node_id int64 0 76.9k | label int64 0 39 | text stringlengths 13 124k | neighbors listlengths 0 3.32k | mask stringclasses 4
values |
|---|---|---|---|---|
16,200 | 13 | Inspired by their elder's artwork, Little Bear and friends want to paint pictures, too, but when they can't decide on a subject, they agree to paint patterns instead in Old Bear's Surprise Painting by Jane Hissey. Fifteen years after the appearance of Old Bear, the titular teddy comes to the rescue when he combines his friends' efforts into an "all-together painting."Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.reS-Gr 1-Old Bear and his friends are back to introduce colors, patterns, and teamwork. Inspired by their old friend's painting of Little Bear, all of the stuffed animals insist on creating a unique pattern in paints, but their creative endeavors don't turn out as they had hoped. Waves, stripes, blobs, and dots decorate both canvases and characters. Sympathetic to the artistic disappointment of his pals, Old Bear surprises the assembly by using pieces of all their works to create a merry collage sailboat. The group effort offers opportunity to review which critter contributed which colors and shapes. Hissey combines endearing creatures with constructive learning in this short story.Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VACopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Old Bear's Surprise Painting | [
5113,
15916,
15921,
26433,
73043,
73044
] | Train |
16,201 | 0 | Verla Kay lives in Tekoa, Washington. Larry Day lives in Oak Park, Illinois.; Title: Civil War Drummer Boy | [
63172
] | Train |
16,202 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 3This funny story is told through an amusing exchange of notes, as Alex tries to convince his seemingly unshakable mother that he should be allowed to adopt a friend's baby iguana ("If I don't take it, he goes to Stinky and Stinky's dog, Lurch, will eat it. You don't want that to happen, do you?"). The boy pulls out all the stops in his arguments: iguanas are quiet (so are tarantulas, Mom counters); the reptile could be kept on the dresser (they grow to over six feet, Mom replies); the iguana could be the brother he's always wanted (you already have a brother, Mom reminds him). Featuring his signature cartoon characters, Catrow's illustrations provide a hilarious extension of the text. Alex, with his unruly red cowlicks and kewpie-doll shape, is totally disarming, as is the iguana, which makes imaginative appearances strumming a guitar on a bike, sporting tiny swim trunks, and reading in bed. The tale is perfect for reader's-theater presentations and could also be used effectively as a writing prompt for older children. It will make even the most serious youngsters giggle.Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Karen Kaufman Orloff is the author of many books for children includingI Wanna Iguana,I Wanna New Room, andI Wanna Go Home, all inspired by her son's pet iguana who quickly grew to be over four feet long and take over his room. She also writes a humorous column on family life every other week for The Poughkeepsie Journal. David Catrow is the illustrator of many picture books including Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon and its sequel Have Fun, Molly Lou Melon, written by Patty Lovell; I Wanna Iguana and its two companion books I Wanna New Room and I Wanna Go Home, written by Karen Kaufman Orloff; Our Tree Named Steve by Alan Zweibel; The Middle Child Blues by Kristyn Crow; and We the Kids: the Preamble to the Constitution. He lives in Ohio with his wife, Deborah.; Title: I Wanna Iguana | [
4625,
4671,
5413,
6086,
6150,
6247,
6305,
7127,
7369,
7640,
10983,
10989,
12426,
14548,
15364,
15393,
15396,
15600,
16061,
16147,
16447,
16454,
16726,
17149,
17713,
21826,
21827,
23881,
23893,
24247,
25368,
26995,
27246,
27265,
27383,
31862,
31... | Validation |
16,203 | 2 | Grade 8-10In this poignant, stand-alone sequel to the wrenching romance, If You Come Softly (Putnam, 1998), Woodson's characters are dealing with grief and picking up the pieces of their lives after the death of 15-year-old Jeremiah (Miah) Roselind. The impact of their loss is revealed through the alternating voices of his white girlfriend, Ellie; basketball teammate, Kennedy; childhood friend, Carlton; and his separated parents. As a year passes and these characters take "a step deeper into their world.... The world they're learning to live in without you," Miah's spiritual voice searches for a final, parting moment to whisper that they are loved so that they can move on into their own futures. With tenderness and compassion, the author exposes the characters' vulnerabilities and offers the hope that they will emerge and grow from this tragic loss. Although the voices are distinct, a quiet, reflective tone pervades the story. Interestingly, each character opens up and changes in some way except Ellie's parents, who espouse liberal views but never accepted their daughter's African-American boyfriend or his friends. Readers who savor tough reality stories as much as happy endings will appreciate this thought-provoking, satisfying novel that offers hope but no easy answers.Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 7-12. "Even if you turn your back on the world you left, you're still pulled toward it, you're still turning around--always--to look behind you. To make sure everyone's o.k.," says teenage Jeremiah, who first appeared in Woodson's If You Come Softly (1998). In this moving sequel, Jeremiah is dead, killed by New York City police bullets. Like the main character in Gary Soto's Afterlife (2003), Jeremiah watches over the people he has left behind--his girlfriend, Ellie; his friends; his divorced parents--as each struggles through grief and tries to "keep doing what the living do," ultimately finding new connections with one another and themselves. Softly alternates between Jeremiah and Ellie's voices. Here Woodson includes the first-person perspectives of several other characters, and with so many different voices, the narrative becomes crowded, diluting each character's story. Still, Woodson writes with impressive poetry about race, love, death, and what grief feels like--the things that "snap the heart"--and her characters' open strength and wary optimism will resonate with many teens. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Behind You | [
6460,
6480,
6551,
6592,
6837,
6894,
6905,
8630,
16061,
16162,
16172,
16344,
16347,
17050,
21391,
21637,
22834,
29022,
34739,
34740,
45869
] | Train |
16,204 | 0 | PreSchool-Grade 1-A winsome collection of 60 nursery rhymes and a few riddles. Most of the selections are commonly known, but an interesting sprinkling is less familiar. What will capture readers' attention is the format. Alternating spreads present six rhymes with accompanying spot art. The following double-page painting shows a bustling land- or streetscape, which children will pore over as they search for the characters introduced on the previous page. Moses's bucolic scenes are filled with picturesque cottages, meandering streams, cobblestone streets, and, of course, the occasional castle. Each detailed oil painting depicts a miniature antique world peopled with nursery-rhyme characters and a few from nursery tales (e.g., the three pigs). The paintings, done in the artist's recognizable folk-art style, sparkle with color and humor (the three little kittens' cottage has a "no dogs" sign at the gate). As Moses states in his introduction, most children who have heard the Mother Goose rhymes can envision the illustrations years later. Those lucky enough to read this collection will long remember the quaint world he creates. Back matter includes an editors' note on Mother Goose, a brief bibliography, and an index of first lines.Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Old Greenwich, CTCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreS-Gr. 1. Everything old is new again in this attractive, fresh presentation of very old friends such as Humpty Dumpty, Mary (quite contrary), and Little Bo-Peep, put together by great-grandson of Grandma Moses. Double-page spreads showcasing six of the familiar verses, each illustrated by a small picture, are followed by double-page full-bleed illustrations with no text. Children will enjoy finding the small vignettes in the bigger context of the old-fashioned, fun spreads. Moses paints in oils on Fabriano paper, which makes for enamel-like color and beautiful texture. A tiny red apple is a leitmotif on page numbers. An index of first lines and an editor's note are among appended materials. Parents who may not have thought much about who lived in that shoe before the Old Woman will enjoy the brief "Just Who Was Mother Goose?" bibliography. GraceAnne DeCandidoCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Will Moses' Mother Goose | [
16041,
16246,
16255,
16403
] | Train |
16,205 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2-A variation on the theme of the author and illustrator's 39 Uses for a Friend (Putnam, 2001), this title free-associates about the multifaceted utility of mothers. This book presents an engaging multicultural cast of maternal units and their offspring going about their daily activities with warmth and good humor. The cartoon, ink-outlined characters are presented on pages featuring lots of white space. The winsome quality of the color illustrations greatly amplifies what would otherwise amount to just a list, albeit amusing, of maternal roles ("3. hairstylist-. 12. beach chair-"). Although this is not a necessary purchase, it is good fun and makes an especially nice companion to the first book.Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreS-K. Use for Mom number 1: standing at the open front door, hands on hips, school bus waiting at the curb--Mom as a clock. Number 2 is Mom acting as chauffeur. Numbers 7, 8, and 9, on a double-page spread, show Mom pitching, catching, and retrieving a baseball. Bottle opener, number 13, is among Mom's more mundane uses; page-turner and friend, numbers 30 and 31, reveal more personal aspects of her job description. The simple illustrations tell the story; their ink lines and flat colors are like kids' own art, and the numbers and single-word descriptions comprising the text mimic children's printing of numbers and words. Dedicated to "all moms and substitute moms," this book sings of the small, daily, often unnoticed things mothers do for their kids. Ellen MandelCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: 31 Uses For A Mom | [
16307,
64495,
64934,
65073,
65122
] | Train |
16,206 | 2 | "A sweet, imaginative father-son adventure...Darling and genuine." -Kirkus ReviewsWhat could have been a boring afternoon at home turns into an adventure for Jimmy and his dad. Their couch turns into a boat! The staircase becomes a mountain! And blankets become a cozy hut, just right to cuddle inside. The one thing they don't have to pretend is how much they love one another.; Title: Pretend | [
15735,
15812,
23795,
25646,
29293,
36518
] | Test |
16,207 | 16 | ...readers will be anxious to climb back on Mr. Choo-Choo for another energetic ride... this [book] is worth the trip. -- School Library JournalChildren will happily clap along to the steady beat, and younger trainiacs will clamor for repeat ride-ride-rides. -- KirkusYumi Heo lives in White Plains, New York.; Title: Hey, Mr. Choo-Choo, Where Are You Going? | [
8222
] | Train |
16,208 | 13 | Starred Review. Grade 14This lovely picture-book biography of the noted musicologist describes his youth in Texas where he enjoyed singing as he worked on the family ranch and he listened to cowboys singing as they traveled the old Chisholm Trail. Lomas taught for a few years, but his passionate interest in music won out and led him to become an extraordinary collector of folk songs. Beautiful ink and watercolor illustrations radiate warmth, charm, and humor, highlighting expressive features and striking individuality. The handsome artwork is full of energy and authenticity, and includes faithful and appealing renditions of animals and bucolic landscapes. Excerpts from some songs appear prominently. Addendum material includes additional details about Lomax, his family, and their legacy; information about the Library of Congress archival collection of songs; and a list of other sources.Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.This picture book traces the earlylife of John Avery Lomax (18671948), whose childhood love of cowboy songs led to a career collecting and recording Americas folk songs. His discovery of the now-familiar Home on the Range is featured on two double-page spreads, but the book covers much more ground than that. Nicely written for a young audience, it portrays Lomax growing up on a Texas farm, attending two universities, and traveling about the country as a young man with an unusual calling: song hunting.Throughout the book, appealing line-and-wash illustrations depict believably quirky individuals within nicely composed settings. The landscapes are particularly fine. In the appended authors note, Hopkinson calls the book historical fiction based closely on the life of John Avery Lomax, but its unclear what parts are fictional. The book concludes with a note on sources and a brief bibliography. Grades 1-3. --Carolyn Phelan; Title: Home on the Range: John A. Lomax and His Cowboy Songs | [] | Validation |
16,209 | 0 | Verla Kay is a native Californian who grew up in the sleepy little town of Watsonville. Located right next to the surfing town of Santa Cruz, it nestles between San Francisco and Monterey Bays and enjoys some of the most beautiful scenery and weather in the world. She now resides in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains with her husband, one cat, one bird, and one son.With a crop duster father and a stay-at-home domestic mother, one older sister and one younger brother, Verla's early life seemed ideal - and in many ways it was. But Verla had a hard time making friends and spent most of her younger years as a very lonely child. She spent many hours reading books and daydreaming about friends and love and the happiness that she prayed would someday be hers.That happiness came to her when she met her future husband, Terry. It was love at first sight for both of them and after a rocky courtship, they were married on Easter Sunday the spring following their graduation from high school.For the first fifteen years, their marriage was anything but ideal, but through sheer stubborness and determination, they made a success of it and their marriage survived despite many loud arguments and frequent broken pottery. During this time, they had four children - three boys and one girl.Verla worked off and on, to help make ends meet. But her primary goal was to stay at home and take care of her children, so most of the time the jobs she took were temporary ones and some of them were quite interesting.She tried picking chives in the fields, but that job only lasted two weeks. The decision to stay at home and care for her children herself was made very quickly after she discovered that her first paycheck was less than what she owed to her babysitter!One of the most fun and profitable jobs Verla ever had was when she worked for a party plan selling toys and gifts at home parties. This was a job that she could do while staying at home with her children and she earned hundreds of free toys and gifts for her family and seven free trips to exotic places around the world on her group sales as a District Manager with this company.As a result, she and her husband, Terry, have been to Bogota, Columbia and Rio de Janerio, Brazil in South America. Verla went alone to Israel and both of them toured Portugal in Europe. They enjoyed Hawaii and a cruise to Alaska together. The last trip she earned was to Greece and due to a severe case of bronchitis, she could not go, so she sent Terry without her. He says that cruising the Greek Isles with 600 women while his wife was at home was a wonderful experience - and Verla tends to believe him!Becoming A WriterIt wasn't until Terry and Verla had moved their family to Nevada and purchased a laundromat in Carson City, that she found herself thinking about becoming a writer. One of their regular customers was a woman who was a successful free lance writer for magazines. She looked at some of Verla's writing and was constantly encouraging Verla to become a writer herself. The seed had been sown. They lived in Carson City for three years, then the call of the ocean breezes and tall redwoods became too strong and they moved back to Santa Cruz.For the next few years, Verla ran a licensed daycare from her home. Snaps 'N Snails Daycare catered to six children at a time - most of the children being between five months and three years old. While she read books to the children, Verla couldn't stop thinking about writing stories of her own. Finally, the call to WRITE became too strong and she signed up for a correspondence course through the Institute of Children's Literature. During the next two years, she studied and practiced and learned what it took to write and sell stories for children.SUCCESS!After selling two short stories, one to Turtle Magazine and one to Humpty Dumpty's Magazine, one of her picture book manuscripts was pulled from the slush pile at Putnam Books and she was on her way to being a REAL author. Six months later, Putnam bought a second manuscript.It was while Verla was working as a desk clerk in a local motel that she found herself checking in a very special couple one night. While chatting with the people, some things she said about her writing triggered events that eventually led to her gaining a terrific agent in New York who was able to negotiate much better terms for Verla on her third picture book contract.Because it wasn't until she was grown that she herself discovered the joys of history, it is Verla's fervent desire to bring history to life for young children in an interesting way. She does this by writing short, entertaining books that spark children's interest in different historical periods. Most of Verla's books are written for young children in a distinctive rhyming style she calls "cryptic rhyme."Since April of '97, Verla has been staying home, working full time on her writing. She considers her life to be idyllic. She spends many contented hours in front of her computer screen, thinking, plotting, planning and writing what she hopes will be wonderful books. Her agent has just sold her eighth book. Her first two books (both with Putnam) can be purchased now through any bookstore or by going to Verla's Books page and following the link there to www.Amazon.com.Learning and keeping up with the times are very important to Verla and she is constantly discovering new ways to expand her experiences. After building her own website, and putting the #Kidlit children's writer's chat room on her site, she began holding monthly on-line workshops there. Her website has become so popular that Writer's Digest named it one of the Top 101 Websites for Writers in 2000.Her first published book, Gold Fever, received three starred reviews and was named a Best Book of the Year by Bank Street College of Education in New York. It is on several public library recommended reading lists.Her second book, Iron Horses, received two starred reviews. It has been named a Society of School Librarian's International Honor Book and is also on the Children's Book Council's Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People list. Her third book, Covered Wagons, Bumpy Trails, was just released in October of 2000. She has five more picture books to be published in the next few years.Today and BeyondMost of Verla and Terry's children are grown now, and lead productive lives of their own. Their oldest son, Eric, is the past Senior Network Systems Administrator for Netscape and their middle son, Donn, is currently in his fourth year of college, studying as a vocal music major. Their youngest son, Bruce, is now in his first year of college and is well on his way to becoming a computer programmer. Their only daughter, Portia, is happily married to Heath, and she has given Terry and Verla four incredibly wonderful grandchildren - Kristyn, Charles, Mikayla and Rayana.Verla enjoys boating and fishing, reading, writing, and working puzzles. She has spent many happy hours panning for gold with her husband in the nearby hills and she is very proud of a third-place Gold-Panning Competition trophy she won at her county fair in 1994. She is addicted to Nintendo - Dr. Mario is her favorite game. She can repeatedly win level 20 High and once got as far as level 24 on it. She loves computer games and when she is at home and not writing, responding to e-mail or working on her website, she spends many enjoyable hours puzzling her way through her latest adventure program.What the future may bring is alw; Title: Hornbooks and Inkwells | [
5387,
6301,
6850,
10055,
16058,
16116,
16262,
19731,
23401,
27402,
27744,
39329,
50301,
63142,
63252
] | Validation |
16,210 | 0 | Grade 3-7–As much a look book as a cookbook, Redwall gathers recipes for food eaten in the popular series. Endearingly monikered dishes such as Hare's Pawspring Vegetable Soup and Rosey's Jolly Raspberry Jelly Rock Cakes are included, along with Mole's Favourite Deeper 'n' Ever Turnip 'n' Tater 'n' Beetroot Pie. Grouped by season, the dishes are wonderfully evocative of the charm that underlies all of Redwall, and titles like Stones inna Swamp and Savoury Squirrel Bakes have humor. Jacques ties the recipes of each section together with a sweetly told tale of preparations for a seasonal feast, heartily populated with the favorite characters complete with their individual antics and turns of phrase. While the recipes are generally far from simple and often heavy on butter and cream (although almost completely vegetarian), the real appeal of this book lies in its gorgeously rendered and finely detailed illustrations done in acrylic paint and charcoal. Written for an older audience than Jacques's The Great Redwall Feast (Philomel, 1996), this gastronomical visit to the Abbey will be enjoyed by Redwall devotees.–Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."I sometimes think it ironic for an ex-seaman, longshoreman, truck driver, policeman, bus driver, etc., to find success writing children's novels," says Brian Jacques (pronounced "Jakes"). Yet it is all too true. With the publication of his first children's book in 1987, the award-winning Redwall, Jacques' fresh talent has received exceptional praise from reviewers in the United States and England. Newbery Award winner Lloyd Alexander called it "a fine work, literate, witty, filled with the excitement of genuine storytelling. Young people will surely be captivated. I hope they give their elders a chance to share the delights."A well-known radio personality in his native Liverpool--as well as an actor, stand-up comic, and playwright--Brian Jacques is the host of "Jakestown" on BBC Radio Merseyside. Ever the performer, Jacques is well-known for applying his acting and entertainment background to his lively presentations to legions of young fans at schools across the United States and England.Brian Jacques was born in Liverpool, England on June 15th, 1939. Along with forty percent of the population of Liverpool, his ancestral roots are in Ireland, County Cork to be exact.He grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks. His interest in adventure stories began at an early age with reading the books of: Daniel Defoe, Sir Henry Rider Haggard, Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir Thomas Malory, Robert Michael Ballantyne, Robert Louis Stevenson, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Kenneth Grahame. He attended St. John's School, an inner city school that had its playground on the roof. On his first day at St. John's, at the age of ten, he had an experience that marked his potential as a writer. When given an assignment of writing a story about animals, he wrote about the bird that cleaned a crocodile's teeth. The teacher could not, and would not, believe that a ten year old could write that well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then, that he realized that he had a talent for writing.Some teachers at St. John's proved to be good role models. As Mr. Jacques recalls:"My favourite teacher was Mr. Austin Thomas. He looked like Lee Marvin. Big Man. A Captain in World War II. He came to school on a big bush bike with the haversack on back. He was a man's man. Always fair. I was fourteen at the time when Mr. Thomas introduced the class to poetry and Greek literature. (Because of him, I saved seven shillings and sixpence to buy The Iliad and The Odyssey at this dusty used book shop.)"This interest in poetry extended to Wordsworth, Tennyson, and Goldsmith.It was also at St. John's that Brian met a teacher, Alan Durband (who also taught two Beatles, Paul McCartney and George Harrison), who, more than thirty years later would bring about a major change in his life.After Brian finished school at fifteen, he set out to find adventure as a merchant seaman. He travelled to many far away ports, including New York, Valparaiso, San Francisco, and Yokohama. Tiring of the lonely life of a sailor, he returned to Liverpool where he worked as a railway fireman, a longshoreman, a long-distance truck driver, a bus driver, a boxer, a bobby (Police Constable 216D), a postmaster, and a stand-up comic.Penguin mourns the passing of celebrated children’s book author Brian Jacques; Title: The Redwall Cookbook | [
1000,
1145,
4407,
5946,
12861,
15038,
16166,
16177,
16301,
18231,
19770,
30985,
38585,
44135,
45204,
53182,
53307,
67082
] | Train |
16,211 | 2 | K-Gr 3-A utilitarian rope-now a toy, now a clothesline, now a fastening cord-ties together this lyrical multigenerational story of one family's experience leaving the South for greater opportunities up North. Woodson's text and Ransome's warm, lived-in oils begin in the sweet expanse of South Carolina, the rich rural landscape contrasted with the busy, populous images of the family's new stone-and-concrete neighborhood in Brooklyn. Every page turn reveals the titular phrase again, but the repetition does not weary as the family thrives and evolves in great leaps and short steps. Significant episodes like the arrival of a baby or the beginning of college unfold in meaningful text and blend with fine splashes of humor; one surprisingly dynamic and evocative spread shows a teenager's room-Prince poster on the wall, Michael Jackson albums scattered on the bed-and the shadow of a mischievous younger brother dashing down the hallway with the rope, needed for "some crazy game that little boys play." An author's note offers a brief familial history as well as a few lines about the Great Migration and supports the text as a resounding affirmation of the journey made by more than six million African Americans in search of change. With characteristic grace and a knack for the right detail, Woodson and Ransome have provided a pleasing portrait of one loving family in the midst of a movement.-Robbin E. Friedman, Chappaqua Library, NY(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.A little African American girl skips rope back home in South Carolina in the mid-twentieth century. When she is grown, with a husband and a baby girl, she uses that rope to tie up their belongings as they move to New York City. A few years later, it becomes a skipping rope for her little girl. And when she grows up, her father uses it to tie up her belongings for the drive to college. Later, she marries and has a little girl of her own, who skips rope in Brooklyn. That child narrates this intergenerational family story, which (in an authors note) Woodson relates to the Great Migration. Expressive oil paintings illustrate the clean, well-cadenced text in scenes that include well-researched period details. Although it is difficult to convey the passage of so much time in a 32-page picture book, and children may have trouble keeping track of the generations, theres no doubt of the warmth and strength of the family ties that bind these individuals together. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY-- Woodson and Ransome both have huge followings who will be interested in what this collaboration has produced. Grades 1-3. --Carolyn Phelan; Title: This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration | [
1634,
2374,
2721,
2729,
2872,
4250,
4324,
4363,
4377,
4383,
4607,
5384,
6200,
6551,
6837,
6894,
6905,
7174,
7654,
10271,
10445,
10793,
10858,
10882,
11339,
11415,
11546,
14683,
15415,
15600,
15813,
16061,
16162,
16172,
16344,
16347,
16436,
16... | Validation |
