose style. Anderson's book will nonetheless appeal to serious young naturalists curious about the work of a famous and idiosyncratic scientist.?Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public LibraryCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 4^-7. Imagine having a father who is known as a hermit, accused of being a poacher, and thought to be strange and simpleminded. According to this fictionalized story, French entomologist Jean Henri Fabre, a contemporary and correspondent of Darwin and a friend of John Stuart Mill, may have been such a man. Using the voice of Fabre's 10-year-old son Paul, who, according to Fabre's own writings, often helped his father, Anderson tells of Fabre's passion for learning about cicadas, scorpions, and the other "children of summer." The man's curious behavior will draw readers in, and the descriptions of the oddities of the insect world will keep them interested: children are bound to remember Fabre's shooting a cannon to test cicadas' hearing and the family's eating a meal of cossus grubs. Although this is fiction, not science how-to, the book may, perhaps, inspire some unusual science projects about insect behavior. Karen Morgan; Title: Children of Summer: Henri Fabre's Insects | [
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12,064 | 2 | Grade 4-7-Set in the indistinct past, this is the poignant story of a girl who lives with her grandmother on a lonely stretch of coast in Denmark. The two survive by collecting driftwood and carefully harvesting the gifts of the sea. The coziness of their life is punctuated by Grandmother's awareness that her own life is tenuous; she offers her granddaughter gentle advice that serves her well in the future. After the woman dies, the child bids farewell to her beloved home and follows a pair of crows as they fly along the shore. Hoping to find help, she arrives in a village where she works for a coldhearted woman who gives her the name Crow-Girl and tries to take advantage of her. Following her heart and the crows, the girl moves on in her search for a home. Her strength of character, innate kindness, and ability to care for herself prove invaluable in creating a new life and family. The justice of unfolding events and the satisfying ending will please readers, who will enjoy watching the pieces of the plot fall into place. The symbolism and power of names thread through the narrative. Touching on universal themes, this quiet adventure story has the depth and flavor of a tale from long ago and far away. It's a rewarding read for youngsters who are fond of the details and the simplicity of earlier times.Carol A. Edwards, Sonoma County Library, Santa Rosa, CACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* Gr. 4-6. Crow-Girl lives happily with her grandmother in a cove far from any neighbors. When the old woman dies, Crow-Girl buries her and leaves to make her way in the world. Taken in by a greedy woman who demands her labor and steals her belongings, Crow-Girl eventually escapes and finds new friends with troubles and talents of their own. Together they create a community of friends and family in the cove that was Crow-Girl's original home. There's a fairy-tale quality about this well-written story. There is also unflinching realism not only about the grandmother's death and burial but also about the cruelty, greed, violence, pain, and sadness that the child finds when she ventures beyond the shelter of her home. Still, young readers will be comforted when Crow-Girl survives the loss of the only person who loves her and goes on to create her own family from those whom she befriends and grows to love. Translated from the Danish, this novel has clean, spare prose, a compelling story, and several scenes that readers will long remember. Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Crow-Girl: The Children of Crow Cove (The Children of Crow Cove Series) | [
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12,065 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 2In this delightful story about life on a farm, an African-American youngster is determined to become the best chicken chaser ever, although Big Mama repeatedly asks her to leave the animals alone. Despite the girl's best efforts, her favorite chicken, Miss Hen, always manages to escape. As the summer days wear on, she finally finds Miss Hen's hiding spot in the tall green grass. She is sitting on a nest with "fuzzy chicks cuddling tight beneath her wing," and although it would be easy to grab her, the child makes a more mature decision and resists the temptation. Harrington uses exceptionally colorful and descriptive language throughout the tale. Miss Hen has feathers as "shiny as a rained-on roof" and is as "plump as a Sunday purse." Her calls sound "like pennies falling on a dinner plate." Jackson's intriguing collages, combining printed cloth with painterly brushstrokes, will have readers lingering over the pages. The birds' feathers are fashioned out of different materials, including fabric, marker pen on loose-leaf paper, newsprint, and lace. Shifting perspectives capture the thrill of the chase as well as the calm of quieter moments. The youngster's face clearly expresses determination, understanding, and pride. This book makes a marvelously delicious read-aloud, accompanied by participatory "prucks" and "squawks" from the audience.Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* Harrington, whose Going North (2004) was named a Booklist Top of the List--Picture Book, offers another winning book. "I'm the Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County," announces a young African American girl. Gray-haired Big Mama warns her to leave the birds alone, but the girl can't restrain herself: the chase is too much fun, and the elusive Miss Hen is her ultimate prize. When the girl finally manages to sneak up on Miss Hen in the grass, she discovers her prize surrounded by chicks, and the girl instantly reforms: "I know you're a mama now . . . . I won't trouble your babies." Both words and pictures elevate a simple story about a girl's sly barnyard game into a rollicking, well-told delight. The words are both colloquial and poetic, and Harrington perfectly balances the tense strategizing and stalking ("I sneaky-hide behind Big Mama's wheelbarrow and make myself small, small, small") as well as the gentle caring that follows. Jackson's exceptional collages of cut paper, fabric, and paint magnify both the feather-flying action and the characters' emotions, including the loving bond between the girl and Big Mama. Kids will easily feel the irresistible allure of a subversive game as well as the deep bond with an animal friend. A first-rate read-aloud. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County | [
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12,066 | 18 | Grade 2-5This ambitious attempt to present the life and thinking of this ancient Greek philosopher to young readers does so with mixed results. The text has two tiers. The first layer (presented in a larger font) is, according to the book jacket, quite simple, while the second (presented in smaller print in a scroll-shaped box) is full of juicy additional details. Both sections contain statements that are oversimplifications of complex ideas and require further background or explanation. In one particularly confusing section of the book, the first tier states that Apollo, god of wisdom, loved Socrates dearly. 'No one is as wise, or good, or brave as he,' Apollo said. The other gods agreed. The line between Socrates's beliefs and fact is blurred here and elsewhere. There are, however, many instances where Usher distills the essence of Socrates's thinking into approachable terms, such as in his discussion that compares the idea of the blueprint for a bed to a blueprint for larger concepts: Just as a carpenter with vast knowledge and experience can make a good bed, and in turn be a good carpenter, a person who has studied the blueprint of right and wrong can be a good person. With the exception of some fictionalizing in terms of his subject's childhood, Usher has been careful to use documented sources, and the writing style itself flows reasonably well. Bramhall's amusing cartoons greatly enliven the presentation. Anyone wishing to introduce the field of philosophy to students would find this offering a useful starting point.Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 2-4. This cheerful picture-book biography of Socrates has two concurrent texts: the story of his life, which is freely fictionalized and unconvincing in its description of the early years, and, in smaller print, an introduction to the philosopher's ideas, which is actually quite good. As Usher states in the appended notes, "Socrates' adult interests have been imaginatively read back into his youth." The result is a child character who sounds utterly unchildlike. In a sudden growth spurt shown in the illustrations but unexplained in the text, Socrates grows from a scruffy child on one double-page spread to a scruffy man on the next. The accessible style of the sophisticated ink-and-watercolor artwork is reminiscent of that of a cartoonist or caricaturist. And on the closing pages, there are caricatures of later thinkers, from Erasmus to Gandhi, who comment on Socrates. A note on sources and a short bibliography (labeled "For Further Reading" but clearly aimed at adults) are appended as well. Parents who can't wait to introduce their elementary-school progeny to Socrates will find this an original, but not wholly successful, choice. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Wise Guy: The Life and Philosophy of Socrates | [
