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12,300 | 2 | Gr 36Eleven-year-old Cordelia Sullivan has put the pieces together. Her mother owned a soft, silky black coat, read her stories about selkies, loved the ocean, and showed Cordelia and her sisters the way to an enchanted island. Her mother and the black coat are missing, so the obvious conclusion Cordelia draws is that her mother donned her sealskin and rejoined the selkie kingdom. The trouble is, Cordelia doesn't exactly believe in selkies. What follows is one bad decision after another as the girl tries to help her family and bring her mother home. On an ill-fated trip to the island, Cordelia and her sisters are rescued by a large, black seal. Is the seal really their mother trapped in her sealskin or is Cordelia simply guilty of finally believing her own tales? The surprise ending leaves the door open for a little belief in magic. VERDICT A general purchase; give this to readers who like contemporary fiction mixed with a hint of the supernatural.Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GACordie's seaside fairytale cast a spell on my imagination. If I lift up the pages and listen closely, I'm certain I can hear the ocean. Natalie Lloyd, author of A SNICKER OF MAGICExplores grief and loss, as well as the comforting power of stories and belief in magic that can chase away sadness. She cleverly toys with readers' expectations . . . and the fanciful folktales interspersed throughout the novel add plenty of charm. BooklistSecrets of Selkie Bay lies somewhere between fantasy and reality, creating a wonderful place where readers can be both pragmatists and believers in all things magical, like the characters who inhabit the pages of this poignant, bewitching book. Nikki Loftin, author of WISH GIRLThomas spins a tale in present-day Ireland of a family coming apart and a brave girl tasked with responsibilities beyond her age . . . Readers looking for a strong main character or intrigued by Celtic folklore will find much to enjoy. Kirkus ReviewsThe surprise ending leaves the door open for a little belief in magic. School Library Journal; Title: Secrets of Selkie Bay | [
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12,301 | 11 | Maria Lili's mouth is watering for the stew she makes with her grandparents every weekend. But on this particular Saturday, it seems that the aroma of cilantro mingling with cassava, green plantains, vegetables and chicken will exist only in the girl's imagination. There is no money and nothing in the larder but a dozen eggs, Papa Angelino announces. Mama Ana's reply is cryptic: "Then we will use the eggs to make sancocho." How the grandmother transforms the eggs into a savory supper is a case study in bartering genius. Whisking Maria Lili off to the open-air market, Mama Ana deftly moves among the tented stalls, where her hard-nosed but friendly trading eventually garners all the necessary ingredients. Torres's (Subway Sparrow) text bounces with make-a-deal energy, while her light-drenched, calm watercolors convey a serene domesticity. A recipe for sancocho, prepared throughout Central and South America, rounds off the tale. Ages 4-8. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.Kindergarten-Grade 2?The author/illustrator of Subway Sparrow (Farrar, 1993) has set her second picture book in her native Colombia. Maria Lili spends every Saturday preparing chicken sancocho with her grandparents, Mama Ana and Papa Angelino. Unfortunately, this Saturday they have only a dozen eggs and none of the necessary ingredients. Fortunately, Mama Ana has an idea. She sets off for the market with Maria Lili and they begin to trade with each vendor: eggs for plantains, plantains for cassava, cassava for corn, and so on until they have all the ingredients they need. The story concludes with a tantalizing recipe for this popular South American stew and a reminder to have an adult help in the kitchen. Double-page watercolors convey a local flavor, although the characters' postures and faces are drawn somewhat stiffly. An enjoyable variation of a cumulative story that will be useful in multicultural programs.?Susan Pine, New York Public LibraryCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Saturday Sancocho | [
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12,302 | 2 | The creators of the delightful That New Animal (2005) employ a similar level of empathetic tale-spinning and endearing character artin this story of adog named Dumpling, who is missing the crucial canine heightened sense of smell. Poor Dumpling finds it hard to relate to her fellow pups, and when she and her family move to a house near the forest, doesnt even realize that the skunk she keeps trying to befriend is repeatedly leaving her with a rather pungent gift. Even as her family scrambles for the right concoction torid her ofthe smell, Dumpling persists in chasing down the skunk again and again. Finally, charmed and assured by the dogs persistence and warmth, the skunk relaxes and accepts the offered camaraderie. The lessonsabout loneliness and the, well, dogged pursuit of companionship are charmingly realized without any heavy-handedness, and young listenersare sure to enjoy the humor inclueless Dumplings smelly predicament. Preschool-Grade 2. --Jesse KarpPierre Pratt's pictures of the befuddled, oblivious Dumpling are utterly endearing. The Wall Street JournalChildren will instantly relate...Important themes of loneliness, tolerance, friendship, and family emerge from this funny story. It will enrich storytime and linger long in the minds of young readers and listeners. Starred, School Library JournalThe relatively long story has a strong narrative voice with rich language . . Pratt's paintings use bold strokes and deep hues against the background of brilliant green grass, with blurry shadows adding a dreamlike quality to Dumpling's story. Kirkus ReviewsThe lessons about loneliness and the, well, dogged pursuit of companionship are charmingly realized without any heavy-handedness, and young listeners are sure to enjoy the humor in clueless Dumpling's smelly predicament. BooklistThis newest dog-driven story from Jenkins and Pratt proves again that author and illustrator are brilliantly simpatico. Starred, Publishers WeeklyJenkins . . . spins the tale nicely. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; Title: Skunkdog: A Picture Book | [
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12,303 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2—George is a lovable and dependable basset hound whose humans have always been happy to have him around. When a stray comes into their lives, though, things suddenly change. Zippity runs, fetches, swims, and chases, and he zooms circles around George, who feels left out and displaced. Unfortunately, the newcomer is scared to death of thunder and runs away when a storm hits. The man and woman ask George to help, and he uses his trusty nose to track Zippity, rescuing him from the muck where he is stuck and frightened. The watercolor-and-pencil illustrations perfectly capture the exuberance and spirit of this tale. George's wrinkled, floppy, lovable face speaks volumes, and Zippity's energy is equally clear. Children who have had their own feelings of doubt, and of being overshadowed by the arrival of a new sibling, will relate to and embrace this story of each individual's importance and place in a family.—Genevieve Gallagher, Murray Elementary School, Charlottesville, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.George the dog is slow and steady. He rests in the hammock breathing in a thousand scents and sits in the boat when the woman and man go fishing. George has a good life--until a wiry stray arrives and changes everything. Zippity is a bouncer, a leaper, a runner. On fishing trips, he dives in and catches fish. The night a thunderstorm hits, George doesn't mind the noise, but Zippity goes crazy, racing around breaking things, and is ordered out. Then, worried that he'll get lost, the humans beg George to find him. With Zippity's blanket in his mouth, George does the one thing he does well--he follows a smell and rescues Zippity from sinking in thick, oozy muck. This slight twist on the old pet-new pet theme relies on the contrast in the dogs' personalities, age, and size (basset hound and terrier) for its "zip." Well-crafted, breezy drawings animate the flurry and frenzy as sound effects in red type accentuate the action. All's well that ends well, with two wagging tails. Julie CumminsCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Some Dog!: A Picture Book | [
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12,304 | 0 | A Small Tall Tale from the Far Far North by Peter Ss chronicles the life of Czech folk hero Jan Welzl who, as legend has it, left his home 100 years ago headed for the Arctic illustrated with maps, storyboard vignettes (relating how the explorer enlarged a cave, for example, built a kayak and made a tent) and stunning panoramic views of the spare landscape.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: A Small Tall Tale From The Far Far North | [
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12,305 | 2 | According to one little boy, his dad is just about the coolest thing since sliced bread. Equally at ease jumping over the moon and banishing the Big Bad Wolf, this fearless father, in his hideous brown plaid bathrobe and blue-striped pajamas, seems capable of anything. The awe and admiration in his son's tone are gratifying; his hyperboles are droll. "He's as strong as a gorilla, and as happy as a hippopotamus. He's all right, my dad." Dad appears (always in a robe and PJs) as a weightlifting, goofy gorilla and a frolicking hippo. At other times he's a brown plaid fish ("He can swim like a fish"), a placid-faced wrestler ("He can wrestle with giants"), and a tightrope walker (the tightrope looks remarkably like a clothesline, with Dad circumnavigating rainbow-colored socks).Anthony Browne, award-winning author and illustrator of Willy's Pictures and many other witty picture books, pays bright and loving homage to that most remarkable of beings, the dad. Every illustration depicts the world as seen from the low height of the little boy narrator and through his starry-eyed gaze, as well. Sure, we might look at this man and see a slightly overweight fellow with five o'clock shadow and poor taste in nightwear, but to his son, this is Man. He is everything. And until that fateful day when the boy begins to roll his eyes at his dad's hopelessly embarrassing ways, Dad should just revel in the divine, unadulterated love of his child. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie CoulterWith well-measured doses of hyperbole, sentiment and humor, Browne (Voices in the Park) delivers an endearing paean to patriarchs. "He's all right, my dad," begins the young narrator, pictured only in the final painting, receiving a giant hug from the object of his affection. Each page celebrates a specific quality or accomplishment of Dad, illustrated with characteristically witty panache. Accompanying the proclamation that "My dad isn't afraid of ANYTHING, even the Big Bad Wolf," is a picture of the fellow showing an overall-clad wolf the door, as Red Riding Hood and three pigs peer out from behind a tree in the background; in another, the boy thinks his dad ranks as one of the three tenors ("a brilliant singer," Dad is flanked by Pavarotti and Domingo). Some of Browne's playful imagery is obvious: the plaid pattern of Dad's bathrobe appears on a piece of toast popping out of the toaster, and he assumes the likeness of a variety of animals as the child announces that "My dad can eat like a horse," "swim like a fish," etc. Yet sometimes the artist creates some slyer graphic pranks. A childlike drawing of a sun that hangs on the wall on the opening page, for example, later appears in a smaller dimension as a button on Dad's pajamas. And as the father bounces a soccer ball on his knee, trees in the distance are shaped like balls used in various sports. All ages. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: My Dad | [
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12,306 | 13 | Gr 1-4In 1940, four boys found a tunnel beneath a tree in the French countryside. Looking for buried gold, they came upon, instead, the most famous prehistoric art of all time, the Lascaux cave paintings. This book tells their story, concentrating on the days of discovery and the boys' gradual sharing of the cave's secret, first with other children in the village, then with a trusted teacher, and finally with an expert. McCully's natural dialogue and economical prose accompany her lush, accessible watercolors. Velvety blacks and rich earth tones contrast with the blue skies and tender greens of the French countryside, portraying the stillness and mystery of the caves and the boys' well-lit daily life. The illustrator copies the cave paintings with a sensitive touch that is somehow both impressionistic and exact, capturing the vitality and gestural grace of each line. Straightforward, easy-to-understand diagramsa plan and cross-section of the cave, maps hanging on a classroom wallhelp make the cave itself easier to visualize. An author's note tells what happened after the events detailed in the book and extends the history of the cave. Speculation as to the meaning and use of the paintings and details about the methods of their creation are also noted. A photograph of two of the boys and Abbot Breuil, the expert who authenticated their find, standing in the Hall of the Bulls, offers proof that the story is true. A kid-centered approach to a wonderful tale.Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.When did humans first start to draw their experiences? Caldecott medalist McCully celebrates the very beginning of art in this picture-book introduction to the prehistoric paintings of Lascaux. In 1940, a group of schoolboys in the south of France were searching for a cache of fabled gold when they stumbled across treasure of another kind: underground caverns decorated in a dazzling array of 17,000-year-old paintings and engravings. Uncertain about what theyd really seen, the boys brought in a teacher and then experts to confirm the cave arts authenticity. Eventually, the French teens grew up to become caretakers of their incredible find. McCullys text builds suspense in moment-by-moment descriptions of the boys slithering through narrow, dark, subterranean passageways, but its the images that have the biggest impact. The dramatically lit, mixed-media scenes evoke both the thrilling exploration and then the astonishing discoveries, reproduced in evocative, textured images. A final spread includes a photo of the boy heroes, as well as more background about the paintings and their preservation, and theories about how the ancient artists created their awe-inspiring works. Grades 1-3. --Gillian Engberg; Title: The Secret Cave: Discovering Lascaux | [
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12,307 | 2 | ...this a fun read-aloud and a real child pleaser. School Library JournalKids won't be able to resist. . . BooklistMary Casanova's books include the popular One-Dog Canoe and The Day Dirk Yeller Came to Town, also illustrated by Ard Hoyt. She lives near Ranier, Minnesota. Ard Hoyt has illustrated several picture books, including the bestselling I'm a Manatee by John Lithgow. He lives in Bentonville, Arkansas.; Title: Some Cat!: A Picture Book | [
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12,308 | 2 | Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 1A sleepy sleepy boy is fast asleep in his sleepy sleepy bed along with everything else in his sleepy sleepy house until music comes drifting in, in ever louder tones. Then the child and his surroundings gradually come alive, dance, and shake to the beat, and drift back to sleep as the notes and instruments depart. The brief repetitive text takes a backseat to the whimsical watercolor-and-ink cartoon illustrations. Indeed, a couple of spreads have no words at all. Dark background washes engulf the personified objects as they settle into slumber. With the arrival of notes that become instrument-playing characters, the washes begin to lighten with the slowly awakening household, until the cavorting furnishings are suffused with brilliant oranges and yellows. This transformation is only temporary, however, for with the exodus of the music makers, dusty blues, greens, and grays wrap everyone in sleep once again. Before youngsters themselves nod off, there is much for them to see and enjoy heredancing dishes that eventually slump over, picture-framed characters with outrageous beards and mustaches, vibrating tables and chairs, a bookcase containing Shulevitz titles, trees and house leaning over in sleep, and more. This is a bedtime bonanza.Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* PreS. Shulevitz's latest winning picture book evokes the lulling rhythms of Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon (1947) but adds a thrilling animation to a quiet bedtime scene. In a quiet room, "in a sleepy sleepy house [where] everything is sleepy sleepy," a boy slumbers deeply until music drifts through a window, rousing him (and all the surrounding objects) into joyful midnight revelry. Then the music floats away, and the room settles back into peaceful dreamtime. As in Dawn (1974) and Snow (1998), Shulevitz celebrates how the simplest things can be miraculously transformed. Unlike the objects in Goodnight Moon, everything in this room is alive with a discernable, expressive face: the dishes, the tables and chairs, the bookcase (filled with Shulevitz's books). The objects all snooze languidly, and then explode into action as the equally animated musical notes, with wild smiles on their round heads, curl and dance through the window. The ink-and-watercolor scenes create an energetic tension between the deep, blue-gray sleepy-time scenes and the rainbow-streaked views of vibrant musical activity. The spare, hypnotically repetitive text and progressively deepening colors will pull preschoolers into the shadowy edges of sleep along with the story's bewildered boy, and they'll feel satisfied to see their suspicions confirmed: the living and the inanimate worlds aren't so separate after all. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: So Sleepy Story | [
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12,309 | 2 | Grades 2-3--Students who are having difficulty with math will enjoy this lighthearted story. Third-grader Wilson Williams needs to pass all the times-table tests by March 16th in order to get an ice-cream cone from his teacher. While the child is talented in art, he is envious of his friends Laura and Josh, who have completed their tests and have received their cones. He is also envious of his younger brother Kipper, a kindergartner who is placed in a special math group because he has started learning the times tables on his own. While the main theme revolves around Wilson passing the tests, an important subplot deals with his desire for a pet and taking home the class hamster for a weekend. All's well in the end-Wilson passes the 12 times table at the last minute, and he and Kipper will be getting a pet hamster. While this chapter book is entertaining and no doubt many youngsters will relate to the story, it is unfortunate that the author reinforces negative feelings about studying math. Wilson never seems to comprehend the concept of multiplication, and no one makes an effort to teach him.Marilyn Ackerman, Brooklyn Public Library, NYCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Gr. 2-4. The best thing about third grade for Wilson is the class pet, Squiggles the hamster. Next come art and his friend Josh. The worst thing is math, especially the multiplication tables. Wilson struggles to pass all 12 times tables by his teacher's deadline so he won't be the last to earn the promised ice cream cone, but even his kindergarten brother is better at math than he is! His parents help by timing his practice tests; the smart girl in class helps by showing him a finger formula for the 9s; even caring for Squiggles over a weekend helps. Then, on the last day, with Wilson still having to conquer the 12s, Squiggles turns up missing. All ends well with the bad "times" turning into good times, adding up to a satisfying, engaging story that captures children's feelings, frustrations, and dialogue. Kids will have no trouble figuring that this is a winner, especially if they are or have been math-challenged. Julie CumminsCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: 7 x 9 = Trouble! | [
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12,310 | 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.; Title: Squirrel Is Hungry | [
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12,311 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 3"There once was a Robot with a broken heart," begins this metaphorical story that's likely to appeal more to adults than to children. The other robots cannot fix him, so he ends up on the junk heap. A tired, shivering Bluebird (of happiness, perhaps?) comes along, prompting the Robot to shelter her and carry her South, until he breaks down. Respecting the Robot's dying request, the Bluebird makes a nest in his heart, "And the Robot stands there stillhome every year to singing birds." Lucas's complex, fantastical illustrations are full of little details that will attract readers' attention. The Robot's home and junk heap are satisfyingly mechanical and futuristic-looking, and the passage of time is effectively portrayed through a series of four panels of the Robot in day, night, rain, and snow. The layout sustains interest through variety, including insets, full-bleed spreads, and the varying use of panels. Lucas uses color effectively to reflect the protagonist's emotions, with black and whites giving way to color washes after the bird's arrival. The economical text reads smoothly. Unfortunately, the message is heavy-handed and unlikely to speak to children. The lovely illustrations notwithstanding, most libraries can pass.Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.When Robots heart is broken and cannot be fixed, he is sent to the scrap heap with other junked machines. He tries talking to the machines, but they dont answer him. The haunting line My heart was broken, you know highlights the difference between a damaged part and an emotional hurt. He feels like rubbish until a bluebird lands on him, and he offers her refuge. Given a new lease on life by his singing friend, he further aids her by transporting her to a warm place in the sun, but after thelong journey, Robots strength is spent. In the end, not only does Bluebird make a home for herself in Robots heart but other birds perch on his outstretched arms as well. Colorful, folk-art birds on the endpapers draw readers in to this fairy-tale-like story. Whimsical illustrations, chock-full of interesting angular images and junkyard scenes, counter the almost-too-sweet nature of the story. The clear message of the joys and sacrifices of enduring friendship is reminiscent of Sara Varons Robot Dreams (2007). Grades K-3. --Patricia Austin; Title: The Robot and the Bluebird | [
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12,312 | 13 | When class bully Irwin taunts Violet about her fat knees (they're not) or deadly sewer gas smell (she doesn't), all she wants to do is shrink away. The thought of being in the class play about the solar system makes her itch and scratch and twirl her hair. But when she's alone or with her best friend, Opal, Violet is a master performer, mimicking her classmates and retaliating against Irwin with razor-sharp wit. Her chance for real-life revenge comes at last during the play, when she plays the offstage role of Lady Space. On opening night, when Irwin, a.k.a. Mars, starts to spin out of control and forgets his lines, Violet saves the day (but not without a little of her savage humor).Cari Best and Giselle Potter, whimsical creators of Three Cheers for Catherine the Great!, bring every shy child's fantasy to life in this delightfully gratifying picture book. Potter's naive watercolors are unusual, but they capture beautifully the shrinking and subsequent blooming of Violet as she finds her own voice, even if it is spoken from a "dark and mysterious place" offstage. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulterotter's piquant watercolors put the crowning touch on this humorous tale of a shy child who saves her school play from disaster. The aptly named Violet hates to be the center of attention. It makes her "itch and scratch and twirl her hair" and wish she could shrink away. Though she has other talents she's observant and a great mimic she opts out of the school flag parade and avoids making waves in the swimming pool or "swallowing sounds at snack time." She especially dislikes it when Irwin draws attention to her, announcing that she has fat knees and smells like "deadly sewer gas." But during the class play about the solar system (for which her teacher assigns her the offstage part of the narrator, Lady Space), Violet chooses the high road: when Irwin forgets his lines, she mimics his voice and saves the day. In another romp from the creators of Three Cheers for Catherine the Great!, Best zeroes in on a familiar childhood emotion with insight and flair. Potter's whimsical characters, with their toothpick legs, tiny feet and expressive faces, cavort across the pages in a flurry of muted colors (don't miss Violet's impersonation of the Statue of Liberty). Ages 4-8.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Shrinking Violet | [
