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16,400 | 15 | 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 Very First Book of Animal Homes | [
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16,401 | 2 | "[A] high-spirited salute to the adage that opposites attract." --Kirkus"[A] charming tale...This is a sure winner and a nice break from routine princess stories." --School Library Journal"The ordinary and the extraordinary combine in a book that is certain to be beloved by every ordinary and extraordinary child out there today. Magical." --Elizabeth Bird, Fuse #8 BlogRandall de Sve and Peter de Sve live in Brooklyn, New York.; Title: The Duchess of Whimsy | [
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16,402 | 0 | Eric Carle lives in Northampton, Massachusetts. Visit the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts.; Title: My Very First Library: My Very First Book of Colors, My Very First Book of Shapes, My Very First Book of Numbers, My Very First Books of Words | [
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16,403 | 0 | Painting is as much a part of the Moses family tradition as the family homestead in Eagle Bridge, New York. There Will Moses has painted since he was a little boy, learning firsthand from his grandfather, folk artist Forrest Moses, who learned from his mother, Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known as Grandma Moses. Developing his own folk style, Will has become an internationally beloved artist in his own right, his art displayed in collections throughout the world, including that of the White House.His first picture book, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, a retelling of Washington Irving's famous tale, was published by Philomel in 1995.Will Moses' studio is at the Mount Nebo Gallery and Farm in Eagle Bridge, where he lives with his wife, Sharon, and their three children.Painting is as much a part of the Moses family tradition as the family homestead in Eagle Bridge, New York. There Will Moses has painted since he was a little boy, learning firsthand from his grandfather, folk artist Forrest Moses, who learned from his mother, Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known as Grandma Moses. Developing his own folk style, Will has become an internationally beloved artist in his own right, his art displayed in collections throughout the world, including that of the White House.His first picture book, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, a retelling of Washington Irving's famous tale, was published by Philomel in 1995.Will Moses' studio is at the Mount Nebo Gallery and Farm in Eagle Bridge, where he lives with his wife, Sharon, and their three children.; Title: Mary and Her Little Lamb | [
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16,404 | 0 | In this encyclopedic companion volume, purportedly Merlins journal, Barron brings together a great deal of information and lore drawn from his Merlin series and offers short summaries of Strange Characters, Wondrous Places, and Magical Terms, arranged under the headings Fincayra, Avalon, Otherworld, and Earth. A time line and an index make the contents accessible. Besides the attractive black-and-white maps and small illustrations with the appearance of woodcuts, dramatic full-color illustrations appear at intervals throughout. Primarily of interest to dedicated fans, this will also answer questions for readers with gaps in their memory or knowledge of Barrons richly imagined Merlin saga. Grades 6-9. --Carolyn PhelanT.A. Barron is the award-winning author of fantasy novels such as The Lost Years of Merlin epicsoon to be a major motion picture. He serves on a variety of environmental and educational boards including The Nature Conservancy and The Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, and is the founder of a national award for heroic children. Following a life-changing decision to leave a successful business career to write full-time in 1990, Barron has written seventeen books, but is happiest when on the mountain trails with his wife, Currie, and their five children.; Title: Merlin: The Book of Magic, Book 12 (Merlin Saga) | [
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16,405 | 2 | "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 Shh! | [
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16,406 | 2 | In Murray's children's debut, when a gingerbread man made by schoolchildren gets left behind at recess, he decides he has to find his class:"I'll run and I'll run, / As fast as I can. / I can catch them! I'm their / Gingerbread Man!" Teachers looking for a new way to start off the school year will eat this one up. - Kirkus ReviewsThe Gingerbread Man heads to school in this delightful reshuffling of the traditional tale. Told in spot-on, deadpan rhyme and illustrated in large, comic-book-style panels, this title will leave kids giggling as they follow the G-man's efforts to be reunited with his class -- Booklist * Starred Review, Ilene Cooper" - aspry, role-reversing story told through comic-book panels and buoyant verse,the gingerbread man is the pursuer, not the pursued. Cookie-related humor runs through both Murray's rhymes and Lowery's cartoons, as the gingerbread man--as dapper as he is determined--tracks a group of students through their school." - Publisher's WeeklyLaura Murray, a former teacher, began each school year with a unit in which kids would follow candy and crumb trails to find their missing Gingerbread Man. She lives in McLean, Virgina. This is her first book. Mike Lowery lives in a tiny cottage surrounded by trees where he mostly just makes art. His work has been seen in galleries and publications internationally and he is Professor of Illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta. His daughter Allister loves it when he draws faces on their bananas.; Title: The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School | [
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16,407 | 11 | PreS-Gr 2The traditional Hans Christian Andersen tale gets a makeover in this modern version with a twist. In her signature style of stories peppered with a liberal dose of Spanish and humor, Elya relates the account of a prince who wants to marry and his mother, the queen, who takes charge of vetting the possible candidates. In rhyming text, the author describes the lonely prince. Then one day "came a maiden, en route to her castle/She winked at the prince, who fell for her fast./No matter what Mom does, I'll marry this lass!" The endearing and playful illustrations set the story in Peru. The Spanish words sprinkled throughout the text are in a different color and font, and kids will easily understand them through the context. (Those in need of additional help will appreciate the glossary with definitions and pronunciations.) And the pea under the mattresses test? Let's just say that the prince makes sure his chosen one passes with flying colors. VERDICT This engaging read-aloud is a fresh reimagining of a classic. A must for all libraries.Lucia Acosta, Children's Literature Specialist, Princeton, NJ"This engaging read-aloud is a fresh reimagining of a classic [. . .] The endearing and playful illustrations set the story in Peru [. . .] And the pea under the mattresses test? Let's just say that the prince makes sure his chosen one passes with flying colors."School Library Journal,starred review "Reading this would be a fabulous way to compare and contrast and use [readers's] knowledge of the first story and the colorful illustrations to make inferences as to meanings of words and phrases."School Library Connection,starred review"The classic Hans Christian Andersen tale unfolds with Latin flair [. . . .] Martinez-Neal's darling, soft-edged mixed-media illustrations bring the brown-skinned characters to life in costumes from different regions of Peru"Kirkus"Martinez-Neal's illustrations, featuring stylishly exaggerated figures rendered in warm tones and delicate lines, are inspired by the textile designs of the indigenous people of Peru. With eye-catching details on every page, this book is sure to capture the imaginations of young readers. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout, and clever rhymes make this a book to enjoy more than once."Booklist"Martinez-Neal's graceful illustrations . . . really make this lively title a winner . . . . an enjoyable retelling for young audiences, [and] professionals looking to expand the diversity of a fairy-tale collection or unit of study will find it particularly valuable."Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; Title: La Princesa and the Pea | [
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16,408 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2This lively story meets nighttime fears head-on with the right mix of silliness and reassurance. Tucked into bed with Teddy by his side, a young boy closes his eyes and thinks about tomorrow's adventures untilthere's a "bump" in the closet. Billy tries to be brave, but ends up under the bed. A "blue, bumping, bouncing, bellowing monster" appears and playfully grabs the teddy bear, but quickly returns it when the boy bursts into tears. Billy's fears are calmed, and the two become friends. Back in bed, Billy hears another "bump," but it's only the dog and he's definitely not afraid, "No-siree, Bob!" The acrylic-on-wood illustrations create the perfect mood for this appealing bedtime story. When the lights go out, the artwork glows in eerie moonlit blues. Objects have rounded edges and give comfort in the other-world quality of night. The placement of large and small illustrations enhances the text and accentuates the antics of the energetic boy and his new friend. Billy's Elvis-like hair, huge eyes, and expressive mouth make him a character to love. Children will find humor in the contrast between his courageous intentions and cowering actions. An excellent addition to nightstands and library shelves.Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Eddie Hemingway banishes the nighttime jitters. A monster of a good time. -- Maira KalmanEdward has created a character that is so full of warmth and fun...I adore this sweet book BUMP! -- Mariel HemingwayHemingway's tongue-in-cheek text keeps the action moving along and adds a touch of humor. -- Kirkus; Title: Bump in the Night | [
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16,409 | 2 | As in The Princess and the Pea (2007) and numerous other retellings, Isadora sets a traditional European fairy tale in an African setting. This time, Isadora chooses one of the scariest stories evertold about small kids who must fight evil, powerful adults. Spare prosecombines withlush, bright cut-paper collage illustrations that showHansel and Gretelabandoned in the dense forest, lured and locked up, and then finally triumphant after they trick thewitch and push her into the burning oven. The immensely detailed double-page spreads are dense with jungle animals and plants, but the real terror is inside the witchs house, filled with dark silhouettes. Drawing on beautiful, geometric African patterns common to traditional Kente cloth, Isadora balances her compositions with soothing white space. Kids willbe held bythis strong retelling of the familiar story about a brave boy and girl who overcome alooming threat and find their way home. Preschool-Grade 2. --Hazel Rochman[Isadora pieces] colorfully patterned and hand-painted papers together to create bold, busy eye-catching scenes with a strong ethnic feel...[a] highly artistic...presentation. --School Library Journal; Title: Hansel and Gretel | [
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16,410 | 2 | Praise for ALWAYS A CATCH:"Richmond has written an above-average story that will appeal to fans of the genre and authors, such as Mike Lupica and Tim Green."--School Library Journal"Adynamic but thoughtful novel of self-discovery."--Kirkus Reviews"Richmond skillfully delivers scene after scene of gridiron grit while maintaining Jack's wit and charm, and pulling off a winning story, on and off the field. Readers can only hope that this isn't Richmond's last young adult novel."--Publishers Weekly"This is a quick and easy read that leaves the reader with hope for Jacks future."--Library Media ConnectionPeter Richmondis theNew York Timesbestselling author of six books of non-fiction for adults and is the co-host of a public radio show about the New York Giants called Tangled Up in Blue, which airs on WHDD-FM. He has also taught high-school English and drama on and off for the last decade.You can visit him online atwww.peterrichmond.comor follow him on Twitter at @peterbrichmond.; Title: Always a Catch | [
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16,411 | 11 | Kindergarten-Grade 3Isadora sets the classic fairy tale in a sunny African setting. A child, taken from her parents by a sorceress, "grew into the most beautiful child under the sun." When she is 12, the evil woman locks her in a high tower, climbing up Rapunzel's beautiful, black, flower-strewn hair when she wants to ascend her prison. The story remains true to the original, including the ending in which the young woman and her twins are reunited with the prince, and she cures him of his blindness. Colorful, vibrant oil paints and collages brighten up the story. The artwork has rich brushstrokes and is heavily patterned, and details abound, including the green warts on the sorceress's face. Add this book to Isadora's fairy tales reimagined in Africa, such as The Princess and the Pea, The Twelve Dancing Princesses (both 2007), and The Fisherman and His Wife (2008, all Putnam).Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, Kearns Library, UT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.This oft-sanitized Brothers Grimm tale is given a faithfulif indeed grimretelling in the latest of Isadoras African-set fairy-tale adaptations, seen most recently with The Fisherman and His Wife (2008). The story races along with every scandalous plot point intact: Trapped by an evil sorceress, Rapunzel uses her long hair to allow a prince entrance into her cloistered tower. When her ensuing pregnancy tips off the sorceress, the vengeful captor tosses the prince into thorn bushes that blind him. As with Isadoras previous retellings, the text is scant and the abrupt happy ending doesnt really satisfybut her wild, colorful Africa makes up for it. Sprawled across double-page spreads, the collage assembly will take repeat examinations to fully appreciate; thick brushstrokes render skin as textured and rich as wood grain, and the landscapes are chaotic patchworks cut from swaths of burnt orange, deep brown, and the sorceress stormy purple. Young listeners will also find plenty to scrutinizeits a dazzling garden of images, particularly given the paucity of the storys seeds. Preschool-Grade 2. --Daniel Kraus; Title: Rapunzel | [
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16,412 | 0 | Toddler-PreSA playful collection that interweaves Spanish words into classic Mother Goose rhymes in English. With everything from "Mara Had a Little Oveja" to "Twinkle Twinkle Small Estrella," Elya presents the familiar rhymes with a twist, following her usual formula of interlingual rhyming text. The Spanish words are presented in bold and italics, and the sentence construction follows an unnatural form of code-switching that doesn't speak to the authenticity of bilingual and Spanish-speaking readers. The book's forte is Martinez-Neal's soft and delightful illustrations, which capture the sweetness and warmth of the tales. Using a variation of single pages and spreads, the illustrator makes the most of each page to enhance the visual experience of children by adding playful characters, Spanish words, and friendly animals. A glossary is appended, which includes the Spanish words used, their pronunciation, and their meaning in English, with the goal of introducing English speakers to Spanish words that are not traditionally used in interlingual picture books. For those interested in a more successful Latino parallel of Mother Goose nursery rhymes, Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy's Mam Goose: A Latino Nursery Treasury is recommended. VERDICT An optional purchase for library collections.Sujei Lugo, Boston Public Library, MA"Elya even gives old rhymes new, culturally relevant makeovers. . . . Martinez-Neal’s softly textured illustrations combine acrylics and colored pencils to beautiful effect. Scenes spill across single- and double-page spreads, sweetly bringing the rhymes to life. Martinez-Neal’s talent is perhaps best represented in the diverse faces of the children she draws, whose genuine emotions pair perfectly with the rhymes they accompany. A lovely multicultural addition to the nursery rhyme shelf."--Booklist"Susan Middleton Elya instigates linguistic playfulness . . . by plaiting English nursery rhymes with bold-faced words in Spanish. . . . Soft-edged, softly colored illustrations by Juana Martinez-Neal give this picture book a cozy feel."--Wall Street Journal"Elya reinterprets 18 classic nursery rhymes, incorporating Spanish vocabulary into offerings like 'Three Little Gatitos' (who have lost their mitoncitos) and 'Little Miss Amarilla,' who 'sat in her silla,/ eating her beans and arroz.' Debut illustrator Martinez-Neal contributes ultra-cozy mixed-media scenes featuring multiethnic children and anthropomorphic animals."--Publishers Weekly "Elya presents the familiar rhymes with a twist, following her usual formula of interlingual rhyming text. . . The book’s forte is Martinez-Neal’s soft and delightful illustrations, which capture the sweetness and warmth of the tales. . . A glossary is appended, which includes the Spanish words used, their pronunciation, and their meaning in English, with the goal of introducing English speakers to Spanish words that are not traditionally used in interlingual picture books."--School Library Journal; Title: La Madre Goose: Nursery Rhymes for los Niños | [