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12,067 | 2 | Buttons, buttons, who's got the buttons? When an old man eats so much he bursts his britches and loses all his buttons, it's up to his three daughters to find new ones for their silly, helpless father. The eldest daughter offers to dress in her finest clothes and make a rich man fall in love with her, at which point she will demand buttons. The second daughter plans to dress as a boy and join the army. Her uniform will have plenty of buttons to spare. The youngest daughter, who is "young and rabbity and still picked her nose when she thought no one was looking" decides to run in the meadow, holding out her apron so that if any buttons fall from the sky, she can catch them. The race for buttons is on, and readers will be as delighted as the unfastened father at the results.In spite of the hint of naughtiness in this fable--daughter number two spends a snug night in a hayloft with a young wounded soldier--the antics throughout are innocently preposterous enough to pose no threat to the sanctity of youth. Tremendously clever and delightfully understated, Brock Cole's original fairy tale and whimsical watercolors have the feel of an ancient classic, complete with happily-ever-after-ending. (Ages 5 to 9) --Emilie CoulterA series of farcical mishaps steadily ups the comedy in Cole's (Alpha and the Dirty Baby) brightly polished romp. After their portly father eats so much that his britches burst and his buttons fly into the fire, three daughters concoct plans to find replacements. Setting off to snare a man who will fall in love with her and give her his buttons, the eldest encounters a "band of ruffians" who tip her over the balustrade of a bridge. She ends up marrying the handsome bargee who rescues her and realizes only much later that she has forgotten to ask for even one button ("She decided she would send her father a postcard instead"). The second girl disguises herself as a man and joins the army, intending to give her father the gold buttons from her new uniform. But her regiment is whisked off to battle, and when a brave young ensign is wounded, she tears off her jacket to make bandages ("Many buttons were lost and destroyed in the process, but who could think of buttons at a time like this?"). It falls to the youngest daughter to save the day, although her plan is the most harebrained of them all. Busy, hyperbolic pictures limn an appealing old-world setting. In his words and pictures, Cole treats the ridiculous characters with affection, not mockery, inviting readers into the story to laugh right along with them. Ages 5-up. (Mar.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Buttons | [
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12,068 | 11 | Gerrard's (Sir Cedric; A Pocket Full of Posies) 10th picture book is an innovative amalgam of ancient history lesson, introduction to hieroglyphics and fanciful story. Combined with the artist's intricate illustrations, at once playful and representative of the culture and artifacts of ancient Egypt, these diverse elements add up to an altogether diverting book. In breezy, rhymed verse, Gerrard tells how a brother and sister-Hamut and Nekatu-find a crocodile by the Nile. Hamut and Nekatu are possessed of great talents: he is an accomplished sculptor and she an artist whose murals bring gasps of admiration. The two draw the attention of the king and queen, as well as of villains who kidnap the children and set sail for foreign parts, where they intend to sell the children as skilled slaves. But an old pal intercedes, and "They traveled home in style,/ Though not by boat or chariot,/ but by first-class crocodile." As lagniappe, the jacket (as well as a cut-out bookmark) contains a key to decode 10 hieroglyphic messages hidden in the book's art. Ages 5-8. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 2-4-The story rambles as the doggerel ambles, but the pictures are arresting. Hamut and Nekatu, a brother and sister in ancient Egypt, befriend a baby croc. Later, they stow away on a boat that leaves them in a strange city; they discover their talents for sculpting and painting, leading both to a commission from the Pharoah and an attempted abduction into slavery. A storm thwarts the abductors, and the children's reptile companion appears to carry them back home. Fans of Gerrard's signature style will not mind this excuse for a plot, and even newcomers may be taken with these pages. The anatomical distortions are less exaggerated here, and Gerrard's gorgeous vision of an Egypt-that-never-was, touched with tender lapis blue, is breathtaking. A decorous riot of design employs Egyptian motifs and hieroglyphics (a key to 10 messages is provided), and although there are no real surprises, there's a lot of fun for the looking. Given the current Egyptomania, Croco'nile could be as popular as the Pyramids.Patricia (Dooley) Lothrop Green, St. George's School, Newport, RICopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Croco'Nile | [
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12,069 | 1 | readers will undoubtedly want to elect Carl for Best Friend.' Publishers WeeklyEach spread offers much to look at in itself and rewards close attention, as when we see a small dog curiously nosing a toy on a sales rack only to be politely given the toy by Carl on the next page. Horn Book MagazineMischievous Madeleine and her canine companion, Carl the Rottweiler, attend a dog show in this latest entry in the long-running series. Kirkus ReviewsAlexandra Day is the author and illustrator of Good Dog, Carl and the rest of the beloved Carl books, including Carl Goes Shopping, Carl's Christmas, Carl's Birthday and Carl's Snowy Afternoon. The Darlings' own dog, a Rottweiler named Toby, was the original model for the main character of Good Dog, Carl. Since then, two other Darling Rottweilers have posed as Carl in the sequels: the late Arambarri, who was named for one of the Darlings' favorite jai alai players; and Zabala, who currently moonlights as an Our Best Friend therapy dog, visiting hospitals to cheer patients.; Title: Carl at the Dog Show | [
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12,070 | 1 | In this engaging outing, Day supplies a self-reliant, thoughtful, and thoroughly entertaining canine...A largely wordless story with ample action and humor to sustain repeated enjoyment. Starred, BooklistAlexandra Day is the author and illustrator of Good Dog, Carl and the rest of the beloved Carl books, including Carl Goes Shopping, Carl's Christmas, Carl's Birthday and Carl's Snowy Afternoon. The Darlings' own dog, a Rottweiler named Toby, was the original model for the main character of Good Dog, Carl. Since then, two other Darling Rottweilers have posed as Carl in the sequels: the late Arambarri, who was named for one of the Darlings' favorite jai alai players; and Zabala, who currently moonlights as an Our Best Friend therapy dog, visiting hospitals to cheer patients.; Title: Carl Goes Shopping | [
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12,071 | 2 | Grade 47In The Crow-Girl (Farrar, 2004), Bredsdorff introduces readers to a group of characters composed of tattered remnants of families that death or pain have dissolved. That background is missing here, leaving readers a bit puzzled as to how they are related, but it soon doesn't matter as Eidi takes over the tale. The daughter of Foula, who has a new husband and a new baby, Eidi feels uncertain of her place in the household. She travels with a kindly neighbor, Rossan, to the city, where she finds a needy orphan, a young boy named Tink, cruelly mistreated by his stepfather. Eidi gradually grows to understand her own desires, abilities, and power as she nurtures Tink and fights for his survival and her own. The time and place are quite vague; the author brings to life a simply functioning world similar to that found in fairy talesa place that is both specific and universal. Lyrically told, the narrative provides apt descriptions of events and of the natural world. Readers easily decode the motivations and inner thoughts revealed in the actions and words of the characters who are vividly and quickly delineated but possess lively complexities. An excellent follow-up for fans of the first book.Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library, CO Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Like the previous book in the Children of Crow Cove series, this unassuming yet compelling story is notable for the simplicity and power of the storytelling, the clarity of description and characterization, and the humanity of the ideas at the novel's heart. Starred, Booklist[A] heartfelt story of love and belonging. Kirkus Reviews; Title: Eidi: The Children of Crow Cove (The Children of Crow Cove Series) | [
