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25,000 | 2 | Grade 5-8-Six seventh graders find themselves working together on a science-fair project on ESP when they all sign up for an elective called "The Mad Science Club." This novel, written as short entries told in alternating voices, is a collaborative effort submitted to their teacher, complete with hypothesis, research, recorded experiments, and personal commentary. Through the students' narratives, readers learn about their families, problems, and relationships with one another. Club members include identical twins; Claire is in all honors classes, while Kathleen is in special ed. Claire explains, "The first thing I did in this world was to almost kill my sister-." Ji used to be Claire's best friend, but has moved on in middle school causing awkwardness and resentment between them. Marina is a Russian immigrant who has only been in the country one month. Brandon is dealing with his mother's death and firmly believes in ESP as his younger brother foresaw the accident that killed her. Ben, a "science geek," is wrestling with his own demons. His mother left the family, remarried, and now has a new baby. It is his idea to put the group's ESP skills to the test by purchasing a series of lottery tickets. Not only do they win $500, but they also capture first place in the county fair. The book, which includes charts, newspaper clippings, and test data, is a fast-paced and fascinating read. It's safe to predict that it'll be a winner, too.Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public SchoolsCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 5-8. The students in the science club at Clearview Middle School decide to work on a science fair project involving ESP. Notes, journal entries, and reports tell the stories of the club's six members, giving readers a sense of the students' deepest concerns and the overlapping events in their lives. Among the characters are the brainy, nerdy guy (the type you'd expect to end up in the science club); twins, one in special education and the other on a standard academic track; and the new kid who ends up in the club by mistake. Interspersed with their stories are press clippings and science project notes. By the end of the novel, the students have made connections, but most of these are of the nonpsychic variety. Grunwell's story not only realistically captures the concerns of middle-school students but also presents the characters' stories in an original and imaginative way. Todd MorningCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Mind Games | [
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25,001 | 2 | Several volumes allow kids to spend the howl-iday with familiar friends. The porcine siblings from Tuck in the Pool make an encore appearance in Tuck's Haunted House by Martha Weston. Tuck tries to banish his sister from his Halloween lair, but her presence adds a spine-tinglingly perfect finishing touch. Ages 4-7.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-Grade 1-With her deft touch for capturing realistic sibling relationships, Weston delivers another fun tale of the piggy brother and younger sister from Tuck in the Pool (Clarion, 1995). Older and wiser, Tuck is focused on creating his first-ever haunted house in the family garage. Tagalong Bunny is determined to help him, making unwelcome suggestions and doing her best to get in the way. True to his role as big brother, the piglet refuses her help, claiming "-you're too little. You'll just mess things up." Ignoring her antics as best he can, he continues to work, creating a cauldron of worms (cold spaghetti), a toilet-paper mummy, ghoul's eyeballs (peeled grapes), and an icky, drippy forest. "Don't touch it.- You're wrecking it," Tuck complains as Bunny wiggles through his Tunnel of Doom. When his guests arrive, they receive an unexpected fright from the wailing Evil Monster Baby. An attentive audience will guess at the mysterious creature's identity, enjoying the comedy along with the mild thrills and chills. Weston's watercolor-and-pencil illustrations animate the siblings' rivalry and affection for one another, and skillfully depict the haunted-house fun as costumed, wide-eyed pigs flee from the frightening sound. This engaging story will introduce a young audience to non-trick-or-treating Halloween fun.Piper L. Nyman, Fairfield/Suisun Community Library, Fairfield, CACopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Tuck's Haunted House | [
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25,002 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 2-In this delightful follow-up to Missing Rabbit (Clarion, 2002), Schotter again explores issues related to divorce and remarriage. Taking her favorite toy with her, Kara goes to visit with her father and his new wife. But Papa's house is now cluttered with Peggy's things, and the child worries that there's no longer room for her. After she tells her father that Rabbit thinks the house is too crowded, he and Peggy make more space for Kara and her stuffed animal. The story walks the line between narrative and bibliotherapy with relative ease, aided by Moore's warm, cartoonlike watercolors. Kara and her parents, biological and step, are portrayed as a loving family, and children will find this tale reassuring.Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, ColumbiaCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreS-Gr. 2. Like the books in the Read-alike column "Mom's House, Dad's House" on the opposite page, this sequel to Missing Rabbit [BKL My 1 02] portrays a child's experience of divorce. When young Kara goes to Papa's house, she discovers that his new wife, Peggy, is taking all the space; Peggy is a costume designer, and her ties and capes, hats and scarves overflow from closets and furniture. During a game of hide-and-seek, Kara has trouble finding a place of her own, and through her adored stuffed rabbit, her alter ego, she speaks her mind: "It's too crowded here." Luckily, Papa and Peggy find ways to clear the clutter and make Kara feel part of their loving nest: "Plenty of room," Rabbit says. When Kara returns to Mama's house, it feels empty, but Mama reassures Kara that she has "so much love that it fills every corner of this house." As in Missing Rabbit, Schotter and Moore explore the complicated sadness of divorce within a story that's as reassuring and snug as a favorite blanket. Schotter's rhythmic, descriptive words include creative specifics that show the acceptance and love Kara enjoys--special games and cuddles that are beautifully captured in Moore's vibrant color pictures of Kara, snuggled safely in the cozy arms of all her parents. A good read-aloud for children who are struggling with their own feelings of displacement. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Room for Rabbit | [
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25,003 | 18 | Young readers familiar with the burly, hale Teddy Roosevelt who lived for adventure will likely be surprised to learn that as a lad he was a sickly, nearsighted asthmatic. Yet this privileged city kid, bully-prey, decided early on never to let his frailties govern his ambitions. Brown uses copious quotations to good measure as he flits through Roosevelts young life. (The quotes are unsourced, though a bibliography is appended, including Roosevelts autobiography.) Roosevelts words help impart the mans predilection for sternly poetic hyperbole: to get fit, he paddled in the hottest sun, over the roughest water, in the smallest boat. The artwork is what one expects from Brownvignettes of scratchy pen-work that capture humor and drama with equal easeand show Teddys progression from a wispy twig into a big stick. While this account may not possess the laser-beam focus of Browns recent compact histories Let It Begin Here and All Stations Distress (both 2008), it does have a more kid-friendly hook in the young man whose determination trumped his boyhood shortcomings. Grades 1-3. --Ian Chipman"Browns characteristically vigorous scrawls capture both the scrawny boy and the bulldog of a man, infusing his vignettes with a sizable helping of wit. All in all, this is a spot-on introductory book for lower grades."--Kirkus Reviews; Title: Teedie: The Story of Young Teddy Roosevelt | [
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25,004 | 2 | PreSchool-In this upbeat tale, Donny bids good-bye to his crib and moves into his new sleeping quarters. He familiarizes himself with his "big boy bed" by jumping on it, playing under it, and decorating it with his stuffed animals and blankie. Now he can get up whenever he wants to, and during the night, he tiptoes across the room to say good night to the current inhabitant of the crib, his new baby brother. Bunting's uncomplicated text hits the spot with its careful focus on ideas familiar to toddlers and its quiet, almost lyrical language. Done in cool shades of teal, lavender, and yellow, Smith's watercolor illustrations reflect the simplicity of the story. The open facial expressions and relaxed body language of the characters reinforce the book's positive tone. A worthwhile addition on a popular topic that will ring true with young listeners.Liza Graybill, Worcester Public Library, MACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreS. A little boy bids goodbye to his crib and steps across the room to his new bed, complete with "big boy sheets and a big boy quilt," not to mention a new book for reading in bed. After bedtime, he slides out of bed once to play and again to tiptoe across the room and whisper "Good night" to his baby brother, asleep in the crib. Written from the boy's point of view, the first-person text expresses childlike sentiments in simple language. The pleasant watercolor illustrations, bright in daylight and muted as night falls, complement the tone as well as the sense of the narrative. A very useful book for young children making the crib-to-bed transition. Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: My Big Boy Bed | [
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25,005 | 8 | That baked-goods scamp stars in another retelling, and although his creators (the little old man and woman), his taunting refrain ("Run, run, as fast as you can,/ You can't catch me,/ I'm the gingerbread man") and his fate (being gobbled by a clever fox) remain the same, Jones (What's the Time, Mr. Wolf?) adds two nifty twists. One is narrative: the Gingerbread Man's pursuers are characters from Mother Goose, including Little Boy Blue, the Grand Old Duke of York and Little Miss Muffet. The other is novelty: a die-cut window on each spread gives a hint about who the next person on the cookie's trail will be (thus, on a spread where the Gingerbread Man teases Humpty-Dumpty, an opening on the opposite page reveals a tiny figure in a haystack who turns out to be Little Boy Blue). Jones's whisper-thin, meticulous ink detailings and soft, translucent colors bring to mind vintage tinted engravings, but some readers may be frustrated by the surplus of minutiae and the drawings' apparent lack of focus. Unfortunately, Jones never really captures the Gingerbread Man's brassy flatness or his effervescent insolence. For a more successful effort, see James Aylesworth and Barbara McClintock's 1998 version. Ages 4-8.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.reschool-Grade 2--A fairly straightforward retelling of the familiar tale with minutely detailed and intriguing illustrations. In Jones's version, the gingerbread man encounters various nursery-rhyme characters: Humpty Dumpty, Little Boy Blue, the Grand Old Duke of York, etc. As in several of the artist's earlier books, the format includes die-cut holes in every other page through which readers can spy the next character, and, with a turn of the page, the one being left behind. The folktale plays out against lovely soft watercolor and pen-and-ink depictions of an idyllic English countryside, with hundreds of amusing details to pore over, and a fox that appears ever closer in several pictures. The insouciant gingerbread man skips through the pages with glee, until he meets his expected demise at the end. Following the story is a recipe for making one's own gingerbread man along with the admonition to "eat him before he runs away!" There are several very good versions of this tale in existence, including the traditional classic by Paul Galdone (The Gingerbread Boy [Clarion, 1979]) and the Jim Aylesworth/Barbara McClintock collaboration (Scholastic, 1998). However, this one is unique because of its format and intricate illustrations as well as its twist. Although the book will not lend itself for use in large storytimes, it promises to be great fun for one-on-one reading.Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LACopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Gingerbread Man | [
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25,006 | 13 | From the creator of The New Way Things Work, Castle, and Black and White, comes a poignant tale of a very curious friendship. Angelo is an old Italian craftsman who restores facades of Roman buildings. Sweeping away feathers and twigs left "by generations of thoughtless pigeons" one day, Angelo comes face to beak with his nemesis. This pigeon isn't looking so good, though, and in spite of himself, Angelo takes her home and brings her back to health, grumpily commenting, "Mamma mia! I restore walls, not pigeons." It's not long before this lonely old man grows attached to the bird, though, and makes a touching, lasting gesture to her in the final hours before his death.David Macaulay's unusual story is funny and touching, if jarring at times, as when the narrative makes inexplicable leaps with no transition. He uses his familiar illustrative style to greatest effect in depicting the clutter of Roman rooftops and close-ups of crumbling walls and sculpture's toes. Also lovely are the images of twigs and feathers that frame the book, scattered even across the dedication and copyright pages. (Ages 6 to 8) --Emilie CoulterDespite his "professional dislike" for birds, an elderly plasterer named Angelo reluctantly carries home an injured pigeon he comes across while restoring the exterior of a church. "I restore walls, not pigeons," he grumbles, but an unlikely friendship springs up between the two as he nurses Sylvia (his new pet) back to health. Later, she returns the favor when she sees that her benefactor moves a bit more slowly, she sticks around to "coo encouragement" as he presses on with his work, fanning him with her wings on hot days and entertaining him at lunchtime. Seasoned artist Macaulay (Building Big; Rome Antics) knows how to get the most humor out of his illustrations, both in the finer details (Angelo and Sylvia sporting matching red scarves in winter) and the broader strokes (as Angelo tells Sylvia of the church's restoration as his "crowning achievement," he imagines the building's faeade glimmering in glory, while she imagines pigeons perching on every available surface). He thus balances the melancholy elements of the tale with moments of lightness. Angelo's swan song to Sylvia is especially poignant. Macaulay's artwork conveys respect for Angelo's talent and commitment, and the artist wedges a good deal of architecture and sculpture into his watercolors. Though the setting goes unnamed, the rust-colored tile roofs, domed churches and other details make it clear that readers have been whisked to Italy. All ages.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Angelo | [
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25,007 | 2 | "Unfolds almost like a mystery novel . . . A book that will be welcomed by mystery fans and anyone who cares about animals." - ALA Booklist"A riveting and thorough account of dedicated people banding together with the help of science and the law to catch an elk poacher . . . . A real-life animal detective story." - KirkusThis book presents science as exciting, worthwhile work, and from many young readers will spark a 'Hey, I could do that!' reaction." - John Peters, The Five Owls"If all information books were structured as well as this one, students would read and read and read." - Children's LiteratureDonna M. Jackson is an award-winning author of manynonfiction books for young readers. Her work includes The Bone Detectives, The Name Game and, most recently, The Elephant Scientist --named a 2012 Robert F. Sibert Honor book, a 2012 Boston Globe-Horn Book Nonfiction Honor Book, andan NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade book.She lives and laughs with her husband, Charlie, and their family near the Colorado's Rocky Mountains.Wendy Shattil and Bob Rozinski live in Denver, Colorado, and have traveled the world photographing wildlife. Their photographs have appeared in National Geographic, Audubon, National Wildlife, Natural History, and Sierra Club calendars. Shattil was the first woman awarded the grand prize in the prestigious BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. She and Rozinski, well known for their team approach, have won many awards and have ten books to their credit.; Title: The Wildlife Detectives: How Forensic Scientists Fight Crimes Against Nature | [
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25,008 | 1 | Product Description A bright, science-minded boy goes to the beach equipped to collect and examine flotsam--anything floating that has been washed ashore. Bottles, lost toys, small objects of every description are among his usual finds. But there's no way he could have prepared for one particular discovery: a barnacle-encrusted underwater camera, with its own secrets to share . . . and to keep.In each of his amazing picture books, David Wiesner has revealed the magical possibilities of some ordinary thing or happening--a frog on a lily pad, a trip to the Empire State Building, a well-known nursery tale. This time, a day at the beach is the springboard into a wildly imaginative exploration of the mysteries of the deep, and of the qualities that enable us to witness these wonders and delight in them. Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 4A wave deposits an old-fashioned contraption at the feet of an inquisitive young beachcomber. Its a Melville underwater camera, and the excited boy quickly develops the film he finds inside. The photos are amazing: a windup fish, with intricate gears and screwed-on panels, appears in a school with its living counterparts; a fully inflated puffer, outfitted as a hot-air balloon, sails above the water; miniature green aliens kowtow to dour-faced sea horses; and more. The last print depicts a girl, holding a photo of a boy, and so on. As the images become smaller, the protagonist views them through his magnifying glass and then his microscope. The chain of children continues back through time, ending with a sepia image of a turn-of-the-20th-century boy waving from a beach. After photographing himself holding the print, the youngster tosses the camera back into the ocean, where it makes its way to its next recipient. This wordless books vivid watercolor paintings have a crisp realism that anchors the elements of fantasy. Shifting perspectives, from close-ups to landscape views, and a layout incorporating broad spreads and boxed sequences, add drama and motion to the storytelling and echo the photographic theme. Filled with inventive details and delightful twists, each snapshot is a tale waiting to be told. Pair this visual adventure with Wiesners other works, Chris Van Allsburgs titles, or Barbara Lehmans The Red Book (Houghton, 2004) for a mind-bending journey of imagination.Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Flotsam | [