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12,313 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2-Two image-filled poems by O'Neill, the author of Hailstones and Halibut Bones (Turtleback, 1961), appear together in a picture-book format. In the first section, rhyming verses evoke the hustle and bustle of a busy day, "Bus honks and bells,/Dishes and shoes,/Whirring of tires and/Crackle of news." The night poem stanzas are filled with whispery words describing lullabies, "Tiptoe footsteps," fluttering curtains, and kitten purrs. Each selection is picturesque and evocative; with closed eyes, listeners can conjure up pictures in their minds. Jabar's expressionistic style depicts the verse in vibrant, vivacious paintings. The illustrations are lively, fun, and tell a story of their own. While the art links the two unique poems nicely, it may occasionally distract listeners from the cadence, flow, and imagery of the poetry. Nevertheless, many families will enjoy reading this successful picture book again and again.Be Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FLCopyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. O'Neill died in 1990, but her poetry easily crosses into a new century. Here, her knowing images capture what the sounds of the day and sounds (and silence) of the night mean to two children. Jabar's artwork extends the poetry to tell the story of a new addition to the children's family. In the morning, the children get ready for school while Dad does the dishes. Where's Mom? The day goes by, "Questioning, / answering / Licking and chewing, / Scolding and praising" with the family ending up at the hospital, where Mom waits with a new baby. With night come the sounds of lullabies, and after the child is put down, the winter silence becomes a hush, "the sound / of snowflakes touching / on the ground." Upon first hearing, kids will simply enjoy the way the words fall, but as they look at the thickly painted artwork, bursting with family love, they'll come to understand how a new presence in the house brings its own special sounds. A feast for the ears and eyes. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Sound of Day / The Sound of Night | [
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12,314 | 0 | Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 5Set in 1867, this story of the fictional S.L. Clemens uses verse to describe the excitement that the brief docking of the packet brought to otherwise tranquil towns along the mighty Mississippi. The terse, highly descriptive text features an ABB rhyme scheme with a catchy rhythm and introduces readers to interesting vocabulary. Colorful words such as "galoots" and "roustabouts" are not defined in the verses, but the accompanying illustrations make grasping the overall context easy. Rex's realistic paintings begin and end as quarter-page snapshots done largely in sepia tones and underscored by a triplet of verse with extensive surrounding white space. This layout clearly shows the calm before the boat's arrival and after its departure. The pictures grow larger as the boat reaches shore and become full-page color spreads with verses superimposed on the images when the Clemens is in portemphasizing both its impact on the town and the hustle-and-bustle pace of laborers and travelers. As the steamboat pulls away, the illustrations begin to shrink. Well-drawn details abound, making this an excellent resource for historical study. Whether as an introduction to the history of river travel or as background for a Twain classic, this salute to a bygone transportation era is sure to engage children as they, too, thrill to the sound of that once-familiar call, "Ste-e-e-e-eamboat a-comin'!"Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI; Title: Ste-e-e-e-eamboat a-Comin'! | [
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12,315 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 3-In this original story, Peter befriends and frees a seal girl after she is captured by a greedy oysterman who wants her to teach him the language of the sea. The story ends abruptly, leaving readers with a feeling that something is missing. The brief text does not contain enough details to explain what "the language of the sea" is or why it is so desirable. She teaches it to Peter, and, according to the text, he makes use of it to get back to shore. At this point, the illustrations show the boy getting home by following his trail markers in the sand rather than anything mystical. Full-color illustrations take on a number of sizes and shapes, adding visual variety. The attractive palette is appropriate for the sea and island setting. The Selkie Girl (Aladdin, 1991), retold by Susan Cooper and illustrated by Warwick Hutton, follows the Scottish legends more closely and is more appealing. McClure's story has more holes than the oysterman's net.Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc."McClure is someone to watch." -- Publishers Weekly; Title: Selkie | [
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12,316 | 1 | The Spanish galleons which plied between the Orient and the Americas in the seventeenth century sometimes carried strange cargo. The records of the period note that a White Deer was brought across the Pacific to Mexico to be reshipped across the Atlantic to the King of Spain and presented to him with a golden collar around its neck. The Author was intrigued with this idea and so was born this story of 'Nacar'. It is the story of a mute shepherd boy named Lalo, and the White Deer and what happened when the deer arrived in Acapulco. The boy is entrusted with nursing the sick deer back to health and the challenges and bonds that grow between the two make for a charming, endearing historical story for all. - Dust jacket flap; Title: Nacar: The White Deer | [
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12,317 | 0 | Text: English, Yiddish (translation); Title: Stories for Children (English and Yiddish Edition) | [
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12,318 | 2 | After expressing how death affects a child in her acclaimed first novel, The Friends, Yumoto offers a different variation on the theme, in this sensitively wrought story. Her language, musically translated once again by Hirano, is quiet yet foreboding, much like the calm before a storm. Through a first-person narrative, readers learn the secret fears and recurring nightmares of Tomomi Kiriki, who is about to enter junior high. The guilt Tomomi feels for thinking that ailing Grandma "would be better off dead," and Grandma's subsequent death, plagues the girl until she confides in her grandfather toward the close of the novel. Her guilt combines with other anxieties: changes going on in her body, her parents' arguments, her dilapidated house and her family's ongoing dispute with a neighbor. Then, one day, Tomomi's little brother, Tetsu, takes her to his special place, a junkyard that is home to a mob of stray cats. Here, in the company of Tetsu and an eccentric woman who feeds the cats twice a day, Tomomi finds a refuge. Tomomi's expression of hatred, then immediate act of compassion toward an old enemy mark a turning point in the story and in the heroine. Signs of rejuvenation that follow are as welcoming as gentle spring rain. Yumoto's story offers remarkably wise and deeply personal insight into the pains of growing up. Ages 12-up. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 6-9-Tomomi's spring break before she starts junior high is filled with anxieties. Her grandfather is coping with his wife's recent death far better than Tomomi can; her younger brother, Tetsu, seems to have become obsessed with sickly cats; her father has deserted the family-she believes-emotionally as well as physically; and she cannot dispel a recurring nightmare that she is becoming a monster. Yumoto deftly works these leitmotivs of early adolescence into an engaging encounter with a cast of well-differentiated child and adult characters. Tomomi cannot understand Tetsu's obsession but finds herself compelled to aid him in his efforts as they become friends with a woman who feeds strays abandoned at the dump. She is able to listen to her grandfather explain why his widowhood is not a tragedy, even though she herself cannot come to grips with her grandmother's final, pain-filled days or her absence. She finds Tetsu's outrageous acts against their mean-spirited neighbor bizarre but is quick to come to her brother's defense. Cultural differences between contemporary Japan and the U.S.-such as the rebuilding of the family house after several decades of wear-are folded into the narrative unobtrusively. Readers who are themselves caught in puberty's universal welter of feelings will not only be able to identify with Tomomi but will also share her dawning recognition of personal limits and powers.Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Spring Tone | [
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12,319 | 3 | With this story of a hurried man who boards a sluggish train, Cyrus (Tangle Town) conjures the feeling of being unable to escape a bad dream. Corporate drone Edwin Blink is late for work; drizzle blurs his owlish glasses. Rather than board the sleek purple express train, he inadvertently boards a coach towed by an algae-green steam engine: "The wrong platform. The wrong train." Pinch-faced passengers fill the seats, and a few farm animals stand in the aisles, but Edwin is oblivious until the conductor announces, "Slow train to Oxmox.... With stops at Loblolly and Twigtwist. And who knows, maybe a few other places." Edwin's anxiety builds as the anachronistic train stops for a flock of geese, gets stuck in the mud and wrestles through a thicket of branches and roots. ("No one comes this way anymore but us. I guess we've been forgotten," the conductor explains.) Cyrus's images, tinged with gray and yellow, heighten the time-warp sensation. The sky changes color, the ground is insubstantial as quicksand, and no houses or trees can be seen to either side of the tracks. This doesn't scare the passengers, who hop out to push the train and cheerfully pronounce, "This little train always gets us there, even if we have to drag it. We'll all pull together!" Yet the claustrophobic, Sartre-like No Exit ambience clashes with the optimistic tone. Edwin learns about cooperation and helps keep the train moving, but the travelers never arrive at a destination. This volume is an atmospheric tour de force, even though its attempts at lightness get clouded by a surreal haze. Ages 3-up. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.Ages 4^-6. Edwin Blink is a busy guy in a suit with a first-class ticket for the Oxmox Express. But when his owlish glasses get rain splattered, he gets in the wrong line and finds himself on the slow train to Oxmox. The audience will start to snicker here, because the slow train includes horses, goats, and a rooster among its passengers and stops at places like Loblolly and Twigtwist and, to Edwin's horror, for geese on the tracks. Passengers are invited to help push through some very chocolaty-looking mud and pull through some very tangled, vanilla-taffy-looking trees. Poor Edwin gets more and more impatient, but when the slow train tries to cross a broken bridge, he opens his briefcase, takes out a notebook, and knows what to do. "You're a genius!" says the conductor. "Actually, I'm a mechanical engineer," says Edwin. The illustrations have a bit of William Joyce in them, with their hyperrealistic colors and whipped cream clouds. The text flops over into surrealism, too, as Edwin decides that the train engine's rattle and sneeze are like a big wet kiss--" I think this train likes me." One couldn't say there is a point here exactly, but it is odd, whimsical fun. GraceAnne A. DeCandido; Title: Slow Train to Oxmox | [
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12,320 | 2 | K-Gr 3Star Child is "a flame of vapor, invisible and timeless," living somewhere far off in outer space where he longs to visit the distant planet Earth. Told in a small pretty volume, his story consists mainly of his elders' explanation of what he will experience if he is born as a human and lives on Earth. "Here it is still and peaceful, but there the colors, sensations, and sounds will wash over you constantly." In this particular scene, the dark-haired boy representing the Star Child as human is among the shoppers in a busy, open vegetable market. Nivola's pleasant watercolor scenes vary from scattered vignettes and pictures of assorted size to double-page views of the market, a forest, and the seaside. Most of the journey is through the childhood years as Star Child is "plunged into Earth's river of time." Eventually, he does grow up: "Over the years you will try to make sense of that happy, sad, full, empty, always-shifting life you are in." In the end, Star Child decides to make the trip, ultimately returning to stardom at the end of his earthly life and glad he had done it. The philosophical, even allegorical scheme is likely to elude children, though they can surely relate to the attractive views of childhood. The idea of human life originating and ending somewhere far beyond Earth will mesh with some religious beliefs. The presentation might work with primary grade children, but it seems more likely to appeal to some new mothers.Margaret Bush, Simmons College, BostonIn this unusual and deeply moving interpretation of the cycle of life, The Star Child, a flame of vapor high in the firmament, looks down upon earth and states his desire to go there. His elders explain that in order to do that, he will have to be born a human child. They warn him about life on earth: he will need to learn to take care of himself; he will experience many unusual sights and sounds that will confuse him; he will feel pain, happiness, awe, and sorrow. Their cautions do not discourage the Star Child; he fulfills his desire to live on earth. And in the end, hes glad hes said yes. The lyrical text is spare and poetic, condensing a lifes myriad events into a few short pages of text. The highly detailed, richly colored mixed-media illustrations are a series of vignettes revealing the various stages of life, from beginning to end. The book comes full circle, showing the Star Child looking at earth on page one and an old man with a cane looking up at a star at the books conclusion. An affecting story of life on earth and all its wonderful complexity. Grades K-3. --Maryann Owen; Title: Star Child | [
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12,321 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 3-Sasha and her grandfather live in a shop in old Moscow where he carves boxes to sell and she decorates them. When mice destroy her rag doll, Grandfather Boxer whittles a little wooden figure and then makes a box of the same shape in which to store it. Sasha paints them both to look like matrioshkas, or little mothers. Before long, the rodents carry off the new toys, and Grandfather must reach into the mouse hole to rescue them. He makes a bigger doll but that one is also stolen, this time by a rat. Events continue in this way until grandfather and granddaughter have created seven exquisite nesting dolls. Suddenly, all of the villagers want a set of these figures, bringing prosperity and happiness to the shop. An author's note provides information about the origins of Russian nesting dolls. Lattimore's detailed illustrations keep the action moving along with colorful patterned borders, textiles, and backgrounds. She bases Sasha's matrioshkas on those created by artisans in a village south of Moscow. Children who are unfamiliar with this art form will be charmed by the idea, while collectors can place this book alongside Corinne Demas Bliss's The Littlest Matryoshka (Hyperion, l999), a similar story of loss and recovery.Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.K-Gr. 3. A lively story of how matrioshka dolls might have come to be. Sasha lives with her grandfather. He's a box maker in old Moscow, and she paints the boxes he makes. When the mice chew her rag doll, Grandfather makes her a tiny "thumbling" doll of wood. Sasha paints her, and calls her a "matrioshka, a little mother." Grandfather makes a box of the same shape, to keep the doll in, and Sasha paints it, so she has two dolls. But the mice steal number two. Grandfather keeps making the doll-like boxes, but they don't fare well either. A rat takes off with the third, and the cat bats around the fourth. Seven dolls seem to be enough, and soon everyone wants a set. Are they seven sisters? A mother and her married daughters? The text provides lots of teasing interplay between Sasha and her grandfather as they carve and paint and chase after the dolls. The borders, backgrounds, and interiors are brightly colored and patterned in a Russian folk style, so the dolls blend agreeably into their surroundings. Pair this with Susan Bonners' The Wooden Doll (1991) for a matrioshka storytime. GraceAnne DeCandidoCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Sasha's Matrioshka Dolls | [
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12,322 | 0 | Hofmeyr and Daly, previously partnered for The Stone: A Persian Legend of the Magi, again join forces to weave a colorful picture book from one of the world's oldest storytelling traditions. Key figures in Egyptian mythology spring to life in Hofmeyr's vivid narration: the bud of a lotus flower breaks through the surface of water, and, "as the petals slowly unfurled, they spread a blue luster in the darkness. Enclosed in the center of the bloom was the golden godchild Atum." Atum, the creator, brings forth Shu, the god of air, and Tefnut, the goddess of dew and rain, who are the tempestuous parents of stubborn and inseparable children Geb, the god of the earth, and Nut, the goddess of the sky. When Geb and Nut's carrying on halts Atum's creation of the rest of the world ("If you stay so close to each other, there will be no room for tall trees and rugged mountains, for rivers and waterfalls..."), Atum must assert his authority to divide the siblings into the earth and sky we recognize today. Daly's stylized, willowy figures shine against elegant backgrounds of rich, jewel-like blues and greens, bathed in sun-, moon- or starlight. The paintings go far in visually bridging slight gaps in Hofmeyr's narrative. Even with such gaps, the author's lustrous imagery and poetic tone give this ancient story a fresh feel with much appeal. Ages 4-up.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Gr 3-5-The creator, Atum, magically brings to life the god of air and goddess of dew and rain, but the closeness of their two children, Geb and Nut, stops him from creating the world and preventing "the dark, watery wastes from returning." When he insists the two be separated, Geb becomes the earth (his volcanic anger spewing forth) and Nut becomes the starry sky. Thoth, the god of wisdom, takes pity on Nut, allowing her to have children in the five light days granted to her, and Osiris, Horus, Set, Isis, and Nephthys are born. The well-documented text is uplifted by the illustrations in their use of color and design. The depiction of the blue lotus that closes and sinks below the water's surface as a sacred element is particularly effective. Consistent with Egyptian mythology, the art suggests an incestuous relationship between the brother and sister. Libraries needing individual creation myths will want to add this smoothly paced retelling to their collection.-Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CACopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Star-Bearer: A Creation Myth From Ancient Egypt | [
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12,323 | 6 | It looks like Molly's eponymous stuffed rabbit may be missing for good, but the girl takes comfort in imagining a picaresque future for him: a circuitous journey home that includes encounters with the Three Bears, Cinderella, fierce pirates, a friendly dragon and the Man in the Moon. But Tatty Ratty makes Errol Flynn-like moves and proves himself both resourceful and savvy ("He'll find a way to escape," says Mom when Molly throws in the pirate plot as a complication. "He always does"), and he does not shy away from biting Cinderella when she tries to brush his fur. Mom and Dad bring the saga to a close by suggesting that Molly look for Tatty Ratty in a rabbit-themed toy shop. With a knowing wink, Cooper (Pumpkin Soup) gives Dad a plum quote, "Remember, he might look different," while Mom chimes in, "And he'll be very clean and fluffy." Sure enough, Tatty Ratty awaits Molly on a shelf literally as good as new. On each spread, small realistic spot illustrations of Molly unspooling her story (with assistance from her understanding parents) during meals, bath and bedtime serve as counterpoint to full-page, fanciful pictures of the bunny's adventures, and inject an immediacy and improvisational verve into every new escapade. Never patronizing or sentimental, this is a wise and respectful tribute to children's storytelling powers. Ages 4-8.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.reschool-Grade 2--When Molly leaves her favorite stuffed animal on a bus, she is inconsolable. At bedtime, Dad comforts her by suggesting that Tatty Ratty has hopped off the bus and is on his way home. Over the next few days, Molly and her parents contribute different twists to the rabbit's adventures, as he calls on the Three Bears (they fatten him up on porridge), travels in Cinderella's coach (she brushes and mends his fur), and meets a band of pirates (after a cleansing dip in the ocean). After a trip to the moon, he finally returns to earth via floating umbrella. Early the next morning, the family visits a toy store, where Molly finds Tatty Ratty on the shelf, looking just like new. Cooper presents a common dilemma and then allows her protagonist to confront the problem by using her imagination. Realistic scenes of everyday life are punctuated by forays into a fanciful world where anything can happen. A combination of small vignettes and larger, boxed illustrations help readers to keep the story lines straight, while bright colors and amusing details keep them interested in Tatty Ratty's doings. Backgrounds in soothing pastel hues and a carefully balanced layout add to the artwork's strong appeal. Loose ends are neatly tied up, as the specifics of the rabbit's journey explain his shiny new appearance. In addition to comforting children who have lost a beloved plaything, this book will also appeal to those who dream about the imaginary lives of their toys.Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library JournalCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Tatty Ratty | [
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12,324 | 2 | "Pure enchantment from start to finish. Shulevitz uses text as spare as a December landscape to cast a spell of winter magic [and] works a bit of visual alchemy as the tale progresses." --Starred, "Publishers Weekly""Outstanding . . . filled with humorous touches . . . Youngsters will joyfully join the boy in his winter-welcoming dance." --Starred, "School Library Journal"Uri Shulevitz is the author and/or illustrator of many books, including The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship by Arthur Ransome, a Caldecott Medal Book, and The Treasure, a Caldecott Honor Book. He lives in New York City.; Title: Snow | [
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12,325 | 0 | Kindergarten-Grade 2-This pleasing blend of history and legend tells the story of a man who brought sparrows to America in the 1860s. John Bardsley loved these birds, though they were considered pests in England. He wound up in Philadelphia, where countless inchworms plagued the plants of the city. Bardsley journeyed back to his homeland and returned with a thousand sparrows that soon collected the worms for their hungry chicks. Gerstein's whimsical illustrations capture the spirited energy of this intriguing story. Crawling inchworms adorn the borders of several frames, and the sparrows finally reach outside the frame to eat them in the satisfying conclusion. Sparrow Jack, as he finally came to be called, is portrayed as a determined, ingenious, and endearing figure. The various expressions of the other people in the story reflect disgust, skepticism, surprise, and delight, depending on their reactions to Jack's ideas. The narrative tells just enough of the story to get readers firmly on the side of the inventive bird lover. The foreword, along with Jack's dream of talking sparrows, makes it clear that the fact-based story includes pleasing touches of imagination. Though the citizens of Philadelphia eventually complain about them, "those noisy little pests, the sparrows," are clearly heroes in this tale. An enjoyable and unusual bit of history.Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, ORCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.K-Gr. 2. It began in 1868 when Philadelphia was invaded by an army of inchworms. Suddenly the creepy crawlers were everywhere, eating the leaves off trees and bushes with absolute impunity. The local birds turned up their beaks and refused to eat the hungry hordes. What to do? Only one man, a British immigrant named John Bardsley, knew. Returning to England, he captured a thousand sparrows and brought them back to the City of Brotherly Love. The omnivorous little creatures made short work of the inchworms, and from that day forward John Bardsley was known as Sparrow Jack. Though a few imaginative liberties are taken with the facts, Gerstein's cheerful tale is based on a true story. The humor of his whimsically witty text is beautifully captured and expanded by drawings that are filled with comic action and droll details. Only one question remains unanswered at the end: What can we do about those pesky sparrows? Michael CartCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Sparrow Jack | [
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12,326 | 2 | Kate Banks is the author of many acclaimed books for children, including the Boston Globe- Horn Book Award winner The Night Worker. She lives in the South of France.Gabi Swiatkowska has illustrated many notable books for children, including My Name Is Yoon, for which she received the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award. She lives in France.; Title: Thank You, Mama | [