16,212 | 16 | A 17th-century English alphabet rhyme inspires Spirin's illustrations, which take on a distinctly Victorian tone. Set inside or outside English country houses, the full-bleed paintings and silhouette images teem with rosy-cheeked girls in long flowing dresses, bonnets and sashes, and boys clad in knickers. The top of the page contains each letter printed in capital and lowercase, followed by the same letters and a two- or three-word phrase written in elegant, old-fashioned script: "A, a. Apple Pie/ B, b. Bit it./ C, c. Cut it." Underneath the text, an ivory-colored capital letter serves as each illustration's centerpiece. For example, an A forms an arch, under which a crew of beefeaters plus bakers sporting white hats and aprons carry in an enormous golden pie, while women and children (some riding dappled rocking horses) applaud the parade. For "Q, q. Quartered it," the Q's oval acts as a peephole into a room where children cluster around an old woman (who could be Mother Goose) cutting a pie. An apple nestles in the bottom corner of each page, with a rotating cast of creatures whose names begin with that page's letter (e.g., G has a grasshopper, H, a horse). Throughout, the recurring characters' postures and facial expressions convey a longing and reverence for apple pie. Spirin's style is especially well suited to this time-proven rhyme. All ages. (Aug.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Starred Review. PreSchool-K–Whimsically detailed watercolors revitalize an alphabet verse dating from the 1600s. Each painting tells its own story as the rhyme follows the apple pie from A to Z. A large capital letter on each page frames the painting, provides a stage for the action, or acts as a prop for the characters. Calligraphic letters, printed and scripted, are positioned at the top of each page with the rhyme. A simple apple appears in the lower corner of each entry with an animal, appropriate to the letter, sitting or hiding near it. Delicately rendered vines and flowers are reminiscent of Victorian botanical prints. Busy details offer new discoveries with each reading. The letters, text, and paintings are unified in style and become a single work of art. This new interpretation is beautifully done and offers strong competition to the familiar 1886 Kate Greenaway version (Penguin).–Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: A Apple Pie | [
8901,
16194,
16318,
36208
] | Train |
16,213 | 18 | Gr. 2-4. In You're on Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt, the first in the new Turning Point Book series, St. George marshals the same lively spirit she used in her Caldecott Medal winner So You Want to Be President? (2000) to tell the story of "Teedie" Roosevelt's childhood. Faulkner's cartoon-style illustrations present the history and the characters from the young boy's viewpoint as St. George describes Roosevelt's triumph over debilitating asthma and his success as an athlete and student. St. George never minimizes Roosevelt's struggle; one particularly memorable picture shows the bespectacled, awkward city weakling being harassed by country bullies. The truth about failure will appeal to kids as much as the gentle message about determination and achievement. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reservedPraise forYou're On Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt:"The book provides a salient introduction to the boy who would become a colorful president. A final note sketches Roosevelt's adult years. A solid choice for independent readers or for sharing aloud with children."School Library Journal "Faulkner captures Teedy's boundless energy and determination in detail-rich scenes... This makes a rousing tale of obstacles overcome."Kirkus Reviews; Title: You're On Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt | [
6897,
13999,
16245,
36280
] | Test |
16,214 | 13 | Fritz (And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?) again calls upon her informal yet informative style to spotlight a scintillating sliver of history, recounted in two related tales. Her narrative opens as the ultimate Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci, earns a commission from the duke of Milan to create a sculpture to honor the duke's father a bronze horse three times larger than life. Though this creative genius spent years on the project, he died without realizing his dream and, writes Fritz, "It was said that even on his deathbed, Leonardo wept for his horse." The author then fast-forwards to 1977: an American named Charles Dent vows to create the sculpture and make it a gift from the American people to the residents of Italy. How his goal was accomplished (alas, posthumously) makes for an intriguing tale that Fritz deftly relays. Talbott's (Forging Freedom) diverse multimedia artwork includes reproductions of da Vinci's notebooks, panoramas revealing the Renaissance in lavish detail and majestic renderings of the final equine sculpture. Talbott makes creative use of the book's format a rectangle topped by a semi-circle: the rounded space by turns becomes a window through which da Vinci views a cloud shaped like a flying horse; the domed building that was Dent's studio and gallery; and a globe depicting the route the bronze horse travels on its way from the U.S. to Italy. An inventive introduction to the Renaissance and one of its masters. Ages 5-up.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Gr 3-6-At times sad, silly, and telling, this is a wholly entertaining book. Not only a biography of Leonardo da Vinci, it also introduces another artist/dreamer-Charlie Dent. Although separated by centuries, the two men had a common dream-to create a giant horse for Milan. War and rain helped to ruin Leonardo's original clay work, and he died mourning what might have been. By the 1990s, Dent's efforts to create the horse paid off and the statue, a huge wonder, was presented to Italy. Biographical details of Leonardo's life are mentioned and much of his work is shown throughout the volume, including sketches of the statue. Talbott's mixed-media artwork enhances the engaging text. The Duke of Milan is portrayed gaping at Leonardo's clay model, scarcely able to believe the greatness of it, and there is an informative page of pictures detailing the creation of the statue in eight steps. In one illustration, the artist appears in the center of his Last Supper, attempting to draw Judas, while humorous caricatures fill the bottom of the page. Although there are quite a few books about Leonardo, none delve so deeply into the history of the statue. Even the design of the book is unique. A title that is sure to create a lot of interest among young art, history, and horse lovers.Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WICopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Leonardo's Horse | [
1333,
1337,
4138,
4413,
4513,
4547,
4661,
4804,
5995,
6123,
6991,
7342,
9641,
11356,
11579,
12460,
14377,
15001,
15174,
15268,
15407,
16062,
16230,
16314,
17050,
18631,
19310,
19878,
20118,
20984,
21001,
21527,
27220,
27390,
27509,
28979,
31427... | Test |
16,215 | 2 | Grade 5-7-It has been nearly a year since Princess Ettarde escaped from a fancy carriage to the cover of Sherwood Forest to avoid an arranged marriage. She has been happy living as Etty, one of the band of Rowan Hood, until her father and his troops arrive and place her thinly clad mother in a gilded cage to lure Etty back to her regal life. The teen dearly loves her mother, and resists the urge to flee. With her friends in the Rowan band as well as the help of Robin Hood and some of his men, she works through a clever plan to resolve this crisis. King Solon has given his daughter a good education in Greek philosophy, which she puts to use in confronting him, and applies her skills as a logician in many situations in the story. There is conflict and action from cover to cover as characters ply their varied skills to achieve goals and live life on their own terms, in a beautifully depicted forest setting. Fans of the series will enjoy this third installment; while new readers may be puzzled by references to past events, and will not fully understand the characters, they should still find the story satisfying.Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MICopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 4-7. In this third installment of Springer's Tales of Rowan Hood, a series that imagines the merry men sharing Sherwood Forest with an offshoot band led by Robin Hood's daughter, the past of another of Rowan's outlaws rears its ugly head. The runaway princess Ettarde finds herself baited into a renewed battle of wills with her father, King Solon, who has placed a cage deep in the woods and locked the queen inside. Knowing he means to lure her to her mother's aid, then push her into a dreaded marriage, Etty concocts a plot that forces her father to deal with her on her own terms. Backstory is gracefully interwoven, but there's enough continuity with the previous books to satisfy old hands (Lionel still incenses Etty by calling her "dear lady"), even as Springer introduces another gender-bending subplot. The ending brings Etty back to the threshold of courtly life, but tantalizing loose ends suggest that future visits with Springer's eccentric, appealing outlaws may be imminent. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Outlaw Princess of Sherwood (Rowan Hood) | [
5956,
6037,
16238
] | Test |
16,216 | 11 | “Fast-paced. . . . Children accustomed to typically staid photographs of Lincoln will laugh out loud seeing him depicted as a squalling baby and a young boy riding a pet pig.”—School Library JournalJudith St. George has published dozens of successful nonfiction books for children, including the Caldecott Medal-winning So You Want to Be President? and the historical Turning Point series, including You’re On Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt; Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln; and Take the Lead, George Washington. You can visit her online at www.judithstgeorge.com.; Title: Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln (Turning Point Books) | [
6897,
16213
] | Validation |
16,217 | 6 | Kindergarten-Grade 5--Readers are in for a wild and imaginative treat complete with alarmingly believable hybrid creatures. DuQuette begins by introducing several wondrous beasts from mythology: the griffin (lion and eagle), the kappa (monkey and tortoise), the hippocampus (horse and dolphin), and the cockatrice (rooster and serpent). A spread at the end provides more information about these examples and introduces a few more. The bulk of the book features the author's own creations. The "Mosquiphant," for example, has a "stinging trunk [that] will leave a lump/that's bigger than your head"; the "Mouscodile" skips the cheese and eats the cat; and the "Snorse," a horse/snail combination, "takes three days to round the track." The creatures are described in short, funny verses and brilliantly illustrated in watercolor-and-gouache paintings that are sure to elicit gasps and giggles. The collection ends with an invitation: "Of all the animals we could combine,/what kind of creatures would you design?/Let your imagination run free./Create your own menagerie." Most children will find such a challenge hard to resist, and teachers will find many creative ways to share the book with students.--Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Keith DuQuette has had a long history with mythical animalsas a kid he collected sea monkeys.; Title: Cock-a-Doodle-Moo: A Mixed Up Menagerie | [
7097,
33744
] | Train |
16,218 | 1 | A pregnant manatees painful encounter with its species chief predatorpeople in a motorboatsparks a successful animal-rescue effort in Arnoskys latest foray into natural history. In illustrations done with pale, translucent washes of color, young readers can follow workers as they carefully hoist the injured animal out of the water, transport her to a holding pen until the (bloodless but deep and plainly visible) propeller slashes across her back start to heal, then release her and her newborn baby back into the wild. The gentle giants behavior is never anthropomorphic here, though a closing claim that boaters from now on will heed a newly posted warning sign (Slow Down! Manatees) may be a touch idealistic. An afterword goes into greater depth on the dangers that boats, even those piloted by very careful captains, pose to manatees, and on the real account that inspired this tale. Grades 1-3. --John PetersJim Arnosky is well known for his "keen observations of nature and his fine artistic talent" (School Library Journal). He has written and illustrated many childrens books. Otters Under Water was called "first-rate natural history for the youngest" by Kirkus Reviews (pointer review), and School Library Journal wrote that in it "each of his creatures exhibits a distinct individualism." Every Autumn Comes the Bear was called "vibrant, translucent and strikingly composed" by Publishers Weekly, and Booklist wrote "Arnosky's radiant pictures have a dazzling sense of pattern and composition . . . and a sense of mystery. A beautiful, imaginative, and informative approach." School Library Journal said of Rabbits & Raindrops, Perfect for story-time or lap-time reading, this book will give children a feeling of security and contentment.Jim Arnosky and his family live on a twenty-acre farm in Vermont.; Title: Slow Down for Manatees | [
17845,
27465,
36052,
42579,
63988
] | Train |
16,219 | 13 | Tomie dePaola adapts his 1978 The Christmas Pageant for the board book Tomie's Little Christmas Pageant, in which the boy narrator winningly tells the story of Christmas: "Welcome to our play. It is about a baby who was born many, many years ago on the very first Christmas. This is how it all happened." Ages 2-5.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Tomie's Little Christmas Pageant | [
6236,
6796,
14412,
15929,
16296,
16493,
16567,
18732,
18857,
18904,
48311
] | Validation |
16,220 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 2This homage to and entreaty for thankfulness introduces Daisy, who is inspired by her parents' example and tries to think of things she, too, can be thankful for. In her preface, Gold informs readers that she ministers to adults who find a similar thankfulness exercise to be a spiritual benefit. Young children, however, are concrete thinkers who can only be thankful for tangible things and are moved most by stories they can relate to; Daisy's list of watered-down and abstract giftsher loved ones, God's creation, diversity, and His unending presencedon't move beyond the page into personal experience. Halperin uses pencil and oil on canvas to illustrate the child's thought process, and while the pictures are interesting to look at, her challengeto draw a conceptoften proves too great. Thankful to God for the "breath of life," Daisy sits beneath a mural of noses, beaks, and snouts, as Halperin attempts some connection between the two "breaths." The attractive package can't overcome this effort's inherent weaknesses.Lisa Egly Lehmuller, St. Patrick's Catholic School, Charlotte, NC Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* In her introduction, Gold,the spiritual director of Sacred Center New York, notes thatthe happiest people see everything in their livesboth the good and the badas reasons to be thankful. Her goal hereis to show young readers how to develop their own thankful eyes. Both she and artist Halperin do that beautifully in this story of a young girl whomulls over what to be thankful for. Her mother tells her to look around, and when she does, Daisy sees a world of wonderment. In her signature softly coloredstyle, which often incorporates many scenes into a two-page spread, Halperintakes everyday doings and elevates them. Daisy thanks God for all she gets to do: read a book, play the piano, and hug her grandmother.She is thankful for the people she meets and the animals that inhabit her world.Each grouping of pictures shows the worlds diversity. In a particularly effective spread, she thanks God for the breath of life, and the many squareclose-ups shownoses, beaks, and trunks. A more solitary spread pictures Daisy alone with a large candle, thanking God for being her friend when she is sad or scared. By the books conclusion Daisy has found she can be thankful for . . . everything. And young readers will be ready to find their own answers. Preschool-Grade 2. --Ilene Cooper; Title: Thank You, God, For Everything | [
9437,
28089,
36130
] | Test |
16,221 | 17 | Grade 2-4Faulkner relates the story of the legendary Irish pirate Granuaile ("Granny") O'Malley. He describes her early years, when her father's fishing boat and occasional plundering of English merchant vessels held more appeal than her mother's kitchen; her first marriage; and her eventual command of her father's ship. He relates how her exploits angered Queen Elizabeth, who had her declared an outlaw, and the birth of her son, Toby, and his eventual capture while attacking an English ship. The climax of the story comes when Granny travels to London to bargain for Toby's life, and the pirate and the monarch recognize in one another "a woman of consequence." The gouache cartoon illustrations feature people with exaggerated facial expressions and body postures, lending an air of melodrama to his version of history. Emily Arnold McCully's The Pirate Queen (Putnam, 1995) is more complex in terms of the writing style, the breadth of historical background provided, and the characterization of O'Malley. Faulkner's version is a serviceable introduction to the legend of this fascinating woman, but it's an additional purchase for those already owning McCully's book. Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 3. Whether you call her Granuaile or Grania or Grace, or Granny O'Malley as Faulkner does, the sixteenth-century Irish pirate led a life full of stories. She narrates this one herself, beginning with her childhood on her father's pirate ship, to her first marriage and her return to pirating. Her son Toby grew up to be captured by Elizabeth I, who Granny calls Red Liz. In a fabulous scene of manners and mores, Granny -stages a rescue. She promises to raid Red Liz's ships na' more, but she can't quite keep her word. Faulkner uses a rich palette in strong gouaches to create evocative seascapes and cityscapes, and he accents the telling with characters whose features and gestures are slightly exaggerated. This is a nifty pirate story, as well as a sparkling tale of two strong women. GraceAnne DeCandidoCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Pirate Meets the Queen | [
4804,
12137,
15268,
27857,
35952,
41947,
47541,
49153,
62285,
75983
] | Train |
16,222 | 2 | PreSchool-K-This is the fourth book about Goat and Pig, neighbors with big imaginations. Here, Goat wakes up on the morning of a dinner date at his friend's house and notices through Pig's window that he is crying. After imagining several catastrophic scenarios, he thinks of ways he can help in each case and arrives at Pig's house with solutions in hand, only to find his pal in tears as he cuts onions for the stew. Goat joins in, cutting and crying, and the two friends eventually sit down to dinner, satisfied with their collaborative effort-because "that's what friends are for!" Gorbachev shows a sure gift for creating good stories that speak directly to young children's concerns. He uses humor and brevity, combined with colorful watercolor illustrations of his animal protagonists (reminiscent of Paul Galdone's work), to entertain and gently inform young readers. With its emphasis on the true meaning of friendship, this offering would definitely be a good choice for storytime, as well as a popular checkout.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 1. Mistakes and mixed-ups are standard fare for Gorbachev's familiar duo. This time the muddle--and the fun--comes from a simple misunderstanding when Goat looks out the window and sees his friend Pig crying. The line-and-wash artwork is divided into reality and fantasy. Goat gets dressed, all the while imagining what Pig's problem might be. Perhaps Pig fell down the stairs and is in pain. Maybe burglars stole the apple pie that Pig baked for their dinner. In one spread, Goat, in heart-studded boxer shorts, broods that Pig's shower overflowed the house, while the rest of the art shows Pig on the couch watching as everything from a book to a bowl of peas floats by. Being a good friend to Pig, Goat gathers a mop, bakes a cabbage pie, and prepares other remedies to solve Pig's possible problems. However, once Goat arrives at Pig's, the reason for the tears becomes obvious: Pig is grating onions. The premise isn't all that clever, but the execution is excellent. Fun for one-on-one sharing or for reading aloud to a group. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: That's What Friends Are For | [
4883,
6171,
6748,
7455,
12245,
15543,
16147,
16179,
16188,
16195,
16372,
16464,
17700,
23725,
24454,
24541,
24710,
31931,
38523,
38810,
39602,
49558,
49646,
49667,
49701,
59368,
61915,
62709,
73353
] | Test |
16,223 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 2--Simple phrases and dreamy watercolor illustrations convey Ichikawa's fondness for Luxembourg Gardens, seen through the eyes of a pink stuffed rabbit. La La Rose goes everywhere with her little girl, Clementine, and the child's grandmother. Unfortunately, the rabbit gets lost during a visit to Paris's renowned park and finds herself swept up in a series of adventures before finally being reunited with her owner at dusk. The layout includes many charming details, like a clean, neatly dressed La La Rose depicted on the dedication page and a dirty, disheveled one at the back. Blush-colored endpapers feature a simple map of the park. A beautifully illustrated tale of friendship, enlivened by a bit of excitement and lots of affection.--Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* PreS. "I am La La Rose, the pink stuffed rabbit. I am the inseparable friend of Clementine." So begins La La's adventure in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, where Grandma has taken Clementine and her brother to play. The playground, the carousel--everything is fun. But when it's time to see the ponies, La La falls out of Clementine's backpack, and, oh, what tragedies befall her! She is thrown around by a soccer team, falls down some stairs, and lands in a pond before being picked up by a little girl who understands the feelings of the lost--and the found--and determinedly brings doll and owner together in a sweet reunion. The story itself is straightforward, and in the hands of a lesser artist might not have been special. But Ichikawa's ink-and-watercolor paintings are a wonderful mix of action and thoughtfulness, sweetness and subtlety that extend the story and give it life past a first reading. In the opening spreads, which show Clementine playing on the jungle gym and the merry-go-round, La La Rose is barely visible in the midst of all the fun. But once she is lost, she is right in the center of the pictures, her face remarkably emotional for a stuffed animal. A very satisfying story that also captures the magic and excitement of a special place. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: La La Rose (Booklist Editor's Choice. Books for Youth (Awards)) | [
15913
] | Train |
16,224 | 5 | Jan Brett (www.janbrett.com) is the beloved New York Times bestselling author/illustrator of many books for children.; Title: Jan Brett's Little Library | [
2405,
4271,
5385,
5893,
5977,
5997,
6973,
8598,
14412,
14632,
15289,
15755,
15823,
15843,
15849,
15854,
15873,
15915,
15965,
15969,
16033,
16093,
16122,
16124,
16146,
16187,
16254,
16361,
16402,
16420,
16424,
16446,
16449,
16501,
16536,
16561,
... | Train |
16,225 | 13 | PreSchool-Grade 2-This poignant metaphor for changing parent and child relationships begins: "I once drew a stick kid./Just a quick little stick kid." The penciled figure grows, so the artist must draw new clothes, friends to keep him company, and things for him to do: "I drew it all./I drew it good./I always drew the best I could." Soon the stick kid drives away on a road that has been created for him and disappears for awhile. Eventually, a beautiful new car that the artist has never seen before appears and the door opens to reveal a stick man, his lovely stick wife, and their own stick kid. The narrator proudly concludes, "I once drew a stick kid,/and he grew up well." The casual ending and rhyming text make this picture book fun to read aloud. Fans of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree (HarperCollins, 1964) will find this parent a little less self-sacrificing but of the same belief that adults give their children everything to prepare them to make their own way in the world. Holwitz dabs a bit of Magic Marker and chalk color here and there but, in tune with the spare narrative, he keeps the design simple and the pages uncluttered. Young readers will delight in the idea of a drawing that comes to life, will get the intergenerational tie, and may want to create some stick figures, too.-Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Stick Kid | [
6365,
14044,
14440,
16247,
16275,
44463,
46766,
48507
] | Train |
16,226 | 18 | For young readers fascinated with the real history of space travel, this simple, clear, andattractively illustrated book is a great place to begin. Using two-page spreads that are half text, half image, the story of July 20, 1969, and the moon landing of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin is related in short sentences that tread the line between informational (details of the Eagle include Its outer walls thinner than human skin) and poetic (the moons surface is described as like a battlefield from some ancient war). The landing is tense, the frolicking on the moon amusing, but most welcome is the realistic portrayal of the exhaustion and trepidation that occur after the moon walk is finished. The feathery, impressionistic paintings alternate between hues of blue (the moon) and green (the cockpit) and utilize unusual high or low perspectives to accentuate the drama. The only thing missing is historical context, and Burleighs authors note takes care of that quite nicely. Grades 1-3. --Daniel Kraus"The sense of immediacy is irresistible and will cause children who consider the event just ancient history to feel as if they too had left footprints on that distant, dusty surface."School Library Journal; Title: One Giant Leap | [
1501,
4025,
4324,
4383,
4786,
5554,
9880,
15105,
15290,
15811,
16423,
16678,
18734,
20758,
21472,
21639,
22984,
25041,
26512,
26677,
31059,
39113,
41412,
44537,
47868,
48351,
49667,
50315,
51670,
51870,
52752,
53636,
56419,
58186,
61984
] | Train |
16,227 | 1 | PreSchool-Rex's bright, engaging style suits this simple concept book. Each spread shows an animal in some form of transportation, from the clever ("Rig Pig" and "Blimp Chimp") to the less obvious (a "Hog Frog" is a green frog on a Harley-Davidson). The straightforward pictures are clear and detailed, showing the clean lines of a taxi ("Cab Crab") and even the gearshift on the tractor ("Plow Cow"). The animals have a serious yet comic look, confidently enjoying themselves on all these wonderful machines. The very brief text lends itself to rhyming wordplay, an important skill for preschool learners. Bruce McMillan's Play Day: A Book of Terse Verse (Holiday, 1991; o.p.) set the standard for books with short rhyming phrases. This is a worthy addition to the genre, and will please the little guys and gals who love things that roll, float, and fly.Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, ILCopyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS. Wheels, animals, and very simple rhyming words are a winning combination in these vividly colored pages that show small creatures driving huge, powerful vehicles. From "Moose Caboose" to "Rig Pig" and "Jeep Sheep," this is the stuff of toddlers' play, with vrooming action and small characters in charge. The sounds of the words add to the fun, and to little ones' vocabularies. The vehicles are big, bright, and clear, and some pictures include details of mechanical gears and levers and engines. Grown-ups will enjoy the wry cartoon edge in "Cab Crab," but for preschoolers, this is exciting read-aloud stuff about the street outside and the play on the floor at home. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Truck Duck | [
6530,
14651,
16276,
25966,
31171,
37499
] | Train |
16,228 | 2 | Eric Hill (www.funwithspot.com) left school when he was 15 and took up cartooning while working as a messenger at an art studio.He created Where's Spot? as a bedtime story for his two-year old son. It was published four years later, and the rest is history.; Title: Spot's Halloween | [