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25,009 | 0 | Kindergarten-Grade 4Panda-monium reigns in this hilarious and pun-filled book of rhymes. Deftly animated with Munsinger's distinctive pictures of animals, all 25 poems introduce a familiar phrase and painlessly stretch the vocabulary. Words such as prodigious, estuary, and purloined are presented in context with descriptive pictures that make intuiting their meaning possible. Grown-ups might find some of the humor a bit cheesy, but it is hard not to laugh when geese attempt Shakespeare and put on a truly fowl play or a real cool feline experiences social cat-astrophe when his disco duds split at the seams. However, some of the references are beyond the experience of most children. For example, when Hope the hyena, a dancer, is too scary when performing as the Sugar Plum Fairy, she is switchedto Faust/And the regions infernal. Fortunately, the text and artwork allow youngsters to enjoy the verse without completely grasping the occasional adult-oriented details. Wise also incorporates some unusual creatures into his amusing menagerie, including Yuri the yak, Gertrude the agouti, a tapir, and terns. This book is a fantastic tool for sharing literature and language with a humorous and dramatic flare. It's sure to appeal to a wide audience.Piper L. Nyman, formerly at Fairfield Civic Center Library, CA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 2. Exuberant wordplay fuels this animal-themed collection of light verse (classified as fiction rather than poetry), in which seabirds demonstrate that "one good tern deserves another," a watermelon-loving dog is a "melon collie," and a skunk smelling of cologne discovers that "it pays to have good scents." Many of the 25 poems are built around an old saying, offering an amusing introduction to figures of speech, especially when an adult is nearby to explain unfamiliar phrases. Children may also need help with Wise's frequently sophisticated references (there's a "playboy" who is also a "bon vivant," and one punch line mentions Faust). A few selections give more substantive pause: at one point, the term lazy sinner is used more flippantly than will be comfortable to many readers. However, as in the author and illustrator's previous collaboration, Dinosaurs Forever (2000), Munsinger will keep kids riveted with her goofy, anthropomorphic illustrations, and the chanting rhythms and spot-on rhymes will perk up listeners even when the humor misses the bull's-eye. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Zany Zoo | [
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25,010 | 13 | J.R.R. Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892. After serving in the First World War, he embarked upon a distinguished career as a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University. He is the renowned creator of Middle-earth and author of the great modern classic, The Hobbit, the prelude to his epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings. Other works by J.R.R. Tolkien include The Silmarillion. J.R.R. Tolkien died in 1973 at the age of 81.; Title: The Fellowship of the Ring Photo Guide (The Lord of the Rings) | [
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25,011 | 7 | Based on the Russian folk figure Baba Yaga and Vasilissa, among others, The Dream Stealer by Gregory Maguire, originally published in 1983, tells of the Blood Prince, a murderous wolf bent on destroying the village of Miersk. Only Pasha and Lisette have the courage to fight him off and save their neighbors. Ages 8-12.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc."Maguire creates an entire village of crotchety, endearing characters in this highly original novel." THE HORN BOOK GUIDE, Pointer Review Horn Book Guide, Pointer; Title: The Dream Stealer | [
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25,012 | 17 | Grade 3-5Concise but thorough, this picture book discusses the evolution of a distinctive American music style through a chronicle of its biggest stars. After a lively introduction to the history of Country & Western music from its beginnings in 19th-century folk songs to the present, the author highlights 20th-century artists from the Grand Ole Opry, honky-tonks, western swing, and rock and roll. Each artist or group receives a full-page treatment opposite an illustration. The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Roy Acuff, Gene Autry, Ernest Tubb, and Bill Monroe are all featured for their performances or their introduction of unique sounds: guitar leads, hillbilly yodels, Hollywood films, electric guitar, and the string-band blues and gospel mix of the Kentucky Bluegrass sound. Bob Wills and his country swing music, Kitty Wells's empathy for women's issues, Hank Williams's pop chart hits, Patsy Cline's Nashville Sound with small orchestras and background singers, Buck Owens's Bakersfield Sound of rockin' Country & Western, the solo sounds of Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, and Johnny Cash all receive individual entries that define their talents, personal history, and professional accomplishments. Colorful, stylized, folk art of the performers and/or their instruments is included.Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 4-6. Similar in format and design to the George-Warren and Levine's Shake, Rattle & Roll: The Founders of Rock & Roll (2001), this picture book offers short biographies of seminal figures in country and western music history. A one-page introduction summarizes the roots, development, and influence of the music before celebrating its artists in a series of double-page spreads. A typical entry presents the life and career of a singer or instrumentalist on one page opposite a portrait of that artist showcased in an antique wooden frame. Levine's folk-art paintings, created with flat colors and occasional use of pattern, are quite distinctive; one memorable portrait shows Gene Autry grinning, face forward, while his horse, Champion, shown in profile with a toothy grin, eyes the viewer. The naive art suits the subject even better than it did in the earlier book. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Honky-Tonk Heroes and Hillbilly Angels: The Pioneers of Country and Western Music | [
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25,013 | 0 | From Antler to Zero (degrees, that is), the seasons of the Minnesota woods come to life in Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet Year by Betsy Bowen. When it was first published in 1991, PW praised the memorable, unusually fine woodcuts and lyrical text. (Aug.) Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet | [
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25,014 | 0 | Grade 5-8-Through the eyes of Haswell Colby Magruder, readers see and experience the horrors of the Civil War. Set in Shenandoah, VA, the story opens as the 13-year-old agrees to hide a wounded Confederate soldier. The Yankees' discovery of the young man on the Magruder farm and their subsequent retaliation starts a sequence of events that culminates with Haswell's escape with his seven-year-old sister, and his later solo journey in search of his older brother, who is fighting in the war. Although the main characters are from the South, Hahn succeeds in writing about the horrors of war without really taking sides. War is the villain here, and people from both sides are its victims. This is a wonderfully written story peopled by believable, three-dimensional characters who exhibit fear, courage, love, hate, compassion, prejudice, and understanding. The drama of the Civil War and the fine storytelling and characterization hook readers from the outset. As in Promises to the Dead (Clarion, 2000), Hahn deals here with the exercise of compassion in the face of danger. This selection is an excellent choice to add to other historical fiction on the Civil War such as Gary Paulsen's Soldier's Heart (Delacorte, 1998) and Ann Rinaldi's Amelia's War (Scholastic, 1999).Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 6-9. Like Hahn's Stepping on the Cracks (1991), this stirring novel tells a war story through the eyes of a young person. It's the end of the Civil War in Northern Virginia, and 13-year-old Haswell Magruder suddenly finds himself the head of his family. After Haswell hides a wounded Confederate soldier, the Yankees attack Haswell's mother and destroy the farm. The boy and his younger sister escape. Haswell leaves his sister with relatives in town and rides across the war-torn countryside in search of his wounded older brother. Hahn brings readers up close to the slaughter on both sides, presenting a picture of ordinary men who are not at all sure why they are fighting. It's odd that slavery is barely mentioned despite the huge cast. The action is fast and furious, and kids will be caught up in the story of soldiers and civilians and the horror of "simply following orders." Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Hear the Wind Blow: A Novel of the Civil War | [
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25,015 | 2 | Eve Bunting has writtenover two hundredbooks for children, including the Caldecott Medal-winning Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz, The Wall, Fly Away Home, and Train to Somewhere. She lives in Southern California.; Title: Cheyenne Again | [
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25,016 | 2 | Grade 5-9-Alia, a Trantian, wants to be a keenten, a warrior woman. As her 13th birthday approaches, she and her friend Kay hold pretend battles in hopes of impressing the adults who will choose new warriors. When the girls encounter two Beechian children, their savage enemies, and take them captive, Alia is certain that she and her friend will be praised for their bravery. Instead, the keentens are upset that they have taken it upon themselves to capture the enemy. As punishment, the girls must care for the prisoners. While tending to them, Alia begins to see them as people, and when they become ill, she quarrels with Kay over her decision to bring her healer cousin to their aid. Alia begins to question all she has believed in, including the honesty and integrity of their leader, the Divin Ospar. In addition, she discovers that she has an ancient and powerful gift. The rich characters, vivid descriptions, and suspenseful storytelling are well blended in this novel about war, enemies, and finding oneself. The unpredictable conclusion will give readers much to think about. The book is an excellent springboard for a timely discussion about war and the role leaders play in controlling conflict among nations and people.Linda L. Plevak, Saint Mary's Hall, San Antonio, TXCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 5-7. Twelve-year-old Alia yearns to become a "keenten," a warrior woman, but she has little time to take part in the mock skirmishes because she is stuck tending her baby sister and doing all the indoor chores at home. The possibility of war with the Beechians makes Alia even more eager to earn an invitation to enter the keenten sisterhood. Her fortunes take a different turn, however, after she and her best friend, Kay, who also aspires to become a keenten, capture two young Beechians who have been hiding in mysterious Raven Wood, the site of an ancient, largely forgotten, magic. Kay scorns the captives, but Alia befriends them, learning a shocking secret about the leaders of her village, which, in turn, leads her to her own true destiny. This is McCaffrey's first novel, and both its setting and characterization are convincing. The story is also a solid blend of heartwarming coming-of-age tale and compelling adventure. Sally EstesCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Alia Waking | [
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25,017 | 0 | As her brothers and sisters argue about where they want to move when they grow up, the narrator asks her siblings to think of all the things they'd miss. When her brothers retort, "Who'd miss sugaring?" Kinsey-Warnock (A Farm of Her Own) describes the steps involved in collecting the sap and making it into syrup while Azarian's (Snowflake Bentley) full-spread woodcut illustration shows the family in the sugarhouse, snacking on aunt Eunice's doughnuts as they wait for the sap to boil. Season by season, the author (who bases the volume on her own memories) recounts the activities they share-looking for newborn kittens in the haymow, rescuing neighbors' trucks during the "mud season"-each one conveying a sense of family and community togetherness. The brothers' quips keep the narrative from becoming sentimental ("Even you wouldn't miss picking stone," her brothers say, reminding her of their least favorite spring chore). The author and artist remain on this side of nostalgia by grounding the story in a great deal of specific details about farming and the rhythms of nature. Concluding photos underscore the story's authenticity. Most readers will be not at all surprised to learn, at story's end, that the author and all of her siblings have remained in Vermont to carry on their family traditions. Ages 5-9.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 1-3-"My brothers and sister and I grew up on a farm of steep, wooded hills and fields with rocks as big as your head." During the long Vermont winter, the young narrator and her brothers argue about moving away when they grow up. The discussion begins during a gathering around the wood stove and ranges over days and nights and through the seasons as the girl recounts things they all do during the year, some that they might miss, and some that they'd be glad to leave behind. Maple sugaring numbs the hands and feet with bone-chilling cold, but they all love the taste of the maple candy and their aunt's doughnuts. The muddy spring followed by fence building and clearing stones from the field, hot days of haying and evenings of fishing for supper, the planting of vegetables and the harvest, and skiing right off the barn roof all unfold in the spare narrative and hand-tinted woodcuts. Azarian uses both facing scenes and full-spread views to create a fine sense of people and place. The cheerful view of family and farm comes round to the Christmas pageant at church, and a final page reveals where the siblings and cousins live as adults. It's all a bit nostalgic but the story will surely strike a familiar chord in many families, and it should be eye-opening to readers for whom life on a farm is quite different from their own experiences.Margaret Bush, Simmons College, BostonCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: From Dawn till Dusk | [
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25,018 | 2 | *Starred Review* Reviewed with Jerry Spinelli's Milkweed.Holocaust survivor stories for teens run the risk of being either too brutal or too sentimental. These two novels avoid sensationalizing the violence because, in each case, the protagonist is a child too young to understand what's going on, which distances the horror. In both books the child is saved, but there's no radiant uplift about rescuers. Yes, some heroes do hide the children and help them, but as John Auerbach shows in his adult autobiographical story collection, The Owl and Other Stories [BKL S 15 03], which centers on escaping the Warsaw ghetto, luck and wild coincidence were a large part of what enabled a few to live.Part survival adventure, part Holocaust history, these novels tell their story through the eyes of a Polish orphan on the run from the Nazis. Orlev is a Holocaust survivor, and his award-winning novels about being a child in the Warsaw ghetto, including The Man from the Other Side (1991), are widely read. This new story is not based on his own experience, but it does come from real life--the experience of an illiterate ghetto survivor who escaped into the Polish countryside, stealing, foraging, begging, working. The boy is nurtured by some and hated by many. He hides his circumcision and invents a Catholic identity; he forgets his real name, his family, and the street where he lived. In one unforgettable incident, he loses his right arm because a Polish doctor refuses to operate on a Jew. He survives, immigrating to Israel, where Orlev hears him tell his story. The narrative is simple and spare, factual about everything from hunting with a slingshot to making a fire with a piece of glass, and it's always true to the viewpoint of a boy who thinks he is "about nine."In contrast, Spinelli's narrative is manic, fast, and scattered, authentically capturing the perspective of a young child who doesn't know if he's a Jew or a Gypsy; he has never known family or community. He lives by stealing; his name may be Stopthief. Unlike Orlev's protagonist, this boy lives in the ghetto, where the daily atrocities he witnesses-- hanging bodies, massacres, shootings, roundups, transports--are the only reality he knows. His matter-of-fact account distances the brutality without sensationalizing or lessening the truth. He first finds shelter with a gang of street kids, where one fierce older boy protects him, invents an identity for him, and teaches him survival skills. Later he lives with a Jewish family. The history is true, so although Spinelli's narrator is young, the brutal realism in the story makes this a book for older children. Both novels end with what seems to be a contrived escape, though in Orlev's story, the ending is true. Add these stirring titles to the Holocaust curriculum; the youth of the protagonists allows them to ask questions and get answers that will help readers learn the history. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Run, Boy, Run (Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book (Awards)) | [
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25,019 | 2 | Grade 3-5Patent introduces readers to the area of British Columbia's coastal rainforest that is home to Kermode bears (sometimes called spirit bears), a rare type of black bear that is sometimes born with a white coat. The author provides basic information about the structure of old-growth forests and the flora and fauna found in different layers from canopy to forest floor. By concentrating on the bears' interactions with various plants and animals, she helps readers see the interrelationships that form a delicate balance for all of the inhabitants. Also described are threats posed by logging and the attempts of the Valhalla Wilderness Society to establish the Spirit Bear Conservancy. Milton's watercolor illustrations depict vast, unspoiled landscapes and show the animals at home in the forest. Rebecca Johnson's A Walk in the Boreal Forest (Carolrhoda, 2001) offers a general introduction to temperate rainforests. Patent's work highlights the threat to one irreplaceable stretch of wilderness and the creatures that live there.Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Garden of the Spirit Bear: Life in the Great Northern Rainforest (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12) | [