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12,327 | 3 | Steig has created a story and pictures as richly inventive as his applauded Abel's Island, Yellow and Pink, The Amazing Bone and all his other picture books. Beautifully written and illustrated by paintings reflecting the sunny colors of spring, the adventures of Solomon the rabbit lad start when he discovers he can metamorphose into a rusty nail. It's a lark to fool his family by working the magic that makes him disappear, then saying the phrase that brings him back. But the fun stops when the cat Ambrose snatches Solomon and totes him home for Clorinda to cook. The rabbit turns into the nail, but Ambrose, who's on to the trick, tells his wife they'll wait until the captive is a plump bunny again, ready for the stewpot. When Solomon remains inertly iron too long, enraged Ambrose nails him to the house. What happens thereafter is exciting, comic, touching and altogether wonderful: a classic by a peerless artist. Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-Grade 2 Solomon is an ordinary rabbit with one extraordinary exception: whenever he scratches his nose and wiggles his toes at exactly the same time, he turns into a rusty nail. Incarcerated by a one-eyed cat, he is soon nailed to the wall in a fit of feline pique. As with other Steig heroes and heroines, a combination of pluck and luck lead him back to the bosom of his worried family. Steig's watercolors are, as always, uniquely expressive, ranging from wryly witty to luminescently lovely. However, there is more than a hint of d ej a vu to the story line: echoes of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (Windmill, 1969) mix with overtones of The Amazing Bone (Farrar, 1976) conjuring up earlierand betterfantasies. In the process of pasting together elements from other fantasies, Steig has created a world leaking at its logical seams. If Solomon can "still hear though he had no ears, and see though he had no eyes," why can he not also talk, though he has no mouth, and thus save himself at once? Furthermore, Solomon discovers his magical power while sitting on a green, flower-sprinkled lawn, then proceeds to mystify his friends, "starting the next day," as they all frolic with sleds on a snow-covered hillside. Now really! Quibbles, perhaps, but ones that glare like errors in this less-than-masterful performance by a master storyteller. Kristi Thomas Beavin, Arlington County Library, Va.Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Solomon, the Rusty Nail | [
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12,328 | 2 | Grade 13Rotten Ralph has his future planned out. He's designed his own baseball card, embellished his uniform with the words Superstar #1, and practiced how he'll sign autographs and give interviews with the media. He hasn't worked on his hitting, throwing, or running skills though. After tryouts, Ralph's owner, Sarah, makes the team, but Ralph is designated the new "cat boy." His duties include washing socks and sweeping the dugout. During the season, he is given different responsibilities, but his dreams of stardom never materialize. Ralph's antics on and off the baseball field may seem rotten to some, but he manages to remain a superstar in Sarah's eyes. There is never a dull moment in this colorful and appealing early reader.Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Preparing for baseball tryouts, Sarah encourages her incorrigible cat, Rotten Ralph, to practice his skills, too. But during tryouts, Ralph gets beaned as he daydreams about superstardom and cheering fans. Chosen as the bat boy, his one chance to play in a game results in a comic disaster. This colorful volume from the Rotten Ralph Rotten Reader series counterbalances Sarahs good advice and experiences with Ralphs bad attitude and results. A quirky but warmhearted baseball story that will amuse young readers, sports fans or not. Grades 1-3. --Carolyn Phelan; Title: Three Strikes for Rotten Ralph (Rotten Ralph Rotten Readers) | [
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12,329 | 2 | Click here for a larger imageClick here for a larger imageClick here for a larger imageClick here for a larger imageThis simplified version of Deisen and Hanna's The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers . . . Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that's needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish's features, which are delightfully expressive. Kirkus Reviews; Title: Smile, Pout-Pout Fish (A Pout-Pout Fish Mini Adventure) | [
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12,330 | 13 | The hip rhythms and tongue-twisting humor in this jazzy, poetic, fun-to-read-aloud book make it a keeper your child will want to read over and over again. Cricket Magazine onlineGetting the beat and the tongue-twisting phrases just right takes some practice, but the outcome is well worth the effort. SLJChildren will cheer for this rascally oddball rebel. BooklistReplete with scat-y, cat-and-mousey wordplay, this is giggle-worthy fun. Kirkus ReviewsThe text sets a catchy rhythm and never lets go. Wilsdorf's illustrations, rich in saturated color, glow with warmth and vibrancy. Kirkus Reviews on TWO STICKSWilsdorf captures the verve and action of the tale in vibrant colors and broad strokes. School Library Journal on TWO STICKSPure entertainment. The Orlando Sentinel on TWO STICKSThis rollicking romp represents a wonderful marriage of text and illustration. Wacky and sure to elicit a giggle, this one is a winner. School Library Journal on SUNNY BOY!Kids . . . will whoop over the silliness and derring-do. Booklist on SUNNY BOY!OREL PROTOPOPESCU is a poet and the author of several books. She lives in Miller Place, New York.ANNE WILSDORF has illustrated many picture books, including Sunny Boy!: The Life and Times of a Tortoise by Candace Fleming. She lives in Lausanne, Switzerland.; Title: Thelonious Mouse | [
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12,331 | 1 | In Bogacki's (Cat and Mouse) visually voluptuous but narratively disjointed tale, a downy baby blue bird is curious about the world beyond his nest, yet fearful of flying. His mother unwittingly hits on an inspiration for his flight: one night, in an attempt to coax her inquiring offspring to sleep, she tells him that there's "nothing" beyond the trees. His interest piqued, he leaves the nest in search of "nothing." When he comes upon a flock of birds and tells them what he's looking for, they take to the air, inspiring the baby bird to forget his fear of flying and join them: "And they flew high, and they flew low. They flew here, and they flew there." Unfortunately, Bogacki never resolves for readers what "nothing" means?he hints that it may be the unseen air in which the birds soar, but no explicit connection is made; ultimately, this key word becomes something of a red herring. For some readers, it may be enough that the book is so sensually alluring, inviting readers to loll in its full-bleed spreads, replete with plush textures, serene blues and melon greens and chubby, wide-eyed birds who in flight resemble toy airplanes; for others, it may be difficult to overlook the lack of resolution in the text. Ages 3-5. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-K?A little blue bird is afraid to fly so he just sits in the nest and watches. When he asks his mother what is out there, she replies, "Nothing." He can't stop thinking about nothing and goes off in search of it. He meets other birds and learns to fly; when he returns home, he happily tells his family that nothing happened. The story is inane and the slight humor of looking for nothing will be lost on young children. The illustrations are more interesting than the text. Done in thick colors with what looks like oil crayons, they display a strong design and a creative color sense. The birds, reduced to simple, bold shapes, are made rich by the textured application of color, but interesting artwork is not enough to make this a necessary purchase.?Karen James, Louisville Free Public Library, KYCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Story of a Blue Bird | [
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12,332 | 13 | Grade 8 UpCloseted high schooler Kit Webster hopes to take a vacation from reality by accepting one of the leads in a school play called Talk. Opposite Kit is popular drama queen Lindsay Walsh, who falls for him while they're onstage and dumps her meathead boyfriend. He blames Kit and homophobic epithets ensue. At the same time, the town turns upside down over the play's strong content, and soon nearly everyone is in an uproar. Told in Kit's and Lindsay's alternating voices, and with portions of the script inserted throughout, this novel breaks no new ground literarily or thematically. Readers will find the uncertain chemistry between the protagonists intriguing, but the vague controversy surrounding the play and free-speech rallies quickly become didactic and tiresome. Koja's stream-of-conscious style enhances the story's sense of realism, but the characterizations seem flat and polarized compared to other straight/gay romantic muddles like Alex Sanchez's So Hard to Say (2004) or Ellen Wittlinger's Hard Love (1999, both S & S). Still, reluctant readers may be tempted enough by the volume's slim size and simplistic themes to see it through to the end.Hillias J. Martin, New York Public LibraryGr. 8-11. Other people may be surprised when Kit, who has never acted before, wins the lead in the high-school play. But he isn't. He knows the truth: he's been acting all his life, pretending to be straight. Things become increasingly complicated for the closeted teen when his difficult costar, Lindsay, falls in love with him, and their play, Talk, a hard-hitting drama about political repression, excites controversy and parental attempts at censorship. The action of this ambitious novel moves along briskly when it alternates between Kit and Lindsay's points of view, but it becomes message-driven when pages from the play are periodically included to reinforce the theme: that the self is revealed no matter what. Fortunately, Kit's true self is interesting and sympathetic enough to hold the reader's attention through the occasional didactic patches, and the author's nicely realized denouement is both life- and self-affirming. Michael CartCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Talk | [
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12,333 | 18 | Grade 4-8This book is a glorious celebration and an accurate account of the birth of the New York City subway, which opened in 1904, the most ambitious transit system of its time. After much planning, construction of the first phase of the network took four and a half years and required dismantling and reconfiguring much of Manhattans infrastructure. Weitzmans extensive research has enabled him to relate each and every stage of the engineering endeavor, from the digging and excavation to the cutting and lining of tunnels, laying of tracks, building of stations, and construction of an electrical system. Junior mechanics will feast on the intricate explanations of how laborers accomplished many tasks, though the author also considers art lovers with his beautiful representations of subway kiosks, arches, and panels. Ample pen-and-ink illustrations, cutaway drawings, and numbered diagrams coordinated with text convey a wealth of information about a fascinating chapter in New Yorks past.Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 4-7. New York City's subway celebrated its centennial in 2004. In this picture book for older readers, Weitzman recounts the construction of the city's first subterranean train system, beginning above ground with descriptions of New York's crowded streets in 1904. Black-and-white drawings illustrate the spreads, which explain the subway's construction--from dangerous tunnel excavation to the building of tracks, power and passenger stations, and the final artistic touches that made each platform distinctive. Readers will have questions about the technical vocabulary, such as wheel flanges, which isn't always defined in the text, and the illustrations, while numbered to correspond with the descriptions, aren't labeled for easier identification. But even if children don't grasp all the technical details, the text and captivating images convey the awe-inspiring scope of the project and the engineering feats that produced what remains the fastest method of navigating the city. Suggest David Macaulay's Underground (1976) for more about the world beneath the street. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: A Subway for New York | [
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12,334 | 16 | In the vein of This Plane and This Train, Paul Collicutt explores all things seaworthy in This Boat, with vessels that "break through ice" and "[sail] on top of a bridge." The informative end papers showing specific boats (e.g., the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier, the SS Titanic) are a bonus. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-Grade 1-Collicutt follows the template of his This Plane (2000) and This Train (1999, both Farrar) to portray all sorts of boats, even one in a bottle. The detailed, realistic, brightly colored paintings create ample interest for revisiting, and the simple text presents formulaic repetition, making it useful for beginning readers. Plenty of sea is covered, and the glimpses will encourage further study of particular boats since readers receive only one fact (and one view) per page. A story that will gratify young sailors and transportation buffs.Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: This Boat | [
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12,335 | 5 | Grade 2-6?According to the source notes, this story of the three Magi is based on versions of the tale heard by Marco Polo on his travels. The wise men are amazed by the beautiful star that appears in the night sky. Jasper thinks it's a planet; Melchior, a comet; Balthasar says, "It's a mystery. We must consult our charts and scrolls." They discover the legend of a "baby whose birth would be announced by a star" and decide to find him and honor him with gifts. They give him gold (for a king), myrrh (for a healer), and holy incense (for a holy man). He accepts the gifts and offers one in return. When they discover that it is only a stone, Jasper throws it into a well in disgust. Up bursts a tower of flame?indicating to the Magi that the child is all things: a true king, a healer, and a holy one. The fire will "bring justice and healing and peace into the world." This variant of the Biblical tale of Jesus's birth includes unusual details such as Magi who are more comical than wise, never agreeing about anything, and a baby (unnamed here) who is old enough to return a gift of his own. The message, however, is strong and just right for the season. Daly's luminous watercolors capture the sweep of the desert, the beauty of the night sky, and the gracefully stylized characters. An interesting enhancement to Christmas collections.?ACCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.Ages. 5^-8. From the annals of Venetian explorer Marco Polo comes a retelling of the thirteenth-century Persian legend of the Magi of Saveh. Three astronomers discover a brightly shining star, which, according to their scrolls, signifies the birth of a special child who will bring peace to the world. They travel to the child, bearing gifts of incense, myrrh, and gold. In return, the child gives them a small box. As they travel home, one of the men becomes so impatient that he opens the box, discovering what appears to be a mere stone. However, when he throws the stone in the well it becomes a great fire, a gift to be shared by all. Daly's detailed, mystical illustrations are well suited to the book but too small for using with large groups. Used in a one-on-one situation, though, they'll prompt interesting discussion as children are introduced to an intriguing story from an ancient culture. Helen Rosenberg; Title: The Stone: A Persian Legend of the Magi | [
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12,336 | 17 | The story of Galileo is at once inspiring and troubling. The brilliant astronomer was a celebrated scientist who was showered with honors and patronage until his greatest discovery--that the earth circled the sun rather than the other way around--proved to be too much of a threat to prevailing orthodoxy. Peter Sis, author of the wonderful children's book Follow the Dream: The Story of Christopher Columbus, tells Galileo's tale for children ages 8 and older. A brilliant and sophisticated illustrator and a sensitive storyteller, he traces Galileo's life from childhood to his final days as a prisoner of the church. (Click to see a sample spread. 1996 by Peter Sis. Reprinted by permission of the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux.) (Ages 8 and older)Extraordinary pictures light up this tribute to Galileo, telling the story of his discoveries, rise to prominence and excoriation by the Church. Sis (Follow the Dream), an experienced and sophisticated chronicler of history's visionaries, outdoes himself with his illustrations. Detailed and delicate, ingeniously conceived, his paintings convey abstractions with an immediate impact. The artist expresses the simultaneous wonder and prevision of Galileo's celestial observations, for example, in a luminous multipaneled composition: in the center, Galileo trains his telescope on the moon; surrounding panels replicate Galileo's notes about and sketches of the lunar surface. Other paintings take inspiration from contemporaneous maps and treatises; still others borrow historical imagery to convey the loneliness of the censored scientist. Handwritten passages from Galileo's own works embellish the pages and supply information missing from the text. Even with the powerful art, however, this volume does not open up Galileo's story to the uninitiated: the brief text oversimplifies the issues, even for a picture book, and seems to presume the reader's awareness of the historical significance of Galileo's struggles. While the book's usefulness may be limited, its strengths are not: it is a book with deep if not broad appeal. Ages 6-up. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Starry Messenger (1997 Caldecott Honor Book) | [
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12,337 | 5 | Grade 5–7—This humorous adventure, a sequel to The Runaway Princess (Farrar, 2006), captures readers' attention from the start and doesn't let go. Meg is an unconventional princess who has a mind of her own. When her pet dragon, Laddy, flies away, she is determined to go on a quest in search of him. Her parents reluctantly agree on the condition that she takes along a coterie of friends, including a wizard, guards, and a magic scarf to protect her. The ensuing story follows a route filled with surprises and intricate twists that keep readers wondering when, and if, Meg will reach her goal. She encounters unusual characters as she traverses an enchanted forest, but her unwavering courage keeps her steadfastly focused. Coombs cleverly incorporates references to fairy tales. The group rescues Spinach, a girl with unusually long hair imprisoned in a tower, who joins the adventure. They are forced to become playthings for a giant's daughter. Malison, the witch who ensnares Meg and her people, is the personification of evil and deviousness. Meg is a likable and multidimensional figure, as are her companions. The evil characters are richly drawn as well. Patricia Wrede's fans will love this offering, as will those who enjoyed Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted (HarperCollins, 1997).—Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ ENDThis humorous adventure, a sequel to The Runaway Princess (Farrar, 2006), captures readers' attention from the start and doesn't let go. School Library JournalCoombs mines the tropes of folklore for her situations and characters, and fans . . .will appreciate the strong feminist ending. BooklistEnchanted forests, rampant transmogrification, evil sorceresses and giants are all fine fodder for Coombs's invent twists on traditional fairy tales. Kirkus ReviewsCoombs again takes a familiar setup . . . and makes it fresh with droll humor, brisk plotting, and multidimensional characters. . . . A warm, witty story that will leave readers clamoring for the next installment. The Horn Book; Title: The Runaway Dragon | [
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12,338 | 16 | Trains in fiesta-bright hues zip through a picture book debut that uses the iron horse to demonstrate simple opposites and contrasts: "This train is in the country./ This train is in the city"; "This train carries passengers./ This train carries freight." The art is highly stylized, and its colors are souped-up: even the "old" train is a brilliant blue-green with orange cars trailing behind; the backgrounds also partake of the turbo-charged palette. The absence of humans and a tendency toward the genericAfuturistic skyscrapers, trees that look as if they belong on an architect's modelAcounteract the art's more painterly features. But young train aficionados will appreciate the impression of speed and power Collicutt achieves, and they'll also enjoy the endpapers with their images of such trains as the Japanese Shin-Kansen, the Santa Fe Super Chief and the French TGV. Ages 2-7. (Sept.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-Collicutt presents pictures of an international assortment of trains: Japanese, Italian, Dutch, Canadian, French, and North American. Simply worded, sparse text printed in large letters provides commentary on the vivid paintings. Each pair of illustrations on facing pages contains a concept, ranging from the basic ("This train is yellow. This train is red") to the sophisticated ("This train runs on steam. This train runs on electricity"). The bright, full-color art is simple and bold, and the endpapers give the name and country for each model featured. This title accomplishes many things: it's a concept book for preschoolers, a beginning reader, and a source of information for primary-grade train fans. This very successful presentation concentrates on the vehicles themselves, excluding the people who run and ride them. For a human connection, try Evelyn Clarke Mott's Steam Train Ride (Walker, 1991).Liza Bliss, Worcester Public Library, MA Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: This Train | [
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12,339 | 3 | PreSchool-Grade 3. When the silly mayor of Tangle Town can't open his door (he's pushing when he should be pulling) and calls for help, confusion and trouble follow. The mayor tells a policeman he's getting plenty of blisters, but as the news spreads through Tangle Town, blisters get misinterpreted as blasters, plasterers, and disaster. The foolish citizens storm the streets in a wild stampede. Meanwhile, a sensible girl named Roxy tries to track down her cow, Mosey, who has wandered into the chaos of Tangle Town. Roxy's "barnyard instincts" take over and she herds the stampeding mob of people through the city in search of Mosey. The cow winds up at the pretzel mill, and when she pushes through a door, she saves the mayor. Lively illustrations feature "tangled" elements throughout, from the twisted roads and pretzel patterns on buildings to the intertwined limbs of the fleeing crowd. The visual humor does not reach the hilarious levels of David Legge's Bamboozled (Scholastic, 1995) or William Joyce's A Day with Wilbur Robinson (HarperCollins, 1990). Similarly, the serendipitous ending is not quite as delightful as those in David Macaulay's Shortcut (1995) and Black and White (1990, both Houghton). Still, this "typical day in Tangle Town" has enough nonsense and wit to amuse most readers.?Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library, ORCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.The glass door says ``pull,'' but the mayor is pushing, and he's getting blisters. This he tells to a passing policeman who offers help: ``Blisters . . . plenty of them.'' But the cop hears wrong, and he shouts, ``We need blasters! Twenty of them,'' to the gathering crowd. The crowd hears ``disaster,'' and mass panic ensues. So it goes in Tangle Town. Into the hubbub strolls Roxy Toppler, a farm girl looking for her wayward cow. ``What's going on?'' she asks, and the answers come fast. `` `The mayor!'--`The mayor got blistered!'--`Plastered!'--`Blasted to bits by twenty twisters!'--`Big, big disaster!' '' Swinging into action, Roxy deploys her ``barnyard instincts'' to herd the crazed mob, attain a semblance of order (defined in Tangle Town as anything other than total chaos), and find her cow. Cyrus's first book creates good slaphappy wordplay--the text can be read aloud in either a bark or a lilt--and his illustrations aptly convey both the frantic behavior of the crowd and the bird's nest of streets, overpasses, and buildings that make up this twisted city. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright 1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.; Title: Tangle Town | [
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12,340 | 6 | PreS-Gr 2On Wednesday, Thelma is bored, so she decides to become queen. She announces her coronation; assembles the royal pets, including a sheep, a bear, a cat, and a duck; and hires assistants. Of course, queens need carriages and a proper castle, and with all those pets, an animal trainer. It is all quite overwhelming, and the child soon realizes she needs a whole royal staff as well. It is enough to trouble the grandest of monarchs. Swiatkowska's stunning artwork offers readers a fantastic, somewhat surreal glimpse of a very imaginative girl. Illustrated with multiple mediums in a Victorian-like style, the pages are quite impressive. The large text, arranged in various layouts, balances the artistry of the illustrations. While certainly the story is one that young readers will appreciate, the fanciful and extraordinary artwork may appeal more to adults. Best suited to one-on-one sharing.Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OHSince Sunday, wide-eyed Thelma has been bored. So by Wednesday, she decides to shake things up and make herself queen. She dons a crown, puts on a gown with voluminous panniers, makes an official announcement, and appoints a coterie of royal pets. But all is not well in the kingdom once Thelma discovers how much help she needs to keep her queenly gears running smoothly. After hiring some animal trainers, a maid, a cook, and a royal nurse to heal her royal headache, she fitfully abdicates and is on to a new scheme by the following Wednesday. Award-winning illustrator Swiatkowska makes her authorial debut in this story of a young girl with a vivid imagination and a week-long attention span. The children in her delightfully weird paintings look like they have stepped out of a nineteenth-century painting and into an absurd wonderland full of odd animals and objects that juxtapose amusingly. Its a familiar story of imaginative play, but Swiatkowskas whimsical pictures set it apart. Hand this to kids who are drawnor are happy to be introducedto unconventional illustrations. Preschool-Grade 1. --Sarah Hunter; Title: Queen on Wednesday | [