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16,413 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 3A loving bear lists for her grandchild all the things that make their relationship special, wisely observing how they complement one another: "I am your grandparent;/you are my grandchild./I am your wise face;/you are my new-tooth smile." As the two go for a walk, have a picnic, and contentedly fall asleep under a tree, their bond is sweetly illustrated in warm, soft watercolors that beautifully depict their facial expressions and body language. Four endearing small stuffed toys also come along on the outing and are fun to spot on each page as they follow the toddler bear and participate in everything. This team has also produced You Are My I Love You (Philomel, 2001), which has approximately the same type of format but with a parent and child. Although the format may get old if indefinitely repeated (the text is a little too sugary), this is a gentle love song for grandparents to share with their grandchildren.Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Maryann Cusimano has been working with children since she was a teenas a clown, story-teller, singer, puppeteer, and caregiver. You Are My I Love You arose out of her work with children, especially the PeaceKids group in the Sursum Corda housing project.Maryann lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, Rich Love (they are newlyweds). She is an associate professor of international politics at Catholic University. Dr. Maryann Cusimano Love is an award winning international educator and author. Dr. Cusimano Love has spoken to audiences from suburban pre-schoolers to inner city teens to international diplomats. A winner of Harvard Universitys Pew Faculty Fellowship for teaching, and Catholic Universitys Teacher of the Year Award, Maryann Cusimano Love is an effective presenter who favors participatory techniques.Satomi Ichikawa, creator of the Nora books, lives in Paris, France.; Title: You Are My Wish | [
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16,414 | 12 | Grade 36This follow-up to Eats, Shoots and Leaves (about the importance of commas) (2006) and The Girl's Like Spaghetti (about apostrophes) (2007, both Putnam) emphasizes the importance of punctuation in general. Truss again makes the case that careless application can dramatically change one's meaning. To prove her point, she provides contrasting examples of the same sentence, punctuated in different ways. Timmons's charming watercolors make the change in meaning clearer. In one example, a child gazes at a tower of presents obscuring a Christmas tree, and Truss writes, "'Do you know who came last night? Santa Claus,' said my mom." On the facing page, Santa addresses his elves-"'Do you know who came last night?' Santa Claus said. 'My mom.'" (Needless to say, no pile of presents accompanies the arrival of Santa's mom.) In each example, the pertinent punctuation marks are printed in red. An afterword provides additional explanation for each pair of examples. The references to royalty and Christian tradition point to the book's British origin, but Truss's examples should still be clear to North American students. Twenty-Odd Ducks will be most effective through guided reading in small groups, though savvy children may enjoy it as an amusing pleasure read.Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Twenty-Odd Ducks will be most effective through guided reading in small groups, though savvy children may enjoy it as an amusing pleasure read. --School Library Journal; Title: Twenty-Odd Ducks: Why, every punctuation mark counts! | [
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16,415 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2In a hilarious take on family vacations, two ducks convince a reluctant New Hampshire moose to join them on their migratory car trip to Florida for the winter. A poor sport on the journey, Moose finds the warm, fun-filled sunshine state to be more exciting than he could possibly have imagined. When it's time to return home, a crying Moose is loathe to leave (to the disgust of his duck buddies) but then finds he can create a bit of Florida up north. The delight in this book is in Horowitz's goofy characters. The pencil and charcoal cartoons, digitally colored in bright hues, show an endearing protagonist that youngsters will embrace. Easy enough to read independently, and funny enough for adults to enjoy sharing with children, this book about a road-tripping trio will be welcome in most collections.Marge Loch-Wouters, La Crosse Public Library, WI END"The nugget of warmth here is...whether it be for a vacation or away from home altogether, it may very well result in the unexpected reaction of happiness." --Kirkus"Easy enough to read independently, and funny enough for adults to enjoy sharing with children, this book about a road-tripping trio will be welcome in most collections." --School Library Journal; Title: Duck, Duck, Moose | [
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16,416 | 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 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 Mommy | [
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16,417 | 11 | PreS UpThe familiar holiday tune gets a fresh presentation, with Isadora's signature style and verve. The book is set up as a rebus, which means even pre-readers will be able to figure out what's going on. Despite its very European pedigree, the song lends itself well to an African setting. The five golden rings refer to the rings worn around the necks of women in South Africa, the lords a-leaping come from Mali, and the ladies dancing come from Swaziland. The illustrations, done in oil paint, printed paper, and palette paper, are fabulous. This altogether pleasing package is great for a storytime presentation or one-on-one sharing.Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Following up her The Night before Christmas (2009), Isadora transplants another holiday chestnut to Africa, illustrating the traditional lyrics with infectiously festive scenes of animals and people placed beneath a huge, radiant sun and rendered in brightly colored, kente-patterned cut-paper collage. The settings are generalized but not generic; the ladies dancing, lords a-leaping, and drummers drumming display a range of skin tones and facial features plus distinctive styles of West and South African regional dress, which are identified at the end with a map and note. Along with exuberant shapes and hues, the pictures feature an artful use of silhouettes and such inventive details as maids a-milking goats rather than the usual cows and pear trees festooned with ornaments as well as fruit. The recurring gifts are indicated in the text by thumbnail-sized rebuses, which may be too small for audiences to follow from more than a few feet away but allow the entire verse to fit on a single line throughout, even on the final spread. The old song has never looked better. Grades 1-3. --John Peters; Title: The 12 Days of Christmas | [
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16,418 | 0 | PreSchool-Grade 3–This story, a riff on The Little Drummer Boy, tugs at the heartstrings and offers a few exciting moments, despite some improbable coincidences. However, the real star here is Long's luminous acrylic art, which gives a real sense of scale and place. On a cold winter's day, a little toy drummer boy in a snappy red uniform mysteriously appears on a child's doorstep. The boy loves the drummer and spends a lot of time listening to him play, but a mishap sends the little drummer on a wild adventure all around town, where he plays his drum and brings peace to every listener he comes across. Finally, the toy ends up in a cemetery, where the boy finds it near his grandfather's grave. He takes the drummer home and, filled with the Christmas spirit, places him at the feet of the baby in the Nativity scene on the mantel. A handsome, if not essential, purchase.–Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.An illustrator of distinctive talent, Long ventures into the author arena with this holiday picture book based on the Christmas classic The Little Drummer Boy. In the honored tradition of lost-toy tales, Longs story unfolds when a magical figurinearegal drummer whose companionship and soulful percussion offer comfort to alonely childis accidentally cast out with the trash. The drummer boy braves a string of harrowing encounters with wildlife, a steep fall from a bell tower, and the blustery winter weather the only way he knows howby dutifully playing his drum. Captivating acrylic illustrations elevate the sometimes meditative cast of the tale with crisp winter scenes in an elegant blue and gray palette.The final pages, which show a glowing Christmas hearth and the drummer boy playing in a nativity scene before the outstretched arms of the baby Jesus, are sure to ward off any remnants of the storys winter chill. Grades K-2. --Kristen McKulski; Title: Drummer Boy | [
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16,419 | 2 | Eric Hill lives in California.; Title: Spot Says Goodnight | [
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16,420 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2Brett's highly detailed, luscious illustrations do a fine job telling this story for nonreaders, while readers and listeners will enjoy Gingerbread Baby's energy and enthusiasm. The roly-poly youngster lives in a gingerbread house in the bedroom of a boy named Mattie, but longs for fun and adventure. While Mattie is too busy in the kitchen to play with him, the Gingerbread Baby heads to the village to look for a friend of his own. He finds some good prospects at the bakery but ends up being chased by a mouse, followed by the baker and his wife, and eventually a red fox. The riotous run brings him back to Mattie's house where he finds an elaborately decorated cookie and candy village with a lot of gingerbread friends for him. Sidebars offer instructions for making gingerbread friends to eat and enjoy. The special foldout adds an element of surprise and delight for storytimes or one-on-one sharing.Lisa Falk, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Brett's highly detailed, luscious illustrations do a fine job telling this story for nonreaders, while readers and listeners will enjoy Gingerbread Baby's energy and enthusiasm. --School Library Journal; Title: Gingerbread Friends | [
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16,421 | 5 | This slow-to-start picture book details the final flight of Earths last remaining dragon, Ultimon. He lives in the city sewers, dreaming of the olden days: A time when dragons / Ruled the waves / And breathed hot flames / In jewel-filled caves. Then, spurred on by a star calling out to him, Ultimon flies off into the night sky. In a somewhat confusing ending, Ultimon is beckoned by stars, Come in, Ultimon / Out of the night! and he takes his place as part of Draco, the dragon constellation. The whole thing is perhaps a little too ethereally described for the target audience, but there are obviously plenty of kids who will be drawn to the dragon theme. GrandPrs lush, full-bleed acrylic art depicts a lean, muscular dragon (nothing cute here) that may tempt those who prefer their mythical creatures on the realistic side. Best here are the darkly hued spreads that reflect a stunning night sky and the dragons emotionally expressive face. An authors note about the Draco constellation concludes. Grades 1-3. --Ann KelleyA fanciful poem about the last of the dragons, Ultimon, who becomes the constellation Draco. In a modern-day city, Ultimon lives alone in the sewers, worn and sad, dreaming of his former glory. One night he emerges and begs the universe to take pity on him, and he hears a faint call from the sky. He gathers his strength for one final flight and takes his place among the stars. The story of the last dragon secretly coexisting in the contemporary world is compelling, and GrandPrs illustrations do a lovely job juxtaposing the mythological and metropolitan elements. Her expressive paintingsfull of sad, cool blues, purples, and greens that explode with warmth as Ultimon takes his triumphant place in the skydraw viewers into the dragons world. . . . High-fantasy lovers of all ages will enjoy this book.--School Library Journal School Library Journal; Title: Flight of the Last Dragon | [
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16,422 | 0 | Grade 2–4—In May 1942, while the school choir practices the Air Corps song, young Tomie reflects on his cousin's war-related death and goes home in tears. This event triggers a change in his relationship with his brother Buddy that, along with the news that his Uncle Charlie will be going into the Army, casts a shadow on the second grader's year. Throughout the time period covered in this book, the boy hears the phrase "for the duration," which he comes to realize refers to more than just rationing. References to contemporary film and music stars (Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rodgers, etc.) set the book firmly in the early 1940s. Upbeat events include a dance recital, where Tomie shines as King Neptune; the citywide art exhibit at his school; and First Communion preparation. Early chapters begin with diary entries, but the diary soon disappears. Tomie finds the ruined journal by the book's end, and wonders sadly why his brother Buddy is so mean. dePaola's style and word choices are just right for his audience, and the point of view is consistently that of a second grader. Full-page and spot art black-and-white pencil drawings and silhouette art by the author illustrate this must-read title for fans of the series.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN END"[A] must-read title for fans of the series." --School Library Journal; Title: For the Duration: The War Years (26 Fairmount Avenue) | [
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16,423 | 15 | Aldrin, of Apollo 11 fame,leads a journey through centuries of air and space aviation and action, from Isaac Newtons theories on gravity to the future of Martian colonies and space tours.The text packs in a lot of information, including praise of lesser-known heroes like rocket designer Robert Goddard and fighter pilot Chuck Yeager. Aldrins experience gives authority to that which he chooses to spotlight, but he also takes care to personalize each entry. For instance, when speaking of the Wright brothers, he notes that he and Neil Armstrong took a piece of fabric fromtheWright Flyer 1 with them to the moon, writing, I think Orville and Wilbur would have been pleasedand very proud. The art has a soft touch that may not have enough vigor for some, though it is nicely varied, switching from double-page spreads and inserts to side-by-side comparisons of craft. Historical quotes run across the bottom of each page, and there are two fantastic time lines that fill in details of dates, craft, crew, and much more. Grades 1-3. --Daniel KrausIt distinguishes...from other titles that cover similar territory and should leave readers with a clearer sense of how the past connects with the future. --School Library Journal ...Aldrin's first-person account is peppered with comments establishing his connections to so many people and events...a personal touch that may indeed inspire readers to become part of the story someday. ---Horn Book; Title: Look to the Stars | [
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16,424 | 0 | "Brett is in rare visual form." --KirkusWith over forty million books in print, Jan Brett is one of the nation's foremost author illustrators of children's books. Jan lives in a seacoast town in Massachusetts, close to where she grew up. During the summer her family moves to a home in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts.As a child, Jan Brett decided to be an illustrator and spent many hours reading and drawing. She says, "I remember the special quiet of rainy days when I felt that I could enter the pages of my beautiful picture books. Now I try to recreate that feeling of believing that the imaginary place I'm drawing really exists. The detail in my work helps to convince me, and I hope others as well, that such places might be real."As a student at the Boston Museum School, she spent hours in the Museum of Fine Arts. "It was overwhelming to see the room-size landscapes and towering stone sculptures, and then moments later to refocus on delicately embroidered kimonos and ancient porcelain," she says. "I'm delighted and surprised when fragments of these beautiful images come back to me in my painting."Travel is also a constant inspiration. Together with her husband, Joe Hearne, who is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jan visits many different countries where she researches the architecture and costumes that appear in her work. "From cave paintings to Norwegian sleighs, to Japanese gardens, I study the traditions of the many countries I visit and use them as a starting point for my children's books."; Title: The Easter Egg | [
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16,425 | 2 | Grade 25Jerome's stylish grandmother is a successful matchmaker with dozens of happy clients, the exception being Mr. Sussman. Jerome thinks that the man is too picky, but Bubbie is convinced that she can find him the perfect woman. "No pot is so crooked that there isn't a lid to fit it," she says. In fact, she decides that she's his match and makes drastic changes to prove it, to no avail. Finally, after giving up on trying to please Mr. Sussman, Bubbie ends up with exactly what she wanted all along. While the lengths to which she goes to win Mr. Sussman's affection are humorous, the story's theme may have little appeal to the elementary crowd. The narrative strikes the right note at the end with the message of staying true to oneself, but readers may lose interest getting there. Polacco's characteristic pencil and watercolor illustrations seem less polished than in her many other finely detailed and crafted offerings. Sprinkled throughout are Yiddish words and references to Jewish traditions.Beth Cuddy, Seward Elementary School, Auburn, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.In a good-humored tale with a thoroughly telegraphed ending, young Jerome watches his bubbie, Mrs. Zukin, a talented shadkhen (matchmaker), take on her greatest challenge. When old Mr. Sussman asks for a mate who keeps kosher, Jerome is sent off to borrow an extra set of dishes. When Sussman declares a fondness for the color blue, its time for a shopping trip to the garment district. Then its a baker he wants, then someone who likes to exerciseno, better, to dance. By this time Jeromes bubbie has not only lost her wide smile, shes positively farklempt (as Polacco spells it), and angrily sends Sussman away. On his next visit, however, he finally gets the hint and sees Mrs. Zukin with new eyes. As Jerome puts it, their wedding was the event of the neighborhood. Polacco depicts characters and contemporary urban setting in bright, exuberantly brushed watercolors, rounding off the tale with a chaste smooch and smiles all around. Young readers will enjoy this, but the message is really addressed to their grandparentsat least the single ones. Grades 1-3. --John Peters; Title: Someone for Mr. Sussmann | [