651,
667,
674,
2192,
2405,
5806,
5807,
5809,
5817,
5818,
5824,
5840,
5957,
5975,
6735,
6761,
8170,
8681,
9785,
9913,
10041,
13367,
13536,
16049,
16241,
16294,
16298,
16359,
16373,
16416,
16507,
18401,
18431,
18593,
18738,
19597,
19616,
21500,... | Test |
16,229 | 13 | Kindergarten-Grade 3Although there was a difference in their life spans of about 25 years, Clementine Hunter (1886/18871988) and Grandma Moses (18601961) had much in common. Neither had any formal art training, both started painting in midlife, both used a folk-art style derived from their individual roots, and both lived long and fruitful lives finding personal passion in their art. Hunter, who today enjoys a modest reputation and whose work is sold in galleries and hung in museums, never received the acclamation that Moses achieved. Whitehead and Evans present an effective vehicle to introduce children to the work of this remarkable Southern black woman. Whitehead's lyrical text speaks of Hunter's perseverance and talent as well as of the simplicity, love of nature, and caring of friends and family that informed her work. Evans bolsters Whitehead's words with bold mixed-media illustrations that portray Hunter in hard times and in good. He often focuses on her hands and face, bringing strength and vitality to the pictures. In one especially poignant image, he depicts the artist standing alone before her pictures at an exhibition after hours: she was forbidden to enter the gallery with other visitors because of her race. Pair this picture-book biography with one about Grandma Moses, perhaps Alexandra Wallner's Grandma Moses (Holiday House, 2004) or W. Nikola-Lisa's The Year with Grandma Moses (Holt, 2000), to present inspiring stories of two outstanding American women artists. Eleven small reproductions of Hunter's works are appended.Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.In the 1950s, segregation laws denied artist Clementine Hunter admission to the gallery that exhibited her work. Throughout her life, she overcame prejudice, poverty, and hard times to create beautiful folk art that is now celebrated across the country. The words and images in this moving picture-book biography show that Hunter was not stopped by self-pity, and she did not wait for the perfect time to paint. She had no canvas, so she made art with whatever she could findwindow shades, glass bottles, old boardsand Evans full-page paintings with bright collage and black line evoke Hunters hard work on the plantation, and happy times, too, including weddings and baptisms; and they show her creating beautiful, glowing art in the dim kerosene light, as she draws on her memories of her long life. A final authors note that fills in more of Hunters story, and features small reproductions of her work, will leave readers wanting to turn back for another look. Grades 4-7. --Hazel Rochman; Title: Art From Her Heart: Folk Artist Clementine Hunter | [
2292,
3913,
4383,
4607,
6060,
7654,
8645,
9575,
10570,
10882,
13390,
13894,
14022,
15023,
15524,
15792,
18449,
18460,
20523,
20600,
20789,
21106,
21109,
21372,
21381,
21546,
24204,
25780,
27949,
29098,
29290,
29451,
31889,
32390,
34131,
34133,
... | Train |
16,230 | 18 | Grade 4-6-This fluidly written account describes the colony founded under the aegis of Sir Walter Raleigh in 1585. The opening section, "Looking," discusses the first attempt at settling the island and highlights the English policy regarding the Native population: "Never turn the other cheek" and "smite [hostile Indians] hip and thigh." When harsh conditions caused the men to return to England in 1586, 15 individuals were left behind to hold the colony. "Settling" describes how the second expedition arrived in 1587 and found the men gone, perhaps victims of the "hip and thigh" policy. The travails of these settlers began on landing and continued unabated until Governor John White agreed to sail to England to get help. "Lost" details White's frustrated attempts to get back to Virginia, and what he found when he finally returned two years later. In the final chapter, Fritz explores various theories about Roanoke's fate. She discusses the 1937 hoax involving stones with counterfeited inscriptions as well as current archaeological and historical exploration. Talbott's softly colored watercolor illustrations, ranging from cameo insets to two-page paintings, are at once detailed and impressionistic. Clever touches of humor abound. This book is superior to existing works such as Dan Mabry Lacy's The Lost Colony (Watts, 1972; o.p.). Fritz has scored again, making history breathe while showing both historians and archaeologists at their reconstructive best.Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WACopyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 3-5. This history of the Lost Colony is more than a simple tale of settlers who disappeared, leaving a cryptic message behind. Fritz weaves the tangled threads of historical records, the multiple voyages, and the large cast of significant figures into a single narrative that enables children to envision the main events as well as many colorful details. The presentation is surprisingly traditional in some ways, from a Eurocentric reference to America as the "newfound land" to the anecdote (undocumented, as the appended notes acknowledge) about Sir Walter Raleigh's laying his coat across a puddle for Queen Elizabeth. In four chapters, Fritz discusses the English exploration of the region, the settlement on Roanoke Island, the mysterious disappearance of the colonists, and the conjectures, hoaxes, and evidence that have fueled speculation about the colony for 400 years. The fluid, expressive watercolors enhance the writing by using styles that reflect Talbott's research into the paintings of John White and sixteenth-century portrait artists as well as more romantic, imaginative interpretations of people and events. Notes and a bibliography are appended. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Lost Colony of Roanoke | [
1587,
4437,
4813,
5338,
6301,
6511,
6706,
7111,
10117,
15154,
16214,
16623,
17316,
17761,
18318,
19029,
19101,
19149,
19160,
19286,
19362,
24200,
24320,
24574,
25488,
25678,
26777,
26812,
26890,
27553,
28027,
28980,
29007,
29011,
29025,
29814,
... | Train |
16,231 | 2 | PreSchool-K—An African-American child and her classmates make their way through a day at school. Full of enthusiasm and smiles, Keisha Ann accomplishes all of her activities with élan, as the rhyming text asks a series of "Who can..." questions and reiterates, "Keisha Ann can!" The poetry is catchy and upbeat: "Who can count her coins/and count again in case she's wrong?/Who can play marimba/as she sings the sweetest song?" Gouache paintings done in a striking, childlike style are filled with motion and color. The characters, who represent a variety of cultural backgrounds, are outlined in darker lines and set against brightly hued backgrounds. The images are clear and crisp, making the book ideal for sharing aloud. The story ends on a positive, all-inclusive note: "Who can learn,/and work,/and play,/and make her dreams/come true?/Keisha Ann can/do these things,/and YOU can do them, too!" Although there are many positive picture books about school, this one is special because its heroine is shown ready to tackle anything with grace and confidence.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Keisha Ann is a bright, motivated little girl who has found the perfect outlet for all her energyschool! For Keisha Ann, school is a place of empowerment where she constantly achieveseven when she fails.As they chant the repeated refrain, Keisha Ann can! little onesfollow the girl from the moment she boards the school bus to her triumphant disembarkation at the end of a busy day. The clean, fresh gouache illustrations reinforce the idea that school can be a place for a child to shine, which comes clear even without themessage spelled outat the end: Keisha Ann can do these things / and YOU can do them, too!This chipper, colorful rhyming book reveals the pleasures waiting for children preparing to enter school as well as successfully reminding those already there of the accomplishments they have to be proud of as they continue to learn. Preschool-Grade 1. --Kara Dean; Title: Keisha Ann Can! | [
2772,
4363,
5385,
11365,
16347,
21109,
23783,
33656,
33962,
33981,
34848,
54497,
62709,
65860,
70642
] | Test |
16,232 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2While versions of the story abound, most notably Marcia Brown's 1947 Caldecott winner (S & S), this lovely picture book is a truly worthy addition to most collections. The familiar plot plays out with only one soldier this time and it is the children of the town who are willing to help him. As the youngsters become more involved in the making of the soup, the soldier transforms page by page from a spear-carrying warrior to a man who looks very much like everyone else in town. The addition of a song will make interactive reading a pleasure as everyone can join in the catchy refrain, Stone Soup is what you need/When you have some friends to feed each time a character adds a little something to the pot. Hays's acrylic illustrations create a village that appears quite worn down, and the details are particularly effective. The artist's palette of muted greens and blues gradually takes on more color and life as the storyand soupprogresses. A note from the authors explains that this version of the story is set in 17th-century Germany.Laura Eckley, Bronxville Public Library, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 2. This earnest rendition of the classic tale is framed as a story-song and packaged with a CD (not reviewed). Hays uses details of costume and architecture to create a seventeenth-century European setting for the familiar story about charity: after adults respond with hostility to a weary soldier's plea for food, the man persuades the town's children to help him assemble ingredients for a big pot of soup--which eventually yields plenty for all to share. The chorus ("Stone Soup is what you need / when you have some friends to feed"), with musical notation, is tucked into the text to encourage listeners to sing along. The most receptive audience for this will probably be children who know the tale but haven't considered its import--which Seeger makes even clearer in an afterword. Otherwise, stick with Marcia Brown's Caldecott Honor Book, Stone Soup (1948), or Heather Forest and Susan Gaber's lilting rendition (1998). John PetersCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Some Friends to Feed: The Story of Stone Soup | [
21018,
41108,
59217
] | Train |
16,233 | 1 | "One pig wants potatoes / So Mama starts to cook. / Then one pig's little brother / Decides to come and look." Mama puts them to work washing and peeling potatoes. With the arrival of more siblings, Papa Piggy, and a neighbor, more and more potatoes go into the pot, and nine pigs sit down to enjoy the feast together. Children who are learning to count will enjoy trying out their skills, but this amiable picture book offers more than just countinga childlike story told in short, rhyming phrases and a most appealing family of pigs. With rich, warm colors, the charcoal-and-acrylic artwork offers a nice variety of details in scenes that portray family dynamics with wit and charm. From the piglet who adorns his father's head with potato-peel curls to the older siblings who arrive decked out for fishing, painting, and soccer, there's plenty for children to enjoy in the illustrations while they listen to the rhythmic text roll along. A natural for reading aloud. Phelan, CarolynChristopher Denise lives in Providence, Rhode Island.; Title: Pigs Love Potatoes | [
899,
2732,
3824,
5348,
6071,
12257,
15837,
16334,
24213,
33219
] | Train |
16,234 | 2 | PreS-Gr. 1. There are many books about children losing a pet, but this one about a boy and his pig has both a softness and brightness that transcends other, more traditional, stories. Youngsters will feel the affection between Pablito, a Guatemalan boy, and his pig, Amarillo, just from looking at the book cover, which pictures the porker draped over his boy like a child on his father's shoulders. Pablito received the pig as a gift from his grandfather when it was a tiny baby, yellow in color (hence the name Amarillo). The pig and the boy become fast friends, as a series of vignettes shows. But one day, Amarillo is not in its hut. The boy is distraught, crying into his pillow, "I am waiting for you to come back, but you don't." Nothing comforts Pablito, not even the wooden pig Grandfather carves, until All Saint's Day. By now it is clear that Amarillo will not return, but Grandfather says they can send a message with a kite on the holiday. Pablito works hard on his kite, sending it into the sky at the cemetery. Then over a mountain appears an enormous cloud. It's in the shape of a pig, and to Pablito, it seems Amarillo is smiling down at him. Ichikawa uses her Guatemalan setting very effectively, but she also wraps the story in universal emotions: love, longing, grief, hope. The pen-and-watercolor artwork brings children close to all facets of Pablito's story. On one level, the ending is utterly realistic: Amarillo is gone. But the miracle of comfort is there, too, smiling down in the face of a pig. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reservedSatomi Ichikawa, creator of the Nora books, lives in Paris, France.Satomi Ichikawa, creator of the Nora books, lives in Paris, France.; Title: My Pig Amarillo | [
15064,
29412,
33656,
43904
] | Train |
16,235 | 2 | PreSchool-KWhen the youngster who normally visits the barn every morning fails to appear, the animals are left to wonder what happened to him. The dog tells them that Tommy went to a place called Kindergarten, but that was all he knew. Will the boy ever come back from there? After a long wait and much speculation, Tommy returns to tell them about his day and introduce them to the letters A through D. The story unfolds slowly and suffers from lack of action. Its structure is fairly sophisticated for the intended audience as most of the action happens out of sight. Instead of seeing the child in school, readers see the animals waiting for him and talking among themselves (with the recurring aside that If you'd been there, listening in, it would probably have sounded like this: 'NAYCluckMOObaa.'). Karas's illustrations, done in his trademark sketchy style and in fairly muted colors, do little to lighten the trudging pace of this quiet story. Tales about barnyard animals and about kindergarten abound, and this one fails to separate itself from the pack.Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-K. The farmyard animals cannot understand why Tommy has not come for his morning visit. Then the dog tells them that Tommy has gone in a yellow bus to a place called kindergarten. What's that? What will happen to Tommy there? When Tommy comes home at last, he tells the animals all about it: "I learned lots," he says, and he teaches them letters of the alphabet, a new song, and more. The team that created I Like Where I Am (2003) offers another humorous, comforting story. Tommy serves as a reassuring model, and there's plenty of gentle farmyard fun, with Karas' warm colored-pencil illustrations showing Tommy teaching his friends the wonderful stuff he is learning. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: A Place Called Kindergarten | [
1079,
1695,
2698,
2901,
3600,
3863,
5510,
5607,
6671,
6720,
11382,
16347,
16793,
18438,
18886,
21109,
24005,
24710,
31561,
31862,
38190,
39690,
45991,
46231,
57272,
59750,
74675
] | Train |
16,236 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 3-Milli has a special gift for seeing the artful potential in ordinary, forgotten objects. She loves to "take a straight piece of wire and give it a wiggle, or a simple square of cloth and set it dancing in the wind." However, her talents are hidden as she spends her days making plain, brown shoes for the other townspeople who only want sensible things. When two traveling minstrels, Jack and the Dancing Cat, come into the woman's shop, they offer her dancing lessons in exchange for new boots. Moving her body to the "two-step," the "three-step," and the "tricky twisting backward-sliding four-step" makes Milli feel "brave and free" and gives her the courage to release her creativity. Soon she is making "curly-toed shoes covered in stars" and livening up the neighborhood with musical instruments that make "sounds that had never been heard before." King's sprightly ink-and-watercolor illustrations capture the magic of Milli's creations. A charming story that celebrates imagination and individuality.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-K. Inventive Milli makes fantastic creations from the things that others throw away. She is too shy, though, to share her flights of fancy with her neighbors, choosing instead to run a dull shoe shop. Then Jack, a traveling minstrel, comes to town with his feline partner, Cat, and their music, free-spirited dancing, and friendship help give Milli the confidence to follow her imagination and produce wonderful inventions for Jack, Cat, and eventually the whole town. The story's message to celebrate creativity and learn "to be brave and free" weighs too heavily, but the simple, playful sentences have a nice sense of sound and rhythm. It's the exuberant illustrations that are the biggest attraction. In scribbly ink lines and bright watercolor washes, King shows the giddy joy of Milli, Jack, and Cat as they practice their dance moves and enjoy Milli's extraordinary inventions, which are shown in irresistible detail. Like Simms Taback's Joseph Had a Little Overcoat (2000), King's story shows the fun of finding a new purpose for old things. Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Milli, Jack and the Dancing Cat | [
65028
] | Train |
16,237 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 1Rabbit has a well-scripted, predictable life until Froggie knocks on his door one night. His guest loves to listen to this big blue rabbit with oversized ears read a story and likes it even more when he has prepared himself a snack or gotten cozynight after night. Polite Rabbit refrains from refusing entry until Froggie shows up with his entire family. As he settles himself down to read alone, however, he realizes that he misses Froggie and invites the whole crew in. The humorous illustrations create empathy for Rabbit but also for Froggie, who is genuinely delighted to listen to a story. The varied facial expressions lend credence to the adage "A picture is worth a thousand words." The simple text may say "but before he could begin, there was that knock-knockety-knocking again!" but the horror on Rabbit's face is priceless. A fun story that celebrates reading and standing up for oneself.Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CAPreS-Gr. 2. Rabbit settles in his cozy wing chair by the fire and starts to read a book until he is interrupted by Froggie, who invites himself in and asks to hear the story. On successive nights, Froggie shows up again, makes himself snacks, and plunks down on a pile of pillows to listen to more reading aloud. Then Froggie brings his huge family to the evening storytime, and Rabbit has had enough: "Too many frogs! Too much fuss!" He tells the Frog clan to leave, but guilt catches up with him, and he invites the family back. The humorous, repetitive text is well matched by the funny, expressive illustrations. Persnickety Rabbit is appropriately anxious and irritable, while Froggie and his family exude bug-eyed cheerfulness. A good choice for storytimes. Todd MorningCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Too Many Frogs | [
3061,
4072,
6077,
6735,
12086,
14539,
16146,
17283,
21026,
22651,
23119,
23956,
26386,
28798,
36612,
37807,
42997,
45992,
49304,
55885,
55886,
58069,
69463
] | Train |
16,238 | 5 | Grade 4-7Rowan Hood, the famous outlaw's bold, brave, and sensitive daughter, founds her own band of cohorts in Sherwood Forest to avenge her mother's death. Princess Ettarde, Lionel, and Rook have been featured in separate books in the series and many of the plot elements from the earlier titles carry over into this concluding volume. It opens in spring with Etty's arrival and her revelation to Rowan of the names of her mother's murderers. The teen decides to seek vengeance, severely testing the loyalty of each member of her band. Rowan is gathering coltsfoot when she senses a profound change. Her special powers seem to be waning and she is filled with a sense of foreboding. Once she sets her course, to return to Celandine's wood, her little band undertakes a long and perilous journey. The talents of each member are called upon as they venture through a landscape filled with bounty hunters, man traps, bad weather, and poor cover. The young outlaws and Rowan's uncanny wolf-dog, Tykell, defy capture, witness two knights' fight to the death, and call on the aelfin folk for guidance. As 15-year-old Rowan faces not only physical dangers, but also the detrimental effects of revenge seeking, she approaches adulthood and an awareness of how best to use her powers. Springer weaves enough of the previous stories in for readers new to the series to follow the action, but this final volume is best read as the satisfying conclusion to the saga.Kathryn Kosiorek, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 4-7. Subtitled The Final Chapter, this fourth (and presumably last) entry in Springer's Tales of Rowan Hood series brings the Sherwood Forest story cycle satisfyingly full circle, returning the narrative focus to Rowan herself. Bounty hunters continue to harry Robin Hood's daughter and her band of good-hearted outlaws, but the most prominent conflict here is internal: Rowan has discovered the identities of those who murdered her mother (a "forestwife" healer) two years ago. Overcome with "an inner darkening, a chill in her bones," the stricken teen sets out to exact vengeance. Rowan's friends suppress concern over their leader's uncharacteristically grim outlook and violent intent, lending support--both emotional and physical, as her injured legs seem to weaken inversely proportionate to her fury--and bearing witness as she feels her way back to her true purpose in life. Slender but deeply felt, and dense with detail that reflects and extends the richness of the interior landscapes traversed, this brings a favorite medieval adventure series to a brooding but graceful close. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Rowan Hood Returns | [
5956,
6037,
16215
] | Train |
16,239 | 0 | Kindergarten-Grade 4Henry Chu lives in New York City's Chinatown in the 1920s. He loves everything about it, from eating tasty dumplings to making and flying kites with his neighbor, Grandfather Chin. One day when Grandfather's spectacular butterfly kite is chasing a pigeon, Tony Guglione and his friends from Little Italy throw rocks at it and destroy it. Then they ruin his magnificent caterpillar. When they attack Grandfather's dragon kite, Henry and his companions confront them. The children almost come to blows, but when the dragon appears in the sky, again chasing a pigeon, the root of the discord comes to light. Tony and his pals raise homing pigeons, and the kites are frightening their pets. A compromise is reachedkites fly in the morning, birds in the afternoonand new friendships are formed. Hall's story includes descriptions and details that ground it firmly in time and place, and the plot serves as an excellent vehicle for discussing how seeing things from someone else's perspective is essential for peaceful relations. Low's heavily textured and brilliantly colored kites soar across the pages with energy and grace. This gentle and satisfying tale, which is particularly effective for group sharing, will be widely appreciated.Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. Eight-year-old Henry lives in New York City's Chinatown, the "three tiny streets" next to the Little Italy neighborhood. He and his friends love to visit the kite maker, Grandfather Chin, to help him paste and paint the kites, which Grandfather Chin flies from his roof in dramatic swoops, sometimes chasing pigeons. Then some boys from Little Italy begin to throw rocks that destroy the kites. Henry wants to fight, but Grandfather Chin prefers to resist quietly by continuing to fly kites of increasing glory. Finally, Henry confronts the boys, and learns that they keep pet pigeons--the very birds that Grandfather Chin has chased with his kites. Together, the children work out a deal for air space: kites in the morning; pet pigeons in the afternoon. Hall's messages about compromise and tolerance weigh a bit heavily, but, in Henry's young voice, he tells an engaging story about a vibrant community, which is beautifully captured in Low's detailed, dramatic paintings. For more about the neighborhood, suggest Kam Mak's My Chinatown (2001). Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Henry & The Kite Dragon | [
15492,
16042,
16061,
16062,
16344,
16438,
17700,
24574,
24879,
36008,
36390,
49078,
59654,
60411,
68184
] | Train |
16,240 | 2 | This picture book in free verse centers around Emily Dickinsons famous poem, Tell all the Truth, but tell it slant. Yolen bases her story on true events in the life of the reclusive poet, who doted on her nephews next door in Amherst, Massachusetts, and joked that they should call her Uncle. Gilbert, six, describes how Uncle Emily gives him a dead bee and a poem to take to his teacher. After the teacher reads the poem to the class, no one understands it, and in the schoolyard, Gil fights a bully for calling Uncle a name. At home, the wounded Gil doesnt fully explain why he is limping, but Uncle Emily helps him find a way to tell the tale, so it comes around to the truth at last. Carpenters clear, digitally touched pen-and-ink pictures show the classroom and playground drama, and then the warm, close family, all in period detail. After listening to the story, kids may want to hear the poem, printed in full at the back, and to talk about what it means. Grades K-3. --Hazel Rochman"Yolen is a master of word craft and the story is beautifully told in short, rhythmic lines that read like free verse." --School Library Journal, starred review; Title: My Uncle Emily | [
14322,
62268,
69141
] | Train |
16,241 | 2 | Eric Hill (www.funwithspot.com) left school when he was 15 and took up cartooning while working as a messenger at an art studio. He created Where's Spot? as a bedtime story for his two-year-old son. It was published four years later, and the rest is history. Eric Hill passed away in July 2014.; Title: Spot's Thanksgiving | [
651,
667,
674,
2314,
2405,
2510,
3097,
3278,
3347,
5560,
5806,
5807,
5809,
5817,
5818,
5824,
5840,
5884,
5975,
6761,
8170,
8681,
9349,
9785,
9913,
10567,
10767,
11384,
16228,
16294,
16298,
16359,
16373,
16416,
18575,
18738,
19597,
19616,
25... | Train |
16,242 | 2 | Morgan and Moffat, the Barker twins, are excited for school to start. Once there, Moffie sets out to earn as many gold stars as possible, while the more laid-back Morgie quietly goes about making firm friends with a few classmates. But after a few days, Moffie is given a gentle lecture from the teacher, who asks her to give other kids a chance to answer questions. Suddenly she realizes she's been so busy collecting stars, she hasn't made any friends yet. "I'll get gold stars and Morgie can get friends," she thinks. But then Morgie's time in the sun (or stars) finally arrives, when the teacher asks a question he can most definitely answer. By the end of the first week, both Morgie and Moffie have friends and stars--and they are in complete agreement about one thing: "We LOVE school!"Tomie de Paola modeled Morgie and Moffie after two of his four charismatic Welsh terriers. De Paola, the Newbery Honor author/illustrator of 26 Fairmount Avenue and many other well-loved children's books, captures the drama and dilemmas of school and illustrates the best way to find a balance between friendships and studies. His understated, humorous text is accompanied by highly appealing illustrations of the young pups in acrylic on handmade watercolor paper. Here is the perfect first-day-of-school book for the little Morgies and Moffies in every classroom. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie CoulterIn DePaola's (26 Fairmount Avenue) first book in a planned series, inspired by dePaola's beloved English terriers, excitement builds for twin pups Morgan and Moffat Barker as their first day of school approaches. Moffie, who was born 10 minutes ahead of her brother Morgie, takes her role as the "oldest" to heart, acting bossy, competitive and precocious. Her over-achieving manner initially earns her plenty of gold stars in Ms. Shepherd's class, but few friends. Morgie, meanwhile, finds his own understated ways to shine and makes several pals along the way. Before long, the siblings learn a few valuable lessons from each other and come to agree on one important thing: they love school. DePaola's text introduces two amusing foils in Moffie and Morgie, but the story loses its delicate balance of humor and heart when Moffie's bratty behavior temporarily monopolizes the plot. Unfortunately, a few rough transitions trip up the story's rhythm and detract from the sweet denouement. Still, many of the situations here will strike a chord with young children and their parents and dePaola's sunny, gently humorous acrylic paintings are as winning as ever. Ages 4-7.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Meet the Barkers: Morgan & Moffat Go to School (Barker Twins) | [