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12,341 | 2 | This is Hatchet for the post-Katrina generation, and its sure to find an audience. Booklist A harrowing tale of survival ... A page-turner that will have readers watching where they step and looking up into trees, long after the slithering and snorting end. School Library JournalA fast-paced adventure traces 13-year-old Corts daring attempt to keep two neighbor girls alive during a hurricane ... Key brings to life the eerie quality of the Alabama swampland and the hidden dangers that lurk around every corner. Short, cliffhanger chapters will keep even the most reluctant readers engrossed. Publishers WeeklyWatt Key lives in southern Alabama with his family, near the swamp where this story takes place. His debut novel, Alabama Moon, was named to Time Magazine's list of the Best Hundred YA Books of All Time. Terror at Bottle Creek is his fourth book.; Title: Terror at Bottle Creek | [
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12,342 | 2 | Gr 7 UpThe author taps into the anxiety, insecurity, and hurt that people experience when they think that they are giving more love than they receive. Arden Huntley's nave understanding of relationships partially comes from her mother, who taught her in word and by example that one person always takes care of the other as a gardener nurtures flowers. Arden fully believes this theory and has built an identity around it: she is "recklessly loyal." She reaches a breaking point when she starts to feel that her love and support are underappreciated, especially by her boyfriend and her best friend. Seeking solace online, Arden discovers "Tonight the Streets Are Ours," a blog written by a guy named Peter in New York City. The teen not only finds comfort in Peter's writing, but begins to feel invested in his life and happiness. Sales understands the intense bond that readers can have with bloggers and she uses this to propel Arden into a transformative road trip to find Peter. Some readers, particularly those touched by adoption, may find themselves taken out of the story when they are introduced to a character with an unusual backstory: a white boy who was adopted by Asian American parents. However, there's no acknowledgement of how unique and against expectations it is. It's unclear how this creative decision serves the plot or characters and given that it occurs during a pivotal moment in the book, it's worth noting. VERDICT Teens who enjoy books about the balance of friendship with individual identity formation will find much to think about in this novel.Joy Piedmont, LREI, New York CityThe prose is crisp and full of subtle, comic detail, and the girls' climactic trip to New York provides an epic resolution. Arden's tale is insightful throughout. Kirkus ReviewsPeter's blog entries are intermixed with Arden's story, making it easy to understand why she is drawn to him; from there, Sales (This Song Will Save Your Life) takes her story on surprising turns as Arden learns what it really means to love someone Publishers WeeklyThis book will resonate with any reader who has experienced disappointments in romantic love or with any loved ones. VOYAThis romantic adventure will grab fans of Rachel Cohen and David Levithan's Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2006) and of Sarah Dessen, particularly with Arden's desire to flirt with danger. BooklistThe author taps into the anxiety, insecurity, and hurt that people experience when they think that they are giving more love than they receive. Teens who enjoy books about the balance of friendship with individual identity formation will find much to think about in this novel. School Library JournalAlternating poignancy and humor, and with obvious compassion for her characters, Sales gently imparts subtle wisdom about truth in storytelling, asserting independence, and above all, what it means to love someone (and not just romantically). Horn Book; Title: Tonight the Streets Are Ours: A Novel | [
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12,343 | 2 | Grade 1-3Using a beautifully balanced format that combines panoramic illustrations with a storylike narrative, Cherry imagines the life cycle of a mangrove over a period of more than 100 years, from propagules (sprouting seeds) to a single tree to a tangle (a cluster of trees) to an island. As the unusual tree slowly increases in size, it sends out dozens of visible prop roots that anchor it to the sea floor at the edge of a Caribbean lagoon and becomes both shelter and food source for an amazing array of living things. Richly hued watercolor-and-colored-pencil paintings show birds, fish, and sea creatures in sufficient detail to allow for easy identification. The endpapers feature maps of mangroves around the world surrounded by borders containing a small, labeled painting of each species. An introduction and author's note explain the importance of mangroves to their ecosystem and encourage their preservation. Although Cherry has chosen to anthropomorphize a few of the animals by including snippets of conversation, the information is well researched and clearly presented, and the lesson in ecology is an important one.Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 3. Cherry offers another handsomely illustrated picture book that traces the life of a mangrove--from seedling to a full island of tangled roots and branches capable of withstanding a hurricane while sheltering myriad sea creatures. Many children will need help with basic science concepts, such as decomposition and pollination, and they may have trouble matching the sea species mentioned in the text with the images. But, as in her previous titles such as The Great Kapok Tree (1990) and A River Ran Wild (1992), Cherry paints lustrous, detailed scenes that, together with her accessible narrative, will spark children's interest in a magnificent, endangered ecosystem. An author's note offers more information about the beneficial role that mangroves play in coastal habitats and the threats to their survival. Teachers will want this for elementary-school units about the environment and the web of life, but children may choose it on their own for the rich, underwater scenes of tropical sea life. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Sea, the Storm, and the Mangrove Tangle | [
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12,344 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 1In this Australian import, some things aren't as scary as they seem. The story is told in rhyme, with mixed-media cartoon illustrations. "Six little rabbits/Down by the lake/Munching on carrots/And chocolate cake" hear a mysterious, frightening "Plop" in the water. Five of them flee the forest, and are soon followed by an illogical assortment of animals, including a goose, antelope, leopard, moose, and pig. A big brown bear, infuriated at the thought of a creature more fearsome than he, bullies the littlest, stay-behind rabbit into showing him where this Terrible PLOP is. It proves to be only an apple falling into the lake from a nearby tree, yet the bear, too, unaccountably runs off in terror, and the rabbit happily returns to munching cake, carrots, and apples. Children would love the repetition of the word "PLOP," but the pedestrian story line, bland rhyming text, and mediocre artwork add up to a less-than-satisfying offering.Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Little kids really get a bang out of chaos and hysteria that can, eventually, be tamed; it's one of the ways they teach themselves to calm down and take control of their behavior. THE TERRIBLE PLOP is a wonderful addition to the genre. NewsdayBasic, fun rhymes and repetitive, excitable text lend themselves to reading aloud, and the recurring appearance of the word PLOP provides an explosive entree for children to chime in while soaking up Joyner's bouyant mixed-media artwork. BooklistBased on a cumulative folktale, this lively story reassures readers that things are not always as scary as they may seem--and is guaranteed to see many multiple readings. Starred, Kirkus ReviewsThis talented Australian duo builds the suspense to just the right pitch. Publishers WeeklyMake room on the preschool storytime shelf. The Horn Book; Title: The Terrible Plop: A Picture Book | [
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12,345 | 11 | Caldecott Honor artist Peter Sis (Tibet Through the Red Box) unlocks the mystery of his native Prague with The Three Golden Keys (1994). When his wayward hot air balloon alights in the city of his youth, a young man journeys through memory-laden streets in search of the keys that will open the padlocks now bolted to his family home. In a starred review, PW called Sis's volume, with its mix of mystery, magic and Czech folklore "a treasure."Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Three Golden Keys | [
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12,346 | 18 | Gr 3-6Everyone has heard of Amelia Earhart, but she was not the only young woman fascinated by flight in the early 1900s. Elinor Smith began talking flying lessons in 1921 when she was only 10 years old. At 16, she was the youngest person in the U.S., man or woman, to earn a pilot's license. The climax of this picture-book biography is when Smith achieved acclaim as the first person to fly a plane under all four of New York City's bridges. Unlike the stories of Amelia Earhart and Harriet Quimby, this book has a happy ending. Smith lived to a ripe old age, and, according to an endnote, much of the book is based on interviews the author had with her before she passed away in March 2010. Brown's narration is fluent, engaging, and full of dialogue. The page-long endnote explains her research and sources. Realistic oil illustrations are similar in style to those in Muhammad Ali, Champion of the World (Random, 2007). Roca uses minimal background detail and skillfully arranges scenes to focus attention on the emotions and faces of the characters while still maintaining historical and geographical accuracy. This is an excellent introduction to a lesser-known but fascinating adventurer.Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Inspiration soars from every page of this introduction to Elinor Smith, a Long Islander who took her first flight in 1917 at age six, became a licensed pilot at 16, was voted Best Woman Pilot in America over the likes of Amelia Earhart, went on to be a test pilot, and at 89, to fly NASAs space shuttle simulator. Presenting Smith as a capable young enthusiast steadfastly ignoring gender expectations to follow her dream, Brown centers the dramatic main narrative on the aviators daring 1928 flight beneath four of New Yorks East River bridges, then tallies some of her many other accomplishments in an afterword. Smith displays star quality in Rocas accomplished full-bleed paintings, tooa picture of slender, confident competence as graceful as the brightly colored, sturdy-looking biplanes she flies. Based on interviews with Smith herself (who died earlier this year) and archival material, Browns debut makes a worthy companion to Julie Cummins Women Daredevils (2008) and other celebrations of women who refused to do as they were told. Grades 2-4. --John Peters; Title: Soar, Elinor! | [
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12,347 | 0 | This is a brilliant book, full of history, mystery, and laughs. It reminded me of my small-town childhood, although my small town was never as delightfully weird as Norvelt. Dave BarryA bit of autobiography works its way into all of Gantos's work, but he one-ups himself in this wildly entertaining meld of truth and fiction by naming the main character . . . Jackie Gantos. Publishers Weekly, starred reviewA fast-paced and witty read. School Library JournalA more quietly (but still absurdly) funny and insightful account of a kid's growth, kin to Gantos's Jack stories, that will stealthily hook even resistant readers into the lure of history. BCCBThis winning novel, both humorous and heartwarming, takes place during the summer of 1962, when narrator Jack Gantos turns 12 and spends most of his days grounded. Jack's main get out of jail free card,' and one of the novel's most charming characters, is Miss Volker. The blossoming of their friendship coincides with the blooming of Jack's character. Shelf Awareness ProThere's more than laugh-out-loud gothic comedy here. This is a richly layered semi-autobiographical tale, an ode to a time and place, to history and the power of reading. The Horn Book, starred reviewGantos, as always, delivers bushels of food for thought and plenty of outright guffaws. BooklistAn exhilarating summer marked by death, gore and fire sparks deep thoughts in a small-town lad not uncoincidentally named Jack Gantos.' The gore is all Jack's, which to his continuing embarrassment would spray out of my nose holes like dragon flames' whenever anything exciting or upsetting happens. And that would be on every other page, seemingly . . . Characteristically provocative gothic comedy, with sublime undertones. Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewNobody can tell a story like Jack Gantos can. And this is a story like no other. It's funny. It's thoughtful. It's history. It's weird. But you don't need me to attempt to describe it. Get in there and start reading Gantos. Jon Scieszka, founder of guysread.com and author of the Spaceheadz seriesJack Gantos has written books for people of all ages, from picture books and middle-grade fiction to novels for young adults and adults. His works include Hole in My Life, a memoir that won the Michael L. Printz and Robert F. Sibert Honors; the Joey Pigza series, which include a Newbery Honor book and a National Book Award Finalist; Dead End in Norvelt, winner of the Newbery Medal and the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction; and the Rotten Ralph series.; Title: Dead End in Norvelt (Norvelt Series) | [
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12,348 | 2 | First-time kids' book author (and bona fide Iowan farm-resident) Jill Esbaum tells the homespun story of a long-suffering sister and a ne'er-do-well younger brother who visit their Granny after a big tomato harvest.Annabelle knows that she's in trouble from the moment Mama drops her and Willie off at Granny's farm: "Mama'd volunteered me to help Granny put up the garden, and I knew what that meant: lots of hard work." On top of that, Annabelle promises Mama that she'll keep Willie out of trouble--an impossible promise she soon regrets: "Willie and trouble went together like biscuits and gravy". Alternating hard work (for Annabelle) and chaos (from Willie) ensue, as Annabelle washes a mountain of tomatoes for canning while trying--unsuccessfully--to stop Willie from tormenting a goat, lassoing chickens, skinny-dipping in a pond, and climbing a windmill. Not only does Annabelle have to suffer scolding from Granny for not minding her brother better, but she's forced to prepare and eat her least favorite food--tomatoes. Fortunately, the surprise arrival of a stinky skunk (a "polecat") leads to Willie's comeuppance and the unexpected end of the tomato threat.Esbaum spares no subtlety in country-fying her story--there's plenty a "y'all," "this here," and even a "Hoooooo-WEE!"--and Roger Roth deserves credit for meeting her more than halfway, serving up equally down-home illustrations that match the action perfectly. A warning, though, to more city-fied parents: Stink Soup does contain some scenes of implied whuppin'. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul HughesGrade 1-4--Two youngsters are spending the week at their grandmother's farm. Annabelle has been volunteered to help Granny put up tomato juice, even though she hates tomatoes. As if that job weren't bad enough, she must also keep an eye on her mischievous little brother. Willie stays busy making trouble while Annabelle makes juice. He teases the goat, climbs the windmill, and smashes eggs against the barn. As in many cases, the older sister gets the blame for the antics of her not-so-innocent younger sibling. Granny doesn't catch on until Willie tangles with a skunk. Then the situation gets malodorous and the only cure is Granny's "stink soup"--a tomato juice bath. Willie's antics move the story along quickly, while Annabelle's narrative gives a ring of truth to the sibling relationship and the boy's escapades. Perfectly matched to the text in tone, the watercolor-and-graphite illustrations capture the action. The breezy cartoon style adeptly depicts the characters' personalities and emotions. Although the narrative may be a bit long for younger children, the pictures are large enough to share with a group, and independent readers will enjoy this humorous story on their own.--Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Stink Soup | [
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12,349 | 15 | PreSchool-Grade 2Collicutt's colorful book is at once an easy reader, a concept book, and a space primer. Introducing all types of rockets while comparing them as opposites, it will find many usesand many readers. Space enthusiasts will be able to manage the simple text and garner even more information from the detailed end pages, which feature rocket history and a description of the Apollo 11 mission. Vehicle-obsessed youngsters will enjoy the book as well, especially the last page, which features a full-spread blast-off. The realistic paintings, done in a palette of saturated primary colors, will delight young readers. Add this title to Collicutt's This Truck (2004), This Car (2002), This Boat (2001), This Plane (2000), and This Train (1999, all Farrar) for a complete unit on transportation.Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. Kids who are space crazy will pore over the many different rockets that fill the horizontal pages of this compact picture book. Using a format similar to that of This Plane (2000)and This Boat (2004), Collicutt gives each rocket or spacecraft one line of description under an intriguing, brightly colored picture. Some rockets travel by day, and some by night. A rocket can be carried under a plane or on top of a truck. Occasionally the text isn't clear. For instance, is the rocket that's like a train actually a bullet train? If not, what is it? The front matter, a two-page spread picturing and naming some particular rockets, might have been used to amplify some of the more generic rockets in the text. The back matter is an intriguing two-page spread of the Apollo 11 Mission, focusing on the rocketry system. This spans a fairly wide age range, with more to look at and learn as the reader grows older. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: This Rocket | [
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12,350 | 0 | Gr 5-7-Though the year 1812 rings ominously in the ears of any American history student, for Anikwa and James it is simply their 12th year, one that they expect will unfold like those that came before it. Anikwa, a member of the Miami tribe, and James, the son of traders living just outside Fort Wayne, have an easy friendship filled with trapping, fishing, and exploring the surrounding woods and river. Yet as outside events begin to converge, the first signs of betrayal and confusion enter their world as all is turned upside down. Frost, as readers have come to expect, fully embraces the stylistic possibilities of the verse form; James's poems run in long parallel lines visually representing the stripes of the American flag, while Anikwa's mirror Miami ribbon work. The two voices-and therefore forms-alternate easily throughout the story. The titular salt is sprinkled throughout the narrative, both as the subject of short poems that "give readers pause" between events (according to Frost's notes) and as a symbol of the fragile friendship between frontiersmen and Native Americans. James's father uncharacteristically withholds salt from Anikwa's people as tensions rise; yet pages later he watches as James takes great risk to get salt to Anikwa outside the stockade. The verse is succinct, yet beautiful, and the story is rich in historical and natural details. Fans of frontier and survival stories will find much to love within these pages.-Jill Heritage Maza, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Montclair, NJ(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.*Starred Review* Set during the War of 1812, near the present-day city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Salt is the story of the friendship between Anikwa, a Miami Indian boy, and James, the son of a trader. As both British and American armies advance on the area, other Native American peoples arrive hoping to fight with the British against the Americans. The plan fails, and Anikwas peaceful people must flee. Will they have to abandon their traditional home, and will the friendship between the boys be sundered? Printz Honor Book author Frost (Keeshas House, 2003) has written, with artful economy, another affecting novel in verse. Interspersed among selections narrated in the alternating voices of the two boys are poems about the salt that is necessary to the survival of both peoples. Frost explains that the form of Anikwas verses, rich in Miami words, evokes the diamond and triangle shapes of Miami ribbon work, while James more linear form suggests the stripes of the American flag. While acknowledging the uncertainties, misunderstandings, and occasional animosities of war, Frost also celebrates the relationship of both the Miami people and the Americans with the land and with each other. Explanatory notes and a glossary of Miami words are appended to this lovely evocation of a frontier America and the timelessness of friendship. Grades 5-8. --Michael Cart; Title: Salt: A Story of Friendship in a Time of War | [
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12,351 | 18 | The narrator, a boy in a red T-shirt, jeans, and a green baseball cap, tells the story in an engaging, accessible voice . . . Drummonds ink-and-watercolor illustrations bustle with detail and activity. Some are full spreads, many are horizontal or vertical panels. An authors note explains that while Drummond was working on this book, a fire devastated his home, causing him and his family to suddenly face the same challenges as the denizens of Greensburg. Happily, they now live in a house built for the future. An inspiring read-aloud for units on natural disasters or for Earth Day. School Library Journal, starred reviewSmartly laid out with both vertical and horizontal frames that contain small amounts of text, the book allows beginning readers to process the steps in planning and execution while giving them plenty of visual clues for potentially unfamiliar vocabulary. Watercolor illustrationsa vibrant blend of vignettes, full-page art, and double- page spreadsshowing the clean-up, planning, and construction reflect the can- do attitude of Greensburg . . . This book is a triumph of both community action and scientific writing. The Horn Book, starred reviewWithout being too technical, [Drummond] weaves in solid information about energy efficiency and sustainability . . . Designed to be a companion to the author/illustrators Energy Island, this will be equally welcomed in school and public libraries. Kirkus ReviewsAuthor/illustrator Allan Drummond studied at the Royal College of Art. His many books include Energy Island. He previously worked as the Chair of Illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He lives in Suffolk, England.; Title: Green City: How One Community Survived a Tornado and Rebuilt for a Sustainable Future | [
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12,352 | 13 | PreSchool-Grade 1A girl's love for drumming lands her in a swamp full of crocodiles (and then helps her find a way out of it). Wilsdorf captures the verve and action of the tale in vibrant colors and broad strokes. Maybelle's orange dress and shock of bushy orange-brown hair reflects her energy as she goes drumming around the bayou, beating two sticks on fences, logs, and crocodile teeth. The illustrations are so lively that readers can almost forget that they're static pictures and mistake them for animation. The images are large enough to use for storytimes, but the rhythm of the text is clunky at times and can be difficult to read while maintaining the pace. Still, for larger collections looking for another bouncy story, Two Sticks can serve a need.Nancy Kunz, Tuckahoe Public Library, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Infectious, syncopated beats propel this rhyming story set in the bayou. Little Maybelle loves to drum, and she creates a changing world of rhythm with her two sticks--her "drum-dee-dum-dee-doo sticks." Her parents ignore her request for a drum and shoo her out of the house. Off she goes, tapping and bopping along until she reaches the swamp. The force of her drumbeats breaks the log bridge and sends her flying into a ring of alligators. Using her trusty sticks, she rescues herself with her infectious beats, charming the gators into following her pied-piper drumming all the way home, where she bargains with her parents for a real drum. Protopopescu weaves whimsical sense and nonsense into the bouncing rhymes, which will make a tongue-twisting read-aloud hit. Wilsdorf adds to the slapstick with colorful, action-filled acrylics picturing fearless Maybelle, who follows her own beat and makes joyful noise. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Two Sticks | [