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12,072 | 1 | Gr 6 UpHave you ever considered owning a pet rat? Would you believe that rats make great, low-maintenance pets? Toor aims to reverse negative attitudes toward rats by informing readers of their pleasant nature and many amazing abilities and providing some personal anecdotes about her own rat, Iris. Hesitant readers will immediately be drawn in by the first line of the introduction: "For three and a half years I was in love with someone the size of a hot dog bun." Toor mixes humor with genuine affection as she details how she came to appreciate rats while also debunking some common myths students may be familiar with. For instance, she clarifies that rats alone did not cause the Black Plague; rather, it was the fleas that lived on them (which carried the disease in the form of a bacterial microbe) that were largely responsible. In addition, she briefly covers the concepts of evolution, genetics, and domestication to show how environment and circumstance can influence how a creature develops and acts. The true highlight of this work is the relationship between Toor and Iris during a challenging period in Toor's life (her mother was diagnosed with cancer). Students will feel close to the loving and sweet-tempered Iris. However, tenderhearted readers should be warned that Toor's mother and Iris both die. The author includes material on ratteries (rat breeders), different rat varieties (based on color and coat), and questions to consider before opting for a pet rat. VERDICT A delightful addition to any library or classroom's creative nonfiction section.Elizabeth Anne Ragain, Springfield Public Schools, MOArtfully weaves extensive research and personal enthusiasm into a humorous treatise on the merits of rats, perhaps the worlds most unfairly reviled species, as pets. In a book that serves, in part, as a memoir of Toors late pet, Iris, she tackles head-on the visceral objections of many and extols the charms of the domesticated rat . . . The book is well targeted to animal-loving teens, and Toors conversational tone, wealth of information, and ebullience could sway many skeptics. Publishers WeeklyToor mixes humor with genuine affection as she details how she came to appreciate rats while also debunking some common myths students may be familiar with . . . A delightful addition to any library or classrooms creative nonfiction section. School Library Journal This irresistible memoir-manual . . . interweaves scientific studies, autobiographical anecdotes, and surprisingly riveting research . . . Effortlessly engaging . . . this is not only a useful resource for future rat owners and ardent animal-lovers, but also young essay writers. Get ready to scour ratteries near you! BooklistPart pet-centric memoir and part broader commentary on animal-human relationships, Toors thoughtful and often humorous musings about pet rats, including and especially her own beloved rat, Iris, make an absorbing read. The Bulletin; Title: Misunderstood: Why the Humble Rat May Be Your Best Pet Ever | [
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12,073 | 11 | Javaherbin's free-flowing narrative in Neymar Jr.'s imagined first-person voice, coupled with Hoppe's evocative, movement-filled illustrations, brings life to this athlete's biography. A real page-turner, this book couldn't have been released at a better time, a few months before the 2018 World Cup. A gem School Library Journal Mina Javaherbin is the author of many picture books including Goal! and Soccer Star. Born in Iran, she now lives in Southern California with her husband and two children, who are avid soccer players and fans of the sport.Paul Hoppe is an illustrator with many talents. He has illustrated comic books, and many childrens books including the Last-But-Not-Least Lola series and his very own picture book The Woods. His work can be found in many publications including The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. He is originally from Poland, was raised in Germany, and now resides in Brooklyn.; Title: Neymar: A Soccer Dream Come True | [
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12,074 | 13 | PreS-Gr. 2. Delightful Dolores returns. In Aloha Dolores (2000), she was trying to win a trip to Hawaii. Now she's excited about the upcoming Tutu Day at ballet school. Integral to the story once more is Dolores' cat, Duncan, who Dolores believes wants to participate in Tutu Day as much as she does--hence the ribbons in his hair, his (forced) participation in a pas de deux, and, of course, a tutu of his own. All the fuss causes Duncan to take a powder. Will Dolores find him in time for them to make their debut? There is a lot to look and laugh at in the illustrations. Full-size pictures alternate with small vignettes, sometimes three or four different scenes tumbling across the page. In the beginning, these pictures follow Dolores as she prepares herself (and Duncan) for the recital. But when the pizza man leaves the door open and Duncan sprints out of the apartment, alert children will follow the cat as he darts in and out of the spreads, always one step ahead of his ballet partner. The final, funny scene at the recital brings a climax that deserves applause. This has all the elements of a terrific picture book: a fresh concept, a story and text that work together, and so much going on that children will want a second or third reading just to catch each hidden giggle. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Dolores on her Toes | [
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12,075 | 13 | PreS-K-City Cat travels through Europe, paralleling a human family's vacation. Rhyming verse follows the stray as she hitches rides and wanders through Italy, France, Spain, England, the Netherlands, and Germany. Flags dot the various spreads, giving clues to the locations, which are further described in the endnotes. Lyrical verse follows an interesting rhyming scheme and incorporates rich vocabulary, and lush illustrations capture the atmosphere of each location with plenty of details to invite close study. Children will enjoy the fanciful adventures of this intrepid feline as she explores rooftops, bridges, and ancient ruins, especially when compared to the rather boring, grounded meanderings of the human tourists. However, not much happens in the story and the connection between the cat and the family is not clear. Overall, this is a pretty book for armchair travelers and cat lovers.-Suzanne Myers Harold, formerly at Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journal. LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.A stray gray cat stows away in a familys luggage for the European vacation of a lifetime. Our feline tour guide follows the family by way of truck, train, and boat, from Italy to France to England and so on. While Banks rhyming verse doesnt often pin down City Cats exact locationCity Cat scales ragged walls. / She romps through ruins set in stone. / Then tiptoes through a sacred space / and cuddles in a hidden placeCastillos soft drawings set the scene in great detail (the one just described, for instance, puts us at Romes Colosseum). The renderings of place are meticulous, and the cat moves quietly and subtly from location to location. Parents will have fun pointing out identifying details, like a French flag waving in the wind, while little kids will enjoy admiring the cityscapes and finding the surreptitious feline on each spread. Back matter includes a map charting the cats route and offers up further information on each of the sites visited. Pair with Caroline Lazos Someday When My Cat Can Talk (2008) for more kitty-does-Europe sightseeing adventures. Grades K-3. --Ann Kelley; Title: City Cat | [