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25,020 | 11 | Gr. 4-6. The natural history diarist who earned a Sibert Honor for My Season with Penguins: An Antarctic Journal (2000) now invites readers to join her aboard the Alpha Helix, a research vessel, on a month-long expedition to the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. She is there to count seabirds, whose population density can help researchers gauge the ocean's health. The birds involved here probably won't garner the same instant enthusiasm among young children as waddling, tuxedoed penguins, and Webb's shipboard vantage point precludes the hands-on interactions that enlivened her first book. However, the text and accompanying watercolors are just as brimming with gritty details (it's wise not to serve spherical foods on a boat, because they roll off the plate), and children will feel Webb's delight in the moments that make the rigors of field research worth it: a glimpse of Crested Auklets "like something out of Dr. Seuss' imagination" or an albatross that commutes from Hawaii to Alaska to collect food, then backtracks 5,600 miles to nourish its waiting chicks. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Looking for Seabirds: Journal from an Alaskan Voyage (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12) | [
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25,021 | 0 | Introduces student to laws, government and it functions; Title: Civics in America | [
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25,022 | 0 | Lets Be Friends: Anthology Level 1.2 (Houghton Mifflin Reading); Title: Houghton Mifflin Reading: Student Anthology, Grade 1.2 - Let's Be Friends | [
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25,023 | 12 | A research-based program that delivers proven results and instills a lifelong love of reading in every student with high quality instructional and practice materials. Comprehensive instructional and planning tools provide lesson objectives and teaching language that focuses on instruction, practice, and application. Promotes reading skills in below level, on level, above level and for English language learners and provides a strong foundational literacy base at every level.; Title: Traditions: Level 4, California Edition (Houghton Mifflin Reading Nations Choice) | [
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25,024 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 3-Similar in mood and style to Rumford's Traveling Man (Houghton, 2001), this creative offering is geared to a younger audience. Calabash Cat sets out to discover where the world ends. Each time he thinks that he has found his destination, another animal happens along and takes him farther. Riding a camel, a horse, a tiger, and then a whale, he passes through a desert, grasslands, a jungle, and an ocean. Finally, while perched on an eagle's back, he discovers a world without end. Filled with repetition, the enchanting narrative reads like a folktale. The engaging illustrations are deceptively simple. The animals, drawn with heavy black lines and intricate geometric shapes, are made to look like designs burned into a calabash, an art form that is practiced in Chad. A thick line runs through the spreads like a path, changing color with each of the habitats, and all of the hues are brought together at the end to make a rainbow, a striking effect. Even the type setting helps tell the story. Whenever the cat thinks his journey is over, the text is right justified, making a visual stop, and when he continues on, it is centered. A translation in Arabic script appears with each illustration, and an author's note explains the inspiration for this tale. A wonderful choice for reading aloud, offering much fodder for thought and discussion.Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UTCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.K-Gr. 3. In the center of Africa, a cat contemplates the world, wondering where it ends. To find out, he sets off on a journey, encountering various other animals--a camel, a horse, a tiger, and a whale--along the way. Each one gives the cat a ride to the end of the world it knows. Finally, an eagle carries the cat into the sky to show it what none of the others could: a world without end. A final double-page spread shows the cat and the eagle soaring across the sun above a rainbow-bordered earth populated with peacefully coexisting beasts. The heavily stylized illustrations, executed in ink, with darkly outlined shapes filled in with geometric patterns, evoke the gourd art of the Kotoko people of Chad. The text is presented in both English and Chadian Arabic calligraphy, which becomes part of the overall design. A lovely, though message-laden, book, with multigenerational appeal. Michael CartCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Calabash Cat | [
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25,025 | 11 | Grade 3-7-From the familiar "Cinderella" variant presented in "The Two Marias" to the Chelm-like stupidity of the "The Mule Drivers Who Lost Their Feet," this richly varied collection presents the unique blend of folkloric elements and Catholicism that defines Mexican folklore. In an informative introduction, Philip delineates the distinctive flavor of Mexican tales, their blend of religion and humor, and the particular pointed bite of many of the stories. The sparkle he discerns in the body of work comes through clearly in his stylish and humorous retellings. Mair's primitive acrylic illustrations, based on Mexican folk art, are alive with bright color and a kinetic sensibility. They both complement and extend the spicy stories, making this a well-put-together package. Clearly superior to the Little Book of Latin American Folktales (Groundwood, 2003), this title is narrower in scope, but the excellence of the text more than compensates for it. The book concludes with detailed notes on each of the stories and an extensive bibliography. All of the stories tell aloud well, which may be the way to introduce this sound and enjoyable volume to youngsters.Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 4-8. Philip brings together a useful and attractively presented selection of 14 folktales from Mexico and people of Mexican decent from the American Southwest. The stories are simply yet effectively retold, usually in five or six pages, with many reflecting the strong influence of the Catholic Church on Mexican culture. Adding considerably to the overall appeal of the book are Mair's exuberant illustrations, accomplished in the style of Mexican folk art. Usually, one illustration comprising several images accompanies each story, each image mirroring some action, often in a way that is original and unexpected. Philip's illuminating introduction explains the origins of the tales, with appended notes providing even more background. An extensive bibliography of titles of Mexican folktale collections is appended. A solid collection that may also find an audience among readers who are older than the target audience. Todd MorningCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet: Mexican Folktales (Aesop Prize (Awards)) | [
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25,026 | 2 | "There is more here than just a hilarious plot-very real characters, a plug for reading, a warning about strangers and above all, animated, breezy art full of detail, expression, and humor. Marshall is in top form here." (Publishers Weekly)"Satisfying suspense." (Kirkus Reviews); Title: Wings: A Tale of Two Chickens | [
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25,027 | 11 | Grade 1-3-This picture book about a family living on an island in Lake Superior is so finely honed and concisely written that it reads like poetry. Carl wants a boat of his own. With hard work and lots of help from his neighbors, he manages to craft a small vessel. Each spread features a large illustration that emanates mist, light, fog, and even sand and sawdust, and always a sense of water and humidity. The watercolors are subdued, almost pointillist washes with stylized fine ink outlines framing fish, figures, the boat, and trees. There is pleasure, a sense of wonder, and appreciation for small details in nature and community in this celebration of a boy's first success. The writing has the smooth, easy rhythm and flow of oars dipping and lifting through the water, and with each immersion a fine thought surfaces. The book's lyrical quality has the feel of such classics as G. Macdonald's The Little Island (Dell, 1993) and Robert McCloskey's One Morning in Maine (Viking, 1952).Susannah Price, Boise Public Library, IDCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.*Starred Review* PreS-Gr. 2. In this picture book by the author of Snowflake Bentley (1998), thoughtful blank verse and evocative illustrations tell about a boy who builds his own boat and realizes a dream. After the death of his mother, young Carl lives with his sister and fisherman father in a close, Scandinavian American community on Lake Superior's Sand Island. He longs to push off in his own boat to a place where the quiet is "filled with water and sky," and with the help of his neighbors, he builds a rowboat, enjoys a blissful day on the lake, and returns to a "newest boat" celebration. Martin's simple, poetic text deftly balances small, revealing details about the island's characters and Carl's life with the particulars of boat building. Some children may find the story too quiet, but they'll be drawn in by the illustrations, which capture the lake's translucent light and the story's nostalgic mood in expert, geometric line drawings washed with watery blue-green and sunset-orange colors. A subtle, beautifully crafted story about hard work, simple joys, and the small, warm communities of the historic upper-Midwest. Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: On Sand Island (Golden Kite Honors) | [
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25,028 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 3-There's nothing funny about life on Farmer Fred's farm until Edna, the cow, decides that it's time for a change and convinces the other animals to try to get the man to lighten up. Edna climbs onto the fence and crows like a rooster, but Farmer Fred fails to see the humor. When the pigs bark like dogs, he finds it "more weird than funny." The animals dress up in his clothes and dance, but he doesn't even crack a smile. Discouraged, the creatures pack up one night and leave home. After searching high and low, the farmer finds them in the woods and has a serious chat with them about how friends and family solve problems and take care of one another. However, after giving the animals a talking to, he chortles under his breath at the notion of "Cows and chickens runnin' wild in the woods." The understated tone of the text is supported perfectly by the humorous ink-and-watercolor illustrations, from the serious countenance of Farmer Fred, mirrored in the animals' faces to their antics to his ever-so-slight smile. The author/illustrator dares his audience not to smile, but he can't be taken too seriously.-Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OHCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Serious Farm | [
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25,029 | 2 | Youngest fans of H.A. Rey's mischievous monkey will want Curious George's Box of Books, with four titles based on picture books illustrated by H.A. Rey. The resealable sturdy cardboard case comes with a handle, so toddlers can cart around Curious George's ABCs; Curious George's Are You Curious?; Curious George's Opposites; and Curious George's 1 to 10 and Back Again. Ages 1-4.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.Hans and Margret Rey created many books during their lives together, includingCurious George, one of the most treasured classics of all time, as well as other favorites likeSpottyandPretzel.But it was their rambunctious little monkey who became an instantly recognizable icon. After the Reys escaped Paris by bicycle in 1940 carrying the manuscript for the originalCurious George, the book was published in America in 1941. More than 200 Curious George titles followed, with 75 million books soldworldwide. Curious George has been successfully adapted into a major motion picture and an Emmy-winning television show onPBS.; Title: Curious George's Box of Books | [
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25,030 | 16 | PreSchool-KBunny hops through a garden and is introduced to different colors and flowers along the way. The rhymed text, stilted at times, gives readers clues as to the hue that will appear on the next page. For instance, "In a cottage garden/ears and whiskers clean/Bunny finds a patch of lawn/what she sees isgreen!" After she is done exploring, she curls up in her nest where she "dreams a rainbow dream/colors blossom-bright." The watercolor-and-pencil illustrations do a good job of bringing the blossoms to life: orange tiger lilies, yellow primroses, and green clover and grass are easily identifiable and gracefully drawn. Bunny has expressive features and fuzzy gray fur. This is an attractive and effective concept book and may, as such, be a useful purchase. Yet it is doubtful that the character or the presentation itself will ever gain "read it again" status. Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS. Lots of books teach children to recognize colors, but this one also provides a lesson in flower identification. A bunny hops through a cottage garden, passing flowers in their beds: "Bunny hopping down the path. / What she sees is . . . " When children turn the page, they'll see the word red. The profusion of flowers is also identified: "Blushing scarlet poppies bloom / just above her head." Not all the colors are so easy to rhyme. Yellow is rhymed with willow and pillow, and because no word rhymes with orange, "o" has to suffice. These are small points, however, when factored into the book's appeal. The funny little bunny makes an amusing counterpoint to the lush flowers--violets, primroses, morning glories, lilies--that crowd the pages of this compact book. Children will learn the names of the blossoms as they enjoy recognizing and naming the colors. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: What Does Bunny See?: A Book of Colors and Flowers | [
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25,031 | 18 | Grade 5-8-Quotations from the journals and other writings of young pioneers enliven this account of families who set out on overland journeys along the Oregon, Santa Fe, and other trails. Most portray a journey filled with hardships and danger, but many of these firsthand accounts bring out another aspect of the experience. For young people, the trip was often filled with fun and excitement-no school other than casual private study and reading, beautiful scenery, and nightly gatherings around campfires to play guitars and fiddles, sing, and dance. Unfortunately, the text is at times repetitious and some statements are generalized or oversimplified. For example, the author states that traveling on Sunday was a moral problem for many women and children but does not mention how men may have felt about the same issue. There is one chapter on Native Americans, but no mention of other inhabitants (e.g., Mexicans in California) displaced by the influx of white emigrants. The illustrations include numerous archival photographs and reproductions of engravings and posters and maps; many may be familiar to readers of Russell Freedman's Children of the Wild West (Clarion, 1983) and other titles. Despite flaws, this book will be a valuable addition to large collections of Western history because of its unique primary-source material.Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."exemplary...clear prose and...passion for her subject are evident throughout ...superb...fascinating reading...A model of fine history writing." KIRKUS REVIEWS, STARRED REVIEW Kirkus Reviews, Starred"A uniquely youthful perspective on this period of American history" THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"Here's a terrific account of the opening of the American West" NY TIMES BOOK REVIEW The New York Times Book Review"Clear and concise...new perspective...It is the youthful point of view that makes this book unique and enjoyable." VOYA VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates); Title: Words West: Voices of Young Pioneers | [
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25,032 | 0 | HOUGHTON MIFFLIN Grade Level: 1 and up Series Reading; Title: Houghton Mifflin Reading: Student Edition Grade 1.3 Surprises 2005 | [
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25,033 | 2 | In this poignant yet entertaining volume, versatile author and artist Waber (The Mouse That Snored) takes a look at the various ways in which kids, the occasional grown-up and one endearing canine display bravery. "There are many kinds of courage," the narrative begins. "Awesome kinds" appears on a spread of trapeze artists; "everyday kinds" depicts a boy who summons the confidence to jump off a high dive. Minimal yet artfully crafted text and sprightly art reveal some gutsy acts that all youngsters will identify with: taking that first bike ride without training wheels, explaining the rip in a brand-new pair of pants. The author's observations range from lighthearted ("Courage is deliberately stepping on sidewalk cracks") to those worthy of reflection ("Courage is being the first to make up after an argument"). Waber's wit infuses many of the pages, including one from a dog's viewpoint: a "Beware of Dog" sign adorns the front lawn of a house while, inside, a pooch quakes listening to eerie sounds "Courage is it's your job to check out the night noises in the house." On the affecting, timely penultimate spread, scenes of firefighters and a police officer on the job ("Courage is being a firefighter, or a police officer") appear opposite the image of a mother and two children watching a plane take off ("Courage is sometimes having to say goodbye"). Uncovering an array of triumphs and fears, this is a natural read-aloud likely to spark valuable adult-child dialogue and to help youngsters conquer their own fears. Ages 4-8. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-Grade 3-Focusing on a variety of scenarios, from the serious ("Courage is being the first to make up after an argument") to the more lighthearted ("Courage is tasting the vegetable before making a face"), Waber introduces children to the many ways to define this character trait. One or two statements appear on each page, accompanied by a whimsical pen-and-ink and watercolor illustration that offers an amusing interpretation of the captionlike text. Some examples seem to fit attributes other than courage more precisely ("Courage is two candy bars and saving one for tomorrow"), but children will certainly relate to most of them. A good read-aloud to spark conversation about what courage is and isn't, and the many forms it takes.Jessica Snow, Boston Public LibraryCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Courage | [