4587,
5498,
6096,
11622,
18470,
25131,
25676,
26031,
34077,
36442,
37841,
37944,
39963,
61620,
61627,
72416,
73829
] | Train |
16,243 | 2 | Joy Cowley is known by teachers, librarians, and children the world over from her native New Zealand to South Africa to the United States as both writer and reading specialist.; Title: Mrs. Wishy-washy's Splishy Sploshy Day | [
6030,
16269,
34618
] | Train |
16,244 | 11 | Kindergarten-Grade 2This story of a Hispanic boys birthday party starts with A is for adornos (decorations) hung up by Pap. and ends with Z is for zorro (fox) from Dad with a kiss. A glossary at the books beginning helps with the pronunciation and meaning of the Spanish words. Unfortunately, the rhyming couplets not only sound strained and awkward, but they also omit the definite articles. Karass illustrations definitely set the mood with reds, greens, purples, yellows, pinks, and oranges that are bright and bold but never garish. They also do a good job of giving clues to the meaning of the Spanish words.Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 2. Bilingual classrooms, and teachers seeking materials for Cinco de Mayo activities, will seize this small, square abecedarian book, which incorporates Spanish vocabulary words from A to Z into a singsong, predominantly English-language narrative about a child's birthday fiesta: "S is for salsa, a sauce and a dance. T is for tarjetas from uncles and aunts." At their best, Elya's verses bounce as easily between languages as they did in Oh, No, Gotta Go! (2003), which was also buoyantly illustrated by Karas. Sometimes the strain of adhering to both the theme and the verse structure is obvious, but the backdrop of a familiar, fun-filled occasion may smooth the way to learning--and even very silly rhymes can be useful mnemonics. A glossary with pronunciations (but no articles) opens the book, along with a discussion of the Spanish alphabet, which here includes rr as well as the usual ch, ll, n. The book's petite size will limit its read-aloud use to smaller groups. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: F is for Fiesta | [
1300,
7029,
7595,
16131,
16143,
16151,
16156,
16351,
16399,
16412,
16430,
25323,
26971,
38410,
72274
] | Train |
16,245 | 18 | Starred Review. Grade 25Joining the author's You're on Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt (2004) and Take the Lead, George Washington (2005, both Philomel), this illustrated biography also explores the childhood life of a president, examining the influences that shaped Roosevelt's life with stories that will delight young readers. Born into a wealthy family, Franklin was doted on by his mother who called him "Baby," dressed him in dresses, and kept his long hair in curls. "But Franklin was definite about what he wantedand by six he wanted the curls off. Off they came!" "He was never spanked. (Once, when he was naughty, his father said, 'Franklin, consider yourself spanked')." When he was 14 and attending boarding school for the first time, he heard the strong message "go out and serve the world" from the Rector, Reverend Endicott Peabody. Later he met his fifth cousin, Theodore, whose energetic tales of public service influenced him greatly. Throughout, Spencer's spirited watercolor, gouache, and ink illustrations bring to life the culture and background of this American icon. This peek into history has great child appeal.Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.St. George continues her spirited accounts of important influences in the lives of young presidents-to-be with this picture-book profile of a lad for whom the phrase "born with a silver spoon in his mouth" could not be more apt. The only child of doting parents, Franklin grows up in extreme luxury, but rather than turning into an idle country gentleman as his strong-minded mother wishes, he finds outlets for his energy--first in outdoor pursuits learned from his jolly father, and later, having absorbed a sense of social and civic responsibility from both a governess and the admired headmaster of his boarding school, by following his cousin Teddy into politics. Conveying Franklin's intense personality by portraying him throughout with wide open eyes and mouth, Spencer debuts with scenes of cleanly drawn figures reminiscent of David Small's, sporting slightly oversize heads and distinct facial features. Readers will come away with both a better sense of FDR's character and an appreciation for the experiences and encounters that shaped it. A source list and a note from the author are appended. John PetersCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Make Your Mark, Franklin Roosevelt (Turning Point Books) | [
6897,
16213,
18833,
20796
] | Validation |
16,246 | 5 | PreSchool-Grade 4A lushly illustrated rendition of the classic tale. In his preface, Moses acknowledges the dark aspects of the story and uses descriptive words like harangued and vicious tirade to convey clearly why the poor father capitulates to his wifes terrible plan of abandoning the children. He also has the stepmother tie down a sapling to thump against a hollow tree, mimicking the noise of a woodcutter cutting trees, and the children mistakenly believe that their father is nearby. Mosess signature colorful folk art, done in oil on fabriano paper, effectively conveys the flavor of 19th-century German landscapes, houses, and furnishings. Unfortunately, although the text states that the family lived in a little cottage, the illustrations depict a large, well-furnished home. Additionally, the tiny and static expressions of the children communicate poorly the powerful emotions reflective of their ordeal. In contrast, Paul Zelinskys illustrations in Rika Lessers retelling (Putnam, 1989) poignantly portray the children, demonstrating how integral their expressions are in developing the fear and tension that permeate the tale. In a final addition, Moses feels compelled to reassure his listeners, Sleep well tonight, and dont let this old story give you a fright. Your parents love you dear and will never let harm come near! An additional purchase.Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma Library, CA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 3. Grandma Moses' folk-artist grandson takes a nibble at the candy cottage here, offering a well-crafted retelling of a favorite tale that is as faithful to its source as it is lengthy. Unlike Paul O. Zelinsky's dramatic Caldecott Honor Book interpretation (1989), Moses' instantly recognizable, faux-naif renderings, most placing characters at a stylized remove, serve to mute some of the tale's terrifying qualities. However, in light of a text that preserves almost every nuance of the Grimm brothers' blunt sensibility ("As soon as [the witch] had the poor lost children in her power, the evil old thing would cook and eat them!"), many youngsters will welcome the respite from the fearsome words invited by the book's numerous full-bleed, wordless spreads. Due to the often densely packed paragraphs and the fine-grain detail in each scene, this is best for one-on-one sharing with patient listeners, or for capable readers to enjoy on their own. Edition and translation sources are not acknowledged. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Hansel & Gretel | [
5395,
5509,
10439,
16055,
16204,
32766,
36475,
39030,
40814,
46519,
48979,
52776,
54374,
61915,
71998,
74177
] | Train |
16,247 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 3-On first perusal of this book, one's mind leaps to other incarnations of blue spots in children's literature, notably Leo Lionni's Little Blue and Little Yellow (Astor-Honor, 1959), Robert Lopshire's Put Me in the Zoo (Beginner, 1960), Ellen Stoll Walsh's Mouse Paint (Harcourt, 1989), and even Mick Inkpen's The Blue Balloon (Little, Brown, 1990). It is tempting to ask if the world needs another story with a round, blue protagonist. Upon sharing the book with young readers, however, a different perspective emerges. The short, rhymed sentences, although a bit awkward at times, are easily managed by beginners. Youngsters will enjoy the spot's dialogue with them-and the thought that they can help this watercolor sphere drip onto another page in his quest for a friend. (He finds a yellow one-.) Kids know about wanting companionship. Anticipate a child's satisfied smile during the final scene, depicting a celebratory Venn diagram of friendship. Perhaps a roundup of spot stories will inspire children to experiment further.Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public LibraryCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Big Blue Spot | [
16225,
16275
] | Test |
16,248 | 18 | Gr 14The inimitable Kalman brings her wit, wisdom, and beautifully unique artwork to one of America's most complex founding fathers: Thomas Jefferson. A thinker, a gardener, a writer, a statesman, and so much more, Jefferson cultivated many interests and pursuits. His ability and need to balance the cerebral with the physical is evident in how he lived, the advice he gave, and the friends he made. Kalman does not shy away from Jefferson's ownership of slaves and relationship with Sally Hemings, which are handled directly and effectively. Bits of historical context are included, but the focus here is on the man and his "pursuit of everything." The text alternates between facts, which appear in a more traditional font, and asides to the reader and Kalman's own thoughts, which are highlighted in large, hand-lettered print. Kalman's distinctive, bold-stroked gouache paintings keep the tone light and fresh, providing plenty of details that garner a closer look. Share this along with the author's picture-book biography of Abraham Lincoln, Looking at Lincoln (Penguin, 2012) to inspire young historians and artists alike. Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA*Starred Review* Thomas Jefferson was complex as this picture-book biography vigorously demonstrates. Famous for life, liberty, and the pursuit of everything, he sometimes fell short of the ideal. If Kalman expressed adulation for Lincoln in Looking at Lincoln (2012), in this examination, although admiring of her subject and his accomplishments, shes more clear-sighted. Vibrant gouache paintingssome full-spread, some more intimate imagescapture Jeffersons family and colleagues, his interests and pursuits, his lavish home, and its inferior slave quarters. The voice is that of a curious child reporting fascinating research findings. The rangy tone, however, allows Kalman to supply a wealth of informationthough not everything is well explained. Jefferson had an ingenious copying machine? Just a sentence or two highlighting each point is often followed by unrestrained commentary: upon sharing a list of his slaves, the text laments, Our hearts are broken; after revealing that Jefferson did not include his presidency in his epitaph, a musing: I wonder why. Even the typography, which alternates between staid print and handwritten flourishes, conveys enthusiasm. Playful but informative, as quick witted as Jefferson himself, this willalong with the authors notewill inspire young readers to learn more. Grades 1-3. --Jeanne McDermott; Title: Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Everything | [
2589,
2670,
4383,
6048,
6760,
6945,
10055,
11061,
11254,
12778,
12848,
13925,
14539,
15811,
16163,
16344,
17432,
17700,
17831,
18499,
18578,
18833,
19331,
19464,
19538,
20796,
21068,
21391,
22389,
23334,
24325,
24588,
25838,
25845,
27200,
33432,
... | Validation |
16,249 | 1 | Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 25 languages and sold over twelve million copies. Since the Caterpillar was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than sixty books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.Born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, Eric Carle moved with his parents to Germany when he was six years old; he was educated there, and graduated from the prestigious art school, the Akademie der bildenden Kunste, in Stuttgart. But his dream was always to return to America, the land of his happiest childhood memories. So, in 1952, with a fine portfolio in hand and forty dollars in his pocket, he arrived in New York. Soon he found a job as a graphic designer in the promotion department of The New York Times. Later, he was the art director of an advertising agency for many years.One day, respected educator and author, Bill Martin Jr, called to ask Carle to illustrate a story he had written. Martin's eye had been caught by a striking picture of a red lobster that Carle had created for an advertisement. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was the result of their collaboration. It is still a favorite with children everywhere. This was the beginning of Eric Carle's true career. Soon Carle was writing his own stories, too. His first wholly original book was 1,2,3 to the Zoo, followed soon afterward by the celebrated classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.Eric Carle's art is distinctive and instantly recognizable. His art work is created in collage technique, using hand-painted papers, which he cuts and layers to form bright and cheerful images. Many of his books have an added dimension - die-cut pages, twinkling lights as in The Very Lonely Firefly, even the lifelike sound of a cricket's song as in The Very Quiet Cricket - giving them a playful quality: a toy that can be read, a book that can be touched. Children also enjoy working in collage and many send him pictures they have made themselves, inspired by his illustrations. He receives hundreds of letters each week from his young admirers. The secret of Eric Carle's books' appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions.The themes of his stories are usually drawn from his extensive knowledge and love of nature - an interest shared by most small children. Besides being beautiful and entertaining, his books always offer the child the opportunity to learn something about the world around them. It is his concern for children, for their feelings and their inquisitiveness, for their creativity and their intellectual growth that, in addition to his beautiful artwork, makes the reading of his books such a stimulating and lasting experience.Carle says: "With many of my books I attempt to bridge the gap between the home and school. To me home represents, or should represent; warmth, security, toys, holding hands, being held. School is a strange and new place for a child. Will it be a happy place? There are new people, a teacher, classmates - will they be friendly? I believe the passage from home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; the first is, of course, being born. Indeed, in both cases we leave a place of warmth and protection for one that is unknown. The unknown often brings fear with it. In my books I try to counteract this fear, to replace it with a positive message. I believe that children are naturally creative and eager to learn. I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun."Eric Carle has two grown-up children, a son and a daughter. With his wife Barbara, he lives in Northampton, Massachusetts. The Carles spend their summers in the nearby Berkshire hills.copyright 2000 by Penguin Group (USA) Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 25 languages and sold over twelve million copies. Since the Caterpillar was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than sixty books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.Born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, Eric Carle moved with his parents to Germany when he was six years old; he was educated there, and graduated from the prestigious art school, the Akademie der bildenden Kunste, in Stuttgart. But his dream was always to return to America, the land of his happiest childhood memories. So, in 1952, with a fine portfolio in hand and forty dollars in his pocket, he arrived in New York. Soon he found a job as a graphic designer in the promotion department of The New York Times. Later, he was the art director of an advertising agency for many years.One day, respected educator and author, Bill Martin Jr, called to ask Carle to illustrate a story he had written. Martin's eye had been caught by a striking picture of a red lobster that Carle had created for an advertisement. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was the result of their collaboration. It is still a favorite with children everywhere. This was the beginning of Eric Carle's true career. Soon Carle was writing his own stories, too. His first wholly original book was 1,2,3 to the Zoo, followed soon afterward by the celebrated classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.Eric Carle's art is distinctive and instantly recognizable. His art work is created in collage technique, using hand-painted papers, which he cuts and layers to form bright and cheerful images. Many of his books have an added dimension - die-cut pages, twinkling lights as in The Very Lonely Firefly, even the lifelike sound of a cricket's song as in The Very Quiet Cricket - giving them a playful quality: a toy that can be read, a book that can be touched. Children also enjoy working in collage and many send him pictures they have made themselves, inspired by his illustrations. He receives hundreds of letters each week from his young admirers. The secret of Eric Carle's books' appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions.The themes of his stories are usually drawn from his extensive knowledge and love of nature - an interest shared by most small children. Besides being beautiful and entertaining, his books always offer the child the opportunity to learn something about the world around them. It is his concern for children, for their feelings and their inquisitiveness, for their creativity and their intellectual growth that, in addition to his beautiful artwork, makes the reading of his books such a stimulating and lasting experience.Carle says: "With many of my books I attempt to bridge the gap between the home and school. To me home represents, or should represent; warmth, security, toys, holding hands, being held. School is a strange and new place for a child. Will it be a happy place? There are new people, a teacher, classmates - will they be friendly? I believe the passage from home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; the first is, of course, being born. Indeed, in both cases we leave a place of warmth and protection for one that is unknown. The unknown often brings fear with it. In my books I try to counteract this fear, to replace it with a positive message. I believe that children are naturally creative and eager to learn. I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun."copyright 2000 by Penguin Group (USA) Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.; Title: La araa muy ocupada (Spanish Edition) | [
540,
555,
879,
1300,
4620,
4628,
5400,
5402,
5483,
5539,
6901,
9724,
9727,
9732,
9758,
9850,
10924,
12820,
12867,
15166,
15796,
16013,
16264,
16484,
16538,
18773,
21002,
23355,
23727,
26887,
28299,
28352,
29142,
29494,
33314,
34545,
36831,
36... | Validation |
16,250 | 1 | Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 25 languages and sold over twelve million copies. Since the Caterpillar was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than sixty books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.Born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, Eric Carle moved with his parents to Germany when he was six years old; he was educated there, and graduated from the prestigious art school, the Akademie der bildenden Kunste, in Stuttgart. But his dream was always to return to America, the land of his happiest childhood memories. So, in 1952, with a fine portfolio in hand and forty dollars in his pocket, he arrived in New York. Soon he found a job as a graphic designer in the promotion department of The New York Times. Later, he was the art director of an advertising agency for many years.One day, respected educator and author, Bill Martin Jr, called to ask Carle to illustrate a story he had written. Martin's eye had been caught by a striking picture of a red lobster that Carle had created for an advertisement. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was the result of their collaboration. It is still a favorite with children everywhere. This was the beginning of Eric Carle's true career. Soon Carle was writing his own stories, too. His first wholly original book was 1,2,3 to the Zoo, followed soon afterward by the celebrated classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.Eric Carle's art is distinctive and instantly recognizable. His art work is created in collage technique, using hand-painted papers, which he cuts and layers to form bright and cheerful images. Many of his books have an added dimension - die-cut pages, twinkling lights as in The Very Lonely Firefly, even the lifelike sound of a cricket's song as in The Very Quiet Cricket - giving them a playful quality: a toy that can be read, a book that can be touched. Children also enjoy working in collage and many send him pictures they have made themselves, inspired by his illustrations. He receives hundreds of letters each week from his young admirers. The secret of Eric Carle's books' appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions.The themes of his stories are usually drawn from his extensive knowledge and love of nature - an interest shared by most small children. Besides being beautiful and entertaining, his books always offer the child the opportunity to learn something about the world around them. It is his concern for children, for their feelings and their inquisitiveness, for their creativity and their intellectual growth that, in addition to his beautiful artwork, makes the reading of his books such a stimulating and lasting experience.Carle says: "With many of my books I attempt to bridge the gap between the home and school. To me home represents, or should represent; warmth, security, toys, holding hands, being held. School is a strange and new place for a child. Will it be a happy place? There are new people, a teacher, classmates - will they be friendly? I believe the passage from home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; the first is, of course, being born. Indeed, in both cases we leave a place of warmth and protection for one that is unknown. The unknown often brings fear with it. In my books I try to counteract this fear, to replace it with a positive message. I believe that children are naturally creative and eager to learn. I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun."Eric Carle has two grown-up children, a son and a daughter. With his wife Barbara, he lives in Northampton, Massachusetts. The Carles spend their summers in the nearby Berkshire hills.copyright 2000 by Penguin Group (USA) Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 25 languages and sold over twelve million copies. Since the Caterpillar was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than sixty books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.Born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, Eric Carle moved with his parents to Germany when he was six years old; he was educated there, and graduated from the prestigious art school, the Akademie der bildenden Kunste, in Stuttgart. But his dream was always to return to America, the land of his happiest childhood memories. So, in 1952, with a fine portfolio in hand and forty dollars in his pocket, he arrived in New York. Soon he found a job as a graphic designer in the promotion department of The New York Times. Later, he was the art director of an advertising agency for many years.One day, respected educator and author, Bill Martin Jr, called to ask Carle to illustrate a story he had written. Martin's eye had been caught by a striking picture of a red lobster that Carle had created for an advertisement. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was the result of their collaboration. It is still a favorite with children everywhere. This was the beginning of Eric Carle's true career. Soon Carle was writing his own stories, too. His first wholly original book was 1,2,3 to the Zoo, followed soon afterward by the celebrated classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.Eric Carle's art is distinctive and instantly recognizable. His art work is created in collage technique, using hand-painted papers, which he cuts and layers to form bright and cheerful images. Many of his books have an added dimension - die-cut pages, twinkling lights as in The Very Lonely Firefly, even the lifelike sound of a cricket's song as in The Very Quiet Cricket - giving them a playful quality: a toy that can be read, a book that can be touched. Children also enjoy working in collage and many send him pictures they have made themselves, inspired by his illustrations. He receives hundreds of letters each week from his young admirers. The secret of Eric Carle's books' appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions.The themes of his stories are usually drawn from his extensive knowledge and love of nature - an interest shared by most small children. Besides being beautiful and entertaining, his books always offer the child the opportunity to learn something about the world around them. It is his concern for children, for their feelings and their inquisitiveness, for their creativity and their intellectual growth that, in addition to his beautiful artwork, makes the reading of his books such a stimulating and lasting experience.Carle says: "With many of my books I attempt to bridge the gap between the home and school. To me home represents, or should represent; warmth, security, toys, holding hands, being held. School is a strange and new place for a child. Will it be a happy place? There are new people, a teacher, classmates - will they be friendly? I believe the passage from home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; the first is, of course, being born. Indeed, in both cases we leave a place of warmth and protection for one that is unknown. The unknown often brings fear with it. In my books I try to counteract this fear, to replace it with a positive message. I believe that children are naturally creative and eager to learn. I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun."copyright 2000 by Penguin Group (USA) Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.; Title: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Board Book and Plush (Book&Toy) | [
5373,
8598,
9803,
11904,
13099,
14557,
14695,
15876,
16129,
16361,
16402,
16484,
16538,
16781,
28927,
29307,
36544,
48383,
52357,
52567,
53446,
56517,
58247,
68445,
69380
] | Train |
16,251 | 2 | Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 3This is the story of an older buffalo that is no longer able to keep up with the rest of the herd. While the idea that the once-powerful old bull is growing older and unable to keep pace is sad, he is filled with serenity. In his travels behind the herd, he comes across a buffalo cow about to give birth. He stays with her throughout her labor and protects and cares for the calf, saving it during a dust storm. The book portrays the circle of life in a beautiful way, but it also shows the protective bond between young and old, as well as the important role Grandfather Buffalo continues to play in the herd dynamic. This book is a perfect interplay of poetic text and strong art that is full of love and empathy. Arnosky gives the impression of the harshness of the prairie environment without overdramatizing. Each spread features the majestic expanse of the tall grass and the other creatures that inhabit it. This is Arnosky at his excellent best.Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. The irony of a tender story about a huge, powerful buffalo will escape young children, but most listeners will relate to a young creature's bonding with an older one. Grandfather Buffalo is getting very old. Each time the herd moves, he falls further behind. Also left behind is a pregnant female, and it's her calf that revives Grandfather's spirit; the old buffalo nudges the calf along and protects it during a dust storm. When the dust clears, the bull finds a quiet spot to sleep, only to be awakened by something pressing against his ribs--the calf napping by his side. Arnosky's signature artwork, which beautifully evokes the western landscape, is especially effective showing the buffalo close-up, and the writer-artist's respect for nature is clearly reflected in the simple, poignant story. Julie CumminsCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Grandfather Buffalo | [