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16,426 | 2 | Grade 35An enjoyable story with a good life lesson. When spunky Dyamonde makes an ill-advised attempt to boss her mother into buying her a pair of red high-top sneakers, her mother decides to provide her with only what she needs: literally the clothes on her back, spiriting away the rest of her wardrobe. Dyamonde fumes over the humiliation of wearing the same outfit, stains included, several days in a row. A classmate's tragedy shakes her out of her funk, and she rises to the occasion, asking her mother to return the rest of her clothing so she can give much of it to the girl, whose family has lost everything in a fire. Her individual effort grows into a school-wide clothing drive, and Dyamonde receives a much greater gift than a pair of high tops: the fulfillment of giving to others. The moral of the story is delivered in an endearing, accessible package. Grimes's style is easygoing and straightforward, her characters real and engaging. Christie's sketches in thick lines of black ink add to the book's appeal.Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Goaded by classmate Tameeka, Dyamonde informs her mother that she needs a pair of cool new high-tops and its a mothers job to provide what she needs. The approach backfires, though, and Dyamonde finds herself with only one set of clothes: what she needs. The experience sensitizes her to others needs when fire destroys a classmates apartment. Laced with realistic conversations, this early chapter book features vividly drawn characters in situations that leave readers with issues to ponder. A good place to start discussions on the difference between wants and needs, this is a solid addition to the Dyamonde Daniel series. Grades 2-4. --Carolyn Phelan; Title: Almost Zero: A Dyamonde Daniel Book | [
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16,427 | 15 | Jefferss (The Incredible Book-Eating Boy) forest creatures have dots for eyes and sticks for legs; they live in tidy holes in the ground, equipped with home offices and washing machines. Responsible citizens, they notice that trees in their forest are missing big branches, and organize themselves to find the perpetratorreaders know from the outset its the bear, in need of paper for a paper airplane contest. The drama unfolds in neatly paced vignettes and comic bookstyle panels with the rounded corners of old television sets. Jeffers joins the speech balloons to his characters mouths with ruled pencil lines; his spidery writing is a sweetly incongruous vehicle for fast-moving patter (Ill be the detective and you can be the judge, the beaver tells the deer. Why do I have to be the judge? the deer protests, and waves a hoof toward the pig. Why not him? Im the prosecutor, thats why, says the pig). The conclusion nods toward forgiveness and restorative justice, but its the anti-crime tape that gets the laughs. Jeffers lobs a joke or two over the heads of young listeners, a gesture that will be welcomed by presiding adults. Ages 35. (Jan.) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Kindergarten-Grade 3There's something amiss in the forest, as branches are mysteriously disappearing. At first, the animal friends accuse one another but when alibis pan out, they realize that they have a thief on their hands. Setting out to solve the mystery, they discover that the bear has been stealing branches and making them into not-very-good paper airplanes for a competition. After a short trial, he confesses and agrees to replant the trees he has destroyed, and the other critters help him reuse the wasted paper to create a prizewinning entry. Managed forestry is the theme of this book that features folk-art-style animals with funny little stick legs. The mixed-media illustrations nicely complement the spare yet eloquent text. Though this clever title may need hand-selling to readers, teachers will welcome it for lessons on the environment.Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: The Great Paper Caper | [
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16,428 | 13 | PreS-KThis companion to Bea at Ballet tells the story of The Nutcracker for the youngest audience. Readers share in the excitement as little Bea and her friends (a refreshingly multiracial cast) put on a delightful performance of the ballet. There is just enough information for preschool age children to understand the story, and the illustrationsline drawings with splashes of coloradd to the charm and age-appropriate presentation. VERDICT This is a standout in the crowded field of Nutcracker picture books.Virginia Walter Graduate School of Education and Information StudiesA charming and accessible introduction to the beloved holiday classic. . . . The ballets plot is skillfully summarized . . . even young preschoolers will easily comprehend. . . . Conveys the magical aspects of the beloved holiday ballet in an easy, straightforward way that will prepare first-time attendees for a holiday performance. There are many attractive picture-book versions of The Nutcracker available, but this is by far the simplest interpretation in print. A sugarplum-sweet treat.Kirkus ReviewsYoung readers interested in ballet will be captivated by this story, which encapsulates the timeless appeal of dance and performance. Large amounts of white space and simple line drawings leave the pages uncluttered, contrasting nicely with the bright, candy-colored hues of cut-paper collage that bring high visual interest. By embedding the plot of The Nutcracker in the larger story, the book celebrates the world of performing arts while introducing young readers to the classic holiday story.Booklist This companion to Bea at Ballet tells the story of The Nutcracker for the youngest audience. Readers share in the excitement as little Bea and her friends (a refreshingly multiracial cast) put on a delightful performance of the ballet. There is just enough information for preschool age children to understand the story, and the illustrationsline drawings with splashes of coloradd to the charm and age-appropriate presentation. This is a standout in the crowded field of Nutcracker picture books.School Library JournalBea and her diverse group of classmates put on an all-little-kid rendition of the famous Christmas ballet, gently introducing listeners to a simplified version of its story while providing a warmly humorous glimpse of life on the stage.The Horn Book; Title: Bea in the Nutcracker | [
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16,429 | 2 | ...a cute little book filled with interesting pictures that are sure to hold your young child's attention. -- Arm Chair ReviewsThis is a great reminder to little ones to be thankful for what they have and the importance of praying. -- Wee Ones MagazineSalina Yoon is a freelance author/illustrator, and has created more than 65 books for young readers. She lives in San Marcos, California.; Title: Count My Blessings, One Through Ten | [
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16,430 | 2 | PreS-Gr 2Elya follows up Rubia and the Three Osos (her version of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears") with this Mexican influenced and modern take on "Little Red Riding Hood." The book has a flair all its own: Little Roja's mother watches telenovas, Little Roja drives an ATV, the wolf wears a bandana and skull necklace, Grandma has a laptop and a statue of Jesus, and when Little Roja saves the day, Grandma ends up investing in a good lock and security camera. Elya's engaging text features snappy rhymes and plenty of contextual clues for Spanish words, which are in easy-to-find bold type. Her rhyming scheme is essential in helping non-Spanish speakers with pronunciation. A glossary at the beginning of the book provides straightforward pronunciations and definitions for Spanish words. The main characters are well depicted and follow the story nicely. Guevara's illustrations provide a lot to see, such as the three blind mice and Roja's cat, who tag along for the entire adventure; slightly menacing sunflowers with eyes; talking magpies; and some very busy Spanish trickster elves, who are unexplained, except in Guevara's bio. Overall, the story shines through, and this is a must-have where Elya's other books have been popular.Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NHThe author of Fire! Fuego! Brave Bomberos (2012) offers here another rhyming bilingual picture bookthis one based on a classic folktale. Readers meet sassy Little Roja, her computer-savvy abuela, and a big-eyed, furry-eared, pointy-toothed lobo, who is more annoying than terrifying. Mama is busy watching telenovelas, so she sends Roja through the woods (riding an ATV) with hot soup for Abuela. When Roja stops to pick flowers, Lobo absconds with her cape and arrives first at Abuelas. As granny prepares to strike the intruder with her Jesus statue, Roja enters, flinging hot soup at Lobo and causing his hasty retreat. Guevaras sunny watercolor, ink, and gouache illustrations employ some of the same techniques she used so successfully in Chatos Kitchen (1995): magical realism (here tiny fairies assist Roja and Abuela), symbols of Latino (and fairy tale) culture, and subtle humor. A helpful glossary precedes the text, but contextual clues will suffice for many. Pair with Ann Whitford Pauls Tortuga in Trouble (2009) for another Spanish version of this tale. Grades K-3. --Kay Weisman; Title: Little Roja Riding Hood (Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards)) | [
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16,431 | 2 | Nikki Grimes is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of dozens of childrens and young adult books as well as a poet and journalist.Among the many accolades she has received are the Golden Dolphin Award(2005),the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children(2006), the Coretta Scott King Award (2003) for Bronx Masquerade, and the Horace Mann Upstanders Award (2011) forAlmost Zero: A Dyamonde Daniel Book. Additionally, her book Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope (illustrated byBryan Collier)was a New York Times bestseller, and she was acknowledged as an NAACP Image Award Finalist in 1993 for her book Malcolm X: a Force for Change. Her books Meet Danitra Brown(illustrated by Floyd Cooper), Jazmin's Notebook,Talkin' About Bessie (illustrated byE.B. Lewis), Dark Sons, The Road to Paris, and Words with Wings were each awarded Coretta Scott King Honors. Visit her online at www.nikkigrimes.com.; Title: Halfway to Perfect: A Dyamonde Daniel Book | [
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16,432 | 2 | Grade 1 UpThis picture book's spirit is similar to that of Dr. Seuss's Oh, the Places You'll Go! (Random, 1990), but it celebrates growing up by looking back. "You've made us all proud/By who you've become./And we'd like to review/How you did what you've done." Readers are taken on a tour of the steps children take as they learn about themselves and the world around them by tasting, touching, falling down, and getting up. Comical cartoon illustrations bring humor to the enthusiastic text: "You knew how to listen when anyone spoke" shows a child engaged with a classroom speaker while everyone else, including the teacher, has fallen asleep. No one will see themselves in all of the pages, but some will ring true for everyone. An additional title that will be most successful as a gift book for kids passing important life milestones.Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Milgrims colorful and congratulatory title revels in the idea that play is a form of education. The books protagonist is a cheerful Everychild whose curiosity, determination, and love of doughnuts (the pastry is prevalent throughout) has grown with him from babyhood to big-kid elementary student. As a celebration of free time, this book is full of actionwandering, wondering, prodding, questioning, listening, expressingthat adds up to learning. Significantly, not a single television or computer appears, not even in the background. This is a story about homegrown amusements and the rewards they reap. Milgrims bright, minimal, cartoon-style drawings match the books messages about simple joys, and the speech bubbles provide comic balance to the more pedestrian rhyming text: the mother handing her child a plateful of octopus and telling him, It tastes like chicken! will raise a smile with both reader and listener, for example. Completely free of schedules and micromanagement, this is a book that celebrates kids being kids. Preschool-Grade 1. --Kara Dean; Title: How You Got So Smart | [] | Train |
16,433 | 2 | Gr 5-8In this tightly plotted suspense novel, Teddy meets several other 12-year-old boys in his new town, but there's something eerie about each one. Eventually he realizes that every kid died years ago under mysterious circumstances and that he may be the next target. The evil force behind their demise is a sentient sycamore tree with powers derived from nuclear waste, a kind of wild premise that actually makes for an appropriately creepy villain. Some readers will spot the hints about the dead boys' situation, uncovering bits of the truth along with or just ahead of the protagonist, as the well-paced tale moves deftly from mystery into high action. Ultimately he must endure each of the gruesome dangers that killed the ghostly kids, including rattlesnakes, scorpions, and the thorny, twisting tree that's behind it all. There's a nice mixture of cliff-hanger escapes, mystery exposition, and lighter moments provided by Teddy's narration. Though the hero's personality is not especially complex, the empathy he shows for the boys and his resourcefulness in defying the killer tree make him someone to root for. The climactic battle is appropriately suspenseful, leading to a satisfying and surprising conclusion.Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.The Dead Boy's HaikuYou'll never look at arboriculture the sameway again. Creepy! --emilyreads.com"..positively delivers a frightening tale with good ambiance and lots of creepy moments, mysterious shadows, creaky windows and menacing elements that make this a successfully atmospheric read." - bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/ --All About {n}"CREEPY! The Dead Boys is just that, CREEPY!...a perfect read for ages 10 and up who also enjoy a, 'quick-turn-the-page-to-see-what-happens-next kind of story. My only suggestion is to read this book indoors with all the lights on, and not under the big shady sycamore tree." - Kathleen Hunter, Keen Readers; Title: The Dead Boys | [
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16,434 | 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 Very First Book of Food | [
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16,435 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 1—This simple narrative introduces St. Francis to a younger audience than dePaola's Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi (Holiday House, 1982). Francis, the "Little Poor One," is lonely and has no one to hear his song about God's love. An angel tells him to sing anyway and soon Francis's song draws Brother Sun and Sister Moon, and the angels and birds come to listen. dePaola's tropical-hued collages convey the magic of this religious interpretation in an appealing way. Particularly charming are the cherubic angels and beatific faces of the sun and moon. Preschoolers will be drawn to the spread depicting a rainbow of birds flocking to St. Francis. A joyful addition to public and religious collections.—Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Venerable author-illustrator dePaola has written about St. Francis before, in Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi (1982). This book is for a younger audience, andits purpose isnt to give information about the man but rather togive a sense of him, particularly his love of life and his affinity for Gods creatures. Although nowhere does the book allude tothe Canticle of the Sun,Francis ode to the naturalworld, this seems to be the basis for the book; Francis sings about Brother Sun and Sister Moon and invites thebirds to come and bless the Lord, because the Lord loves you. The collage art, which has both charm and power, uses marker-colored papers to make birds, trees, and a bevy of curly-hairedangels. In one exhilarating two-page spread, angels and birds intermingle, flying through the sky, as the brown-frocked Francis seems tolead them in song. An authors note would havehelped put Francis in context, but most children will be happy simply to soak up the joy. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene Cooper; Title: The Song of Francis | [
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16,436 | 0 | Kelly Starling Lyons (www.kellystarlinglyons.com) lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Daniel Minter (www.danielminter.com) lives in Portland, Maine.; Title: Ellen's Broom (Coretta Scott King Honor - Illustrator Honor Title) | [
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16,437 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2Trixie Koontz is one exuberant pet. Self-assured in her canine persona, she admits that not everyone is meant to be a dog; after all, the pup explains, people and animals must provide necessary support to their frisky friends. She reasons that people pay dogs the required attention they deserve, cats provide hours of amusement, and birds encourage dogs to dream of flight (though Trixie simply cannot fathom the usefulness of skunks). Initially, many of her examples suit the energetic narrative. Ultimately, however, her random musings result in an awkward presentation when her thoughts turn to her own internal interests and ambitions. The didactic conclusion stunts the lighthearted story. Cleland's watercolor and pen-and-ink spreads lend cheerful color to the vignettes, and Trixie's a lovable pup with her rosy cheeks, large grin, and red bows tucked behind her ears. Unfortunately, the final product reveals more bark than bite.Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Dean Koontz was born in Everett, Pennsylvania, and grew up in nearby Bedford. He won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition when he was twenty and has been writing ever since. Mr. Koontz's books are published in 38 languages. Worldwide sales total more than 175 million copies, a figure that currently increases at a rate of more than 350 million copies a year. Dean and his wife, Gerda, live in southern California.; Title: I, Trixie, Who is Dog | [