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25,034 | 11 | Kindergarten-Grade 4The author tells contemporary children what Christmas would have been like for her grandmother, living on a farm in Vermont before there were cars, electricity, or telephones. The engaging narrative and Azarian's fine, hand-colored woodcuts combine to raise the story above many similar nostalgic accounts of holidays past. Best suited for reading aloud, this gorgeous book might inspire grown-ups to share their own family stories with the children in their care.V. W. Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* K-Gr. 2. Kinsey-Warnock and Caldecott Medal-winner Azarian return to the Vermont landscape they mined in From Dawn Till Dusk (2002) to once again chronicle life on a farm. Here, though, they recall a particular woman, the author's grandmother, and focus on a special time of year. Speaking in second person, the unseen narrator notes all the things one would have to do to celebrate Christmas like young Helen did: "You'll need to be born on a Vermont hill farm before cars, or telephones or electricity." Uncles, aunts, and dozens of cousins must visit. There's even one Christmas that everyone thinks will be your last because you have scarlet fever. Evocative, yes. But this also gives a sense of how grinding life in the nineteenth century could be, even as it was tempered by familial closeness, simple games, animals, and maple syrup. The language is lovely ("the cold stars will be thick enough to scoop up with a spoon"), and Azarian's trademark woodcuts, hand-tinted with color, are as endearing as ever. Warm and welcoming. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: A Christmas Like Helen's | [
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25,035 | 0 | Book by HOUGHTON MIFFLIN; Title: Houghton Mifflin Reading: Student Edition Grade 1.4 Treasures 2005 | [
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25,036 | 0 | Great book to help with reading.; Title: Reading. Level 3.2 (Houghton Mifflin. Horizons) | [
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25,037 | 0 | Grade 5-8-Rob Brackett, 13, is a softhearted orphan who lives on the streets of London in 1627. He cares for a younger orphan, Nell, whose navet causes both children to be kidnapped and sent to Virginia. Rob is a skilled carpenter, but he is indentured to a cruel tobacco farmer, Captain Holt, and separated from Nell. When he arrives at Holt's farm, he meets another servant, Mattoume, a 12-year-old Pamunkey girl. At first, she does not speak, but when they are alone in the field, she saves Rob from a snake and begins to speak to him in English, and they devise a plan to run away to Mattoume's family. When a kind carpenter wants to buy Rob's services and take him away from Holt's farm, the boy feels guilty about leaving Mattoume alone but then assists her in a successful escape. He finds Nell living near his new home, and the villain, mauled by a bear during Mattoume's escape, moves back to England. Butler authentically presents the white settlers' racism toward the Native Americans and Rob's eventual understanding and respect for his new native friend, but it is unfortunate that Mattoume speaks in a type of broken English reminiscent of 1950s Hollywood Westerns. There's a mix of good and evil characters, but not all are well developed; Rob is presented with the most definition and depth.Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WICopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 4-7. Living by his wits in London in 1627, 13-year-old Rob tells himself, "Look out for yourself . . . And don't trust no one." Against his better judgment, Rob takes nine-year-old Nell under his protection. Her trusting nature leads to their being captured, shipped off to Virginia, and sold as indentured servants in Jamestown. Rob labors hard and long on his cruel master's tobacco farm, where the unexpected friendship of a captive Indian girl challenges Rob's percepts and tests his courage and his honor. Brought to life through vivid details, the well-realized seventeenth-century setting becomes an integral part of the novel, rather than a mere backdrop. Readers caught up in Rob's adventures will not only empathize with his misfortunes and dilemmas but they will also come away with a better understanding of the early colonial period in Virginia. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Virginia Bound | [
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25,038 | 15 | In this comprehensive and entertaining resource, David Macaulay reveals the inner workings of the human body as only he could. In order to present this complicated subject in an accurate and entertaining way, he put in years of research. He sat in on anatomy classes, dissections, and even reached inside the rib cages of two cadavers to compare their spleen sizes. He observed numerous surgeries, including a ten-hour procedure where a diseased pancreas was removed, as well as one where a worn-out old knee was replaced by a brand new one. This hands-on investigation gives Macaulay a unique perspective to lead his readers on a visual journey through the workings of the human body. The seven sections within the book take us from the cells that form our foundation to the individual systems they build. Each beautifully illustrated spread details different aspects of our complex structure, explaining the function of each and offering up-close glimpses, unique cross-sections and perspectives, and even a little humor along the way. This one-of-a-kind book can serve as a reference for children, families, teachers, and anyone who has questions about how his or her body works. When readers see how David Macaulay builds a body and explains the way it works, they will come away with a new appreciation of the amazing world inside them. Starred Review. Grade 6 UpAn ambitious undertaking even for Macaulay, this volume tackles the human body in the author's usual style. Divided into seven sections that connect related systems, the book covers cellular structure at the atomic scale, DNA, and metabolism; respiration and circulation; digestion and elimination; the nervous and endocrine systems; the immune system and fighting infections; the skeleton, musculature, and movement; and reproduction. Macaulay combines a detailed description with frequently whimsical, yet very informative, color diagrams to illustrate the body's functions. At times challenging due to the nature of the topic (e.g., cellular chemistry, nerve impulses), the text incorporates the same subtle humor found in the artwork to enhance the book's appeal without sacrificing its utility. As Macaulay shies away from no topic in his frank, scientific discussions, the result is a very complete description of the "mechanical" aspect of human anatomy that is at once enlightening, entertaining, and a visual delight.Jeffrey A. French, formerly at Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, Willowick, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body | [
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25,039 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 3-After burning the Thanksgiving dinner, an elderly couple goes down the street to a restaurant. They wander in through the open door of the New World Caf, but the proprietor's family thinks that having customers will ruin their private party. Grandmother chastises them and so the "guests" are given the seats of honor. Soon, Ed and Ann join Papa, Grandmother, and the others in sharing their songs, dancing, and holiday warmth. As the family bids their new friends good evening, Papa wonders at the raw potato jammed under the door. Grandmother says, "In old country Thanksgiving door is like happy heart, opened up big and wide. Potato good for that." Atwell's luminous folk-art illustrations expand the story through details such as Russian onion domes in a picture on the wall, fur hats on the men, scarves on the women, and the cover illustration of Grandmother jamming that potato under the door. A particularly nice feature of this story is its focus on the elderly couple. A fine addition to holiday collections and for those looking for immigrant stories.Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library, CTCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 1-3. An elderly couple, Ann and Ed, go to the New World Cafe on Thanksgiving Day because Ann has burned dinner. The door is open, and the tables are decorated--not only with Pilgrims and Indians but also with tiny, bearded, probably Russian dancing figurines. The cafe owners, apparently immigrants, wonder why their door was open and who has crashed their party, but Grandmother is welcoming, and dinner is fun for all. After Ann and Ed leave, Papa tries to close the door, but finds a potato propping it open: "In old country," Grandmother reminds him, "Thanksgiving door is like happy heart, opened up big and wide. Potato good for that." With adults as main characters, the audience for this may be hard to find, and as Thanksgiving is an American celebration, it's not clear what Grandmother means when she talks of "the old country" holiday. The pictures, however--bright, cheerful, and brimming with folk-art patterns--will help draw attention to a story that does reflect a message of the holiday. GraceAnne DeCandidoCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Thanksgiving Door | [
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25,040 | 12 | Normal cover wear, names written behind front cover, a few pages with markings -Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping!; Title: McDougal Littell Middle School Math, Course 2 | [
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25,041 | 7 | Twenty years after Jumanji (1981), Van Allsburg picks up where he left off, with Danny and Walter Budwing discovering an oblong box in the park. Walter dismisses the box as "just some dumb old game," but his curious younger brother takes it home anyway. While Walter watches TV, Danny glances at the game's "jungle adventure" board, then turns his attention to a second board with an outer-space theme and "a path of colored squares leading... to a purple planet called Zathura." Just then, "with a click, a small green card popped out of the edge.... He picked it up and read, `Meteor showers, take evasive action.' " The boys don't act too surprised when a giant meteor falls into their tastefully appointed living room, but they do get excited when they see only stars and dark sky outside their windows. Several dice-rolls later, they're scrambling to evade a homicidal robot and a scaly "Zyborg pirate" climbing backward through the meteor-hole in the ceiling (its face goes unseen). As the boys play, their sibling rivalry gives way to cooperation, and grouchy Walter comes to appreciate his little brother. Van Allsburg illustrates the surreal events in a grainy charcoal-black that seems to shimmer on a rough, cream-colored ground. His deathly quiet images double spreads this time have a frozen stillness that leaves all color and activity to the imagination; with each new threat, the book seems to hold its breath. Van Allsburg reuses some devices, and Zathura, like Jumanji, is a satisfying enigma. The puzzling conclusion, involving a black hole and time travel to an earlier illustration, will have devotees scouring the first book and its sequel for clues. All ages. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Kindergarten-Grade 5-For more than 20 years, readers of Jumanji (Houghton, 1981) have had to wonder what happened when the Budwing brothers opened the box that Peter and Judy had frantically discarded in the park. The wait is over, but the wonder continues in this masterfully executed sequel. Walter's physical torture of his younger brother and Danny's annoying behaviors are classic sibling stuff, but savvy readers will recognize that this lack of camaraderie does not bode well here. The simple jungle board does not appeal to Walter, however, so it is not until another game board is uncovered at the bottom of the box that the action begins. This time, the children face the challenges of space, time, and dimension as they read the game cards: "The polarity on your gravity belt is reversed" and "Your gyroscope is malfunctioning." Their journey to the planet Zathura allows Van Allsburg to depict Walter plastered against the living-room ceiling or being swallowed by a black hole. As ringed planets and spaceships swirl past the windows, the boys find their way to teamwork and even affection. Van Allsburg's choice of highly textured paper adds interest and character; the patterned wallpapers are especially effective as homey counterpoints to the surreal story. The creamy background provides warmth and contrast to the black-and-gray sketches, so convincing in conveying depth of field. One can't help but anticipate the encore.Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public LibraryCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Zathura | [
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25,042 | 0 | Breaking from such previous works as Tea with Milk and Grandfather's Journey, which featured a realistic sequence of events, Caldecott Medalist Say here enters the realm of dream or rather, nightmare. The opening image shows a man dwarfed by an ominous, craggy stone edifice at the edge of a shore, as he prepares to step into his kayak. In the next spread, the man, wearing a red helmet and vest that match his vessel, hurls over a waterfall; the sky resembles billowing black smoke that blends with the rocky cliffs ("The man closed his eyes and held his breath"). Say's use of light and dark has a haunting effect, as the man first surfaces in an underground tunnel with a faint glimmer of sunlight; the light then shifts from horizontal to vertical as it illuminates a ladder. Barren land awaits above, with a single structure: "Must be an Indian reservation, he thought." Two children sit against an adobe ruin with nametags around their necks, explaining they are "from the camp." Details in the meticulously rendered watercolors reveal that the children are referring to an internment camp: a row of abandoned identical wooden houses sit on the desert floor of a valley (and hark back to the deserted Indian reservation); thousands of children with identical tags chant "Take us home!"; searchlights from high watchtowers follow them as they flee. Other details link the hero's fate with theirs, but the final image is uplifting. Much remains enigmatic: most children will require the aid of an older reader to make sense of the historical context, and may be put off by the dark and lonely vistas. However, the images create an internal logic of their own, as emotionally convincing as any waking experience. All ages.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Gr 4 Up-While Say strives to call attention to the plight of Japanese-Americans unjustly interred in camps during World War II, this enigmatic picture book may serve only to confuse. A man embarks on a kayak trip, loses his boat and gear in churning rapids, and ends up in a cave. He emerges in a desert where he encounters two girls wearing name tags who are "Waiting to go home." The three struggle through the wind-swept desert to what they believe is a town, but in reality is a row of wooden, tar-papered buildings. There the horrified man stares through a window to find nothing but a tag with his name on it, while outside a large group of children chant, "Take us home!" Bellowing loudspeakers send the children scampering away, leaving behind a tag bearing the name of the man's mother. The weary traveler climbs back down into the cave and falls asleep. When he awakens, he and a different group of children watch as the wind sends name tags lying on the ground flying into the air. The man releases the two tags he has found as well. Say's large, realistic watercolors bordered in white appear to the right of each page of text. The desert scenes are rendered in gray and sepia tones and aptly convey the starkness of the surroundings. The cover picture in which the man and girls appear as tiny figures before an endless row of barracks and immense mountains emphasizes their powerlessness. Pictures of the empty buildings and the children, their mouths rounded in pleas for "home," are particularly chilling. The released tags at the end offer some hopeful light, but readers will need help finding their way through this dark, puzzling journey.Marianne Saccardi, Norwalk Community College, CTCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Home of the Brave | [
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25,043 | 1 | Grade 2-4This readable account focuses on a short period in the famous naturalist's youth. Audubon, who was born and raised in France, was sent to America at age 18 to avoid service in Napoleon's army. Living in his father's farmhouse in Pennsylvania, he roamed the countryside and observed nature. His interest in birds and their migration habits led him to watch a family of pewee flycatchers (Eastern Phoebes) that nested in a limestone cave nearby. In order to determine whether the same creatures returned each year, he banded the young birds with silver thread before they flew south in autumn, providing a means of identification when they returned in spring. Davies relates how the self-taught painter and ornithologist combined his artistic talent and keen skills of observation to produce detailed, life-sized portraits of birds "alive and moving." Sweet's extensive research is evident in her carefully crafted, mixed-media artwork, which includes photos of found objects, re-created pages from a nature sketchbook, maps, and watercolor paintings of young Audubon in the rolling Pennsylvania countryside. Students writing reports can find further information in Peter Anderson's John James Audubon: Wildlife Artist (Sagebrush, 1996). The Boy Who Drew Birds is a wonderful and accessible introduction to a man who made a great impact on the science of ornithology.Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 2-4. The story opens with 18-year-old French naturalist John James Audubon roaming Pennsylvania countryside in search of birds. In an effort to determine whether individual birds return to the same nests in the spring, he uses silver thread to band some fledgling peewee flycatchers. He observes them as they grow through the summer, leave for the winter, and return the following year. An appended historical note explains that Audubon was the first person in North America to band a bird and that Audubon became "the greatest painter of birds of all time," while a source note details which parts of the story are based on speculation, and an illustrator's note comments on research, inspiration, and technique. Sweet's mixed-media collage artwork includes sensitive pencil sketches and ink drawings washed with watercolors and gouache, as well as elements such as photos of bird nests and bones. A good companion to Jennifer Armstrong's picture-book biography Audubon (2003), which relates several incidents in the painter's later life, this handsome book makes a beguiling introduction to the painter. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12) | [
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25,044 | 12 | Excellent practice Workbook ! easy to read !; Title: Middle School Math, Course 1: Practice Workbook | [
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25,045 | 2 | PreS. Little lemur Twitchly Fidget is afraid of everything. He refuses to wash his fur because the shampoo bubbles might not rinse out. He's afraid to put on his sneakers because he might put them on the wrong feet. Worst of all, he's afraid to leave his house to join his friends. Then bossy Aunt Bridget arrives, and when she scrubs Twitchly's fur and puts his sneakers on his feet, Twitchly can't believe that nothing bad happens. Emboldened, he strides out to try all the things that he used to dread. Lester and Munsinger combine talents once again in a winning story that perfectly captures a preschooler's fears of independence. Lester elevates the story's simple message with upbeat words and appealing rhythms, while Munsinger's ink-and-watercolor pictures create an irresistible character in fretful Twitchly, saucer-eyed with fear at first, then beaming with pride by the story's end. Pair this with Kevin Henkes' Wemberly Worried (2000) and give to anxious children who think their sippy cup is always half empty. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Something Might Happen | [