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12,076 | 3 | Agee, whose previous palindromic volumes include Go Hang a Salami! I'm a Lasagna Hog! and So Many Dynamos!, makes another dizzying effort to exhaust the English-language palindrome supply. He provides animal lovers with the slogans "Revile liver!" and "Step on no pets," along with some horses who cheer, "Yahoo! Hay!" City dwellers certainly will relate to the exclamation, "Dog doo? Good God!" while slackers will sigh along with, "No panic, I nap on." Scrabble buffs might feel vexed by Agee's regular use of proper names ("Lee has a race car as a heel"; "Ed is loopy poolside") and brand names ("Naive was I ere I saw Evian"; "Lonely Tylenol"). Novices can get in on the fun with simpler samples like "Petite P" and "Tip it." Agee complements his palindromes with rough pen-and-ink sketches and gray wash on a white background; a spread of a prison-like stripe camouflage for "See referees?" takes the cake. He injects a note of mayhem with his liberal use of exclamation points and, judging by the volume's price, he gets the sales department in on the joke, too. Word-gamers are advised to proceed with caution into these verbal somersaults, which could ignite a serious compulsion to reverse spellings. Agee himself appears to be in an advanced stage of his self-imposed condition, considering his magnum opus: "A man, a plan, a cat, a bar, a cap, a mall, a ball, a map, a car, a bat, a canal: Panama." Don't say we didn't warn you! All ages. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 4 Up-In this whimsical book of over 60 palindromes, Agee is obviously having a good time with the English language. As in Go Hang a Salami! I'm a Lasagna Hog! (1992) and So Many Dynamos! (1994, both Farrar), each page or double-page spread has a black-and-white pen-and-ink cartoon that illuminates the meaning of the occasionally nonsensical phrase. While some of the palindromes take a second look to decipher, most are clear and humorous. Forward/backward punch lines such as "LEE HAS A RACECAR AS A HEEL" and "WOE. MODIFY FIDO! MEOW!" will challenge readers. Like an older version of the "I Spy" series (Scholastic) or books full of optical illusions, this volume will invite observation, group participation, and discussion.Linda Wadleigh, Oconee County Middle School, Watkinsville, GACopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Sit on a Potato Pan, Otis!: More Palindromes | [
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12,077 | 2 | Disney artist Chou's digital illustrations are the draw here. Finding Nemo: Nemo's Day Off fans will recognize these big-eyed sea creatures. In the final spread, two of Adorabilis' tentacles form a heart, emphasizing its over-the-top cuteness. . .A sweet dessert for storytime. Kirkus ReviewsA sweet imagined story of how the Adorabilis octopus got his name. . .The bubbly typeface paired with Chous whimsical, geometric illustrations complement Polanskys story well. Adorabilis is an endearing character. . .A fun option for preschool storytimes and as an introduction to sea creatures. School Library JournalLittle ones will eagerly dive into this all-around adorable first glimpse at ocean fauna. BooklistMarisa Polansky is a writer and editor. She is also the founder of Speech Tank, a speech-writing company specializing in one-of- a-kind speeches. She lives in New York.Joey Chou is an animator and illustrator. He has worked as a visual development artist on feature animated films and television, including Kung Fu Panda, and illustrated Disney's Finding Nemo: Nemo's Day Off. His picture books include Ruby's Chinese New Year, written by Vicki Lee. He lives in Los Angeles.; Title: Hello, My Name Is . . .: How Adorabilis Got His Name | [
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12,078 | 1 | Another winner. School Library JournalAlexandra Day is the author and illustrator of Good Dog, Carl and the rest of the beloved Carl books, including Carl Goes Shopping, Carl's Christmas, Carl's Birthday and Carl's Snowy Afternoon. The Darlings' own dog, a Rottweiler named Toby, was the original model for the main character of Good Dog, Carl. Since then, two other Darling Rottweilers have posed as Carl in the sequels: the late Arambarri, who was named for one of the Darlings' favorite jai alai players; and Zabala, who currently moonlights as an Our Best Friend therapy dog, visiting hospitals to cheer patients.; Title: Carl's Birthday | [
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12,079 | 0 | An accurate and witty take on a philosophy of self-sufficiency that clearly separates wants and needs. The Chicago TribuneChesworths comical cartoons underline the dogs carefree spirit and the book might spark a discussion about humans desire for prestige and material goods and how to overcome them. School Library Journal Chesworths pen-and-wash artwork is playful and evocative, while the author keeps the text as simple and easeful as Diogenes would have wanted. Kirkus ReviewsA touch of education, some light humor, and mildly affirming inspiration combine nicely here. Booklist It is a very clever retelling by an author who really knows his subject Usher is a classics professor at the University of Vermont, and discusses the historical Diogenes in an excellent afterword. Infodad.com; Title: Diogenes | [
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12,080 | 2 | In Beto and the Bone Dance by Gina Freschet, a boy celebrates the Mexican holiday, el Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. After a night of dancing and searching for a suitable offering to place atop his grandmother's altar, Beto finally finds just the right gift.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.K-Gr 3-A sprightly, informative tale. Beto loves el D'a de los Muertos. In spite of the fact that he sometimes feels just a little scared of all those crazy skeletons, the little boy enjoys this day of remembrance. This year is especially meaningful for Beto, as his grandmother has recently died. Given the chance to put something special on the altar for her, he just cannot seem to get the right thing. Every time he thinks of an item (soda pop, chocolate), someone else has thought of it first. It isn't until Beto falls asleep and dreams that he is dancing a bone dance with some skeletons that his grandmother appears and helps him find just the right token. Freschet's vivid, mixed-media illustrations brim with vigor, and the predominant use of golds and reds, along with echoing the color of the traditional marigolds that figure in the celebration, gives the slightly scary tale a reassuring and joyful look. The story pairs perfectly with Tony Johnston's more straightforward Day of the Dead (Harcourt, 1997) to provide a perfect introduction to George Ancona's as yet unsurpassed photo-essay on the subject, Pablo Remembers (Lothrop, 1993). This is a book to keep in mind for a culturally rich storytime.Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WACopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Beto and The Bone Dance | [
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12,081 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 2—Cat, Duck, and Squirrel are back in this companion to Pumpkin Soup (1999) and A Pipkin of Pepper (2005, both Farrar). Disaster has struck the pumpkin patch—no ripe pumpkins for the animals' favorite dish. The friends decide to make something new to eat, but Duck is unwilling to try either fish soup, mushroom soup, or beet soup (especially offensive because it is pink). Cat tries to trick Duck by mixing a combination of veggies and ingredients that result in a broth that is the exact color of pumpkin soup. After a tentative sip, Duck declares it "Delicious!" and order is restored in the old white cabin. The story has universal appeal—everyone either knows, or is, a fussy eater. Readers will empathize with Duck, who is obstinate without being intolerable, and cheer for Cat and Squirrel as their patience and accommodation lead to eventual success. The illustrations are warm and rustic, and the layout does an excellent job of mixing full-page portraits and white space. A recipe for "Pink Soup" is included. This beautiful book is a must-have.—Kara Schaff Dean, Needham Public Library, MA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Supper time, that universal family minefield, forms the core of Cooper's third picture book featuring Cat, Squirrel, and todderlike Duck, characters originated in her Greenaway Medalwinning Pumpkin Soup (1999). In softly brushed paintings of a cozy, whimsical woodland household, parental stand-ins Cat and Squirrel lovingly create substitutes for Duck's out-of-season favorite, pumpkin soup. Kerfuffles, hullaballoos, and other creatively termed uproars ensue as Duck refuses each offering, until a flurry of kitchen creativity begets a soup that meets the persnickety bird's approval. More accurate, perhaps, than ideal, the suggestion that whiny, sulky stubbornness gets results is somewhat balanced by a clever secondary narrative, in which beetle observers scathingly comment on Duck's misdeeds ("What a way to behave!"). Still, this lively read-aloud may be best appreciated by families beyond the picky-eater phase, whose reformed members can giggle as they recollect their own tableside mutinies. A recipe for Pink Soup (made from beets) appears on an extrawide interior jacket flap. Mattson, Jennifer; Title: Delicious!: A Pumpkin Soup Story | [