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16,438 | 2 | Grade 24Pete is a predictable and practical pig. One stormy night, his world is turned upside down when he encounters Pickles, an elephant on the lam from the circus, in his room. Pickles is anything but predictable, yet Pete finds himself drawn to her, and the two become unlikely friends. The relationship hits a snag when Pickles treads too far, and Pete makes a decision that ends up endangering both of their lives. This heartwarming tale is packed with adventure, imagination, and the all-important message of accepting differences. The illustrations alternate from naturalistic renderings of fantastical scenarios to flat compositions reminiscent of traditional comic strips. In the former, Pete and Pickles seem to pop off the page in the lush landscapes, and it is in these pages that the story soars. Less-discerning readers may miss plot points expressed in the drawings but not in the text. Great for sharing one-on-one or for reading aloud.Beth Cuddy, Seward Elementary School, Auburn, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Breathed achieves a dreamy intensity, a sculptural heft that make these images his most evocative and expansive to date. --Publishers Weekly, starred reviewBoth adventures and illustrations flirt with the surreal...a comically silly, warmly affirmative package. --Kirkus ReviewsThis heartwarming tale is packed with adventure, imagination, and the all-important message of accepting differences. --School Library Journal; Title: Pete & Pickles | [
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16,439 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2From the heart-shaped die-cut on its pale pink cover to the frilly protagonist with her cuddly bunny companion, this book is squarely aimed at a female audience. Young Harriet pontificates on various aspects of love: "My best way to say I love you is with a parade"; "You can love someone and also feel jealous"; and "Your heart is not shaped like a valentineit's more like a pluffy cloud." She concludes that her lecture is "NOT the end about LOVE," conceding that the topic is too large to be so easily defined. Charming ink-and-watercolor cartoons set against off-white backdrops show the girl playing with her bunny, interacting with other children, and facing numerous situations and conflicts that can be improved with a bit of affection. Harriet's enthusiastic and energetic monologue may seem a bit too earnestly cute to adults, but youngsters will probably eat it up with a spoon. The book is an obvious tie-in for Valentine's Day, and could also work as a year-round conversation starter on defining emotions.Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Whats love got to do with it? Well, everything according to this sprightly, curly-haired girl.Skipping across the pages, holding on to one of the loves of her life (stuffed rabbit Squeezie), she spouts all kinds of interesting information,fromthe best way to say I love you is with a parade to the fact that everything is more fun when done with someone else (even the bad seems better). Readers are informed that you can both love and be angry at someone. The text is aided and abetted by the balloon dialogue, often directed to Squeezie, and the adorable pictures, usually just the narrator in small scenes set against cream-colored pages. Simply drawn with watercolors and ink, they capture the effervescence love can engender. The book ends with the girl offering facts about the heart (worms have five of em) and a singing a love song: Oh Squeezie / you have happy snappy ears / . . . and I really love the way / you smell like rabbit perfume! Preschool-Grade 2. --Ilene Cooper; Title: Love is a Good Thing to Feel | [
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16,440 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 1With her "nighty in [her] nighty trunk," a little elephant makes her way to her grandmother's house for sleepover fun. The story is told in bouncy rhythmic lines that almost beg to be sung, with the refrain, "Oh. We love each other so" woven throughout. The child and her grandmother play silly games, tell one another stories, and take absolute delight in each other's antics. Their exuberantly shared enjoyment and love are perfectly reflected in the slightly muted full-color ink, watercolor, and acrylic illustrations. The stylized artwork is reminiscent of comic books from the 1920s and '30s with hints of zaniness and joie de vivre contained within clean lines and plenty of white space. This onomatopoeic paean to a grandmother and granddaughter's mutual love will delight storytime crowds, and real-life grandparents looking for a snuggly one-on-one read will welcome it.Marge Loch-Wouters, La Crosse Public Library, WI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* The deliciousness of a grandma-grandchild sleepover is captured in a book thats as silly as it is sweet. Granddaughter is packing her trunk (well, she is a little elephant) as she gets ready to leave her high-rise apartment for Grammas cozy cottage. Joosses prose has an effortless feel throughout, in this case as it captures Granddaughters anticipation: Well, Im going there this minute / to the Gramma who is in it / and the Doozie who is barking / and Im bouncing bouncing bouncing. The refrain, Oh. We love each other so, bounces, too, across the spreads as the pair does fun things like paint, have tea, and dance. Best of all is when Gramma, in her little-girl voice, demands a story. And so one is told: Once upon a time there was a cake that nobody ate. And then they did. The End. As delightful as the text is, the ink, acrylic, and watercolor artwork, in candy colors, takes the story to another level. Jutte, an award-winning Dutch illustrator, gives his pictures a bit of Babar and a tinge of Tintin, yet they are uniquely their own. Gramma and Granddaughter, Joosse and Jutte. Fabulous pairings all. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene Cooper; Title: Sleepover at Gramma's House | [
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16,441 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 1—Stein continues to create deceptively simple yet very affecting picture books. One day, little Joey peeks out of Mama Kangaroo's pouch and says, "I want to hop!" Each time he leaves his safe haven, he takes more steps, meets a strange new animal, yells out "Pouch!," and hops back to his mama to hide. But when the final animal is another little joey who also yells "Pouch!," the two realize there is nothing to fear, have a good laugh, and hop off together. When their mamas offer their pouches, the youngsters say, "No, thanks." The marker, watercolor, and crayon illustrations are rendered in Stein's trademark simple, scribbly, loosely drawn style. The increasing distances Joey hops from his mother are clearly represented with increased page turns and use of perspective. Stein's choice of easily identifiable animals (a bee, a rabbit, and a bird) is particularly apropos, giving the book universality that it might otherwise lack. The repetition will appeal to the intended audience, as will the chance to identify each animal Joey meets. The subtle sophistication of the story gives it broad appeal: while it could be used one-on-one with toddlers, older preschoolers would enjoy it in storytimes, and the minimalistic text would be effective with beginning readers as well.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT END"Warm and inviting, this buoyant tale is hopping good fun." --Kirkus"Stein continues to create deceptively simple yet very affecting picture books...The subtle sophistication of the story gives it broad appeal." --School Library Journal"Stein's minimal, to-the-point text and breezy mixed-media illustrations convey Joey's energy and swing of feelings." -- Horn Book; Title: Library Book: Pouch! (Rise and Shine) | [
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16,442 | 0 | Gr 14An African American girl from Harlem dreams of becoming a prima ballerina in this beautifully written narrative, which is also a tribute to Janet Collins, who, in 1951, was the "first colored prima ballerina" to perform at the Metropolitan Opera. While her mother cleans and sews costumes for the ballet school, the child grows up amid the fittings and rehearsals. One day she performs "an entire dance in the wings, from beginning to final bow" well enough to impress the Ballet Master himself. He invites her to join the daily lessons despite the fact that she will be unable to perform onstage with his white pupils. When her hardworking Mama sees that Collins will be at the Met, she buys two tickets, "even though it'll cost her half/of what she's put back for a new sewing machine." The aspiring dancer is entranced with the performance: "It's like Miss Collins is dancing for me/only for me/showing me who I can be." An author's note points out that Collins appeared at the Met four years before Marian Anderson's debut. Though the narrator is imagined, the inspirational message is real. Cooper's art incorporates his signature subtractive process and mixed media in tones of brown and pink to achieve illustrations as beautiful and transporting as the text. Pair this title with Pam Muoz Ryan and Brian Selznick's When Marian Sang (Scholastic, 2002), and use this poetic offering for units on black history or women's history.Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools*Starred Review* Its hard to find stars in the sky over New York City, which means its hard to wish on one. A young black girl living in Harlem in the 1950s has a big wish, though: to be a prima ballerina. Her mama says you dont need wishes to make a dream come trueyou need hope. When the Ballet Master at the ballet school where Mama works cleaning and sewing costumes notices the girl mimicking dancers backstage, he takes notice: The Ballet Master made an arrangement / for me to join lessons each day / from the back of the room, / even though I cant perform / onstage with white girls. Theres another reason to hope, too. Janet Collins, the first black prima ballerina, is performing at the Metropolitan Opera House. The girl and her mama take three buses to see her leap and twirl effortlessly across the stage. Dempseys lyrical prose soars as it depicts one girls dreamand her efforts to make that dream a reality. Floyds hazy mixed-media illustrations capture 1950s Harlem, from streetscapes to fashions, while also shining a spotlight on a girls aspirations. An inspiring introduction to Collins that will speak to little dreamers everywhere. Grades K-3. --Ann Kelley; Title: A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerinas Dream | [
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16,443 | 13 | Kindergarten-Grade 3Jazz! It's all about the rhythm and the sounds, musicians in conversation answering each other with notes and riffs instead of words. But what happens when one member of the band can't hear the notes anymore? Through this rhythmic story, readers meet Lee, who loses his hearing and is asked to leave his band. Luckily, he discovers a whole new world of music that exists in the mind and heart at a local school for the deaf. Christie's snazzy style matches perfectly with the book's vivacity. The expressive faces and bold use of color make the story sing. This is a great read-aloud that begs for enthusiastic performance and audience participation. Both uplifting and inclusive, it is a celebration of music and resilience.Genevieve Gallagher, Murray Elementary School, Charlottesville, VA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Pete Seeger was always a storyteller and put together many songs, including Where Have All the Flowers Gone, Turn, Turn, Turn, and, with Lee Hays, If I Had a Hammer. He is also the author of the classic picture book Abiyoyo. Paul DuBois Jacobs has previously collaborated with Pete Seeger on Abiyoyo Returns and Some Friends to Feed, both illustrated by Michael Hays. Paul lives in New York with his wife, Jennifer Swender, and together they wrote the picture book My Subway Ride. R. Gregory Christie is the three-time Coretta Scott King Honor-winning illustrator of Brothers in Hope, Only Passing Through, and The Palm of My Heart. Among his other acclaimed picture books are Richard Wright and the Library Card by William Miller and Hot City by Barbara Joosse. Visit him at www.gas-art.com.; Title: The Deaf Musicians | [
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16,444 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2Happy-go-lucky Duck and worrywart Raccoon plan a picnic on a beautiful summer day in this poignant and charming tale. Raccoon envisions the outing with negative possibilities: killer bees and a terrible storm that causes the two to seek shelter in a cave, only to come face-to-face with a vicious fire-breathing dragon. Duck imagines a picnic in a meadow surrounded by butterflies, splashing about with Raccoon in the cool river, flying a kite together, and exploring a cave, only to discover a gentle and playful baby dragon. Duck's version entices Raccoon from seeking safety under a blanket, and to seize the day. Still, he proceeds with caution, loading himself down with a polka-dotted red umbrella and two flashlights, just in case. When they arrive at their bucolic destination, Duck realizes that he forgot the food. "Ready for anything," Raccoon pulls out a perfect repast. The engaging, playful gouache illustrations have a slightly cartoonish look. Lighthearted and wise, this humorous book skillfully presents the positive and negative issues that arise for both worrisome and free-spirited children. The ending provides an opportunity to discuss the extremes and possibilities for a healthy balance.Anne Beier, Hendrick Hudson Free Library, Montrose, NY END"Dynamic illustrations extend the humor throughout...Bring along your picnic basket for this one!" --Kirkus"The characters' dialogue is lively and fun to read aloud...Adventurous spirits and cautious souls alike will feel ready for anything." --Horn Book"Lighthearted and wise, this humorous book skillfully presents the positive and negative issues that arise for both worrisome and free-spirited children." --School Library Journal; Title: Ready for Anything! | [
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16,445 | 1 | Praise for Flawed Dogs"Breathed, through words and lush illustrations, tells a story that will charm many readers."--The New York Times"Flawed Dogs is hilarious and sweet with a message of friendship and faithfulness that anyone (even cat lovers) will find uplifting. Each animal in the book is an unforgettable character, drawn and written with Berkeley Breathed's signature brand of wit. His illustrations add an extra measure of emotion to the already lovely book. Berkeley Breathed's illustrations are amazing and they impart the message of the story with humor and poignancy."--Common Sense Media"Breathed knows how to use just the right language to engage even the most reluctant readers. This book will warm the hearts of animal lovers and promises to engage readers to the very last line."--Children's Literature"[S]mooth writing and humorous exaggeration...[T]he various canine and feline players are an endearing mix of odd attributes and engaging personalities." --Kirkus Reviews"A moving tale about the beauty of imperfections and the capacity for love." --Publishers Weekly"[An] engaging and well-paced tale." --School Library Journal"An easily understood but very fun and crazy plot that takes hold of the reader."--VOYABerkeley Breathed(www.berkeleybreathed.com) is the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of the renowned comic strips "Bloom County," "Outland," and "Opus" which have appeared in over 1,200 newspapers worldwide and have earned Berkeley millions of loyal fans. He recently decided to bring back "Bloom County" after a 25-year absence and has been overwhelmed by the response--and by how much fun he is having. Berkeley Breathed is also the creator of the illustrated novelFlawed Dogsand theNew York Timesbestselling picture booksMars Needs Moms!andPete & Pickles. He lives and works in Santa Barbara, California.; Title: Flawed Dogs: the Novel: The Shocking Raid on Westminster | [
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16,446 | 11 | With over thirty four million books in print, Jan Brett is one of the nation's foremost author illustrators of children's books. Jan lives in a seacoast town in Massachusetts, close to where she grew up. During the summer her family moves to a home in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts.As a child, Jan Brett decided to be an illustrator and spent many hours reading and drawing. She says, "I remember the special quiet of rainy days when I felt that I could enter the pages of my beautiful picture books. Now I try to recreate that feeling of believing that the imaginary place I'm drawing really exists. The detail in my work helps to convince me, and I hope others as well, that such places might be real."As a student at the Boston Museum School, she spent hours in the Museum of Fine Arts. "It was overwhelming to see the room-size landscapes and towering stone sculptures, and then moments later to refocus on delicately embroidered kimonos and ancient porcelain," she says. "I'm delighted and surprised when fragments of these beautiful images come back to me in my painting."Travel is also a constant inspiration. Together with her husband, Joe Hearne, who is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jan visits many different countries where she researches the architecture and costumes that appear in her work. "From cave paintings to Norwegian sleighs, to Japanese gardens, I study the traditions of the many countries I visit and use them as a starting point for my children's books."; Title: The Three Snow Bears | [
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16,447 | 2 | Karen Kaufman Orloff lives in Hopewell Junction, New York.David Catrow, illustrator of the Book Sense Best Book of the Year Finalist Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, lives in Springfield, Ohio.; Title: I Wanna Go Home | [