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25,046 | 12 | Rare book; Title: En Espanol! Level 1a (Spanish Edition) | [
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25,047 | 12 | Book by Ron Larson; Title: McDougal Littell Pre-Algebra: Notetaking Guide | [
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25,048 | 2 | "Deliberately childlike paintings put a comic edge on a terrible, rotten, very bad day," said PW. "Those of, shall we say, artistic temperaments may find a kindred spirit in this debut book's scowling narrator." Ages 4-8. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Alicia Has a Bad Day | [
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25,049 | 17 | Grade 2-5-While the title indicates that this offering is about Gutenberg, an equal amount of space is allotted to the history of printing, beginning with Chinese papermaking and block-printing and the Korean invention of movable metal type. Koscielniak explains how books were handmade and individually penned to order in 15th-century Europe and presents detailed information about bookbinding, from preparing the vellum to illuminating, assembling, trimming, and decorating the volumes. After this overview, Gutenberg's revolutionary idea for a printing press is introduced and the printer's successes and difficulties are recounted. Written in a straightforward style, the text is filled with facts. Lively line drawings with loose watercolor washes cover double-page spreads. Illustrations of people with short legs and extremely long arms give the artwork a cartoonlike appearance, adding detail and humor to the text. Unfortunately, there is no variation in skin tones or facial features when different ethnic groups are represented. Leonard Everett Fisher's Gutenberg (Macmillan, 1993) provides more information about this innovator's life, while Michael Pollard's Johann Gutenberg (Blackbirch, 2001) offers greater detail about the lawsuit that cost him his livelihood. A supplemental purchase.Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 2-5. The art and practicality of bookmaking get an attractive treatment in this fully illustrated volume, which provides a clear, concise history up to the time of Gutenberg's press. Though this spotlights Johann Gutenberg as an innovator who developed a way of casting metal type, a linseed-based ink, and a press to allow the transfer of inked letters to paper, the book also looks at printing with moveable type as it had developed much earlier in China and Korea. An explanation of the techniques and expense of labor-intensive book production in medieval Europe sets the stage for a good, brief description of Gutenberg's contributions and experiences as a printer. The pleasing line drawings and the subtle hues of Boscielniak's watercolors give the illustrations an informal look that makes their informative content all the more accessible. Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Johann Gutenberg and the Amazing Printing Press | [
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25,050 | 2 | Lester's lighthearted look at how she came to write children's books will give aspiring authors of any age a lift and encouragement to persevere. Ages 4-8. (Aug.) Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Author: A True Story | [
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25,051 | 3 | K-Gr. 2. Pigtailed Clementine Sweet is misnamed. She's the most ornery, pugnacious girl in Texas Hill Country. It wasn't always thus. At a family reunion, relatives forget her birthday and her name, prompting her to yell, "I'm Clementine Sweet! I'm gonna stomp your feet." This becomes both her catchphrase and her chosen method of acting up. When people stop at her family's cafe, she is ready to stomp them if they don't call her by her proper name. But after she learns the two-step and stomps a tornado, Clementine gets the recognition she craves and settles down to be the town darlin'. Whether everyone will find her adorable is another question. Kids will love mimicking her signature line, but adults are likely to be less appreciative. Still, this has the allure of a tall tale, and Wohnoutka's boisterous, oversize artwork has a comic look, especially when he uses unusual perspectives (with feet often in the forefront). Children looking for a heroine who takes matters into her own hands--make that feet, too--will find her here. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Foot-Stomping Adventures of Clementine Sweet | [
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25,052 | 0 | previous school copy unused; Title: Houghton Mifflin Reading: Student Edition Grade 1.5 Wonders 2005 | [
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25,053 | 0 | Kindergarten-Grade 2-A fictionalized story of a historical event. During the War of 1812, the American army commissioned a local widow, flag maker Mary Pickersgill, to create an extravagantly large flag to be flown over Fort McHenry near Baltimore's harbor; the flag still exists and now rests at the Smithsonian. By relating events from the point of view of 12-year-old Caroline Pickersgill, the action becomes more immediate to youngsters. According to letters of the time, quoted in the end material, the woman was helped by her daughter and perhaps others (though the assistance of Caroline's grandmother, cousins, and a servant and slave is undocumented). The flag, which took six weeks to complete, was 30 feet by 42, weighed 80 pounds, had stripes 2 feet wide, and stars measuring 2 feet from point to point. Whether it flew over the fort during the bombardment that inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star Spangled Banner" is a matter of debate among scholars; the author's note suggests that, in fact, a smaller, less expensive storm flag may have been used. This slender story seems oddly incomplete in this telling; it is unclear if the British even continued their invasion. Capable if wispy illustrations in a folk-art vein (although, surely, young girls wore stockings with their shoes in those days) offer panoramas of the harbor and Baltimore. This book should be complemented by more academic materials in a school setting.-Dona Ratterree, New York City Public Schools Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 1-4. In this accomplished work of picture-book nonfiction, Bartoletti explores a hallowed event in U.S. history: the British attack of Fort McHenry in 1813 and the celebrated resilience of its garrison flag. She finds a fresh way into this oft-told story by focusing on 13-year-old Caroline Pickersgill, who assisted her mother in the creation of the fort's immense American flag, the very one that hangs in the Smithsonian today. Caroline is older than most picture-book protagonists, but the real draw here isn't the girl: it's the 30-by-42-foot flag she helps sew, so big that it "spilled over their laps and lay in folds on the floor" and had to be moved to a warehouse for completion. Once the flag is finished, Bartoletti writes feelingly of the talismanic comfort it provides when Caroline glimpses it from afar during the British attack. The book's resonance owes as much to the delicate watercolors as to Bartoletti's controlled storytelling; Nivola's tidy, tranquil interiors serve as a ringing counterpoint to the chaos in the background. Bibliographic sources and "Flag Facts," including an acknowledgment that "some historians question whether the garrison flag or a smaller storm flag" flew during the battle, demonstrate the attention to detail that earned Bartoletti the 2002 Sibert Medal for Black Potatoes. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved ; Title: The Flag Maker | [
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25,054 | 0 | A handsome, weighty volume preserves the pace and feel of the above title plus three more of the author's best-loved works-Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (1939); Katy and the Big Snow (1943); and Maybelle the Cable Car (1952)-Mike Mulligan and More: A Virginia Lee Burton Treasury. Barbara Elleman's introduction precedes the quartet of tales. Ages 2-8.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Mike Mulligan and More: Four Classic Stories by Virginia Lee Burton | [
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25,055 | 12 | Level 4 textbook published by Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003. Hardcover, 720 pages. "It's time to celebrate! Follow a trail of traditions, from a family reunion toa ten-man dragon parading through Chinatown. Whoosh across the snowy wilds of Alaska in the annual Iditarod race. Dive to a sunkne shipwreck. Meet John Stetson and his famous hat in the American West. Let Traditions lead the way!"; Title: Houghton Mifflin The Nation's Choice: Traditions, Student Edition, Level 4 (Houghton Mifflin Reading: The Nation's Choice) | [
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25,056 | 2 | Grade 1-3-In his third book based on the works of Henry David Thoreau, Johnson tackles the writer's philosophy on civil disobedience. Feeling the yen for a mountain hike, Henry the bear sets off to retrieve one of his shoes from the cobbler. But before he can pick it up, he is jailed for nonpayment of taxes. While there, Henry uses crayons and his imagination to create for himself a new shoe, trees, and a mountain path to explore. At the top of his imaginary mountain, he meets an unnamed, barefoot traveler. Although the stranger's comments indicate that he is an escaped slave seeking freedom, his fur is the same color as Henry's-they are, after all, both bears. Henry gives the traveler his shoes and best wishes, then returns barefoot to his cell. Despite dealing with complex themes, Johnson's text does a fine job of explaining the essential conflicts without oversimplifying them. The colored-pencil-and-paint illustrations, filled with stylized, geometric forms, incorporate natural and historical details, such as posters offering rewards for the return of escaped slaves. Notes at the end offer more information about Thoreau and his writings, which explain the story's origins and deeper themes. Children will also enjoy the book as a tale of triumphant imagination akin to Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon (1955) or Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are (1988, both HarperCollins). Fans of Henry's first two adventures will welcome this title, as will adults seeking to begin discussions on ethical behavior or human rights.Eve Ortega, Cypress Library, CACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.*Starred Review* K-Gr. 3. This fanciful picture book, the third in the series that began with Henry Hikes to Fitchburg (2000), takes its inspiration from Walden and "Civil Disobedience," in which Thoreau describes a night spent in jail. Here Henry the bear, confined to a cell after refusing to pay taxes to a state that allows slavery, takes his crayons and begins to draw pictures on the wall. In a sequence reminiscent of Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon, Henry then climbs into the scene he is creating. Hiking along the mountain path, he befriends a traveler who is walking northward to freedom. An appended note comments on Thoreau's love of mountains, his hatred of slavery, and the influence of his writings on civil disobedience. The story seems more dreamlike than the previous ones in the series, but the simple, direct telling is very satisfying, and the stylized illustrations, in colored pencil and paint, look fresh and inviting, providing a lightly cubist, appealingly askew perspective of the world. Clearly the bear, like the man, sees things a little differently from most. A new avenue for introducing Thoreau and the issue of slavery to young children, as well as another story for Henry's admirers. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Henry Climbs a Mountain (A Henry Book) | [
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25,057 | 12 | Book by J. David Cooper, John J. Pikulski; Title: Houghton Mifflin Reading: The Nation's Choice: Student Edition Grade 1.3 2003 | [
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25,058 | 13 | J.R.R. Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892. After serving in the First World War, he embarked upon a distinguished career as a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University. He is the renowned creator of Middle-earth and author of the great modern classic, The Hobbit, the prelude to his epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings. Other works by J.R.R. Tolkien include The Silmarillion. J.R.R. Tolkien died in 1973 at the age of 81.; Title: The Two Towers Movie Photo Guide (The Lord of the Rings) | [
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25,059 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 3-This picture book presents the sleep behaviors of a wide variety of creatures from all over the world. The appealing watercolor illustrations consist of single- and double-page paintings. Soft, pastel backgrounds cradle brighter hues, bringing into focus each animal as it takes a nap, hibernates, or sleeps. The large-print text uses general terms to describe the different ways and places that these animals rest, while paragraphs written in smaller type delve into more details about each species. Though the entries are brief, the information is clearly presented. Readers learn how orangutans weave a sleeping nest, mother pandas nap with their babies, and sea otters "sack out in a nearby kelp bed." There are some interesting tidbits: the bottlenose dolphin rests half its brain while the other half navigates the deeps, and the sooty tern dozes in flight. The author also explains that scientists don't really know much about the rest habits of invertebrates, such as giant clams. A solid offering for nature lovers.Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CACopyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 3. Collard offers a dual text in this short, fully illustrated book about the sleep habits of animals, from orangutans and otters to dogs and cats. A parent or child could read just a few words appearing in large type or dip into the smaller-print paragraph of related information below. The large-type text is very general and flows well, while the small-type text is quite specific, switching abruptly from one animal to another but providing some interesting information along the way. In both cases, the tone is colloquial, with the writer referring to the reader or to himself as well as the animals under discussion. One section begins, "Do giant clams sleep? Your guess is as good as mine!" In the paragraph that follows, Collard discusses the mysteries of sleep in invertebrates with a disarming readiness to admit that scientists don't have all the answers. McGrory's paintings offer graceful, well-composed depictions of beasts, birds, and butterflies in a series of beautifully lit settings. For larger collections. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Animals Asleep | [
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25,060 | 18 | Gr 3-6This is a beautifully illustrated introduction to a lesser-known Revolutionary War figure. As a child, Knox worked in a bookstore where he read about engineering and military history and became fascinated by machinery. He went on to open his own bookstore and specialized in works on military science. After fleeing Boston due to the intensifying conflict with British soldiers, he soon joined the Continental Army. He was then named head of artillery, though the army's only artillery was 300 miles away at Fort Ticonderoga. Silvey emphasizes Knox's obstinacy in the face of challenges. It was this spirit, she argues, that spurred him to oversee transport of 12,000 pounds of artillery over frozen mountains and lakes to General Washington in Boston. The narrative ends with his success. Further details on the war and on Knox's life are provided in a time line. Silvey's account is admiring but unornamented, and history buffs and future engineers especially will find some inspiration here beyond the biography report. Minor brings the arduous journey to life through vivid paintings of the Colonial figures and unforgiving landscape. Many are presented in striking spreads. Richard M. Strum's biography (OTTN, 2007) is highly readable and more comprehensive, but Minor's engaging paintings of a memorable incident will make a nice supplement to Revolutionary War units.Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.*Starred Review* When the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord, Henry Knox was a portly young bookseller who avidly read books on military science and discussed them with the British officers who frequented his Boston shop. He would soon put his theoretical knowledge to practical use, for he was placed in charge of the Continental Armys artillery. Finding little artillery on hand, Knox led an arduous trek to transport cannons and ammunition 300 miles across frozen lakes and snowy mountains to the hills overlooking Boston. The British occupation of the city quickly ended. The first half of this fully illustrated book deftly portrays Knox as a likable, optimistic youth, while the second half shows him as a determined 25-year-old officer leading the expedition that freed Boston in 1776. Quotes from period sources underscore the difficulties of the journey, while Silveys measured text ably tells the tale and puts events in their historical context. Painted on wooden panels, Minors acrylic art creates a vivid sense of the period in varied scenes crafted with a fine grasp of composition, texture, and color. A chronology, source notes, bibliography, and suggested reading list conclude this handsome book, which spotlights one of the lesser-known heroes of the American Revolution. Grades 2-5. --Carolyn Phelan; Title: Henry Knox: Bookseller, Soldier, Patriot | [
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25,061 | 12 | Book by HOUGHTON MIFFLIN; Title: Houghton Mifflin Math 2005: Student Book Grade 6 2005 | [
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25,062 | 12 | Brand new, unread book, minor shelf wear, fast shipping.; Title: Houghton Mifflin Mathematics, Level 2, Student Edition (Houghton Mifflin Math 2005) | [