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12,353 | 2 | In the simple language of youngsters, it conveys what it is like to share everything while at the same time realizing how comforting it is to have someone to share things with. The simple, almost impressionistic art graces the pages with bright splashes of color and pattern. SLJ Starred ReviewYum's deceptively quiet text and poignant illustrations, created from prints, colored pencil, watercolor and other media, convey the girls' growing independence . . . . Readers who have ever wondered what it's like to be a twin need look no further. Kirkus ReviewsYum's third picture book shows the author/illustrator thoroughly at home with the picture book form....The book's inherent symmetry, with the twins mirroring each other on the left and right sides of the spreads, is a treat. Publishers Weekly Starred ReviewAdd this to your collection of sibling stories, or grab it for an alternative take on the trials and tribulations of sharing space. BCCBFor grown-up readers there's another argument: Which is more wonderful -- the text, written exactly in the voice of its 5-year-old heroines . . . or the exquisite illustrations of rosy-cheeked girls, a brightly colored blanket, Asian textiles and lots of white space to accentuate them. NYTimes.comYumplays with the picture book format in innovative ways here The text varies its direct narration effortlessly, so that in one sentence a girl will address the reader and in the next, her twin, pulling the book's audience into the drama. Horn Book MagazineCombining drawn, painted, and printed effects, the appealing illustrations, simple yet stylized, are as effective as the text. A pleasing picture book for twins, siblings, and even onlies. BooklistHyewon Yum is the author and illustrator of several acclaimed books for children, including This is Our House, The Twins' Blanket, There Are No Scary Wolves, and Last Night. Her book Mom, It's My First Day of Kindergarten! received the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her family.; Title: The Twins' Blanket | [
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12,354 | 11 | From the moment she sees it, Stella wants to capture the one-legged pigeon and make it her pet. Enlisting the reluctant help of her neighbor Gerald, she begins planning how she might catch the bird, which she has already named Harvey. Trouble is, her older brother Levi and his friends also want to get ahold of the pigeon, along with a host of others; in fact, it seems the entire population of tiny Meadville, South Carolina, has designs on that pesky pigeon. Who will catch it? Will it wind up as a pigeon pie? And what does a little brown dog have to do with everything? Life is slow in Meadville, and OConnor is equally slow and deliberate in telling her story. But thats part of this novels whimsical charm, and, fortunately, its laced with just enough suspense to keep readers awake and happy on a dozy afternoon. Grades 4-6. --Michael CartO'Connor sets the stage beautifully from the very beginning. . . touching and satisfying. School Library Journal, starred reviewFriendship and sibling dynamics get heated at times, but O'Connor's light touch keeps the story buoyant, leading up to an ending as satisfying as a cold glass of iced tea on a hot summer afternoon. Publishers Weekly[O'Connor] condenses long summer days down into their essence, quiet but humming with an undercurrent of childhood energy. KirkusRhythmic prose. BCCBWith total authorial control, O'Connor brings it all together, first creating a quiet, satisfying adventure and then an apt conclusion for peaceful, laidback Meadville. Here it is the subtlety of character and setting, rather than action, that rules the roost. Horn Booka gem of a story.Barbara O'Connor's gift in storytelling is her restraint. Holding back allows the reader to fill in a bit, making the story more personal. Her talents make On the Road to Mr. Mineo'san unforgettable trip. Book PageRead it aloud to a classroom. Share the book at bedtime with a special child. Wrap it for the holidays. This one's a keeper. Christian Science Monitor; Title: On the Road to Mr. Mineo's | [
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12,355 | 2 | Gr 9 UpImmediately after graduation, Jess and her best friend, Chunk, embark on a road trip from San Jose, CA, to Chicago. Trans teen Jess has tried to fly under the radar, but now she's ready to show her true self. Where better to make her debut than a surprise appearance at her transphobic dad's wedding to her mom's former best friend? The road trip uncovers many worries, tensions, and truths. Jess is concerned for her safety and nervous about passing. Her friendship with Chunkwho really hates the taunting and judgmental nickname and would prefer to be called Chuckis on the rocks, too. He's spending the trip texting another girl while growing increasingly irritated at Jess's utter self-absorption. For someone so aware of names, image, and identity, Jess is extremely insensitive, especially when it comes to weight. It takes seeing (and overhearing) Chuck interact with new people for Jess to understand her feelings and begin to see beyond herself. Though it relies on an engaging premise, the novel is a mixed bag. Some things are true simply because readers are told they are (such as a significant revelation about Chuck that's barely addressed). Chuck and Jess avoid some really big conversations that would reveal more about themselves and their relationship. Much like their friendship, the ending feels superficial. VERDICT Despite its flaws, this is still a useful addition to collections because of its rare multifaceted picture of a trans girl with a story that is about more than just coming out.Amanda MacGregor, formerly at Great River Regional Library, Saint Cloud, MN"Clark (Freakboy, 2013) has written a thoughtful, engaging examination of a transition that is fraught with misunderstandings...Readers will be anxious to find out in this compelling novel that deserves a place at the forefront of the growing body of literature about transgender teens." Michael Cart, Booklist, starred review "Clark makes an important contribution to LGBTQIA+ literature for young adults by writing a story that demonstrates the often-uneasy process of self-discovery, as well as the universality of the human experience. Teens who like road-trip stories will enjoy the fun details about the cross-country excursion, and teens who like trans* stories will enjoy the fact that this one is not about a trans* teen figuring out she is, in fact, trans*Jess has already done that work and is moving on." VOYA; Title: Jess, Chunk, and the Road Trip to Infinity | [
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12,356 | 0 | "Presented in a clear and direct writing style, the story has an emotional power that is similar to that in Patricia Polacco's Pink and Say. Stark's realistic paintings are remarkable both for their artistry and their meticulous attention to historical accuracy. This book deserves a place in most collections." - School Library Journal National Council for Social Studies/Children's Book Council Notable Book A Bank Street Best Book; Title: Seeing the Elephant: A Story of the Civil War | [
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12,357 | 11 | Grade 3-6Intermingling excerpts from the poet's writings with her own well-written prose, Ray has created an appealing look at the people and events that both propelled Neruda toward his writing career and shaped his political ideals. She focuses primarily on two influential women: his stepmother who, raising him from infancy after his mother's death, wasin his own wordsthe guardian angel of his childhood, and Gabriela Mistral, principal of the girls' division of his school and a noted poet in her own right. The former introduced him to his Chilean heritage, telling him stories of the indigenous peoples and instilling in him a love of the rain forest. The latter recognized his talent and introduced him to the art of poetry, in which he found his true voice. Ray's realistic craypas and charcoal illustrations beautifully bring his world to life. From the varied monochromatic hues of the lush rain forest to the brilliant colors of the Chilean marketplace, the evocative art captures both the activity of the developing town and the tranquility of nature. The story concludes with an English and Spanish transcription of Neruda's poem about how poetry captured his soul. An author's note, biographical sketches of Neruda and Mistral, and a chronology help to frame the story. An excellent introduction to the human face of poetry.Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."I have come out of that landscape, that mud, that silence, to roam, to go singing through the world." Neruda's quote opens this strikingly illustrated picture-book biography of the poet's childhood, spent in a pioneer town in the Chilean rain forest. Ray combines her spare, lyrical telling with quotes from Neruda's writings. Although the transition between voices isn't always seamless, the effect is still powerful, and the immediacy of Neruda's well-chosen words will spark older children's interest and pull them into his story. The mix of voices works particularly well when describing Neruda's passionate connection with nature and how the solace he found there inspired his poetry. Like the words, Ray's accomplished, mixed-media illustrations create a visceral sense of the melancholy, rain-soaked forest and the bustling town. More biographical information, including a time line, and an author's note conclude this stirring portrait. For slightly older readers, suggest Poli Delano's When I Was a Boy Neruda Called Me Policarpo (2006). Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: To Go Singing Through the World: The Childhood of Pablo Neruda | [
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12,358 | 4 | PreSchool-Grade 1Colorful, large, and realistic paintings of trucks will entice readers who love big rigs. Similar in approach to Collicutt's This Car (2002), This Plane (2000), This Boat (2001), and This Train (1999, all Farrar), this book begins with a child playing with a toy bulldozer. The simple text explores a few opposites ("This truck has a short crane./This truck has a long crane") and on other pages describes what a particular vehicle is doing (towing a boat, carrying a rocket, pouring out salt, etc.). Front endpapers show many vintage models and back endpapers depict a variety of current-day examples including some from different countries. The youngest transportation fans will enjoy having the book read to them, while the large print on white space and repetition aid beginning readers. While not as inventive as Sallie Wolf's Peter's Trucks (Albert Whitman, 1992; o.p.) or Patricia Hubbell's Trucks (Marshall Cavendish, 2003), this offering is a solid addition.Debbie Stewart Hoskins, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS. Little truck lovers will want to talk about the action-packed pictures here, each one a clear, detailed, brightly colored close-up of a powerful machine at work, with a few simple words highlighting concepts as part of the action. A toy truck is small; a forklift is big; a giant dump truck is enormous. In each case, the people shown operating the truck help establish the machine's relative size. A caterpillar excavator picks things up; on the opposite page, a dumper dumps things out. One machine crawls through the desert; opposite, in contrast, a fire engine races through the city. For older truck fans, the endpapers show small, meticulously detailed images of particular trucks from around the world and through history--from the France's De Dion-Bouton Type FR World War I military truck to the NASA crawler-transporter used to carry the space shuttle. The proper names of the trucks are as alluring as the machinery. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: This Truck | [
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12,359 | 0 | Katherine Applegate: Your alter-ego Jackie Gantos is back! Of all his hysterical new antics in From Norvelt to Nowhere, which scene did you have the most fun writing?Jack Gantos: Thats a tough question. There are so many good scenes. There is the harpoon scene, and the pistol escapade, and the over imbibing, the creepy bathroom stall scene ... Ill settle on the scene where Miss Volker is using the sandwich bread to wipe the unending tears from her guilty crying while the soggy bread balls roll down her face like they were little white garden snails. That scene sinks into chaos for Jack.KA: In the new book, Jack and Miss Volker visit some odd historical sites on their wild road trip, including a real ghost town. Is Rugby, Tennessee, still abandoned?JG: Rugby is a great old town started by Thomas Hughes, who had written Tom Brown's School Days. He traveled from England and began the town which was built on socialist/utopic principles. The town was a perfect fit for Miss Volkers childhood back story, and it had been abandoned for many years. But it has had a bit of a revival. The fabulous library has always been intact, though it was boarded up for many decades. The towns origins parallel the origins of Norvelt.KA: Is there a memorable, silly, or just plain embarrassing question you recall being asked at a school visit?JG: After a Rotten Ralph presentation a baby-faced first grader stood up and with a very sincere voice asked me what had happened to the real cat that inspired Rotten Ralph. The boy seemed very troubled. I replied as sincerely as possible, "Well, he lived a wonderful life for many, many years until finally ... he expired."He shifted from foot to foot and thought about that last word. Finally he asked, "What does expired mean?"I paused. Time was passing. The other kids were getting restless so I got to the point. "It means he died," I said.He thought about that, then asked, "Well, did you stuff him?""I should have," I replied while thinking, dang, I really should have. But it was too late for that.KA: When you autograph books, you often write "Read or Rot!" Why?JG: Oh, its just a fun little motto that basically boils down to Read books or your brain will Rot. I usually draw a skull and write READ OR ROT! in blood red ink across the forehead. Kids like it.KA: Writing pre-Newbery. Writing post-Newbery. Any difference?JG: There are differences but they are all very shadowy. There are no statements to be made about the differences. There are only questions. I honestly dont spend a lot of time pondering this as Ill probably invent a problem where none exists.KA: Where do you keep your Medal?JG: In the freezer. When I have guests over for dinner and make individual butter pats for each plate I use the medal to imprint the butter. This way the conversation starts off about me.Gr 5-8-Gantos picks up where Dead End in Norvelt (Farrar, 2011) left off. Mr. Spitz is on the run and Miss Volker is the last Norvelt old lady remaining. In the wake of three momentous deaths, young Jack finds himself rushed from one uproarious adventure to another. Accompanying Miss Volker, he traverses the country ostensibly to memorialize Eleanor Roosevelt and Miss Volker's sister. Little does he know, however, that Miss Volker has another agenda. Even though she claims to be a pacifist, she becomes more bloodthirsty at each stop in her efforts to catch the murderous Mr. Spitz. Along the way she teaches Jack (and readers) about the history of the country in colorful and enlightening ways. The book is fast paced and laced with both history lessons and hilarity. The characters, who were so well developed in the first book, return, with perhaps too much reliance on previous developments. This is definitely a follow-up book, rather than one that reads well alone. Fans of Dead End in Norvelt will love reading more about young Jack Gantos and his pal, Miss Volker.-Genevieve Feldman, San Francisco Public Library(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.; Title: From Norvelt to Nowhere (Norvelt Series) | [
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12,360 | 2 | Grade 4-7Randall Mackey, 11, has a secret: he knows who left a baby on the doorstep of a local church, but he can't tell because he wants to protect an elderly neighbor. What transpires is a battle between the white minister's wife, who wants the infant, and black Miss Frieda, who is authorized for foster care and believes that the child should be "with his own kind." The tensions that ensue split the black and white communities, and the congregation as well. While Randall's reluctance and indecision are a little drawn out, overall this is a funny and touching story. It shows how barriers between the races can be broken down by simple friendliness, and has plot elements that include child abandonment, the role of the Baptist church in a small South Carolina town, and an examination of summoning up the courage to do what's right. O'Connor sweetens everything with an earthy humor and a great ear, with dialogue peppered with phrases like, "you take to babies like a snake to a woodpile." Randall's friend Jaybird has a sassy young sister who has some of the best insults in the book, and the dialogue between the friends is right on target. O'Connor's take on situations is psychologically astute; she describes well how children sometimes manipulate the adults around them, and how perceptive they can be about adult secrets.Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 4-6. Randall has a secret. Only he knows who abandoned a newborn baby on the steps of the Rock of Ages Baptist Church. The rest of the congregation and community buzzes with gossip and takes sides over who should raise baby Moses: the minister's childless wife, who is white, or the black foster mother who feels that the African American baby belongs "with his own kind." Meanwhile, Randall deals with his own quandary: should he tell what he knows? The author of Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia (2003) and Moonpie and Ivy (2001) creates a strong sense of this small South Carolina community, where church ties draw segments of the community closer together, though not always into close harmony. Against this realistic backdrop, she places characters whose idiosyncrasies make them believable; memorable, convincing portrayals of interracial friendships and spats; and a sympathetic child who struggles to make a good decision when neither choice seems clearly right. A rewarding read. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Taking Care of Moses | [
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12,361 | 2 | Yums latest resembles a photo album and follows a little girl offering up a historical tour of the house she shares with her parents, grandparents, and cat. She starts at the beginning, when her mothers parents arrived from far away with just two suitcases in hand. On one side of the spread (here and throughout the book) is a watercolor framed like a photograph; the other side reveals a more complete view from the same time period. The story continues, inside and in front of the two-story attached home, through her mothers childhood, departure for college, and return with the boyfriend who would be my father. Yum depicts the girls grandparents as warm and welcoming, even as nervous new parents, and the girls parents convey the same loving concern for their child. Some of the framed images pop up again on walls in later pages, suggesting how the young narrator learned the history shes relaying. Even before the baby sibling is introduced on the last spread, this is a sweet tribute to continuity and togetherness. Preschool-Grade 2. --Abby NolanHyewon Yum is the critically acclaimed author of several previous picture books. Of The Twins' Blanket, Publishers Weekly said in a starred review that "Yum's third picture book shows the author/illustrator thoroughly at home with the picture book form." She studied painting and printmaking at Seoul National University in South Korea. She received her master of fine arts at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and presently lives in Brooklyn, New York.; Title: This Is Our House | [
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12,362 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 2--A curious tiger swims across a river and roams the forest looking for adventure. Frightened by the cry of a small animal, he climbs a tree. A group of dhoti-garbed village men discovers him and decides to capture him. After placing a large net around the tree, they blow horns and bang drums to create a racket, eventually scaring the creature down. Now the men have a problem: What should they do with the animal? "Send him to the zoo?/Stick him up with glue?/Paint him an electric blue?" Finally, they decide to set him free. The appealing illustrations are naive, childlike, and dramatic. Biswas uses a limited palette of black, white, and orange to create vivid scenes. The faces of the human characters are filled with personality and expression, while the tiger's emotions are conveyed through his body language and eyes. The simple text curves playfully across the pages, adding to the sense of motion in the artwork. This tale from India can be paired with Helen Bannerman's The Story of Little Babaji (HarperCollins, 1996) for an enjoyable storytime.--Linda Staskus, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS. First published in India in 1997 and an international prizewinner at the Bratislava Biennale of Illustrations, this very simple chanting story is perfect for reading aloud with young preschoolers. A tiger lopes along the shore until a deer suddenly scares him, rousing him to take shelter in a tree, where the villagers find him. They are scared of him ("Will he bite? He might!"), but they trap him in a net ("Get him! Net him! Tie him tight!"). Now what? Someone suggests they set the tiger free, and they agree: "Let him go!" The words in thick, black type are part of the action, and the thickly stroked illustrations, mostly black and white, have occasional splashes of orange: in the sun, on the tiger's back, and in the net that traps him. The comedic drama blends smoothly with the conservation message in deliciously scary sound words and pictures that will make this a favorite for sharing again and again. Hazel RochmanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Tiger on a Tree (Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards)) | [
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12,363 | 2 | Gr 4-6-Set in a fantasy version of the Middle Ages and shot through with medieval-style magic, this is the story of 11-year-old Trinket, who takes to the road, accompanied by Thomas the Pig Boy, after her mother dies. She is in search of her father, a traveling storyteller who left when she was little. As she journeys, she discovers her courage, her own storytelling gifts, and a strong sense of self. The episodic narrative consists of a series of linked stories, one to a chapter, in each of which there is an adventure or a conflict with magical creatures, including fairies, a banshee, a highwayman, and a pooka. These stories are tied to Trinket's own development as a storyteller. Her adventures are expertly told, with some suspense or danger in each chapter. However, the danger is resolved by the end of the chapter, giving the whole a gentle, reassuring feel. One is reminded of the world of folktale journeys and quests. The language is simple and direct, with a sprinkling of archaic words adding a taste of the medieval. Trinket's character is clearly drawn, and her determination and sense of self come to the fore when she is confronted by the Old Burned Man and the reality of who he is. The accessible format will appeal to readers who like their fantasy not too scary, and the flow of the narrative lends itself to being read aloud.-Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.*Starred Review* Alone after her mothers death, 11-year-old Trinket decides to follow in the footsteps of her father, a traveling bard who left when she was six years old and never returned to his family. Trinket, who longs to become a teller of tales as well, sets off with her loyal friend Thomas in hopes of reuniting with her father. Along the way, they find hardship and trouble as well as friendship and magic. Relying on their wits, they face cruel, powerful foes, including a banshee, a ghost, and the faerie queen. Readers may guess Trinkets fathers identity before he appears on the page, but that will not diminish the tension when their problematic meetings leave her with conflicting emotions and a difficult choice of endings. The novel is structured as seven tales Trinket tells of her adventures on the road. Each ends with a song. In the appended notes, Thomas discusses the roots of the stories, which were inspired mainly by Celtic folklore. A storyteller as well as the writer of Good Night, Good Knight (2000) and its sequels, Thomas offers an impressive debut novel in which she weaves seven compelling stories together with narrative power and considerable grace. Grades 3-5. --Carolyn Phelan; Title: The Seven Tales of Trinket | [
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12,364 | 2 | ...the varied images, atypical seascapes, and account of how one individual was able to realize her goal to see these wonders should spark the imaginations of countless budding scientists. ScienceNivola's mixed-media paintings are undeniably lovely, with myriad shades of blue bathing familiar and mysterious forms of sea life at different ocean depths BCCB...exquisitely detailed... Horn Booksure to inspire the next generation Booklist, starredReaders lucky enough to dive into the unknown world of the renowned oceanographer will discover how a child's curiosity grew into a passion to explore and protect the blue heart of the planet.' School Library Journal, starredYoung explorers will be happy to dive into this captivatingly illustrated biography of the renowned oceanographer. Kirkus, starredthe sea takes center stage, inviting readers to swim along with Earle herself. New York TimesClaire A. Nivola has written and illustrated many books for children, including most recently Orani. She is also the author of Planting the Trees of Kenya, a picture book about Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai. She lives with her husband in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts.; Title: Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle | [