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16,448 | 0 | Grade 8 UpIn this companion to Water (Putnam, 2002), McKinley and Dickinson explore the range of their storytelling abilities. The settings of these five tales range from ancient to modern, but they are all united by encounters with magical creatures with an affinity for fire. In "Phoenix," Ellie's love for forests leads her to Dave and Welly, caretakers of the ancient Phoenix, displaced from its Egyptian home to damp, chilly Britain. "Hellhound" features animal-loving Miri, whose choice of a red-eyed shelter dog proves providential when she must face a malevolent spirit. In "Fireworm," Tandin spirit-walks to defeat the fireworm that threatens his clan, though in doing so he develops empathy for the creature and its mate and distances himself from his people. "Salamander Man" finds orphaned Tib caught up in a bewildering chain of events, which results in him taking the form of a flaming giant to free the salamanders and rid his city of corrupt magicians. "First Flight," the longest piece, deals with Ern, who helps a dragon with a missing eye find its way back into the Flame Space, which dragons use to travel quickly through time and space. All of these individuals learn something about themselves in their encounters with the fire beasts, and all are the better for it in the end. This collection of beautifully crafted tales will find a warm welcome from fans of either author, as well as from fantasy readers in general.Misti Tidman, Boyd County Public Library, Ashland, KY END"This collection of beautifully crafted tales will find a warm welcome from fans of either author, as well as from fantasy readers in general." --School Library Journal"McKinley's fans can only hope that she will return to this world in a future novel." --Kirkus"The two writers' talents are well matched, creating a volume that's even in tone and quality while introducing novelty with every story opening." --Horn Book; Title: Fire: Tales of Elemental Spirits | [
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16,449 | 15 | Jan Bretts signature artwork is full of intricate details and lovely borders. The Hat was a Boston GlobeHorn Book Award Winner and The Three Snow Bears was a #1 New York Times Bestseller. Jan Brett lives in Norwell, Massachusetts.; Title: Jan Brett's Snowy Treasury | [
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16,450 | 2 | Grade 58Justin and Sean, both 12, live in the Red Hook projects, are half Puerto Rican and half African American, and have absentee fathers. They became friends when Sean stuck up for Justin, but now Sean is straying further from their friendship, avoiding their scheduled sleepovers, lying, and not doing as well in school. He's been getting into more and more fights when he used to advocate dissing instead of fists. Where is Sean going on Saturdays? Why isn't he telling his friends Justin, Kyle, and Vanessa? Justin heads up the squad to find out why, but with more drama than action, and readers may not care. Justin worries, on more than one occasion, that because he's so concerned about Sean people are going to think he's gay. There's also the possibility that Sean's dad is gayJustin's reasoning is that he sends Sean shiny trinkets from Puerto Rico. He also inaccurately portrays his cousin as gay because he dresses up in women's clothes and wants to be called Vicky. While these fallacies go unaddressed, Maldonado does explore what it means to be a friend, the nature of privacy, and how difficult it is for boys to talk with one another. With so few books out for urban middle school boys of color besides the "Bluford" series (Townsend), this book, with all its flaws, may still be a draw for some readers. The cover, type size, and format, with cool font and a photo at the head of each chapter, will attract reluctant readers, but the content may not sustain them.Amy Cheney, Alameda County Library, Oakland, CA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Dissing is like boxing, Justin thinksexcept you fight with words instead of fists. The best disser around is Sean, who is not only mad popular but also Justins best friend. They are so tight, in fact, that the other kids call them twins: both are half black and half Puerto Rican, completely obsessed by hip-hop, and love to freestyle rap with each other. But now Justin is worried because something is happening to Sean. His disses are turning vicious, his grades are suffering, and he is retreating behind a wall of silence and secrets. Could it have something to do with the unexplained, out-of-town trips he and his mother are making? Justin is determined to find out. Maldonados first novelset in Brooklyns Red Hook Housing Projects, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in New Yorkis notable for its viscerally authentic treatment of setting. Though occasionally didactic and a bit programmatic, its voiceJustins first-person vernacularis infectiously readable, and its characters are sympathetically and memorably realized. Grades 6-9. --Michael Cart; Title: Secret Saturdays | [
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16,451 | 2 | Gr 1-4Elsie, Boston born, loves the sounds and sightsand especially the songsof the city, but when her mother dies, her father seeks comfort on the frontier of Nebraska. Her new prairie home is all grass and sky and silence and Elsie feels small and afraid. Her only companion, a going-away gift, is Timothy Tune, a canary with whom she exchanges songs throughout her solitary days. When the door to the cage is accidentally left open, Timothy flies free, and Elsie is devastated. Leaving her fears behind, she races through the tall grass to find him and begins to understand the sounds of the prairie and takes them to her heart. When Timothy sings his way back to herjust as her father returns from town with hens, a banty rooster, and a hound dogElsie realizes that, at last, she has found a "true prairie home." Yolen's evocative story, full of wonder and warmth, rolls smoothly along on carefully worded phrases, capturing the child's emotions as well as the flavor of the time and setting in a simple yet heartfelt way. Small's delivery, completely in sync with the author's, brings Elsie deftly to life. The illustrations, rendered in brush and ink with watercolor and pastel, realize both the streets of Boston and the grasslands of Nebraska with equal ease and aplomb.Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.After her mother dies, Elsie and her father leave Boston and join other pioneers making a fresh start in Nebraska. Once moved into a new sod house, Elsie feels housebound and timid, afraid to lose herself in the silence of the prairie, and she aches for the familiar life she left behind. She finds some comfort in singing with her pet canary, Timmy Tune, who escapes one day while Papa is shopping for supplies in town. Chasing Timmy through the sea of tall grass, Elsie listens to the songs of the wild prairie birds for the first time. When she returns home, she finds Papa, who has traded a quilt for a menagerie of new animals that, together with the wild birds, create a sweet symphony that turns her house into a true prairie home. Yolens long text will require patience from young listeners, but Elsies elemental feelings of dislocation and the words sensory imagery bring immediacy to the historical setting and are beautifully realized in Smalls mixed-media panoramas of the windswept prairie under a vast blue sky. Grades K-3. --Gillian Engberg; Title: Elsie's Bird | [
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16,452 | 2 | PreS-Gr 3Olive and Emily are young felines who have been best friends forever. And in Olive's perfect world, friends stay friends, and nothing ever changes between them. But Olive's world is challenged when Emily starts hanging out with the new girl, Eva. They bond over ballet class, call themselves the Sparkle-Es, and delight in all the things they have in common. When Olive breaks down in tears, Emily and Eva realize that she has been feeling left out. Emily suggests that she and Olive do their chicken dance together, Eva joins in, and Olive's idea of the perfect world expands: Laughing with friends felt prettyperfect. Illustrated in pastel hues against generous white space, this story may not be especially original, but it is adorable.Jennifer Miskec, Longwood University, Farmville, VA(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.This storybook offers a case study of a scenario familiar to all: the growing pains when two becomes three. Spot art shows Olive and Emily as friends from the beginningbabies in diapers, at birthday parties, playing in the park. In Olives perfect world, they are friends forever, Period. The end. But turn the page, and readers find Eva. Emily and Eva bond over ballet, wear matching bows, and eat the same kind of applesauce (APPLESAUCE TWINS!). Olive feels sad, left out, and misses Emily. Plecas is spot-on as she captures the moments of discovery that send new young pals into raptures. Simple pencil-and-watercolor illustrations spread across the white page and emphasize Olives sense of isolation. In a neat twist, when the issue finally comes to a head, newcomer Eva is surprisingly open while Olive is initially grudging. If this take is a bit tame, it still offers a good opportunity for children to role-play each character and discuss how they might handle a similar situation. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Jeanne McDermott; Title: Olive's Perfect World: A Friendship Story | [
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16,453 | 2 | K-Gr 3-Buddy, an older cat, welcomes three newly weaned kittens into his abode and begins to teach them the ins and outs of managing the humans in the household. He is prepared with charts and diagrams that compare cats to humans (Us: nose/ cute and powerful, Them: nose/big but feeble), a "catwalk through history," and a little lecture on the value of "purr therapy" for the modern family. He also gives instruction in "catitude," including proper tail positioning and what to do if humans forget that you are the center of their world. Anyone who has ever been owned by a cat will connect with all the behaviors described and enjoy recognizing their own pets as they laugh at Buddy's antics. The watercolor, colored-pencil, and ink illustrations are crisp and lively and add to the humor of the situations described. The book is better suited for independent reading than group sharing because of the small details and numerous asides. Buddy's instruction will be enjoyed by most cat/animal lovers.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.*Starred Review* The tiny, wide-eyed kittens on the books cover and the funny title will draw readers right in. Who doesnt love cats? Well, even if you dont love em, youll have learned a lot about themdelightfullyafter turning the last page of this clever picture book. The tiger-striped narrator is an experienced cat who is welcoming three kittens to their new home. And theres plenty to learn. First off, he admonishes the kittens, the humans want to make YOU happy! Nows the time to take control. And so it beginsthe litany of catty ways that cat owners know all too well. How cats use their purrs, roll over on their backs, and give (several versions) of the patented kitty stare that means Im starving. But this doesnt just delve into the psyches of cats (and their people), though theres plenty of that. Talbott offers enough information about a cats body, the history of felines, and cat cousins to raise this to the level of an information book, albeit an amusing one. Then theres the watercolor and colored-pencil art. Funny and furious, with cats darting in circles around the spreads, it also features charts, time lines, and simple portraits of cats exhibiting feline behavior; its all a wonderful mlange of catitude. Even without the dedication, it would be obvious that Talbott has owned cats. He has taken the bad with the good and can now make even a cat devouring the Thanksgiving turkey look like fun. Grades K-2. --Ilene Cooper; Title: It's All About Me-Ow | [
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16,454 | 2 | K-Gr 3In this companion to I Wanna Iguana (Putnam, 2004), irrepressible Alex is back with a new entreatyhis own room, puh-leezplayed out in another series of letter exchanges. Now sharing a room with his younger brother in the wake of his sister's birth, Alex delivers his first written plea to Mom, who, in the depths of postpartum exhaustion, refers him to his father. Thus do Alex and his good-natured dad begin their own guy-to-guy letter exchange, with Alex detailing Ethan's various transgressions (He sticks crayons up his nose and barks like a walrus!) and his reasonable father reminding him that he was no different at the age of four. Back and forth go Alex's complaints and his father's practical rejoinders until Dad suggests that they build a tree house together, where surely Alex can find some peace and quiet. Indeed, it's too quietand Alex's final letter is to Ethan, inviting him to play in his new retreat. The last page shows the brothers happily ascending the tree-house ladder together. As spun out in the exchanges, the child vs. parent points of view and the sibling rivalry all ring hilariously true. Catrow's zany pencil and watercolor illustrations capture perfectly the madcap daydreams in Alex's head as well as the familiar detritus of a young boy's room. (The iguana still lives there!) A surefire kid-pleaser with a subtle, sweet lesson in peaceful coexistence.Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.As in I Wanna Iguana (2004), this story about a child tired of sharing a room with his pesky little brother is told through letters and illustrated in energetic, cartoon-style illustrations. Alex pleads for his own room and complains about his little brother EthanHe sticks crayons up his nose and barks like a walruswhile a fantastical double-page image shows Ethan as a walrus in action. Finally, Dad builds Alex a tree house, but once he is alone in his new space, Alex misses all the family chaos. The slapstick, sibling anger, and crowding issues are all spot-on. Preschool-Grade 2. --Hazel Rochman; Title: I Wanna New Room | [
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16,455 | 2 | Inventive humor in both the text and the illustrations. . . . Its sweet message . . . will resonate with plenty of youngsters. . . . This charming offering can be enjoyed even by those whose families are staying just the way they are. School Library JournalKornell brings a wry, at times epigrammatic style to Owens narration, and hes clearly inviting his audience to share in the joke of the ursine twist on the usual family-addition story. Mixed-media art has the soft familiarity of watercolors with a crisp and comedic immediacy conferred by a cartoonish vigor. . . . Gary in particular is a big, appealingly goofy presence. . . . Kids will argue that theyd rather have a bear than a baby sib anytime, but theyll gigglingly take the point. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksGentle, wordless pages explore their developing friendship and invite readers to provide the narration. . . . A sweet and refreshing spin on the old new-sibling plot. Kirkus ReviewsA displacement story with a twist. . . . Portraying vulnerability without making ones characters look like whiners or wusses is no easy task, but Kornell succeeds. . . . He sets a sweetly plaintive mood that makes even the expected happy ending quietly gratifying. Publishers WeeklyMax Kornell graduated from Rhode Island School of Design. His regular comic for LA Weekly, "Los Angelopolis," took second place at the 2008 AAN (Association of Alternative Newsweeklies) Awards. He teaches art at Crossroads and the Brentwood Art Center, and lives in Los Angeles, California.; Title: Bear with Me | [
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16,456 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2In this heartwarming picture book, a grandmother shares stories with her grandson about his dad, who listens and watches with a smile. Once she opens the photo album, readers are engaged in a tender trip down memory lane. Grandma points out the similarities in appearance and behavior between father and son. Both are "puny and red-faced" when they are born. They begin school with trepidation, but with practice learning becomes easier. Some days, Dad could be "sweet," "wild," bossy, or raise a "ruckus," just like his son. Walker's use of layers of acrylic paints creates soft, gentle illustrations. Small details, such as black corners on the photos, provide authenticity to the time span. Characters' facial expressions and body language successfully capture emotions, actions, and reactions. Children will laugh at the spreads of Dad as a baby joyously singing in a bubble bath; pretending to be a race car, a gorilla, a cowboy, or a masked bandit; moping through a time-out; and coping with the disappointment of losing a baseball game. The humorous text is in perfect sync with the simple illustrations. This unique book is an excellent choice, particularly for Father's Day.Anne Beier, Hendrick Hudson Free Library, Montrose, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.It may be targeted at a very specific audience, but its a sizable one: grandmothers and their grandsons. The book opens with a barely graying grandmother, her red-haired son, and his young son looking at a scrapbook: Your daddy was born puny and red-faced. Just like you. If that sounds like an insult, be assured that the illustrations for the book are loving tributes to boyhood, even in its messiest, mud-jumping state (Sometimes I mistook him for Stinky Swamp Man). Bennetts grandma narrator hits the highlights of her own sons young lifethe developing mind, the changing moods, the nighttime fearsand often ends with the refrain, Just like you. The repetition may seem to deprive the child of some individuality, but it also shows him that his behavior and feelings are perfectly normal (though the image of the boy in a timeout is a bit of a jolt amid the cheerful mischief). With any luck, the books appealing pictures of the past will prompt loving memories from childrens own grandparents. Preschool-Grade 1. --Abby Nolan; Title: Your Daddy Was Just Like You | [