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25,063 | 13 | Grade 2-4-Clever concept and illustrations outshine the unsettling plot in this brief whodunit. A sharp-eyed piglet goes to the art museum with her grandpa for "copying day," when artists are invited to "draw and paint the collection." While she waits for Grandpa, who is copying haystacks, she notices that pieces of some paintings (all pictures of food) have been removed and "replaced with not so very good patches." Searching with the guards for clues, the little pig sketches each one, then tapes the sketches to a wall and uses them to solve the case. The culprits' hiding place is discovered, along with the stolen art. The piglet is rewarded, and then, in a humorous finale, shares lunch with her grandpa, unaware that the tiny art thieves are stealing her cookies. The large, well-crafted colored etchings on what appears to be vellum are clearly the focus of the book. The text is minimal, written in short, matter-of-fact sentences, but the solution of the case, involving an architectural detail in the building and other subtle clues, aims the book at older children. Little attention is given to the crime of art mutilation or putting it to a halt. A marginal purchase.Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OHCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreS-Gr. 3. A little pig accompanies her grandfather to the museum on copying day, when artists are invited to "draw and paint the collection." The astute young piglet notices that pieces of some paintings have been removed and replaced with amateurish patches. Though the guards are following a trail of evidence, only the piglet sees through the false clues and discovers the culprits. Narrated by the little pig, the text is straightforward, but the explanation of the mystery's unraveling is a bit complicated to follow, even with the accompanying pictures. The delicately tinted engravings themselves are quite wonderful: well imagined, detailed, and droll in their representation of works of art featuring pigs in a well-depicted museum setting. Geisert's fans will especially enjoy the visual references to his previous books. Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Mystery | [
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25,064 | 2 | Grade 6-10-Devon Brown, 15, may be anxious, even weird, but he knows he's not crazy. He just has a fixation on the number four, an obsession about germs, and an intolerance of untidiness, all of which have afflicted him since his grandfather's death when he was eight. When his parents decide to move to the Boston area, the teen must adjust to a new private school and a new therapist. In a frank and humorous first-person narrative, he relates his midyear entrance into The Baker Academy as he copes with opinionated teachers and tentatively begins friendships with Tanya, an African-American girl, and Ben, an angry, purple-haired boy, but he shies away when they try to get closer. Despite his intelligence, Devon has a remarkable lack of self-knowledge. The crisis comes after he sees Ben spray paint the epithet "Nazi" throughout the school and takes the blame himself. It strains credulity that even in the face of his parents' profound disappointment, the harsh words of the headmaster, and two weeks' suspension, Devon refuses to implicate Ben, who is not a close friend. In a cathartic spree, he rips up the neatly buttoned shirts in his closet until his formerly distant father comes in and wraps his arms around his son, and Devon confesses he feels responsible for his grandfather's death. The positive news is that Devon can use his willpower, not a pill, to overcome his compulsive behaviors, and a rosy reunion with Tanya wraps up a novel that may have bibliotherapeutic potential.Susan W. Hunter, Riverside Middle School, Springfield, VTCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 7-10. Fifteen-year-old Devon does everything in fours. He eats four quarters of a sandwich and four M&M's for lunch, is the fourth person to walk into school, and buys paperbacks that are 4 1/4 x 6 3/4 inches for his bedroom bookshelf. He also covers his hands before opening doors, refuses to eat in the school cafeteria, and washes his hands constantly, all to protect himself from germs. Devon has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and this is his life--a life his mother is trying to comprehend, his father abhors, the kids at school ridicule, and Dr. Wasserman is helping to change. Harrar paints a very human picture of Devon, his family, and his friends, revealing the frustration of a teen afflicted with OCD who yearns to understand himself, fit in, and stay out of trouble. At once humorous and poignant, frustrating and sympathetic, this will leave readers wondering if they could be a little obsessive-compulsive themselves. Frances BradburnCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Not as Crazy as I Seem | [
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25,065 | 12 | Orders ship the same or next business day. Expedited shipping within U.S. will arrive in 3-5 days. Hassle free 14 day return policy. Contact Customer Service for questions. Almost new condition. SKU:9780618250035-2-0; Title: McDougal Littell Pre-Algebra: Student Edition 2005 | [
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25,066 | 2 | Grade 3-6In this sixth installment in the series, the rivalry between the girls' club, the Tattletales, and that of the boys, the Copycats, continues, but their leaders, Thekla Mustard and Sammy Grubb, are not quite as enthusiastic as they were earlier in the year. Before long, Thekla finds herself deposed by an upstart member. When new student and outsider Thud Tweed decides it would be fun to make trouble for Miss Earth, he helps the girls play an April Fool's Day trick on the boys during class, and the teacher puts her foot down. She bans the clubs from school and assigns everyone into girl-boy pairs for the upcoming science fair. Meanwhile, the one remaining Flameburper (a mutant chicken-lizard hatched in the previous book) is growing at a rapid rate and is clearly distressed about something. Could it be the mysterious creature rumored to be lurking around town? Then, Miss Earth disappears, and all rivalries are set aside as the Tattletales and Copycats combine forces to find her. Although the book can stand alone, readers already familiar with the characters and their history will get the most out of it. The tongue-in-cheek humor, brisk pace, and snappy dialogue make for a lively and enjoyable read.Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 3-6. In this sixth installment in the Hamlet Chronicles, an April Fool's Day joke spins out of control, and beloved teacher Miss Earth disappears. Her students, including the faction of boys known as the Copycats, and the girls, who call themselves the Tattletales, set aside their fierce rivalries to unravel the frightening mystery of their missing teacher. Newcomers won't have trouble picking up the plot threads, and series fans will recognize all the familiar characters--among them, the flameburpers, fire-breathing, mutant chicken-lizards who end play a pivotal role in the high jinks. As always, Maguire layers his witty, absurd farce and spot-on portrayal of the social pecking order of middle-graders with larger questions about science, our threatened environment, and the uneasy relationship between species, be they gorillas, flameburpers, or boys and girls. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: A Couple of April Fools (Hamlet Chronicles) | [
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25,067 | 5 | Kindergarten-Grade 3-Nine animals are on their way to the raja-king's birthday party and each guest wants to bring the perfect gift. Monkey is proud of his "cloudlike loaf of bread" until he meets Rhino, who scoffs at it, and Monkey, suddenly ashamed, throws it into the river. As the journey continues, each animal feels its own offering is small and inappropriate compared to the next-Camel brings three almond cakes, Rabbit brings four sugar cones, Cow brings five lotus flowers, etc.-and throws it away in embarrassment and humiliation. The lines of text follow the trail of the discarded presents and the creatures that enjoy them. When Peacock carelessly flaunts his nine gold coins, the pouch opens and the contents fall into a well. The guests arrive at the palace empty-handed, but are reassured by their host that their offering of friendship and the retelling of the story of "the well that swallowed their pride" are the best presents. The rich, jewel-toned illustrations are framed by European, North African, Arabic, and Indian numerals on the side and are placed on handmade Indian paper decorated with flowers. An endnote explains how the numbers we use originated in India. A captivating fable and an effective counting book.Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, CanadaCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 1-3. The Arabic numerals we use today actually originated in India, a fact Rumford uses as the basis for his folktale-like story about nine animals competing as they deliver gifts to the raja. Each successive present seems more fitting for the occasion (as well as greater in number) than the last--until the animals' rivalry backfires. Numerals (as written in India, Arabia, North Africa, and Europe) appear on the left of Rumford's bordered collage illustrations, which are full of hot, vibrant colors and personable animal characters--the impish green monkey often appears disconcertingly human. An author's note briefly traces the journey of the numerals from India to Arabia, North Africa, and Europe and provides an explanation for the animals selected for the art. A delightful way to incorporate literature, social studies, and art into an elementary math curriculum. Catherine AndronikCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Nine Animals and the Well | [] | Validation |
25,068 | 2 | PreSchool-After a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, a young girl walks through the snow to the general store to buy whipping cream for the family's pumpkin pie. As she walks, she gives thanks to various animals and objects that she sees. "Thank you, pretty clouds.- Thank you, park.- Thank you, snow people." The colorful digital-oil-pastel pictures are cheerful and incorporate lots of humorous details. The very simple, repetitive text, reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon (HarperCollins, 1947), will appeal to toddlers. Like whipping cream, this selection is nice but not essential.Janet M. Bair, Trumbull Library, CTCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreS-K. Using Thanksgiving holiday traditions as a starting place, Milgram helps young children recognize the blessings in their daily lives. As a little girl tracks through the snow to get whipped cream for the family's pumpkin pie, she stops to express her appreciation to the things around her that have given her pleasure--the fluffy clouds, the rabbits in the park, and so on. The text, hardly more than "Thank you, park" or "Thank you pie with whipped cream," grows repetitious, but it works for the age group, and it is expertly supported by the extremely appealing artwork, which features precise, rounded shapes in flat yet vibrant colors, and exuberant and doll-like characters with dotted eyes and spindly legs. Touches of visual comedy (pink rabbits stare at a football on the multiple screens in the window at Marvin's TV) extend the book beyond its main idea and add generous warmth and energy to the plain words. Stephanie ZvirinCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Thank You, Thanksgiving | [
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25,069 | 11 | Kindergarten-Grade 3-Six-year-old Michelle lives in Brooklyn with her mother, father, and little sister. A map of the U.S. highlights New York State while another one of Brooklyn showcases some neighborhoods as well as its proximity to the other boroughs. A bird's-eye view of the narrator's home reveals rows of attached buildings amid lush greenery. The child tells about her family, her school day, and seasonal activities-trick-or-treating, sledding in Prospect Park, blowing bubbles on the stoop, watching the Fourth of July fireworks from the rooftop, and taking the subway to Coney Island. The book's layout and the appealing, childlike watercolor illustrations are similar to those in Takabayashi's I Live in Tokyo(Houghton, 2001). Set against crisp, white borders, the vibrant folk-art paintings vary in size from quarter-page images to full spreads. However, Michelle visits Central Park, the Museum of Natural History, Fifth Avenue, and the farmer's market in Union Square, and the author neglects to mention that these places are not in Brooklyn. Also, she never really captures the true flavor of the borough. While youngsters may be inspired to write and draw about their own lives after reading this tale, they will learn little about this diverse, historic place.-Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 1-2. Six-year-old Michelle lives in Carroll Gardens, a neighborhood in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City, but her sweet, confiding voice is universal. Michelle tells about her day: getting up with her parents and sister, with Grandma coming over to babysit; running for the bus with her mom; working and playing at school. But her routine includes more: visits to Prospect Park and the Union Square greenmarket, trips with her class to places like the American Museum of Natural History, learning about drawing from her grandpa, and listening to stories before bed. Takabayashi (I Live in Tokyo, 2001), who now lives in Carroll Gardens herself, offers a love letter to the neighborhood and to her adopted city. Sunny, beautifully patterned watercolors are full of delightful detail. In a folk-art style, they capture the diversity, bustling moments, and serenity of home sweet home. GraceAnne DeCandidoCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: I Live in Brooklyn | [
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25,070 | 12 | Great spelling and vocab. book for students.; Title: Houghton Mifflin Spelling and Vocabulary: Student Book (consumable/ball and stick) Grade 3 2004 | [
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25,071 | 13 | Kindergarten-Grade 2-Jessica wants to be an artist just like her grandfather. On one visit, he gives her a lesson on color theory and together they create the title painting. Grandpa also shows her how to turn a "mistake" into a painting, explaining, "All artists make mistakes." While making paint "sing" or painting until a picture goes "dead" may be illusive concepts for many readers, the story itself is satisfying. McKie and Ziefert's successful collaboration continues as text and illustrations support one another with a practiced precision. The bold, primitive pictures combine the fluid qualities of paint in the works of art with a crisp edge on the characters and setting. Though the lessons may seem a little didactic, the patient grandfather is a supportive teacher. The "Lunchtime for a Purple Snake" picture that the two create has an agreeable blend of childlike splash and complementary control. Grandpa, art, and color give this offering a variety of applications in libraries serving budding young artists.Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.*Starred Review* PreS-Gr. 1. There are many books about art for young children, but few of them get right down to their level the way this does. Jessica's grandfather is an artist, and she likes to visit him, so they can paint together. The simple story line is also an art lesson, as Grandpa explains that the colors he squeezes from the tube are "enough to make all the colors of the rainbow." There are also words of wisdom about making mistakes and "trying to make the colors sing." The result of the collaboration by the two artists, "Lunchtime for a Purple Snake," makes for a delightful conclusion. The art and the design of this are both marvelously childlike. The two layers of art--the actual illustrations and the paintings Grandpa and Jessica do--both have the look of a child's renderings. McKie creates characters that might be related to Mr. Potato Head, simplicity themselves, set against backgrounds of geometric shapes and pure colors. Jessica's actual artwork is as basic in form as a young child's would be--and it is full of a child's exuberance and imagination. Budding artists, at home or in class, will learn from this and receive inspiration. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Lunchtime for a Purple Snake | [
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25,072 | 0 | Grade 3 Up-Life changes drastically for Alice when World War II breaks out. Like many other Japanese Americans living on the West Coast, she and her husband are forced from their home. They choose to work as farm hands rather than be sent to an internment camp. Together, they overcome every indignity and challenge that come their way, and eventually build the largest gladiola bulb farm in the country. Say relates the true story of Alice Sumida in an understated and eloquent style. Alice's childhood love of dancing is deftly woven into the imagery of the text. As in much of his work, the masterful illustrations provide an emotional depth not always evident in the narration. The overall design, resembling a family photo album, accentuates the book as personal history. The detailed portraits and soft colors of the farm give way to drab hues and figures with nondescript features and wide-brimmed hats that hide their eyes and their identities-symbolic of the plight of Japanese Americans during the war. The final pictures of a now elderly Alice depict the spirit and dignity that her life story suggests. Although the book has much to recommend it, it may have more limited appeal than some of Say's earlier works. It is not as personal as Grandfather's Journey (1993) or Tea with Milk (1999, both Houghton). Many young readers may lack the perspective to relate to a tale that spans decades and deals with such complex themes. Still, with proper introduction, this offering will be appreciated by sensitive and sophisticated youngsters.-Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 4-7. From the close-up jacket portrait of an elderly Japanese American woman to the final view of her ballroom dancing before a black-tie audience, this picture book, based on a true-life story, will appeal more to adults than kids, though some young readers will respond to the history and the understated, first-person account of trouble and courage. The first painting, repeated on the back cover, is a sepia-tone view of Alice as a Japanese American child, dreaming of music and dance on a California farm. She marries, and the World War II roundups follow, with a haunting view of her and her husband in the crowd, labeled like luggage. Instead of being sent to internment camp, they are allowed to grow food for the war effort. Their first harvest is "a harvest of stones," but they go on to make the desert bloom and eventually become the largest gladiola bulb growers in the country. One glorious picture shows them in a huge field of flowers. The drama is quiet. As always with Say, the exquisite watercolors tell an American story. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Music for Alice | [
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25,073 | 16 | Poet, children's book author Joan Bransfield Graham has been widely published in journals, anthologies, textbooks, and magazines. She's done freelance writing for ABC-TV and The Writer. Her books for children, Splish Splash and Flicker Flash--shape poems about water and light--inspire students to write their own poetry. Both books were SLJ Best Books of the Year and NCTE Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, among many other honors. With musician/composer Sheldon Cohen, she also has a poetry/classical music CD--The Song We Chose to Sing. ; Title: Flicker Flash (Avenues) | [
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25,074 | 12 | 2004 Houghton Mifflin HARDCOVER; 346 pages; Title: Spelling and Vocabulary, Level 5 | [