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12,082 | 15 | Starred Review. Grade 3–6—Using the same tawny palette as in Down the Colorado (Farrar, 2007), Ray has painted soft-edged backdrops for her lucid exposition of the life work of Earl Douglass, fossil-finder extraordinaire. Benefitting from the Cope/Marsh "Bone Wars" and the deep pockets of philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, Douglass embarked on a1909 expedition to the Uinta Basin (Utah) to find Carnegie's demand for "something big." What he found was BIG—a bone bed that ultimately became Dinosaur National Monument. The readable text is bracketed by large illustrations and smaller diagrams, charts, maps, and, most importantly, direct quotes from Douglass's field journals. Added for readers' edification is a cast of characters of 10 Jurassic dinosaurs found at Dinosaur Mountain, a large map of the monument (which spreads across the Utah/Colorado border), an extensive author's note, a brief bio of Douglass, and an even briefer one of Carnegie. With its sand-colored pages, the warmth of the palette, and the brown script of the journal notes, this is a vibrant window into the burgeoning world of American paleontology a century ago. A rich find.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.When 165,000 people flocked to see the first exhibited dinosaur, in 1868, it commenced the Bone Warsa race by rival paleontologists to turn up and identify the most spectacular of extinct giants. Archrivals stooped to underhanded methods, including spying, bribery, and even hijacking fossil shipments. But when Earl Douglass was employed by Andrew Carnegie to find something big, he set out with the best of intentions and found the biggest rewards: a mountain in Utah that would ultimately reveal some of the greatest and grandest dinosaur skeletons anyone had ever seen. Although Rays expressive art lacks the fine detail to help illustrate complicated excavation techniques, it excels in capturing the grandeur and wonder of key moments, like Douglass stumbling upon a six-foot thigh bone or the uncovering of a massive line of a vertebrae. Excited journal entries from Douglass enliven the informative text, and small sketch bookstyle drawings of fossils and tools add a scholarly touch. This will push all-new buttons of the dinosaur lovers in your life. Grades 4-6. --Daniel Kraus; Title: Dinosaur Mountain: Digging into the Jurassic Age | [
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12,083 | 2 | PreS-Gr 2Fred is a beagle with a penchant for sleeping. While his household is busy with birthday preparations, he takes the opportunity to snooze among the decorations and groceries. Once the party begins, he wrecks havoc by diving snout first into the cake. After being chased by rambunctious guests, he escapes to the basement and dozes in a pile of laundry. Samuel's cheery watercolor illustrations highlight the pup's favorite napping spots, including "The Pile-of-Old-Newspapers Bed, "The Slightly-Soggy Bath-Towel Bed," and "The Flower Bed." In a funny twist, the only place Fred cannot sleep is in his new dog bed. The canine's inner musings are conveyed in the text, making this a fun read-aloud for dog devotees.Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, CanadaThere are two charmingly intertwined stories here: that of a little girls birthday party and that of her beloved beagles progress from makeshift bed to makeshift bed as the preparations and the party progress. Freds favorite snoozing spot is the doormat just outside the kitchen doorperfect for spotting incoming groceriesbut on this particular day, he is disappointed that the bags contain only streamers and conical hats. But he adjusts, and takes a nap in The Shopping-Bag Bed. As the little girl and her mother bake a cake, Fred moves to a pile of newspapers next to the counterand on and on. Fred is overjoyed when people show up, and overwhelmed by all the food. After Fred makes a grab for the cake, the partygoers chase him through the neighborhood. Luckily, Fred finds refuge in a Used-to-Be-Fresh-Laundry Bed in the basement and returns to the little girls favor. Pleasingly two-dimensional illustrations, packed with comic details of the hapless canine, enhance Samuels furry, frolicsome tale. Preschool-Grade 2. --Connie Fletcher; Title: Fred's Beds: A Picture Book | [
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12,084 | 13 | *A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2018!**A 2019 Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Selection*"Whereas in early childhood friendships take shape by reason of proximity, later they alter as interests diverge and new bonds form, and Larson's story tracks this painful, exhilarating process." The New York Times Book Review"Larson's panels are superb at revealing emotional conflict, subtext, and humor within the deceptively simple third-person limited plot, allowing characters to grow and develop emotionally over only a few spreads. A coming-of-age story as tender and sweet as a summer evening breeze." Kirkus starred review"Most crucial is the portrait that Larson (Mercury) draws of Bina as a guitarist and songwriter, a musician whose deepest fulfillment comes from within herself. Larsons graphic novel zeroes in on conversational encounters, with dialogue thats fresh and funny (Youre a stone-cold psycho and I kinda admire that, Charlie tells Bina when they begin to hang out), and her close-up drawings of expressive faces add intimacy to the interchanges she captures." Publishers Weekly"With much of this tight-knit familys backstory delivered visually or through brief exchanges of dialogue, characters diversity of race, lifestyle, and sexual orientation emerge organically through the tidily framed black, white, and gold artwork. Use this with Brosgols Be Prepared (BCCB 4/18) and Jamiesons Roller Girl (BCCB 4/15) and Alls Faire in Middle School (BCCB 10/17) for an easygoing graphic novel take on how to spend summer vacation." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"This sensitive, relatable graphic novel explores many familiar touchstones of adolescence as Bina seeks her place in the world... A limited palette keeps the focus on the story and character development, and Larsons expressive drawings add to the emotional resonance of the teens journey to self-discovery...Fans of Raina Telgemeiers Smile and Shannon Hales Real Friends will eagerly embrace this work. A charming addition to any graphic novel collection.School Library JournalHope Larson adapted and illustrated A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel, which spent forty-four weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and for which she won an Eisner Award. She is also the author and illustrator of Salamander Dream, Gray Horses, Chiggers, and Mercury, and the author of Compass South and Knife's Edge, both illustrated by Rebecca Mock. She lives in Los Angeles.; Title: All Summer Long | [
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12,085 | 16 | PreS-Gr 1Ernest tries his darnedest to fit on the pages of this book. With the help of his chipmunk friend, he attempts to shimmy, shift, and shuffle in forward and squidge, squodge, and squeeze in backward. Nothing works; all of him just won't fit. Then chipmunk has an idea; fetching masking tape and paper, she and Ernest cobble together a gatefold for the last page. Now, the moose fits in perfectly. The graph-paper pattern on heavy stock is the perfect background against which loose, textured line drawings humorously depict the predicament of the gangly Ernest and his furry friend. The amusing extension, cleverly constructed from a hodgepodge of gaily patterned paper stuck together with much tape, makes for a delightful resolution. The simple plot marries perfectly with the large-scale, highly tactile drawings and oversize font to create a winning book that children will beg to see and hear again and again, whether lap-sitting or in a group. Brilliant!Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT© Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Its a one-joke story, but the conceits awfully funny. Ernest is an endearing-looking moose. His problem is that hes large. Very large for a picture book. And so begins an amusing chain of spreads as Ernest tries to shimmy, shift, and shuffle his body to fit into the two-page spreads. With the help of his little chipmunk friend, he squeezes, and you get a view of his backside. In the next spread, his middle and head are quite viewable. But what about the rest of him? Just when it seems theres nothing to be done, Chipmunk has an idea. She gets some masking tape. Ernest finds some paper. They crinkle, crumple, and stick. When theyre finished, kids will be delighted by the gatefold that unfurls to show full-size Ernest in all his glory. With its short text full of delicious word choices and baleful Ernest and determined Chipmunk as its two characters, this will be especially good for story hours. Let the giggling begin. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene Cooper; Title: Ernest, the Moose Who Doesn't Fit | [