6071,
20758,
28963,
46445,
49417,
52702
] | Train |
16,252 | 2 | This small etiquette primer is narrated by a little girl with wild curly hair, a tutu, and cowboy boots, who will make the basics of "please," "thank you," and "I'm sorry" seem inviting to children. The words and pictures have a subversive undercurrent. No Pollyanna, this little girl tries to rip another girl's tutu right off, smears nail polish on someone who won't share, and then uses manners to make amends or get out of trouble. The ink-and-watercolor illustrations add zest to the lessons. Each double-page spread contains a bit of advice in a cartoon balloon and then spices it up with examples, which are often comical: the "excuse me" section covers gross bodily sounds, for example. A hilarious read-together filled with good advice. Fletcher, Connie; Title: Please Is a Good Word to Say | [
16439,
68204
] | Train |
16,253 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2—Lili is so shy and soft-spoken that she is almost invisible in her classroom. She fails to ask for what she wants and often ends up with what she doesn't want: a partner named Cassidy. Then one day, when Mrs. Backmeyer is absent and Cassidy is being cruel to the guinea pig, Lili finds her strongest, most forceful voice and commands respect: "Even the glue in the bottle stood still." This engaging story is well written and even poetic. Lili is a well-developed character, and her growth is believable. The warm, energetic illustrations highlight the elements of humor in the story, as when the substitute teacher is on her cell phone outside the room with the class visibly out of control within. Lili's facial expressions are priceless, especially as she shrieks "STOP IT!," and children will laugh at Cassidy's archlike pigtails, and at the birds and fish that line up along with the students. While shy youngsters may claim Lili, others will relate to her. This excellent title will spark discussions on feeling shy, practicing assertiveness, and dealing with bullies.—Barbara Katz, Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, TX Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Newbery Honor Book author Choldenko follows How to Make Friends with a Giant (2006) with another picture book about honest friendship and confronting bullies. Lili's voice is so soft that her teacher can't hear her during roll call. During partner projects, Lili is too shy to pair up, and at recess, she hides in the classroom with a book. Then loud Cassidy chooses Lili to work withon a project, but Lili ends up doing all the work. When Cassidy wants to share lunch, Lili ends up with the carrots and Cassidy gets the cake. The final straw comes when Cassidy decides to pour glue into the classroom guinea pig's water bottle. In defending a beloved pet, Lili finds her voice, learns to assert herself, and makes a true friend. Schindler's pastel illustrations have a feathery, soft-edged texture that adds a reassuring tone to the story of a child's roiling emotions. All kids, whether they're a Cassidy or a Lili, will leave this well-told story with plenty to think about. Engberg, Gillian; Title: Louder, Lili | [
4250,
10106,
16147,
16321,
16344,
16347,
16558,
21109,
21344,
22984,
24710,
28790,
29314,
31862,
31931,
32304,
38306,
41057,
43127,
44620,
45991,
46243,
48511,
49080,
49304,
57272,
58170,
59750,
61664,
62709,
68204,
68210,
70561,
72707,
73906,
74... | Validation |
16,254 | 15 | Jan Brett, well-loved for her ornate, Scandinavian-themed picture books takes her talents deep into the Monteverde Cloud Forest of Costa Rica. A tropical twist on The Mitten, this story chronicles the antics of myriad animals that make themselves right at home in the handcrafted leaf umbrella that Carlos has left at the foot of a giant fig tree. As the tree frog, toucan, kinkajou, tapir, quetzal, monkey, and more pile into the umbrella, Carlos, who is visiting the cloud forest expressly to see these animals, doesn't see a single one. Things heat up when the impulsive monkey hurls the umbrella into the river: "'Qu pasa? What is happening?' Froggy asks as water starts to pour into the umbrella." Jaguar jumps in, adding to the confusion, but it's the addition of the tiniest of hummingbirds that causes the big "KER-SPLASH!" Brett's gorgeous, detailed watercolor and gouache illustrations steal the show here, from the exquisite endpapers to the vine-encased leafy side panels that reveal the tree-climbing boy on the left side and a sneak preview of the next umbrella-dwelling animal on the right side. Not Brett's best-crafted story, but her fans will want this lush offering anyway. (Ages 5 to 8) --Karin Snelson Did You Know?Fun Facts about Jan BrettFor Young Writers and ArtistsTips from Jan BrettKindergarten-Grade 4Young Carlos hopes to spot certain animals in the nearby rain forest but is disappointed when no living things appear. Dropping his umbrella made from leaves, he climbs a tree for a better view. Meanwhile, one by one all of the creatures the boy hoped to see settle into his umbrella, arguing over available space until the weight of a hummingbird tips the whole thing over. The story line, which mimics Brett's The Mitten (1989) and Pamela Allen's amusing Who Sank the Boat? (1983, both Putnam), is a trifle overambitious and seems to sink, like the umbrella, under the weight of its components. The animals lapse into Spanish often enough to perplex readers, since the words and phrases aren't always clearly translated. The text fails to improve on earlier versions of this tale. However, the watercolor-and-gouache illustrations are stunning. Lush vine-framed paintings show a leafy world where countless shades of green are illuminated by tropical flowers and exotic animals. Each spread provides an enticing glimpse of the creature that will appear next and thus an entertaining visual puzzle for children. Despite the narrative's weaknesses, this book can be used as an introduction to the rain forest, and the illustrations alone make it worth owning.Susan Weitz, Spencer-Van Etten Schools, Spencer, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: The Umbrella | [
5365,
5624,
5977,
5997,
6194,
6852,
7011,
8687,
9877,
12737,
12775,
15593,
15755,
15764,
15823,
15849,
15873,
15965,
15986,
16033,
16093,
16122,
16124,
16146,
16187,
16224,
16293,
16331,
16420,
16424,
16446,
16449,
16501,
16536,
16546,
16561,
1... | Validation |
16,255 | 6 | Grade 15In this highly appropriate pairing of folk art and sayings, Moses explains many common idioms. A colorful definition (e.g., "Kick the bucket means: A sassy way of saying someone died"), a sample sentence, and one of Moses's old-fashioned Americana-style oil paintings accompany each phrase. The lesson is kept lighthearted through examples that play upon the literal meanings of each phrase, often to comedic effect. Cats and dogs literally rain down from the sky upon rosy-cheeked ladies with parasols and opera gloves. A brass-buttoned captain and his crew are left "high and dry" when a whale lifts their boat out of the water, and a toad marries his mate, "warts and all." One somewhat thorny image is the depiction of a shirtless African American surrounded by clothed white people. The delicate details of the illustrations will be best appreciated by independent readers. Old-timey souls, folk-art students, and new Americans seeking to understand our many interesting phrases will appreciate Moses's contribution to the collective American heritage.Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.This irreverent picture book takes a look at various well-known (and a few lesser-known) figures of speech that children may have noticed and puzzled over. Moses presents one or two idioms per page, along with a shortexplanation of their meaning, a sentence using it in context, and an illustration depicting a scene of the phrase taken literally. Operating on a shoestring is accompanied by a team of doctors cutting open a worried looking shoelace, and The last straw shows the losing straw crossing the finish line of a race. The pictures are cute, folksy, funny, and likely to stick in the minds of little ones whether or not they really grasp why it is these peculiar phrases exist. To that end, the book might have been better served by including explanations of the idioms origins, or even a note on what an idiom is instead of just jumping right in to the frivolity. In any case, this does show that taking an interest in language can be fun. Grades K-3. --Ian Chipman; Title: Raining Cats and Dogs: A Collection of Irresistible Idioms and Illustrations to Tickle the Funny Bones of Young People | [
4601,
4664,
5624,
6751,
8516,
10858,
12490,
13553,
15393,
15613,
16041,
16055,
16061,
16202,
16204,
16347,
17692,
22883,
24132,
38306,
42024,
46818,
46828,
59426,
59649,
63080,
63117,
63169,
63232,
64056,
71857,
74037
] | Train |
16,256 | 11 | Grade 1-5This lovingly rendered picture book details the events in Jordan's childhood and adolescence that contributed to his basketball stardom. Cooper's signature artwork, done in umber washes of oil, feature soft outlines and harmonious tones of brown, orange, and blue. From a scene of children running wildly through a full house to one of Michael staring longingly at the bigger, older players competing on the blacktop court, the freedom of movement and the joys of athletic prowess and competition are expressed in every depiction of the characters. An author's note details the superstar's accomplishments in professional sports. At times, Cooper's descriptions of the characters' feelings seem convoluted and unnecessarily long, but the text is easy to read, and events are related in a friendly, conversational style. While Jump! is not an essential purchase, it is a visually exciting one that will surely circulate among Jordan's many fans.Anne M. Holcomb, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 3. Cooper, whose distinctive artwork has earned numerous Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book awards, contributes both words and pictures to this stirring childhood profile of basketball legend Michael Jordan. Each double-page spread features powerful portraits of Jordan, from a wildly energetic boy to a high-school basketball star jumping for a shot in a long gatefold. Children who view Jordan as a deity on the court will take comfort in Cooper's stories, written in casual, colloquial language, which portray the icon as a regular, energetic kid who worked exceptionally hard and sometimes failed. Cooper also emphasizes the help and encouragement that Jordan received, especially from his coach, and Cooper's focus on Jordan's motivating rivalry with his older brother adds dramatic tension. The layout in a few spreads is awkward, with images separated by the center binding. Nonetheless, children will appreciate this handsome tribute, which credits Jordan's determination and support from others, more than his prodigious talents, for his glorious success. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Jump!: From the Life of Michael Jordan | [
4180,
6534,
6895,
6915,
10288,
10313,
10328,
10377,
10686,
11339,
11546,
11583,
15793,
15813,
17700,
17954,
19610,
21106,
21955,
22276,
24021,
27752,
28379,
28517,
31755,
33412,
33656,
44614,
47908,
48631,
50041,
50761,
51147,
51150,
51308,
52455... | Test |
16,257 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 3Barcelona Smith never takes risks. He avoids roses for fear of thorns, playgrounds for fear of injury, animals for fear of germs, and smiling for fear of flying bugs. The colorful and wacky illustrations depict a severe boy in outlandish attire complete with safety goggles, a life jacket, an umbrella, and a protective helmet resting atop about four feet of thick, carefully coiffed blue hair. But one humid day, that hair develops a mind of its own: Every follicle fooped. Before Barcelona can take any precautions, the tresses take control and have him out the door riding a bike, climbing monkey bars, smelling roses, and, finally, with reckless disregard for flying bugs, even smiling. Rendered in acrylics, the large and exaggerated cartoons complement the text's wry humor. A fun choice for group settings.Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Keith Graves lives in Austin,Texas.; Title: The Unexpectedly Bad Hair of Barcelona Smith | [
17183,
38294,
38300,
65149,
68102
] | Validation |
16,258 | 18 | Grade 1-4Another offering from the creative team that brought readers So You Want to Be President? (2000) and So You Want to Be an Inventor? (2002, both Philomel). The artist frames the text with a wordless depiction of a young boy trying on different hats in his room filled with a variety of artifacts. The text then seems to address the daydreaming child directly as he envisions himself setting sail for adventure. Most spreads describe two or more explorers, but only one is depicted. Small's masterful artwork, done in ink, watercolor, and pastel chalk, is full of humorous details. The explorers are primarily European and American, but cover a wide-ranging time period, from Pytheas and Alexander the Great to the present day. A short paragraph describes their claim to fame. The book is intended to inspire and intrigue browsers, not to serve as a resource for report writers. St. George includes a wide variety of explorers and expedition participants. For example, when she discusses the North Pole, Robert Peary, Matthew Henson, and four Inuits are mentioned. Women such as Mary Kingsley, Amelia Earhart, and Barbara Washburn are cited. The relationship between exploration and mapmaking and the damage done to native peoples by some explorers are also touched upon. A Glossary of Famous Explorers lists full names and birth and death dates, and provides a little more information about the people mentioned. While the short snippets of information may be frustrating to some readers, the snappy tone of the text and the richly drawn illustrations will satisfy and entertain many others.Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 2-4. So You Want to Be an Inventor? (2003), the follow-up to St. George and Small's Caldecott Medal-winning So You Want to Be a President? (2000), attracted some criticism for lionizing white males. Explorer improves upon that problem (five women make appearances, as do Colonel Peary's African American assistant Matthew Henson and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay), but encounters another: How does one craft a light, fun picture book about an area of endeavor so closely aligned with the checkered history of conquest? Humor is one way: St. George writes that Africa traveler Mary Kingsley "studied the cannibals, and they studied her." Elsewhere, explorers are crisply divided into "good" and "bad"; "good" explorers "respect the natives," and "bad explorers can do the natives in." The glib tone may seem inappropriate to some, but teachers and librarians will still find lots of uses for this book. The annotated list of featured explorers and the bibliography will support exploration research projects, and St. George's gung-ho language combined with Small's sprightly depictions will help ratchet up student enthusiasm. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: So You Want to Be an Explorer? | [
1587,
2227,
6097,
7111,
7672,
13361,
26812,
34495,
49475,
74418
] | Test |
16,259 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 1--In this colorful picture book, the veteran author transfers the rhythms and movement of the traditional bear-hunt chant to safer ground. The story is told from the point of view of three farm goats: "Oh, look, we see a fence. Can't go over it,/can't go under it,/can't go around it But there's the gate and it's unlocked. Let's go through it!" As two frustrated, barefooted girls in babushkas chase after them, the wayward animals run across a bridge, up a hill, through a pond and mud pile, and finally arrive at a country fair where the funhouse ogre frightens them back along the same path to home. As in her G Is for Goat (Philomel, 2003), Polacco's signature pencil-and-watercolor paintings cascade across the pages, creating festive scenes and bright hues. An appealing introduction for children not yet ready for the author's longer tales.--Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-K. Three rambunctious goats escape through an unlocked gate, chased by alarmed shepherds. As they rush through the gate, it "squeak squeak squeaks," and as they cross the bridge, their hooves "click click click." In this well-paced variation of the popular ditty "Going on a Lion (or Bear) Hunt," the onomatopoetic romp extends to a village fair with a fun-house ogre who scares the goats and shepherds and reverses their journey all the way back to the squeaky gate. The lively pencil-and-watercolor illustrations showcase Polacco's familiar style, but the art is less sedate here, capturing the joy and friskiness of the goats. This exuberant version of a tried-and-true storytime favorite is sure to become a read-aloud favorite. Linda PerkinsCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Oh, Look! | [
2243,
6068,
6101,
6126,
6308,
6327,
6362,
6378,
10269,
14328,
15741,
15749,
15790,
15809,
15912,
16042,
16069,
16142,
16273,
16278,
16299,
16313,
16317,
16322,
16330,
16356,
16396,
16405,
16425,
16468,
16475,
16529,
16542,
16550,
18018,
18046,
... | Train |
16,260 | 18 | In his introduction to this inventive look at Revolutionary America, Minor (Reaching for the Moon) explains the importance of public housesmarked by graphically striking wooden signs. Colonists would gather in these small roadside inns and taverns to share news of the patriots' efforts and of the war's progress. Inviting readers to "follow the signs along a colonial road during the years 1765 to 1783," Minor presents an alphabetically arranged series of handsome, period oil paintings on wood, shaped like the public house signs, which spotlight people, events and places pivotal to the creation of the nation. Accompanying the signs, he offers succinct nuggets of information about influential individuals (e.g., Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, Henry Knox, Molly Pitcher, George Washington), key sites (Independence Hall, Old North Church), vital symbols (the Liberty Bell, the Stars and Stripes) and locations of crucial events in the war (Trenton, Valley Forge, Yorktown). Minor cleverly incorporates into his meticulously crafted renderings several relevant references to taverns, noting that Paul Revere and the Sons of Liberty met to plot against George III at the Green Dragon tavern in Boston, Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia's Indian Queen tavern, and Washington delivered his farewell speech to his officers at Fraunces Tavern in New York. Though the volume's A to Z format requires a sequence that is not necessarily chronological, a concise timeline of significant dates sets the contents of this creative compendium in the proper context. All ages. (Apr.) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Grade 3-6-In colonial America, the public houses served as the news hubs of their surrounding areas, places where people could gather to share talk of the day, whether it was national or local politics. Using hand-carved replicas of the signs for these inns and taverns to share facts about the American Revolution, Minor, in concert with master woodworker John Reichling, has created an unusual alphabet book. Covering aspects of the Revolution from the Stamp Act to the Old North Church to the X Regiment and Elizabeth Zane, this visually arresting treatment acts as an engrossing introduction to some of the people, places, and events that figured in America's fight for independence. Minor has filled the centers of two distinctive sign-board shapes with beautiful, deep-hued oil paintings. The letter addressed on each page is on the top of the board, with the full title (e.g., Native American: The Mohawk Chief) incorporated into the image. The result is startling, and the shadow cast by the sign gives each picture a sense of depth. The factual material is correct, clearly stated, and intriguing, leading students on to more detailed treatments of the American Revolution. Pair this book with Stuart Murray's American Revolution (DK, 2002) or Lynda Graham-Barber's Doodle Dandy! The Complete Book of Independence Day Words (S & S, 1992), for a riveting visual introduction to the Revolutionary War.-Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Yankee Doodle America: The Spirit of 1776 from A to Z | [
23401,
26492,
27402,
37814,
50639,
63142,
63746,
63993
] | Train |
16,261 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 3-This sweet offering extols the virtues of friendship. The text is written from the point of view of a peach-colored pig and addresses a lavender-gray bunny: "I believe you are to me-/the very best the best can be." The two enjoy spending time together, sharing everything from their love of ice-cream cones ("You're peanut butter chocolate chip,/you're double dip and triple flip") to a variety of activities, such as biking, roller-skating, and sledding. The brief, rhyming text looks hand-lettered. The naive illustrations, done in Flashe paint, have a childlike quality, with each object and animal outlined in black ink. A charming exploration of the joys of sharing.Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WICopyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 1. In Doughty's first picture book featuring her own text, a pig extols the virtues of his bunny friend: "You're roller skate, you're sun and moon, you're bicycle, you're May and June." Doughty's series of sunny, unexpected metaphors avoid the cliches that plague the you-are-special genre, and her childlike drawings and hand-lettering manage to be cute without being cloying. As with several of Doughty's previous books with Harriet Ziefert, such as 31 Uses for a Mom [BKL Ja 1&15 03], there's no real story here. But kids may take a cue from the increasingly freewheeling comparisons ("you're marvelest, you're bluebird nest") to invent their own code words for expressing affection. An ego-boosting bagatelle for children, and also fun for grown-ups, who may hear echoes of Cole Porter's "You're the Top." Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: You Are to Me | [
13368,
13486,
14695,
21596
] | Train |
16,262 | 0 | Grade 1-4-An 18th-century Pennsylvania farm girl has outgrown her dress. "Sarah dressing,/Bodice, snug./Ankles showing,/Long skirt, tug." Through compact verses and an efficient use of words, the author accurately pictures the tasks necessary in making Sarah's new homespun dress. "Washing, drying,/Flax on racks./Carding, combing,/Wool in sacks/-Dyeing, weaving,/Balls of thread. /Linsey-woolsey,/Blue and red." Woven into the story are facts and information about farm life in the 1700s. An author's note points out the historical material found in the verses. Research is also evident in the watercolor and graphite illustrations that accurately depict the daily chores. The clothing, the cabin, and its furnishings all reflect the simple, but utilitarian lifestyle. Through efficient brush strokes and quick penciled lines, Rand captures the emotions of a hardworking family-the urgency and fear when Mother's dress catches on fire, and the joy when Sarah's dress is finished. He also includes humorous asides, such as a toe peeking out of Brother's shoe. From beginning to end, the text and illustrations are equal partners. The historical accuracy makes this book a great inclusion for Colonial units, while the beauty of language and illustrations make it a wonderful story.-Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OHCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.K-Gr. 3. Succinct, rhyming text and warm watercolor-and-acrylic spreads help to introduce and celebrate eighteenth-century Pennsylvania farm life. Sarah rises early and prepares for her chores--hauling water, gathering firewood, weeding the garden, washing clothes, making candles, picking berries, spinning flax, and, finally, helping Mother to sew a new dress. Along the way, there are disasters to be averted, such as putting out the fire that catches on Mother's dress as she cooks a meal. The text is brief ("Homespun Sarah, / Braided head. / Warm quilt, snuggle, / Feather bed."), but Kay works in plenty of information, and her author's note clarifies specific customs (children stand at the dinner table) that may be unfamiliar to listeners. Rand's earth-tone illustrations elaborate the text and also detail setting and clothing particulars. This makes a good choice for primary classrooms studying pioneers. Children will enjoy hearing the story read aloud; let them pour over the illustrations later. Kay WeismanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Homespun Sarah | [
4437,
4731,
4832,
5387,
5472,
6301,
11578,
16116,
16209,
17316,
18482,
24200,
25043,
26263,
27744,
28027,
35399,
35402,
37768,
49475,
59917,
63024,
75565
] | Train |
16,263 | 2 | Grade 1-3Ameer is a poor, third-assistant kennel keeper traveling in his king's caravan to visit the Christ child. Arriving in Bethlehem, he feels ashamed of having no gift to give and decides to wait outside the stable instead of going in to view the newborn. In the chaos of the moment, however, he is swept along by the crowd and into the presence of the holy family. Inspired by the serenity he feels, he resolves to give the only thing that is precious to himhis dog and best friend, Ra. The king advises against it, but Mary praises Ameer for his sacrifice, calling it the most precious gift of all. As a result, the boy's life is blessed, Ra sees Jesus and his family safely to Egypt, and, over time, the Christmas star fades and is replaced by the Dog Star. This touching story is simply yet elegantly told. Cooper's artwork is finely rendered and evocative. The grainy textures complement the desert scenery and provide a fitting dreamlike quality that is well suited to the text. This lovely book will help balance collections heavy with holiday frippery.Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.The story is a familiar one. A young boy is on his way to see the baby Jesus but has no gift to bring. Here the boy is Ameer, the third assistant kennel keeper, who is following the caravan of his merchant master with his dog, Ra, whom he rescued as a pup. What exactly Ameer is doing on this particular journey is never really made clear, but both Crisp's heartfelt story and Cooper's soft-edged artwork capture his yearning to honor the baby in appropriate fashion. In the end, Ameer decides to give up his beloved dog to the child, and listeners may be surprised that Mary and Joseph accept the gift, which is so dear to Ameer. Cooper's art utilizes night colors highlighted by golds and browns to tell the story, in which all the major characters appear to be of African descent. An intriguing author's note describes the fact that a white dog is repeatedly portrayed in fourteenth- through sixteenth-century Nativity paintings, which were the impetus for Crisp's story. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Most Precious Gift | [
1746,
5494,
5591,
6796,
7165,
9238,
9443,
9655,
14109,
14412,
16418,
22997,
25323,
26123,
27026,
34982,
36320,
37946,
38410,
40146,
47757,
51279,
64064
] | Train |