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25,075 | 5 | Grade 2-6Inspired by Iroquois tales of the Corn Maiden and her sisters, this original story tells how Maize, Red Bean, and Pumpkin walked the earth spreading a bounty of food in their wake. Despite being warned to stay in the open fields under their mother's watchful gaze, Maize goes walking at night. Silver (alias the Moon) sees her and begs for her warmth, and Maize spends the night with him. When Sun finds Maize missing, she removes her other daughters and burns the earth with her furious gaze. The Sun then turns her face away and vows not to touch the earth until Maize returns. Only after the little pewee birds encourage the maples to "please weep" sweet sap does Silver compromise, allowing Maize half of the year in the Sun. The story is charmingly told with eloquent phrasing and vocabulary. The artwork, done in a folk-art style, is energetic and exuberant, and the brush strokes are used to dramatic effect across the spreads. This is both a pourquoi tale and a fable, and will work comfortably as a read-aloud. Cris Riedel, Ellis B. Hyde Elementary School, Dansville, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 2-4. Like the Greek myth of Persephone, this Native American pourquoi tale attributes the seasonal cycles to a split-custody deal struck over a deity's hapless daughter. Described as an "original story" inspired by Iroquois sources, Sherman's telling features the Sun's daughter, Maize, who causes corn to grow so abundantly that "the people had only to reach up in order to eat." But when Maize disobediently ventures into the realm of an entity named Silver, she finds herself held hostage for half of every year. Silver's identity is confusing, as is his exact relationship to Maize (who, despite the disturbingly violent overtones of her kidnapping, is later described as returning to "her lover"); neither issue is addressed in the author's otherwise informative endnote. Christie's renderings intensify the sense of abstraction from reality common to folklore, setting puppetlike characters, faces comprised of slashing black lines, against jagged fields of harvest colors. Try this evocative, unusual offering with children older than the typical picture-book audience, particularly in the context of comparative studies of world folklore. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Sun's Daughter | [
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25,076 | 12 | This attractive full-color dictionary for kindergarten to grade three mainly defines one- and two-syllable words. Some of the photographs have been replaced since the 1997 edition, and sections on homophones and parts of speech have been added to the back matter. Since this dictionary is mostly about basic concepts and vocabulary, you can probably still get by with the 1997 edition if your copy is in good shape.RBBCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The American Heritage First Dictionary (American Heritage Dictionary) | [
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25,077 | 12 | Book by HOUGHTON MIFFLIN; Title: Houghton Mifflin Spelling and Vocabulary: Student Book (consumable) Grade 5 2004 | [
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25,078 | 11 | Houghton Mifflin Social Studies: Student Edition Level 1 School and Family 2005; Title: Houghton Mifflin Social Studies: Student Edition Level 1 School and Family 2005 | [
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25,079 | 0 | Kindergarten-Grade 3Lunge-Larsen blends legend and tall tale to explain the origin of felt in this amusing variant on Noah's story. When the patriarch constructs his famous boat, he seals it so well to prevent water leaks that no heat and moisture can escape. All of the animals suffer in this floating steam bath, but the sheep fare the worst. Their heavy coats turn into thick cloth that almost strangles them. After rescuing them with shears, Noah can't figure out what to do with the heavy materialuntil the ark lands on a mountaintop. Then the felt provides perfect protection against the snow and cold. Thanks to Noah's invention of scarves, hats, and mittens, people could live and play even in the coldest regions. Trueman's mixed-media illustrations add to the fun. The interesting use of ark windows provides snapshots into shipboard life, including some animals' penchant for gnawing or pecking at the frames. Even the changeable patterns of the sun and rays catch viewers' attention. The afterword offers a brief history of felt-making. A good choice for storytime sharing before a romp in the snow.Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Lunge-Larsen gives a biblical character a touch of folklore in this fanciful tale. After inventing the plow, scythe, and other tools used for cultivating the soil, Noah builds the ark and in an effort to cool off the woolly sheep on the overheated ship, accidentally develops felt. Did Noah really do that? The author provides some facts about felt in a brief afterword. The stylized mixed-media illustrations (pencil, gouache, acrylics, and collage with an overglaze of oil paint) perfectly match the idiosyncratic tone of the story. In the background, the land and water undulate across the pages, highlighting the activity and movement of the tales, as Noah and various scene-stealing animals are pictured surrounded by wooden frames, as if the viewer is looking through a window into the crowded, sometimes chaotic ark. The story and the artwork, both simple and wonderfully complex, work well on many levels. Randall EnosCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Noah's Mittens | [
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25,080 | 2 | PreSchool-An amusing story about the importance of carefully brushing your teeth and the satisfaction gained by helping a friend. When Clarabella, a crocodile, and her friends wake up, they start the day by brushing their teeth. The monkey, the zebra, the rabbit, and the leopard get the job done quickly while Clarabella "brushes and brushes and brushes" all of her teeth. Her friends play, have lunch, build sand castles, nibble ripe mangoes, and leap and spin around. As they move through their day, the question, "And Clarabella?" tempts readers to turn each page. By the time she is ready to join the fun, the other creatures are getting ready for bed. Poor Clarabella sighs, but then her friends surprise her with a large toothbrush. Delighted with her gift, the young crocodile turns her sigh into a big smile. The animals are playfully illustrated; the zebra sports pink and purple stripes, the monkey is done in green and purple, the rabbit is bright red with a green outline, and the leopard has green spots. This quirky and bright artwork, executed in pastels, is eye-catching and funny.Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Clarabella's Teeth | [
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25,081 | 0 | Grade 1-3When Little Bear wakes up early from hibernation, he is hungry. He follows his nose to where a family is celebrating Purim with a lively parade outside their home. He is invited to join them, and they all marvel at his clever costume. Everyone has an idea of which villager might be disguised beneath the furexcept a boy named Itzik. He is wearing a bear suit, and repeatedly insists that their guest is a real animal, but no one believes him. Hours of food, drink, and dancing later, Little Bear nods off just before the Purim play is to start. Various people prod him to join in until finally he wakens with a loud roar and shows his big teeth. All of the partygoers flee, including Little Bear, who stumbles home for the rest of his long nap. With a muted palette and folksy touches, Howland's appealing gouache paintings perfectly capture the flavor of the Jewish festivities that signal the end of winter. A note explains the history of the festival of Purim. Children will appreciate the fun of a family gathering with an uninvited and unexpected guest and will enjoy learning more about the holiday.Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. When Little Bear wakes from months of hibernation, he's hungry, so when he smells delicious food cooking, he makes his way toward a house by the river, where he sees a parade of people dressed in costumes, singing, playing music, and carrying delicious food for the Jewish holiday of Purim. Assuming Little Bear is a child in a costume, they welcome him, and he grabs pawfuls of honey, raisins, and hamantaschen as they try to convince him to take part in the Purim play. The boy Itzik warns the people that they are dealing with a real, dangerous bear, but no one listens--until . . . The gouache-and-watercolor pictures are clear and festive, evoking an old-fashioned shtetl setting with the universal family holiday uproar, and kids will relish the confusion of the make-believe and the real. A long, interesting note discusses the holiday, its history, and its celebration today. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Mystery Bear: A Purim Story | [
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25,082 | 0 | Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 2This modern tall tale, told with a finely tuned bluegrass twang, is a fresh and lively paean to intergenerational love. When Owen's granny learns that he goes wiggly, jiggly,/all-around giggly,/and tip over tumble/for bluegrass music, she packs up her banjo, puts on her thousand-mile shoes, and heads out on foot for a visit. As she overcomes great distances and seemingly insurmountable geographical obstacles through the magic of her melody, the child waits excitedly for her arrival. The heartwarming conclusion brings the two together, dancing in the glow of the sun and to Granny's rendition of Owen's Song (lyrics and music are included). Root's fluid artwork brings warmth, movement, and color to the rhythmic text. The intrepid, sneaker-wearing woman and her young grandson have expressive faces, and the natural landscapes are painted with a mix of realism and whimsy. This is an up-to-date story with family members separated by distance and a dynamic grandmother with vim and vigor. However, the narrative's cadence and traditional structure make the tale feel timeless.Tamara E. Richman, Somerset County Library System, Bridgewater, NJ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.It's always fun for a small child safe at home to imagine danger in the wide world. Part lullaby and part tall tale, this warm picture book is both cozy and exciting. As he wakes up in the rosy day, Owen hears from the birds that Granny is walking to him with her banjo in its old taped-up case. Although the river is fast and deep, the mountain is tall and steep, and the desert is wide and worrisome, when Granny sings about her grandbaby "who goes wiggly, jiggly / all-around giggly / and tip over tumble / for bluegrass music," she calms the water, gets the mountain to bend down, and sails cross the sand in her long nightgown. The bond between the toddler and Granny climaxes in their final, joyful embrace. The bright, sunny art connects the quiet inside scenes with the wild outdoor ones, and the rhythmic text is exactly right for the lap-sitting crowd, who will chant and act out the story again and again. Musical notation heads the story. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Banjo Granny | [] | Validation |
25,083 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 2In this third tale about the muffin-stealing polar bears who live at the zoo in Bayonne, NJ, Irving and Muktuk tease a bunny: "Hey, bunny-boy!...Youeat...grass! Grass-eater! Grass-eater! Yah, yah, yah!" In return, they are kicked and bitten and come to fear the little creature, so when they attend a party where he is also a guest, they find it hard to exhibit their usual mischievous behavior. The author's droll sense of humor makes this book a winner. The marker-and-ink illustrations work well with the story, with the stark white, humanlike bears taking center stage on most spreads. This book should find an audience in most libraries, particularly where Irving and Muktuk are popular.Kelley Rae Unger, Peabody Institute, MAK-Gr. 2. Irving and Muktuk, the bad polar bears of two previous books, find themselves cowed by a bunny in this brisk tale. Roy, a good bear, lives in an apartment near the zoo. He invites Irving and Muktuk to a party after they agree to behave, although as they note, "We're not to be trusted." Roy is willing to take a chance, but having warned him, Irving and Muktuk feel they have carte blanche to do their worst. Also at the party is a bunny that readers have met a few pages earlier when he was doing his best to terrorize the bad bears. They spend the party trying to avoid the rabbit, and, for once, the duo is under control. A foreshortened, one-joke story doesn't always a book make, but this has the advantage of Daniel Pinkwater's droll, understated text and Jill Pinkwater's giggleworthy artwork in felt-tip marker and ink. The focus is always on those two white bears, and sometimes there's not much going on in the pictures, but a pop of excitement comes from the bears' own relationship. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Bad Bears and a Bunny: An Irving and Muktuk Story (Irving & Muktuk Story) | [
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25,084 | 12 | Great book for spelling and vocabulary students.; Title: Houghton Mifflin Spelling and Vocabulary: Student Book (consumable/ball and stick) Grade 2 2004 | [
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25,085 | 0 | PreSchool-K–After a busy day helping Mayor Mole obtain and decorate the town Christmas tree, Fireman Small (a one-man fire department) returns to Station 9 for a well-earned rest and is awakened by Santa, who has fallen in the coal bin. Fireman Small washes and dries his red suit, but finds that it has shrunk and that Santa is fast asleep in his bed. The resourceful helper hops into his fire truck to finish delivering the last of the presents, saving Christmas. Readers will enjoy the same easy-flowing, rhyming text, nicely paced tension, and comical, charming watercolor cartoons found in the previous "Fireman Small" titles (Houghton).–M. W. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-K. On Christmas Eve, Fireman Small drives Mayor Mole to the country to buy a tall Christmas tree, sets it up, and decorates it. Then, the little fireman goes to sleep, only to be awakened by Santa Claus, who has fallen into the coal bin and needs his help. Small launders Santa's sooty red suit, but it shrinks alarmingly. Rather than tell the snoozing Santa, he dons the tiny suit and delivers the rest of the presents. His reward will please all but the Grinchiest readers. Like Yee's original Fireman Small (1996) and its sequels, this has plenty of appeal. Though the story in rhymed couplets will hold children's interest, the artwork will captivate them. In watercolor paintings teeming with activity and details and glowing with colors, Yee creates a friendly city of dressed animals, and in their midst is Fireman Small, a little brown fellow with a huge bulb of a nose, who is useful to the mayor and to Santa himself. Heady stuff for preschoolers, who long to become capable, intrepid, and needed by the big folks around them. Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: A Small Christmas | [] | Validation |
25,086 | 1 | Gr. 2-4. After tackling megalodon, feathered dinos, and woolly mammoths in three previous books, Arnold and Caple add another extinct creature to their repertoire. This solid overview of "the only reptiles ever capable of powered flight" covers pterosaurs' ancestry, their peculiar physiology, theories about their behavior, and major fossil discoveries, frequently making abstract facts concrete through vivid comparisons: "If your arms were built like the wings of a pterosaur, your little finger would be more than 3 feet (1 meter) long!" Descriptions of about 20 of the more than 100 different pterosaur species known today round out the text. Caple's neatly labeled watercolors emphasize clarity over drama, but her subjects' exotic physical oddities (hairy, batlike bodies; toucan-bright beaks; bulbous, gaudily colored crests) will draw kids into the diorama-like tableaus. A concluding list of museums that house pterosaur fossils will keep field-trip planners and families of dino-mad youngsters busy for years to come; source notes and titles for further reading would have made a solid package even better. Jennifer MattsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved"Arnold describes distinctive features and probable habits for nearly two dozen specifically named species...will please dino-fans at any level" Kirkus Reviews"solid overview...subjects' exotic physical oddities will draw kids into the diorama-like tableaus." BOOKLIST Booklist, ALA; Title: Pterosaurs: Rulers of the Skies in the Dinosaur Age (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12) | [
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25,087 | 1 | Hansand MargretReycreated many books during their lives together, includingCurious George, one of the most treasured classics of all time, as well as other favorites likeSpottyandPretzel.But it was their rambunctious little monkey who became an instantly recognizable icon. After the Reys escaped Paris by bicycle in 1940 carrying the manuscript for the originalCurious George, the book was published in America in 1941. More than 200 Curious George titles followed, with 75 million books soldworldwide. Curious George has been successfully adapted into a major motion picture and an Emmy-winning television show onPBS.www.curiousgeorge.com.; Title: Jorge el Curioso Encuentra Trabajo (Curious George) (Spanish Edition) | [
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25,088 | 11 | Gr. 2-4. Singing sensation Wonder gets an upbeat treatment in this stylish picture book. Troupe uses one of Wonder's signature songs--"Isn't She Lovely"--as a link to his own free verse: "Isn't he lovely, / this small blind boy, thinking of his fingertips? / Snapping those fingers before unseeing eyes." Mostly, the text works well, capturing the intensity of Wonder's music and the excitement of its evocative words: "His hands caress his harmonica, / his fingertips and breath pulling sweet music--like magic--from that old blues instrument of wood and polished steel." But some repeated lines are hyperbolic (Stevie was "born to love everyone"), and the insertion of straight biographical information is awkward. The acrylic artwork, however, is as dynamic as Wonder's music. Bold, pure colors and big, yet simple shapes pop from the pages as the pictures track Wonder from boy "genius" to mustachioed adult with beaded cornrows. Wonder's trademark sunglasses sometimes emit rainbows, an effective way of putting his disability in the larger context of his life. An author's note tells more about Wonder's life, and a CD, not available with the galley, offers two songs. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Little Stevie Wonder | [