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12,086 | 2 | PreS-KMeet Escargot, a French snail, complete with black beret, striped shirt, and red kerchief. He is on a journey to the end of the book, where there is a delicious salad, "with croutons and a light vinaigrette." Escargot invites a child reader to join him and asks the child to name a favorite animal, before he shares "a very sad thing: Nobody ever says their favorite animal is the snail." Escargot uses his persuasive powers to challenge the reader to view his qualities in a new light and choose him as a favorite pet. For example, the trails he makes are "shimmery" instead of slimy, and his shyness masks a ferocity that he uses to scare away unwanted carrots in his salad. Once Escargot and the reader reach the salad, there's a dreaded carrot in it! Escargot suggests that "on the count of three we will take a very, very, very small bite of the carrot." The snail finds it surprisingly delicious (it's assumed that the reader might, too), and with panache, he declares the reader his favorite animal. With soft, muted colors and a charismatic main character, this title will win many fans. VERDICT A magnifique read-aloud that will charm and delight preschool audiences.Ramarie Beaver, Plano Public Library System, TXWinner of the Minnesota Comstock-Gag Award! "Say bonjour to your new favorite animal, the garden snail!...In Hansons soft, cartoonish illustrations, Escargots hammy expressions are perfectly in keeping with his gently boastful narrative. Give this charming read-aloud a little extra joie de vivre by reading it in your best French accent." Booklist "A charming little French snail takes center stage as it entices a child to share a meal.It's hard to imagine an escargot heading toward a salad as destined to be anything other than part of the dish, but this engaging snail upends convention...An unusual, tongue-in-cheek aid to getting children to eat a disliked foodeven the dreaded carrot."Kirkus Reviews"Escargots voice is parfait, an airy blend of ego and need masterfully balanced in witty and well-turned sentences that leave plenty of room for audiences to get the joke...Trim, controlled pencil and watercolor art gives Escargot the inevitable French sailors shirt, neckerchief, and teeny beret, but the jaunty guys wide, sincere eyes reveal the depth of his yearning snail souland make for some great comic faces." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review; Title: Escargot | [
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12,087 | 2 | Grade 610The children of the Norman and Jorgensen families have grown up together, with their family farms located on either side of Crabapple Creek. In 1917, the outbreak of World War I shatters their idyllic lives: strong-willed Muriel opposes it, but the two young men, Frank and her brother, Ollie, enlist and are soon sent overseas. Muriel's lively personality comes alive in free-verse poems that roam across the page like the free-flowing waters of the creek. "My mind sets off at a gallop/down that twisty road, flashes by 'Young Lady,'/hears the accusation in itas if it's/a crime just being young, and 'lady'/is what anyone can see I'll never be/." The poems of Ollie and friend Emma are written in "cupped-hand" sonnets; their rounded shapes resemble the crossing stones of the creek and record their growing love. While the young men find themselves amidst the horrors of trench warfare, their families attempt to cope with their absence. Muriel travels to Washington, DC, to be with her aunt Vera, a suffragist who is recovering from a hunger strike; joins picketers at the White House; and helps out in a settlement house. Back home, youngest sister Grace comes down with influenza. Frost's warmly sentimental novel covers a lot of political, social, and geographical ground, and some of the supporting characters are not fully fleshed out. But this is Muriel's story, and her determined personality and independence will resonate with readers, especially those who've enjoyed the works of Karen Hesse.Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA ENDThe distinct voices of the characters lend immediacy and crispness to a story of young people forced to grow up too fast. Starred, Horn BookFrost skillfully pulls her characters back from stereotype with their poignant, private, individual voices and nuanced questions, which will hit home with contemporary teens, about how to recover from loss and build a joyful, rewarding future in an unsettled world. Starred, BooklistWith care and precision, Frost deftly turns plainspoken conversations and the internal monologues of her characters into stunning poems that combine to present three unique and thoughtful perspectives on war, family, love and loss. Heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful, this is one to savor. Starred, Kirkus ReviewsFrost's warmly sentimental novel covers a lot of political, social, and geographical ground . . . . But this is Muriel's story, and her determined personality and independence will resonate with readers. School Library JournalA thoughtful read. Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksBoth a great story and a perfectly-worded poetic work of art. Richie's PicksThis beautifully written, gently told story can be used for classroom discussion in social studies and English, or simply for leisure reading. VOYA; Title: Crossing Stones | [
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12,088 | 2 | Grade 5-9Warren relates the story of the 1975 Operation Babylift as seen through the eyes of Long, an eight-year-old Amerasian boy who was part of the airlift. The author uses narrative and reconstructions of conversations from interviews with those involved to trace Long's life, beginning with his indistinct memories of his American father and his more vivid recollections of his Vietnamese mother's suicide and his grandmother's struggle to protect and support him during wartime. She describes his stay at the Saigon orphanage operated by Holt International Children's Services, which housed, schooled, and arranged for his adoption by an American family. Long recalls the fear and excitement during the fall of Saigon, his journey out of Vietnam, his sorrow at the separation from his grandmother, and his emotional transition to his new identity as Matt Steiner. The book concludes with a moving account of Matt's 1995 return to Vietnam, where he finally understood the magnitude of the sacrifice his grandmother made for his safety and future. Photos of Long in both Vietnam and America illustrate the text. Although Warren mentions the cruelties of the communist Vietnamese government and America's abandonment of its South Vietnamese allies, this is a personal story, one that is so well written that it will be sure to hold readers' attention. An outstanding choice.Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* Gr. 5-12. At the end of the Vietnam War, eight-year-old Amerasian orphan named Long fled his country and found a loving home with his adoptive family in Ohio. With a new name, Matt Steiner, he grew up to be high-school valedictorian and athletic star, and now he is a doctor with his own happy family. But this stirring photo-essay is more than a rags-to-riches story. Always true to the child's viewpoint, Warren's clear narrative, with many documentary photos, begins as the boy struggles to survive in Vietnam, then describes the anguish of his abandonment by a loving grandmother no longer able to care for him; the kindness of rescuers at the orphanage, who arranged his adoption; and his terrifying evacuation on a plane under fire. The child-at-war story and the facts about the Operation Babylift rescue are tense and exciting. Just as gripping is the boy's personal conflict: his struggle to become American; his attempt to deny his sadness at what he left behind; and, finally, his pride in his roots ("I will never forget that my American heart is half Vietnamese"). Framing the biography is fascinating information, including Warren's account of the evacuation of her own adopted baby daughter on Operation Babylift; discussion about international adoption and Amerasian children; and a lengthy annotated list of sources. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Escape from Saigon: How a Vietnam War Orphan Became an American Boy (Booklist Editor's Choice. Books for Youth (Awards)) | [
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12,089 | 1 | The inventive story of a mother frog and her mischievous offspring makes a reappearance: Eulalie and the Hopping Head by Caldecott Medallist David Small. When the young frog occupies a doll's head, chaos follows. PW wrote of the original edition, published in 1982, "Small's little book is a frolic, enticingly illustrated by ingenious woodland scenes in pretty shades and witty depictions of the anthropomorphic cast."Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Eulalie and the Hopping Head | [