16,264 | 2 | Caldecott-medalist Peggy Rathmann was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and grew up in the suburbs with two brothers and two sisters."In the summer we lolled in plastic wading pools guzzling Kool-Aid. In the winter we sculpted giant snow animals. It was a good life."Ms. Rathmann graduated from Mounds View High School in New Brighton, Minnesota, then attended colleges everywhere, changing her major repeatedly. She eventually earned a B.A. in psychology from the University of Minnesota."I wanted to teach sign language to gorillas, but after taking a class in signing, I realized what I'd rather do was draw pictures of gorillas."Ms. Rathmann studied commercial art at the American Academy in Chicago, fine art at the Atelier Lack in Minneapolis, and children's-book writing and illustration at the Otis Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles."I spent the first three weeks of my writing class at Otis Parsons filching characters from my classmates' stories. Finally, the teacher convinced me that even a beginning writer can create an original character if the character is driven by the writer's most secret weirdness. Eureka! A little girl with a passion for plagiarism! I didn't want anyone to know it was me, so I made the character look like my sister."The resulting book, Ruby the Copycat, earned Ms. Rathmann the "Most Promising New Author" distinction in Publishers Weekly's 1991 annual Cuffie Awards. In 1992 she illustrated Bootsie Barker Bites for Barbara Bottner, her teacher at Otis Parsons.A homework assignment produced an almost wordless story, Good Night, Gorilla, inspired by a childhood memory."When I was little, the highlight of the summer was running barefoot through the grass, in the dark, screaming. We played kick-the-can, and three-times-around-the-house, and sometimes we just stood staring into other people's picture windows, wondering what it would be like to go home to someone else's house."That story, however, was only nineteen pages long, and everyone agreed that the ending was a dud. Two years and ten endings later, Good Night, Gorilla was published and recognized as an ALA Notable Children's Book for 1994.The recipient of the 1996 Caldecott Medal, Officer Buckle and Gloria, is the story of a school safety officer upstaged by his canine partner."We have a videotape of my mother chatting in the dining room while, unnoticed by her or the cameraman, the dog is licking every poached egg on the buffet. The next scene shows the whole family at the breakfast table, complimenting my mother on the delicious poached eggs. The dog, of course, is pretending not to know what a poached egg is. The first time we watched that tape we were so shocked, we couldn't stop laughing. I suspect that videotape had a big influence on my choice of subject matter."Ms. Rathmann lives and works in San Francisco, in an apartment she shares with her husband, John Wick, and a very funny bunch of ants.copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.Caldecott-medalist Peggy Rathmann was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and grew up in the suburbs with two brothers and two sisters."In the summer we lolled in plastic wading pools guzzling Kool-Aid. In the winter we sculpted giant snow animals. It was a good life."Ms. Rathmann graduated from Mounds View High School in New Brighton, Minnesota, then attended colleges everywhere, changing her major repeatedly. She eventually earned a B.A. in psychology from the University of Minnesota."I wanted to teach sign language to gorillas, but after taking a class in signing, I realized what I'd rather do was draw pictures of gorillas."Ms. Rathmann studied commercial art at the American Academy in Chicago, fine art at the Atelier Lack in Minneapolis, and children's-book writing and illustration at the Otis Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles."I spent the first three weeks of my writing class at Otis Parsons filching characters from my classmates' stories. Finally, the teacher convinced me that even a beginning writer can create an original character if the character is driven by the writer's most secret weirdness. Eureka! A little girl with a passion for plagiarism! I didn't want anyone to know it was me, so I made the character look like my sister."The resulting book, Ruby the Copycat, earned Ms. Rathmann the "Most Promising New Author" distinction in Publishers Weekly's 1991 annual Cuffie Awards. In 1992 she illustrated Bootsie Barker Bites for Barbara Bottner, her teacher at Otis Parsons.A homework assignment produced an almost wordless story, Good Night, Gorilla, inspired by a childhood memory."When I was little, the highlight of the summer was running barefoot through the grass, in the dark, screaming. We played kick-the-can, and three-times-around-the-house, and sometimes we just stood staring into other people's picture windows, wondering what it would be like to go home to someone else's house."That story, however, was only nineteen pages long, and everyone agreed that the ending was a dud. Two years and ten endings later, Good Night, Gorilla was published and recognized as an ALA Notable Children's Book for 1994.The recipient of the 1996 Caldecott Medal, Officer Buckle and Gloria, is the story of a school safety officer upstaged by his canine partner."We have a videotape of my mother chatting in the dining room while, unnoticed by her or the cameraman, the dog is licking every poached egg on the buffet. The next scene shows the whole family at the breakfast table, complimenting my mother on the delicious poached eggs. The dog, of course, is pretending not to know what a poached egg is. The first time we watched that tape we were so shocked, we couldn't stop laughing. I suspect that videotape had a big influence on my choice of subject matter."Ms. Rathmann lives and works in San Francisco, in an apartment she shares with her husband, John Wick, and a very funny bunch of ants.copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.; Title: Buenas noches, Gorila (Spanish Edition) | [
540,
3954,
4628,
4695,
5400,
5402,
5423,
5442,
5483,
5539,
6901,
9724,
9727,
9731,
9732,
9758,
9850,
10755,
10924,
12820,
12867,
15166,
15796,
16046,
16538,
16695,
21002,
21365,
21493,
21633,
22544,
23078,
23167,
23203,
23258,
23313,
23355,
2... | Train |
16,265 | 11 | When Joyces image-obsessed aunt Gomo offers to pay for surgery to make Asian eyelids appear more Western, the teen is unsure about going under the knife, even though she dreams of finally wearing eye shadow without looking weird and fluttering extrawide eyes at her crush. Her agonized decision making provides readers with the medical nuts and bolts, as well as a balanced look at the issues, with input from a responsible plastic surgeon, Joyces outraged older sister, and a peer who has already acquired the folds with no regrets. Though just as rooted in contemporary Korean American family life as Nas previous books, which include Printz winner A Step from Heaven (2001), the authors third outing is both lighter in tone and less multidimensionala flaw that isnt much aided by a hurried revelation about a family members sexuality. That being said, few teens exist who have not yearned for a quick-fix transformation, including many for whom surgery may be a real option, and theyll welcome the solid facts as they, along with Joyce, ask difficult questions about the correlation between superficial alterations and genuine empowerment. Grades 6-10. --Jennifer MattsonA lighthearted and thought-provoking look at a serious teen issue. -- Kirkus; Title: The Fold | [
18537,
54704
] | Test |
16,266 | 0 | Grade 2-5On a hot July day in 1927, the townsfolk of Concord, NC, gather to greet the most famous blues singer in all the South as she disembarks from her touring train. Emmarene Johnson, a youngster who longs to attend the evening's tent show by Bessie Smith and her Harlem Frolics, can't afford a ticket and must be content with peeking through the tent flaps for a look at her idol. From this vantage point, she notices Ku Klux Klan members removing the tent stakes and alerts the singer to the danger. She marches outside, draws herself up to her full six feet, sends the Night Riders packing, and then continues her performance. While Smith's hard-drinking and often-violent lifestyle are not mentioned here, Holyfield's brilliantly colored acrylic spreads aptly depict a larger-than-life individual. Clad in red with feather boa flying, she takes center stage whenever she appears. The horizontal shape of the book affords a wonderful view of Bessie's decorative red train; seen atop a hill, the train and the Blues Queen seem to dominate the town. Klan riders, torches blazing, extend across a subsequent spread. The book is based on a true event, dressed up a little for dramatic effect; Stauffacher replaces the musician who actually sounded the alarm with Emmarene and tells the story from her point of view. This tale of courage would make a fine addition to units on the Civil Rights movement.Marianne Saccardi, Norwalk Community College, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 2-4. Like Pam Munz Ryan's Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride (1999), this is one of those books that seem to be history; then the author's note describes how (in this case) the incident was "dressed up for dramatic effect." Stauffacher bases her story on an event that took place in 1927. Bessie Smith, a blues singer, was performing in North Carolina when several Ku Klux Klan members tried to collapse the tent where she was performing. Bessie learned what was happening, confronted the men, and told them off, finishing up with, "You ain't nothin' but a bunch of sissies!" The story unfolds through the eyes of young Emmarene, a Smith fan, who can't afford a ticket to the show. Emmarene spots the Klansmen--or Night Riders--who, in this version, are on horseback, with torches, ready to burn the tent. This embellishment allows for a striking illustration in which Smith stares down rows of hooded riders, cussing at them and scaring them off. Yes, this is catalogued as fiction, but had there actually been a dozen torch-wielding riders as portrayed in the picture (rather than six on their feet in the real incident), this event might have had a different ending. Moreover, should kids want to find additional information on Smith, they will probably get more than they bargained for--including the suggestive lyrics of her songs and descriptions of her wanton ways. On its own, however, this book is dramatic fare, and kids will enjoy the story of a strong woman scaring off bad guys. Holyfield's thickly painted pictures are full of snap and sizzle, with gamine Emmarene making a good counterpoint to sassy, high-stepping Smith. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Bessie Smith and the Night Riders | [
12129,
13822,
57017,
59610,
72831
] | Validation |
16,267 | 7 | Starred Review. Grade 5-8Motherless Gnat Stokes, 12, is a cheerful, hardy, adventurous sort who is determined to rescue Goodlow Pryce, who was stolen 7 years earlier by Zelda, the malevolent, magical Swamp Queen. When Gnat catches a mysterious swamp cat and discovers that Goodlow sent it to Penelope, his true love, she removes the charmed locket and the rescue message it carries. When she puts in on, she falls in love with Goodlow. Battling scary swamp monsters and the revelation that Zelda is her mother, Gnat comes to realize that she must give Goodlow up in order to save him. Told in Gnat's mountain-tinged, irreverent voice, this imaginative tale is strewn with laughter from humor involving the consumption of beans to send-ups of self-righteous community figures who don't favor education. Imagine Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Sang Spell (S & S, 1998) with much wilder plot events and characters and you will begin to see the certain appeal of this bounding, delightful, Tam Lin-based story.Cindy Darling Codell, formerly at Clark Middle School, Winchester, KY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 5-8. Keehn spins a magical Appalachian tall tale filled with kid-pleasing elements: a nightmarish swamp swarming with hordes of gruesome, bewitched creatures; sweethearts tragically separated by Zelda, the evil Swamp Queen; Eatmore Beans, a talking cat bearing an enchanted locket; and a most unlikely heroine--feisty, 12-year-old Gnat Stokes. In spite of her unfortunate parentage (no one knows who her mother is and her long-gone father is a "no-good Rebel," though the war ended years ago) and the fact that local folks think she "was born to raise trouble," Gnat longs to be a hero. When she intercepts a mysterious locket, it immediately triggers a series of bizarre, dangerous events, inextricably linking Gnat's fate with the lovers Penelope and Goodlow. Keehn's tale is by turns, creepy, laugh-aloud funny, touching, and utterly satisfying. Her voice is sassy and straight out of the Tennessee hills, making this a book that begs to be read aloud as well as a superb choice for readers' theater. Chris ShermanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Gnat Stokes and the Foggy Bottom Swamp Queen | [] | Test |
16,268 | 1 | Whether she's sipping nectar from beautiful flowers, avoiding hungry birds and fish, dancing with a butterfly, or bravely protecting her entire hive from a big bear with an even bigger appetite, this honeybee is always on the move. Eric Carle's updated classic features truly inspired feats of paper engineering, including a galloping bear and a spectacular butterfly that looks as if it will take off at any moment. There's not a gratuitous pop-up, flap, or movable piece of art in the book; readers will gasp with delight at every page, with every reading. The charming story is still a showcase for Carle's distinctive collages, in delectable golds, earthy greens, shimmering blues, and warm browns. This version is smaller than the original, and the text has been revised slightly, with younger readers in mind. A clever new interactive cover allows children to make the villain bear's eyes cross as the angry looking bee stings his nose.Carle's bold, appealing style is known and loved by happy readers everywhere, who return again and again to The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Quiet Cricket, The Grouchy Ladybug, and his many other very popular titles. (Preschool) --Emilie CoulterOriginally published in 1981, The Honeybee and the Robber by Eric Carle now invites young hands to play a part in the proceedings. From the get-go, children place a finger in the die-cut hole on the cover, slide it back and forth and make the big brown bear go cross-eyed as he gets stung by the bee. By pulling the tabs inside, readers can watch the honeybee escape from a hungry bird and then play with a pop-up butterfly.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Honeybee & the Robber | [
969,
4532,
5365,
5373,
5949,
6194,
7455,
12623,
15843,
15951,
16019,
16127,
16129,
19146,
21785,
27122,
30543,
31375,
38603,
40868,
44463,
46800,
48383,
49891,
53443,
55301,
58142,
62906,
69430,
72272
] | Validation |
16,269 | 16 | Joy Cowley is known by teachers, librarians, and children the world over from her native New Zealand to South Africa to the United States as both writer and reading specialist.; Title: Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Scrubbing Machine | [
6030,
16243,
34618
] | Test |
16,270 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 1Mr. Ouchy is looking forward to his first day as a teacher, and while he is excited, he is also worried. Will he remember his students' names, will he be able to find his classroom, or even the bathroom? When the big day arrives, he is so busy answering his class's myriad questions that his nervousness evaporates and he and the students have a great day. This story is for a slightly younger audience than Julie Danneberg's First Day Jitters (Charlesbridge, 2000); it has a simpler vocabulary and sentence structure. Meisel's watercolor, gouache, and pen-and-ink illustrations have a cozy feel and not only amplify humorous situations, but also sometimes create them when the text does not. For example, the picture accompanying a little girl's request to learn how to train her cat shows an orange tabby perched coyly on the edge of a toilet seat while reading the newspaper. This picture book is a good choice to share when trying to keep the stress that can accompany that first day for both kids and teachers to minimum levels.Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 2. Kids find it hard to think of teachers as having a life outside the classroom. This cheerful picture book humanizes the new teacher and connects him with his students by putting a different slant on that scary first day of school. Mr. Ouchy is nervous. When the kids play with his name ("Does it rhyme with 'grouchy?'"), he tells them to call him Mr. O. They learn lessons about telling time, counting, and reading, and Mr. O. listens to when they talk about what they want to learn. In watercolor, gouache, and pen-and-ink, the pictures take children into a busy, lively classroom, where kids work together and do what interests them--from making doughnuts, swinging on a trapeze, and training a cat to hitting a home run. That night Mr. O.'s mom calls to find out if he got a haircut and ask about his first day. "My class is the best," he says. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Mr. Ouchy's First Day | [
2500
] | Validation |
16,271 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2John Hercules Po has more than the usual angst about starting kindergartenthere are 19 girls in class 9B and one lone boyhim! His brother, a second grader, is worried that the girls will turn John Hercules into a sissy, but John Hercules says he's going to turn them into tomboys. Each recess during the first week of school, class 9B has terrific fun using everyday outdoor objects as bridges to imaginary adventures in exotic places. When the second graders and the kindergartners have a picnic together on Friday, John Hercules informs his brother that there are no sissies or tomboys in 9B, just friends. The mixed-media illustrations include wild color combinations and dizzying perspectives that provide the backdrops for the children, drawn in a stylishly simple but endearing cartoon style. Readers will have almost as much fun with this title as these 20 energetic and happy classmates have together.Shelley B. Sutherland, Niles Public Library, IL Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Darcy Pattison lives in Arkansas.Steven Salerno lives in New York, New York.; Title: 19 Girls and Me | [
27235
] | Test |
16,272 | 15 | PreSchool-Grade 2Blake means his title literallythis winsome story focuses on three young Tasmanian devils who enjoy mischief, and well, screaming. Burnie, Winnie, and Big Stanley wait each day for their mum to return to the den with food or toys for them to tear apart. But when she doesn't return one night, they set out to find adventures of their own. Eventually they find their mother trapped in a cage, and they do what young Tasmanian devils do best: rip it apart. And the family is back together once again. Blake loads his light-filled paintings with natural details and realistic expressions. By focusing on universal themes of family and youngsters tasting independence, he makes the story heartwarming and accessible without anthropomorphizing the animals. This book would make a lovely supplement to units on Australia or wildlife around the world.Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD ENDWinnie, Big Stanley, and Burnie are rambunctious pups who like to play rough, tear stuff up, and smash about. Their mum loves them and understands, because that is what Tasmanian Devil pups are supposed to do. When Mum goes missing, the siblings set out to explore their island home, encountering many mishaps along the way. Big Stanley is nearly nabbed by a fisherman, Burnie is rolled by ocean waves, and Winnie has a run-in with a gnarly old devil. A pack of wallabies makes an appearance, too. The pups youthful exuberance serves them well when they discover their mother trapped in a cage. The pups gnaw and bang on the trap until Mum is free, and the happy devil family is together again. Blakes brush renders the Tasmanian terrain and its inhabitants in realistic, sweeping scenes. The book concludes with an authors note detailing his time on Tasmania and a map. Grades K-3. --Ernie Cox; Title: Little Devils | [
5978,
16092,
16303,
16312
] | Train |
16,273 | 2 | PreS–In a frenetically busy barnyard, the rambunctious livestock run wild, give chase, buck, and play tug-of-war with the brightly clad members of a farm family. Each spread features one kind of animal with simple text declaring its signature sound: "Cows say moo, moo, moo." The din and the activity build until all of the animals join together in a chorus of noise. In response, the final page shows a mother with her sleeping baby and reads, "Mommies say shhh, shhh, shhh. And bunnies say nothing at all." The text is standard animal-noise fare, but the inclusion of the silent bunnies is a clever twist. One variation that may confuse some children is that the dogs say "buff, buff, buff." Polacco's highly recognizable pencil-and-watercolor illustrations are full of life, with much to discover in repeated readings.–Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY"I was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1944. Soon after my birth I lived in Williamston, Michigan and then moved onto my grandparents farm in Union City, Michigan."I lived on the farm with my mom and Grandparents until 1949. That is when my Babushka (my grandmother) died and we prepared to move away from Michigan. I must say that living on that little farm with them was the most magical time of my life...and that my Babushka and other grandparents were some of the most inspirational people in my life."My parents were divorced when I was 3, and both my father and mother moved back into the homes of their parents. I spent the school year with my mother, and the summers with my dad. In both households I was the apple of my grandparents' eyes! I would say that these relationships with my grandparents have most definitely influenced my life and my work. You probably have noticed that in almost every book that I write there is a very young person who is interacting with an elderly person. Personally, I feel that this is the most valuable experience of my life....having the wonder of knowing both children and elderly people."The respect that I learned as a very young person certainly carried over into my life in later years. I have always like hearing stories from these folks. My genuine curiosity for the wonder of living a very long life prepared me to accept the declining years of my own parents."To get back to the farm in Union City...this place was so magical to me that I have never forgotten it! This was the place where I heard such wonderful stories told...this was the place that a real meteor fell into our font yard...that very meteorite is now our family headstone in the graveyard here in Union City."Did I tell you that I now live in Union City? This is after living in Oakland, California for almost 37 years. But, you see, every year I'd come back to Michigan to see my Dad and family."Anyway..."In 1949 we left the farm to move, first to Coral Gables, Florida. I lived there with my Mom and my brother, Richard, for almost 3 years. Then we moved to Oakland, California. I remained there for most of my young life on into my adulthood. We lived on Ocean View Drive in the Rockridge District. What I loved the most about this neighborhood is that all of my neighbors came in as many colors, ideas and religions as there are people on the planet. How lucky I was to know so many people that were so different and yet so much alike."It is on Ocean View that I met my best friend, Stewart Grinnell Washington. We are best friends to this day! He has a younger brother, Winston and three sisters; Jackie, Terry and Robin. When I was a student in elementary school I wasn't a very good student. I had a terrible time with reading and math. As a matter of fact, I did not learn how to read until I was almost 14 years old. Can you imagine what it was like to see all my friends do so well in school and I wasn't! I thought I was dumb. I didn't like school because there was this boy that always teased me and made me feel even dumber. When I was fourteen, it was learned that I have a learning disability. It is called dyslexia. I felt trapped in a body that wouldn't do what everybody else could do. That was when one of my hero's, my teacher, found what was wrong with me and got me the help I needed to succeed in school. Of course, now that I am an adult, I realize that being learning disabled does not mean DUMB AT ALL! As a matter of fact, I have learned that being learning disabled only means that I cannot learn the way most of you do. As a matter of fact, most learning disabled children are actually GENIUSES! Once I learned how to read and caught up with the rest of my fellow students, I did very well."I went on to University, majored in Fine Art, then went on to do a graduate degree and even ended up with a Ph.D. in Art History. For a time I restored ancient pieces of art for museums. I eventually became the mother of two children, Steven and Traci, and devoted much of my days to their education and upbringing."I did not start writing children's books until I was 41 years old. Mind you the "art" has always been there for me most of my life. Apparently one of the symptoms of my disability in academics is the ability of draw very, very well. So drawing, painting and sculpture has always been a part of my life even before I started illustrating my books. The books were quite a surprise, really. Mind you, I came from a family of incredible storytellers. My mother's people were from the Ukraine and Russia...my father's people were from Ireland. My extended family,(Stewart's family) were from the bayous of Louisiana...also great story tellers. When you are raised on HEARING stories.....NOT SEEING THEM, you become very good at telling stories yourself. So at the age of 41 I started putting stories that I told down on paper and did drawings to help illustrate them...I guess the rest is history."I have enjoyed a wonderful career of writing books for children . Who could have guessed that little girl that was having such a tough time in school would end up an illustrator and author. Children and adults alike ask me where I get my ideas...I get them from the same place that you do....MY IMAGINATION... I would guess the reason my imagination is so fertile is because I came from storytelling and, WE DID NOT OWN A T.V.!!!!!!!!! You see, when one is a writer, actor, dancer, musician; a creator of any kind, he or she does these things because they listen to that "voice" inside of them. All of us have that "voice". It is where all inspired thoughts come from....but when you have electronic screens in front, of you, speaking that voice for you... it DROWNS OUT THE VOICE! When I talk to children and aspiring writers, I always ask them to listen to the voice, turn off the T.V. and"LISTEN...LISTEN...LISTEN."Now that I have moved back to Union City I am intending to open my house and community and invite people to come there to take part in writing seminars, story telling festivals, literature conferences and various events that celebrate children's literature."Born Patricia Ann Barber in Lansing, Michigan, to parents of Russian and Ukrainian descent on one side and Irish on the other, Patricia Polacco grew up in both California and Michigan. Her school year was spent in Oakland, California, and summers in her beloved Michigan. She describes her family members as marvelous storytellers. "My fondest memories are of sitting around a stove or open fire, eating apples and popping corn while listening to the old ones tell glorious stories about their homeland and the past. We are tenacious traditionalists and sentimentalists.... With each retelling our stories gain a little more Umph!"Studying in the United States and Australia, Patricia Polacco has earned an M.F.A. and a Ph. D. in art history, specializing in Russian and Greek painting, and iconographic history. She is a museum consultant on the restoration of icons. As a participant in many citizen exchange programs for writers and illustrators, Patricia Polacco has traveled extensively in Russia as well as other former Soviet republics. She continues to support programs that encourage Russo-American friendships and understanding. She is also deeply involved in inner-city projects here in the U.S. that promote the peaceful resolution of conflict and encourage art and literacy programs.The mother of a grown son and a daughter, Patricia Polacco currently resides in Michigan, where she has a glorious old farm that was built during the time of Lincoln.copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved."I was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1944. Soon after my birth I lived in Williamston, Michigan and then moved onto my grandparents farm in Union City, Michigan."I lived on the farm with my mom and Grandparents until 1949. That is when my Babushka (my