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16,457 | 2 | K-Gr 3When Pink, the runt of a large litter of piglets, is pushed aside by his siblings, he's taken into the house where a dachshund named Tink adopts him as one of her pups. He learns to prefer dog food to pig food and soft blankets to scratchy straw. Simple, clear text relates this true story, and the large print makes the title inviting for beginner readers. Full-color photos record events in the life of this unusual family. This heartwarming story of cross-species adoption will have strong appeal for animal lovers. Readers will easily grasp the lesson of fitting in and being loved even when you're different.Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Johanna Kerby lives on a small farm in West Virginia with her husband and four children. She considers herself to be a pig farmer, raising pigs with her family for 4-H and FFA projects.; Title: Little Pink Pup | [
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16,458 | 2 | The vegan vampire Livingstone family of Manhattan is back and cuter than ever. Griffins lighthearted romp has 14-year-old Lexie trying to deal with an influx of charming but very poorly behaved pixies at home while running for ninth-grade class president against queen-bee Mina and trying to win the affections of soccer star Dylan. The third book in the Vampire Island series is definitely veering away from its vampiric roots, as Lexies concerns become ever more mortal. Serious vampire readers may lose interest, though readers looking for light romance will be pleased. Grades 5-8. --Debbie Carton"Griffin continues to create a funny, suspenseful Goth thriller that children will sink their teeth into." --School Library Journal; Title: V is for Vampire: A Vampire Island Story | [
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16,459 | 0 | Gr 58Lucy Darrington's adventures begin on a train as she flees a starched ladies finishing school to join her ghost-chasing father on the west coast of the vaguely Victorian, slightly steampunk American States. When Lucy arrives in the town of Saarthe, her father has disappeared and the community faces a terrible tree blight called Rust, which threatens the timber industry and everyone's livelihood. Lucy and her landlord's son, Peter, set out to find her father and Dreamwood, a legendary cure for Rust in a mystical region called Devil's Thumb. They face the menacing tests and traps of the carnivorous tree spirit His-sey-ak. The villain does not easily suffer greedy mortals to cross its land, and their death-defying expedition requires the combination of Lucy's research and steampunk gadgets with Peter's common sense. Mackey combines fantasy, ecology, and adventure in her debut novel, all to good effect. Vivid desciptions (such as a tree that digests blood and sea serpents that can be harnessed to speed a boat ride) capture the imagination at every turn. Dialogue and perilous situations nudge the story along at a steady clip, with the second half a breathless page turner. Dreamwood will please character-focused readers. Hand this to children who want an environmental adventure like Eva Ibbotson's Journey to the River Sea (Dutton, 2002) or a character-grounded speculation like Kenneth Oppel's Airborn (HarperCollins, 2004).Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CTLucy Darrington, on the run from a terrifically boring and lonely boarding school, is searching for her father, a ghostologist, in this sharp new story. While trying to find him and root out what he was looking for, a secret cure-all called dreamwood, Lucy encounters all manner of menacing scares, from prospective outlaws on the train, to werewolf princesses in the secret world of the dreamwood. Along with her fathers ghost-finding gadgets and her new friends Pete and Niwa, she faces delight and danger alike. Lucy is a bright, hopeful young lead; her new friend Pete is an adventurer at heart; and First Peoples royal Niwa is sparkling and bold. The book has a steampunk feel to it, thanks to Lucys fathers inventions, and it would be a good option for young readers not quite ready for young-adult genre titles such as the Finishing School series, by Gail Carriger. Mackeys descriptions of the creatures and hazards of the dreamwood are gorgeous and lush, a fantastic setting for a fantastic tale. Grades 5-8. --Stacey Comfort; Title: Dreamwood | [
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16,460 | 2 | PreS-Gr 1Koontz follows up I, Trixie Who Is Dog (Putnam, 2009) with an equally unimpressive sequel unlikely to appeal to anyone but die-hard fans. The fun-loving canine is upset because her best friend, Jinx, is going on vacation. Who will she play with? None of the neighborhood animals are good friends for a dog, so finally she invents an imaginary one. Then Jinx comes home, and Koontz slams readers over the head with the importance of friendship. Cleland's watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations are appealing enough, if overly cute. She mixes full-bleed spreads and single pages with spot art to add interest and movement. Trixie almost always looks as if she is having fun, and the jagged edges and splashy watercolor washes match her frenetic energy and slapdash personality. The writing, however, leaves much to be desired. The story meanders, and the text, which hardly ever scans, mixes supposedly doglike poor grammar with proper usage and forces in meaningless words for rhymes, despite the fact that the rhyme scheme is unreliable at best, and completely disappears in places. While small children will sympathize with the best-friend-on-vacation scenario, the didactic ending is beyond doggerel. On the whole, an entirely disappointing offering.Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Dean Koontz was born in Everett, Pennsylvania, and grew up in nearby Bedford. He won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition when he was twenty and has been writing ever since. Mr. Koontz's books are published in 38 languages. Worldwide sales total more than 175 million copies, a figure that currently increases at a rate of more than 350 million copies a year. Dean and his wife, Gerda, live in southern California.; Title: Trixie and Jinx | [
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16,461 | 2 | "This title should be a winner for the youngest princess-loving set." --School Library JournalJoy Allen, whose Baby Signs was an Oprah children's book reading pick, won her first art contest in second grade. She has illustrated 32 books for children, both picture books and easy-to-reads, including the Cam Jansen series. She lives in Cameron Park, California.; Title: Princess Party | [
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16,462 | 12 | Peter Maloney spent most of his childhood playing in the woods behind the house he grew up in in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. He wrote his first book, a 165-page novel called Journey Under The Pacific Ocean, when he was eleven years old.After graduating from Rutgers College, Peter took courses in illustration and design at the School of Visual Arts in New York. He began submitting children's picture books to publishing houses. They were all rejected. At the same time he worked at an advertising agency in New York City creating ads, jingles and tv commercials including the original Milk Moustache campaign for Dellwood Milk. Around this time he also met a young college graduate named Felicia Zekauskas. During their very first conversation he discovered she also shared the dream of writing and illustrating children's books.Peter and Felicia then went into business together. They started a graphic design and advertising company called Zinc. In their spare time, they began collaborating on picture books. Their first book, Redbird at Rockefeller Center, is the story of a baby redbird stranded atop the world's most famous Christmas tree. Their second book, The Magic Hockey Stick, is based on what happened to them after they won Wayne Gretzky's hockey stick at a charity auction at Madison Square Garden.In addition to sports stars, Peter's heroes have always included writers, artists and songwriters. As a boy he loved reading books by Jules Verne, Edgar Rice Burroughs, J.R.R. Tolkien and Kenneth Robeson. His favorite songwriters are Joni Mitchell, Ray Davies and Cole Porter and his favorite illustrators include William Steig, Charles Addams, Jean Pierre Sempe and Edward Sorel.There's nothing Peter would rather do than write and illustrate picture books, although he would also like to be a famous rock star.Peter now lives on the 37th floor of a skyscraper in downtown Manhattan. From his window, he can still see the distant woods he played in as a child.copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.Peter Maloney spent most of his childhood playing in the woods behind the house he grew up in in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. He wrote his first book, a 165-page novel called Journey Under The Pacific Ocean, when he was eleven years old.After graduating from Rutgers College, Peter took courses in illustration and design at the School of Visual Arts in New York. He began submitting children's picture books to publishing houses. They were all rejected. At the same time he worked at an advertising agency in New York City creating ads, jingles and tv commercials including the original Milk Moustache campaign for Dellwood Milk. Around this time he also met a young college graduate named Felicia Zekauskas. During their very first conversation he discovered she also shared the dream of writing and illustrating children's books.Peter and Felicia then went into business together. They started a graphic design and advertising company called Zinc. In their spare time, they began collaborating on picture books. Their first book, Redbird at Rockefeller Center, is the story of a baby redbird stranded atop the world's most famous Christmas tree. Their second book, The Magic Hockey Stick, is based on what happened to them after they won Wayne Gretzky's hockey stick at a charity auction at Madison Square Garden.In addition to sports stars, Peter's heroes have always included writers, artists and songwriters. As a boy he loved reading books by Jules Verne, Edgar Rice Burroughs, J.R.R. Tolkien and Kenneth Robeson. His favorite songwriters are Joni Mitchell, Ray Davies and Cole Porter and his favorite illustrators include William Steig, Charles Addams, Jean Pierre Sempe and Edward Sorel.There's nothing Peter would rather do than write and illustrate picture books, although he would also like to be a famous rock star.Peter now lives on the 37th floor of a skyscraper in downtown Manhattan. From his window, he can still see the distant woods he played in as a child.copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.; Title: One Foot, Two Feet | [
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16,463 | 0 | *Starred Review* Lillie, her little brother, Plato, and her mother are slaves on a South Carolina plantation. Their father took a chance and joined the Confederate army, with the promise that he and his family would be freed after the conflict. Papas been killed, but Mama and the children were expecting their freedom until word came that a bag of gold was found on Papas body. Presuming it was stolen, freedom has been denied. When it becomes obvious that Plato may soon be sold away, Lillie is determined to prove that her father was not a thief and that the freedom promise should be honored. Kluger presents a story with what should be an impossible task, adds a dollop of fantasy, and brings it full circle in a smart, compelling way. Though its the quest that keeps the pages turning, what anchors the tale is the in-depth historical research, which makes readers feel what its like to live as a slave while the Civil War rages on. Juxtaposed against the realism is the fantasy element of the story, and Kluger wisely uses the Ibo heritage of some of the slaves as a way in, making it more believable than it otherwise might be. A finely crafted tale. Grades 5-7. --Ilene CooperJeffrey Klugeris a senior writer at Time. Coauthor of Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13, which was the basis for the movie Apollo 13, he is also the author of Moon Hunters: NASA's Remarkable Expeditions to the Ends of the Solar System.; Title: Freedom Stone | [
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16,464 | 2 | K-Gr 2-Molly Lou Melon has a house full of plastic toys and gewgaws, but her grandmother never did, and she tells her granddaughter about how she made playthings from found objects when she was young. In spread after spread, the youngster learns to use her imagination. When a new girl moves in next door, Molly Lou introduces her to this new way of playing, but Gertie is stuck in the modern, TV-watching, static-toy world. Of course, Molly Lou is eventually able to turn the tide, showing that imagination rules. The protagonist is a large-headed, bug-eyed girl living in a bright green and pink springtime cartoon world filled with details that will keep young readers busy. Catrow's cartoon-style pencil, watercolor, and collage illustrations match Molly Lou's lavish imagination. The book could have become didactic and preachy, but words and pictures work well to present a straightforward lesson on the value of good old-fashioned play.-Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Molly Lou Melon, half Dr. Seuss character and half Animaniacs cartoon, has tons of toys, but she remembers her grandmothers admonition: Back in the olden days, I didnt have fancy dolls. . . . I made them out of twigs, leaves and flowers like hollyhocks and daisies. Inspired, Molly Lou experiments with making a floral whoseywhatsit, and then turns a backyard tree into a dollhouse, boxes into a race car, and clouds into quality TV programming. When Gertie, overindulged and bored, moves in next door, Molly Lou shows her how to embrace found objects, and soon the two girls are happily exhausted. The pro-imaginative-play and anti-consumerism message, about as subtle as a freight train, will be appreciated by many, yet its the pencil, watercolor, and collage pictures, all color-soaked double-page spreads, that are the true delight. Catrow, just as he did in Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon (2001), provides the sugar to this tales medicine. Preschool-Grade 1. --Andrew Medlar; Title: Have Fun, Molly Lou Melon | [
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16,465 | 1 | PreS-Gr 2Through charming illustrations and minimal text, Talbott tells the story of how ancient wolves evolved into the dogs we know today. Young readers will love the nonverbal clarity of the image of a little orphan boy hiding in the shrubs watching a wolf pack run and the lonely cub trying to find his way back into the fold. The cute factor is a little over-the-top at times: the cub tries to howl, "Boy" as the pair find their way to friendship and teamwork and begin to build their own group of outcasts. This very simple interpretation, in which the boy and cub do even better than human or wolf packs, certainly has appeal but will not be useful to report writers or older readers. The closing pages show the progressive domestication of dogs from wolves to the pets that live in our homes, in all the diversity we know. VERDICT This big story in a small package hews close to current scientific understanding and is likely to be popular in most libraries, though it will be of limited value to those doing schoolwork.Dorcas Hand, Annunciation Orthodox School, Houston, TX"Hudson Talbott writes nonfiction picture books with narrative flair. . . . He toggles gracefully between the real and the fictional as he explains how modern dogs evolved from wolves and why dogs, more than any other type of animal, are so closely integrated into day-to-day human life. . . . Concicely delivered information. . . . Talbott's nimble, sweet art pulls everything together so beautifully, it's hard to imagine the childstory-lover or fact-lover, dog-lover or notwho would not be drawn in by this book. What Talbott is giving his young readers is not just the facts about where dogs came from. . . . He has provided a marvelous demonstration of that most ancient of techniques that blends the factual and the fictional to arrive at a kind of deep knowledge."The New York Times Book ReviewTalbott presents an imaginative origin for the early human-wolf bond and explores how that bond changed both species. . . . Appealing story. . . . Lively. . . . The concise narrative, cohesive design, and well-executed illustrations make this story easy to understand and appreciate.Kirkus ReviewsAn engaging, fact-based myth explaining the evolution of dogs and how interwoven our history is with theirs. A charming mutt narrates the tale. . . . Evocative pencil-and-watercolor art. . . . Seamlessly describes how his subspecies continues to provide important services to people. . . . The wolves, however, are never forgotten, and their endangerment is mentioned, too. . . . Young readers will likely learn a lot about humans best friend.Booklist The mixed-media art is tender and playful. . . . Talbott explores a broad concept within a cozy narrative framework, celebrating modern dogs while reminding readers that todays wolves need our help if they are to survive.Publishers WeeklyCharming. . . . Young readers will love the nonverbal clarity of the image[s]. . . . This big story in a small package hews close to current scientific understanding and is likely to be popular.School Library JournalLively, child-friendly illustrations make this an accessible introduction to the topic for 4- to 8-year-olds.The Wall Street JournalDid you ever wonder how humans and dogs came to depend upon one another? Talbott weaves the answers to these questions into a unique myth of origin tale. . . . Dog and wolf lovers, as well as fans of myth of origin stories will enjoy this book. . . . Can be enjoyed as a read aloud to inspire young writers to fashion their own stories of origin or how something has come to be.School Library Connection; Title: From Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs | [
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16,466 | 2 | Stephen McCranie lives in New Mexico. Mal and Chad was first created for Stephen's college newspaper.; Title: Mal and Chad: The Biggest, Bestest Time Ever! | [