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12,090 | 18 | Gr 24In the summer of 1851, the clipper Flying Cloud made the journey from New York City to San Francisco in a record-breaking 89 days and 21 hours despite several setbacks and dangers along the way. Much of the credit for that voyage goes to Ellen Prentiss Creesy, the ship's navigator. Based on the true story of that voyage, this book expertly describes Prentiss's early life, her love for the sea and the science of navigation, her marriage to Captain Perkins Creesy, and their remarkable accomplishment. Readers will find this fictionalized account gripping and inspiring. McCully's excellent watercolor illustrations include a number of period details and add a sense of movement and drama to the already exciting text. An author's note gives the factual background for the story, and a brief glossary serves to familiarize readers with nautical terms. This is a well-executed narrative on a topic that has not received much coverage since Armstrong Sperry's 1936 Newbery Honor book, All Sail Set: A Romance of the Flying Cloud (Winston, 1935).Misti Tidman, Licking County Library, Newark, OHThe daughter of a schooner captain in the early 1800s, Ellen Prentiss was just a girl when her father taught her the difficult technical skill of navigation, as well as sailing. After her marriage, Ellen navigated ships captained by her husband. When he was given command of a new clipper, the Flying Cloud, and the challenge of carrying cargo and passengers from New York City to the Gold Rush rose swiftly, Ellen navigated the ship through storms and other perils by drawing on experience, research, courage, and caution. In a picture book based on a true story, Fern takes as her heroine this unusual nineteenth-century woman and, in telling the tale, chooses metaphors (her face turning white as whalebone) from seafaring life of the period. McCullys precise ink drawings gracefully delineate the characters and settings, while the layers of paint create depth of color and nicely textured effects. A map showing the 1851 voyage of the Flying Cloud appears on the endpapers. A handsome picture book portraying an accomplished woman. Grades 1-3. --Carolyn Phelan; Title: Dare the Wind: The Record-breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud | [
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12,091 | 0 | Sure to be hit at storytime, this Wild West tale will keep children laughing as it delivers its message about the power of books. School Library JournalThe softly colored cartoonish illustrations perfectly convey the action of the characters portrayed in the brief text. BooklistHoyt's marvelous caricatures are worth thousands of words, making this hilarious tall tale not only a plug for books and reading but an outsized winner. Kirkus ReviewsMary Casanova's books include the popular One-Dog Canoe and Some Dog! also illustrated by Ard Hoyt. She lives near Ranier, Minnesota. Ard Hoyt has illustrated several picture books, including the best-selling I'm a Manatee by John Lithgow. He lives in Bentonville, Arkansas.; Title: The Day Dirk Yeller Came to Town | [
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12,092 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 3Using fictional characters Bonnie and Ronnie as guides, Rubel presents a miscellany of facts and anecdotes about twins. Many subjects are given cursory coverage, including the difference between fraternal and identical siblings, twins around the world, and animal twins. Two spreads highlight famous duos ranging from Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen to Romulus and Remus. Scattered throughout are sections that reflect on what it feels like to be a twin, including interviews with sibling pairs, survival tips ("Cut loose from your twin and find your own activities and hobbies"), and advice for parents and friends ("Please don't compare us all the time!"). The layout is colorful and inviting, blending lighthearted cartoon illustrations with black-and-white and full-color photos. Dialogue balloons present additional factual tidbits as well as humorous one-liners. Use this browsable offering to supplement more cohesive titles, such as Elaine Scott's photo-essay, Twins! (S & S, 1998).Joy Fleishhacker,School Library Journal Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 3-5, younger for reading aloud. There's something for everyone in this sprightly book about twins. Most of the information is directed at kids, but there's also advice for parents and other adults and children who come into contact with twins. Rubel connects a combination of pen-and-ink drawings and photographic collages to a wide-ranging text, which runs the gamut from nuggets of biology to anecdotes, jokes, and introductions to famous twins. As the book sympathetically notes, the best things about being a twin are also often the worst. Witty asides appear in balloon dialogue; comments from twins, some fictional (narrators Ronnie and Bonnie) and some real, are scattered throughout. Survival secrets for twins include the recommendation to make separate friends and spend time apart; parents are advised to take individual photographs. A pleasurable, playful way to learn about a subject that is always of interest. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Twice As Nice: What It's Like To Be a Twin | [
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12,093 | 0 | Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. Cervantes' famous character gets new life in this adaptation, which zeroes in on the incident for which Don Quixote is perhaps best known--the one in which he tilts at windmills. The story begins as Senor Quexada goes mad, burying himself in the past and re-creating himself as Don Quixote, "a renowned knight." To that end, he puts on a suit of rusty armor, chooses a fat farmer as his squire and sweet Dulcinea as the object of his courtly love, and sets off. Spotting windmills in the distance, Don Quixote sees the structures as giants and refuses to be dissuaded about the objects' real nature. The telling here is staid, leaving the art to express most of the excitement. And it does. Veteran artist Fisher, known for his solid, impressive renderings, brings a suppleness to the artwork that captures a tale bubbling with action. The spreads in which Don Quixote becomes caught on the windmill's canvas and is pulled here and there are dramatically rendered, with perspective changing on every page. An informative author's note explains the story's history. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Don Quixote and the Windmills | [
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12,094 | 11 | Grade 710A recounting of the fatal Antarctic exploration led by Englishman Robert Falcon Scott. The story is told from the point of view of journeyman Apsley Cherry-Garrard and is based on his experiences as recorded in The Worst Journey in the World. The author incorporates numerous primary sources, including diaries, letters, and black-and-white reproductions and archival photographs that aid in capturing Garrard's mindset and that of the other members of the expedition. The goal of the trip was to find the South Pole, with an offshoot expedition to collect samples of the fabled Emperor penguin's eggs. Though dialogue was obviously re-created, and some assumptions are made regarding the thoughts and feelings of crew members, Farr's writing is engrossing and his accounts of the hardships and near-death experiences the explorers faced are harrowing. The accompanying maps, photographs, and drawings complement the text, though some of them break it up at odd intervals. This title will appeal to readers looking for an adventure story and to history buffs.Kelly McGorray, Glenbard South High School Library, Glen Ellyn, IL Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.This review refers to the Hardcover editionAfter the storm, we enjoyed several days in which the weather was merely horrible. Farr writes in the voice of Apsley Cherry-Garrard, a participant in Robert Scotts ill-fated second Antarctic expedition, which he casts as an inspiring tale of men battling overwhelmingly brutal elements with experimental gear, high spirits, and indomitable courage. The expedition was actually a scientific one, with the push to the South Pole as much a public relations gambit as a main purpose. Cherry, as he was known, self-effacingly describes his own role as part of a three-man side trip to collect penguin eggsa trip that, like so many early ventures to the Antarctic, became a desperate struggle just to survive. Based on Cherrys own memoirs and extensive research, this deceptively light-toned account makes compelling reading and is well supplied with contemporary photos, maps, an annotated source list, and other helpful extras. Despite its fictive voice, it makes an authoritative replacement for older titles on the expedition, meriting a place next to Bredesons After the Last Dog Died (2003), Armstrongs Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World (1998), and other Antarctic annals. Grades 6-9. --John PetersThis review refers to the Hardcover edition; Title: Emperors of the Ice: A True Story of Disaster and Survival in the Antarctic, 1910-13 | [