grandmother) died and we prepared to move away from Michigan. I must say that living on that little farm with them was the most magical time of my life...and that my Babushka and other grandparents were some of the most inspirational people in my life."My parents were divorced when I was 3, and both my father and mother moved back into the homes of their parents. I spent the school year with my mother, and the summers with my dad. In both households I was the apple of my grandparents' eyes! I would say that these relationships with my grandparents have most definitely influenced my life and my work. You probably have noticed that in almost every book that I write there is a very young person who is interacting with an elderly person. Personally, I feel that this is the most valuable experience of my life....having the wonder of knowing both children and elderly people."The respect that I learned as a very young person certainly carried over into my life in later years. I have always like hearing stories from these folks. My genuine curiosity for the wonder of living a very long life prepared me to accept the declining years of my own parents."To get back to the farm in Union City...this place was so magical to me that I have never forgotten it! This was the place where I heard such wonderful stories told...this was the place that a real meteor fell into our font yard...that very meteorite is now our family headstone in the graveyard here in Union City."Did I tell you that I now live in Union City? This is after living in Oakland, California for almost 37 years. But, you see, every year I'd come back to Michigan to see my Dad and family."Anyway..."In 1949 we left the farm to move, first to Coral Gables, Florida. I lived there with my Mom and my brother, Richard, for almost 3 years. Then we moved to Oakland, California. I remained there for most of my young life on into my adulthood. We lived on Ocean View Drive in the Rockridge District. What I loved the most about this neighborhood is that all of my neighbors came in as many colors, ideas and religions as there are people on the planet. How lucky I was to know so many people that were so different and yet so much alike."It is on Ocean View that I met my best friend, Stewart Grinnell Washington. We are best friends to this day! He has a younger brother, Winston and three sisters; Jackie, Terry and Robin. When I was a student in elementary school I wasn't a very good student. I had a terrible time with reading and math. As a matter of fact, I did not learn how to read until I was almost 14 years old. Can you imagine what it was like to see all my friends do so well in school and I wasn't! I thought I was dumb. I didn't like school because there was this boy that always teased me and made me feel even dumber. When I was fourteen, it was learned that I have a learning disability. It is called dyslexia. I felt trapped in a body that wouldn't do what everybody else could do. That was when one of my hero's, my teacher, found what was wrong with me and got me the help I needed to succeed in school. Of course, now that I am an adult, I realize that being learning disabled does not mean DUMB AT ALL! As a matter of fact, I have learned that being learning disabled only means that I cannot learn the way most of you do. As a matter of fact, most learning disabled children are actually GENIUSES! Once I learned how to read and caught up with the rest of my fellow students, I did very well."I went on to University, majored in Fine Art, then went on to do a graduate degree and even ended up with a Ph.D. in Art History. For a time I restored ancient pieces of art for museums. I eventually became the mother of two children, Steven and Traci, and devoted much of my days to their education and upbringing."I did not start writing children's books until I was 41 years old. Mind you the "art" has always been there for me most of my life. Apparently one of the symptoms of my disability in academics is the ability of draw very, very well. So drawing, painting and sculpture has always been a part of my life even before I started illustrating my books. The books were quite a surprise, really. Mind you, I came from a family of incredible storytellers. My mother's people were from the Ukraine and Russia...my father's people were from Ireland. My extended family,(Stewart's family) were from the bayous of Louisiana...also great story tellers. When you are raised on HEARING stories.....NOT SEEING THEM, you become very good at telling stories yourself. So at the age of 41 I started putting stories that I told down on paper and did drawings to help illustrate them...I guess the rest is history."I have enjoyed a wonderful career of writing books for children . Who could have guessed that little girl that was having such a tough time in school would end up an illustrator and author. Children and adults alike ask me where I get my ideas...I get them from the same place that you do....MY IMAGINATION... I would guess the reason my imagination is so fertile is because I came from storytelling and, WE DID NOT OWN A T.V.!!!!!!!!! You see, when one is a writer, actor, dancer, musician; a creator of any kind, he or she does these things because they listen to that "voice" inside of them. All of us have that "voice". It is where all inspired thoughts come from....but when you have electronic screens in front, of you, speaking that voice for you... it DROWNS OUT THE VOICE! When I talk to children and aspiring writers, I always ask them to listen to the voice, turn off the T.V. and"LISTEN...LISTEN...LISTEN."Now that I have moved back to Union City I am intending to open my house and community and invite people to come there to take part in writing seminars, story telling festivals, literature conferences and various events that celebrate children's literature."Born Patricia Ann Barber in Lansing, Michigan, to parents of Russian and Ukrainian descent on one side and Irish on the other, Patricia Polacco grew up in both California and Michigan. Her school year was spent in Oakland, California, and summers in her beloved Michigan. She describes her family members as marvelous storytellers. "My fondest memories are of sitting around a stove or open fire, eating apples and popping corn while listening to the old ones tell glorious stories about their homeland and the past. We are tenacious traditionalists and sentimentalists.... With each retelling our stories gain a little more Umph!"Studying in the United States and Australia, Patricia Polacco has earned an M.F.A. and a Ph. D. in art history, specializing in Russian and Greek painting, and iconographic history. She is a museum consultant on the restoration of icons. As a participant in many citizen exchange programs for writers and illustrators, Patricia Polacco has traveled extensively in Russia as well as other former Soviet republics. She continues to support programs that encourage Russo-American friendships and understanding. She is also deeply involved in inner-city projects here in the U.S. that promote the peaceful resolution of conflict and encourage art and literacy programs.The mother of a grown son and a daughter, Patricia Polacco currently resides in Michigan, where she has a glorious old farm that was built during the time of Lincoln.copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.; Title: Mommies Say Shhh! | [
996,
1851,
6101,
6308,
15749,
15790,
15809,
16259,
16288,
16313,
16405,
16475,
16542,
23712,
27006,
31906,
54648
] | Validation |
16,274 | 0 | Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books.He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his "singular attainment in children's literature," the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his "continued distinguished contribution," and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year.Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.- He has been published for over 30 years.- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition forhis books in the children's book world, including:- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association- Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal- Regina Medal from Catholic Library Associationcopyright 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books.He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his "singular attainment in children's literature," the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his "continued distinguished contribution," and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year.Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.- He has been published for over 30 years.- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition forhis books in the children's book world, including:- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association- Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal- Regina Medal from Catholic Library Associationcopyright 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.; Title: Tomie's Baa Baa Black Sheep | [
5380,
5959,
5991,
6643,
6796,
8523,
10902,
12306,
15750,
15910,
15914,
15985,
16046,
16290,
16355,
16470,
16567,
18732,
18738,
18797,
18805,
18834,
18857,
18871,
18904,
19017,
23822,
23825,
26030,
26031,
27779,
32042,
39032,
39596,
40653,
40660,
... | Train |
16,275 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 2Everythingand everyonein Scribbleville is made out of curving, squiggled lines. When a man who is straight as a stick moves in, the residents are mistrustful because he looks all wrong. After a scribbled woman befriends him, she is harshly judged, and an angry mob gathers to protest the immigration of other straight individuals. Fortunately, a thoughtful child unites the townspeople by drawing a pictureSome of it scribbled,/and some of it straight. From this point on, relations between scribbles and straights are much improved, and soon some new folks move inSome scribbledsome not. The whimsical stick-figure illustrations, done in pencil, Magic Marker, and chalk on vellum, are the real attraction in this book. Holwitz maintains an elegant balance between order and chaos, achieving a highly stylized version of a child's scribble. The text, unfortunately, is not as well executed. The bouncy, rhymed couplets belie the seriousness of the theme, and the resolution is too pat. While youngsters sometimes do lead the way to the reconciliation of differences, the journey is seldom as smooth as the road to Scribbleville.Rachael Vilmar, Atlanta Fulton Public Library, GA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Scribbleville | [
16225,
16247
] | Test |
16,276 | 1 | PreSchool-KThis clever follow-up to Truck Duck(Putnam, 2004) will appeal to the youngest budding athletes and animal lovers. Single- and double-page illustrations show smiling critters engaged in all kinds of sports and comically set the scene for the absurd two-word rhymes. Children will love meeting "Coach Roach," "Quarterback Yak," "Hurdle Turtle," and others; the last spread is saved for "Finish line Porcupine." The appealing cartoon characters are set against clean, brightly colored backgrounds. The humor carries onto the endpapers, which depict trophies for all of the creatures found inside. The vivid pictures and large-size text make this lively book easy to share with a group, while its heavy-stock pages guarantee marathon endurance.Julie Roach, Watertown Free Public Library, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Dunk Skunk | [] | Train |
16,277 | 2 | "Taback's signature illustrative style is perfect. . . . Share with kids before and after campnewbies will be astonished at how typical Michael's experience is; seasoned campers (and their parents) will laugh all the way through." Kirkus Reviews, starred review"Drawings, collage elements, real envelopes, and removable letters creating a work of art that readers will want to pore over. Including plenty of puns, the book has reluctant-reader appeal. . . . Showcasing Taback's colorful frenetic style and inherent humor." School Library Journal"Those nervous about camp will relate to Michael's hyperbolic anxieties while treasuring his father's reassurances and good humor." Publishers WeeklySimms Taback grew up in the Bronx and graduated from Cooper Union. He has worked as an art director and a graphic designer, and has taught at the School of Visual Arts and Syracause University. He has illustrated many children's books, including I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (Viking), Spacy Riddles, Snakey Riddles, Buggy Riddles, and Fishy Riddles (all written by Katy Hall and lIsa Eisenberg, Dial).His work has won many awards, including the Caldecott Honor Award Medal for I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book.A father of three and grandfather of three, Mr. Taback lives with his wife in Willow, New Yorkcopyright ? 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.Simms Taback grew up in the Bronx and graduated from Cooper Union. He has worked as an art director and a graphic designer, and has taught at the School of Visual Arts and Syracause University. He has illustrated many children's books, including I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (Viking), Spacy Riddles, Snakey Riddles, Buggy Riddles, and Fishy Riddles (all written by Katy Hall and lIsa Eisenberg, Dial).His work has won many awards, including the Caldecott Honor Award Medal for I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book.A father of three and grandfather of three, Mr. Taback lives with his wife in Willow, New Yorkcopyright ? 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.; Title: Postcards from Camp | [
4226,
4250,
10106,
10450,
10838,
11397,
16344,
16347,
16726,
21109,
25313,
31931,
33656,
38306,
38330,
40300,
45991,
51769,
55939,
62690,
62709,
64081,
65174,
72774,
74037,
75222
] | Test |
16,278 | 1 | Kindergarten-Grade 4Every morning at 11 o'clock a group of ducks exits an elevator and enters the lobby of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN. They parade on a red carpet to a fountain in step to a John Philip Sousa march, led by a uniformed Duckmaster. They swim there all day and then return to their rooftop home. The duck march began during the Depression and continues to this day. Using these basic facts and filling in the gaps with her considerable imagination, Polacco chronicles the story of Edward Pembroke, the first Peabody Duckmaster, who finds an orphaned duckling, takes him to work with him, and, with patience, gentleness, and love, teaches him tricks, eventually impressing the hotel manager. This is Polacco at the height of her form in terms of both text and illustration. The story moves smoothly from start to finish and has a refreshing air of innocence. The artwork is simply beautiful as the artist orchestrates a harmonious symphony of color. The facial expressions are priceless. It is impossible not to smile as little John Philip Duck dances and cavorts throughout. This book is a winner in every way.Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 2. This charmer, loosely based on actual events, tells the story of an African American boy who trains a wild duck to perform to John Philip Sousa marches. Edward lives on a farm near Memphis, but during the week he stays at the Peabody Hotel, where he works with his dad. When he finds a duckling on the family farm, he convinces his father to let the creature stay with them at the hotel. The whole staff comes to love the duckling, and everyone helps Edward keep his pet hidden from Mr. Schutt, the gruff hotel manager. Of course, Mr. Schutt eventually finds out, but his anger turns to delight when Edward shows him how he has trained the duck to perform tricks to Sousa's music. Polacco's beautifully rendered watercolor-and-pencil illustrations contrast the rural setting with the posh hotel and bring the lovable cast of characters to life. The rather lengthy text makes this a good choice for school-aged children, but the story's fast pace and its high-interest subject will hold the attention of older preschoolers as well. Lauren PetersonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: John Philip Duck | [
5366,
5997,
6068,
6101,
6126,
6308,
6327,
6362,
6378,
6805,
6818,
11039,
12285,
12375,
15414,
15741,
15749,
15790,
15809,
15974,
16042,
16062,
16183,
16259,
16299,
16313,
16317,
16322,
16330,
16356,
16396,
16424,
16468,
16475,
16529,
16542,
165... | Train |
16,279 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2–The protagonist introduced in Princess Smartypants (Penguin, 1987) is back for another adventure. This time, the young royal of Totaloonia decides that it would be fun to have a baby. When she asks her mother if it would be possible to have one without getting married, the queen quickly replies, "Certainly NOT!" Thinking that Princess Smartypants needs something to occupy her time, the Queen puts her in charge of making the Royal Gravy for a banquet. The grocer misunderstands her phone order and sends a packet of "ready-mix BABY" instead. The resultant brown-skinned, super baby is kidnapped by evil Count Rottenghut in short order, and Princess Smartypants leads a squadron of dragons on a rescue mission. She is congratulated and put in charge of the kingdom while her parents go on tour. To help control the rambunctious infant, she enlists the help of two baby dragons to keep him out of trouble. The plot has too many twists and turns. The protagonist's actions do not ring true and she seems almost incidental to the story. The illustrations are humorous and help give some sense of personality to the characters. Purchase only where the previous story is in demand.–Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MNGr. 1-3. Princess Smartypants is back, and she wants to have a baby. Predictably, her mother thinks she should be married first. To distract her, the queen orders her kitchen-phobic daughter to prepare a royal banquet. However, in a mix-up with the grocer, the ready-mix gravy becomes a ready-mix baby, a supernaturally strong black one, who terrifies all the banquet guests except for the evil Count Rottenghut, who proceeds to steal him. Prince Swashbuckle, once turned into a toad by the princess, greets the count and stolen baby with glee, hoping the boy will aid in the secret takeover of Totaloonia. But Princess Smartypants (along with a squadron of dragons) saves the day, kingdom, and baby in one fell swoop. Later, when her boisterous baby becomes the palace pest, the princess sighs, "Perhaps some people are just not cut out to have babies" and ends up keeping him somewhat sedate with the help of two fierce baby dragons. The story is dizzying and eye-rollingly frivolous, but Cole's fabulous, funny illustrations will not disappoint fans of Princess Smartypants. Karin SnelsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Princess Smartypants Rules | [
5844,
16289
] | Validation |
16,280 | 16 | Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 25 languages and sold over twelve million copies. Since the Caterpillar was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than sixty books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.Born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, Eric Carle moved with his parents to Germany when he was six years old; he was educated there, and graduated from the prestigious art school, the Akademie der bildenden Kunste, in Stuttgart. But his dream was always to return to America, the land of his happiest childhood memories. So, in 1952, with a fine portfolio in hand and forty dollars in his pocket, he arrived in New York. Soon he found a job as a graphic designer in the promotion department of The New York Times. Later, he was the art director of an advertising agency for many years.One day, respected educator and author, Bill Martin Jr, called to ask Carle to illustrate a story he had written. Martin's eye had been caught by a striking picture of a red lobster that Carle had created for an advertisement. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was the result of their collaboration. It is still a favorite with children everywhere. This was the beginning of Eric Carle's true career. Soon Carle was writing his own stories, too. His first wholly original book was 1,2,3 to the Zoo, followed soon afterward by the celebrated classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.Eric Carle's art is distinctive and instantly recognizable. His art work is created in collage technique, using hand-painted papers, which he cuts and layers to form bright and cheerful images. Many of his books have an added dimension - die-cut pages, twinkling lights as in The Very Lonely Firefly, even the lifelike sound of a cricket's song as in The Very Quiet Cricket - giving them a playful quality: a toy that can be read, a book that can be touched. Children also enjoy working in collage and many send him pictures they have made themselves, inspired by his illustrations. He receives hundreds of letters each week from his young admirers. The secret of Eric Carle's books' appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions.The themes of his stories are usually drawn from his extensive knowledge and love of nature - an interest shared by most small children. Besides being beautiful and entertaining, his books always offer the child the opportunity to learn something about the world around them. It is his concern for children, for their feelings and their inquisitiveness, for their creativity and their intellectual growth that, in addition to his beautiful artwork, makes the reading of his books such a stimulating and lasting experience.Carle says: "With many of my books I attempt to bridge the gap between the home and school. To me home represents, or should represent; warmth, security, toys, holding hands, being held. School is a strange and new place for a child. Will it be a happy place? There are new people, a teacher, classmates - will they be friendly? I believe the passage from home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; the first is, of course, being born. Indeed, in both cases we leave a place of warmth and protection for one that is unknown. The unknown often brings fear with it. In my books I try to counteract this fear, to replace it with a positive message. I believe that children are naturally creative and eager to learn. I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun."Eric Carle has two grown-up children, a son and a daughter. With his wife Barbara, he lives in Northampton, Massachusetts. The Carles spend their summers in the nearby Berkshire hills.copyright 2000 by Penguin Group (USA) Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 25 languages and sold over twelve million copies. Since the Caterpillar was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than sixty books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.Born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, Eric Carle moved with his parents to Germany when he was six years old; he was educated there, and graduated from the prestigious art school, the Akademie der bildenden Kunste, in Stuttgart. But his dream was always to return to America, the land of his happiest childhood memories. So, in 1952, with a fine portfolio in hand and forty dollars in his pocket, he arrived in New York. Soon he found a job as a graphic designer in the promotion department of The New York Times. Later, he was the art director of an advertising agency for many years.One day, respected educator and author, Bill Martin Jr, called to ask Carle to illustrate a story he had written. Martin's eye had been caught by a striking picture of a red lobster that Carle had created for an advertisement. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was the result of their collaboration. It is still a favorite with children everywhere. This was the beginning of Eric Carle's true career. Soon Carle was writing his own stories, too. His first wholly original book was 1,2,3 to the Zoo, followed soon afterward by the celebrated classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.Eric Carle's art is distinctive and instantly recognizable. His art work is created in collage technique, using hand-painted papers, which he cuts and layers to form bright and cheerful images. Many of his books have an added dimension - die-cut pages, twinkling lights as in The Very Lonely Firefly, even the lifelike sound of a cricket's song as in The Very Quiet Cricket - giving them a playful quality: a toy that can be read, a book that can be touched. Children also enjoy working in collage and many send him pictures they have made themselves, inspired by his illustrations. He receives hundreds of letters each week from his young admirers. The secret of Eric Carle's books' appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions.The themes of his stories are usually drawn from his extensive knowledge and love of nature - an interest shared by most small children. Besides being beautiful and entertaining, his books always offer the child the opportunity to learn something about the world around them. It is his concern for children, for their feelings and their inquisitiveness, for their creativity and their intellectual growth that, in addition to his beautiful artwork, makes the reading of his books such a stimulating and lasting experience.Carle says: "With many of my books I attempt to bridge the gap between the home and school. To me home represents, or should represent; warmth, security, toys, holding hands, being held. School is a strange and new place for a child. Will it be a happy place? There are new people, a teacher, classmates - will they be friendly? I believe the passage from home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; the first is, of course, being born. Indeed, in both cases we leave a place of warmth and protection for one that is unknown. The unknown often brings fear with it. In my books I try to counteract this fear, to replace it with a positive message. I believe that children are naturally creative and eager to learn. I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun."copyright 2000 by Penguin Group (USA) Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.; Title: My Own Very Busy Spider Coloring Book | [
16345,
18709,
28827,
49640,
74896
] | Train |
16,281 | 7 | Gr. 5-8. The Invisible Detective solves crimes with the help of his young compatriots in 1930s London. In this installment of the new series, the mysterious detective (no one sees his face) is consulted after a bank robbery and sends his young helpers to the tunnels below London to investigate. There, they encounter a strange ratlike beast that is controlled by an evil man. The novel includes two plotlines: one follows the young detectives; the other, which takes place in present-day London, centers around a boy and his grandfather (who was one of the young detectives as a boy) and their encounters with the beast's descendants. The mystery falls apart in places, but several individual scenes are memorable. The dark and menacing world beneath the streets of London is richly evoked, and the detectives' encounter with a mass of scurrying rats is guaranteed to give plenty of kids the creeps. Readers will look forward to the next Invisible Detectives book. Todd MorningCopyright American Library Association. All rights reservedJustin Richards lives in Warwick, England.; Title: Invisible Detective: Shadow Beast (The Invisible Detectives) | [
16358,
16382
] | Test |