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12,365 | 2 | ...this small volume is well designed for readers who are moving up to chapter books. Booklist OnlineJane Schoenberg has crafted a lovely transition an easy-to-read chapter book with a few simple drawings. USA TodayEach story neatly encapsulates a dilemma to which most young readers will be able to relate. There are enough laughs to keep them engaged, and pen-and-ink illustrations bring the colorful characters to life. SLJStuey is like many second graders, which is why young readers will eagerly want to read about him. Parents Express PhiladelphiaStuey's fans will be crossing their fingers for a sequel. Kirkus ReviewsHis [Stuey] humorous narration has an authentic robustness that suits his personality as well as making this an excellent choice for a group readaloud. Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksReaders will easily recognize analogues to Stuey and his crew in their own lives and welcome more of his adventures. Publishers WeeklySchoenberg perfectly captures the humor, and heart, of second grade. Claudia Mills, author of 7 x 9 = Trouble!Kids will love Stuey's daring schemes, laugh hard and long at his missteps, and sympathize with his hidden fears. Ann Cameron, author of The Stories Julian TellsJane Schoenberg is a lyricist and author of My Bodyworks and The Baby Hustle, a board book illustrated by Liz Conrad. She lives in western Massachusetts.Cambria Evans has written and illustrated two picture books, Martha Moth Makes Socks and Bone Soup. She lives in New York City.; Title: The One and Only Stuey Lewis: Stories from the Second Grade | [
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12,366 | 0 | ANDREW LANE once worked for a classified department of the British government and has been an ardent Sherlock Holmes fan since the age of ten. He has written numerous spin-off novels based on the BBC sci-fi television series Doctor Who and is the author of The Bond Files: An Unofficial Guide to the World's Greatest Secret Agent. He lives in Dorset, England.; Title: Knife Edge (Sherlock Holmes: The Legend Begins) | [] | Train |
12,367 | 0 | The quirky crowd from Way Down Deep (2007) returns in this sweet sequel. Ruby, who mysteriously appeared as a toddler in the Appalachian town, is now 10 and still living with Miss Arbutus, who runs the boarding house. There are some new guests, including Rubys grandmother, who is learning to read; little Rita, who lost her mother and stays during the week; and Rubys teacher, the unpopular Miss Duke. Ruby loves her life, but things start turning when her pet goat dies and Miss Arbutus feels an ill wind blowing into town. Then the local mines start closing, and everyone in Way Down Deep feels the pinchand sometimes its a slap. Can Ruby help save the town? Will the special button Rita gave her as a gift be part of the solution? And can the town come together when a treasure appears? This Capraesque story doesnt hold many surprises. But readers will respond to both the storys soft sincerity and the magical touches that provide an ending both they and the characters are longing for. Grades 4-6. --Ilene CooperThe quirky crowd from Way Down Deep (2007) returns in this sweet sequel. Booklist; Title: The Treasure of Way Down Deep | [
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12,368 | 2 | Repackaged, with Weber's full-color spot illustrations to add visual interest, this should make for agreeable, alternative holiday read-aloud. Kirkus ReviewsThis new edition of a story first published in 1984 includes unobtrusive spot illustrations done in an inviting folk-art style; readers will feel as though they're glimpsing the Austins' very own well-loved ornaments and other holiday memorabilia. Compact trim size further highlights the coziness of the family drama. Horn Book MagazineMadeleine L'Engle (1918-2007) was the Newbery Medal-winning author of more than 60 books, including the much-loved A Wrinkle in Time. Born in 1918, L'Engle grew up in New York City, Switzerland, South Carolina and Massachusetts. Her father was a reporter and her mother had studied to be a pianist, and their house was always full of musicians and theater people. L'Engle graduated cum laude from Smith College, then returned to New York to work in the theater. While touring with a play, she wrote her first book, The Small Rain, originally published in 1945. She met her future husband, Hugh Franklin, when they both appeared in The Cherry Orchard.Upon becoming Mrs. Franklin, L'Engle gave up the stage in favor of the typewriter. In the years her three children were growing up, she wrote four more novels. Hugh Franklin temporarily retired from the theater, and the family moved to western Connecticut and for ten years ran a general store. Her book Meet the Austins, an American Library Association Notable Children's Book of 1960, was based on this experience.Her science fantasy classic A Wrinkle in Time was awarded the 1963 Newbery Medal. Two companion novels, A Wind in the Door and A Swiftly Tilting Planet (a Newbery Honor book), complete what has come to be known as The Time Trilogy, a series that continues to grow in popularity with a new generation of readers. Her 1980 book A Ring of Endless Light won the Newbery Honor. L'Engle passed away in 2007 in Litchfield, Connecticut.Jill Weber has illustrated numerous books for children. She lives in New Hampshire.; Title: The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas: An Austin Family Story | [
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12,369 | 11 | PreS-Gr 2Stanton is a street photographer and creator of the New York Times best seller Humans of New York (St. Martin's, 2013). That book consists of an array of photos of a spectrum of people Stanton encountered on the street, accompanied by impromptu interviews. Here, his photographic eye is once again masterly, but in this book his subjects are children, and the interviews have been replaced by a simple free-verse poem that celebrates childhood. These kids are definitely free spirits, dressed in the quirkiest of outfits. They all seem to shout personality and individuality, and again, the quality of the photography will draw in readers. While not an essential purchase, it will be a browser's delight.Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJThe creator of the popular Humans of New York blog focuses his camera lens on the diverse children of New York City . . . These humans may be little, but their photos bring large delight. Kirkus ReviewsThis vivid collection underscores both the diversity and commonality among children, and may well inspire readers to imagine the lives of and stories behind each child. Publishers Weekly starred review; Title: Little Humans | [
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12,370 | 17 | Fuchs's (Ghost of the Southern Belle) light-dappled, impressionistic oil paintings provide a dramatic backdrop to this picture book-biography of 19th-century sharpshooter Annie Oakley. As a child, Annie helped support her impoverished Ohio farming family with her hunting skills and, at 20, outshot a professional, Frank Butler, whom she later married. Stepping in for her husband one night at an exhibition, she became an instant hit with the crowd ("A woman who could shoot like Annie was a rare sight indeed") and her speed, accuracy and daring stunts such as shooting an apple off her dog's head earned her a spot with the circus, then with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, where she went on to fame and glory. Krensky (How Santa Got His Job) paints a vigorous portrait of this legendary sportswoman, drawing from her own diaries for the crisply informative text and afterword. Fuchs heightens the drama by drenching his canvases with layers of earth tones and touching the shadowy images with light, from the reflection on the glass balls Annie targets to the gleam of the sun through the high canopy of trees in the Ohio forest. "Aim at a high mark and you will hit it," was Annie's life motto words which effectively describe this bull's-eye of a collaboration as well. Ages 5-8.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.K-Gr 3-This picture-book biography follows Oakley from age 5, when her father died, through her starring role, at age 26, in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. An afterword tells of her international fame and some of her life until her death at age 66. Overall, Krensky does a good job of relating the highlights of the sharpshooter's intrinsically interesting life and setting them in historical perspective. Fuchs's oil paintings in muted earth tones have a hazy, slightly unfinished look, which works well with the text, though sometimes they are so dark it is hard to see the subjects he depicts. A fine introduction to a fascinating and resourceful woman.Louise L. Sherman, formerly at Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Shooting For The Moon: The Amazing Life and Times of Annie Oakley | [
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12,371 | 2 | The other river creatures (frogs, dragonflies, storks, and hippos) consider Solomon a pest, nuisance, and pain. This delights Solomon until he is shooed away by the biggest hippo. He then becomes glum: Poor Solomon. No one wants to play. But soon another rowdy crocodile (possibly a sibling, if that works for your young reader) comes along and joins forces with Solomon for DOUBLE TROUBLE! (The hippo doesnt look too excited.) Rascally, ink-spattered illustrations depict placid scenes that are chaotically disrupted each time Solomon pounces. The playfulness is evident throughout the text, too, often with the use of alliteration: Solomon decides to stalk the storks. . . . Go away, Solomon, the storks squawk. Read-alouds with this book are going to be loud, so get ready. Pair with Jean Gralleys Very Boring Alligator (2001), about a similarly disruptive creature. Preschool-Grade 2. --Randall EnosRead-alouds with this book are going to be loud, so get ready. BooklistShort, sweet, and tailor-made for story time, this perfectly paced tale of jungle mischief introduces a toddlerlike crocodile, Solomon, whose definition of "fun" is what other animals would probably label '"annoying.' Publishers Weekly, StarredThe juxtaposition of a roaring hippo with an extremely startled Solomon is priceless. School Library JournalLet Solomon Crocodile loose during a story hour and get ready to roar. Horn Book MagazineLight and entertaining fun. Kirkus Reviews; Title: Solomon Crocodile: A Picture Book | [
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12,372 | 17 | Gr 4 UpAs in his works about other restless souls who charted their courses by the stars and pondered big questions (Columbus, Galileo, Darwin), Ss's picture-book biography of the famous French aviator and author comprises multiple layers. Trim but informative sentences ground the pages where text appears ("When he was four years old, his father died unexpectedly. The boy wondered, Where did he go?"). Sensitive readers will follow that question into the heart of the story that encompasses Saint-Exupry's childhood, passion for flying, experiences with military and commercial planes, multiple crashes, risk-taking temperament, friendships, marriage, and publications. Dates, places, events, and exploits swirl around smaller images framed cleverly with bubbles, sequential panels, maps, or airplanes. The emotional content comes through the changing colors and compositions of Ss's exquisite double spreads. Many are wordless, as when the pilot stands at the edge of the vast turquoise ocean; above the horizon, twinkling yellow stars form the curls and eyes of the title character of The Little Prince. Ss is as adept at drama (the red paint bleeding from the sky as the Germans bomb France) as he is at subtle humor (an aerial view of Manhattan portrays the city as an alligator-shaped landmass emerging from a sewer). Slyly inserted referents, from an elephant inside a "hat" to a Mlis moon, add meaning. Ss's handling of the aviator's last flight and disappearance strikes just the right notes of mystery, majesty, and quiet wonder that connect the life and longings of Saint-Exupry to those of his young, fictional friend. Brilliant bookmaking.Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library*Starred Review* Ss works are less picture books than little miracles of design, a craft he now devotes to a biography of Antoine de Saint-Exupry, author of The Little Prince. That de Saint-Exuprys life was interesting in its own rightgrowing up fatherless, pioneering ever-more dangerous airmail delivery routes, flying in WWIIis nearly beside the point, because Ss has created such a compelling, multilayered visual treat. The writing itself occupies three levels: one at the bottom of the page tells the exciting but bare-bones story, ideal for younger children looking for a general overview; a second level directly above offers small, colorful details captioned with succinct facts; and the third offers more complex factual information integrated into the images. And what images they are! Multifaceted and evocative, they capture the mile-a-second swirl of a little boys imagination, the awesome grandeur of flight, and the danger of battle. Ss (The Wall, 2007) never misses an opportunity to hit readers with the power of pure image, as in a two-page spread of a plane flying over a geography of faces, sure to live on in many a childs imagination. Ss masterful and moving sense of design never fails. Grades 1-4. --Jesse Karp; Title: The Pilot and the Little Prince: The Life of Antoine de Saint-Exupry | [
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12,373 | 0 | Starred Review. Grade 4-8Benjamin, a Spanish Jew, left his native town of Tudela in 1159 to embark on a 14-year journey across the Middle East. His Book of Travels, written in Hebrew, recounts his grueling, often-dangerous journey through what is modern-day France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Egypt. Encounters with warring Crusaders and Muslims, rapacious pirates, and bandits added to his hardships. Shulevitz re-creates this epic journey in a picture book of epic proportions, adapting Benjamin's account into a detailed, first-person narrative, accompanied by large, ambitious illustrations that evoke the landscapes, people, architecture, and history of the places that Benjamin saw. Darker, freer, and more impressionistic than Shulevitz's familiar work, the art is often indebted to medieval manuscript painting and Persian miniatures. Meticulously researched, with a long bibliography, lengthy author's note, and brief insets containing information that complements Benjamin's descriptions, this oversize picture book is obviously a labor of love. Wherever he went, Benjamin visited Jewish communities. Shulevitz's retelling stands as a testimony to the history, wisdom, and fortitude of those medieval Jews living precariously under Christian or Muslim rule. Both art and text will help readers imagine life during that time and, perhaps, provide a context for the contemporary turmoil in the lands Benjamin visited so long ago.Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* Gr. 4-7. At first blush, the story of a bona fide twelfth-century Jewish wanderer might not seem the stuff of picture books, even for older readers. But this is so uniquely rendered that it proves, along with other recently published titles, that outstanding execution can draw readers to almost any subject. This fictional account follows Benjamin on a 14-year trip, which takes him from his home in Spain to historic cities of the ancient world: Rome, Babylon, Baghdad, and Jerusalem, among others. Illness, hunger, thirst, thieves, and assassins plague the journey. Yet there are also wonderful adventures, mystical stories, and fabulous sights, such as the pyramids. Told in an expansive first-person narrative, the book is filled with a bazaar's worth of detail, with unobtrusive sidebars explaining text references. In an extensive author's note, Shulevitz discusses how, beginning with Benjamin's actual diary in the original Hebrew, he faced the task of making the mostly factual reporting appealing by adding incidents found in other books. An extensive bibliography lists his sources, but, unfortunately, there are no specifics about the experiences he took from them. It's no surprise that Shulevitz, a Caldecott winner, provides splendid illustrations, but he outdoes himself here. The richly painted scenes, which vary in style and color according to their location, are highlighted by collage accents. Together with the evocative text, they capture the sweep of mysterious and faraway places. For other stories of intrepid travelers, see the adjacent Read-alikes column. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Travels of Benjamin of Tudela: Through Three Continents in the Twelfth Century | [
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12,374 | 15 | K-Gr 3This deceptively simple and original picture book recounts an event that happened to the author's grandfather when he was four years old. In 1914, Antonio Willie Giroux lived in a logging hotel run by his mother in the forest by Gowganda Lake in Ontario. Lively and bustling, the hotel catered to travelers and outdoorsmen, as well as to lumberjacks and silver miners. Antonio was an active little boy, curious about the doings of the employees and the goings on of the hotel, and his activities are described in detail. One night, a fire broke out in the woods, and everyone fled to the lake. Ordinarily, different guests inhabited separate areas of the hotel (with travelers on one floor and working men on another), but that night everyone stuck togetherincluding the animals, who took refuge in the lake as well. Distinguished pen-and-ink illustrations with sepia-toned watercolor washes depict the events and characters realistically, dynamically conveying the movement and flow of the story. Some might doubt the plausibility of the animals and people standing so close together, though this is a minor quibble, as this book is less a strict biography and more a remembrance, with some artistic license taken. VERDICT While this wonderful, somewhat complex selection will be useful for those looking to use literature as a jumping-off point for introducing history, as with Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" books, the story itself may lack child appeal and its message of unity may be lost on the intended audience.Ellie Lease, Harford County Public Library, MD"A story valuable both as a glimpse into a bygone way of life and a record of a surreal, singular moment."Publishers Weekly"Awe-inspiring, exquisitely rendered, indeed "unforgettable."Kirkus Reviews; Title: Out of the Woods: A True Story of an Unforgettable Event | [
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12,375 | 13 | HProfiling American composer Charles Ives, Gerstein (The Wild Boy) plies an artistic style as densely and consciously layered as one of Ives's compositions. The illustrations provide an instant visual connection to the music, which attempts to encompass the sounds of everyday life: Gerstein overlays his spry pen-and-wash artwork with multiple clusters of sound-effect words (e.g., a series of tweety tweets surrounds a caged bird, big red clangs surround toddler Charlie as he bangs on a metal pan). "Charles Ives was born with his ears wide open," Gerstein begins, detailing the kinds of sounds "Charlie" might have heard as a child: included are Charlie's music teacher father's trumpet, the swish of his mother's long dress and "dogs and crickets and the church bells next door," sounds that would later be woven into Ives's music. He tells of Charlie's high school efforts as a composer and how, later, Charlie composed music on the train as he commuted to his insurance job. Gerstein also describes the music's chilly reception: "Most people didn't know how to listen to it. Some thought it was a joke. Others just heard noise and got angry." The book concludes on a triumphant note: not only does Ives finally win acclaim, but he plans to write a Universe Symphony: "Wouldn't that be a glorious noise!" Gerstein creates a rousing visual cacophony that echoes Ives's compositions in this inspired picture-book biography. Ages 4-8.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Grades 3-6--A prominent 20th-century American composer is brought to life through this biography in picture-book form. Young Charlie always listened to the sounds around him and tried to re-create them as he started writing music, whether it was a cheering crowd or a brass band parading through the town on the Fourth of July. However, his work wasn't taken seriously until late in his life when it was accepted as a new form of music called Art Music. The cleverly drafted illustrations show how the many sounds combined in Charlie's head to form one musical idea. Sounds in different colored typeface, from ducks quacking, fire engines clanging, and trumpets "tatatating," appear over the energetic art, and readers can almost hear the cacophony of life. In one of the most memorable scenes, two marching bands, one colored in blue and the other in yellow, move toward each other playing different music with the myriad sounds combining in a rainbow of colors above their heads. The local residents can be seen in the background with their hands over their ears. Older children, especially those with some musical training, will come away with a good understanding of Ives and his work. This is an excellent purchase for libraries looking to develop their music collections on a subject about which little has been published.Lisa Mulvenna, Clinton-Macomb Public Library, Clinton Township, MICopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: What Charlie Heard | [
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12,376 | 2 | Grade 3-5English's rich descriptions and insights bring readers into the world of six inner-city third-grade students. In perceptive free-verse poems, they talk about their school day. Lamont loves school: "I can give my teacher a new flower/And we can both be happy all over again." For Tyrell, however, the experience is painful: "I don't care about anything this day/And you can't make me." Malcolm is a dreamer who fantasizes about floating away on a cloud and thinks about slavery, the subject of a class lesson: "I come from the ones who knew they would not/Could not live/Yet still lived." Brianna is creative and independent ("I paint everything the way I want it"); Neecy is energetic and full of fun; and Rica is excited about turning eight and her new responsibilities ("Going to the store/With money and a list/That I can read"). Bates's watercolor-and-ink illustrations capture the characters' expressions and moods vividly: Tyrell's scowl and desperation; Lamont's proud, somewhat smug posture; Neecy's high-energy activities; and Rica's utter delight on her birthday. Particularly powerful is Malcolm's visualization of slavery. Teachers could easily use the book to discuss voice and perspective. With its uncluttered and inviting design, this title will have strong appeal.Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 2-4. "Soft morning / sun shining / brand-new day / and the playground mine." Written in the voices of mostly African American children in a third-grade classroom, the poems in this picture book imagine students' private thoughts and observations throughout the day. There are quick moments of joy: the pride of being first in line, admiration for the boy who can read "as good as the teacher." And there are deep hurts and longings: "You were best friends with me yesterday," says a bewildered girl when she is no longer the favorite; "My real daddy's coming / To love me more than anyone or anything," says another. Despite a few mannered, overreaching phrases, the poems are written in a colloquial voice that will speak directly to many kids, and Bates' warm, realistic watercolors, filled with spot-on expressions and body language, create strong character portraits to match the poems' voices. Teachers will want to share this with students to show how everyday language and familiar experiences can become poetry. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Speak to Me: (And I Will Listen between the Lines) | [
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12,377 | 2 | Gr 2-4Third-grader Kelsey Green reads constantlyeven during math class. When the principal calls for a reading contest, Kelsey's obsession with books increases and her competitive spirit kicks inbut not in positive ways. First, she becomes suspicious that another student is lying about how many books he's read because she can't bear to think about coming in second. Next, she takes on tutoring a student struggling with his reading skills. Her motivation is to push him to read in order to further their class goal: to read the most books and be the winners of the pizza party. After some missteps and struggles, however, Kelsey comes to realize that she loves reading for reading's sakenot just to win a contest. She further realizes that if she can help someone improve his skills, that is reward enough. This is the first of a promising series. As she did in Fractions = Trouble! (2011), 7 x 9 = Trouble (2002, both Farrar), and other titles, Mills incorporates realistic school situations with everyday challenges with which kids can identify. Kelsey's reading list makes a great bibliography and a way to engage readers. Occasional full-page drawings enhance the story. Sure to be enjoyed by fans of Clementine, Ivy and Bean, and Judy Moody.Tina Martin, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, IL(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Kelsey, an avid reader, is the focus of this Franklin School Friends series opener. When her principal announces a contest that rewards the best-read class as well as the top reader in each classroom, she vows to win one of the honors. What makes her endearing is not only her drive but how it pushes her to reach out to one of her classs most indifferent readers. Even her rivalry with Simon, another bookworm, has a warm resolution when they bond over their admiration for The Secret Garden. Along the way, readers will meet a bevy of secondary characters theyll learn more about in future volumes, including math-whiz Annika and athletic Izzy. Their adventures are believable (they spy rather inexpertly on Simon and are caught by a neighbor), and they are presided over by relatable grown-ups, like Principal Boone, who promises to shave off his beloved beard if the school reaches its goal. Sheppersons thoughtful, well-drafted drawings help delineate each character through facial expressions and gestures while also building a recognizable school environment. Lovely. Grades 2-4. --Karen Cruze; Title: Kelsey Green, Reading Queen (Franklin School Friends) | [