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16,467 | 2 | This has got to be the Worst. Christmas. EVER! declares 11-year-old Sam Brattle. He has a swelling police record and no respect for anyone or anything. His mother left before his heart transplant at age 3 1/2. His friends are older delinquents. His fathers business is failing. On top of that, Nickel Bay Nickthe secret benefactor who leaves 45 $100 bills around his deteriorating town before Christmashas disappeared. When Sam damages part of Herbert Wells house, he is blackmailed into service to help cover the repairs. The job isnt what Sam expects because Herbert, whose leg is broken, reveals he is Nickel Bay Nick. To become Herberts operative before its too late, Sam has no choice but to listen, obey orders, and accept responsibility. The often-thankless execution of the distributions changes his perspective about friends, family, and community. With a genuine feel for adolescent pain and emotion, Pitchford offers a comical but forthright coming-of-age story that will make readers cheer for Sam. Hand to fans of Louis Sachars Holes (1998) or Gary D. Schmidts Okay for Now (2011). Grades 4-7. --Jeanne FredriksenPraise for NICKEL BAY NICK:From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:Told with wry humor, this fast-paced novel will appeal to fans of Louis Sachars Holes and Gary D. Schmidts Okay for Now.From KIRKUS REVIEWS:Theres a real cinematic feel herePitchford also writes for the screen and stage . . . . Sams a great, well-realized kid, and readers will root for him every step of the way. A surprising, poignant twist at the end explains Mr. Wells true motives for involving Sam and brings about a satisfying, uplifting finale. Crime does pay offto the benefit of othersin this enjoyable novel.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Praise for Dean Pitchfords CAPTAIN NOBODY:From KIRKUS REVIEWS:the humor and compassion are sure to appeal to reluctant readers.From PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:Pitchford builds suspense adeptly . . . the young narrators earnest voiceand his raw sense of helplessnessare real and affecting.From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:[Captain Nobody] reads like a summertime feel-good movie. Kids who have longed for their own superhero powers will eat this up.; Title: Nickel Bay Nick | [
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16,468 | 2 | Grade 14This gem of a book illustrates how love makes a family, even if it's not a traditional one. The narrator, a black girl, describes how her two Caucasian mothers, Marmee and Meema, adopted her, her Asian brother, and her red-headed sister. She tells about the wonderful times they have growing up in Berkeley, CA. With their large extended family and friends, they celebrate Halloween with homemade costumes, build a tree house, organize a neighborhood block party, and host a mother-daughter tea party. The narrator continually reinforces the affectionate feelings among her mothers and siblings, and the illustrations depict numerous scenes of smiling people having a grand time. Most of the neighbors are supportive, except for one woman who tells Marmee and Meema, "I don't appreciate what you two are." Eventually, the children grow up, marry heterosexual spouses, and return home to visit their aged parents with their own children. Is this an idealized vision of a how a gay couple can be accepted by their family and community? Absolutely. But the story serves as a model of inclusiveness for children who have same-sex parents, as well as for children who may have questions about a "different" family in their neighborhood. A lovely book that can help youngsters better understand their world.Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.The oldest of three adopted children recalls her childhood with mothers Marmee and Meema, as they raised their African American daughter, Asian American son, and Caucasian daughter in a lively, supportive neighborhood. Filled with recollections of family holidays, rituals, and special moments, each memory reveals loving insight. At a school mother-daughter tea, for instance, the mothers make their first ever appearance in dresses. The narrator recalls, My heart still skips a beat when I think of the two of them trying so hard to please us. Only a crabby neighbor keeps her children away from their family. Meema explains, Shes afraid of what she cannot understand: she doesnt understand us. The energetic illustrations in pencil and marker, though perhaps not as well-rendered as in some previous works, teem with family activities and neighborhood festivity. Quieter moments radiate the love the mothers feel for their children and for each other. Similar in spirit to the authors Chicken Sunday, this portrait of a loving family celebrates differences, too. Pair this with Arnold Adoffs Black Is Brown Is Tan (2002), Toyomi Igus Two Mrs. Gibsons (1996), or Natasha Wings Jalapeno Bagels (1996) for portraits of family diversity. Grades 1-4. --Linda Perkins; Title: In Our Mothers' House | [
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16,469 | 2 | Gr 13Humphrey, the helpful classroom pet introduced in The World According to Humphrey (Putnam, 2004) and who appears in subsequent titles, is featured in a shorter, illustrated tale. In this installment, the hamster attempts to make Richie's science project a success while avoiding his boisterous puppy. This title has the same characters, humorous action, and gentle tone of the original, but the large print, short chapters, and numerous cartoon-style illustrations make this one suitable for readers new to chapter books. The children in Humphrey's class are diverse, and the appealing story contains multiple STEM tie-ins, including animal facts and science project tips. A solid purchase that will extend Humphrey's popularity to younger readers.Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library"This title has the same characters, humorous action, and gentle tone of the original, but the large print, short chapters, and numerous cartoon-style illustrations make this one suitable for readers new to chapter books. The children in Humphreys class are diverse, and the appealing story contains multiple STEM tie-ins, including animal facts and science project tips. A solid purchase that will extend Humphreys popularity to younger readers."School Library Journal"Birney has created the kind of series that first- and second-grade readers will love. Its set in school, the vocabulary is accessible, the font and spacing are generous, and the frequent illustrations tie the story together.New readers will be 'HAPPY-HAPPY-HAPPY' to see this promising new series." -Kirkus Reviews; Title: Humphrey's Playful Puppy Problem (Humphrey's Tiny Tales) | [
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16,470 | 2 | 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 Association; Title: Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise | [
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16,471 | 2 | Though her best friend, Free, is excited about a poetry contest, Dyamonde has little interest in writing verse. She is curious, though, about Damaris, a new classmate with a secret. Dyamonde befriends her and encourages her to enter the contest with a poem that reveals what shes been hiding. Featuring several of the same vividly drawn African American characters as the first book in the Dyamonde Daniel series, the second volume looks at the sensitive issues of poverty and homelessness from different angles and in a reassuringly matter-of-fact way. Expressive ink drawings illustrate this fine beginning chapter book. Grades 2-4. --Carolyn Phelan"Fast-paced, believable urban school situations...make this a particularly relevant series entry for chapter-book readers." --Kirkus; Title: Rich: a Dyamonde Daniel Book | [
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16,472 | 7 | Gr 46Part Nutcracker with a dash of Pinocchio, this middle grade debut by YA author Smith is an absorbing tale of adventure, invention, family loyalty, and sly humor. Stefan Drosselmeyer and his father, a master toymaker, are in their home in Nuremberg grieving the recent loss of Stefan's mother. Enter flamboyant cousin Christian Drosselmeyer, who involves them in a perilous quest. Christian, the master clockmaker for the kingdom of Boldavia, was held responsible for a mouse uprising, and during a fight for the kingdom, the human princess was bitten by the maniacal Mouse Queen and turned into wood. The only known cure for her condition is a krakatook, a nut that is proving impossible to find. Before Stefan and Christian can return to the search in earnest, Stefan's father is kidnapped. The quest to find him and the krakatook and save Boldavia from the vengeful Mouse Queen and her seven-headed son while escaping with their lives is almost the undoing of the Drosselmeyers. Suspense builds as the chapters alternate between human and rodent perspective. Bursting with unforgettable characters of both species (and a few others), the novel rushes along to its inevitable final battle and enlightening conclusion. The author's note describes the connection to the original Nutcracker, which inspired Alexandre Dumas's retelling and the well-known ballet. VERDICT Fans of both genres will relish this highly recommended historical fantasy.Sara-Jo Lupo Sites, George F. Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NY"An absorbing tale of adventure, invention, family loyalty, and sly humor. . . .Bursting with unforgettable characters." -School Library Journal, starred review"Men and mice engage in mortal conflict in this multilayered retelling . . . .A fast-paced adventure." - Kirkus Reviews"An inventive fantasy." - Booklist"Smith manages to tease out the darker elements of her inspiration, the Nutcracker, while still maintaining a sense of whimsy, resulting in a story that blends wonder, melancholy, and adventure." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"Exceedingly well done, this is a great fantasy novel and is highly recommended for middle grade readers, fans of fantasy, and lovers of The Nutcracker." - VOYA; Title: The Toymaker's Apprentice | [
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16,473 | 11 | Eric Hill 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 now lives in France.; Title: Spot's Harvest | [
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16,474 | 16 | Eric Hill 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 now lives in France.; Title: Spot's First Numbers | [
16510
] | Train |
16,475 | 2 | "Brimming with nostalgia, heartfelt sentimentality, and eccentricity . . . portrait of a tight-knit intergenerational bond. . . . Polacco fills the pages with tumbling action, familial warmth, and love. . . . A cozy ode to the inherent magic in a visit with a grandparent." Publishers Weekly"Concepts that young children can immediately connect with. . . . A first-rate intergenerational story, sure to be read over and over again." Library Media Connection"Exuberant pencil and marker illustrations. . . . A comforting story about the strong bond between a grandmother and her granddaughter and the loss and recovery of a beloved toy." School Library Journal"Polacco's exuberant and expressive pictures convey Paige's excitement and delight. . . . Bun Bun's return, somewhat the worse for wear, brings a softly sentimental end to a classic childhood experience." Kirkus Reviews"[Polacco;s] pencil-and-marker illustrations always give the events a core of plausibility, making this gentle journey a good one for sensitive readershere comfort far outweighs any trauma." Booklist"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: Bun Bun Button | [
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16,476 | 1 | K-Gr 2-In this fractured fairy tale, three little pigs are portrayed as frustrated siblings fed up with a wolf that loves to huff and puff and blow houses down. In an attempt to protect their homes in their Japanese village, they train at a Ninja school. As the first brother begins aikido lessons, he finds himself bored and drops out, which gives him little defense when the wolf comes to call. Pig Two attempts his skill at jujitsu but his confidence is larger than his capabilities, and he is no match for the villain. Their sister is the only one who studies well and practices until she masters karate. When the wolf arrives at her door, she settles the score and sends him running. Learning a lesson from their gutsy sister, the brothers return to their classes with more determination and success. Unlike the original tale, the pigs are given responsibility for their misfortune and a chance for improvement. The story has a clear message that success requires perseverance. The text and glossary include martial-arts terms. Santat's artwork is in manga style and has wonderful depictions of Japanese scenery and architecture. The pigs are full of motion and emotion as they train and battle with the wolf. Youngsters with an interest in martial arts and those seeking strong female characters will relish this picture book.-Diane Antezzo, Ridgefield Library, CT(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.This riotous rumble of a takeoff begins with three pigstwo brothers and a sistersaying enough to the huffy puffy wolf destroying houses in their town. So its off to the ninja school, where the first brother takes up aikido, but he drops out in two weeks. The second brother takes jujitsu and makes good progress, but he is too impatient to keep up his lessons. Only sister pig, a karate student, becomes so skilled that she can break boards by performing a perfect pork chop! Anyone who knows the original story will be well aware of what comes next, but this standout version has so much motion, action, and laughs, kids will feel like theyre hearing it for the first time. Schwartzs clever rhyming text flows nicely, and illustrator Santat (who holds a black belt in shotokan) really gets into things. Executed in Sumi brushwork on rice paper (and completed in Adobe Photoshop), the pictures have a three-dimensional feel thats great when kicks and chops are being executed. Sayonara, Mr. Wolf. Preschool-Grade 3. --Ilene Cooper; Title: The Three Ninja Pigs | [
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16,477 | 0 | Grade 4-6Having survived the machinations of an evil genius in The 7 Professors of the Far North (Putnam, 2005), the same kids and their professorial guardians are involved in a new adventure. This time, they have joined up with a novice airplane enthusiast, Amy McAirdrie. When Professors Sharpe and Ampersand and their wards Ben, Zara, Sam, and Marcia decide to help her with the plane's construction, they have no idea that their every move is being watched. A shadowy organization known as Noctarma is eyeing the airplane very closely. When a series of misunderstandings leads to the kids running, or rather flying, for their lives, they find themselves in a race to discover the secret of antigravity before the bad guys do. Escaping from Noctarma's clutches repeatedly, the plucky children must elude capture and figure out whom to trust before it's too late. The writing is consistently upbeat and energetic even if it bogs down a little during the airplane passages. Fans of Fardell's previous book will enjoy following the characters and their wacky high-speed adventures. New readers, on the other hand, will have a difficult time sorting out the large cast of characters and their backgrounds.Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.The cast from The 7 Professors of the Far North (2005) returns in another rip-roaring story. Things start off quietly as four British children help eccentric Professor Ampersand and his friends work on an experimental aircraft called the Silver Turtle. Soon, though, kids Sam, Zara, Ben, and Marcia are propelled into an adventure involving an antigravity machine that was invented during World War II and then lost. The kids also encounter an evil cabal of powerful, shadowy figures who hope^B to find the plans for the machine. The plucky voyagers' journey takes them to the depths of Lake Geneva, the dungeons of a Swiss castle, and the galleries of the Royal Museum of Edinburgh in a novel that features daring escapes, secret codes, and more than one hail of bullets. Rounding out the story are the author's small but elegant black-and-white drawings, which appear on many pages. This sequel offers everything that fans of adventure stories could want. Todd MorningCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Flight of the Silver Turtle | [] | Validation |
16,478 | 2 | "Showing [Stein's] customary gift for spot-on evocations of childlike voice and sensibility. . . . Sometimes snail mail is just better. Here's proof." Kirkus Reviews, starred review"A clever and enticingly child-friendly format. . . . . Young ones will have more than their fair share of fun, and they'll understand the longing for someone who's gone away." Booklist"Mouserella's ebullience comes through on every page. . . . Delightfully precocious letter. . . . Exercise in joyful self-expression." Publishers Weekly"Will prompt children to think about their own letter writing. Those who have never written a letter will be encouraged to do so." School Library JournalDavid Ezra Stein (www.davidezra.com) received a Caldecott Honor for Interrupting Chicken and the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award for Leaves, which was also a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, a Kirkus Reviews Editor's Choice and a School Library Journal Best Book. He lives in Kew Gardens, New York.; Title: Love, Mouserella | [
55797
] | Train |
16,479 | 1 | Eric Hill 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 now lives in France.; Title: Spot Loves His Friends | [
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16,480 | 1 | Eric Hill 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 2-year-old son. It was published four years later, and the rest is history. Eric Hill now lives in France.; Title: Spot's Valentine | [
5809
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16,481 | 0 | Tosh loves when his grandma Honey bakes her special golden tea cakes. He also loves her stories of a brave family history stretching back to slavery times. Toshs great-great-great-great-grandma Ida made the best tea cakes, and although she was forbidden to give them to her children and other young slaves, she hid a few in her pocket and risked being whipped to give the children a taste of sweet freedom. Lewis illustrates the warm, intimate story with beautiful full-page watercolorssepia shades for the past, full color for the present daythat show the close bond between Tosh and his grandma as they spend their afternoons together. Then Grandma Honey starts forgetting things, but when Tosh makes the tea cakes, she remembers the proud family story. The climax is first a sepia-tone image of Grandma Ida on the plantation, giving young people the golden treats, followed by a scene of a close embrace between Tosh and his grandma now. The final full recipe adds to the enduring story of courage and caring. Preschool-Grade 3. --Rochman, HazelKelly Starling Lyons lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator E. B. Lewis lives in Folsom, New Jersey.; Title: Tea Cakes for Tosh | [