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25,089 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 3 Jackson the cat and Sam the horse share a love of baseball, both watching and playing the game. Sam is a natural athlete, but Jackson is one of the slowest cats ever seen. Still, Sam encourages his buddy in his one skill throwing. When tryouts for the local team come around, Sam easily makes it, but Jackson doesn't. Perhaps even worse, the feline's self-pity threatens Sam's happiness, and his performance. In the end, Jackson finds a way to use his talent in the stadium, supports his pal, and becomes a legend in his own right. More than a tale about baseball, this story is about the nature of true friendship, and about the ability to be happy about someone else's accomplishments. Egan's typically droll animal characters express emotions well. However, the ink-and-watercolor illustrations have a static quality that doesn't convey the movement of the game. Still, the understated humor of the text lightens the message and makes the story more appealing as when the animal crowd yells at Sam, Go back to the farm! Baseball fanatics or not, most children will enjoy this charming tale. Robin L. Gibson, Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 1-3. The expressions on Egan's tubby George and Martha-like figures add tongue-in-cheek undertones to this tale of friendship surviving adversity. Sam (a horse) and Jackson (a cat) both love baseball, but when the Grazers hold tryouts, only the athletically gifted Sam makes the team. Jackson's ensuing gloom doesn't lift until Sam persuades him to get a job as a peanut vendor at the stadium--where Jackson's ability to throw a bag with uncanny accuracy earns him celebrity status from the fans. Culminating in an exciting game with a suitably goofy twist, this story will elicit chortles from young readers as well as an appreciation for the loyalty the differently talented buddies display. John PetersCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Roasted Peanuts | [
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25,090 | 0 | Reviewed with Olivier Dunrea's Boo Boo.PreS. Similar in format and approach to Dunrea's picture books about Gossie, Gertie, and Ollie, these volumes introduce two new goslings. Boo Boo presents a little blue gosling who likes to eat; she walks around the barnyard happily devouring morsels left out for the hens, the goat, and the mouse. When she swallows a soap bubble, she begins burping repeatedly. Afterward, Boo Boo seems a little more discriminating about what she calls "Good food." Peedie features a yellow gosling who is a bit forgetful. Though he always wears his baseball cap, one day he forgets where he put it and searches for it without success. His mother reminds him to do a chore he had forgotten, and Peedie is elated to find his cap. Although the simple stories will please children, it's the cleanly designed and sometimes humorous ink-and-watercolor artwork that gives these small books their irresistible charm. The simple texts make these good choices for new readers. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reservedIt is the cleanly designed and sometimes humorous artwork that gives these small books their irresistaible charm. Booklist, ALADunrea's simply charming ink-and-watercolor art reveals an endearing cast of diminutive critters. Publishers WeeklyForgetful Peedie enjoy[s] circular adventures replete with the repetitive phrases in which toddlers revel. Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksThe ink-and-watercolor illustrations are as simple as the text, and small children will recognize and relate to each story's tiny arc and resolution. Kirkus ReviewsDunrea's feathered characters have the look and feel of preschoolers rapt in their own discovery of the world. School Library Journal; Title: Peedie (Gossie & Friends) | [
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25,091 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 3This atmospheric story continues the tale begun in The Island-below-the-Star (Houghton, 1998) of five Polynesian brothers who "discovered" the Hawaiian Islands. This time, the youngest, Manu, spots what he thinks is a wounded dog near the water's edge. Closer inspection reveals it to be a seal. After nursing the animal back to health, Manu and Dog-of-the-Sea-Waves play together and make mischief while the older brothers prepare for the long journey home. When they set sail at last and stop at one of the islands in the chain, an earthquake erupts and general chaos ensues. Manu is lost at sea, and his "dog" appears to rescue him. This story, unlike the first, lacks a clear focus and tends to meander from one notion to another. The expressive watercolor illustrations help to tell the tale. However, they, too, ramble a bit aimlessly, with one blue-purple wash after another. A regional natural history element is introduced on most spreads, giving readers a taste of Hawaii's diverse flora and fauna. An afterword gives a summary of each organism. The Hawaiian text is appended. Although reading like a legend, Dog-of-the-Sea-Waves is, after all, a fictitious account pieced together. Readers will need to look elsewhere for Polynesian migration theories and traditional tales.Harriett Fargnoli, Great Neck Library, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 3. Rumford imagines how humans discovered Hawaii in this original tale about five brothers who encounter the islands in a canoe. All the brothers except Manu, who misses the familiarity of his home island, are delighted. Then Manu discovers a wounded seal, which he nurses back to health and names "Dog-of-the-Sea-Waves." His brothers scold him for spending time with the animal instead of helping with the daily work until "Dog-of-the-Sea-Waves" saves Manu's life in the violent waves caused by a volcanic eruption. Rumford's poetic story loses momentum in some rambling, loose passages, but children will enjoy Manu's bond with his animal friend, and Rumford's attention to Hawaiian culture and language is a rare treat (a Hawaiian translation of the story is appended). Also included are a map of the islands and notes about the native plants and animals featured in the dramatic, atmospheric watercolors. This isn't a necessary purchase, but it's an interesting addition to the slim offerings about Hawaii for the picture-book crowd. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Dog-of-the-Sea-Waves | [
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25,092 | 2 | Grade 1-4While most books about habitats consider vast territories such as rain forests or tundra, Morrison calls attention to the workings of nature close to home. He focuses on plants and animals in a single neighborhood in an unnamed North American city, beginning in spring as the snow melts and following them through the seasons. A robin nests in a fire-alarm box. Weeds claim an empty lot. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed plants. Two detailed maps of the neighborhood help readers locate the sites described. Full-color illustrations and standard type move the narration along. Lower on the pages, tiny black-and-white drawings are accompanied by more detailed descriptions of the animals and plants as well as explanations of concepts such as habitat. This format expands the title's usefulness to a broader range of children, depending on their interest and reading ability. At times, however, the amount of information threatens to distract from the main account. Still, this offering could serve as a resource for nature study or community units and will encourage readers to observe and appreciate their own surroundings.Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 2-5. Employing the same format used for his previous picture-book titles, such as Oak Tree (2000) and Pond (2002), Morrison offers another quiet, layered view of a natural world that is familiar to many children. This time he zeros in on the plants and wildlife found in a neighborhood, throughout the seasons, beginning with the first spring grass sprouting in sidewalk cracks after a snow melt. His precise, pencil-and-watercolor artwork encourages viewers to look closely at common neighborhood scenes-- an alley, a vacant lot, a ball park, a family garden, train tracks--and find vibrant habitats that support weeds and wildflowers, animals and insects. Each double-page spread combines large drawings and understated, descriptive words with smaller sketches and text that offer more detailed information. Teachers can use this as a starting point for classroom science projects; young browsers will enjoy poring over this gentle encouragement to notice and appreciate the buzzing natural world that surrounds them. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Nature in the Neighborhood (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12) | [
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25,093 | 2 | Grade 3-5This humorous fantasy focuses on five students who enter the new Zoo School where the motto is "Let the Animals Be Your Textbooks." Each child has a distinct idiosyncrasy that makes being in this environment a bit challenging; for example, Ursula prefers the rigidity of ordinary school and Drake is terrified of animals. The two zookeepers teach math by counting zebras' stripes, gym by swimming with seals, and writing by watching snakes move. When their homes are cleaned, the animals are moved to the classroom, and the youngsters never know what they will find there in the morning. The Learned Inspectors of New Schools (L.I.O.N.S.) must give their seal of approval in order for the facility to stay open. Their questionnaires appear throughout the book along with their ratings. When the inspectors decide that the school must be closed, and the mysterious principal, Ms. Ella Font, is nowhere to be found, it is up to the students to try to save the place that they have come to love. The characters are clearly developed, and all of the children gradually learn about themselves and the world around them. This evenly paced novel could be shared aloud with youngsters needing a step up from Joanna Cole's "Magic School Bus" series (Scholastic) or read independently by those who enjoy zany school stories like Louis Sachar's Sideways Stories from Wayside School (Turtleback, 1978).Jean Gaffney, Dayton and Montgomery County Public Library, Miamisburg, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 2-4. Ursula and her friends have many concerns^B after they^B find themselves in an alternative Zoo School. Where are the books and tests? Is it safe to learn handwriting from a snake? When is lunchtime? What's more, they aren't sure that they agree with the school's motto, "Let the Animals Be Your Textbooks!" Three Learned Inspectors of New Schools (L. I. O. N. S.) have their doubts as well, as they follow the children through their day and attempt to interview the school's elusive principal, Ms. Font. Only after the school is ordered closed do the children realize how much they appreciate the teaching methods and work to get the school re-opened. Hornik's characters are amusingly eccentric, and children will enjoy the idea of a classroom filled with animals. Young readers may miss the absurdity of clueless inspectors making decisions based on partial information, but their teachers will surely appreciate the humor. A good choice for a classroom read-aloud. Tilley's illustrations were not available in the galley.^B Kay WeismanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Zoo School | [
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25,094 | 0 | PreSchool-Grade 3-Instead of a pretty keepsake as a reminder of her homeland, the practical Miss Bridie selects a shovel to accompany her to a new life in America in 1856. Once in New York City, she uses it to plant flowers, which she sells to supplement her income from the millinery shop where she works. The implement is employed in a variety of ways over her lifetime, including clearing a pond for ice skating, digging postholes for fences on the farm she shares with her new husband, planting seeds for an apple orchard, and adding coal to the stove to keep her children warm. Azarian's accomplished woodcuts and watercolor illustrations adroitly convey the determination of a strong woman who lives a good, but often not easy, life. Through one or two sentences per page, the story shows her fortitude as she experiences the highs and lows of life, confident in the knowledge that, with her shovel, she can succeed at anything through her own ingenuity and hard work.Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WICopyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 1-4. When Miss Bridie left her thatched cottage in Ireland in 1856, she could have taken a chiming clock or a porcelain figurine. Instead, she takes a shovel, which serves her in good stead throughout her life. She uses it to steady herself on the ship to a new place, to dig a garden, and to clear a snowy path to a moonlit frozen river, where she meets the young man she will marry. The staid text has no frills, mimicking Miss Bridie's plain life. As she uses her shovel to plant apple trees on her farm, bank the land during a flood, and, when she is old, bury her husband, children will see that Miss Birdie takes life as it is offered, with an equanimity that faces down adversity and holds close moments of joy. Not every child will be taken with a story that follows the life of a young woman as she grows old. Yet the care and crafting evident here must be admired. Caldecott award-winner Azarian's sturdy woodcuts are an excellent choice to illustrate daily life in mid-nineteenth-century America, and her pictures catch some of the emotions that the text shies away from: the small smile of contentment that comes from working on the farm; the sorrow when a fire burns down everything Miss Bridie has worked for. This is a simple pleasure that will be truly appreciated by those old enough to understand the message. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel | [
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25,095 | 0 | Grade 2-5 The author of The Greatest Skating Race (S & S, 2004) has teamed up with Parker to produce a successful and moving piece of historical fiction. This story is told as an American girl's reminiscence of her experiences during World War II. Molly's much-admired neighbor, navy man Ted Walker, is serving on a submarine in the Pacific, but to her, Orchard Road seemed the safest place on earth, and the war...well, the war was something far away. The text is deceptively simple and understated. Borden evokes the era through small details, word choices, and descriptions of everyday activities, such as building a snowman, the first day of school, writing letters to Ted, and spending summer days on the porch drinking lemonade and listening to baseball games on the radio. The war remains distant until the fateful telegram arrives. Parker alternates scenes of Molly's life with images of Ted on the USS Albacore. The artist's characteristic loose-lined ink-and-watercolor paintings capture the sense of a once-secure and orderly world becoming less stable. The lyrical prose and evocative pictures create a poignant slice-of-life tale that resonates with the emotions of the friends and family members on the homefront. The story will provide a human perspective to nonfiction accounts and may also touch a chord with children who have loved ones serving abroad. Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* Gr. 3-5. In this fully illustrated, fictional memoir, a woman, Molly, recalls her childhood war years on the American home front. World War II seems far away to Molly, but her fourth-grade teacher brings it close by painting an enormous map on the wall so that the class can follow its progress, and asking the children to write letters to the servicemen. Molly writes to her next-door neighbor Ted, a friendly young man on a submarine in the Pacific. Unfortunately, Ted does not come home, but the war ends and life goes on. Beautifully written in an understated tone, the story offers a believable picture of life during the war. Tangible details of everyday activities make the arrival of the telegram relaying Ted's death and the reactions of his family and friends all the more poignant. A typical page of text, formed into free-verse stanzas, faces a full-page watercolor painting illustrating a scene in the children's school or neighborhood or, in a few instances, showing a submarine in the Pacific. Restrained yet expressive, the artwork conveys moods and mindsets as well as a strong sense of the time and place. The relatively short, graceful text and the evocative art offer an effective introduction to the period and to the profound effects that even a faraway war can have on those at home. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Across the Blue Pacific : A World War II Story | [
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25,096 | 18 | Starred Review. Grade 1-4Fascinated by the Giant Sequoias they see during a California vacation, unnamed children listen to their father tell of the trees' namesake from the opposite side of North America. Thus, in short paragraphs accompanied by richly textured illustrations, Rumford presents the seminal events in Sequoyah's life, culminating in his invention of the Cherokee syllabary. The author writes with a concise eloquence that echoes the oral tradition and makes this one of those rare gems of read-aloud nonfiction. As in his other picture books, the artwork is executed in a style and medium that evoke the period and culture of the subject, in this case creating bold-lined scenes reminiscent of 19th-century woodblock prints. Done in ink, watercolor, pastel, and pencil, the illustrations were adhered to a rough piece of wood, and its textures were highlighted through the use of chalk and colored pencil. The perfect finishing element is the parallel text in Cherokee, which not only demonstrates the product of Sequoyah's genius but also makes this beautiful book readily accessible to Cherokee children in their own language. The end matter includes additional facts and the complete syllabary. Sequoyah is a perfect companion to Rumford's other picture books on important world scholars from history and legendJean-Franois Champollion, Ibn Battuta, Cadmuswhose (mostly linguistic) achievements are comparatively unsung. A must-have for all collections.Sean George, Memphis-Shelby County Public Library & Information Center, Memphis, TN Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 1-3. This fascinating biography, presented in a tall, slim format, introduces Sequoyah, who decided in the early 1800s to give the Cherokee language a written form. Creating 84 symbols for sounds, he began to teach the language to others in the Cherokee nation. This technique spread, enabling the publication of books and newspapers, and it survives today. Below the paragraphs of English text, appearing usually on the book's right-hand pages, is a translation into the Cherokee language. Like the giant sequoia trees that appear in the framework story, the illustrations on the facing pages are vertical and stately. Created in ink, watercolor, pastel, and pencil, the unusual artwork has a primitive quality that reflects the strength and deceptive simplicity of the text. Back matter includes a chart showing the Cherokee syllabary, a discussion of Sequoyah and his accomplishment, and a time line of his life. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Sequoyah: The Cherokee Man Who Gave His People Writing (Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor (Awards)) | [
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25,097 | 0 | CD's-Reading Grade 4-Houghton Mifflin-New!; Title: Houghton Mifflin Reading: Anthology Audio CD Grade 4 | [] | Train |
25,098 | 12 | Houghton Mifflin Reading: Practice Book, Volume 2, Themes 4-6, Grade 4, 278 pages, Paperback; Title: Houghton Mifflin Reading: Practice Book, Volume 2 Grade 4 | [
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25,099 | 2 | http://www.helenlester.com/; Title: Tacky in Trouble (Tacky the Penguin) | [
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