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12,378 | 2 | PreS-Gr 1In his second semi-autobiographical picture book, Bean introduces young audiences to one family's homeschooling experience. The well-paced narrative draws clear connections between the details of a traditional school environmentwith a teacher, a cafeteria, and classroomsand a homeschool settingMom and Dad are the teachers, the kitchen becomes the lunch room, and the house, the yard, the nearby pond, and the garage are all used as classrooms. In Bean's depiction of homeschooling, every moment of the day becomes a chance to learn, from outdoor art classes to evening star-gazing to the "homework" of helping out with farm chores. Watercolor illustrations with loosely defined borders perfectly capture the jumbled chaos of a dual-purpose household, while pen-and-ink lines and plenty of white space provide definition and space for viewers to take in the many details. In this home, towering piles of books, scattered papers, and canning jars share space with butterfly nets, chemistry beakers, and art supplies, reinforcing the family's philosophy that every experience has educational possibilities. The simple sentence structure and vocabulary make this a great choice for emerging readers, and the strong sense of place, anchoring the school experience to a family's beloved home while also opening it up to embrace the wider world, will resonate with young children just beginning to navigate the home/school divide. VERDICT Bean's introduction to a free-spirited yet structured homeschool lifestyle offers a warm and accessible perspective on an increasingly common educational choice rarely seen in children's books. A first purchase.Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MNThis is no ordinary back-to-school tale. USA TodayA great choice for emerging readers, and the strong sense of place, anchoring the school experience to a family's beloved home while also opening it up to embrace the wider world, will resonate with young children just beginning to navigate the home/school divide. School Library Journal, starred reviewHomeschooling families rejoice! This warm, uplifting, and hilarious book will delight kids who wonder if other families live just like they do. My family laughed, nodded, and smiled all the way throughfrom the first illustration to the last. Sure to become a classic on homeschoolers' bookshelves all over the world. Sarah Mackenzie, Creator, Read-Aloud Revival and author of Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable PeaceWarmhearted . . . Capture[s] the coziness as well as the frenetic pace of the homeschooling day. The Horn BookThe family from Building Our House returns, but this time their son tells readers all about life as a home-schooled kid . . . Home sweet school. Kirkus ReviewsHumorous and informative . . . Bean's scribbly pen-and-ink style is perfectly suited for the liveliness of a home in which the living room is both a place to relax and a classroom, the kitchen is the cafeteria, and the family car is also the school bus. Publishers Weekly; Title: This Is My Home, This Is My School | [
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12,379 | 1 | In this engaging bit of frippery, Shulevitz takes a walk on the nonsensical side, concocting a tall tale about the inhabitants of Pickleberry. The Emperor and his twin brother, the janitor, share the kingdom with 26 and a half citizens ("The half was an invisible fellow with a big mustache whom everyone knew and who spoke in half words") and a talking bird named Lou ("a genius of a bird"). Fed exotic delicacies such as "caramel crisp with tamatar, badam, shalgam, zafran, mari, curry, and adrak," Lou is treated better than the Emperor's brother, who is eventually made "part-time ambassador for extraordinary missions" and sent shopping in a faraway land. He runs into Lou's Aunt Millie, who helps Lou escape, triggering a series of events that winds up with a tale-within-a-tale as Lou regales his aunt with the story of how the janitor got the best of his greedy brother. The silliness referenced in the title reigns supreme here; with a nod to Lear, the author squeezes pleasure out of invented words and tongue twisters, often with a visual twist (such as images of the half-citizen throwing down his half cup's invisible saucer and causing an earthquake). Shulevitz's sunny watercolors range from beautifully detailed vignettes to puckish cartoons (including a picture of the "National DessertAPickle Pudding" on the endpapers), ratcheting up the enjoyment factor. Ages 4-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.Kindergarten-Grade 3-Two stories within a story add up to a delicious romp from this versatile author/illustrator. The village of Pickleberry consists of four-and-a-half acres of land and a population of 26 and a half (the half citizen resides on the border between Pickleberry and neighboring Cackleberry). The Emperor of Pickleberry has a twin brother, a janitor whose sage advice he routinely ignores. The ruler also has a talking bird named Lou, renowned for his intelligence, with whom he consults daily on matters of state. However, Lou is unhappy about being confined in a cage until he uses his wits (and the clever advice of his Aunt Millie) to escape. Alas, he falls into the clutches of a greedy salesman who calculates the value of a talking bird but loses his chance to cash in while listening to Lou's convoluted nonsense tale. Free at last, he joins Aunt Millie and begins at the beginning with another account, this of a man who had twin sons, one destined to become the emperor and the other a janitor whose cunning gains for him their father's coveted candlestick. Shulevitz's wacky tale is told both through traditional text and dialogue balloons abounding in sly wit. The art is a visual feast, varying in format and scale from full-page illustrations to multiple vignettes, drenched in blues, greens, golds, and ochers. Richly textured, stylized drawings feature tiny details that add to the fun. This is a book to pore over, relish, and enjoy again and again.Marie Orlando, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: What Is A Wise Bird Like You Doing In A Silly Tale Like This? | [
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12,380 | 2 | Deborah Diesen is the New York Times bestselling author of The Pout-Pout Fish, named by Time Magazine as one of the Ten Best Childrens Books of 2008, and The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark. Diesen grew up in Midland, Michigan, and started writing poems at a young age. She has worked as a bookseller and a librarian, and now works for a small nonprofit organization, but her greatest joy comes from writing for children. She lives with her family in Grand Ledge, Michigan.Dan Hanna has over ten years' experience in the animation industry, and his work has appeared on BBC America and the Cartoon Network. He lives in Oxnard, California.; Title: Sweet Dreams, Pout-Pout Fish (A Pout-Pout Fish Mini Adventure) | [
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12,381 | 13 | Kindergarten-Grade 2An industrious girl in a red dress sits high above the earth on a cloud with her pet cat. She watches the world and sings while she spins thread "from trails of shooting stars, white clouds, and spiderwebs hung with dew." She uses "the colors of the morning" to dye the thread and begins to weave. As the sun moves across the sky, the girl watches and weaves what she observes into the cloth on her loom. Below, children run and play, families celebrate birthdays, and parents cuddle babies. The child records smiles and hugs, laughter and kisses, creating "a cloth of friendships." She shows how lives are intertwined, "held together like vines." At sunset, she lifts her handiwork from the loom and dances across the heavens to spread the protective cloth over the world and then dances home where her own loving family greets her with open arms. The fanciful illustrations reflect the story's sense of celebration, portraying children, their families, and friends sharing small but significant moments in a kaleidoscope of springtime colors. Tiny characters of all nationalities enjoy life in a sun-drenched landscape while the gentle weaver and her adorable gray kitten watch from above. This dreamy story offers a reassuring message of love and security.Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.In this ethereal tale, a young woman in the heavens spins thread from trails of shooting stars, white clouds, and spiderwebs while absorbing emotions and experiences from the human activities she observes below. All of these, happy and sad, are integrated into a cloth of friendship, with which she covers the sky as darkness falls to protect and fill us with joy . . . as we dream in our beds, before she returns home to be tucked in by her own celestial family. As in Wish (2008), Kleven's wispy art shows the world from the weaver's aerial perspective and features recognizable continents and diverse, joyful scenes of global cultures. Although its gentle, imaginative premise may render it somewhat esoteric in a day and age when the words dream weaver more commonly refer to computer software than a legend, this fanciful title offers an opportunity for children to settle down with a reassuring, positive message of comfort, security, and global connectedness. Preschool-Grade 2. --Andrew Medlar; Title: The Weaver | [
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12,382 | 2 | A rural family and its neighbor face potential disaster as a tornado heads for their homes in this suspenseful though ultimately reassuring picture book. Natt and Lucille enjoy a sultry summer day eating Popsicles and pretending to be royalty. As they dart through the yard, a serious storm kicks up and brings them indoors. When Mama spots an ominous funnel cloud in the distance, she sends Natt and Lucille racing out toward the storm cellar built into the yard while she heads next door to help Mr. Lyle take shelter. During the next several minutes, Natt and Lucille hunker alone in the dark, waiting for the storm to pass and afraid for Mama and Mr. Lyle's safety. Happily, the twister moves on, having caused minimal damage, and Natt and Lucille are quickly reunited with Mama. Beard (The Pumpkin Man from Piney Creek) gets all the details right: the sky turning the color of Mama's guacamole, an ominous silence followed by the "monstrous howling" of wind. In a style vastly different from her work in Loud Emily and closer to that in Lester's Dog, Carpenter's soft and hazy pastels capture all the colors of the changing sky. Her portraits of Natt and Lucille have an emotional pull, showing the kids' move from playful to fearful to thankful as the ordeal begins and ends. Ages 4-8. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.Kindergarten-Grade 3-In this vividly written story, Natt and Lucille learn that life can change with terrifying rapidity when, on a lovely summer day as they are playing outdoors, an onrushing tornado drives them into the storm cellar. After seeing them to safety, their mother goes to help an elderly neighbor seek shelter. Lucille tries to cheer Natt up with little games, but both children are frightened, especially when the storm screeches and tears at the cellar door. Suddenly all is quiet. The siblings emerge and find the sun shining once again and their mother and neighbor crawling out from underneath his porch. Despite the wreckage of an overturned truck, toppled trees, and sagging roofs, the children find joy in collecting sparkling hailstones and returning to their porch swing. Sweeping, expressive double-page spreads show them enjoying their play, then racing first to their mobile home as the sky is split by lightning and turns charcoal blue, and then, wind whipped, running to the cellar in the backyard where they sit, tense and terrified, in the dark until they can emerge into the sunlight to find the ground covered with ice diamonds and everyone safe.-Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Twister | [
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12,383 | 0 | With Walk the Dark Streets, author Edith Baer continues the story of the Bentheim family she began in A Frost in the Night. In this sequel, Baer, herself a survivor of the Holocaust, chronicles the life of Eva, a child of bourgeois Jewish parents in the fictional German town of Thalstadt during the early years of World War II. Eva slowly becomes aware of the Nazi threat as her family's rights and privileges are methodically and relentlessly taken away. Her father's bookstore is closed because he will not agree to carry Nazi propaganda, and her grandfather is no longer welcome in the neighborhood tavern where he only recently had been surrounded by friends. At school, Eva is banished to the back of the class and excused from "Aryan Folk and Race Science" lessons. Even as a romance begins to blossom between Eva and Arno, a talented young violin player, she is constantly reminded of Hitler's presence as her friends and extended family members desperately try to flee Germany. "Now it seemed hardly more than a dream that they had ever walked these streets with their arms around each other and with their ... childish hopes, the sun on their faces and death a stranger no one knew." Because of her father's lingering illness, Eva's parents wait until the last possible moment before sending their daughter out of the country alone with the hope that she will survive. Told as only a survivor could, Walk the Dark Streets is a compelling and valuable addition to Holocaust literature. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer HubertWith this haunting, painful sequel to her elegiac autobiographical novel A Frost in the Night (see Fiction Reprints below), Baer ushers her heroine, the German Jewish girl Eva Bentheim, through the rise of the Reich, from 1933 to 1940. Eva's age is not given: even as she is a distinct, lifelike character, she represents an innocence lost to her elders and to her country. As the novel begins, she emerges from a lengthy illness at the same time that Germany succumbs to Hitler. The climate steadily darkens: first some of her classmates show up in Hitler Youth uniforms; Social Democrat and Catholic teachers are fired; a friend's father, a journalist, is severely beaten. Restrictions multiply, but are lifted just as the 1936 Olympics invite the world's attention. Friends and relatives make plans to leave, at increasingly desperate costs (one of Eva's aunts, for example, marries a virtual stranger, because he is Dutch and can offer her a home in Holland). Eva's father can see what lies in store, but he is too ill to escapeAalthough he is offered sponsorship by an American citizen, he knows he will fail the physical at the consulate, and he and Eva's mother decide that Eva must leave by herself. Baer shows how the network of fear slowly tightensAhow apparently innocent acts, like walking down the street with a longtime friend, can suddenly become fatally dangerous. Readers who know the history will find the tension almost unbearable, especially in such passages as those describing the days before Kristallnacht. But virtually no reader will be able to turn away from this implacably paced, resoundingly authentic study in tragedy. Ages 12-up. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Walk the Dark Streets | [
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12,384 | 11 | Quick--name five noteworthy children in U.S. history. If you're like most, you probably stalled after Sacagawea and Pocahontas. Young people have always gotten short shrift when it comes to the record of American history. And yet, wouldn't the study of history be far more compelling to students if they could relate to figures their own age? Author Phillip Hoose believes so. He found that behind every major event in U.S. history were young people--brave, fearful, poor, rich, adventurous, clever, tragic, curious, and strong. We Were There, Too! examines the lives of dozens of youth who helped shape our nation: Nine months before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin did the very same thing. On one of Columbus's voyages to the New World, 56 (out of 99) crew members were 18 or younger. In 1814 two sisters from Massachusetts, Rebecca Bates, 19, and Abigail, 15, routed approaching British soldiers by playing "Yankee Doodle" on fife and drum. The British, believing an American army was congregating for an attack, turned and fled. And in contemporary times, 13-year-old Ryan White, infected with AIDS, stood up to a school district that wanted to prevent him from going to school, eating in the cafeteria, and having a normal life with his friends.Every story in this beautifully written volume is a heartening example of the spirit of young people. Each essay is accompanied by photos or illustrations, as well as sidebars with fascinating related tidbits of information. Readers of all ages will find a multitude of new heroes to respect and emulate. This is one history book that should be on every shelf. (Ages 10 and older) --Emilie CoulterHoose's (It's Our World, Too!) impressive survey places young people at the center of every event that shaped America, from 12-year-old Diego Bermdez who sailed with Christopher Columbus in 1492 to high school junior Claudette Colvin's refusal to give up her seat in 1955 Montgomery, Ala., nine months before Rosa Parks. The diverse contributions of these gutsy children and teens include 16-year-old Deborah Sampson, who masqueraded as Private Robert Shirtliffe and fought in the Revolutionary War, and 15-year-old Joe Nuxhall who, in the absence of many major league players-turned-soldiers, pitched for the Cincinnati Reds during WWII. Readers will appreciate the brief epilogues that explain what happened to each person in adulthood. For instance, Chuka, a nine-year-old Hopi Indian subjected to assimilation in white schools in 1899, "struggled to live in two worlds" throughout his life, and high school junior Peggy Eaton, who rode the rails in 1938, continued to live a life of adventure as a missionary and mountain climber. Informative sidebars provide additional, and sometimes humorous, historical asides to the biographical profiles (e.g., a story problem in a Confederate math book during the Civil War calculates the death toll of Yankees). Pictures, maps and prints help bring these stories to life, but it is the actions of these young people that will inspire readers to realize that they, too, can play a part in making America's history. Ages 10-up.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: We Were There, Too!: Young People in U.S. History | [
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12,385 | 0 | Gr. 5-8. Twelve-year-old Jamie Monaghan finds the war exciting until an incendiary bomb destroys his bedroom while he, his parents, and the neighbors are huddled in their makeshift bomb shelter. Now his parents no longer simply talk about sending him to safety away from Liverpool; his father makes arrangements for him to sail to Canada on the City of Benares. Based on the historical account of a German U-boat sinking that passenger liner, which was carrying 100 children from war-torn England, the story will provide middle-graders with another perspective on World War II. Heneghan subtly exposes the courage, trust, and utter desperation so many Europeans felt as they sought any safe place for their children, as well as the anger, confusion, fear, and courage of the children themselves. Universal yet ancillary issues of child abuse, poverty, and adolescent cruelty add contemporary authenticity to this historical novel. The sinking of the Benares comes late in the story, and the Liverpool dialect is prevalent; however, readers will find plenty of action, awe, and premonition to carry them to the exciting climax. Although other fiction for younger YAs, such as Michelle Magorian's Good Night, Mr. Tom (1982), addresses the deporting of English children to safety, this story humanizes what is otherwise just an interesting footnote to the history of World War II. Frances BradburnTo Jamie Monaghan, the only excitement in his life is trying to figure out his taciturn new classmate, Tom Bleeker, despite the fact that wartime Liverpool is preparing for German bombs. In fact, the year-old war sounds like fun to him, but when the bombs begin to fall, reality sets in. People's homes are destroyed, and lives are lost nightly. Jamie's parents send him off to Canada for the duration, finding him a place aboard the City of Benares. To Jamie's surprise, Bleeker is aboard also, along with his little sister, Elsie. The ship is torpedoed in mid-Atlantic and begins to sink rapidly. Bleeker saves the badly-injured Jamie and Elsie from going down with the doomed ship; they make it to a lifeboat but Elsie is washed overboard. Jumping into the raging water, Bleeker rescues his sister before he is swept away. Even Jamie, knowing of Bleeker's tenaciousness (an early school scene sets the stage for Bleeker's later courage), believes him dead. In the development of several strong characters Heneghan's writing really shines, particularly in the friendship that emerges between Bleeker and Jamie. It's a great adventure tale that would be exciting enough if it weren't also based on the real sinking of the City of Benares during WW II--an author's note presents the facts. A fine work of historical fiction. (Fiction. 12+) -- Copyright 1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.; Title: Wish Me Luck | [
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12,386 | 7 | Gr 9 UpA romantic's romance novel, this second volume in Rutkoski's saga picks up where The Winner's Curse (2013) ended. Kestrel, a member of the Valorian ruling class, is engaged and will one day rule the empire. Meanwhile, Arin, Kestrel's former slave, is the leader of the Herrani people, and his subjects are starving thanks to the emperor's taxes. Kestrel is torn between her need to help Arin and her loyalty to her father, a general in the imperial army. Arin, in turn, is unraveled by his uncertainties: Is the woman he loves a power-hungry liar, or is she the spy who is supplying treasonous information that might just help him save his people? Some of Arin and Kestrel's misunderstandings and missed opportunities are more histrionic than wildly romantic, and though the plot is saturated with sword fights, subterfuge, and glittering parties, it isn't suspenseful as the previous entry. Poetic passages demonstrate the depth of Rutkoski's research and talent. "It suddenly seemed that Kestrel had been an empty room, and that all of her wishes came crowding in. They thronged: delicate, full-skirted, their silk brushing up against each other." The ending finds the protagonists again divided and facing life-threatening dilemmas, each thinking of the other. The last sentence resonates so strongly that it might just be enough to sustain fans until the first line of the final volume.Chelsey Philpot, Boston University, MAThe cliffhanger ending of this second installment guarantees an anxious audience for the arrival of the third book. BCCBRutkoski's well-written prose is sumptuous . . . The shocking ending will leave readers hungry for the sequel. VOYAThe Winner's Crime teeters on a knife-sharp edge between devastatingly romantic one moment and simply devastating the next. Marie Rutkoski has captivated me with her world of mind games, power struggles, and espionage, and left me positively desperate to see how Kestrel and Arin's story will play out. Marissa Meyer, New York Times-bestselling author of the Lunar Chronicles seriesBrilliant plotting and absolutely gorgeous writing combine to make The Winner's Crime a standout, but it is the complex, deeply layered characters with their gut wrenching dilemmas and impossible choices that cracked my heart wide open. It left me breathless and craving more--I don't know how I will be able to wait for the final book. A truly unforgettable read! Robin LaFevers, New York Timesbestselling author of Grave Mercy and Dark TriumphThe twisty plot is a cleverly constructed puzzle box of intrigue and deceit, couched in graceful prose that shifts from restrained to voluptuous. The diversity both between and within the various cultures suggests a richly detailed world; yet as the fate of peoples, kingdoms and empires hangs in the balance, the conflict plays out at the most intimate personal level in the reluctant, dangerous, impossible attraction between Kestrel and Arin . . . As positions harden and blood is shed, their destruction at each other's hands looms ever more certain; but a desperate hope that somehow disaster can be averted propels readers to the final devastating page, leaving only the excruciating wait for the sequel. Enthralling, agonizing and incandescent. Starred review/Kirkus Reviews; Title: The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy) | [
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12,387 | 2 | Hilmo creates afamily, a town and a mystery thatreaders will not soon forget...A story aboutthe meaning of home, justice and love, beautifully told. Kirkus Reviews, starred; Title: With a Name like Love | [