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16,482 | 7 | Michael Rex lives in the Bronx, New York.; Title: Fangbone! Third-Grade Barbarian | [
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16,483 | 2 | Eric Hill 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 now lives in France.; Title: Spot's Balloon | [
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16,484 | 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."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.; Title: The Very Hungry Caterpillar/La oruga muy hambrienta (World of Eric Carle) (Spanish Edition) | [
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16,485 | 0 | Matthew McElligott (mattmcelligott.com) is the author of such books as Even Monsters Need Haircuts and The Lion's Share. His favorite foods are blood oranges, vegetarian blood pudding, and, of course, cookies. He sports a handsome beard, mainly due to the fact that he casts no reflection, making it difficult to shave.Larry Tuxbury has written two books and read literally dozens more. By night, he sleeps in a casket in a basement outside Albany, NY. By day, he sleeps in his classroom at the real Farnsworth Middle School, where he teaches language arts to aspiring vampires.; Title: Benjamin Franklinstein Meets the Fright Brothers | [
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16,486 | 2 | "Yoo gracefully merges the spirit of yoga with children's intuitive sense of play." — Publishers Weekly"A pleasingly uncomplicated introduction to yoga that can also simply be read as an invitation to play. A celebration of the ways that even young children can experience the wide world through their bodies as well as their minds." — Kirkus Reviews"Extremely basic and appropriate for young children; the illustrations will encourage participation and some rambunctiousness. . . . Could be used to corral the energy of a rowdy group or an individual child. . . . A good choice for introducing yoga." — School Library Journal"Inviting demonstration of seven safe, relatively easy poses." — BooklistTaeeun Yoo (www.taeeunyoo.com) received her MFA from the School of Visual Arts. She has illustrated several picture books, including Only a Witch Can Fly (by Alison McGhee) - a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year. She lives in New York City.; Title: You Are a Lion!: And Other Fun Yoga Poses | [
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16,487 | 2 | Michael Rex lives in the Bronx, New York.; Title: The Egg of Misery (Fangbone! Third Grade Barbarian) | [
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16,488 | 15 | Eric Hill 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 2-year-old son. It was published four years later, and the rest is history. Eric Hill now lives in France.; Title: Spot's Snowy Day | [
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16,489 | 2 | Keiko Kasza was born on a small Japanese island in the Inland Sea of Japan. She grew up in a typical Japanese extended family with her parents, two brothers, and grandparents. Uncles, aunts, and cousins also lived nearby. "All the steps I took growing up were very normal," Ms. Kasza says. "The only unusual thing I did was go to college in the United States." She graduated with a degree in graphic design from California State University at Northridge. Ms. Kasza married an American, and the United States has been her home ever since.After publishing five children's books in Japan and working as a graphic designer for fourteen years, Ms. Kasza decided in 1988 to devote her time to picture books. She says, "Having two small boys and two professions was too much to handle."Ms. Kasza admires many great picture-book creators, such as Leo Lionni and Maurice Sendak, but says that the work of Arnold Lobel has influenced her the most. The subtle humor and warmth he created in his books continues to inspire me," she says. "I often go back to his work when I get discouraged or lose confidence."Ms. Kasza compares the process of making a book to acting on stage under the lights:"I become the character that I'm working on at that moment. I pretend that I'm a bird looking for a mother, or a pig trying to impress his girlfriend. When I'm acting, I'm a child myself."Ms. Kasza's ambition is not to create a hundred books, but to "create one really good book that will be kept on the family bookshelves for generations, although a hundred really good books would be even better, of course!"Keiko Kasza lives in Indiana with her husband and two sons.copyright 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.Keiko Kasza was born on a small Japanese island in the Inland Sea of Japan. She grew up in a typical Japanese extended family with her parents, two brothers, and grandparents. Uncles, aunts, and cousins also lived nearby. "All the steps I took growing up were very normal," Ms. Kasza says. "The only unusual thing I did was go to college in the United States." She graduated with a degree in graphic design from California State University at Northridge. Ms. Kasza married an American, and the United States has been her home ever since.After publishing five children's books in Japan and working as a graphic designer for fourteen years, Ms. Kasza decided in 1988 to devote her time to picture books. She says, "Having two small boys and two professions was too much to handle."Ms. Kasza admires many great picture-book creators, such as Leo Lionni and Maurice Sendak, but says that the work of Arnold Lobel has influenced her the most. The subtle humor and warmth he created in his books continues to inspire me," she says. "I often go back to his work when I get discouraged or lose confidence."Ms. Kasza compares the process of making a book to acting on stage under the lights:"I become the character that I'm working on at that moment. I pretend that I'm a bird looking for a mother, or a pig trying to impress his girlfriend. When I'm acting, I'm a child myself."Ms. Kasza's ambition is not to create a hundred books, but to "create one really good book that will be kept on the family bookshelves for generations, although a hundred really good books would be even better, of course!"Keiko Kasza lives in Indiana with her husband and two sons.copyright 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.; Title: Silly Goose's Big Story | [
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16,490 | 2 | Leeza Hernandez lives in New Jersey.; Title: Dog Gone | [
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16,491 | 16 | If Ethan Long were taller, he'd be a basketball player or a professional ceiling duster, but because of his average height, he decided to be an author and illustrator of children's books. He also created Tasty Time with Zefronk! on Playhouse Disney. Ethan (www.ethanlong.com) lives in Orlando, Florida.; Title: Up, Tall and High | [
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16,492 | 2 | Amazon Best Books of the Month, December 2010: Oliver Jeffers has created an enchanting story of two friends, a boy and a penguin, whom we first met in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Found-Oliver-Jeffers/dp/0399245030",Lost & Found. In Up & Down, the penguin dreams of flying--he has wings, after all--but nothing seems to be working until he spots an advertisement looking for a living cannonball. The penguins excitement overtakes him and he sets off to fulfill his dream without telling the boy, only to realize later how much he misses his friend. Fortunately, the boy and the penguin are soon reunited, because its all well and good to fly through the air alone, but the best part is having a friend to catch you on the way back down. Wonderfully expressive illustrations complement this story of independence and friendship.--Seira Wilson K-Gr 2Once upon a time, in a book called Lost and Found (Philomel, 2006), a penguin appeared at a small boy's doorstep. Since that adventure, in which the two traveled to the South Pole in a rowboat, the boy has crash-landed his plane on the moon and rocketed into space to catch a star. In this installment, the fearless, practical, and sympathetic childdrawn as a circle (head), square (striped shirt), and two lines (legs)is back with his penguin friend. They play Telephone, Parcheesi, and tuba-guitar duetsuntil the penguin decides that he must learn to fly. He did own wings after all, although they didn't seem to work very well. But that didn't stop the penguin trying. Quirky watercolor illustrations enrich the plot with examplese.g., increasingly large balloons tied around the bird's middle, or the penguin leaping from a desk chair mounted atop a dresser while the boy sets out a pillow for a landing pad. A chance sighting of a circus help-wanted poster takes the penguin off on his own and both friends must follow exciting, suspenseful, and wistful paths back to one another. Jeffers has an endearing, deceptively simple style that will warm the hearts of children and adults. An expert draughtsman and a gifted colorist, he creates artwork that is as masterful as it is eccentric. (Devoted readers will be delighted to find pictorial references to his earlier books.) His peculiar plots combine with a saccharine-free sensitivity to the nuances of friendship, making this book just plain special.Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.; Title: Up and Down | [
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16,493 | 14 | The latest picture book in the popular, enduring series that began with Caldecott Honor Book Strega Nona (1975) weaves Italian holiday traditions into a lively story about Big Anthony, a tall boy, and his grandmother in their Italian village. From Christmas to the Feast of San Silvestro to the Epifanathe Feast of the Three Kingshis Big Anthony celebrates and feasts through December and January, and along the way, he messes up. In one scene, for example, he gobbles up the delicious turnips that Strega Nona cooks for the goat, so the goat gobbles Big Anthonys blanket . . . . Kids will enjoy the mischief and the turnarounds, shown with gentle humor in the joyful acrylic-and-watercolor pictures filled with food, singing, and dancing. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Strega Nona holds a key spot in the pantheon of classic childrens book characters; expect instant and enduring demand. Grades K-2. --Hazel Rochman"Fans of Strega Nona and her bumbling helper will delight in this funny tale. . . . Infused with warm Italian flavor and decorated with dePaola's signature charming illustrations, this is a holiday selection that readers will savor." — School Library Journal"Glowing watercolors in warm Mediterranean colors. . . . Community, piety, ritual, and food: Strega Nona and Tomie dePaola know exactly what Christmas is all about." — The Horn Book"A lively story. . . . Kids will enjoy the mischief and the turnarounds, shown with gentle humor in the joyful acrylic-and-watercolor pictures filled with food, singing, and dancing." — Booklist"DePaola delivers a hearty sampler of Italian holiday traditions and seasonal cuisine." — Publishers Weekly; Title: Strega Nona's Gift | [
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16,494 | 2 | PreS-Gr 1Nicholas Duck, star of Santa Duck (Putnam, 2008), is excited at the prospect of his second Christmas collecting wish lists for Santa. Unfortunately, his three enthusiastic siblings want to help. When they keep promising increasingly fabulous and unreasonable presents, Nicholas irritably explains that Christmas is not just about gifts, but also about love and kindness and goodwill. The little ducks ask if that means letting little siblings help Santa even if you think you're some kind of important big shot? Eryes, it does, and it turns out to be a fine Christmas after all. Both younger and older siblings will delight in the simple, goofy humor and appealing cartoon illustrations of Nicholas and his brothers and sister, the youngest a yellow duckling in a diaper. Put this title at the top of your Christmas list.Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Nicolas Duck, the reluctant Santa in Milgrims Santa Duck (2008), has embraced being Santas helper and is now joined by his enthusiastic but pesky siblings. Although Nicolas is unsuccessful in dissuading his helpers, he does curb their offerings of outrageous gifts to the other animals when trying to outdo each other. Along the way, they all learn that Christmas means more than gifts, popcorn balls, and cookies (cue the messages of love, goodwill, and giving) in this goofy and sweet holiday story. The upbeat ending, with Nicolas and his siblings in harmony, and the colorful cartoon illustrations will make this a crowd-pleaser. Preschool-Grade 1. --Randall Enos; Title: Santa Duck and His Merry Helpers | [
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16,495 | 2 | Maryann Cusimano Love lives in Tracy's Landing, Maryland. Satomi Ichikawa lives in Paris, France.; Title: You Are My Wonders | [
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16,496 | 2 | “A little girl with synesthesia engages the world with all five senses, plus. . . . The exploration of her unusual perception charms. . . . A brief author’s note gives a little bit more information about synesthesia, grounding it in the experiences of children Harris has encountered on school visits. An engaging look at a fascinating difference in perception, for younger readers.” — Kirkus Reviews”Harris’s story is addressed both to the small population of children who hear colors and smell words, and to the friends, schoolmates, and teachers who may be puzzled by these experiences. She describes Jillian’s mixture of visual and aural sensations simply. . . . Brantley-Newton provides lively, stylish spreads.” — Publishers WeeklyMarie Harris (marieharris.com) is the author of G Is for Granite: A New Hampshire Alphabet and Primary Numbers: A New Hampshire Number Book, as well as four books of poetry. She lives in the woods of Barrington, New Hampshire, where she likes to walk and identify birds and go swimming in the Isinglass River. Vanessa Brantley-Newton (oohlaladesignstudio.blogspot.com) has illustrated several picture books, including One Love by Bob Marley and Let Freedom Sing (which she also wrote). When Vanessa isn’t illustrating a book, she is crafting and cooking and singing! She also hears color. When she says “hello,” she sees the rainbow, and when children giggle, she sees bright orange and pink! She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.; Title: The Girl Who Heard Colors | [
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16,497 | 2 | In their latest collaboration, Joosse and Jutte (Roawr!, 2009, and Sleepover at Grammas House, 2010) hoist a sail tale about a shipshape man who has everything he needsor so he thinks. Each day the old man sails the salty sea, and each night he docks his boat, until one evening when an unexpected visitor arrives: a dancing cat in a pale pink dress who asks to come aboard. Old Robert agrees and prepares toast in buttered milk for two, and they both go to bed with the cat sleeping in a wee hammock. The next night a singing cat appears, and the next night a juggling cat. But its a scrawny little black cat with no talents at all that steals Old Roberts heart and winds up going to sleep on his chest. The ink, watercolor, and acrylic illustrations have comic overtones with strong black lines delineating the waterside scenes. This tender story proves there is always room in the heart for one more. Bonus: the back flap supplies a website to download Joosses song, Old Robert. Preschool-Grade 2. --Julie CumminsBarbara Joosse lives in Wisconsin.Jan Jutte lives in the Netherlands.; Title: Old Robert and the Sea-Silly Cats | [
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16,498 | 0 | Engaging tale of transformation and constancy. . . . [Invites] comparisons between elements in each spread and their more modern counterparts that follow. . . . A rapidly modernizing society, the resultant impact on the environment, and the constant, observant presence of nature are themes readers can start to grasp with this book. More simply, its a charming cycle-of-life story and an engaging chronicle of American urban history. Publishers WeeklyEngaging. . . . Karass straightforward narration is informative and reflective. Detailed watercolor illustrations dramatically show the landscape evolving from rural to urban over time. . . . This fascinating time capsule will spark nature and history discussions. School Library JournalClear and simple look at over two centuries of change in a single landscape. . . . Karas avoids editorializing. . . . Art has a friendly, intimate quality. . . . This will invite repeat visits. Kirkus ReviewsIllustrations allow readers to see how generations alter the landscape . . . and variations in farming practices as well as the development of differing modes of transportation. The Horn BookThe sweep of Karas pencil and gouache full-bleed spreads has all the majesty of good landscape, with the stately tree firmly rooted in the center of every scene, but his homey and accessible draftsmanship keeps the details human as well as intricate. . . . The hilltop prospect provides a particularly fine vista, and audiences will appreciate the small dramas and subtle alterations as well as the significant changes. If youre near any large trees, this could spark your own local trip through history. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksG. Brian Karas (www.gbriankaras.com) is the popular author and illustrator of numerous picture books, including On Earth andAtlantic (both ALA Notable Books). He lives in New York's Hudson Valley.; Title: As an Oak Tree Grows | [
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25172,
26263,
26843,
27246,
2767... | Train |
16,499 | 0 | "Tuxbury and McElligott liberally endow their tale with patent drawings, circuit and other diagrams, and like techno eye candy as well as such general silliness as a wizened Bad Guy who gets around in an ornately decorated bathtub. . . . Another entertaining foray into science both mad and real." Kirkus Reviews; Title: Benjamin Franklinstein Meets Thomas Deadison | [
6560,
16310,
16485,
23887,
23919
] | Validation |
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