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12,095 | 0 | Kindergarten-Grade 3. A little girl in Germany shares every moment of her life with her beloved doll, Elisabeth, until the soldiers come and her teacher calls her "Jew." She flees with her parents to Italy, France, and, finally, America with all the family's possessions left behind, including Elisabeth. Years pass and the little girl, now a mother, has a daughter who wants a special doll. Searching through every antique store, the woman finds the very one she left behind, identifiable because of teeth marks left in the doll's arm by her mischievous dog. Still more years pass and now her granddaughter plays with it. Full-color paintings bordered by white space present a tableaux of images: a stern faced doll, a soldier with a rifle on a sunny tree-lined street, the grown-up Ruth examining the doll in the shop. This is a moving, but adult-focused remembrance of the author's mother, which raises the question of audience. The delicate art, amount of white space, and very brief text will appeal to preschoolers through first graders, but with no background built into the story, they're unlikely to understand why Ruth and her family must flee or comprehend the concept of anti-Semitism. Older children will find the story lacking in substance.?Susan Pine, New York Public LibraryCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.Ages 5^-9. With clear, brightly detailed narrative pictures in the formal style of Barbara Cooney, Nivola tells a refugee story with a miracle ending. It is her own family story, and Nivola lets her mother, Ruth, tell it quietly in the first person. Ruth remembers her happy childhood in Germany with her beloved doll, Elisabeth. She remembers fun with her mischievous dog, Fifi, and how one day he bites Elisabeth's arm. Then everything changes: Ruth is called "Jew" at school; Nazi soldiers patrol the street outside her home. When the family flees suddenly in the night, they have to leave everything behind. Everything--even Elisabeth. Ruth eventually comes to the U.S.; she grows up and has a family of her own. One day Ruth finds a doll for her six-year-old daughter in an antique store--and the doll turns out to be Elisabeth, with the two teeth marks where Fifi bit her so many years ago. The pictures are quiet and beautiful, contrasting the sadness of the wide train station in the night (when the small child looks back before she's rushed into the carriage) with the warm scenes of family life across generations at home. Many children will relate this to their own family stories of people forced to leave home, long ago or today. Hazel Rochman; Title: Elisabeth | [
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12,096 | 15 | a lovely presentation of amazing adventures. School Library Journalsuccessfully infuse[s] the image of plant collection with a measure of excitement many readers will not expect. BCCBCombining bits of botanical history and exploration with accounts of adventurers, this unusual book introduces European and North American plant hunters... Booklistsmoothly written, smartly paced and filled with exciting tales of risk taking and derring-do. Kirkus ReviewsAnita Silvey is among today's foremost authorities on children's books. She is the creator of both the online and the print editions of the Children's Book-a-Day Almanac, and teaches courses in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science and the Children's Literature Program at Simmons College. A frequent contributor to NPR, Ms. Silvey lectures around the country on children's and young adult books. Her books include Henry Knox: Bookseller, Soldier, Patriot, I'll Pass for Your Comrade: Women Soldiers in the Civil War, and Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children's Book. She lives near Boston, Massachusetts.; Title: The Plant Hunters: True Stories of Their Daring Adventures to the Far Corners of the Earth | [
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12,097 | 1 | "A gigantic spider saves their itsy-bitsy friends in this hilarious twist on an old fingerplay. With remarkably appealing spiders showing energy and emotion on every page, this clever, well-paced story is sure to appeal to children with a taste for zany, self-referential humor." Kirkus"In this debut children's book, Ethan T. Berlin, an Emmy Award-nominated comedy writer, mines comic gold from that familiar sing-song rhyme about the Itsy Bitsy Spider who climbed up the water spout. The plot line follows the song perfectly, complete with the dire threat of rain which brings Hugely-Wugely to the rescue. The droll illustrations by Karl Newsom Edwards are perfect." - The Buffalo NewsEthan T. Berlin is an Emmy Award-nominated comedy writer and performer who has written for some of today's top comedy voices and networks. He teaches comedy writing classes at NYU and the Peoples' Improv Theatre. The Hugely-Wugely Spider is his debut children's book.Karl Newsom Edwards is a childrens picture book author and illustrator. Born in Oakland, California, he is a graduate of the California College of the Arts with a degree in drawing. He made his debut as an author/illustrator with Fly! He lives in Portland, Oregon.; Title: The Hugely-Wugely Spider (Junior Library Guild Selection) | [
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12,098 | 2 | Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 1One day, while Bridget is at Mrs. Blair's house being looked after, she eats a biscuit she finds in the sheda dog biscuit. Mrs. Blair jokes that she will "go bowwow and turn into a dog," and Bridget begins to believe it. She imagines that she is growing ears and a tail, woofs at the butcher on the way home, gobbles dinner, and acts like a bad doggy during bedtime stories, almost convincing herself that she has changed. Then she dreams of being a canine, partying under the moon with other dogs, and things become too real. She wakes up in the comforting arms of her mother, who confirms that she is still a little girl, and suggests that they "curl up like puppies, just us two," until morning. Next day, they go to see Mrs. Blair, who is sorry for the tease, and they all have tea and "human-being treats" (gingerbread men). The recipe is appended. A handsome and thoughtfully done layout uses different fonts and sizes for the text, and Cooper's illustrations alternate quiet, ordinary scenes with wild scenes of Bridget's imagination-in some, the little girl has an appealing dog's head with distinctive red ribbon bow; in her dream she is a white shaggy pup; and everywhere there are other dogs romping happily against unusually colored pages. This is a beautiful and imaginative book for anyone who loves a good story.Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA ENDThis is a beautiful and imaginative book for anyone who loves a good story. Starred, School Library JournalA story that understands how a young one's imagination works. Booklist; Title: Dog Biscuit: A Picture Book; Human-Being Biscuit Recipe Included! | [
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12,099 | 0 | PreSchool-Grade 2?A Katzenjammer Kids-meet-Bill Joyce hybrid that features a 60-year-old story from a Russian poet, freshly interpreted by a contemporary American artist. The first 10 ordinal numbers provide a sinuous sequence from the simple opening ("First, I stepped out singing a song") to the convoluted 10th "event." At that point, the narrator; his friend Pete; a "man no bigger than a jug"; and a fourth companion, who is "so long we couldn't see his feet," complete their picaresque adventure with the help of some accommodating animals. Kharms's rejuvenated narrative reads like a benevolent, if goofy, uncle's tall tale, with as much singing and whistling as the seven dwarfs combined. Rosenthal's visual hyperbole is the perfect match for the absurd action. Not quite The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship (Farrar, 1968) by Arthur Ransome or A Day with Wilbur Robinson (HarperCollins, 1990) by Wiliam Joyce, First, Second is an effervescent story brought to life by bright, detailed, and expressive drawings.?John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TXCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.Ages 4^-8. With the fun of a cumulative folktale, this begins, "First," the narrator steps out singing a song. "Second," a friend joins him. "Third," they pick up a tiny man; "Fourth," a giant; "Fifth," a donkey; and so on, right up to 10. Each time, they have to work out a plan so that everyone can travel together whistling a song. How can they all cram into a car? How can they all sleep in one room? They travel and they argue and they work it out with a mixture of farce and nonsense and common sense. The text of the story gets longer and funnier as the numbers go up and the convolutions increase. First published in a Russian children's magazine in the 1930s, the story is translated here with a casual wit and illustrated with large, clear, brightly colored cartoon-style pictures that extend the exaggeration and cheerful innocence of the nonsense world. Hazel Rochman; Title: First, Second | [
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