16,282 | 2 | Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 2There are other picture books about traveling to China to adopt a child, but what sets this one apart is the relationship between the first adoptive daughter, Antonia, and her Mei Mei, or younger sister. Based on Youngs experience, the text follows Antonias story beginning with her arrival from China and her early years, to her request for a Mei Mei, to her disillusionment with her less-than-perfect sibling, to the girls evolving closeness and love for each other. The narrative is told gracefully in Antonias expressive, childlike voice: When we returned, I found out that she was not what she ought to be. She couldnt walk. She couldnt talk. She couldnt play. She took all the attention away from me. Youngs illustrations in gouache, pastel, and collage are irresistibly beautiful and filled with feeling. A significant page turn takes readers from Antonias anticipation about their first meeting to Mei Meis crying baby face filling an entire page. Most spreads achieve a serene unity through the use of varying wallpaper-like designs. A definitive composition shows the sisters lying together, legs intertwined, sharing a book, their form echoed against a gently curving floral background. A simple story of family bonds unerringly told.Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Old Greenwich, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. Speaking in the voice of his eldest daughter, Antonia, Young tells his family's tender, personal adoption story. In simple, brief sentences, Antonia describes how her parents carried her home from China when she was a baby. As she grows older, she plays Jieh-Jieh (older sister) with her parents, pretending to blow their noses and care for them. Then the news come that Antonia will become be a real Jieh-Jieh, and the family flies to China to adopt Antonia's Mei Mei (little sister). Antonia makes clear her feelings about the new baby: "She couldn't walk. She couldn't talk. She couldn't play. She took all the attention away from me." Then Mei Mei grows, and the girls' love and closeness is clear as they play and learn together. Young's vibrant collage illustrations joyously extend the spare, direct words. Pencil-and-paint portraits of the girls and their parents float against open backgrounds of patterned fabric and paper, which evoke a sense of cozy domesticity in their resemblance to wallpaper while the wild swirls of flowers, vines, and shapes echo the story's emotional intensity. Families that have adopted multiple children will welcome this title, and children of all backgrounds will easily connect with Young's sensitive portrayal of how siblings move through jealousy and resentment and create the small moments that hold them fiercely together. See the adjacent Read-alikes, "Adoption Stories," for other recent picture books about adoption, Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: My Mei Mei | [
16344
] | Train |
16,283 | 2 | PreSchool-KPreschooler Timothy Tugbottom enjoys his daily routine and is reluctant to try anything new. His pregnant mother tempts him with a pair of pants with many pockets, a delicious blueberry muffin instead of his usual cereal, and a book about dinosaurs from his grandmother. To each suggestion, Timothy utters a resounding No. He does not want to go to Polly Peartree's party or to sleep in his new big-boy bed. He tells his father, I don't like DIFFERENT. However, after spending a restless night in the crib that he has outgrown, the child suddenly changes his tune. He wears his new pants, enjoys a couple of bites of the muffin at breakfast, has a great time at Bobby Bagel's party, and settles down to sleep in his new bed, which is very, very comfortable. The genuine, straightforward story, which is told from the youngster's point of view, is accompanied by expressive watercolors in muted pastel shades. The pictures are filled with homey details that artfully create a portrait of the boy's loving family life and reflect the warm, positive tone of the story. Young readers will identify with Timothy and may also enjoy Tumble Tower (Scholastic, 1993), another successful collaboration from this team.Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS. An acclaimed adult author offers a simple picture book that captures a habit of petulant preschoolers: saying no. Timothy has a whole litany of things he doesn't want to do. He won't wear his new pants or eat anything but his favorite cereal for breakfast. A new bedtime story? Absolutely not. Nor will he try out the big boy's bed his parents want him to sleep in. But that night, when Timothy heads into his warm, safe crib, he realizes that it's too small. After banging around all night, Timothy decides to widen his horizons (and sleep in a bigger bed). Suddenly all his nays turn into yeas. The turnaround is too fast, and Tyler's penchant for cutsie names (Polly Peachtree, Bobby Bagel) grates. Still, kids will recognize themselves here, and the smooth-edged watercolor artwork, filled with the details of a child's world, ably chronicles Timothy's evolution to yes-man. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Timothy Tugbottom Says No! | [
21153
] | Train |
16,284 | 2 | Grade 1-4Polacco's follow-up to The Graves Family (Philomel, 2003) offers a further adventure in the lives of Doug and Shalleaux Graves and their children, friends, and nanny (a Venus flytrap named Phoebe). The family packs up a pink trailer and heads to Lake Bleakmire for a summer camping trip. While Dr. Graves and the youngsters search for new spider and snake specimens in the depths of the forest, they come across an enormous footprint. Then Shalleaux makes her famous Jum Jills (one bite sends anyone into "a veritable eating frenzy"), and the tasty treat attracts a fire-breathing dragon that keeps coming back for more. The situation worsens when the creature follows them home to Union City and threatens to ruin the town's fireworks display, until Dr. Graves comes up with a solution. The wacky illustrations are filled with Adams Family-like touches, which may be enough to distract readers from the meandering text and facile ending. Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. K-3. First introduced in The Graves Family (2003), this odd group, along with some young friends and Phoebe the Venus Flytrap, the family's houseplant, head off to Lake Bleakmire for a camping trip, where Dr. Graves will collect some specimens. The mildly macabre Graves family find slimy toads and bilge leeches, but not until they come upon a fire-breathing Flatulent Sulphuric Fermious Flying Griffin, do things really get exciting. The griffin loves the humans so much, it tries to prevent them from leaving camp. But Dr. Graves has to be home to supervise the Fourth of July fireworks. What to do? A little too wordy and, oddly, not quite silly enough, this will still elicit some giggles. Kids will especially like the ending, in which a giant burp from the beast saves the fireworks show. Polacco maintains a loose hand here, letting her artwork flow across the pages; she goes for laughs, with most of the humor coming from the strange animals that populate the pages. For larger libraries or those where the first book is popular. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Graves Family Goes Camping | [
6101,
6126,
6308,
6327,
6378,
6805,
14328,
15749,
16069,
16259,
16278,
16299,
16313,
16317,
16322,
16356,
16396,
16475,
18046,
26095,
51584,
54648,
54899,
72184
] | Test |
16,285 | 1 | PreSLittle Monkey is bored. Looking for something to do, he climbs aboard a lily pad and is quickly swept downriver. Luckily, his mother has told him, "If you ever get lost, find other monkeys. They will lead you home." As it turns out, the jungle is alive with monkeys of all shapes and sizes, and each new group has something to share. He learns to howl, swing, eat fruit, and hug. While he has to find his own way home, he uses these new skills to do so. Once there, he shows the others what he has learned so that no one is ever bored again. A palette of greens creates a generalized backdrop of leaves and swirling color upon which the animated creatures engage in their various antics. A few other animals help enliven the scenes. Back matter has facts about each of the nine New World monkey species featured. This simple tale follows the circular pattern of a classic hero story, although conflict is held to a minimum; no territorial behaviors are evident. An additional purchase.Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Keith DuQuette lives in Brooklyn, New York.; Title: Little Monkey Lost | [
16063,
16130
] | Train |
16,286 | 11 | Richard Michelson won the Sidney Taylor Award Gold Medal. He lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.Mary Azarian won the Caldecott Medal for Snowflake Bently. She lives in Plainfield, Vermont.; Title: Tuttle's Red Barn | [
11656,
15559,
25017,
25034,
25094,
25108
] | Train |
16,287 | 13 | Crow's rhyming text pulses with liberally laced scat--"huggy wuggy boo bat"--and syncopated sound words: "Zow!" Terrific fun. -- KirkusTerrific fun. -- KirkusWhat drives this book is the swingin' beat of the text, which jumps...jives and begs to be read aloud. -- School Library Journal, starred reviewKristyn Crow lives in Layton, Utah. This is her first book.Mike Lester lives in Rome, Georgia. His A Is for Salad was a New York Times Best Illustrated Book.; Title: Cool Daddy Rat | [
1933,
16357,
23732,
35869,
37801
] | Train |
16,288 | 2 | PreSThe adorable tot from Isadora's Peekaboo Morning (Putnam, 2002) is back in this getting-ready-for-bed story. As in the previous book, the child exclaims in big, bold letters, "Peekaboo! I see," leading readers to turn the page to find the person or object of the game. Bright pictures, done with pastels, add to the fun as the child spies grandparents, parents, pets, a rubber duck, "my blankie," and finally, from atop the bed, "you!" Youngsters will enjoy searching for visual clues as they play along with the familiar toddler activity.Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.A companion book to Isadoras Peekaboo Morning (2002), this upbeat picture book follows an African-American toddler through an evening at home. After going outside to spot the moon with family members, the childcomes back indoors to have a snack, a bath, and a story. As in the previous book, each right-hand page carries a picture accompanied by the words Peekaboo! I see. . ., while the following page identifies what the child saw, such as my daddy, my puppy, or my slippers. After the first few pages, the books audience can use visual clues to guess what the child is seeing. Heavily applied pastels create a warm, colorful family setting for the story. This pleasant book is well designed to engage young children in talking about the illustrations as well as playing their own peekaboo games. Preschool. --Carolyn Phelan; Title: Peekaboo Bedtime | [
996,
1851,
4324,
4363,
5385,
5611,
5883,
6895,
7026,
7552,
10328,
11546,
11671,
11682,
11685,
16273,
16411,
16417,
16563,
19610,
21106,
23104,
23712,
27006,
28611,
28881,
31906,
32273,
33656,
38592,
44614,
44708,
45652,
47887,
47908,
48574,
581... | Train |
16,289 | 2 | Princess Smartypants doesn't want to get married. She enjoys being a Ms. and she wants to live in the castle with her pets and do exactly as she pleases. Because she is very pretty and very rich, all the princes want her to be their Mrs. So Princess Smartypants has to think up some very clever ways of dealing with unwanted suitors in this hilarious fairy-tale-with-a-difference.Babette Cole is the zany, inspired pen and brush behind a number of wildly popular and successful children's books. In a review of The BAD Good Manners Book (Dial), Publishers Weekly hailed her as "a connoisseur of the ridiculous." Ms. Cole lives in Lincolnshire, England.Babette Cole is the zany, inspired pen and brush behind a number of wildly popular and successful children's books. In a review of The BAD Good Manners Book (Dial), Publishers Weekly hailed her as "a connoisseur of the ridiculous." Ms. Cole lives in Lincolnshire, England.; Title: Princess Smartypants | [
3733,
4149,
4377,
4383,
5123,
5136,
5366,
5461,
5487,
5844,
8132,
10130,
10377,
10838,
16147,
16279,
16915,
17458,
18872,
19277,
21561,
22601,
26449,
32376,
32772,
33539,
36408,
36477,
38579,
41043,
41052,
43301,
46243,
47954,
48188,
48239,
485... | Validation |
16,290 | 5 | Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books.He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his "singular attainment in children's literature," the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his "continued distinguished contribution," and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year.Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.- He has been published for over 30 years.- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition forhis books in the children's book world, including:- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association- Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal- Regina Medal from Catholic Library Associationcopyright 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books.He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his "singular attainment in children's literature," the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his "continued distinguished contribution," and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year.Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.- He has been published for over 30 years.- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition forhis books in the children's book world, including:- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association- Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal- Regina Medal from Catholic Library Associationcopyright 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.; Title: Tomie's Three Bears and Other Tales | [
16274,
18797,
26031
] | Train |
16,291 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 2-James is determined to be on his best behavior on the last day of school. Filled with exuberance, he bounces from page to page, offering a litany of things that he will do differently: "I'll get my drink at the drinking fountain 1, 2, 3 and not spit the water back out because it's warm." He hopes to impress Mrs. Bremwood and receive "the last gold star sticker for the year." At lunch, he'll "thank the lady who always smiles at me, and even the one with the grumpy face, and I'll tell them that it's a good lunch, even if it's not." After receiving a hug from his teacher, James literally explodes off the final page, ready for a long, hot summer of frolicking with his friends. The boy and his classmates are depicted in orange, sepia-based tones that give the book a feeling of times past, though the action in the bold oil paintings keeps the story rooted in the present. Use this title to supplement Mark Teague's How I Spent My Summer Vacation (Knopf, 1997).-Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 2. James imagines the last day of school, when he'll do everything right for a change. He won't talk to Tony in class or smash his milk carton at lunch or show off his ability to talk and burp at the same time. He will thank the lady in the lunch line, do his work on time, and earn his teacher's final gold star sticker of the year. "And then . . . And then . . . I'll EXPLODE!!!!" The last two words of the book sound a bit alarming, but the illustration of James ecstatically catapulting out of school makes the meaning clear. James speaks for the many children who want to do things right in school but find it hard to settle down. With a stylized, retro look, the expressive illustrations feature simplified shapes, well-defined compositions, and the rhythm of repeated forms. Useful for those end-of-the-year teacher requests. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: When It's the Last Day Of School | [
4250,
16347,
18468,
24710,
28307,
33185,
37190,
55338,
62241
] | Validation |
16,292 | 18 | Starred Review. Grade 3-6Captain Francis Beaufort of the Royal Navy spent the years 1805-1810 developing a graduated scale for measuring the wind. In a treatment that manages at once to be entirely informative and utterly charming, the author presents the captain's work through a rousing story. Young William Bentley, who provides the engaging narrative voice, is a fictional midshipman on the Zephyr, a man-of-war making a voyage from Portsmouth to Naples and then to Jamaica and back. The Beaufort scale of the prevailing conditions is given on the versos, while the rectos sport exquisite watercolor-and-gouache paintings that are reminiscent of the work of Barbara Cooney in their clarity, detail, and use of forms. The text is epistolary, as William writes from the dead calm of Naples (Beaufort scale 0-1), the sailing breezes of the voyage toward Jamaica (Beaufort scale 2-6), a gale and then a hurricane (Beaufort scale 7-12), and finally, a safe landing in Bridgetown, Barbadosfar off course, but alive. Along with the instructive full-page illustrations (the Zephyr disappearing in the swell of the hurricane is unforgettable), many small inset drawings give information on sailing ships. A double-page diagram of a man-of-war makes clear both the complexity of the rigging and the enormous number of trees that went into creating these graceful vessels. A map of the voyage and a biography of Beaufort complete a truly lovely job of bookmaking that covers a topic rarely treated in children's literature. While it will take promotion to move this title, it is a wonderful addition.Ann Welton, Helen B. Stafford Elementary, Tacoma, WA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Clearly a labor of love, this picture book explains and illustrates the use of the Beaufort scale for measuring wind force at sea. From 1805 to 1810, Francis Beaufort, a captain in the Royal Navy, developed a scale from 0 to 12 based on observations of the wind's effects on the sea, the land, and the ship. To bring this information to his readers, Malone begins with His Majesty's Ship Zephyr in port in 1805 Beaufort 0: sea like a mirror, smoke rising vertically, ship becalmed. Each turn of the page shows the vessel venturing farther away under more vigorous conditions (light air, light breeze, gentle breeze, moderate breeze, fresh breeze, strong breeze, near gale, gale, strong gale, storm, violent storm) until the winds reach hurricane force. The right-hand pages carry large, strikingly executed paintings, while the facing pages offer the wind-scale information, fictional letters from a midshipman on board, and information on ships of the period. An informative book that will fascinate those intrigued by tall ships. Phelan, Carolyn; Title: Close to the Wind: The Beaufort Scale | [
704,
4025,
4636,
4728,
4759,
4782,
4786,
7813
] | Validation |
16,293 | 0 | PreSchool-Grade 2-Brett presents the biblical story from the perspective of Noah's granddaughter. The child watches the construction of the ark and the arrival of its passengers. Once they are on board and the rain falls, she untangles the crowded beasts so that they can all sleep peacefully. When the storm ends, Grandpa Noah releases her pet dove to search for land. After the creatures disembark, she helps him plant a seed to start life anew. This familiar story serves as a vehicle for Brett's watercolor-and-gouache panoramas of animals, birds, and insects from all corners of the Earth. Even the dodo appears. Each spread features a large scene surrounded by a papyrus border. Smaller pictures that relate to the central image are presented in animal-shaped frames to the left and right. Close-up views of insects appear near the corner of some pages and the dove also has a spot in many illustrations. Such details add to the book's interest for older children, who can find something new to explore during repeat readings. Brett's fans will recognize her artistic style, and where her work is popular, this book is a "must purchase." Other librarians may want to assess demand for Noah stories versus the number of titles in the collection, including Jerry Pinkney's Noah's Ark (North-South, 2002). If there is room for one more interpretation, this one is worth considering.Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, MankatoCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreS-Gr. 1. There's no mention of a wrathful God in this beautifully illustrated retelling of the familiar story of the ark, which is related through the viewpoint of Noah's granddaughter. As the water rises, Noah and his family prepare while the animal pairs march aboard. The 40 days and nights in the ark are restless and crowded, but the girl tries to make everyone comfortable. Finally, she sends her dove in search of land, and a new world begins. The words are basic and effective; it's the detailed watercolors of the animals that are the real attraction here. In precise brushstrokes and vivid colors, Brett creates incredibly textured feathers and fur, and the appealing book design positions the images on backgrounds made to resemble papyrus scrolls. Very young children will want to point out their favorite animals in the parade; older ones who know the story may enjoy this kinder, secular version. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: On Noah's Ark | [
1746,
5246,
5591,
5977,
5997,
6852,
8240,
9111,
9652,
10269,
13009,
15755,
15823,
15849,
15873,
15964,
15965,
15969,
15986,
16033,
16067,
16093,
16122,
16124,
16146,
16187,
16224,
16254,
16331,
16420,
16424,
16446,
16449,
16501,
16536,
16546,
1... | Validation |
16,294 | 1 | Eric Hill (www.funwithspot.com) left school when he was 15 and took up cartooning while working as a messenger at an art studio.He created Where's Spot? as a bedtime story for his two-year old son. It was published four years later, and the rest is history. Eric Hill passed away in July 2014.; Title: Spot's Christmas | [
651,
661,
674,
2405,
5806,
5807,
5809,
5817,
5818,
5824,
5957,
5975,
6761,
8170,
9006,
9768,
9920,
10451,
12211,
12922,
14500,
14581,
14632,
15843,
16049,
16228,
16241,
16298,
16416,
16741,
18426,
18593,
18732,
19616,
21500,
29267,
31028,
326... | Train |
16,295 | 2 | Grade 4-6-Clara Frankofile is a pompous, snobbish 11-year-old who spends her evenings people-watching from a corner table in her parents' chic New York City restaurant, Pish Posh. She has the unique ability to determine which members of society's upper crust are no longer worthy to dine at the fashionable establishment. When Clara banishes a kindly but washed-up eye surgeon, he tells her that a peculiar mystery is unfolding right under her very nose. This revelation leads to Clara's improbable alliance with a cunning 12-year-old jewel thief, and together they embark on a perilous adventure that leads to the uncovering of a 200-year-old secret. Attempts at whimsy fail in this overly ambitious novel that tries to cover too much ground to achieve any real substance. Clara is insufferable from any perspective, and even with a seemingly endless cast of secondary characters, it is difficult to find anyone to applaud or admire. The story teems with frivolity, yet contains incongruous elements of cruelty and gruesomeness, resulting in a disjointed tale for which the target audience is unclear. Readers looking for a wonderful book of adventure and triumph of the downtrodden over the social elite should try SF Said's Varjak Paw (Random, 2003).-Debbie Lewis O'Donnell, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 4-6. Stylish 11-year-old Clara Frankofile spends her evenings presiding over a table at her father's trendy Manhattan restaurant, Pish Posh, snobbishly checking out the clientele to determine who qualifies as a Nobody, suitable for immediate expulsion. Alerted to a mystery right under her nose, she investigates the restaurant's peculiar soup chef, aided by her friend (and sometime thief) Annabelle. This zany mixture of reality and fantasy (the soup chef turns out to be more than 200 years old) offers many interesting characters for readers to ponder: Clara, a child of wealth and privilege, who has spent so much time critiquing her world that she has missed out on childhood; her father, Pierre, who claims to be French despite being Brooklyn born and bred; and Annabelle, who regrets that her father's decision to abandon his life of crime leaves her with a myriad of unusable skills. Recommend this to sophisticated middle-graders, especially those who know the author's Olivia Kidney books. Kay WeismanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Pish Posh | [
5994,
16394
] | Validation |
16,296 | 1 | Tomie dePaola lives in New Hampshire.; Title: Tomie's Mother Goose Flies Again | [
15910,
16219,
18797,
18805,
18857
] | Train |
16,297 | 2 | In a sequel to Ellen Potter's delightful Olivia Kidney, 12-year-old Olivia and her handyman father George report for duty ("a live-in situation") at 917 West 84th Street in New York City, a curious brownstone with a flooded first floor -- a lagoon complete with boats, floating furniture, and snapping turtles. The handsome young owner, Ansel Plover, seems quite charming, but a neighbor warns Olivia that the man is "mad, bad, and dangerous." Her worst fears are confirmed when a redheaded man she sees yelling at Ansel one night dies a mysterious death in Central Park. Worse still, her father is almost poisoned by a pie. Is their new landlord a killer? The perpetual new kid on the block, Olivia doesn't have many friends to console her, but she does have a special way of communicating with her dead brother Christopher. Can he somehow, even from the spirit world, help her unravel the mystery on 84th Street? Peter H. Reynold's cartoonish black-and-white illustrations contribute a modern sensibility to this engaging, deliciously imaginative novel where, as Olivia learns, it's best not to jump to conclusions. (Ages 9 to 12) --Karin SnelsonGrade 5-8–Feisty Olivia Kidney is back again in another zany, surreal, and ultimately satisfying adventure. After her well-meaning but inept father is fired from yet another handyman job, he is offered a position as a live-in superintendent at a mysterious brownstone on West 84th Street. The novel believably fuses realism and fantasy; while life appears to be somewhat normal outside of the building, inside, the first floor is a lagoon that must be maneuvered via boat, and the handsome owner, Ansel Plover, welcomes puzzling late-night guests. Olivia discovers that these visitors are all about to die and come in a dreamlike state to the "Exit Academy" to rehearse their deaths. This may all sound rather macabre, but Potter imbues the story with large doses of humor, so even the practice death scenes have a vaudeville air about them. Plot strands abound as Olivia befriends neighbors who attend a ridiculous finishing school, meets a champion skateboarder in Central Park, and encounters two colorful characters–Madame Brenda and the Princepessa–from Olivia Kidney (Philomel, 2003). The writing crackles with energy, and, beneath the bizarre happenings, themes emerge that are connected to Olivia's personal growth and acceptance of her brother's death. The author adroitly draws all of the subplots together in a complex and inventive climax that will keep readers guessing till the last page.–Caroline Ward, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Olivia Kidney and The Exit Academy | [
5994,
6350,
23686,
23697,
45431
] | Train |
16,298 | 2 | Eric Hill (www.funwithspot.com) left school when he was 15 and took up cartooning while working as a messenger at an art studio.He createdWhere's Spot?as a bedtime story for his two-year old son. It was published four years later, and the rest is history. Eric Hill passed away in July 2014.; Title: Spot Loves His Daddy | [
667,
3109,
4257,
4287,
5483,
5806,
5807,
5809,
5817,
5818,
5824,
5840,
5957,
5975,
6754,
6761,
8170,
8271,
13367,
16049,
16228,
16241,
16294,
16359,
16360,
16416,
18593,
19616,
20993,
27124,
27754,
27779,
27954,
27998,
29246,
29267,
38301,
48... | Validation |
16,299 | 0 | Grade 2-4The author/illustrator has turned again to her family history for this story of a Christmas long ago in rural Michigan. The plot is predictable, revolving around Pa's late return from Lansing with the traditional nine oranges, one for each child; 10-year-old Frankie's generosity to a hobo; and the boy's subsequent loss of his orange. Polacco's watercolor-and-pencil illustrations are well rendered as always and appropriate for this slight but wordy, nostalgic tale.V. W. Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 2. Autobiography melds with history in this poignant tale of a family tradition, set around Christmastime during the Great Depression. Polacco introduces the Stowell family, a brood of nine living on a farm just outside of Detroit. Though they don't have a lot, the family never hesitates to share its good fortune, often feeding hungry hoboes as they pass through the nearby train station. Frankie, the youngest son, even gives one of them his favorite sweater. When Frankie loses the precious Christmas orange given to each child, he tells his mother about his error and also fesses up about his missing sweater. His family is so moved by his charitable gesture, it^B rallies to make sure Frankie has the most special gift of all. Polacco illustrates the story in her trademark watercolor-and-pencil style, with key elements picked out in bright color against more muted backdrops. Like many of Polacco's picture books, this holiday story about gifts and giving is based on a chapter from her own family history. Terry GloverCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: An Orange for Frankie | [
1044,
1746,
4570,
4600,
5371,
5494,
5591,
6327,
6362,
6981,
7701,
8711,
8900,
8982,
9238,
9443,
12043,
14018,
14412,
15289,
15741,
15749,
15790,
15809,
16041,
16098,
16317,
16529,
16542,
16909,
16966,
21290,
22997,
27026,
27280,
27348,
28065,
... | Train |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.