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12,388 | 2 | A British team uses a train ride as a metaphor to describe the transition from waking to sleeping in this luxurious picture book. Despite the encouragement of the other passengersAdescribed in a locomotive rhythm ("teachers and jugglers, zookeepers, shopkeepers, writers and fighters, with babies in bundles and piglets in baskets")A"wide-awake William" shows no inclination to drift off. In Jay's (Picture This...) soothing illustrations, bathed in muted earth tones of soft terra cottas and moss greens, William and the other children create mild chaos. The hero runs from the freight car (where circus animals slumber) to the sleeping car (in which feathers fall like snowflakes from the children's pillow fight) to the caboose, until finally his mother cuddles him close and he falls asleep. Kelly's poetic text unspools in a seamless strand, twining scrumptious rhymes (the train's engine "filling the world with billows of steam,/ soft see-through clouds that turn into dreams") with nimble wordplay (William "squirms like a worm"; the train goes "lickety-split, helter-skelter, quick as a streak"). Jay exploits the train metaphor fully, including an engineer in pajamas and nightcap, a recurring sheep motif and a spread of the cars depicted as beds laid end to end, with the train's contents laid out horizontally. Book a ticket for this fanciful ride to dreamland. Ages 3-6. (Mar.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreS-K-Like many children when it comes to bedtime, William is wide-awake. A night train functions as the story's metaphor for sleep. The child and his mother are shown boarding a train alongside a whimsical array of people and animals. Its destination is tomorrow and for William it can't arrive fast enough. This energetic youngster disturbs the slumber of the tired conductor and a variety of other passengers with his kinetic energy. The locomotive, of course, doesn't depart until William's mother convinces him that shutting his eyes is the best way to hasten tomorrow's arrival. Only then does the train begin its nocturnal journey toward the dawn of a new day. More imaginative uses of this motif include Chris Van Allsburg's The Polar Express (Houghton, 1985) and Paul Fleischman's Time Train (HarperCollins, 1994). Additionally, the text is marred by an inconsistent rhyme scheme. Anemic storytelling does a disservice to the innovative illustrations that feature delightfully elongated characters placed in layouts that creatively mirror the external shapes, interior spaces, and movement of the train. It's a pity that the lovely flowing visuals aren't accompanied by an equally smooth narrative.-Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CACopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: William and the Night Train | [
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12,389 | 0 | PreSchool-Grade 1A spirited young girl, accompanied by her shaggy dog, describes how she plants some seeds, cares for them, and then enjoys the flowers and trees that make the "whole round world" beautiful. Each verse details a particular action and ends with a refrain that evokes the title: "I've got a little water can./(Skinny, tinny water can.)/Got a little water can/to wet the whole round world." The narrator stays very busy tending to her plants, spreading happiness along the way, and enjoying a final dance through green environs. Johnston's repetitive language is playful and reads aloud smoothly. Done in a variety of mediums, the full-page folk-art paintings are filled to the brim with people, animals, bugs, and blooms. Even the pages with text have illustrations in a circle around the words. Kids could spend hours just looking at everything in the pictures. The bright colors and rhythmic language also make this a good choice for units that celebrate nature.Bethany L. W. Hankinson, Miller Elementary School, Newark, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: The Whole Green World | [
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12,390 | 2 | Nature and civilization collide in this thought-provoking picture book based on the story of a boy discovered living alone in the mountain forests of southern France in 1800. Hunters are first to see the boy scampering in the woods, where he had survived on plants and berries and the icy mountain-stream water. Captured, the boy is later brought to Paris's Institute for Deaf-Mutes, where experts test and examine him, and finally determine that he is "hopeless." Happily, one doctor thinks otherwise and welcomes the boy into his home, teaching him skills and caring for him. "He will never learn to speak," the doctor eventually realizes. "He was alone in the silent woods too long. But he has learned to have feelings, and they can be hurt." Gerstein's (The Story of May) detailed and informative text clearly reflects a wealth of research; he is simultaneously publishing a novel, Victor, on the same subject (reviewed below). The smoothly paced writing sustains a mysterious and sometimes melancholy tone, in keeping with its subject matter. In loose-lined panel illustrations, Gerstein conveys an arc of emotions. He depicts the unrestrained joy of the boy cavorting nude in his natural surroundings, while scenes of capture are suitably darkened. Ultimately, the boy's home life in Paris appears warm and bright. Young readers will be fascinated, perhaps even spurred to further investigate the facts behind the story. Ages 5-up. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 1-4-In 1800, a preadolescent boy was found wandering in the forests near Saint-Sernin in southern France. This "feral" or wild child, who had somehow survived without human contact for years, became the object of intense study by French experts who labeled him as hopelessly retarded when they failed to communicate with him. However, a young doctor named Jean-Marc Itard was intrigued by the boy and took him into his home where they worked together for several years. Itard's careful observations and sensitive teaching allowed Victor, as he was named, to learn something of civilized life, although he never learned to talk. Gerstein has built The Wild Boy around these details and imagined Victor's life with great sympathy. The illustrations, executed in textured paint strokes and rough, crosshatched lines, evoke the untamed freedom of a child who lives purely for himself. The page design heightens the emotional tension and moves the story forward. Bright colors convey Victor's joyous connection to his natural world while a darker palette shows him in captivity. Softer hues portray the warmth of the Itard household but the overall blue tones evoke Victor's lost innocence and the human potential that was never realized. Children will be fascinated with this true-life survival tale and intrigued by the human need for socialization and interaction.Barbara Kiefer, Teachers College, Columbia University, NYCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Wild Boy | [
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12,391 | 2 | Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 1This delightful twist on the frequently explored topic of pets displaced by infants will tickle children's funny bones. The story is told from the points of view of the descriptively named Marshmallow and FudgeFudge. This doggie duo dislikes the intruder in their home, whom they refer to as "that new animal." While their people once used to dote on them, they now devote precious play and belly-scratching time to that funny-smelling newborn. When their humans even dare to scold the two for whining and barking, FudgeFudge comes up with a number of solutions to get rid of the newcomer. She suggests eating it, burying it with their bones, and lying on top of it, but settles for chewing up a few books and dolls. Tired of being the pair's more mature voice of reason, Marshmallow expresses his displeasure by peeing on the carpet. A visit from Grandpa puts matters in a new light as the suddenly protective dogs reason that "It is our new animal to hate as much as we want to," but Grandpa better not try to pick up the baby. Both the author and illustrator demonstrate wonderful insight into pet psychology and family dynamics, and the elongated style of the vibrantly colored artwork strikes just the right note of humor and whimsy.Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CAPreS-K. That new animal the dogs Marshmallow and FudgeFudge smell is the baby. They are not impressed. He can't bark or roll over, and they resent the fact that he fascinates their owners. Rather alarmingly, FudgeFudge suggests they bite the baby, but Marshmallow puts his paw down. To show his displeasure, however, FudgeFudge pees on the carpet. From this unfortunate beginning, a new relationship arises. Eventually, the baby gets older, and learns to toss a stick, say "da" for "dog," and loses the new animal smell. The new baby scenario gets an amusing twist as the elementally shaped dogs take on the roles often assigned to older siblings. The displaced dogs say some things that might raise eyebrows: FudgeFudge wants to bury the baby like a bone. Fortunately, there's enough humor in the artwork to soften what might rub the wrong way. The characters have the look of carved figures, and none are conventionally attractive--not even the baby. The art complements the text's -ironic tone, which may go over the heads of young preschoolers. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: That New Animal | [
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12,392 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2When Adle meets her younger brother after school, she cautions him not to lose anything on the way home. The children take a leisurely route, visiting friends, a street market, a park, and two museums. Predictably, Simon leaves an item (his drawing, hat, knapsack, glove) behind at each location. Set in Paris during the early 20th century, this simple story is the basis for some remarkable illustrations. McClintock's pen-and-ink with watercolor technique has the feel of illustrated children's books from that period. The retro effect is accented by an old-fashioned typeface, creamy paper, and wide borders around the spreads. The children's route is traced on the endpapersa map of Paris from 1907. Each stop is based on a real place, some immediately recognizable, such as the Louvre and Notre-Dame. McClintock's research is described in wonderfully detailed endnotes. For example, in the picture of the bustling street market, the groupings of people are based on works by Honor Daumier and Eugne Atget. In the Louvre, Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt help Simon find his crayons. Readers will enjoy the visual game of hide-and-seek; the more they look, the more they can find. A beautiful example of bookmaking, with plenty to charm children, this is a visual delight.Robin L. Gibson, Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* K-Gr. 3. "Please try not to lose anything today," Adele implores her little brother, Simon, as they begin their walk home from school. She might as well have asked the sun not to rise in the East, for at each stop along the way Simon loses something: first a drawing he had made, then his books, then one of his gloves. And so it goes until the children finally arrive at home, where Mama discovers that Simon has lost everything ! But who can blame him? After all, the setting is Paris in the early twentieth century, and there are simply so many wonderful distractions en route that it's a miracle the children make it home at all. As for young listeners, they'll want to peruse the endpaper maps (by Baedeker) to follow the children's peregrinations through the busy City of Light and linger over McClintock's meticulous double-page depictions of Parisian neighborhoods and landmarks, identified in charming, informative endnotes. McClintock's beautifully restrained use of color may evoke a long-ago time, but her compositions are so dynamic that there's always something for contemporary children to discover. Michael CartCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Adle & Simon (Adele & Simon) | [
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12,393 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 1–Nellie, a stray cat, wishes on a star for a warm home and good food. A crow, wanting to have some fun at her expense, gives her a ball and tells her that it is a magic star that will make her wishes come true. As Nellie wishes on the ball, it rockets away with her chasing after it. It leads her through a river, past a dog, and to a faraway town where she meets a crocodile named Ernst who takes her home, feeds her, and becomes her friend. The text is written in a choppy manner, lacking the flow of a well-developed story. It is, however, enhanced by the vivid watercolor, ink, and cut-paper illustrations that lend warmth to the story. The small details in them will be especially intriguing to young readers.–Rebecca Sheridan, Easttown Library & Information Center, Berwyn, PA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-K. It begins with a wish. Nellie, a tawny kitten who lives in a box decorated with peaches, wishes for a warm house full of food. She wishes on a star, and then wishes that the star really is the type that makes wishes come true. A devilish crow overhears her and paints a star on a ball. He tells her that it is her star fallen to earth and if she can catch it, her wishes will come true. Then he tosses it. The cat chases it through field and town, until it bounces into the yard of Ernst, a young crocodile. The kitty shares the news of the ball-star, and Ernst makes his own wishes. At first it seems the animals have no luck; then it seems certain their wishes have come true. And the crow? When he learns the wishing ball really works, he chases it up to the sky, where the duo has sent it. Immensely satisfying, the story is brought visually to life by Kleven's naif artwork, which employs watercolors and bits of collage to make crowded, cozy pictures--with a needy, determined, darling kitty right in the middle of it all. Ilene CooperCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Wishing Ball | [
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12,394 | 16 | PreSchool-Grade 1A small mouse almost gets away with stealing a large platter of delicacies laid out for a party, but at the last moment a watchful cat springs into action. The whole tray overturns on top of the feline, flattening him, while the mouse scampers safely back to his hole with a big slice of Swiss cheese. Interwoven into the text is a countdown of the morsels from the table, e.g., 1 piece of cheese, 2 plump plums, etc. Told in a minimum of words, the story is funny and clever, with plenty of action in the lively watercolor drawings. It should satisfy even the youngest listeners, while appealing to older preschoolers as well.Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY; Title: Mouse Went Out to Get a Snack | [
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12,395 | 7 | As 17-year-old Kestrel comes to know Arin, the Herrani slave she purchased on a whim, she puts both herself and him at risk. Arin, 19, also finds himself falling for this daughter of the Valorian general who conquered his homeland. A Herrani uprising briefly reverses their roles of owner and slave until the Valorian empire prevails, and a last-minute compromise by Kestrel may save Arins lifebut it will make it impossible for them to be together. A refreshing change from supernatural and problem novels, this fantasy is pure romance (not sex) elevated above genre stereotypes by a talented author who understands pacing and satisfaction. Full-bodied characters explore issues of loyalty, class, and values (for example, arts versus military strengths), without sacrificing any of the relationship-related tension that is a hallmark of this kind of story. A tasty twist of an ending virtually locks readers in for subsequent entries in the series. Fans may want to revisit this one while they wait for future books; maybe get more than one copy? Grades 8-11. --Cindy Welch*[A] spellbinding first book in a trilogy about a pair of star-crossed lovers in a society marred by class warfare....Like any epic page-turner worth its salt, Rutkoski's richly imagined world is full of dynamic repartee, gruesome battle scenes, and shifting alliances. A high-stakes cliffhanger will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next book. Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW*Rich characterization, exquisite worldbuilding and rock-solid storytelling make this a fantasy of unusual intelligence and depth...Precise details and elegant prose make this world fresh and vivid. The intricate and suspenseful plot, filled with politics, intrigue and even graphic violence, features neither heroes nor villains; every character displays a complex mixture of talents, flaws and motives...Breathtaking, tragic and true. Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW*A forbidden romance. The romance is heartstoppingly lovely and admittedly steamy . . . but the raising of stakes and the reluctance of the couple to give up their respective cause, even as they confess their love for each other, lends their relationship a complexity not often seen in the genre . . . A last-minute compromise between the lovers secures a sequel, and fans of Kristin Cashore and Robin Lefevers will be pleased to have a new romance to follow. BCCB, STARRED REVIEWEvery line in The Winner's Curse is beautifully written. The story is masterfully plotted. The characters' dilemmas fascinated me and tore at my heart. This book gave me a rare and special reading experience: I never knew what was going to happen next. I loved it. I want more. Kristin Cashore, New York Times bestselling author of the Graceling Realm booksThe Winner's Curse is breathtaking, a lyrical triumph in YA fantasy. Marie Rutkoski writes with tremendous power and has created an epic of fearless beauty. This book should not be missed. Ann Aguirre, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of the Razorland trilogyThe Winner's Curse is magnificent. Gorgeous writing graces every page, and the story of Kestrel and Arin unfolds with all the complexity and beauty of a sonata. I was completely transfixed by them and their world. Sarah Beth Durst, author of Conjured; Title: The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy) | [
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12,396 | 0 | A nattily clad cast of petite pioneers, with the compressed, spool-shaped bodies and outsized heads characteristic of Gerrard's work, gambols across the wry spreads of this verse adventure about an 1850 wagon trip to the West. When Buckskin Dan rides into town praising the riches of the frontier, recalls the amiable narrator, "The idea of Oregon so appealed to everyone/ That without a hitch we made the perfect plan:/ We would form a wagon train, and were lucky to retain/ As our trusty guide and leader Buckskin Dan." Along the way, the group survives inclement weather on the plains, dances during a stopover at Fort Laramie, befriends a lost Arapaho child, bests cattle thieves and builds rafts to carry the wagons down the mighty Columbia River. While the rhyme and rhythm flounder periodically, for the most part Gerrard's (Croco'nile) buoyant poem rolls easily off the tongue. But it's the art that gives this volume its flavor: the stylized characters indicate not so much an artistic idiosyncrasy as a fully realized imaginative vision just waiting to be shared with the reader. Ages 4-8. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 2-4?Gerrard returns to the frontier setting of Rosie and the Rustlers (Farrar, 1989) to tell this story in verse of a wagon train's journey west. Buckskin Dan leads a young protagonist and her family and neighbors over rough terrain and through deep rivers until they reach "...Oregon at last, with all hazards safely past." In one turn of events, the convoy rescues an Arapaho child and is aided by the tribe when confronted by cattle bandits. The rich, dramatic scenes are rendered in earth-toned watercolors and peopled by the artist's familiar stocky caricatures wearing large hats. At first glance, the ABCB rhyme scheme (with internal rhymes in A & C) is occasionally distracting; some lines have an extra syllable or two, forcing readers to backtrack. By the second reading, immersion in the pattern yields the necessary adjustment for a smoother result that exposes the offbeat humor. The author's fans will not be disappointed. A good read-aloud choice to use in conjunction with Dorothy Hinshaw Patent's West by Covered Wagon (Walker, 1995) to compare fiction and reality.?Wendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PACopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Wagons West! | [
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12,397 | 2 | Journalist Ferreira's somewhat awkward yet timely first novel centers on 11-year-old Vusi Ngugu, who lives with his extended Zulu family in post-apartheid South Africa. His kin's subsistence lifestyle contrasts dramatically with the privileged existence of the nearby white farmers. One day, Vusi, accompanied by Gillette, the dog he has adopted, ventures onto the land owned by one of the white farmers, "to prove to himself that he is not scared." There he meets 12-year-old Shirley, the farmer's daughter, and the two bond immediately, despite the fact that neither speaks the other's language. The strongest passages center on Vusi and his family, especially Vusi's discovery of Gillette as a pup and their blossoming relationship. Except for a progressive-thinking farmer, Robert Rudolph, many of the sections focusing on white characters become stilted (e.g., "When Shirley gets home that day, she is torn between excitement at the encounter [with Vusi], the fun they had communicating across the language barrier, and trepidation at what her parents would say about a black stranger trespassing on the farm"). Rather forced dialogue from Shirley's father and some of his cronies underscores their bigotry. But the narrative also reveals the economic, social and cultural ramifications of the democratic government under Mandela. Even with the rather heavy-handed message, likable Vusi's coming-of-age tale delivers some affecting scenes and, for readers unfamiliar with South African politics, some eye-opening realities. Ages 10-up.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 4-6-The setting for this story of a boy and his love for his dog is newly independent South Africa with all of its racial prejudice and poverty. Vusi, 11, needs a friend and finds two most unlikely ones-a three-legged dog he names Gillette because his sharp teeth remind him of his father's razor, and Shirley Montgomery, a white girl. Vusi comes from a very poor black family, and his mother makes it clear that there is no spare food for a dog, so he hides his pet. When Shirley runs away to protest her parents' decision to send her to boarding school, all of the neighbors search for her, but it is the dog that finds her, injured and frightened. In somewhat of a fairy-tale ending, Shirley's previously racist father now accepts her black friend, employs the boy's parents, and allows the family to live on his land. Shirley is allowed to remain at home, and the much-needed rains finally come. Still, Ferreira presents an authentic picture of the chasm between the haves and the have-nots. Contrivances aside, readers will enjoy the exciting adventure as Vusi goes on his first hunt with Gillette, a rite of passage in his culture.Dorothy N. Bowen, Eastern Kentucky University, RichmondCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Zulu Dog | [
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12,398 | 2 | Themes of accepting change and learning to let go are woven into this winning tale of boy and dog. School Library JournalSturdily conveyed, the lessons are telegraphed on each pageit stand out are the deftly folded-in gun lessons and easy acceptance of the way of life they accompany. Kirkus ReviewsCynthia DeFelice is the author of many bestselling books for young readers, including The Ghost of Fossil Glen, Signal, The Missing Manatee, and Weasel. Her books have been nominated for an Edgar Allen Poe Award and listed as American Library Association Notable Children's Books and Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year, among numerous other honors. She lives in upstate New York.; Title: Wild Life | [
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12,399 | 1 | PreS-Gr 1Elephant is worried. It shows in his eyes. He has accidentally sucked up all the words in Gracie's favorite book. When he presents the blank-paged book to his friends, they don't know what to do. Instead of making words, Seal spins the letters around his nose, Monkey throws them around, and Alligator eats them. There are some tense moments when Gracie sees Elephant sitting on her lost book, so she pulls on his trunk and tickles it, and a big sneeze produces all the missing words. Pearson's humorous illustrations are drawn with a loose flowing line. An overlay of light watercolors brings to life Elephant's expressive face. Endpapers show him making the letters of the alphabet with this body. A lighthearted picture book for storytimes about friendship, cooperation, or books.Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.First, lets talk about the fantastic endpapers, where Elephant, star of the show, contorts himself adorably into the shape of each letter of the alphabet, using his trunk to great advantage. Then, the story begins with the line, The day Gracie loses her favorite book, Elephant finds it. Elephant sniffs the red hardcover, but his sniffing powers are so developed that the words written inside the book get sucked right up his trunk. When he sneezes, you know what that means: letters spewed everywhere. Elephant cant put the letters back into words, and so he asks for help. But Alligator wants to eat the letters, Seal wants to spin them like a ball, and the monkeys want to toss them around. Eventually, Elephant gives up and faces a difficult question from Gracie: Where are my words? With a little teamwork, Gracie and new pal Elephant set things straight. Pearsons art is the real winner here, as a loosely outlined, gray watercolor elephant with great facial expressions cavorts gigantically across the pages. A good choice for the smallest book lovers. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ann Kelley; Title: Elephant's Story: A Picture Book | [
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